Embarrassed about Collecting Toy Soldiers? (1 Viewer)

[The General]

When I was a kid here in Australia every kid had toy soldiers.

As I got older (say about the age of 16) it had became very uncool to be seen buying toy soldiers.

Once I was in my late 20's it seemed to be acceptable again. Perhaps people thought I was buying for my kids or maybe I lacked the peer pressure that I had succumbed to in the past.

The fact that I had served in the Regular Army prevented my "Twenty-something" civilian friends from bagging me too much when I bought toy soldiers.



The conversation usually went like this.......

Him: Are you buying toy soldiers???????
Me: Yeah, why?
Him: Isn't that for little kids?
Me: Mate, have you ever been in the Army?
Him: Nuh!
Me: Well, when you have.... feel free to bag me about what a kid I am!


I felt somehow that my 3 years military service earned me the right to collect as many God-darned soldiers as I pleased!

Have any of you guys ever felt embarrassed or intimidated in your youth about being a collector in this great hobby?

 

[The General]

Further to this, the reason for the accompanying poll was that I found it interesting to note that not every forum member had elected to display their age or date of birth.

You may actually be surprised by the age of some of your fellow collectors.

 

[eborris]

When I was a kid here in Australia every kid had toy soldiers.

As I got older (say about the age of 16) it had became very uncool to be seen buying toy soldiers.

Once I was in my late 20's it seemed to be acceptable again. Perhaps people thought I was buying for my kids or maybe I lacked the peer pressure that I had succumbed to in the past.

The fact that I had served in the Regular Army prevented my "Twenty-something" civilian friends from bagging me too much when I bought toy soldiers.



The conversation usually went like this.......

Him: Are you buying toy soldiers???????
Me: Yeah, why?
Him: Isn't that for little kids?
Me: Mate, have you ever been in the Army?
Him: Nuh!
Me: Well, when you have.... feel free to bag me about what a kid I am!


I felt somehow that my 3 years military service earned me the right to collect as many God-darned soldiers as I pleased!

Have any of you guys ever felt embarrassed or intimidated in your youth about being a collector in this great hobby?

I feel the older I get the less I care about what people think, so I'm beyond embarassement. Anyway, if they get on my case too much, I still have a good left hook to the liver.

 

[The General]

I feel the older I get the less I care about what people think, so I'm beyond embarassement. Anyway, if they get on my case too much, I still have a good left hook to the liver.

Yeah I'm in my forties now so nothing seems to bug me.

By the way...... after a few drinks I still feel that 3 on 1 is unfair to my opposition!

 

[eborris]

Yeah I'm in my forties now so nothing seems to bug me.

By the way...... after a few drinks I still feel that 3 on 1 is unfair to my opposition!

Five to one before the drinks?

 

[theBaron]

I'm not embarassed by the hobby at all, especially when we compare our hobby to some things people do nowadays for entertainment. At the very least, a toy soldier collector is going to learn something.

Might be nice if more women were interested, but such is life.

Prost!
Brad

 

[4th Hussar]

I am at a point in life that I do not care if people approve or disapprove of my hobbies.

 

[thebritfarmer]

Maybe subconsciously I am a bit embarrassed about my collection as I usually get some weird looks when I mention what I collect. It's weird though that when these people see the actual items they think it's cool and then start asking all kinds of questions. Once that happens any embarrassment has gone and I actually feel quite proud and am happy to share my knowledge and explain my collection.

 

[bromhead]

No possibility ,,those who view the collection are most always impressed if not a collector,,usually ask the money question "what is it worth?" ,dumb remarks seldom count,,,as in 1/1 scale vintage autos and this economy,,securities and thier values evaporate like former wives,,the items in the garage and on the shelves are still there regardless.

 

[1879fanatic]

Maybe subconsciously I am a bit embarrassed about my collection as I usually get some weird looks when I mention what I collect. It's weird though that when these people see the actual items they think it's cool and then start asking all kinds of questions. Once that happens any embarrassment has gone and I actually feel quite proud and am happy to share my knowledge and explain my collection.

Bingo!
I have the same result with people, and they usually thirst for more info about the figures, and as importantly, the history behind the war(s) and my collecting. It's great! I tend to embarass others, so I don't have to be...picture them with only underwear on
Mike

 

[1879fanatic]

ATTENTION:
POLL IS NOW CONTAMINATED AND CAN ONLY BE USED FOR NATIONAL NEWS REPORTING

It seems bromhead has multiple ex-wives and has laid waste to the countryside, and is still under 12years old! An anomaly? A Vampire? A kid at heart?
Mike

 

[gk5717]

I agree with what everybody has said so far. But there are certain people that I know will never "get it".
My wife never got it for the longest time.
My first collecting was baseball cards. I started in the late 70,s. Finally when I started selling them around 2000 to finance this hobby, and she saw the checks, that made her "get it".
It,s funny I may say no to something she may want to buy saying it,s to expensive, but she never questions me when I hand her a receipt for $500 for some soldiers.
I am definetly not in this hobby for the financial aspect, but for some people that is the only way to equate to them.
Gary

 

[Scott]

I am at a point in life that I do not care if people approve or disapprove of my hobbies.

Exactly!

 

[lancer]

No way am I embarrassed about my hobby. I am 56 y.o. and couldn't care less about someone's opinion about how I choose to spend my time and money. In point of fact, most people who know of my collection are very supportive and are usually interested enough to ask questions about the figures (and the cost) but have never enquired about my sanity. My wife likes my collection and encourages it within limits (as in, stay in budget). All in all, I have never really had bad feedback. -- lancer

 

[Rob]

No way am I embarrassed about my hobby. I am 56 y.o. and couldn't care less about someone's opinion about how I choose to spend my time and money. In point of fact, most people who know of my collection are very supportive and are usually interested enough to ask questions about the figures (and the cost) but have never enquired about my sanity. My wife likes my collection and encourages it within limits (as in, stay in budget). All in all, I have never really had bad feedback. -- lancer

I fully agree.I'm never embarrassed by my collection and am very lucky that my wife,family and friends all support me and are very kind about it.Also at 45 yrs old i'm at an age where i can do what i want when i want,school ended a Loooooooooooooooong time ago!

Rob

 

[Alexdakar]

Carlos the poll asks what age are you not what age you act like.

 

[bromhead]

ATTENTION:
POLL IS NOW CONTAMINATED AND CAN ONLY BE USED FOR NATIONAL NEWS REPORTING

It seems bromhead has multiple ex-wives and has laid waste to the countryside, and is still under 12years old! An anomaly? A Vampire? A kid at heart?
Mike

Caught in a lighthearted pole response,,guilty to most others,,conversations with certain southern euro relatives show the Carpathian foothills as home. Most success with 9 1/2 weeks relaitionships.

 

[UKReb]

I avoid when I can using the prefix "toy" and when asked what my hobby is I just say I collect military miniatures-the retort then normally goes "What toy soldiers?" To which I reply
"Well if you consider a single figure that costs £25.00 plus a toy- Bully for you old son and your obviously a banker".

It is always worth reminding oneself that 95% of the male adult population (a rough estimate) who are non-collectors is that the hobby has moved forward a thousand fold since those guys played with their green plastic GI's in the dirt. Which is always evident when they see my collection in the flesh for the first time or view pictures of the various dios I've knocked up-to a man they are dumb-struck-finally saying "Where on earth did you get these from?"

Like I said they have no idea-through their non-interest in toy soldiers-what's available today compared with when they were kids.

The problem I have but not particularly embarrassing is why I collect American eras and not British. And I too am twelve years old

Reb

 

[Wraith]

I avoid when I can using the prefix "toy" and when asked what my hobby is I just say I collect military miniatures-the retort then normally goes "What toy soldiers?" To which I reply
"Well if you consider a single figure that costs £25.00 plus a toy- Bully for you old son and your obviously a banker".

Reb

Reb,
Do you ever develop temporary speech impediments towards the end of your replies?

 

[UKReb]

Reb,
Do you ever develop temporary speech impediments towards the end of your replies?

Simon

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