Embarrassed about Collecting Toy Soldiers? (1 Viewer)

[DMNamiot]

Hi Guys,

I have to admit that sometimes I get a look from folks but to be quite honest I have never run with the herd or cared about peer preasure. I also agree with UKReb's statement about the costs, people are always amazed when you mention what a single figure costs. I also have also been asked why the British Army in India as opposed to the US Armies and I usually mention the lack of Elephants in our army and that puts most of the questions to bed...

Anyway fun to see we have a lot more teens on this site than Shannon probably thought

All the best

Dave

 

[theBaron]

...the lack of Elephants in our army...

If only President Lincoln had accepted that gift from the King of Siam...

 

[kilted vampire]

I do not care what people think of my collections. I play with toy trains too. My picture with Nancy is on my profile page which has over 5600 visits. I always have said the more the merrier

 

[VIRIATO]

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.

Agree with the first period. Unfortunately do not have what's described in the second period. A reasonable tennis backhand is all I got...

Cheers,
Paulo

 

[marco55]

I have to admit that it bothers me when they say what,you play with toy soldiers?and I say no I collect them idiot.My cousin in particular is like that but to his shock did his son tell him that he was boring and didn't have the cool things I did.I told his son he shouldn't say things like that to his father as he can't help being a caveman.
Mark

 

[The General]

I guess a lot people missed the point of my thread.

I wasn't really talking about how you feel about things now. It was more about those awkward years where it was "uncool" to collect.

It is actually reflected in the number of responses in the 16-18 years old poll option.

 

[bromhead]

I guess a lot people missed the point of my thread.

I wasn't really talking about how you feel about things now. It was more about those awkward years where it was "uncool" to collect.

It is actually reflected in the number of responses in the 16-18 years old poll option.

Some even going on about exwives ,relatives,,,I was a victim at age 16-18 of hormonal hypfunction and pre govt service syndrome unable to collect.

 

[The General]

Some even going on about exwives ,relatives,,,I was a victim at age 16-18 of hormonal disfunction and pre govt service syndrome unable to collect.

I can't imagine "chatting up" a girl when I was 18 years of age and after she asks what I do for fun I say I collect and paint toy soldiers.

 

[marco55]

When I was a teenager you really couldn't collect anything like baseball cards or comic books because if you did it wasn't cool.I think thats changed somewhat now.
Mark

 

[bromhead]

I can't imagine "chatting up" a girl when I was 18 years of age and after she asks what I do for fun I say I collect and paint toy soldiers. [/QUOTE

It would be the same as how I felt after a wargame engagement when my unit Of new Highlanders were exterminated to a man by arab horsemen ,I could only cry "they are all dead and I only painted them last night"

 

[Chuck Harris]

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?

Very well said Mate. In my belief, your 3 years earned you much more. For what it's worth my respect.

 

[redsoldiercollector]

I went through that a little as a teenager. now I am a teacher and use them in my classroom lessons. But, I went to a show last week and my wife's co-workers were asking my wife what kind of people went to the shows. My wife said "mostly old men and Drew". I got a laugh out of it, but the fact is there is variety of ages at the shows I attend, which is only two a year.

 

[Oldboy]

Vaguely recall a chum and I discussing "painted men"(I'd gotten some Britains Herald Gordons for my 11th b-day and was shifting my interest somewhat from massive Airfix Napoleonic battles) and being overheard by an older boy who after sharing his jaded jibes,picked himself up and ran off elsewhere.Today at let's see um 48 (going on 11 AND A HALF) I'd likely achieve a very similar effect by simply dropping the local temperature to 40 Below. ob

 

[Spitfrnd]

I guess a lot people missed the point of my thread.

I wasn't really talking about how you feel about things now. It was more about those awkward years where it was "uncool" to collect.

It is actually reflected in the number of responses in the 16-18 years old poll option.

I don't think I got the point at all then; are you saying at what age were you embarrassed to collect them? I am not sure what that has to do with how old we are now?

 

[bromhead]

I went through that a little as a teenager. now I am a teacher and use them in my classroom lessons. But, I went to a show last week and my wife's co-workers were asking my wife what kind of people went to the shows. My wife said "mostly old men and Drew". I got a laugh out of it, but the fact is there is variety of ages at the shows I attend, which is only two a year.

It proves there could be a country for old men.

 

[bearybones]

I'm an artist. I've dealt with this kind of thing my whole life. Not everyone places a high value on art. Some consider it a total waste of time and effort, while others think it is mankind's greatest achievement. At my age and level of accomplishment, I'm way past worrying about what other people think, as long as I know I'm doing what is right for me. This is a great hobby. I love collecting the figures and making dioramas. That's all that matters to me. If there are those who are unable, for whatever shortsided reason, to appreciate the intricate detail, workmanship and historical value of the figures I collect (which I consider to be works of art in their own right) and also the simple pleasure I derive from this hobby, it is simple their deficit, not mine. I'm just thankful that I don't have their deficit. And by the way, almost everyone I've shown my developing Crusades diorama to has absolutely loved it.

George

 

[redsoldiercollector]

I'm an artist. I've dealt with this kind of thing my whole life. Not everyone places a high value on art. Some consider it a total waste of time and effort, while others think it is mankind's greatest achievement. At my age and level of accomplishment, I'm way past worrying about what other people think, as long as I know I'm doing what is right for me. This is a great hobby. I love collecting the figures and making dioramas. That's all that matters to me. If there are those who are unable, for whatever shortsided reason, to appreciate the intricate detail, workmanship and historical value of the figures I collect (which I consider to be works of art in their own right) and also the simple pleasure I derive from this hobby, it is simple their deficit, not mine. I'm just thankful that I don't have their deficit. And by the way, almost everyone I've shown my developing Crusades diorama to has absolutely loved it.

George

I mostly see this reaction as well. Most everyone I show these to has some sort of mix between admiration and amusement. Nice amusement though. Add all those ingredients and you get unique. One of the biggest response comes from my students. Many just have not heard of this type of hobby before, and some especially the artsy and music type kids actually want to know more. So, I am like you in that it is a hobby that I derive much pleasure from, so I don't care what anyone thinks.

 

[bromhead]

Very true,,,I usually answer as to interests etc.."I paint",,my followup being,small faces,uniforms,,horses etc,,enjoyable to say..I am doing a fence staining with a medium brush these days also.

 

[The General]

I don't think I got the point at all then; are you saying at what age were you embarrassed to collect them? I am not sure what that has to do with how old we are now?

You're right, the attached poll was an afterthought and had nothing to do with the question.

 

[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.

I think that's the explaination Spitfrnd that you were after.