The Energon Pub

Recently I visited some family members I haven't seen in about 3 years. As we were catching up around the dinner table, 1 of them looked at me and asked "So do you still collect those figurines?" I immediately realized she was talking about Transfomers. I have heard them be referred to as toys (which is technically correct), dolls, and other names. But this was a 1st. Figurines? I always thought those were little porcelain or glass things old ladies collected... Anyway, have you heard TFs be referred to by weird names like that? Do some of your family scold/make fun of you for collecting (especially if you're older, like me)?

my family knows I collect, My Dad did something really cool two christmases ago- bought all of his boys(my brother, brother in law, nephews) transformers- ROTF clearance stock- I got Hailstorm out of that, and they were all mystified that I could transform them

I ended up buying my Dad Hubcap about a month later- still on his desk, too

as far as odd names like that, I can't think of any offhand

my brother affectionately called the nonsense as in "you still buy that nonsense?" that is util i sold my classic doubles and bought myself a 60 inch tv and home theatre system


then for some odd reason he stopped whining

My dad tried to get on my case once. Hes behind glass, if you get my meaning. My response was basically, "Do something about it when you get out, oh wait! your in there forever huh? Maybe you stop being a deadbeat criminal, and I'll stop collecting, sound good?" Of course, he's never getting out. Such an idiot. But yeah, the only real thing that bugs me is when my nosy friend says "You want to spend all your money on those chunks of plastic?" It aggravates me to no end, because he wants me to send him money, when he got himself into the situation he's in.

Basically, nobody pokes fun at my hobby unless their in a **** hole and they have nothing better to do.

Personally I wouldn't have thought the term figurine odd, but that's probably because I use it interchangeably with 'action figure.'

Can't recall hearing any odd names directed to my collection, other than the insults that came from my uncle, which is ironic considering he's in his 50's and acts like a 13 year old on most days, yet insists I'm immature for collecting Transformers... well, used to, before I blew up in his face after several months of harassment.

My family is cool with it. They might secretly find it an odd hobby, but they're nothing short of supportive for it. A couple times, they would send me Transformers. Most of the time, they were ones I already had, but it was still great considering I could trade it in for one I didn't (they would always suggest that if it was one I already had, so I'm not doing behind their backs).

"Figurines" does not seem an inherently negative description, so unless it was being said with a specifically negative connotation, I'd not take issue with it. I wouldn't use it myself, as for some reason in my mind "figurines" aren't poseable (or, for that matter, transformable), but I would not take issue with someone else using the term.

I had an interesting experience myself not long ago, I suppose, concerning a reaction not to the individual figures in it, but to my collection as a whole.

About a month ago, my girlfriend of a few years and I finally started living together in a shiny new apartment. When, once we were all mostly unpacked and settled, her folks came to visit, they seemed somewhat impressed by some of the things I had on display. In reference to my collection, one of them commented that it looks like a museum. My girlfriend's mother also practically squeed in delight when she saw all of my Doctor Who DVDs... Many of which I had loaned her in the past, but I suppose it is different seeing them all together like that.

Anyway, I shall admit I had been a tiny bit worried what they might think when they saw all of my Transformers... They had to know it was a bit of a hobby of mine, as I'd occasionally brought the odd one with me to fiddle with when visiting their daughter at their house. (Heck, I brought Masterpiece Megatron with me the weekend of their other daughter's wedding, as I couldn't resist the thought of getting a photo of me holding him while wearing a tux, ha ha.) But much like the Doctor Who DVD's, seeing everything on display is much different then seeing one or two odd pieces. So, while I didn't expect anything mean spirited as they are rather nice people, I was pleased by the "museum" description, and they generally seemed to like the apartment overall.

If you're interested in seeing how I have some of my stuff displayed, I shared some of it over here on my website. And also, how could I mention it above without sharing these pics?




Bowties are cool.

Was asked by a friend (who likes sports) a while ago when he saw my collection, when would I grow up. What do you mean, I asked. He said; kids like this. When would you grow up, I asked back. What do you mean, he asked. I said; Well, kids also like sports. Then he said nothing more.

I have a friend of mine who refers to them as 'dolls' and is vehement in ridiculing me about them. The ironic part is that she has a massive collection of stuffed pigs and continues to collect them. When i bring up the similarities of our two hobbies she gets incredibly defensive and rude to me and does her damndest to emasculate me in front of people. I change the subject very quickly.

monstergrotusque wrote:The ironic part is that she has a massive collection of stuffed pigs and continues to collect them. When i bring up the similarities of our two hobbies she gets incredibly defensive and rude to me and does her damndest to emasculate me in front of people.

I don't have any pigs, but I do have a plethora of plush penguins. Not a massive collection by any means, but it is more then a few. Nothing compared to my Transformers, videos, or books, however.

When someone continually and publically ridicules you over a hobby of yours which isn't hurting anyone (including, I suppose, yourself... I trust you're not wallowing in debt and selling organs to finance a Transformers habbit, yes?), especially when that someone has a hobby that could be considered comparable... how does that person qualify as a friend?

sounds like your "friend" has issues of her own- who is ridiculing her, that she takes it out on you?

my family (that i live wit anyway) are cool with it especially my dad, he has a huge collection of original starwars toys from when he was a kid, hell i got some G1 toys that were my dads. my girl friend refers to them sometimes as a waste of money and my mom says they are becoming my life. im cool with that because they are more than a hobby. yeah i have heard them called wastes of money thats about it.

Strange, I know, but my family actually encourages my collecting. Truth is, I'd outgrown Transformers since I hit 13. It was only during the 2007 movie craze, that TF's piqued y interest again. Still, I was too self conscious to buy a toy for myself as an adult.

And then my sister comes over and kept talking about how I used to be crazy about TF's back in the day, and basically eggs me on to buy one again. After being increasingly tempted from watching the movie and all the publicity pics, I decided to get Bumblebee, but everything Bayverse was sold out. I spied a Classics Mirage and Cliffjumper, and brought them home. As we all know, once that can of chips is opened, you'll never stop at one.

As for strange names, the worst I've ever heard was when a friend referred to TF's as "dolls." I was like WTF? Seriously?

I'm still a teen, which I guess is an acceptable age for collecting these... But then again but uncle collects TFs and Gundams too... and no one questions it... Everyone I know just calls them toys. I call them toys too...

As far as strange names go, my family hasn't called it anything more than Transformers, a hobby, or toys. And I'm rather happy about that.

I have always been a odd one so the family doesn't really think twice about my collecting. If anything it makes getting me gifts easier as I am very obvious about my interests.

And its always good to have friends (locally) that share your interests, I even have some friends that think all the stuff I collect is cool, but just dont commit like I do

Brother will sometimes refer to them as Action Dolls, just to try and aggravate me.

"Figurines"...interesting. Since '84 I've been a fan but I wouldn't consider my self a hardcore fan like most. I would say most hardcore fans have EVERYTHING Transformers but for me it's mostly figures. I'm married now (3yrs) with no kids (yet) and this hobby of ours still launches me into fantastic feeling. My old man refer's to it as all junk and I understand. He had a much harder life than mine and had very little being 1 of 8 brothers and 4 sisters so he couldn't understand the passion I hold for my hobby because he didn't have one of his own. My mother I don't think really payed too much attention but I think she may have found it silly over the years me still "playing with toys".

My other siblings know of my hobby and don't speak of it much but I think they too see me as a man that "plays with toys". My brother and I talk about it here and there but he can dig it considering his love for things Anime. My wife and mother-in-law occasionally rib me here and there calling them my "toys". Even though my wife I think wishes I would give it all up she know's about my passion both for her and my hobby. But my wife is the greatest though because for our anniversary she bought me G1 Overlord UK edition with box in good condition which was by no means a small thing for me.

"Figurines" though is different but better than called simply "toys" or "action figures". I personally refer to them as my "collectibles", old and new and that's that. I have my pride and dignity and wouldn't just openly share or discuss my hobby with just anyone to avoid looking like a total dork. And if I'm at the store and the checker is a young looking woman I will ask for a gift receipt to give the illusion.

People collect Hot Wheels, GI Joe, Star Wars, both men and woman. There are women and maybe men that collect Barbie's or stuffed animals but all are perceived by most as (technically) just toys. But no matter how others view our hobby or how you describe it, it belongs to you, and in the end that's all that matters...'nuff said!

Life's too short to spend with people who drain the fun out of it.

I don't really get slack from anyone, it's part of Asian pop culture and at the same time, it's something that I thoroughly enjoy, and put a ton of time into (customizing and collecting).

It's hard for me to even relate to people who take jabs at people who collect toys. It's our solace. It's our muse. It's more healthy and productive than smoking, gambling, drinking, being in a gang, etc.

in 2005 I was stationed in Kabul and my wife(girlfriend at the time) sent me a few armada figures she had got at a yard sale as a cheer me up(was a hard year.) the boys in my platoon sure didn't let me forget it......I was lieutenant prime for a while(got in dutch with my co to cause he heard them call me that, though I never saw the harm)....I sure do miss those guys sometimes.

edit: sorry I was stationed in Seoul in 2005 it was 2006 I started my tour in Afghanistan, so it was 2006 she sent them.

Lieutenant Prime is actually a badass sounding nickname, from both a TF fan and military viewpoint.