The Energon Pub

Posted: **Fri Jul 20, 2007 1:41 am**

What is the best way to introduce a girlfriend or friends to my hobby and collection?
Not that their approval matters, but if you want them to like it.
anyway, how did you do it and any success?
Thanks

Posted: **Fri Jul 20, 2007 1:45 am**

In my personal experience, if the person watched the cartoon as kids, they will instantly love my collection.

If they didn't, it is not even worth bringing it up. They have about as much interest in it as I do in a Barbie collection.

Posted: **Fri Jul 20, 2007 2:08 am**

Usually people don't really care, so don't expect them to. Unless the person also likes/liked tf's. The movie that just came out might help in this department since it helped "mainstream" tf's recently. This was not the case like 4 years ago when i started collecting.

One thing you can do is to display them in such a way that would make them very visually appealing, so that just by looking at them, they command appreciation and intrigue.

Like with my display, i have it up 24/7, and sometimes the occaisional wanderer into the basement will see it and will be all like "OMFGWTFBBQ!" and etc etc.

I'm not sure about girls though, if you have a small collection then that may be alright, but i have had mixed results of both polar extremes as far as showing women my collection. Perhaps in the context of a friendship it could work fine, but when they want your babies and see that you like tf's more than them (hah) then.. it just depends on the person.

Posted: **Fri Jul 20, 2007 2:17 am**

I wouldnt count out females. The lady that cuts my hair suprised me today- she caught all the bumblebee jokes in the movie and even knew the latest gossip. She's taking her kids to see it again. It just depends if they grew up around G1 cartoons.

Posted: **Fri Jul 20, 2007 2:21 am**

Yeah, with girls it really depends on you. Having your bedroom or living room lined with TFs....probably not such a hot idea, if you plan on getting any.

If you're a pretty normal guy and avoid the above, I don't think it'll really matter. I wouldn't bring it up first date and all due to stereotyping. However, if you plan on getting serious and all, it'll just be another hobby and I doubt would make or break the relationship.

If you're not so slick with the ladies, I can't imagine knowing you collect toys probably won't help things along too much, unless she does the same.

Then again, accept for statues in a display case, I don't like TFs in my bedroom or living room. Most of them stay in my study or in the bar/gaming room in the basement, so they've never bothered my gf any, who is not at all into TFs.

IDC though, I collect for me and really don't feel the ned to share my collection with anyone. Well excpet for my statues and MPs which are just too phenomenol to not share. Then again, those weren't made for kids anyway, so its a little different I think.

Summary: Guys will think its awesome, girls will think you're a big 'ole dork. Any questions? :lol:

My opinion.

Posted: **Fri Jul 20, 2007 2:23 am**

Xgamer wrote:I wouldnt count out females. The lady that cuts my hair suprised me today- she caught all the bumblebee jokes in the movie and even knew the latest gossip. She's taking her kids to see it again. It just depends if they grew up around G1 cartoons.

Oh, even my gf who is not so into TFs, loved the movie and BB. Liking the movie and knowing the jokes, and sharing in your toy collection are just a little different.

Posted: **Fri Jul 20, 2007 2:32 am**

Friends, and ladies/girlfrinds should like you for who you are, not what you collect or have. If some girl tells me to throw out my stuff, then I will simply throw her out. Anyone like that simply has no appreciation to things. Everyone collects something. Some collect stamps, other guns, and everything else in between. I see TF's as a harmless hobby, like train set collectors. We collect because we like 'em, and we don't harm anyone with them. My dad used to collect and build model ships and military vehicles. Didn't make him any less of a person. The man was as rough and tough as they come.

I have mine out on display. They used to be in boxes. After I move, I will buy nice display cases and they will be in a room dedicated to showing movies, along with other stuff I have, so it will all fit in nicely. Say nothing. Let her or your friends discover them on their own. THey'll probably say "Hey, I remember those, that's pretty cool". And you have an instant conversation piece.

Posted: **Fri Jul 20, 2007 2:35 am**

Meh, thats fine with people who know you.

However, bring a girl home from a bar, first date, w/e, I will bet that seeing your bedroom lined with TFs is not gonna help your cause in 9 cases outta 10. And I think I may be generous there.

I actually do not think that most people collect something. I am the only person that I know who does. Small sample of probably around 120 people, but still.

Meg, this will always be as hot of a topic here as the Botcon set.

Really, you just gotta play it by ear. Its not about being ashamed of collecting. It is more about what is appropriate at the time. I LOVE sports. However, when I first meet a girl, I'm not gonna launch into sports stats w/o probing to see if she is at all interested in it. Its about common ground. A girl is as likely to be turned off by sports talk, as she is by car talk or your TF collection.

Posted: **Fri Jul 20, 2007 2:38 am**

My gf had never seen the cartoon before and didn't really know what she was getting into. I showed her a youtube clip from the 86 movie and she thought I was being weird. Got her to the new movie anyway, and she loved it. We've seen it twice, the second at her request. She also now has her own 08 Bumblebee, and I'm pretty sure she's gonna sell herself on a Leader Prime. lol.

Posted: **Fri Jul 20, 2007 2:38 am**

I may be a girl, but I wonder the same thing about the nerdy stuff I like. However, if someone is going to think less of you just because of your hobbies, then chances are that bigger problems can arise later. Personally, if someone had the attitude of 'this is crap, get rid of it' when they just noticed something that I enjoyed collecting, then that would be a rather big alarm signal for me. That smells like either someone controlling or someone who would want to change you into being the perfect partner in their eyes.

But more generally, I agree with Sportimus. Just let it be discovered since it's just something that is. Why call unnecessary attention to it otherwise? I can't think of a way that bringing it up wouldn't seem like trying to justify it or being embarrassed about it, so just let it happen.

Posted: **Fri Jul 20, 2007 2:42 am**

My gf actually took me to see the movie on opening night--which was a surprise for our anniversary--totally blew me away! Anyway, she doesn't know that I've already purchased a few of the movie figures... Wouldn't be happy--but she'll live..

Posted: **Fri Jul 20, 2007 2:45 am**

Also, stop looking at it like you're going to build a 30 year relationship on one night.

Step one - Get laid (Tfs aint helping)

Step two - Still be getting laid in a month (TFs make no difference at this point. They're just part of who you are. If she doesn't like it, it's just one of 30 other things she doesn't like. Thats just how girls are. So one again, it doesn't matter.)

So basically, I agree with juushinkan and Sportimus in that there is no need to call attention to it on your first date. Just let eveything come along at its own pace.

Posted: **Fri Jul 20, 2007 2:53 am**

Well, it's your decision whether or not you would show your interest to your friends/gf. So far, my friends have gotten interested & are collecting the figures themselves, which can leave me to talk freely about tf's.

Thank you, 2007 film (for once)!

If I get a girlfriend , I'd rather not show my TF collection (unless she's interested), because over in my town, girls care more about what you like (if they knew, goodbye women. :-(

) & looks rather than liking you for who you are, which sucks for me. :-(

. Oh, well. Let me keep looking around!

I pretty much agree with Sportimus, like he said; people should care about who you are, not what you have.

Posted: **Fri Jul 20, 2007 2:55 am**

ShiningKnightSilverbolt wrote:Well, it's your decision whether or not you would show your interest to your friends/gf. So far, my friends have gotten interested & are collecting the figures themselves, which can leave me to talk freely about tf's !

If I get a girlfriend , I'd rather not show my TF collection (unless she's interested), because over in my town, girls care more about what you like (if they knew, goodbye women. ) & looks rather than liking you no matter what, which sucks for me. . Oh, well. Let me keep looking around!

Well yes, first impressions are all about noticing a handful of things about someone and then stereotyping to fill in the blanks. In this department, collecting toys doesn't go over so well.

Posted: **Fri Jul 20, 2007 8:01 am**

I thank my stars that my now fincee knew alot about the Transformers before we met. She now knows about half of the G1 characters and all of the movie ones. I'm so proud :grin:

.

P.S. I caught her trying to steal my Botcon Bugbite the other day she said she wanted to put him next to her classics Bumblebee.

Posted: **Fri Jul 20, 2007 8:15 am**

Shoot, with the popularity of the movie, it might be a lot easier to bring up with new people. You can always just show them THAT and see how they respond. Especially once it's on DVD. If they're excited and show interest you can always just comment that you have some. If they don't care at all, don't press the issue. But I still agree that TF shouldn't be the highlight of a date. If talking about interests, I suppose you could say that you enjoy collecting things. Most people seem to collect SOMETHING.

Posted: **Fri Jul 20, 2007 11:10 am**

When I meet a nice girl, the first thing I do is crack her over the head with a Maglite, bind and gag her, take her home, and lock her in my collection room for at least a week.

Posted: **Fri Jul 20, 2007 11:13 am**

my gf doesnt care about my collection but after seeing tf movie she started to get interested in to toys i bought her a slumblebee and 08 bumblebee and she is so happy! :grin:

Posted: **Fri Jul 20, 2007 11:17 am**

Sportimus Prime wrote:Friends, and ladies/girlfrinds should like you for who you are, not what you collect or have. If some girl tells me to throw out my stuff, then I will simply throw her out. Anyone like that simply has no appreciation to things. Everyone collects something. Some collect stamps, other guns, and everything else in between. I see TF's as a harmless hobby, like train set collectors. We collect because we like 'em, and we don't harm anyone with them. My dad used to collect and build model ships and military vehicles. Didn't make him any less of a person. The man was as rough and tough as they come.

I have mine out on display. They used to be in boxes. After I move, I will buy nice display cases and they will be in a room dedicated to showing movies, along with other stuff I have, so it will all fit in nicely. Say nothing. Let her or your friends discover them on their own. THey'll probably say "Hey, I remember those, that's pretty cool". And you have an instant conversation piece.

wow i like this kind of point of view it's reasonably right they have to accept not only you but everything about you...

Posted: **Fri Jul 20, 2007 1:01 pm**

PorQPine wrote:When I meet a nice girl, the first thing I do is crack her over the head with a Maglite, bind and gag her, take her home, and lock her in my collection room for at least a week.

At least...

Posted: **Fri Jul 20, 2007 1:32 pm**

Well I my self was a HUGE transformers fan as a kid (had EVERY episode on tape, and I mean EVERY!) so I was totaly pumped when I saw the trailers for the new movie.. For my birthday I bought my self a classics grimlock (was my favorite as a kid.. got 3 one christmas and wouldnt let anyone take them back!)

I am a huge geek (Anime, CCGs and Table top games)and my girl friend collects Beanie babies and webkinz so it works out for me, she even wants a bumble bee cuz hes "cute"! I think ill have to get her one.. and get my self an iron hide or brawl

Posted: **Fri Jul 20, 2007 2:53 pm**

The best way to intorduce them to TF's is after you have placed them in the pit in your basement, put the tf's in a basket and lower them down with some rope.

It plays with the transformer again, or else it gets the hose again.

Posted: **Fri Jul 20, 2007 4:19 pm**

tacogrande wrote:
PorQPine wrote:When I meet a nice girl, the first thing I do is crack her over the head with a Maglite, bind and gag her, take her home, and lock her in my collection room for at least a week.

At least...

I don't want to come off as creepy. More than ten days to a fortnight might traumatize her.

Posted: **Fri Jul 20, 2007 4:29 pm**

Bonger wrote:Yeah, with girls it really depends on you. Having your bedroom or living room lined with TFs....probably not such a hot idea, if you plan on getting any.

If you're a pretty normal guy and avoid the above, I don't think it'll really matter. I wouldn't bring it up first date and all due to stereotyping. However, if you plan on getting serious and all, it'll just be another hobby and I doubt would make or break the relationship.

If you're not so slick with the ladies, I can't imagine knowing you collect toys probably won't help things along too much, unless she does the same.

Then again, accept for statues in a display case, I don't like TFs in my bedroom or living room. Most of them stay in my study or in the bar/gaming room in the basement, so they've never bothered my gf any, who is not at all into TFs.

IDC though, I collect for me and really don't feel the ned to share my collection with anyone. Well excpet for my statues and MPs which are just too phenomenol to not share. Then again, those weren't made for kids anyway, so its a little different I think.

Summary: Guys will think its awesome, girls will think you're a big 'ole dork. Any questions?

My opinion.

i wouldnt count out all girlfriends... i watched and had the g1 figs as a child i got back into tf's when RiD came out. and my girlfriend didn't know the 1st thing about them... but slowly my collection went from RiD prime and magnus and a few old g1's figs from my attic to the 700+ that it is today, and my girlfriend has been wit me all the way. she even buys them her self and she even became a member of this site for HMW! so yeah there are plenty of people who will write you off and not care, but introducing them slowly is the best way to go about it... and try not to get too dorky like "see my awesome mp megatron? he's got the laser sword and the gun he shot prime with in the movie, and kremzeek from 1 episode in the cartoon!" instead just say "check out my awesome mp megatron"..lol

Posted: **Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:47 pm**

King Henrik wrote:instead just say "check out my awesome mp megatron...biiiiitch"

The Energon Pub

Introducing your TF love to friends and gf?

Introducing your TF love to friends and gf?