Back from the Convention & Disneyland
GI Trekker
wonderful (and much needed) vacation. I always enjoy Disneyland.
However, something very odd happened that gave me reason to pause and think
about the degree of my involvement in the G.I.Joe hobby.
A Japanese Anime convention showed up at the Disneyland Hotel (where I was
staying) last Thursday, and somebody in management is probably wondering what
in God's name they unleashed on the facility.
I know very little about anime, and frankly I don't care, and I'm not here to
insult any fans of anime on the list. But having attended a number of sci-fi
conventions in years past (and the further in the past the better), I can
honestly say that I was having some nasty flashbacks. This was a real freak
show, including people running around in costumes to the point where the
Disneyland Hotel had to issue a printed warning and slip it under everyone's
hotel door advising them of the convention and informing them that these
costumed nutcases were NOT Disney characters -- although I would hope that no
one would mistake a bald man who has painted the top of his head to look like a
Pokemon ball or a 250-pound woman dressed up like (I think) a "Sailor Moon"
character (a very full moon, yes?) for a Disney character.
But it wasn't these extremes which got to me so much. Nor was it quite the
absolutely immense blobbos who look like they spend far too much of their time
in front of a TV set, taking up an entire sofa, doing nothing with their lives
except watching anime videos in their purest form, pretending to understand
Japanese and keeping their local pizza franchises in business. And at least
very few of these people entered the park itself, which is, to me, the surest
sign of moderate insanity. Imagine going to the Disneyland Hotel and NOT
entering Disneyland. ??!??
It was more the snippets of conversation I heard in passing. And being utterly
clueless about them. What was that multi-syllabic Japanese name I just heard
and why do these people care about that person so much? What the hell is a
"Bubblegum Crisis"? Many of these people certainly did not lack for chewing
gum. I consider the sight of almost anyone chewing gum incredibly offensive. Go
out to the field with the rest of the bovines if you're going to flap your jaw
and chew your cud like that.
No, it was the IRONY. I had, after all, just come from a G.I.Joe Convention one
week earlier. And while I think we behave ourselves a little better and
maintain a certain higher standard of dignity (I don't recall seeing very many
costumes, at least), this overall situation still had the odd effect of being
"on the outside looking in", or maybe being on the other side of the mirror,
and not entirely certain I liked what I was seeing.
What did the non-Joe-Convention people at the Irvine Marriott think of us?
Grown men and women carrying around huge loads of toys? Throwing around names
and terms like Flint, Stalker, Cobra, Adventure Team, Vintage, Classic, Action
Man, whatever, in the midst of presumably sane conversation? Now, I've never
really given a damn what anybody else thinks of me. But the comparison is still
there, especially when you see it from the outside, as I did when that Anime
Convention showed up.
And the bottom line is this: When does a hobby or an interest become an
obsession? These people were crazy enough to make idiots of themselves in
public by dressing up in the silliest costumes I've ever seen in my life. They
weren't getting paid to do so. This was just how "into" their primary interest
they were. I have to say that I just don't think it's that rational to paint
your bald (shaved?) head like a Pokemon ball.
But -- are we any different in principle?
Am I?
We don't get paid to attend a G.I.Joe Convention. In fact, it tends to cost a
fair sum. Heck, I got a complimentary General's package because of the articles
I've written for Master Collector, and it was STILL expensive for me to fly
out, stay at the hotel, and buy stuff in the Dealer's Room. And to a degree, I
was even in costume, having made a T-shirt with the G.I.Joe logo on it and, in
the same style type, the year "2000" beneath it.
And what about those articles? Certainly on the one hand I am pleased if I can
provide information about a hobby that we all enjoy, and I have, through no
intended effort on my own, become something of an expert -- a KNOWN expert --
in the world of the Real American Hero. But -- if that's ALL I'm known for, or
worse, if I start to think that's ENOUGH to be known for in this world -- then
that's a problem.
Certainly I enjoy G.I.Joe. I also enjoy Disney and had a superb vacation, and I
do not regret attending the G.I.Joe Convention. And yes, I am pleased that we
are getting the 3 3/4" line back, apparently with a proper standard of quality,
even if I do have a very negative reaction towards the black paint-wipe
weathering they've put on the figures, a matter I intend to continue to address
as needed.
But there's the part I must never forget. "As needed." I find that as a result
of witnessing this Anime Convention, really the first time I've been AROUND a
convention that I had no interest in myself that nonetheless struck a few too
many familiar themes (the average business convention does not do this), I need
to take a hard look at just how much I'm letting my toy collecting hobby, and
that doesn't just go for G.I.Joe, but Star Wars, the Corps, and anything else I
collect, dominate my life, my finances, and even my emotions, and make some
appropriate modifications.
How about you? Just something to think about...
John Kukovich
things that I understand, believe me. Case in point:
Right now, I am working. Yep, Independence Day. Okay, that's cool, maybe I
am a policeman, or a nurse, or maybe a firecracker salesman. I'm none of
those things. I work for a boat company. We are building our boats for our
annual Dealer Convention. Why? Because our R&D department does not start
on 2001 product until six weeks before the convention. Oh, they piddle
around all year fussing with this and that, but those last six weeks leave
us totally drained.
I am just a documentation technician. I set up Bills of Material. I do
production drawings. I do manuals. I guarantee that if someone were to
walk up in the middle of a conversation today and had never been around boat
manufacturing, they would think we were speaking Japanese. Sure, you have
seen a boat, maybe ridden in or driven a boat, but you probably don't know
where the hell the aft port gunnel is versus the transducer puck assembly's
bilge location. But I do (unfortunately). The manuals I do only benefit
the people that use them. The bill of materials does not help a Joe
collector find a gold-helmeted Steel Brigade, or a Star Wars collector find
an original 1/6 scale IG-88. Hell, it won't even show you how to get from
Kansas City to Atlanta. However, it is important to the production line.
I have worked here for over a decade. I have never owned a boat, I don't
fish. But I am good at this one thing. No one will ever know ten years
from now how much my work helped the assembly line. But I do it because I
can (and it pays fair money, but that isn't my point).
What you have done for the hobby is important to the hobby. It has been
since I read the comics and enjoyed your insight on the letters pages.
You want to see a bunch of freaks? Go to our Dealer Convention, or one of
our boat shows. Watch as grown men and women scramble to get an autograph
from one of our Pro Anglers. "Hey, this guy won the Bass Master Classic in
1989, and he autographed my hat". Whoopedeeedooo. Have a person who gets
paid to fish, gets the boat they drive paid for, all of the equipment free,
set and tell you what needs to happen to your company's boats before he can
feel good about driving one. Do you see any similarities? These people
don't fish to survive, it's a HOBBY.
My life's work is doing things to make someone else's hobby more enjoyable.
At least you enjoy the end product. Oh, sure, you're still pissed about
that whole world logo thing. But at least you have had an opportunity
others in the hobby would love to have.
I love GI Joe. All of it. I may not like everything that happens, and I
get angry about quality and continuity issues. Why? Because this is MY
hobby. I don't care if anyone else knows what swivel-arm battle grip is.
Or what the difference between the DIC and Sunbow is. It does not bother me
that my friends don't know who Dragon is, or the difference between Soldiers
of the World and Ultimate Soldier (my sister will never get this). What
matters is that it is my thing, my hobby.
BTW, I know how you feel. When I saw SW Ep1(yes, I went opening night) last
year, I wore a Star Wars shirt. Okay, I know, big deal. Well, at the time,
I had a goatee. Still not a big deal? How about that I weigh 275 pounds.
Do you know how many fat guys with goatees and Star Wars shirts were there
that night? Geez, I felt like the comic book guy on the Simpsons. So now,
I go for the Peter Griffin look (somebody please admit they like Family
Guy). :-)
Sorry for the long post, but I hope you get out of this funk, we need you on
the battlefield.
Okay, I have to go, lunch break is way over, if you know what I mean.
John
ITFC #50B
GI Trekker wrote in message
<20000704112918...@ng-bj1.aol.com>...
>SNIP
>
>And the bottom line is this: When does a hobby or an interest become an
>obsession? These people were crazy enough to make idiots of themselves in
>public by dressing up in the silliest costumes I've ever seen in my life.
They
>weren't getting paid to do so. This was just how "into" their primary
interest
>they were. I have to say that I just don't think it's that rational to
paint
>your bald (shaved?) head like a Pokemon ball.
>
>But -- are we any different in principle?
>
>Am I?
>
sha...@my-deja.com
I cannot let it take over my life. I go see non-toy movies, i hang out
with my friends, heck, i'm even about to propose to my lady fair. I
asked myself if she was more important than G.I.Joe, or Transformers,
or the really cool Batman Animated figures coming out. My answer was a
very simple no. I told her that I would give it up for her, and she
said no, as long as I show some restraint.
Yes, I have griped about the Star Wars people, dressed like yoda,
camped out for tickets three months in advance. But I realized that
they have the right to do it.
The bottom line is this, fandom of any sort is a way to relax and
somewhat escape reality. We all take ourselves way too seriously.
Costumes can be a way to play, and in this day and age, we all need to
play a little. relax man, you're not any more involved in this than you
want to be.
I'm gonna go work on my Cobra Commander uniform now.
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Timmer
>asked myself if she was more important than G.I.Joe, or Transformers,
>or the really cool Batman Animated figures coming out. My answer was a
>very simple no. I told her that I would give it up for her, and she
>said no, as long as I show some restraint.
>
Now that's something I'd never do. Not because I love gijoe, although I do,
but just because of the principle. I mean, in essence, you're saying you'd
give up one of you major hobbies, if not THE major hobby for a girl.
I totally respect you if you wanna do that, but I wouldn't. I know a girl
I'd marry in a split second, but to give up my main hobby? One of the things
that defines me?
Nope, that would mean she'd only want PART of who I am, not the whole me.
Timmer
Robot Sonic
such. Last month, I had over 25 transactions that were either trades,
purchases or sales. That's nearly 1 a day. I'm now taking 60 days off
with no buying, selling, trading, or anything else. Collecting does
take a huge chunk of my time. It takes a careful eye to ensure it
doesn't dominate my life.
I put together a database that tracks my spending by month on toys.
When I summed up what I have already spent this year, it is a measurable
portion of my yearly income. I've finally had to take stock and say,
"do I really need 30 1993 Snow Serpents?".
I love collecting, but when I buy figures that I don't open because I
have no use for them (like the 15 carded Stormtroopers sitting in my
closet), I have to wonder if I'm starting to go too far.
sha...@my-deja.com
"Timmer" <deathc...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> <<Now that's something I'd never do. Not because I love gijoe,
although I do,
> but just because of the principle. I mean, in essence, you're saying
you'd
> give up one of you major hobbies, if not THE major hobby for a girl.
> I totally respect you if you wanna do that, but I wouldn't. I know a
girl
> I'd marry in a split second, but to give up my main hobby? One of the
things
> that defines me?
> Nope, that would mean she'd only want PART of who I am, not the whole
me.
>
> Timmer>>
Funny thing is, she said about the same thing. But, not only would I be
a husband, i'd be a father as well. Some things truely are more
important than a hobby.
BRAVO
1993 Snow Serpents?". "
30?! That's a lot...but if Cobra needs to go to warfare in cold
weather, they'll be needed!!
"I love collecting, but when I buy figures that I don't open
because I have no use for them (like the 15 carded Stormtroopers
sitting in my closet), I have to wonder if I'm starting to go
too far."
Uh-huh. The other day I bought marked down Titan AE Drej fighter
and drone figure toys at TRU. When I got home and opened them, I
was like "Why did I buy these?"
In fact, I cut back on toy collecting when I realized I'm too
old to play with toys, and most opened goes into a box with
other under-appreciated figures, while most unopened stuff is
better left unbought. I was buying a lot of discounted Star Wars
trooper types when I realized that no matter how many I had,
they weren't much fun. A lot of preposed stormtoopers that can
barely stand-up just don't cut it (never saw that new
stormtrooper they alledgely made). Imperial Royal Guards that
can't move look impressive lined up, but are as much fun as
empty salt shakers. Maybe when I was 10, they woulda ruled but
not anymore.
Sometimes less is more. I appreciated what toys I had back when
I was young. Nowdays, there's so much, that I forget what I even
own. Aka "We had one lousy tatooine Luke Skywalker, and we liked
it! If his lightsaber broke, aww, too bad. I guess Luke will
point an empty tube at bad guys!"
You might want to re-evaluate your hobby. Are you collecting
something you've gotten tired of, but still buy out of habit?
Would money being spent on current stuff be better spent
aquiring vintage items? Are bill collectors harassing you? Are
fasting, because you'd rather buy toys than eat? Do you wait
outside TRU at 5 A.M. to get the new stuff?
Do what's right for you.
"Cobra Commander knows I can't read!"
-----------------------------------------------------------
Got questions? Get answers over the phone at Keen.com.
Up to 100 minutes free!
http://www.keen.com
Starduster72
had it. Sometimes, even stuff I knew I didn't like! Collecting
can become obsessive, just like everything else in life.
You know that old adage? "Too much of a good thing..." Well, that
was me. I burned out on comics and toys. I went back and forth
collecting G.I. Joe, all through my childhood. It was always my
favorite toy, but I would grow tired of it. So DC'S Super
Powers, Secret Wars, Master of the Universe, Star Wars and stuff
like that would take its place. But I always came back to the
Joes.
Now that I'm an adult, [last time I checked!] I try to focus on
what helped me along when I was a kid, and that's G.I. Joe.
I only recently began collecting again, thanks to a good pal of
mine. [Hi, Jim!] I was about to sell the stuff I had left over
from the last time I collected, but he encouraged me to stay in
the game. So the Joes began to help me through adulthood, as
well.
We all have our reasons for being in this hobby. I like to think
it's because it gives us pleasure. A nice, clean sense of
pleasure that we felt as kids. It made us feel good about
ourselves, so we try to regain that healthy feeling of
well-being, as adults.
Everyone else, should be so lucky...
GI Trekker
"do I really need 30 1993 Snow Serpents?".
I love collecting, but when I buy figures that I don't open because I
have no use for them (like the 15 carded Stormtroopers sitting in my
closet), I have to wonder if I'm starting to go too far.>>
This is the sort of thing I;m talking about. I find myself in the same
situation in basic principle.
GI Trekker
old to play with toys, and most opened goes into a box with
other under-appreciated figures, while most unopened stuff is
better left unbought. I was buying a lot of discounted Star Wars
trooper types when I realized that no matter how many I had,
they weren't much fun.>>
Another case in point I can relate to.
Robot Sonic
because the original 22 are sitting in a box full of mail away figures.
Still, though, I live in the desert. What use do I have for artic
troops in the desert?!? I don't think it's snowed here in my lifetime!
BRAVO wrote:
>
> "I've finally had to take stock and say, "do I really need 30
> 1993 Snow Serpents?". "
>
> 30?! That's a lot...but if Cobra needs to go to warfare in cold
> weather, they'll be needed!!
--
Check out my Joe website for pictures, trades, and my wanted list!
http://act1.net/users/mike/joe.htm
Updated 6/15/00
Added - 1993 Dino Hunters Low Light and 1994 Ozone!
BRAVO
"What the hell is a "Bubblegum Crisis"?"
Ever get the stuff in your hair? Heh-heh.
"When does a hobby or an interest become an obsession? These
people were crazy enough to make idiots of themselves in public
by dressing up in the silliest costumes I've ever seen in my
life. They weren't getting paid to do so. This was just
how "into" their primary interest they were."
When I lived on the East coast, I went to a Star Trek convention
or two (mainly to score free posters and check out the dealer
booths), seeing people in Trek uniforms is odd, seeing someone
made up as a Klingon, bumpy head and all, is down right bizzare.
Some of these costumed people went to a nearby mall, where
friends of mine worked. I think that's when it gets obsessive,
dressing up for a convention is one thing, going around dressed
up as your favorite character in public is another, unless it's
Halloween.
"But -- are we any different in principle?"
Good question. I dunno. Depends on the person. Fan is short
for "fanatic". But even if we are the same in principle, we may
not be in actions. We may know everything there is to know about
Destro or Snake-Eyes, but we don't dress-up like them. Does that
make us better? Possibly, or perhaps just more rational.
"How about you?"
Yesterday, I found myself on Ebay looking at an auction for
those "Find-your-Fate" GI JOE paperback books. Do I need those?
The only thing neat about them are the covers, many of which can
be seen at yojoe.com. Fortunately, I'm cheap, and didn't bid on
them. I also looked for the GIJOE Nintendo games on Ebay. Do I
know if these games are even fun? No. Never played them.
No doubt about it. I think the internet has made me more
obsessive about GI JOE. Information overload. Suddenly, It's
like you feel the need to make a website to validate your love
of GI JOE, and to be on the same level as other fans. I find
myself comparing my collection to other people's, quibbling over
trivia, looking at the same web sites over and over, and getting
frustrated when I get outbid on ebay. The results: envy, greed,
impatience (when are they gonna update that website?) and
internet addiciton. Bad things. I get to the point where lose
site of why I liked GI JOE to begin with. It's like I'm more
amused by information about GI JOE, than the toys themselves.
Kinda like owning a sports car, bragging about it, taking
pictures of it, writing essays on why it's so cool, but never
driving it. Not good.
"Cobra Commander knows I can't read!"
-----------------------------------------------------------
Robot Sonic
near Cincinatti. Needless to say, I wasn't of the sharpest mental
capacity (good beer, cheap wine, and roast pig don't mix). Anyways, a
bunch of guys dressed in full Klingon regalia came in and ordered food.
Despite all the stares from half drunk teenagers, they were actually
decent guys. My buddy was harassing them, but they humoured him and
actually had him doing Klingon salutes in the middle of the restaurant
before we left.
If only that had been the most bizarre thing that happened that
night....
BRAVO wrote:
> When I lived on the East coast, I went to a Star Trek convention
> or two (mainly to score free posters and check out the dealer
> booths), seeing people in Trek uniforms is odd, seeing someone
> made up as a Klingon, bumpy head and all, is down right bizzare.
> Some of these costumed people went to a nearby mall, where
> friends of mine worked. I think that's when it gets obsessive,
> dressing up for a convention is one thing, going around dressed
> up as your favorite character in public is another, unless it's
> Halloween.
--
Timmer
>although I do,
>> but just because of the principle. I mean, in essence, you're saying
>you'd
>> give up one of you major hobbies, if not THE major hobby for a girl.
>
>
>
>> I totally respect you if you wanna do that, but I wouldn't. I know a
>girl
>> I'd marry in a split second, but to give up my main hobby? One of the
>things
>> that defines me?
>> Nope, that would mean she'd only want PART of who I am, not the whole
>me.
>>
>> Timmer>>
>
>
>Funny thing is, she said about the same thing. But, not only would I be
>a husband, i'd be a father as well. Some things truely are more
>important than a hobby.
>>
Off course any children you have should come before your hobbies!
Ahhh but that's also part of the beauty of this hobby, you can enjoy it with
your kids!
Let them play with your Joes, give them the comics, let them watch the toon.
And with a new line of Joes on the way, you don't have to worry about them
using your silver padded Grand Slam as a teething ring!
Timmer
Jlt8382
the guys I know who like the same things I do (star trek, star wars,
transformers, joes, role playing games, computer games) really seem like
wierdos sometimes. I'm not trying to say that I'm perfect, but I don't let the
things I like run my life. Yeah, I like Joes and Transformers because they
were my fave toy when I was a kid, I played with them a ton and watched the
cartoon shows religiously. So now as an adult, and being smart enough to hang
on to my joes at least, I find myself pulling them out every once in a while,
strapping thier gear on (isn't it amazing how 10 years can go by and you still
know what pack goes with whom?) and seeing that hey, ya know I played really
hard with these guys...It'd be nice to have fresh ones, preserved the way I
remember them as a child. Finding this newsgroup and the excellent yojoe.com
site have also helped fan the flames for me. But I am an adult, and I have
other concerns in life now...no way will I let little plastic guys run my life,
or phasers and tri-corders or magic the gathering or pokemon or whatever! How
can anyone justify 30 of the same figure? I mean I know it is easy to just get
the rush of getting them, but come on! I personally have 3 crimson gaurdsmen,
why? because they are probably my most favorite one ever. Do I really need 3?
nope. Would I buy 10 more if I had the chance? Maybe if it was garage sale
prices....Enjoy your hobby, but don't confine yourself in that little niche
alone. There's a big world out there with lots of different things.
Robot Sonic
get them all, but now they just collect dust.
Jlt8382 wrote:
How
> can anyone justify 30 of the same figure? I mean I know it is easy to just get
> the rush of getting them, but come on!
--
Check out my Joe website for pictures, trades, and my wanted list!
http://act1.net/users/mike/joe.htm
Updated 7/6/00
Added - 1985 Buzzer
Kloviacan
'em all" mentality. Now I live with the "do I really want this" mentality.
It's stopped me from making many stupid purchases and auction bids.
My biggest toy purchase lately was (in total) about $100 for a bunch of Star
Force figures, vehicles, and playsets. I bought 30 figures (8 three-packs and
3 two-packs), 2 space shuttle launch towers, an extra space shuttle, and two
4-wheeled rovers. The difference between this and, for instance, buying fleets
of Vehicons or armies of Stormtroopers (both of which I've fought back the
tempation to do) was that I really wanted this Star Force junk! Most of my
toys are rotated to and from a set of shelves built into my basement wall.
(Ironically, its right by my desk where I pay all my bills.) I keep them
displayed there until I'm sick of looking at them. Then I switch them with
something else until I'm sick of looking at that. But when I bought all that
Star Force stuff, I actually PLAYED with it. I had a blast! I even made all
those swooshing and vrooming noises. (OK, I admit, no one else was home at the
time.) The point is I decided that I really wanted these. I realized I could
easily afford them and so I bought them. (I'm still looking for the Star Force
APC, the 6-wheeled rover, and the space capsule.)
I don't intend to buy every new G.I.Joe toy coming out this year. Why?
Because I only want what I want. If you want them all, great! If you don't
want them all, but buy them all anyway, your being foolish with your money.
BTW, Thomas (I can call you Thomas, right?) although it's not common, no one
thinks it's weird for a retired old guy to have a basement full of electric
trains running on tables that take up the whole room. I think that in 20-30
years, it'll still be uncommon, but no one will think it's weird to have a
basement full of G.I.Joe, Transformers, or Star Wars toys spread out on tables.
At least that's my opinion.
Starduster72
been cool to have a neighbor like him. It's sad that a nice old
guy like that, whose only hobby was playing with trains, could
not be safe from the scum of the world.
The good guys tend to suffer the worst fates...
GI Trekker
thinks it's weird for a retired old guy to have a basement full of electric
trains running on tables that take up the whole room. I think that in 20-30
years, it'll still be uncommon, but no one will think it's weird to have a
basement full of G.I.Joe, Transformers, or Star Wars toys spread out on tables.
At least that's my opinion.>>
Interesting you should mention trains and a "retired old guy." When I was a
child living in the more fashionable outskirts of Detroit (my father was the
executive VP for The Detroit News), there was a wealthy man in the area named
Al Glancy. He lived in a mansion that didn't measure its size in square
footage, but acreage. At least that was how the place looked to me at the time.
He had converted the better part of his basement into a customized train set
that had to be seen to be believed. Dozens of trains, running throughout
several towns on this immense L-shaped environment that ran along two walls of
the basement. There was a control panel for the entire works behind a podium.
You could stare at this for hours and still not catch all the details. There
was even a working rocket launcher! (The rocket was caught in a net.) Every
year, not long after New Years', he'd have a party at his house for friends and
colleagues and we were always invited. Of course the party included children.
It's one of my fonder memories.
Alas, the story does not have a happy conclusion. In the early 1970's, some
piece of trash broke into the Glancy home to burglarize the place. Mr. Glancy
surprised the scum and got killed for his trouble. Mrs. Glancy sold the house
and the property and moved away. The site was, I believe, eventually converted
into condominiums. The trains, however, as I recall, did make their way to the
Detroit Historical Society. So they, at least, were preserved.