So, I’m 31. Which isn’t really all that old, still considered a young adult, specially with the whole 30 is the new 20, 50 is the new 40 thing going on. However, sometimes I feel old.
For example, last night we were interviewing a listener for an upcoming show who is 16. The guy was generally upbeat and just had this whole positive glow about the world of Transformers. It didn’t help that all us older jaded fandom members were there talking with him.
So I’m trying to remember when I was 16 and what it was like…
Well for one, the internet was not very commonplace in most households. I’d use my high schools computer system to glimpse at what I could, but kept it under wraps as at that time you kept your geeky hobbies (collect toys, watch toon, read old comics, occasional zine depending on what lists/subscriptions you had) to yourself on grounds of social death. Only to be mentioned to your close friends unless you were one of those kids who openly played D&D in the lunchroom. Now that I look back, I’m proud of those kids for not being ashamed of who they were. However, I’m also proud to avoid that occasional jock beat down in the lunchroom.
Funny how the teachers would stop a fight, but let the popular kids physically abuse those kids.
Towards the end of high school I was a little more open about my hobbies, as I knew I was soon to never see these people ever again. Those I would, would be the ones I wanted to see again would be the ones who would be friends that did this unheard of thing in my school system called ‘accept you for who you are’. I’m kinda jaded about my school days (pre college) admittedly, but it didn’t help that there was a ton of jerks I didn’t want to know.
By college, I had the internet at home and began actively following my hobbies online as well as wore them proudly on my sleeve. College was fun for me because I generally was around more people I liked being around. Hell, even the douche bags attempted to be civil. Adult hood was awesome. Of course this was a high drama time in the Transformers fan base.
Beast Wars.
So no matter what outlet you went to for discussion online, there was always some kinda hate just happening or about to happen. Even the most civil discussions were wary of the one comment that could make the topic ASPOLDE! So one tended to be extra obnoxious about what they liked or didn’t due to territorial pissings.
Fun fact, at the time I could be normally seen in thrift store military pants, random t-shirt with a hoodie, randomly dyed hair with random spikes (or random lack of grooming), and Beast Wars written on my knuckles and backpack with sharpie. I RL trolled folks.
Ok, I was just another dork who thought he was hardcore. Ok I still am, just I’d like to think my appearance is more acceptable.
In retrospect, I looked like an ass.
As every geeky person grows, their living situation either turns into well kept dwelling. Or a chaotic dork zone with danger lurking behind every stack of gameboy cartridges. Between Doom deathmatches and viewings of old cartoon eps, the goober somehow finds time for work/school/social life. There’s always snack food/soda/junk food within hands reach for substance.
It’s safe to say 75% of the Transformers fanbase fell into the latter at that time.
It was a chaotic flame wars filled time that I will never forget and has permanently scarred me for life. I can’t help but to be a little bit jaded over issues that really never mattered. I’ve made friends and lost them over trivial matters of a hobby (as well as the random scumbag that anybody will easily meet in any fandom). I’ve met good people, bad people, and just people people because of these damn toy robots. In the passing years I’ve learned to stay away from a good deal of fandom politics as I just don’t want to fight over things that wouldn’t matter to me if I just didn’t get involved with.
So I talk to this guy yesterday, and I see such a positive upbeat attitude and a kid who’s proud to be a fan. He doesn’t mention other fans with an occasional sigh (yet), and is just so damn eager to enjoy his hobby without any form of drama blast shields raised. I’m kinda jealous, as he’s more free to enjoy his hobby at this time of his life than I was. I’m also kind of jealous of his pure and untainted love of his hobby. I really hope the kid has nothing but fun and doesn’t have to deal with much drama.
In the end, I wouldn’t trade my experiences with the fandom for anything. Some of my best friends are because I met them through a shared interest. I’ve had the time of my life on my own terms (mostly anyway) and in a world I’d rather live in (mostly).
However, some people/instances I would rather never happened and forever will be looked at as though they were Voldemort. That type of evil is best fought with ignore.
Rhinox farted.
’)
Friday, March 5, 2010 at 5:29PM 