Are you ashamed of your hobby?

GeneticDeviant

OK well the titl's maybe a little strong but please let me explain. I have just recently got into the warhammer 40k hobby and i dont for a minute think its something to be ashamed of..........

However, despite being proud of my hobby i find myself being very reluctant to openly confess to it around certain types of people. Am i the only one here that finds this?

Whilst i have friends that share the hobby with me and we talk about it openly and passionately and that is great. Any friends not into the hobby i'm somewhat shy and embarassed to admit it.

Guess ive been kicked down by peoples narrowminded stereotypical ignorance about niche hobbies like this and don't want them to pigeon-hole me into that same stereotype.

I wouldn't admit to being into Warhammer 40k to someone i had not known for a long time.

Im just a normal 30 something guy, living with his girlfriend, likes nothing better than a game of warhammer, a pint and football. nothing unusual there but as soon as i mention warhammer people then portray me as being a nerdy non girlfriend computer addict who never leaves his bedroom and has no social life at all.

Many people who share our hobby do not fit into this stereotype at all.

Guess my point to the thread was to find out if people like me who have a hobby the same or similar find themselves reluctant to admit it or talk about it in certain company?

What experiences of ignorance towards your hobby have you experienced before?

Frogdog

My God I thought I was the only one out there that felt like this.

Even my brother and sister still think I'm playing with "toy soldiers" at 26! :mad:

I suppose there is a stereotype of gamer out there - black clothes, little fashion sense, pale spotty skin, glasses, overweight/underweight, into computers and no sports etc etc. But is there no smoke without a fire???

Cy_Revenant

Frogdog wrote: »

My God I thought I was the only one out there that felt like this.

Even my brother and sister still think I'm playing with "toy soldiers" at 26! :mad:

Because you are playing with toy soldiers.

Personally, I'll happy list my hobbies to anyone who asks, and playing with toy soldiers is certainly one of them.

Sure, people call me a nerd for it, but that doesn't bother me at all.

I enjoy my nerdy pasttimes, if that makes me a nerd, a nerd I am.

Sigard

Now that I think about it, I'd have to say no, I'm not terribly embarrassed to tell people about my hobby. I've been playing with 'toy soldiers' since I was 12, so any hope my folks might have had for a sporting career were dashed long ago .

I'm 26 now, so after 14 years, I think I've embraced my inner (and outer) geek. As for other peoples reactions to my hobby, it can vary. Generally as I get older though, its less of an issue.

Warmaster

After working in workshop I got over the embarassment of playing with toy soldiers pretty damn fast

2 Espressi

vince noir

No never been bothered of what other people think of the things I do... Why should I be?

I have happily been playing with toy soldiers for 25 years.

I also managed to get a wife in that time too, so I cant be too geeky.

Frogdog

Well I suppose I should try and explain myself more - I'm not embarassed by it, not in the slightest. I love the hobby. I love the playing and I love the painting. But I've come across so much negative reaction to it that it's tiresome trying to explain to people that it's not just "toy soldiers". I guess I come from a part of this island where things like this hobby wouldn't be accepted as much as they would be in a major town or city.

GeneticDeviant

i am not embarassed by playing with so called "toy soldiers". just that some people have this kinda dismissive stereotypical nerdy view of the hobby which in my opinion is wrong. Whats so different than playing playstation or xbox? that still involves playing with fictional characters in a fictional made up fantastatical scenario.

So have anyone been the victim of ignorance toards their hobby from a third party? any examples?

TomCo

GeneticDeviant wrote: »

So have anyone been the victim of ignorance toards their hobby from a third party? any examples?

I was in my girlfriends place sitting in the living room with her, one of her housemates and his (irritating as ****) boyfriend.

We were talking about board games or something and I said to her that I had a great game (Space Hulk) she might like to try. When I mentioned that it involved some dice rolling the housemates boyfriend butts in with -

"OMG I knew this guy in school roight, and he played this 'wargamer' or something and all he did was paint these toy men all day and roll dice. Isnt that the stupidest thing you've ever heard?"

in the campest D4 accent you've ever heard, all with this air of embarrassment at even mentioning something so "stupid".
An absolute wanker altogether, cannot stand the sight of him or his ugly mush.

oniondublin

Yeah, i feel your pain. I'm always by surprised how much of that primary school style thinking still goes on, no matter what age people are. What I object to is being labelled. But the same goes on among all sorts of people. For example, if you mention to a certain type of anti-sport nerd that you play rugby, you get labelled as a no-brain D4 jock. If you mention to a bunch of serious, back arse of Mayo, GAA heads that you read poetry you get labelled as a poofter. If you mention to some philosophy students that you work in the bank then you get labelled as a soulless, corporate sellout. People are just people.

The two interests that i am a bit...reticent about telling people about are warhammer and wrestling. With wargaming i always think it's funny that the fluff, if presented in a computer game, would be massively popular. I also think that plenty of computer games are just the lazy man's wargaming. The computer just paints the men, works out the points cost and rolls the dice for you.

Blacey

Hi,

I'm not into gaming, but I just stumbled on this thread. However, I just wanted to say that I think having a hobby that you enjoy is nothing to be ashamed of. I'd be more ashamed of not having a hobby at all, or if my sole hobby was going out on the lash. Do what makes you happy, and to hell with anyone who can't understand that

MarkHall

Not Ashamed. It's what I like to do.
Sure I occassionally get flakk off folks.
But if you don't let it bother you what's the harm.


My work crew are nerds for Golf,Football,Snooker. I have pionted this out to them and dispite refusals to accept. All you have to do is ask an obsurce question about the sport and you have your proof there.
Different strokes for different folks.

Well Said Blacey.

Blacey

MarkHall wrote: »

My work crew are nerds for Golf,Football,Snooker. I have pionted this out to them and dispite refusals to accept. All you have to do is ask an obsurce question about the sport and you have your proof there.

True!

Naessens

I would happily tell anyone that i play warhammer, if they know what it is, BUT where i live most people don't know what it is and i get funny looks when i start explaining.

"eh, you buy little plastic guys for about €3 each, no there about an inch high, yeah, and then you paint them and the have wars with them, yeah i collect the space marines...."

Commence embarrassment.

Pimp Ninja

Not in the slightest. All my friends are well aware I used to play and have taken the hobby back up.

I occassionally take models into the office and paint on my breaks, get a few interested questions and some people tell me about their kids playing it but thats about it.

The only weirdness I get is from younger gamers (mid teenagers) I know from outside 40k. After they find out I play as well as them, they wonder why a guy twice their age plays the same games as them.
The answer given is usually something along the lines of, "Well you play it and you think its a good game, why shouldnt I?" Then theres a kind of .. Ohhhh right.

Careful

not really embarrased in my life about warhammer or any other geek hobbies i have.

Sometimes it can be odd the get funny comments about that after watching trainspotting: "choose a life, choose a job..." :eek:

MarkHall

Naessens wrote: »

I would happily tell anyone that i play warhammer, if they know what it is, BUT where i live most people don't know what it is and i get funny looks when i start explaining.

"eh, you buy little plastic guys for about €3 each, no there about an inch high, yeah, and then you paint them and the have wars with them, yeah i collect the space marines...."

Commence embarrassment.

Say chrss with dice . tis an easier discription.

ilovenerf

I modify nerf guns for my hobby, and it is extremely fun but, I want to tell my friends about it and show them how cool it is, the only thing is, I don't know if I should tell them because they may think I am a loser or something. What do you guys think I should do?
(I am also in grade 7 if that helps anyone out)

*EDIT* I just noticed that this was for mini-figs...Sorry.

Fouloleron

After a gap of over 12 years I decided to get back into playing and collecting (primarily play War-hammer fantasy).

Now I will not deny I do feel that it is a somewhat nerdy hobby, but I am not ashamed. True it can be called "Playing with toy soldiers" but at the same time, most miniature gaming hobbies are much more than "playing" .

In my hobby I can paint these models, craft them even theme my armies around a playing style or can even just collect them to paint.

Yes it is nerdy but at my current age (mid twenties) i could not care less.

I have tried lots of other "normal" hobbies and none really compare to the enjoyment I get from miniature gaming.

True there are mates of mine who would slag me about it but I dont mind, least i have a hobby I really enjoy.

CruelCoin

When i was in school i used to bury it, but now at 25, its much easier to be open about it.

Everyone knows, and anyone who isn't a douche is grand with it. Each to their own.

It doesn't matter how old you are, the WAAAAAAGH is hard to resist!

crimsonfire

I'm like the Black Panther equivalent of a nerd at this stage. I proudly call myself a nerd and get all militant and in your face about haha. Seriously.

I don't play 40k anymore but I've gotten all sorts of reactions to it. I remember sheepishly telling someone I play it years ago and they said they did too and I didn't seem like the "sort" who played it. I will admit there are people who just don't get it and I wouldn't dream of telling them but then again I don't get professional football and think its a bunch of overpaid, egotistical knobs playing a criminally boring game so opinions are like ar*eholes and us nerds can be just as bad as a would-be 40k basher.

Sephiroth_dude

Never be ashamed of your hobby if its something your truely passionate about.

WorldSocksBox

I have no shame! I'm 28 and have no problem playing games in the pub while others around me watch the soccer. Each to their own in my opinion! If others want to label me a nerd, that's ok, I'm happy being one, it doesn't bother me. Most people's opinions mean less than nothing to me anyway!

Khorne_Dogg

short answer: NO

Long answer: like pimp ninja I to paint/ assemble my models during my lunch break. As I am married with 2 kids its the only time I have free

I have gotten some weird comments/ questions but it doesn't bother me. I think it silly sitting down for 90 minutes watching 22 grown men chasing after an inflated pigs bladder. :rolleyes:

PS I will be 37 in October

funky penguin

I was a little ashamed as a kid, but I've now come to realise the value of collecting 40K and how it has completely changed my life.

I was (playfully) branded a geek by my mates for wanting to drop into GW when in town, and equally so for having an army at home. I never really play, just collect and paint.

Whenever I did paint, I ALWAYS had to have music playing. It was my main down time from school, and I'm not a man who can just sit down and listen to music. I need to be doing something as well.

One day, I decided to put on lyric FM. Bang. My life changed forever. I properly listened to classical music for the first time, and took up the piano a year after doing teh Leaving cert (in a dead end job, and 40K was my only hobby....I was a little bit of a stereotype :P )

The skills I learned from painting and collecting I applied to piano.....patience, practice, little by little.....learning from mistakes and in pursuit of personal goals/perfections.

Long story short, I now have a degree in music, finishing up an MA in it and going to Japan for a year to teach English....and hopefully once again take up the hobby I had to put aside for my college years.

I suppose my point is that while 40K was just a hobby to me....it was secretly teaching me valuable life skills that I'll keep forever.

cat_rant

I tend not to talk about GW stuff with non gamers. I sometimes don't discuss it with other gamers depending on group dynamic's. In my work place they all know I am very nerdy, but really I just don't want to add fuel to the fire. Currently I am painting 40 k Orcs. After 12 -14 years away from GW Miniatures.

We now have a ten year old in the house who has gotten very interested myself and the BF are painting and collecting with him. So it has become a family hobby and a nice way for use to spend calm quiet time of an evening constructing and painting.

Waking-Dreams

It is funny how computer games are deemed cool and not necessarily for “nerds” but yet miniature games (which often share the exact same war themes as many of the popular computer games) are slagged off as being for the “geeks”. And when you think about it, the majority of video games appear to be single player which only reinforces gamers sitting in a room playing alone (as I'm sure we all know the pain of being a bored video game spectator) whereas miniature gaming is a lot more sociable.

I guess the main reason people may not mention their hobby to non-gamers is because they do not identify with some of the more “socially awkward” people who do play the game. Many non-gamers, through their own limited set of observations, appear to have a preconception about the type of people who enjoy miniature gaming (“GW – huh, isn't that the virgin capital of the world?” etc.).

Though, maybe older gamers should be more vocal about their hobby to others, which over time might break down the stereotype of the nerd gamer. It's obvious to all who play the hobby that tons of gamers all have “normal” jobs, relationships, and styles of dress, so the more visibly diverse the people who play the game appear to all the non-gamers, the easier it may be to halt any future pigeonholing in its tracks. “Oh, I never knew it was that popular. You've changed my opinion about the whole thing”. Maybe this is just wishful thinking.

I used to play 40K when I was 12-15 then dropped it to pursue music (drums) but I'm recently back playing again and love it. I haven't lost my painting skills either despite not having touched a brush in 12 years or so.

tmc86

I came across this thread on the homepage and it caught my eye!

I am not a warhammer or wargaming player myself but I know the basic idea of it and it has always been there since I was a kid. I've gone into the shops with friends to have a look and some friends used to play too.

I simply never got into it or never really tried not out of the stigma attached with it but I just had other interests.

What suprises me here is how many people who do play it use the words "nerd/nerdy/geeky" when describing their hobby. I don't see how it is nerdy, it is just another hobby and interest. The only reason it is associated with being nerdy is because of small minded people who have stereotyped the hobby and now a stigma is attached.

People are afraid of what they don't understand and have branded it as a geeky/nerdy game and now sadly the players of the game and the enthusiasts have been tricked into believing it is nerdy too.

It is only nerdy because the small minded people have labelled it, in reality it is just another hobby at the end of the day.

JoePie

I fell out of it a bit around second year of college. Just too much going on. Still bought the odd White Dwarf or Black Library novel though. A knew a lot more nerds back then and they had no problem with it. Some of my friends though slag me for it. Like, they don't mind that I do it, they're just not into it. Gave away a silly amount of stuff I had collecting dust in my room about two years ago to a mate. Kept my half-painted Wulfen army though. Promised myself I'd come back to it eventually. Maybe when I move back home.

Although, with the Blanch Centre GW store gone, I don't fancy trekking into town for supplies.

Khorne_Dogg

tmc86 wrote: »

I came across this thread on the homepage and it caught my eye!

I am not a warhammer or wargaming player myself but I know the basic idea of it and it has always been there since I was a kid. I've gone into the shops with friends to have a look and some friends used to play too.

I simply never got into it or never really tried not out of the stigma attached with it but I just had other interests.

What suprises me here is how many people who do play it use the words "nerd/nerdy/geeky" when describing their hobby. I don't see how it is nerdy, it is just another hobby and interest. The only reason it is associated with being nerdy is because of small minded people who have stereotyped the hobby and now a stigma is attached.

People are afraid of what they don't understand and have branded it as a geeky/nerdy game and now sadly the players of the game and the enthusiasts have been tricked into believing it is nerdy too.

It is only nerdy because the small minded people have labelled it, in reality it is just another hobby at the end of the day.

I play the game and am proud to call myself a nerd. to brake it down to its basics I am a 36 year old married man with 2 kids that still plays with toy soldiers. I Play computer games, i play Role-playing, I read Sci-fi and Fantasy books, my 8 year old son collects pokemon cards and I help him with that. I am the ultimate nerd but the important thing to remember is that I am doing what I enjoy and couldn't give two "you know whats" what anybody else thinks!

Avien

JoePie wrote: »

I fell out of it a bit around second year of college. Just too much going on. Still bought the odd White Dwarf or Black Library novel though. A knew a lot more nerds back then and they had no problem with it. Some of my friends though slag me for it. Like, they don't mind that I do it, they're just not into it. Gave away a silly amount of stuff I had collecting dust in my room about two years ago to a mate. Kept my half-painted Wulfen army though. Promised myself I'd come back to it eventually. Maybe when I move back home.

Although, with the Blanch Centre GW store gone, I don't fancy trekking into town for supplies.

Mail order from GW's site. The stuff always arrives fairly quickly. I've taken to batch ordering paints online since blanch GW closed. Postage is only a couple of euro so it actually costs less than going into town yourself!

On topic though- I tend not to tell people about the hobby cos I got bored of answering the same closed minded questions when I was a teenager. "why don't you play a real game like football??"

Oh maybe because I find painting and modelling a hell of a lot more relaxing than chasing a hunk of leather around for 90 minutes...


I'm now 26 and have been playing for 16 years and while I certainly wouldn't say I'm "ashamed" of my hobby, I don't tell people about it because I know that most people just don't get it. My girlfriends sister asked me about it before and while I was explaining it she just had this complete look of bemusement, and I could tell she was just thinking "okaaaay...loser..." obviously she didn't say it but you can always tell from the look lol.

And I've had less pleasant conversations where people have responded with things like "that sounds ****ing gay" or "why not just play computer games - same thing but less outcast worthy"

My view on hobbies is simple, if you enjoy it, and it helps you to relax then cool, just cos I don't like it doesn't make it weird.

That said, I never deny I play the game if I'm asked.I just tend not to bring it up myself.

=A=

moomooman

Have to say people shouldnt be ashamed. I'm 35 and havent played WH40k in nearly 20 years :eek: God I'm old...

I still love the whole universe around it though, the art, models and thank the emperor, now the video games. I've also gotten hooked on the Horus Heresy novels, WH40k always had an awesome back story.

I still have my Space Marine and Harlequin armies and the Hero Quest and Space Crusade games so I still have a bunch of unpainted miniatures that I always mean to sit down with and finish. :pac:

Conall Cernach

I used to be an avid collector for years up until around the release of the Lord of the Rings and the third edition of WH (think it was 3rd) but then GW seemed to up their prices drastically. I just couldn't face forking out more dosh to that lot. Now I'm happy enough painting away at my Prince August and Essex miniatures. They're a lot cheaper. For some reason admitting to having a collection of Napoleonic soldiers or a Roman Legion is a lot more acceptable than saying you're off to spray your Space Marine Bike Squad or dry brush your Orc Boar Boyz.

Avien

JoePie wrote: »

I fell out of it a bit around second year of college. Just too much going on. Still bought the odd White Dwarf or Black Library novel though. A knew a lot more nerds back then and they had no problem with it. Some of my friends though slag me for it. Like, they don't mind that I do it, they're just not into it. Gave away a silly amount of stuff I had collecting dust in my room about two years ago to a mate. Kept my half-painted Wulfen army though. Promised myself I'd come back to it eventually. Maybe when I move back home.

Although, with the Blanch Centre GW store gone, I don't fancy trekking into town for supplies.

Gut I suggest you consider darksphere miniatures
http://www.darksphere.co.uk/pgcat.php?m=2&c3=&c2=&c1=112&c=15⊂=1&PHPSESSID=8g3hr69uo2q902kmpncqj6tf42

Continent Simian

JoePie wrote: »

I fell out of it a bit around second year of college. Just too much going on. Still bought the odd White Dwarf or Black Library novel though. A knew a lot more nerds back then and they had no problem with it. Some of my friends though slag me for it. Like, they don't mind that I do it, they're just not into it. Gave away a silly amount of stuff I had collecting dust in my room about two years ago to a mate. Kept my half-painted Wulfen army though. Promised myself I'd come back to it eventually. Maybe when I move back home.

Although, with the Blanch Centre GW store gone, I don't fancy trekking into town for supplies.

It's as if "JoePie" is the alternative account I forgot I had.

Sing it, brother.

ballyturtles

Not in the slightest, of course it gets me lots of weird looks and people not knowing how to respond but I have learned to find that quite fun.

FitzjamesHorse

Not in slightest embarrassed.......although I am a Toy Soldier Collector rather than a Wargamer.
I am 59 and to be honest very little embarrasses me.
I collected plastic toy soldiers as a child and when I was about 15 gave them all away to a young cousin who did not treat the plastic figures in accordance with the Geneva Convention.
When I got married and had sons, I really couldnt wait for them to grow out of those Fisher Price type toys and when elder son was three, I brought him out to look for Toy Soldiers. And I was kinda shocked that many of the "names" from my youth......Crescent, Timpo, Cherilea had almost disappeared.
So...........to cut a long story slightly shorter I rediscovered the hobby at age 34 and have nearly 3,000 54mm.....those that were not already factory painted, I painted myself.
Am I embarrassed? No......

But I think I do get a little annoyed with people who assume that if I am interested in military miniatures, then I must be some kinda right wing freak. Although in fairness I am probably the only person that I know who collects toy soldiers and is a bit left of centre.

This can mean, people I meet at Collectors Fairs assume I am one of them so I usually wear a Che Guevara Tshirt to such events.......and this keeps the right wing folks away.

Heroditas

I had been interested in Warhammer since I was about 10 years old.
Had the original Warhammer rules and Rogue Trader and then drifted away from it until 1991 when Space Marine caught my eye.
Got interested again and built up several epic-scale armies and also a large 40k Ork army until giving up again in '94 (too much other stuff going on in college).

Started collecting the Horus Heresy books in 2008 after having my interest tickled one day when passing the Games Workshop in Abbey Street.
I was amazed to see how many more iterations of the rules for various games had been released since I was interested in the games.

Many years ago, people used to recreate old battles using Prince August figures.
Now people have battles with Orcs, dwarves etc and are called nerds as a result.
Does not compute!

I had sold my 40k Ork army.
I think I still have an epic army or two lurking somewhere. I must dig it out for a laugh.

olden

I'm more ashamed to admit how much I spend on my hobby than anything else. :rolleyes:

I think it also depends on the area you grow up in. I remember the Workshop in Blanchardstown was right next to the entrance of the centre and you'd always get funny looks from certain groups.

But to answer your question; no. I used to but then I starting thinking why anyone should waste energy caring about other people's opinions on your hobby. Your questionably expensive hobby.

funky penguin

Nothing questionable about it, it's why I don't collect anymore. It's a shameful monopoly, absolutely disgraceful, especially with the recent move to the resin.

Red_Wake

funky penguin wrote: »

Nothing questionable about it, it's why I don't collect anymore. It's a shameful monopoly, absolutely disgraceful, especially with the recent move to the resin.

What exactly would you have them do?

Let other companies make money off their IP?

Moving to resin is arguably the best thing they've done in years, very easy to work with, and because of it I have bought and painted models I wouldn't have if they were metal.

grugni

The only thing Im ashamed of is the backlog of miniatures I have to paint. Im always trying to clear them out before I buy something else. But it never seems to work, theres always a cheap item on ebay or a new shiney miniature released.

I do kinda have to agree with funky penguin that it is an expensive hobby but in recent years the quality of miniatures has really gone up at the same time. In the end games workshop are a company and their products for me would be deemed a "want" and not a "need" so I would guess they have been having a hard time in the current economic state...

funky penguin

Red_Wake wrote: »

What exactly would you have them do?

Let other companies make money off their IP?

Not at all. I would however like for them to treat their fans with a modicum of respect and not hike the prices during the changeover to resin. It was a slap in the face, especially since resin is cheaper than the white metal thingies.

I mean....for the love of God, it's €31 for a Tactical Squad now. Every frickin year they raise their prices. Perhaps the quality of some models have improved, but that's near enough the exact same tactical squad that I can remember paying just over €10 for about 10 years ago.

Perhaps monopoly was a poor choice in words.

But hey, I shouldn't complain, I don't play it anymore.

funky penguin

grugni wrote: »

I do kinda have to agree with funky penguin that it is an expensive hobby but in recent years the quality of miniatures has really gone up at the same time. In the end games workshop are a company and their products for me would be deemed a "want" and not a "need" so I would guess they have been having a hard time in the current economic state...

You'd think, wouldn't you?

http://investor.games-workshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/2011-Full-Year-Report-and-Accounts-full-25-July.pdf