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hotsauceman1 wrote:Im not really. Im afraid of being aasked. Because unless you are familiar with the game its really hard to explain the hobby.
Im also ashamed of how much i spend.

I'm not ashamed of my hobby, but I do try to keep the fact I play from non-wargamers which is basically 99% of the population, unless they ask what my hobby is.

I really hate the stigma that comes attached to playing miniature wargames, pc gaming and console gaming is just as geeky in my opinion. The sad thing is I have known people that have dropped out of Warhammer because of peer preassure from people and I have even seen youtube videos of people burning their Warhammer figures trying to re-gain their 'coolness'.

Henners91 wrote:Clearly the hobby should be something for us to be ashamed of: I was spraypainting some Grey Knights outside of my Halls of Residence today, right by the side of the building to escape the wind, and I had two ping pong balls and three bottle caps thrown at me from the windows...

I was embarassed untill I found the top notch kid in my school waving a defiler in my face at the FLGS. I mean he shouts piss off to teachers in school so everyone else does. I think I can recite at least 5 people who joined because he was. He even made a rap about (though I would rather keep my ears, thank you!). In fact I use the games as excuse for it (not strictly true, I had started before I knew about space marine and DOW!) so most people find it cool to let me chat (about gamesNstuff not 40K!) espicially when I tell them I have spraypaint(naturaully I do not telll them I use it to paint minis!)

I'm not ashamed of the hobby, but i don't bring it up in conversation. If it crops up, or if someone talks to me about it then i'll be happy to talk about it, but even then in front of non-modellers its limited.

I think there is a general public perception about the hobby that everyone of us know as mentioned in many of the previous posts.

One example, I play a lot of football and we were in the changing rooms after a game when someone who knew I did told the whole changing room after the "40 year old virgin" came up in conversation, and they all found it very amusing and still do now.

At school (10 years ago now) there were some people who did the whole war gaming thing, I always thought it looked cool, but school is hard enough without having that thrown back in your face, so I do it now, hiding in the cellar.

Im just glad my wife still loves me as I took up the hobby while I was with her (and she still married me last year). She actually enjoys the time on her own watching her soaps and reality tv while im painting away in the cellar.

Why should I be ashamed? Painting miniatures is a wonderful hobby.

Arm.chair.general wrote:I'm not ashamed of my hobby, but I do try to keep the fact I play from non-wargamers which is basically 99% of the population, unless they ask what my hobby is.

I really hate the stigma that comes attached to playing miniature wargames, pc gaming and console gaming is just as geeky in my opinion. The sad thing is I have known people that have dropped out of Warhammer because of peer preassure from people and I have even seen youtube videos of people burning their Warhammer figures trying to re-gain their 'coolness'.

Basically this is how I feel too.

I love it


I found a home. I always loved overpriced items anyways

leroy233 wrote:I'm not ashamed of the hobby, but i don't bring it up in conversation. If it crops up, or if someone talks to me about it then i'll be happy to talk about it, but even then in front of non-modellers its limited.

I think there is a general public perception about the hobby that everyone of us know as mentioned in many of the previous posts.

One example, I play a lot of football and we were in the changing rooms after a game when someone who knew I did told the whole changing room after the "40 year old virgin" came up in conversation, and they all found it very amusing and still do now.

At school (10 years ago now) there were some people who did the whole war gaming thing, I always thought it looked cool, but school is hard enough without having that thrown back in your face, so I do it now, hiding in the cellar.

Im just glad my wife still loves me as I took up the hobby while I was with her (and she still married me last year). She actually enjoys the time on her own watching her soaps and reality tv while im painting away in the cellar.

My girlfriend's been amazing with it. I confessed that I find I don't have much time for the hobby nowadays (I spend a good few evenings over hers keeping her company whilst she does her dissertation), she actually suggested that I move all my hobby stuff into her room.

Now whilst she taps away at her dissy and we have a chat, I'm sat in the corner painting on her coffee table. The past week has been rather harmonious and I've gotten a whole Stormraven done

A woman who tolerates your hobby? Pretty priceless.


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Arm.chair.general wrote:I'm not ashamed of my hobby, but I do try to keep the fact I play from non-wargamers which is basically 99% of the population, unless they ask what my hobby is.

I really hate the stigma that comes attached to playing miniature wargames, pc gaming and console gaming is just as geeky in my opinion. The sad thing is I have known people that have dropped out of Warhammer because of peer preassure from people and I have even seen youtube videos of people burning their Warhammer figures trying to re-gain their 'coolness'.

When they burn unpainted stuff it doesn't phase me, since they're effectively just burning their money.

But that figure looked like some love went into it once :(

Its the obscurity that makes it weird. no one know what it is.
If you meet someone and they ask you your hobby and you say
Chess, Math and painting they may find it weird but they know what it is.
But war hammer is something you have to look for to find so no one knows what it is.

Maybe in the US, but here in the UK I'd say that you have a 50/50 chance of (men) knowing what it is...

Women tend to be more clueless I find, but I think most boys were exposed to it either directly or through friends when growing up.

Of course this is because GW is on a great many highstreets and effectively is the only physical manifestation of miniature modelling on many of them. They represent an entire hobby niche.

Henners91 wrote:



When they burn unpainted stuff it doesn't phase me, since they're effectively just burning their money.

But that figure looked like some love went into it once :(

its their money. not that i'm a big fan of it, but they can do t if they please.

i'm more shocked at how well the pieces burn! crazy long burn!

Honestly everyone I know either supports it or does not confront me about it. I used to go down with the other junkie punks in the park and get high so when folks mock me for wargaming I tell them that if I was high on meth right now I would probably put them in the hospital. That normally shuts them up.

One time this kid was swinging around my friends army bag (newly painted and converted ogres in it). Now my friend is the more straightlaced almost preppy gamer and this other guy was just a wanna-be jock. So he is swinging the bag over his head mocking my friend about what is inside of it. A few seconds later he is on the ground and my friend has his bag back, guess the guy did not enjoy my steeltoe to the stomach.

My point is this, we will get mocked for it but we get mocked because those who find it funny lead very dull lives and that is how they get their kicks. Their hobby is mocking mine

This used to be a problem when I was younger. I think as you get older, start a family and career you lose your shame. Do what makes you happy in your free time!

Back in school I just worried it would stop me getting laid Now I'm old and the smell of boltgun metal reminds me of high school.

Girlfriend came over last night and base coated a GKT for me. Just thought I'd rub it in.

daedalus wrote:Girlfriend came over last night and base coated a GKT for me. Just thought I'd rub it in.

^ im waiting for that promised land....

n0t_u wrote:I'm sort of indifferent about it. I won't go up to everyone and start talking about it, but I won't change the subject if someone asks either. I guess the main reason people would try to hide it is the apparent social stigma that is associated with games like this and D&D and the embarrassment thinking about it creates.

This. I've never been one to immediately launch into an in depth conversation about it. But then, who does that anyway?

If people ask me what my hobbies are, I will include modelling or miniatures. If they ask me to elaborate, I'll tell them I build and paint miniature tanks for example. If I can tell they're a reasonable sort of person, I'll just flat out say "Yeah, I paint miniature toy soldiers."

I am not ashamed of my hobby. But I am fully aware of how nerdy it actually is. I would like to think I have a sense of humour about it.

Mad4Minis wrote:

NoArmorSave wrote:
Not everyone that plays it is what you would call a "geek". I am a cool, normal person that plays it. Let's see:

1 - I drive a Mercedes
2 - I wear Oakley sunglasses and clothing
3 - I hold 3 different blackbelts in martial arts, and used to compete in MMA events
4 - I used to Wakeboard a lot
5 - I used to play professional level Paintball
6 - I own an Old English Bulldog
7 - I used to be a bartender, with a large clientele
8 - I have no problem with the opposite sex
9 - I believe I can get anyone excited about battling it out on the tables of the 41st millenium.

So is everyone else on the internet...

Amen. I don't really care how "cool" people are irl, all I do know is, this hobby is nothing to be ashamed of. It's brilliant, entertaining, visually appealing, appeals to a pretty broad audience (shooty gunz and violent battles, need I say more?) - I could go on a spiel about how awesome my life is (supposedly) via the internet to further enhance my cyber-persona, about my constant orgies and escaping explosions at the perfect time (in slow motion, of course), but realistically, I'll confess - I consider myself a bit of a geek, but I'm not turned off by the notion. I have a decent social life, get good grades in school and indeed, this hobby may be viewed as nerdy. I'll talk about it with my nerd friends. I'll talk about it with my "cool" friends. They stay my friends at the end of the day, and not expressing my interests to those I want to associate with, that's just me not being genuine and I don't care for that thought at all. I like this hobby, and if people ask me about my interests, I don't care about social notions of what's "cool". I'll say what I like because it's part of who I am, and anybody who tries to "validate" or "Balance themselves out" by listing all the cool things about them despite being into the hobby is wasting their effort, as it's unnecessary, we love you anyways

Now...if you're into stuff like bukkake or Dane Cook...well, I'd have different opinions.

That being said, anybody wanna play a 2000 pt. game on VASSAL sometime? I won't judge you, promise

daedalus wrote:Girlfriend came over last night and base coated a GKT for me. Just thought I'd rub it in.

meh. my wife asked where her Tyranids were and if I could update her models.

XD That's pretty awesome

Titan Atlas wrote:

Mad4Minis wrote:

NoArmorSave wrote:
Not everyone that plays it is what you would call a "geek". I am a cool, normal person that plays it. Let's see:

1 - I drive a Mercedes
2 - I wear Oakley sunglasses and clothing
3 - I hold 3 different blackbelts in martial arts, and used to compete in MMA events
4 - I used to Wakeboard a lot
5 - I used to play professional level Paintball
6 - I own an Old English Bulldog
7 - I used to be a bartender, with a large clientele
8 - I have no problem with the opposite sex
9 - I believe I can get anyone excited about battling it out on the tables of the 41st millenium.

So is everyone else on the internet...

Amen. I don't really care how "cool" people are irl, all I do know is, this hobby is nothing to be ashamed of. It's brilliant, entertaining, visually appealing, appeals to a pretty broad audience (shooty gunz and violent battles, need I say more?) - I could go on a spiel about how awesome my life is (supposedly) via the internet to further enhance my cyber-persona, about my constant orgies and escaping explosions at the perfect time (in slow motion, of course), but realistically, I'll confess - I consider myself a bit of a geek, but I'm not turned off by the notion. I have a decent social life, get good grades in school and indeed, this hobby may be viewed as nerdy. I'll talk about it with my nerd friends. I'll talk about it with my "cool" friends. They stay my friends at the end of the day, and not expressing my interests to those I want to associate with, that's just me not being genuine and I don't care for that thought at all. I like this hobby, and if people ask me about my interests, I don't care about social notions of what's "cool". I'll say what I like because it's part of who I am, and anybody who tries to "validate" or "Balance themselves out" by listing all the cool things about them despite being into the hobby is wasting their effort, as it's unnecessary, we love you anyways

Now...if you're into stuff like bukkake or Dane Cook...well, I'd have different opinions.

That being said, anybody wanna play a 2000 pt. game on VASSAL sometime? I won't judge you, promise

when did Dane Cook and bukkake become the same?

and whats with the qualifiers? I didn't feel the need to make qualifiers. but if you need them....

1 - I drive a Pontiac G6m but I own 5 motorcycles.
2 - I wear Oakley glasses. (prescription) clothes I wear what fits (literally)
3 - I was a Theater Deployable Satellite Communications Technician for the US Air Force (left after 3 years with an injury to my leg as a Senior Airman)
4 - I used to BMX & skateboard alot
5 - I used to be a semi proffesional RC truck racer back in the day. (not paid but sponsored)
6 - I owned 2 pit bulls at one point, one is gone and the other is getting really old, we might get another one.
7 - I used to be a low voltage electrician in the IBEW #332
8 - I have no problem with the opposite sex (married with 2 kids)
9 - I believe I can get anyone excited about battling it out on the tables of the 41st millenium. (this one I totally agree with)


I mean, if you HAVE to justify why, when what are you here for?

yea I answered the call, because you're not alone. you're not unique. warhammer isn't just for the freaks and geeks man. its a great game with a long history.

that being said, I love being a huge nerd.

Sorry, I was just saying that because they would both make me cringe were I to watch them

*badum-tsh*


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and exactly what I'm saying, man. There's no need to validate yourself, partially because it's either impossible or very labourious to prove any of the facts about ourselves on the net. Those of us who are into nerdy things but feel the need to emphasize how cool they are in real life irritate me, like one guy who I'm friends with who's into paintball quite a bit, which I frankly find nerdy, but as soon as I said that about him he said "Well if I'm such a nerd, how am I in such good shape?"

It's tiring, and honestly, a little dated, considering how nerd culture and general nerdy interests are becoming more dominant and numerous in this day and age, it's like a strange social prejudice, so really, if you're into something nerdy and are ashamed of it, have no fear, you're not actually living the setting of an 80s movie high school

I'm not ashamed of my hobby.

I am ashamed of certain people in it, though.

But I'm also ashamed to be part of the same race as them (every social niche has douchebags, apparently - even gaming is not immune).

chromedog wrote:I'm not ashamed of my hobby.

I am ashamed of certain people in it, though.

But I'm also ashamed to be part of the same race as them (every social niche has douchebags, apparently - even gaming is not immune).

Yeah, Same here, i make every action possible so i dont look like those guys. Seriously, i nice shower and deoderant takes like what? 20 minutes? and extra 10 for brushing your hair and teeth and shaving?
The only problem is weight, but that isnt a big problem anymore.

mm, good point...hygiene and good interaction skills are important.

I'm not "ashamed".

Everyone at school knows that I play it, it's not really that big a deal for me

Iranna.

Be up front with it, but don't go on and on about it.

It's an odd one, I think if you get into it at a young age (before puberty) you hide it as something little kids might do. Once puberty hits, we all sort of create new personas, that's when I quit 40K. I'm back now though because I still love all the same things about it as I did when I was 12.

It's like lego, you love it as a kid, grow out of it but wish for any reason to play with it again

I am not ashamed of my hobbies (which except for WHFB and 40k also include card games like Magic and A Game of Thrones), but I don't go around just opening conversations about it. If someone asks me about my hobbies, sure I'll elaborate.
Unfortunately, I live in a country that's pretty backwards about such matters (and other matters too, I know ). I would guess the percentage of players is 1/1000 or even less.
So yes, some people will look at me funny if I tell them that I play with toy soldiers and trade cards. Women even more so, so I tend to be less... descriptive about it with them.
Apart from that, I just do what I enjoy. WHAAAGH!

Hardest thing to explain is how much it costs, trying to explain how spending £14.50 on a plastic figure is worth while to someone who isn't really into the hobby and just asking out of general curiosity is somewhat daunting.

As far as what matters though, my parter knows about it even if she does refer to them as toys xd, aside from that it doesn't really matter much what people think. It's just when the more destructive youth's of the community are present that I get uneasy because as mentioned here before, there hobby is to mock mine but mocking isn't as far as they will go. Back through my high school time mocking was the prequel to touching/disrupting and breaking said hobby out of spite.

Thankfully that doesn't happen much now days, looking somewhat sophisticated and keeping my figures in metal cases I tend not to be bothered even by the most disgruntled of kids on my way back and forth from gw.

When I was in my teens and into citadel miniatures I couldn't give a damn what people thought about me. I'm now nearly 40 and im well passed being bothered what people think about my love for small plastic figures and paint!