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Eight? That's a pretty out there assumption don't you think?

This guy had to be of been no younger then 16. And I think I was 15-16. It was around the time I first started 40k So had to of been at that time.

To be honest I'm not ashamed of my hobby at all. As said before I don't walk up to people and just talk about it, but if it comes up then I will talk about my love for it.

As for the social stigma attached to it, who cares? I enjoy doing what I do and at the end of the day thats all that should matter. You only live once so why not spend it doing something you enjoy?

Not ashamed of the hobby at all....The people that are in is another story.

That it why people are ashamed. The people it attracts are some of the worst social outcast their are....Says the brony.

To make a long story short I have a friend that plays RB for the Texans that was over for dinner a couple of years ago after the draft. He saw my painting room and LOVED it! We played a "demo" game and he was all in. A couple of days later I got a call from him after he stoped by Asguard games talking about the freaks (his words not mine) that he saw. I love the hobby and have been painting or collecting for most of my life. When you go into a store and you have the 300lb guy that has not showerd in a week its hard for a normal person to get excited about this.

Never, ever, ever.

I was taught to never feel ashamed or embarrassed at things you love. Plus, honestly, considering some of hte other loves of my life, warhammer, wargaming, model making is totally low on the list of those:

First, I love TAX LAW.... as well as reading the federal code for a living... let that one marinate in there for you.

For those of you outside the states picture hundreds upon hundreds of books as thick as your wrist is wide, with every possible, random, inane change to rules and laws published since the administrative procedures act in 1947...

Same re literature, mostly Spanish, Portugues, Russian, and old English stuff.

I like watching legislators argue like kids on C-span, and I never miss meet the press.

Yea, warhammer makes me feel like Mick Jager with regard to coolness.

I've been doing this since I was 8, am nearly 30, and have no intention of stopping now... its my relaxation method. As far as im concerned, therapy is much less enjoyable, much more expensive (figure the cost without insurance copays), and often involves the patient telling some hippie why he's mad at mommy for taking his sock puppet.

The truth is that, as we get older we have to be more concerned with how we are viewed by others. This is a social world and we are social creatures. The older you get the more important social appearance means. Which seems counter intuitive since as we get older we actually start to care less. And that’s good, because you really shouldn't care what people think but you should be aware of it. As an adult, you'll wind up with a career, applying for loans, making investments and ect ect. You reach a point where you know that people are judging you based on your appearance and as such you'll find you have to act differently to make things easier.

I come from a goth/punk background. In high school, standing out and looking different is all part of the childhood experience. But, as an adult, I don't feel I can walk around nearly as hard core as I used to because, as an adult, I require more respect to accomplish things. This certainly doesn't stop me from dressing that way anyway, but it does put me into a position to be considerate of where I am. That is why I think I've gone in the psychobilly/rockabilly route, simply because its slightly more conservative without me having to adopt khaki slacks and polo’s (shudder).

The same thing applies to our hobby. I don't walk around yawping off the roof tops, "I play with little mens!" Our hobby is not mainstream (thank God) and so doesn't have the social acceptance that a lot of nerd culture does now. I'm personally a little P-offed that being a nerd is cool now, when I was in high school it was not. Now it’s all, " I <3 NERD!" Sure, society loves the socially sanitized nerd. The "Big Bang Theory (I do like this show anyway ) Nerd. Comics, video games and even D&D have become more "acceptable" socially now. But, building plastic models and playing with them? It’s no more understood that collecting action figures. But, if you are really worried about it, then all we have to do is get the hipsters to like Warhammer and next thing you know you'll be able to buy shirts at Hot Topic with little cartoon space marines on them wearing big glasses and a cute little quote that tells the world how much you love nerds.

To conclude this rant, you do what you want, who gives a fluff what others think. But, be aware of how people might perceive you and ask yourself if it matters. I can be more open at work about my nerd culture because I'm a software engineer and most of us are nerds anyway. But, if you work in say, a hospital, or some BS were impressions might matter then I wouldn't go there. If you're at a club or whatever trying to pick a chick and you don't get the vibe she's going to be into your little mens then you might not want to bring it up. But, if you're at Renfair, and you see a guy walking around with the Aquila on his shirt and you scream, "Death to the false emperor" (which I have ) then go nuts and nerd out likes its going out of fashion. Just be conscientious, make sure that you're not hogging the conversation to yourself. That, I feel, is the real issue when we nerd out. It’s not the subject matter usually, it’s the lack of social edicate. If you start a ramble and don’t stop to catch your breath because this random stranger needs to know about your massive comic collection, then you might be pushing it a bit.

Man that was longer that I thought it would be. Sorry,

I don't see any reason to be "ashamed" of any hobby that isn't either illegal, or degrading to myself or others.

That being said, I like to think that most well-adjusted adults understand that the vast majority of other well-adjusted adults aren't interested in each other's hobbies. Two of my hobbies are wargaming and ballroom dance. I understand that the vast majority of people are only passingly interested in either of those and aren't interested in engaging in a conversation on those topics, just like I'm not interested in other people's scrap booking, needlepoint, or live action role playing. I try to be considerate enough about others to not bother them with the minutiae of my hobbies and hope they will not bore me with theirs.

I'm fine with my hobby. Hell, I write Spearhead rules when I get bored.

I'll read Imperial Armors when I get bored in study, and talk to friends about the hobby during school.

I used to be embarassed, but then I realized that no-one gives a gak about it.

Is there supposed to be an assumption that I have to be secretly ashamed of my hobby? Why in hell would I still have my hobby if I was ashamed of it? That's some sort of incredibly low self-esteem.

Heck, I also LARP, and I love that, too. I even wear real armor. It's 'paintball with safe melee weapons' as I simply describe it to everyone that isn't "in the know". My fiancee also plays right alongside me, I'm proud to say.

I've never been ashamed of my hobby. It is part of who I am.

Heck I've even run a Podcast about it for 2 years - so no way I could be considered THAT shy about it...

I've picked up chicks with my painting skills.

'I like your Black Templars!"

"Thanks babe. Wanna make out?"

"Yes, please!"

True story.

Tigerone wrote:To make a long story short I have a friend that plays RB for the Texans that was over for dinner a couple of years ago after the draft. He saw my painting room and LOVED it! We played a "demo" game and he was all in. A couple of days later I got a call from him after he stoped by Asguard games talking about the freaks (his words not mine) that he saw. I love the hobby and have been painting or collecting for most of my life. When you go into a store and you have the 300lb guy that has not showerd in a week its hard for a normal person to get excited about this.

While I love Warhammer the example you gave above is a portion of why I got out of Heroclix and why some of my friends could not get into it. Several of the players were 20-40 years old never shaved, never bathed, never brushed their teeth, and it was terrible. Now this stereotype does not apply to 'all' gamers however it is a common occurrence and it sucks for those of us who practice good hygiene but are turned away from a game we might otherwise enjoy because the only local group is full of some smelly disgusting people, and just for the record, we could be doing 'any' activity that was not labeled as 'nerdy' and if the people involved were smelly, stinky, disgusting and so forth I'd also not be around them either. If I wanted to smell a nasty jock strap all day I'd go work out and sniff myself.

I am not ashamed of my hobby, but I don't really go out of my way to tell random people about it.

I actually had to do a presentation on WW2 Italy in US history recently, and used some of my FoW miniatures as visual aids when taking about the Italian army's equipment (seeing as I had the M13/40 tank I would be talking about sitting right there). Most of the people in the class were indifferent, but a few were impressed when they heard I had painted them (everyone in my school are geeks to some level, this being the main reason I was willing to bring in miniatures to aid my presentation) .

I'm merely ashamed that I am new to the hobby, not doing it.

S.

kronk wrote:I've picked up chicks with my painting skills.

'I like your Black Templars!"

"Thanks babe. Wanna make out?"

"Yes, please!"

True story.

Fake. no one likes BT's. True Story