To Stay Devoted Or To End The Cycle?
Chasing or running away?
I finally did a poll for once and do place your votes there. It’s on the right side at the navigation. And now to the main topic of this post…
Ever wonder if you’re going a little bit too far? Such that it is more than you can handle? I’ve not so far but after reading some interesting post lately, I’ve actually did some thinking…
For those who love figurines and actually buy them. Do you buy them because you got the cash? Or do you actually have to suffer by starving and saving every single cent that you can so that you can get them? Are you controlling your life and getting it as something you like? Or are you being controlled by it such as it affects your daily life? Is it because of your burning passion for animes? Or its just another endless cycle that you can’t get out of?
So… Which is better?
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Let’s take on a few people that I know…
Starting off with TJ Han. He was a very avid collector back then but now, he’s actually selling his collection. You can check it out here too if you’re interested to get some figurines off his hand and give him money. To an otaku, TJ may be deemed as a failure by selling all his anime merchandises. But as an ordinary person, you see him as someone selling so that he doesn’t get indulge in it and not let his hobby be at the advantage of controlling his life. Then again, some will just deem him as someone who’s dumb enough to sell something that he had gone through alot to get in the first place.
On the other hand… We’ve got another person, Tsubaki, who wanted to get out of the cycle like TJ does but somehow he ended up back into it. He was mentioning that it was too expensive a hobby for him to actually continue and has decided to sell them off. It is just an excuse to sell away his figurines at the same time or he just needs to get rid of it so that he doesn’t get reminded of it. He could have just kept it anyway and stop buying, but I’ll assume that he’s really tight on cash now. It starts off by this post he did quite some time ago on “A Guide For Anime Figurine Collection” whereby he got criticized by Otakus for being a wimp and abandoning the scene. Of course he did his defence by mentioning his low finance and his lost of interest in animes. And how being able to have the ability to purchase and take pictures of them drives him on in the past. Less than a week later… His will was not able to go on and he diverted back to collecting, despite his finance. He is letting these PVCs take control of his life? To otakus, they welcome him back and are glad that he’s going on with it. As for an ordinary person, they’ll think him as someone who’s weak-willed or just someone who wants to enjoy his/her hobby.
Alter’s Fate Testarossa. This is what I’m getting next… Assuming if I can… If not it’s ok. I can save more money. Heh heh!
What about me? Frankly speaking, I do have the finance to purchase, be it figurines or random anime merchandises. However, I’m starting to think abit more and decided to save more for a rainy day instead of spending everything I have. Yes… I’m starting to save money now and purchase things that I really like and want to have. So far, I’ve only purchased figurines that I really like and worth buying for me. As for the magazines and other stuffs… I’ve cut down on them and will only buy 2-3 issues a month instead of getting every single one of them like what I did in the past. Of course that doesn’t mean I’ll stop buying them. I’ll be only getting those I like alot… Such as Alter’s Fate Testarossa which I have more than enough time to save up for it. I AM working afterall. Of course also my recent purchase of the FA4 TYPE-MOON Collection which is really worth it!!! =D
So what about your thoughts? Do vote at the poll!!! Just a note… It’s not an attack to anyone.
March 1st, 2007 at 2:03
Wow, you aren’t aware that this is a personal attack are you?
You don’t realize there’s a different betweening fanboying a figure release, and actually buying it do you?
I may say that the Manabi Straight figures are awesome, but I have not bought or pre-order it. So who is to say that I’m actually considered as continuing?
March 1st, 2007 at 2:05
The first step to solving problems is to realize you have a problem.
tj_han knows this, and he solved his problem.
tsubaki, on the other hand, did not even realize that he had a pronblem.
Me? I don’t go nuts and buy. I am a hunter. The patient hunter gets his prey.
Otaku are people with problems. We retreat into our fantasy worlds without caring for the real world. And unfortunately, those who welcome him back into the fray only made it worse. If you know your funds are little, you have to be the patient hunter. Wait out the urges, then strike while prices are low.
And yes, my first Figurine was at 10 dollars.
March 1st, 2007 at 2:07
Oh, btw, I’m not attacking anyone or stroking me overly-small e-penis. Jus FYI.
March 1st, 2007 at 2:18
None. What’s weak about taking care of business?
March 1st, 2007 at 2:24
For Tsubaki and tj han to make a choice on whether they continue collecting figures or not is their choice. I wouldn’t call them weak in any sense even if they are selling some or even their whole collection. The fact remains that real life should come first before any of your hobbies. Even for me, I do realise that my figure collecting will come to a stop one day, in fact currently it’s coming to a slow down since I have priorities in real life that need to be taken care of. The weak ones are the ones who can’t accept that others have made a choice.
March 1st, 2007 at 2:32
’i’ve cut down on them and will only buy 2-3 issues a month instead of getting every single one of them like what I did in the past.
March 1st, 2007 at 3:05
Is it weak to be yourself?
March 1st, 2007 at 3:25
The hell? I’m just selling the bad ones away cos I used to buy without even seeing them in real life first and hence got a lot of duds. With the money I got from the sales, I buy more. LOL.
There is no problem. In fact, I just placed orders for a lot more.
March 1st, 2007 at 8:59
Chill~ It’s just a thought since you guys never really state if you all are seriously dropping or not. It’s based on what I’ve read so far. Now it seems like its the opposite. TJ is now buying and Tsubaki is selling. LoL!
March 2nd, 2007 at 0:04
I just threw away some old 2004 FHM! It must be a sign that I’m turning gay!
March 2nd, 2007 at 1:20
Hey, I see Adun. Hi Adun
One simple analogy to all these would be ‘Balance’.
March 6th, 2007 at 20:54
i dont think giving up the hobby makes one “weak”. lets face it - this is a hobby - a luxury that is not really a necessity. sometimes reality bites unto what we love to do, and when that happens we got to make a decision.
i have this habit of selling off stuff i “got sick of” - an item that has lost its aesthetic appeal to me and when a better version is released.
lets take for instance, alter’s fate testarossa 2nd release. i do have to admit i’ve been disappointed on not getting the 1st release and glad that theres a 2nd production release of it coming this april.
but now that strikers is coming out soon, my anticipation on getting her has been cut to half. why? because i prefer the “grown-up” versions of the characters and for sure when strikers is coming out im quite sure that figures will surely drown us in pure chaos.
i also have this rule of getting the “best of the best” version of that particular character - and if there is an existing item of that character, i’ll sell it off.
and yes, im also giving away some old FHM mags… but mainly because i got PDF versions of them.
March 6th, 2007 at 21:20
Err, if I didn’t know buying anime figures would be considered a problem, lol!
Buying anime figures is a “luxury”, its considered a “hobby” and it should not be a “burden”…If you can’t afford it, then don’t go into the hobby…I wouldn’t sacrifice my personal lifestyle just so I can afford a figure every month… ^_^
For me, a “hobby” is not a “necessity”, its a “distraction” that gives a sense of “satisfaction”…And yes, I get a sense of satisfaction with figure collecting… ^_^
March 6th, 2007 at 21:54
For me, collecting Anime/Game/Book-based figures is a way of relaxation especially with the hectic lifestyle that we currently live in todays time.
Yes, it is a bit expensive so this kind of hobby would only cater to the middle to upper class people. Which is the reason, I think, that fellow filipino collectors are the “yuppie” type of people.
Dropping the hobby? I for one can’t drop the hobby even if I’m a bit cash strapped now (I made an emergency fund for my hobby since I know that some figures that i like might be released). Why? because I feel happy when I chat with fellow collectors about the hobby that binds us together. This hobby of mine also made me a lot of friends from all walks of life.
Being a toy collector, made me develop my budgeting and socializing skills. So as long as I’m happy with collecting and meeting with people. I’ll stick with the hobby. the only difference is that I will be picky on what i buy. (that is until i have a steady cash flow again) ^^V
March 6th, 2007 at 22:28
Oh yeah, my answer to the poll is “none, each has their own path”…Whether its continuing the hobby or quitting, it is the choice of the person, and he/she should not be “judged” for it…
I also agree with mhuu! I don’t think I would have met other friends who share the same passion for figure-collecting if I did not get into the hobby…And its a choice, I would make all over again… ^_^