NEED HELP WITH PARENTS

[TF Joe]

Guys, I need help fast. My parents don't think that GI Joes are a good thing for me to collect at my age (considering I'm turning 21 on the 26, work part time and still live at their house).

 

They don't belive that Joe Fans can go on to be things outside of computer nerds. That they don't have normal lives. They want me to grow up and have a family and a job. I'm starting this thread to send as an email to both my parents computers, so they can watch and see what kind of people we are outside of GI Joe.

 

So. If you work in the field of anything, ranging from computers to medicine and stuff, let my folks know. Also, tell them of stuff like conventions and what not. They need damning evidence that it's okay to continue with this hobby, and I'm going to do the same thing with my Transformer buddies on a Transformers message board.

 

Please Help.

 

 

Thanks in advance to those who are helpful to me.

 

TF Joe

 

BTW, my mom has this whole thing about them being real people, which I realize they kind of are, but how often is the army sending an elite task force to battle a lone psycho bent on world tion through the use of state of the art robots and other mechs and stuff that the real US Army doesn't even have and fight against. I don't see too many things like the Sigma 6 Ninja Hovercycle on the roads as of late.

[Primenybt]

When my parents start saying stuff like this I just say to them, "I could be spending my my on drugs." Once I say that they leave me alone. And believe me alot of my old friends from high school and college are on drugs.

 

But as for a job, I work as a manager of a Supermarket and I'm 26. I would like to think for 26 years old I'm doing well.

[slewis]

I'm 25 (going on 26 Aug 2) and my parents and fiance have both come to the realization that this is my hobby. I've scaled back recently, as I've moved in with my fiance (note that I keep mentioning that I'm engaged, and to an actual girl), but plan on displaying more stuff once we get a bigger place.

 

As far as my career path, I'm a full time pediatric mental health counselor (who spends minimal time on a computer), and soon to be a part-time grad-student.

 

There are a lot worse things you could be spending your time/money on. As long as you keep your collection proportional to your income/living space (meaning don't spend your tuition/rent/car payment, and don't over clutter your room), there are a lot worse things you could be spending your time/money on.

[T-Rat]

Start collecting porn. That should solve all you problems.

Your parents will be begging you to go back toy collecting. That or you could move out.

[yo-man2]

i'm 21 as well and i'll be a first year medical student next year; and i have a whole heap o' joes

 

joes = a fun diversion from excessive school work; scholarships pay for school; job pays for toys...that's the way the world works

[Darren]

I'm 23,I still live with the 'rents and I just graduated from college in May of 2005.Planning on moving out sometime soon though.

 

I'm a full-time employee with Northrop Grumman,I've been with my girlfriend for 2 years,and my brother also collects toys and he's just starting college soon.

 

My parents don't mind it at all and they usually end up helping me out in someway with it (ex. buying containers for MOC figures,etc.).

 

Your parents need to wake up and realize that you collecting GI Joe or whatever toys is just a hobby as much as collecting baseball cards. Now if you're antisocial and can't get a date,then that's your own problem but your parents shouldn't be the ones to keep you from doing something and collecting something you enjoy.

[Snow_Serpent]

I'm not sure appealing to a message board will be helpful.

[JoeRhyno]

Lets see, when I first moved out of my parents house, I was making close to $40,000 a year, after a couple years, I was almost hitting $60,000 and was responsible of marketing and selling over a million dollars worth of product to 4 different major retailers(one being walmart)... I did that for another 3 years, but after my arthritis got so bad I could barely walk, I had to go on part time disability.

 

Now, I'm happily married, I'm a stay at home Dad, my wife is a District manager for Subway, she manages 5 stores under her(oh, and she also collects Hello Kitty and Lord of the Rings Figures )...

I hope that helps a little.

-Joe

[xhairs]

well ill be 27 on aug 23 and joes are all that i collect and spend extra cash on. I have a wife and live in apt. As for a job im out of work and on comp cuse i got hurt at work but i was working 40-50 hrs a week and still had time for the wife and joes lol. I say move out i moved out when i was 20 and never looked back.

[MaxPower]

Well, Im 26, a college graduate.

Have 2 kids.

 

Make around 36K.

I just started out working and am a copier/printer machine technician.

Currently advancing in my field, may return to school next year to get my teaching credentials to teach High School Science or Math.

 

 

I love GI Joes and Transformers, collect both actively and enjoy them a lot.

Need more space... but if it makes you happy and as long as it isn't taking over other parts of your life such as job/school/family then its good for you.

 

Its a great hobby.

[imthebigdawg]

31 years old, BA & Master's Degree from Rutgers University, Wife, Son, 700k house, 180K dollar a year job with Johnson & Johnson's Neurosurgery division in Manhattan, hundreds of actions figures. I am not trying to brag in any way, shape, or form. All I am saying is that collecting is just one piece of the person you are or going to be in this world. I don't drink, smoke, or do any sort of drugs. I also don't gamble. I just buy pieces of plastic to help let me escape the hectic life that I lead. Tell Mom and Dad there are worse things than collecting action figures. Hell, they could come home to see you smokin' a crack pipe, drunk on Boone's, wearing your Mother's panties, while you have a C-note ridin' on the Central Michigan/Western Kentucky A & M Girls lacrosse game. See, GI Joes are nothing.

[Admiral Hunter]

23, college graduate, Assistant Manager for a Bank of America branch in California, making 40,000 per year.

 

I want Big Dawg's pay...

 

-Kevin

[Tazzzman]

27, going to be 28 on Aug 1st, Graduated from CSUN,

Los Angeles County Child Protective Services

* responsible for 30 + kids on my case load.

 

It's a hobby......and they need to realize that.

[nevermore]

Hey man not to sound like a jerk or anything but why do you care what they think? Are they trying to stop you from collecting or do you just want to show them who really collects GI Joe?

 

Anyway to help you out...I am a 26 yr old high school English teacher. I am married and have a 2 yr old son and we are trying to expand the family if you smell what I am cooking.

 

Like other people said its just a hobby. My mom and dad never gave me crap about it because my Mom collects music boxes and my Dad collects knives. My wife complains a little now and then but just because of the sheer size of my collection (which is just modest compared to a lot of the ones I see on here).

 

Anyway I have a lot of fond memories of GI Joe and the bottom line is when I get a new figure that I wanted it just makes me happy. How can anyone argue against that? At the end of the day you just have to do what makes you happy.

 

As far as families go...man I cannot wait till I get to share my collection with my son (when he's at an age where he will not destroy them). I have a lot of memories where my brother or dad played GI Joes with me or bought them for me. So I think it can be very family oriented.

 

Anyway man hope that helps and try not to worry what other people think. You're responsible for your own happiness at the end of the day.

[Ren]

I work 60 hour week as a mechanic for a decent wage, beautiful woman and a great kid, have a nice house, two late model cars and a decent little toy collection in my office. Just try and keep your collection looking organized and clean, maybe box some stuff up, and go to school, or a gameplan with your life, and you should be fine. Remember, you can always start up collecting later, GI Joe will still be there down the road aways.

[BradMan]

Geez... everyone's birthday is coming up, including mine! I'm 24, will be 25 on July 29. I graduated from college with a Bachelor's in Psychology and Social Studies, and just finished my first year as a high school history teacher. I'm actually taking time off from that to go back to graduate school (got offered a full ride) this fall.

 

That being said, my GI Joe collection is just a small hobby on the side. I live in a 2 bedroom apartment, and use the smaller bedroom as my office. I have 3 tall media shelving units in the corner of the office that I display my figures on, and there are a few on my desk. I also have a box of vehicles in the closet that I have not made room to display.

 

I check this board and maybe respond to a post in after checking my e-mail in the afternoons when I get home. Every now and then I'll get the custom bug and I'll pull out my box of paints and parts, but I didn't have a whole lot of time for that during the school year.

 

I got some guff from my parents when I was in high school and college about wasting my money on "buying toys when I should be saving for _____________" but I always managed to pay my bills and have money to go out with and such.

 

Like others have said about the financial question of collecting - everyone has their thing to spend money on. A lot of guys spend way more than any collector does buying things like car parts, golf clubs, computer parts, porn, alcohol, etc.

 

Good luck with the argument...

[HMI]

Here's what ya do- move out and work full time. If you can pay all your bills, not starve to death, and buy Joes, your folks will likely applaud your budgeting prowess and get off your back.

[CynicForever]

Hmmm.

Lets see, I'm 30 years old. I have a bachelors degree in electronics and I have my journeymans papers as an electrician. I pull between 50K to 70K a year, depending on how much I hustle for work and opportunites that arise. I'm in the process of buying a house and have paid off my car.

 

I really don't see how this would help though. I mean, even if your parents read these posts, they still have plenty of ammunition to throw at you.

 

Another way to look at it is that when I was your age(I am getting old when I can say that), I was a dedicated stoner that couldn't hold a job for more than 6 months. Sometimes, it takes longer for some people to get their acts together, if ever.

[blaster_e11]

Well i just turned 29 yesterday,

 

i live with the woman i love / no children

 

i'm a college graduate from one of the most prestigious schools in France

 

i'm a civil servant and i'm the leader of a youth political movement as well as one of the leading members of the 2nd political parties in France.

 

i collect SW and joe toys since it reminds me of the good old days

 

i hope it helps but i'm not sure the resume of board members will convince your folks

[joefreak]

I'm 58, never married and live with my mum in an apartment. Still a virgin , never had a steady job , I'm over weight , extremly lazy but you know what? as long as I have my GI joes I wouldn't have it any other way. @loll@

[Rama Sha]

I'm 26 and an aspiring novelist. I say aspiring because I haven’t sold anything yet, but it's just a matter of time. Before I decided to become a writer, I was in school to be an Architect. Boy, do I wish I had that money back.

 

I'm married and have been so for like seven years. No kids, but I do have two dogs. I don't really have a lot of Joes...but I collect a wide range of action figures.

[BrotherShane]

First off good luck with the parents, and like the other guys have stated your Joes aren’t as bad as other habits.

 

As for myself, I started "really" collecting figures during my freshman year of college. My parents never had a problem with me spending my money on toys. All they cared about was that I finish college. I have an associates degree and bachelors degree in Art.

 

I'm a web/flash developer for a very notable non-profit/research organization here in Oklahoma. It pays well and is a great place to work. I'm married with a 3 yr. old son (who also loves G.I. Joe), my wife wishes I'd sell some of my toys from time to time, but she realizes it’s one of my hobbies. I have a room in my home just for my toy collection.

[punishment-101]

Man are most collector of Joe out of School?

 

I'm 18 going on 19 and I'm starting college in a month

I'm getting a Degree in I and C and a minor in Computer Science

 

My collection is very small cause I only really started collecting but its

growing steadily

 

Good luck with your parents

[BoomBatty]

Dang, I have been waiting for the one reply that says:

 

I am 43, live in my parents basement, I play World of Warcraft for 18 hours a day, I collect toys using my government check and my "allowance" from my parents. I am 5'4", weigh 390 lbs. and sell my plasma, blood and am trying to sell a kidney on eBay so that I can buy a USS Flagg. I have a girlfriend, really I do, she, um, she lives in Canada, she has big breasts like bags of sand. Plus my 14th level Orc is getting married to a 16th level Goblin next week so I will be losing my virginity, well, online anyway.

Um, er, ha, ha, I was kidding, I've dorked alot of women. I may be a virgin but I'll F*CK YOU UP!

 

-EDIT: I see someone did just that as I was writing this - LOL!-

 

@loll@

 

As for the pissing contest going around here about who makes what $. Don't bother. The more you make the more you'll spend and if you are like 60% of the population you'll be in debt shortly if not already. What you need to do is simply not bother arguing with your folks over it. They aren't going to change their mind. If they did it would negate their membership in the parents guild. I have 2 young sons who play with my Joes (@1500 of them so far), except the expensive ones. I also have a wife who loves to let me have it for my hobby. Paychecks don't mean a thing. I own an IT Security company and make a small fortune every year and I still can't get the respect of my hobby from the wife who always argues that I spend to much on it. This BTW isn't true, she just needs an argument b/c she hates that I collect the toys. I am good for @ $2500 max a year on Joes and it represents about one half of one percent (.005) of my salary and I still get the same complaint every time.

 

There is a lesson to be learned here. Never Try. @firedevil@

[code red shockwave]

I'm 22 and I know exactly how it feels. My parents got POed at me last weekend for trying to buy GIJOEs(I was glad I did anyway, 'cause I got three cool Dreadnoks). It doesn't matter what they say, I try to buy Joes online anyway and even though it's sneaky and deceptive, at least I get what I want.