I'm a Toys R Us Kid...

[piplover]

In my living room I have several Torchwood, Dr. Who, Star Wars, and LoTR action figures. Not to mention my Transformers Bumblebee, my Star Wars Mighty Mug dolls, a sonic screwdriver, and a pokeball. On my wall above my computer are two Star Wars posters and I have an SGA poster in my study/kitty room.

My friend, when I told her I was moving the antique shelf that used to be my grandmother's into my bedroom to put up the posters, told me I should move it back and also move all my toys into the second bedroom, where I could hide them and wouldn't embarrass myself. She also mentioned that my apartment looked like a teenager's bedroom, which, ok, I can kind of understand. Still.   The shelf looked  out of place right  next to Captain Jack and Docter #9.  I think it looks much better in the bedroom, where I don't have anything fannish save for autograph photos on the wall.  

I don't know about the rest of you, but I embrace my geekiness. I enjoy having my action figures where I can see them and play with them, and I love the two posters I can look at whenever I need a little nudge of "really, my life does not suck!" I am thinking of getting a CD stand and rearranging my figures to better display them, but other than that, I enjoy my apartment.

So do you all display your geeky tendencies? I know for me that I'm considered a bit of a freak in the family, even by my sister who lives in Seattle and prides herself on being different. *Snort* I think she just likes to party and tells herself that that constitutes being young at heart.

Anyway, I guess I was just wondering how the rest of you deal with your fannishness around your family. Do they know how obsessed you are, or do they make fun of you, like mine do? Honestly, although I embrace my fandoms wholeheartedly, I'm actually pretty much a coward when it comes to letting my family know just exactly how much I am into it. It's bad enough getting eye rolls and surreptitious remarks about growing up, but if I told them that I wrote fanfic, they would immediately ask why I bother when I should turn that energy into original fiction.

Some battles just aren't worth fighting unless you live several miles away. 

For those of you who are totally open about your fanfic, I envy you!  I wish I had your strength.  At least my apartment is a little haven of fanish love, and my friends, other than the one I mentioned above, seem to enjoy it.  I figure, you're only as old as you feel, and I like to think that I'm just a giant kid at heart.  :)

Comments

[misswinterhill.livejournal.com]

I have a bunch of Blythe dolls on my bedhead. [5 is a bunch!] My DW/TW stuff is freaking everywhere. Most of my family don't bother to get to know me particularly well, so this isn't a problem. They're a bit too tied up in having bebbies.

I tell my best friend that I write fic, but not what fandom. The potential for mischief-making and lulz on his part is far too great. Which makes me a little sad that I can't trust him with that, even though I trust him with everything else.

I have a friend who married into nerdkind as well as being a nerd himself. Their house looks like one of those shelves behind the counter at the comic book shop; Star Wars and LOTR everywhere. Their first kid is due in June. Don't know how they'll manage when it comes to crawling...

[piplover.livejournal.com]

Wow, I can't imagine having a kid around all my stuff. Having two cats is nerve wracking enough, lol. I'm glad I'm not the only one who has stuff strewn about the place.

[tarlanx]

I have my PC and all my fandom related stuff in a small 'study'. All my action figures line the shelves in front of the DVDs, magazines, zines (yes, I still have quite a few of those!) and fandom photos/CDs. It means I can shut the door on this room if there are visitors with whom I don't want to share my hobby!

[piplover.livejournal.com]

Lol, that's awesome. In my study/kitty room, so named because all my books as well as all the kitty stuff is in there, I have tons of zines and stuffed animals, but in the living room is where I have all my action figures and everything. For you, with having kids and all, I can see wanting a place just for your stuff.

[shirebound]

The older I get (53 and counting), the more I realize that we only have so much time to enjoy our lives and our passions. I have a LOTR shelf of books and goodies in the livingroom and another in the guest bedroom for anyone to mock if they choose. I know how much joy and friendship this fandom has brought me. I'm lucky (or unlucky) in that most of my family doesn't care *what* I'm interested in.

*many hugs*

[piplover.livejournal.com]

That is so neat that you have two shelves worth of stuff! And you're right, the friends I've made through my fandoms are some of the best in my life.

*Hugs*

[bronwynferchdai.livejournal.com]

See, I'm not big on toys. I do however have five bookshelves crammed to overflowing and my entire DVD collection. My solution to the fandom issue is to drag people down with me. I wait until people start teasing/mocking/asking pointed questions at which point I show up with DVD's of one of my obsessions and eat their brain.

Thus, my mother is hooked on CSI (the original), House and NCIS. My grandmother compulsively watches NCIS, Mythbusters, and any movie I recommend. Scrubs alone has taken both of my siblings down like tranquilizer darts to the neck. And Dad, oh poor Dad, watches Stargate (both of them) like it's going out of style.

And it's all my fault.

Also, one of my siblings can't talk smack about anything fannish as I corrupted them while they were young and for years they compulsively wrote DragonBall Z slash.

*laughs evilly*
Bronwyn

[piplover.livejournal.com]

Bwahahaa! See, I've dragged my sister into Firefly and Dr. Who, but she still doesn't get fandom. My brother and his fiance like NCIS and Burn Notice, and my mom almost never even watches TV. I've pretty much given up on any of them appreciating the wackiness of fandom. My cousin, on the other hand, thinks I'm totally awesome for writing fanfic, and he loves anime even more than me. So I guess not all my family is lacking the geek gene.

[auntiemeesh.livejournal.com]

I don't have a ton of fannish stuff in my apartment, mostly just because I haven't ever got around to decorating my apartment. But I do have a Home Sweet Moya cross-stitch on the wall, from my Farscape days, and a bunch of LotR and Farscape action figures on the display shelf of my desk.

[piplover.livejournal.com]

That is so cool! I don't anyone can have too many fandom references around their home.

[wizard42745.livejournal.com]

My family knows I write fanfic. Hubby knows the fandoms I enjoy, and will buy me figures, etc. when he sees them.

[piplover.livejournal.com]

Wow, you are so lucky! Your hubby sounds fantastic!

[wizard42745.livejournal.com]

He is! We just celebrated 44 years, so we must be doing something right, LOL!

[dreamflower]

Oh good heavens yes, I show off my fannish stuff! Not as much here as in our old house, because there is not as much wall space.

I've never collected the action figures, but the first thing you see when you walk in the front door is my framed autographed Sting replica, and my giant computer desk, where all my LotR books are displayed, and the computer screen with my LotR wallpaper and screensavers. And my painted rock "hobbit hole" And my tiny Aragorn and Merry and Pippin that I got at ScotMoot. And my One Ring and my miniature Minas Tirith on pedestals by the fireplace. And the decoupaged Shire Map I made is atop our air conditioner. Sadly, no space to hang my framed movie posters. And my LotR stuff has to compete with my unicorn collection and our family photos. If we ever had a professional designer come in they would probably faint.

I also wear fannish T-shirts, and there's my LotR purse I made (nearly worn out-- need to make a new one) and my LotR jacket. And I talk about LotR and fanfic to anyone who stands still long enough to listen.

I've never been one to hide what I enjoy-- I don't have any more trouble talking about writing fanfic than I do about talking about my other hobbies like calligraphy or knitting or the SCA! What's to be embarrassed about? (Of course, a stranger might not want to get stuck in an elevator with me-- they might learn more than they ever wanted to know about hobbits!)

Oh, and though my husband completely understands, most of the rest of my family did bug me about why I was writing stuff I couldn't be paid for. I basically told them it's not that easy, and that even if it were, I wasn't interested. My mom never understood, and at least my sister has stopped asking that.

[piplover.livejournal.com]

Oh, your house sounds totally awesome! I'm glad that you and your hubby are so free with your fannishness! As for talking to strangers, lol, I actually find them easier to geek out to than my own family!

I'm glad you sister at least has stopped bugging you about your writing. I still get asked questions, but I sidestep them. If verbal dancing was a sport, I would be a champion!

[elayna88.livejournal.com]

I have action figures (John/Rodney, Obi/Qui, and Jack/James) and several pictures at work.

My biggest amount of fannish stuff at home is in my bedroom, but there's some in the living room and the kitchen. It wouldn't all fit in one room, lol.

My family knows I'm fannish... that I go to cons and have online friends. They don't know about my writing, which sometimes I regret. They don't make fun of me, but I also tone down my obsessiveness around them too.

[piplover.livejournal.com]

Ohhh, I just got a Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan action figures, but I don't have a John or Rodney. I have to fix that!

I understand about toning down for your family, that's what I tend to do. They know I really like certain shows, but not to what extent. It's kind of sad, actually.

[nolan-ash.livejournal.com]

When I was younger (middle school, high school, college) I LOOOOVED merchandise. I'd fall hard for a fandom, then want to buy everything related to it.

But over time, I realized the love would fade and these cherished (often expensive!!) monuments became junk to donate to thrift stores. Sure, I've got a few fandoms that really stand the test of time and I love them 10 years later, but do I want the same thing on my wall for that long?

In the end, I decided to stop buying merch and toys and posters and celebrate my fandom in other ways. Now I beg Alan to draw me fanart or I write fanfic. Then I'm creating rather than consuming and there's a lot more thought and fan revelry in the creative process to write new stories and enjoy new art. Full-out geeky, good creative exercise, and it's completely free of cost! (and clutter)

I'm totally unapologetic about my geeky interests, though. I'm not going to hide my love for my partner or my family, so why should I hide my love for other passions? I state my hobbies and interests as casually as anyone else would mention their love of sports or any other more mainstream interest. Why do any different?

I even take it so far that when I meet a fellow Sci-fi geek and they start acting all shame-faced about their own hobby, I'll give 'em a pep talk like, "What's with all the guilt? Wear your geek badge proudly, brother!"

[piplover.livejournal.com]

See, I'm kind of the opposite. I never used to collect action figures or anything. Until about four years ago I could fit everything I owned into one bedroom. But then a friend gave me a LoTR action figure, and I bought a few of my own, and it sort of grew from there. And I completely understand about cherished items turning to junk. I gave a garbage bag full of pokemon stuff to a friend for her kids.

But I'm much more discerning in what I buy now, and only have things on my shelves that have a lot of meaning for me. When my family comes over they kind of roll their eyes, but I've always loved posters and wall scrolls, so it doesn't really bother me.

I'm so jealous that your Alan can draw you things. I think that trumps any action figure any day!