08-26-2007, 11:43 PM
Wow, I've been waiting for a question like that to respond to for a while now. I definitely get judged about it all the time, especially with having children in the house. Elizabeth's parents have never liked me dating all the way back to high school because I faked and re-printed her report card because she got a failing grade in a class and her parents threatened to send her to private school. That being said...they just recently found out that I collect horror stuff however they've not said anything to me about it yet. Elizabeth was nice enough to word it to them that it keeps me out of trouble and she "thinks it's neat". Coming from people that have never cared for me for about 11 years now, I'm sure they've already passed judgment on it already.If anyone is wondering by the way, I just turned 29 and Elizabeth is 27 and we've had a thing since high school. I mention that because I'm talking about our parents. My parents are pretty cool about. My Dad completely understands it as he collects his own stuff. He's into civil war and old west type stuff. Anyway, there have been others however who have had a problem with it on site. Some people have down right treated me differently all together just because I'm into the hobby.The most crap I used to get was at work though. I'd mention something about it or how I had a score coming in and someone would always have some comment to make about it. I'd hear things in passing like "watch out for me, I'm into all that blood and stuff". I look just as normal as the next guy. i've got blond hair, I look like a little beach bumb and I don't cause any problems. I stay out of trouble, I work my butt off, I love my wife and kids and I take care of them as best I can. We do as well as we can as a family and Elizabeth is sweet enough to let me spend money on stuff like this that I sure has got to freak her out from time to time. She pretends to be impressed and as excited as I am when I get a new score and supports me in this hobby thru and thru.I got into this hobby because it makes me happy. I was always the little kid that was sneaking to watch HBO after my parents went to bed just so I could see a Freddy movie. I remember arguing all the way back in grade school with people about how many people Jason had killed, or exactly how Freddy's voice sounded, and all that I wanted to do was be able to know what it felt like to put on a real Freddy glove, or wear a real Jason mask and now I can and do. I had a streak about 7 years ago where I would party non stop. I got into all sorts of trouble and I'm very lucky that I never killed myself with some of the stuff that goes around in clubs, or worse, killed someone else drinking and driving. I got out of all of that because I saw where my life was going to lead and I needed something to fill that void that had been left when I gave up having any kind of fun I was used to.Now I spend my time playing with my gloves from time to time, or shopping for the very best Myers mask I can get my hands on. Rather than spending my money on a one night good time, I spend my money buying a mask or a little piece from a favorite horror movie. Above all else though, this hobby has brought me friends from all over the world whom all share my interest in an art like this. I've met so many cool people who are every bit as normal as I am, who just happen to appreciate the beauty in an exploded head bust from Scanners, or who instantly get an image in their heads when I say "Lament Configuration".This hobby has been good to me and because of that, I could care less what someone else has to think about it. They don't have the time, money and dedication to this like I do and I can't expect them to appreciate it the way that I do. I'm lucky to have people in my life that love me and friends in my life that appreciate the feeling of meeting up here and swapping stories and pics from our favorite horror films.-JosephOh and Rahl, I also dress up on Sunday's in my Jason gear from time to time and chase the kids around the house. They get a kick out of it, and I feel like the coolest thing since air conditioning when I wear it.