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Brooklyn_Vinyl
Addicted
Joined: Mon Oct 14, 2013 12:31 pm Posts: 507 Location: Spatula City
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Explain Yourself!
I'm sure most people on here are frequently asked by people who aren't in the know, "what are these things?" I'm curious how people describe their sofubi collection to those who see it for the first time and ask. I usually throw out something somewhat generic and gauge people's interest. If there interested I tend to ramble, if they're not they look at me funny and I digress.
_________________ Wanted http://www.skullbrain.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=48113
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Fri May 06, 2016 11:59 am |
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hellscrape
Addicted
Joined: Thu Jun 13, 2013 11:10 pm Posts: 721
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Re: Explain Yourself!
They're underground Japanese toys. I tell them that they are inspired by Godzilla and other monsters, but with small production runs. They will inevitably ask about and balk at the price. At this point I will usually comment on something dumb they spend their money on (alcohol, shoes, strippers, video games) and ask them to explain why one is more justifiable than the other.
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Fri May 06, 2016 12:23 pm |
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patrickvaz
Toy Prince
Joined: Sat Jun 14, 2014 12:37 pm Posts: 209 Location: Baltimore City, MD
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Re: Explain Yourself!
Me: "It's like Godzilla, but different." Them: "IDK, I still don't get it"
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Fri May 06, 2016 12:31 pm |
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kid_miracleman
Toy Prince
Joined: Sat May 30, 2015 7:35 pm Posts: 181
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Re: Explain Yourself!
It's self-created pop culture. Instead of having a bunch of shitty Funko Pops on your book shelf to show the types of movies/TV shows you're in, you have a bunch of high end hand painted Japanese toys designed in the style you love. I'm a horror fanatic and my toy shelf makes that pretty damn evident.
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Fri May 06, 2016 12:36 pm |
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Ultra_Gigan
Addicted
Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2008 7:38 am Posts: 815 Location: Illinois - (Monster Island)
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Re: Explain Yourself!
Thankfully most of the people who see my collections are likeminded individuals so I don't really have to deal with having to explain wtf these goofy looking multi colored critters are. My mother in law is probably the only one so far that I've had to try to explain to. I just say that 'they are just cool monster toys from Japan'.
That said, a while back I was selling my condo and I was dutifully packing away things that would 'scare' potential buyers away. My real estate agent stopped by and I told her I was about to empty my detolfs of all my vinyl and she said "why? they look great with all those little creatures in there, I say leave them!" so leave them I did.
I do love explaining all about them to friends who do genuinely like my stuff, but only have a fringe knowledge of the vinyl 'scene', especially when they get excited about them. Then we play with monsters on the dining room table ha!
_________________ Check out my resin stuff: http://lordchaoscreations.bigcartel.com/ Working on a new toy website, check it out at: http://burtonp7.wix.com/lordchaos
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Fri May 06, 2016 12:38 pm |
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BlasphemousWords
Fresh Meat
Joined: Fri May 29, 2015 2:43 pm Posts: 85 Location: Sucka-Free San Francisco
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Re: Explain Yourself!
Them: Oh cool, you collect toys too?
Me in head: I don't collect mass produced pad-printed Chinese "plastic" like you do, so... no.
Me verbally: yup! Isn't life great!
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Fri May 06, 2016 1:16 pm |
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wizeguy
Side Dealer
Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2005 9:09 am Posts: 2239
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Re: Explain Yourself!
Japanese monster toys!
nuff said
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Fri May 06, 2016 1:54 pm |
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kid_miracleman
Toy Prince
Joined: Sat May 30, 2015 7:35 pm Posts: 181
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Re: Explain Yourself!
Ultra_Gigan wrote: Thankfully most of the people who see my collections are likeminded individuals so I don't really have to deal with having to explain wtf these goofy looking multi colored critters are. My mother in law is probably the only one so far that I've had to try to explain to. I just say that 'they are just cool monster toys from Japan'.
That said, a while back I was selling my condo and I was dutifully packing away things that would 'scare' potential buyers away. My real estate agent stopped by and I told her I was about to empty my detolfs of all my vinyl and she said "why? they look great with all those little creatures in there, I say leave them!" so leave them I did.
I do love explaining all about them to friends who do genuinely like my stuff, but only have a fringe knowledge of the vinyl 'scene', especially when they get excited about them. Then we play with monsters on the dining room table ha! Haha man, I would love to see the rest of your house then. I'm guessing sofubi just sort of fits the regular style of your home. That's pretty much what my friends think of me. I'm known for my weird t-shirts and for my closer friends, the art collector. The toy collecting when I started it just sort of made sense.
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Fri May 06, 2016 2:01 pm |
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bansheebot
Super Deformed
Joined: Sat Apr 07, 2007 12:09 pm Posts: 5003
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Re: Explain Yourself!
I just explain, in so many words, that they're Japanese toys based on their respective artist's / designer's original characters.
I personally don't talk prices with people as I'd rather not deal with the judgment.
_________________ wants | trades | sales Most Wanted: Exohead Galtan (RFSO) • PK Salamander Joe (Velm Q)
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Fri May 06, 2016 2:05 pm |
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SstatusSkuo
Fresh Meat
Joined: Fri Jan 15, 2016 4:23 pm Posts: 20 Location: Houston, TX
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Re: Explain Yourself!
No matter how I try to explain it to the people who see my collection, in the end they still just see them as toys. So I don't try anymore.
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Fri May 06, 2016 2:44 pm |
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badteethcomics
Comment King
Joined: Fri May 31, 2013 10:32 pm Posts: 1296 Location: Brisbane, Australia
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Re: Explain Yourself!
I'm surprised at how often I hear "ooohh they look like candy I want to eat them!" after seeing the toy shelves
_________________ BTC - http://www.badteethcomics.com Blog - http://www.instagram.com/badteethcomics
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Fri May 06, 2016 4:13 pm |
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Mr. Humphreys
Side Dealer
Joined: Thu Feb 28, 2008 9:59 pm Posts: 2236
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Re: Explain Yourself!
What a fun topic! I don't really have to explain myself too much. When my friends see my rubber stamp collection, bead collection, lampwork bead-making torch/kiln/oxygen concentrator, Uglydolls (handmades!) they sorta take the toy collection in stride as just another eccentricity. They DO like the toys though! As most of the toys I collect have a high cuteness/colorful factor. I don't mention prices though Ditto about the "candy factor" .
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Fri May 06, 2016 4:45 pm |
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foto junkaay
Fresh Meat
Joined: Wed Feb 24, 2016 3:25 pm Posts: 91
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Re: Explain Yourself!
Indeed this is a fun subject. At first I got the "what are you 12?" And then I stopped caring. After awhile they just kinda embraced it and realized that this is just me. I always compare to shoes because they collect shoes or have BFs that collect. My friends' kids really dig them though and it's fun teaching and explaining to them the origin of the toys. The eyes glow!
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Fri May 06, 2016 4:53 pm |
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BlasphemousWords
Fresh Meat
Joined: Fri May 29, 2015 2:43 pm Posts: 85 Location: Sucka-Free San Francisco
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Re: Explain Yourself!
I've always been "that guy that watches Japanese kids shows" because of my affinity for Tokusatsu so no one even batted an eye when my shelves started containing more than Godzilla toys and Kamen Rider belts. Just "more weird shit that Felipe's in to"
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Fri May 06, 2016 5:07 pm |
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Headhunter
Toy Prince
Joined: Fri Feb 20, 2015 6:55 pm Posts: 494
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Re: Explain Yourself!
Well let me see when i tell ppl what im into they are not quite sure what it is until i show them but iv never gotten shit like "what are you 12?" they know better than that i guess lol.
Most ppl who i show my stuff to REALLY really like it. Even my grandpa whos never ever seen stuff like that before. His eyes would light up like a little kid and go "wow". By this time he had alzhiemers and dementia but he still loved the sofubi toys i showed him regardless.
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Fri May 06, 2016 5:51 pm |
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GhostTrainGray
Toy Prince
Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2012 12:56 am Posts: 175
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Re: Explain Yourself!
"Get the fuck out of my house."
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Fri May 06, 2016 6:50 pm |
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Headhunter
Toy Prince
Joined: Fri Feb 20, 2015 6:55 pm Posts: 494
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Re: Explain Yourself!
GhostTrainGray wrote: "Get the fuck out of my house." LMAO that would work even more effective to. XD
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Fri May 06, 2016 6:59 pm |
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Lttr Prssd
Addicted
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 8:25 pm Posts: 597 Location: Fresno, CA
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Re: Explain Yourself!
GhostTrainGray wrote: "Get the fuck out of my house." This.
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Fri May 06, 2016 7:50 pm |
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rattanicus
Side Dealer
Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:18 am Posts: 2006 Location: RVA
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Re: Explain Yourself!
I tell folks that I collect toys because they're the purest expression of joy for me, and that sofubi is the purest expression of toys. That (coupled with a gander at my shelves) lets them know I'm serious, hence allowing them to look at my hobby more objectively
_________________ "I didn't have much of a childhood so I bought one second hand from a Japanese kid." ~Edouard Jean Le Duc
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Fri May 06, 2016 8:35 pm |
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patrickvaz
Toy Prince
Joined: Sat Jun 14, 2014 12:37 pm Posts: 209 Location: Baltimore City, MD
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Re: Explain Yourself!
Well said Rei.
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Fri May 06, 2016 9:52 pm |
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Sokko
Addicted
Joined: Tue Jun 10, 2008 9:48 pm Posts: 743 Location: San Francisco
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Re: Explain Yourself!
They are little pieces of art, each with a personality of its own.
And then I try to change the subject.
_________________ . ....
〓〓〓〓 I WANT BADLY! 〓〓〓〓
〓〓〓〓 MY TRADE BAIT 〓〓〓〓
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Fri May 06, 2016 11:04 pm |
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hellointerloper
Comment King
Joined: Sat Mar 29, 2014 4:49 pm Posts: 1199 Location: CT, United States
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Re: Explain Yourself!
I haven't had anyone visit my house in years. Well... My house, yes, but my house = my parents house, and my boyfriend and I live in the basement. My collection is near our bed... So it's more like people never see my collection because it's in our bedroom, and taking friends or family into your bedroom is kind of weird. Man, do we need to get the hell out of here. At least I'm one class credit away from graduation and my boyfriend is almost done with his EMT class. (Which is his backup plan because applying to police jobs for the past 3 years hasn't had any positive results) gripegripegripe
_________________ WANTED: glowy things + more TRADEBAIT: my unpainted lucky bag deathra 2016 for your who the hell knows what FOR SALE: A BIG LOAD OF NOTHING HAHAHAHA!
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Sat May 07, 2016 1:49 am |
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useless toys
Line of Credit
Joined: Sun Dec 31, 2006 6:49 pm Posts: 1974 Location: NYC
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Re: Explain Yourself!
wizeguy wrote: Japanese monster toys!
nuff said Exactly.
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Sat May 07, 2016 4:49 am |
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Greasebat
Side Dealer
Joined: Mon Oct 22, 2007 6:48 pm Posts: 2415 Location: NE OHIO
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Re: Explain Yourself!
Out of my circle of friends that don't collect anything, the comic book readers/collectors understand. After I explain it then I get, Oh I'll buy some for my kids! Then I have to explain the price aspect/reasons and that idea fades away fast But I do occasionally give away toys I've designed to give to my friends kids... I love the idea of one sitting on a kids toy shelf. It's funny too when you are surprised by somebody who is also totally into it, for instance my daughter's friends dad is a huge anime fan, including all the old stuff I like, along with a general knowledge of toys- pretty cool.
_________________ Jeff Lamm
http://greasebatjefflamm.virb.com/
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Sat May 07, 2016 9:05 pm |
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bbb
Side Dealer
Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2011 6:30 am Posts: 2120 Location: nyc
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Re: Explain Yourself!
"Honey, it's art, I swear!"
_________________ ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ SALE TO ME, BRO
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Sat May 07, 2016 9:25 pm |
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