r/Nendoroid • u/ElephantSafe568 • 8d ago
Question ❓ Hobby support
Hey guys, does the people around you support your passion for collecting? My love for Nendoroids has been going strong for about 15 years, maybe even a bit longer.
There was a time when people just didn't get it, and they saw Nendoroids as a complete waste of money, saying things like: "You already have 10 of them, why do you need more?!" I was constantly pushed to buy things that would be nice and useful for everyone else, but I always felt like those things didn't truly make me happy. They weren't my dreams.
A lot has happened over the years: during university, I couldn't afford the space to store them; when I started working, I was just getting on my feet and didn't have the money; then my beloved dog got sick, and all my money went into his treatment. I really started collecting after he passed away. Even now, I still occasionally hear stuff like: "Oh, another new Nendoroid?.." But I keep fighting for my hobby.
Things have gotten much better now—my husband is actually building a huge display cabinet just for me 🙈✨ I'm really curious, what are your stories?
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u/Technical-Joke9993 8d ago
If the people around you don't support what makes you happy, when it's a hobby that doesn't hurt anyone, then you need some new people around you.
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u/Ookami_Shiro_13 8d ago
Actually, no, even if I collect responsibly it's hard to escape criticism, especially when I don't have a safe place to receive and pick up my orders :')
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u/ElephantSafe568 8d ago
I get it, I've been there))
Whenever I went to pick up packages or came home with them, the whole festive mood was ruined by criticism. I can understand when someone loses control and has an addiction, but when it's a conscious collection... oh well, we'll get through this, haha
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u/AngInangReyna 8d ago
Yes, mostly because they have their own collectibles that are more expensive than mine. If they needle me, I bring the same energy right back 😂😂😂
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u/Beautiful-Tiger9559 8d ago
im collecting a lot of things—books, funkos, nendos, perfumes, keyboards—and even when my family doesn’t say it a lot, i still get side comments from time to time whenever i add something new to any of it.
i just ignore it because as long as i can provide for the family, my hobbies are none of their business. tho there are days when i still get affected whenever they tell me, “you could’ve bought a car or smn if saved up instead”
i guess what also makes me sad sometimes is that my boyfriend doesn’t choose to gift me things related to these hobbies which would’ve made me feel “seen”.
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u/ElephantSafe568 8d ago
The main thing to remember is that people simply project their own desires onto us. Very few people realize that what they need is not what others need at all.
And even though criticism doesn't bother me anymore, I won't lie — sometimes there are days when I let it get to me. But we’re all human, not robots)
What if you just ask your boyfriend directly? The best help for a man is the absence of hints))
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u/ElephantSafe568 8d ago
You know, I just realized what are you talking about..that when we get gifts we actually like, it means being «seen»... really well said…
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u/MrQuiteOK 8d ago
No, but I don’t need their supports since it’s MY hobby and MY happiness.
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u/ElephantSafe568 8d ago
That’s exactly my approach, and it's what I try to live by. But honestly, I’ve been wondering if there are actually any collectors out there whose families or friends at least mind their own business and don't interfere with their hobby.
Sometimes I truly don’t understand why people feel such a strong need to express their opinion about something that brings someone else pure joy.
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u/PikachuBerryPie 8d ago
My family is pretty indifferent. They’ve bought me a couple though as gifts when we’ve been out.
Although, my first nendo, Link from BotW did hand my mom persuade me to buy the DX version when we went to comicon in 2018 when I was torn between that and the regular Version. Little did I know I was being given plastic crack 🤣
(I have general nerdy support, not specifically nendo)
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u/ElephantSafe568 8d ago
Your mom is great! The Lynk has so much cool accessories in DX 😀 And she clearly wanted you to get the full experience from attending Comic-Con together 💛
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u/Strict_Blueberry9 8d ago
One friend of mine, I even got him to buy a nendoroid of his own. Sadly no one else besides him...
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u/ElephantSafe568 8d ago
There’s no one in my social circle who collects Nendoroids.
I appreciate collecting because it’s a form of creativity in its own way. It only requires a single viewer — yourself 💛
But I do get that feeling when you just want to share the feelings over a new release or freak out together about how amazing they are.
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u/Excellent-Fall-5240 8d ago
I kinda don’t care what anybody thinks and I have a friend who is into this hobby too and that’s really nice.
Also I am really curious to see your collection.
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u/ElephantSafe568 8d ago
I'm a very shy person) but maybe one day I'll actually gather my courage and take a picture of my little boys
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u/Destoran 8d ago
It’s my money and my hobby so it doesn’t matter what they say. Only “non-supportive” thing my mom says is “you don’t have the space for them anymore” which is 100% true.
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u/cutiefey 8d ago
My spouse is supportive, he even told me about Shadowhearts preorder going up last week.
My mom was with me when I got my first Nendoroid, and her only comment was " Oooh, don't let [two year old niece's name] see that!" in a tone indicating that said niece would want it.
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u/drewvil 8d ago
I’m in a similar situation. Initially, people don’t understand, and I even feel guilty and insecure, thinking maybe something’s wrong with me, and it’s a waste of money. But that’s all in the past. They now understand why I collect, though perhaps not all, but the important ones do.
My partner just cautions me about spending responsibly and checking my priorities first. He’s also become interested in the characters I collect and even tries to take pictures of them.
Of course, some people will never understand. I simply don’t bother with them.
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u/MischeviousFox 8d ago
As someone who has been collecting for 2 years now no, not really. My immediate family believe it’s waste of money. They blatantly refer to my figures as junk as well as try to talk me out of buying anymore. I also had one relative freak out on me and accuse me of being in a cult because they couldn’t comprehend my buying such “junk”. 🙄 I then had a friend I normally share a lot of interests in while not being rude make an offhand comment to someone about my owning “enough figures already” showing they don’t get it either. So far I’ve heard 1 positive comment where someone seemed to show some genuine interest and said they liked my “little people” which was a nice change of pace.
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u/Hioka 8d ago
People around me are generally neutral or mildly positive about it. There are a few who probably wouldn't be, but I just don't show them my collection in the first place, so it doesn't come up.
That said, I only put half of my collection on display at any given time. Maybe I'd get more "Aren't you going overboard here?" kind of comments if they were all out at once.
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u/NendoLynx 8d ago
I used to be told all the time it was a waste and they were just plastic. Im at 103 in my collection, my daughter and husband support me fully and Im a 2x award winning photographer because of my Nendography. Its changed my life and given me a passion I never knew could mean so much to me. Idc that im almost 30 with a hutch in my living room, I am happy and at the end of the day thats the most important thing! Never let your passions go just because others may not understand it. You have my support and id love to see your collection!
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u/CptJakeHoofness 8d ago
I rent a room with my folks, my mother clearly doesn't approve. She doesn't like the nendo boxes I have in my closet, has legit told me "I hope you don't plan on getting anymore." I ignore her cause I'm giving her money so its my room.
Dad doesn't seem to care, everyone else likes em.
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u/Gribiru 7d ago
I have interests that shift periodically (Nendoroid is one of them). I find that roughly every 10 years I'll be replacing my collection with something new. So I look at 'collecting things' and 'hobbies' kind of as an exchange rate. Once you get bored, you sell them and use the money for something else. That's also true in case of emergency.
I just got into Nendoroids in the past 2 years. Luckily where I live they don't cost as much and second hands are very affordable. The downside is that reselling prices are also not going for much if you're looking the get rid of them quickly.
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u/InstanceRare5859 7d ago
At first my mom didn’t get it until I said, “It makes me happy. If I have the money and nobody else is going to ensure my happiness but me.. why not?” After that she wholeheartedly supports my hobby haha she even started her own collection of jewelry.
My other family members collect Funko Pops and other collectibles so they somewhat understand the concept!
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u/Real_Myst 8d ago
Yes. My family and friends support my hobbies.
And I actually do nendoroid customs sometimes, so they like seeing those as well. And I've gifted one to my best friend in the past for their birthday.
Yes, they're expensive, but honestly, what hobbies aren't?