5 REASONS I Collect FIGURES!

Summary

In this video, the speaker shares his top five reasons for collecting action figures, highlighting nostalgia and childhood memories, the thrill of the hunt, individual expression, the ability to enjoy the hobby alone, and escapism. He fondly recalls the excitement of Saturday morning cartoons and cereal box toys, emphasizing how collecting figures allows him to create a childhood he never had. The speaker also discusses the unique aspects of collecting figures, such as personalizing them and the sense of accomplishment it brings, ultimately describing his collection room as a sanctuary and a testament to his life's achievements.

Takeaways

• 🧒 Nostalgia and childhood memories are key motivators for collecting action figures, as they evoke memories of simpler times and a desire to recreate a childhood that may not have been fully experienced.
• 🎯 The thrill of the hunt is a significant aspect of collecting, with the excitement of finding a sought-after figure providing a unique dopamine hit that pre-orders cannot replicate.
• 👤 Collecting action figures allows for individual expression, as collectors can display their figures in personalized ways, creating their own narratives and stories.
• 🏡 Collecting is a hobby that can be done independently, requiring no partner or external validation, and can be a solitary pursuit that provides a sense of accomplishment.
• 💭 Escapism is a primary reason for collecting, as the collector's room serves as a safe space where the individual can escape from reality and find solace in their collection.
• 🕵️‍♂️ The process of collecting figures involves research, tracking prices, and knowing release dates, which can be a fulfilling and educational hobby.
• 🚗 The hunt for figures can be a solitary adventure, where the collector drives around searching for the next addition to their collection, often leading to moments of joy and surprise.
• 🎨 Collecting figures is a form of art and creativity, as it allows for the customization and arrangement of figures in a way that reflects the collector's personality.
• 💸 The act of collecting figures is a testament to the collector's financial stability, as it indicates disposable income and the ability to indulge in personal interests.
• 🗓️ Collecting figures is a hobby that can span decades, with each figure having a story and memory associated with it, creating a timeline of the collector's life and experiences.

Q & A

What is the speaker's primary reason for collecting action figures?

The speaker's primary reason for collecting action figures is escapism, as it provides a safe space and helps them to either elevate their happiness or erase their pain.

How does nostalgia play a role in the speaker's action figure collection?

Nostalgia plays a significant role as it brings back childhood memories, particularly of Saturday morning cartoons and the excitement of getting toys in cereal boxes.

What does the speaker mean when they say they are trying to 'create their childhood' through collecting?

The speaker means that they did not have the opportunity to collect action figures as a child due to their economic background, so collecting now is a way to experience what they missed out on.

Why does the 'thrill of the hunt' resonate with the speaker?

The 'thrill of the hunt' resonates with the speaker because it represents the excitement of searching for and finding a desired action figure, which provides a sense of accomplishment and dopamine hit.

How does the speaker view the difference between hobbies and activities?

The speaker views hobbies as activities that one can do independently and regularly, whereas activities like traveling or fine dining are not considered hobbies because they are not done consistently or require the presence of others.

What is unique about collecting action figures as a hobby according to the speaker?

Collecting action figures is unique because it allows for individual expression, where collectors can display their figures in various ways, articulate them, and create their own stories, reflecting their personal taste.

Why does the speaker prefer collecting action figures to be a solitary activity?

The speaker prefers collecting to be a solitary activity because it allows for independence in researching, hunting, and acquiring figures without the need for others, which could potentially slow them down or create competition.

How does the speaker feel about the action figure collection community?

The speaker feels that the community can be unhelpful at times, as they mention that store employees may look down on collectors or be uninterested in helping them find figures.

What does the speaker imply about the action figure collection process?

The speaker implies that the process of collecting action figures is a personal journey that involves research, knowledge of prices and release dates, and the thrill of the hunt, which is distinct from other hobbies.

Why does the speaker consider their action figure collection a form of escapism?

The speaker considers their collection a form of escapism because it provides a safe space where they can escape from life's challenges, elevate their happiness, or erase their pain.

What does the speaker suggest about the importance of having a hobby?

The speaker suggests that having a hobby, such as collecting action figures, is important because it can provide a sense of purpose, be a solitary pursuit, and offer a form of escapism.

Outlines

00:00

🎭 Nostalgia and the Thrill of Collecting

The speaker shares his top five reasons for collecting action figures, starting with nostalgia and childhood memories. He explains that collecting brings back memories of Saturday morning cartoons and cereal box toys, but more importantly, it allows him to create a childhood he never had, growing up in Section A housing with limited resources. The thrill of the hunt is highlighted as a significant aspect of collecting, where the joy comes from the uncertainty and the excitement of finding a sought-after figure. The speaker contrasts this with other hobbies, which may not offer the same level of individual expression and personal connection.

05:02

🧍‍♂️ The Solitude and Escapism of Collecting

The speaker discusses how collecting action figures is a solitary hobby that provides a sense of purpose and can be done independently. He contrasts this with other activities that require a partner or group, such as dating or fine dining, which he does not consider hobbies. The speaker also touches on the escapism that collecting offers, describing his collection room as a safe space where he can find happiness or solace regardless of his external circumstances. He reflects on the pride he feels looking at his collection, which is a testament to his accomplishments and the life he has built for himself.

Keywords

💡Nostalgia

Nostalgia refers to a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past. In the context of the video, the speaker explains that collecting action figures brings back childhood memories and a sense of the past, particularly the joy of waking up early for Saturday morning cartoons and finding toys in cereal boxes. This nostalgia is not about recreating the past but rather about fulfilling the desires of a childhood that the speaker did not have the opportunity to experience fully due to economic constraints.

💡Childhood Memories

Childhood memories are recollections from one's early life. The video emphasizes the power of action figures to evoke these memories, especially those related to popular culture and toys from the speaker's youth. These memories are tied to a sense of innocence and joy, such as the excitement of discovering a toy in a cereal box, which the speaker did not have the chance to experience due to his upbringing in Section 8 housing.

💡The Thrill of the Hunt

The Thrill of the Hunt describes the excitement and satisfaction derived from the process of searching for and acquiring something. In the video, this concept is applied to the act of finding and collecting action figures. The speaker expresses that even in 2024, where the process of acquiring items has become more streamlined, the thrill of discovering a sought-after figure in a store provides a unique dopamine hit that cannot be replicated by pre-ordering or simply buying online.

💡Individual Expression

Individual expression refers to the act of conveying one's personality, thoughts, or feelings in a unique and personal way. The video discusses how collecting action figures allows for a form of individual expression, as collectors can choose how to display and arrange their figures, creating a narrative or a world that reflects their personality. This is in contrast to other hobbies that may be more uniform or where personalization is limited.

💡Escapism

Escapism is the tendency to seek distraction and relief from unpleasant realities, especially by engaging in imaginative or creative activities. The speaker in the video describes his collection room as a safe space that provides escapism from the stresses of life. Whether life is going well or poorly, the room offers a retreat where he can immerse himself in the stories and memories associated with his figures, elevating happiness or erasing pain.

💡Action Figures

Action figures are poseable toys, often based on characters from movies, comic books, or television shows. In the video, the speaker's passion for collecting these figures is tied to nostalgia, personal expression, and the thrill of the hunt. They are not just toys but also symbols of the speaker's interests, history, and identity.

💡Hobbies

A hobby is an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure. The video explores the concept of hobbies, contrasting them with activities that require a partner or are not regularly pursued. Collecting action figures is presented as a hobby that can be pursued independently, providing a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

💡Safe Space

A safe space is an environment where one feels secure and comfortable to express oneself without fear of judgment or negative consequences. In the video, the speaker's collection room serves as a safe space, a place where he can escape from the pressures of daily life and connect with his interests without interruption.

💡Dopamine Hit

A 'dopamine hit' refers to the pleasurable feeling or rush of excitement that comes from an activity or experience. The speaker describes the thrill of finding a desired action figure as providing a dopamine hit, a moment of intense satisfaction that is more rewarding than simply pre-ordering or easily purchasing the item.

💡Section 8 Housing

Section 8 Housing refers to a government program in the United States that provides housing assistance to low-income families. The speaker mentions growing up in Section 8 housing as part of his narrative of economic hardship and the absence of certain childhood experiences, such as owning action figures.

💡Saturday Morning Cartoons

Saturday Morning Cartoons were a staple of American television programming, airing on weekends and featuring a block of animated shows. The speaker reminisces about the importance of these cartoons in his childhood and how they were a catalyst for his interest in action figures, as they often featured the characters that the toys were based on.

Highlights

Nostalgia and childhood memories are the primary reasons for collecting action figures.

Action figures can evoke memories of Saturday morning cartoons and cereal box toys.

The speaker grew up in Section A housing and never had action figures as a child.

Collecting action figures is a way to recreate a desired childhood that never was.

The thrill of the hunt is still a significant part of collecting action figures.

The difficulty in obtaining pre-orders adds to the thrill of finding action figures.

The joy of finding a sought-after action figure can be a dopamine hit.

Collecting action figures allows for individual expression and storytelling.

Action figures can be posed and displayed in ways that reflect the collector's personality.

Collecting is a hobby that can be done independently without needing a partner.

The process of researching, hunting, and acquiring figures is a solitary pursuit.

Collecting provides a sense of purpose and can be a full-day activity.

Action figure collecting can be an escape from reality and a safe space.

The collection room serves as a reminder of personal accomplishments and a connection to the past.

The speaker's childhood self would be proud of the collection and the life it represents.

The collection room helps the speaker to feel grounded and appreciate life's journey.

Transcripts

some guys do it for Nostalgia some guys

do it for the girls but today I want to

talk about my five reasons for

collecting action

[Music]

figures starting off with number five

Nostalgia and childhood memories I'll

start with this topic because it's

probably the most relatable and popular

point that I'm going to bring up

throughout the five as you can see I

added childhood memories into the topic

because both of those things are not the

same thing at least not to me me getting

a figure or a character that I really

want brings out a lot of older memories

in me especially because I only

gravitate towards the figures that I'm

really interested in the figures that I

have history with it makes me remember a

time that doesn't really exist anymore a

time that only some of us can remember

I'm talking about waking up with the sun

getting your cereal out opening the box

getting the toy that comes inside that

cereal box you know what I mean those

times and that was because we had to be

up for those Saturday morning cartoons I

mean that was mandatory back then and

collecting brings me back to those times

that's what collecting makes me remember

those days but not for the reasons that

you may think I'm not getting nostalgic

because I used to have those figures and

now I want them back I'm getting

nostalgic because I never had them me

myself I grew up on Section A housing I

grew up with paper food stamps and I'm

not talking about that EBT card that

they have today where it's like cool to

swipe it and you get a PIN number and

nobody knows do you have credit debit

EBT I mean they got to really have their

eye on you now back in the day it was a

problem like nobody wanted those food

stamps that was not cool only one person

in my family had a car and that was my

grandfather and my grandfather was not

giv no rise to nobody if you was not my

grandmother real talk that's how I came

up so when I say that I collect because

it brings me Nostalgia it's not because

I'm trying to recreate my childhood I'm

actually trying to create my childhood

because I never had those figures Number

Four The Thrill of the hunt and even

though it's 2024 and the thrill of the

hunt seems to be dying I mean we can't

even get pre-orders right now right The

Thrill of the Hunt is still something

that moves me inside maybe even a little

bit more today because I can appreciate

from when I first started but there is

something just different about this

hobby than with any other hobby that's

out there I mean they don't have these

issues with technology they don't have

these issues with sneakers you can go

online and see if it's there and if it's

not there you can go online and see if

somebody else has it or they can tell

you when it's coming in it's never like

a big question mark in other Hobbies

they actually want you to ask those

questions they actually want that these

people at Target or wherever you going

to get your figures at they don't want

to help out they looking at us like we

doing something wrong like they offended

that we're asking they offended that

we're trying to get something from this

store that only makes me even more happy

when I'm out there looking for something

that I want and I actually come across

it and I actually get it in my hand like

I have dead serious been driving home

and I have broke the silence out of

nowhere like yo I can't believe I found

that Captain Cold or whatever and people

may suck their teeth in the car or

whatever but I don't care cuz check this

out that is what did it for me on that

day that is what gave me that feeling

that I hardly get any more and that was

the dopamine hit that I was looking for

that I needed you can't get that from a

pre-order it's not the same thing you

know what's in the box number three

individual expression collecting figures

to me is unique in a way that other

Hobbies don't really bring out other

hobbies are either so far to one side

that everybody's the same kind of like

sneakers there's only so many ways that

you can rock them you know what I mean

the only question is are they knew or

not that's about it or they're so far on

the other side that nobody's the same

kind of like being a tattoo artist right

everybody is not doing the same thing in

that tattoo shop someone is doing

graffiti letters and somebody's doing

script letters but if you want a

portrait of your kid on your arm then

you're going to have to go see homie all

the way on the other side because that's

what he does you know what I mean they

all artists and they all tattoo artists

but they all do different things they

all specialize in different things

they're the same but they not they all

got the same job but not really

collecting figures to me is a

combination of those two worlds so if

you want to be vanilla and just stand

them up at attention you can go ahead

and do that but you can also take the

time to articulate your figures and

really make them pop you can invent Your

Own Story your own Earth 616 or your own

whatever because that's a reflection of

you we can both have the same figure but

what's going to separate them is the

expression and that's what you bring to

the table as a collector and here we are

with number two I can do it all by

myself so this is basically a male

Channel and my subscriber base is

anywhere between 35 and 55 that's who

I'm resonating with right there I'm 42

myself and I'm currently on these dating

apps right now and I'm constantly asking

these women questions like do you have

any hobbies or do you have things that

you like to do when you're by yourself

what do you do when you're alone and I

have never found a woman that has

answered this right and let me know if

I'm bugging I get answers like yeah I

got Hobbies I like to go traveling F

dining Spa dates and I can't help but

think to myself like those are not

Hobbies those are activities unless

you're traveling two to three times a

week that's not a hobby that's a

destination that's something you work

all year to accomplish fine dining is

not a hobby I don't consider anything I

have to do to survive a hobby if that

was the case then working would be a

hobby because I do it every day most

people don't have anything that they

like to do by themselves and they need

someone with them

247 most people's definition of a hobby

is an activity that requires someone

else for it to bear fruit if that person

cancels or doesn't show up it's game

over collecting figures or collecting

anything for that matter is something

that we do all by ourselves we do that

alone we have to research these figures

we have to know the prices we have to

know the release dates we know what's in

stock and everything within certain

radius from my neighborhood we go and

hunt them down we chase them we order

them all by ourselves these are things

that we do independently actually having

someone there throughout everything I

just said would probably slow you down I

know it slow me down and let's just be

real nobody really wants their baby moms

looking over their shoulder when they at

self cheuck out talking about yo how

much you pay for that we don't really

want that we kind of want to come home

with it like oh yeah I got this on

clearance that's crazy right

I don't feel like I want someone riding

shotgun with me while I'm looking for

stuff not even another collector cuz at

that point you just competition what

happens if we both want the same thing

and there's only one now we got a

problem I should have left you home

collecting anything can give you a sense

of purpose and it could take up your

whole day if you had nothing else going

on and you can do that all by yourself

and here we are with number one escapism

I think it's safe to say that this room

is special to me and if you're watching

this you probably have a room just like

this or you're about to to be honest I

do not come in this room every day

there's times when I'm busy and I may

not come in here for two or 3 days but I

know this for sure it doesn't make a

difference if life is going good or bad

this room helps me to either elevate my

happiness or erase my pain and it's

always been like that it doesn't make a

difference if everything around me is

falling apart this room is my safe space

every single one of these figures has a

story of how they got here and I

remember each and every one of them some

of these figures were given to me by

people who I no longer know anything

about some of these figures make me

remember things that I probably would

have forgotten all about this room also

allows me to feel proud of everything I

was able to accomplish throughout the

past decade think about it for a second

this is all disposable income if I was

able to go out and put a whole bunch of

plastic characters on the wall that

means my life is going great my kids

don't need for nothing my refrigerator

is full and I'm doing things that

somebody else probably wishes that they

could do this room helps me to feel

grounded it helps me to appreciate where

I came from and where I'm at now and I

think that my 8-year-old self who grew

up in section A housing and only has

Saturday Morning cereal because of food

stamps would definitely agree until next

time peace