What makes someone "the biggest fan"?

[UnderdogDJLSW]

I too like the camaraderie as opposed to the competition of "oooh, look what I have." My favorite Megos are my beat up originals, too. I will say, though, that I do like to geek out with my friends and if the opportunity is right I do like to debate the silly things like how many torpedos the Enterprise should have, etc. I just know to do that if someone else is up for "play time", too. I wouldn't necessarily bring that stuff up say during a budget meeting for my work's next fiscal year.

[Hector]

I collect Superman stuff...and I love my classic Mustang ride...but many people have bigger and more awesome Superman and Mustang collections than me.

So the only thing I can try and claim as "I'm the biggest fan" of...is eating food and drinking beer...and I'd say women too...but this is a family show...

[DocDrako]

I agree with your dislike about fan one-upmanship. I really love my Megos and I consider myself a huge fan. But to me they have no collector value and I couldn't even tell you what their value is. A true collector would probably assign a pretty low monetary value to my collection. But then, all of their value to me is sentimental. I consider them playthings because my 5 year old son and I play Megos together (my youngest is still too young to play). When I die, they will become my sons' playthings and they can do what they like with them.

Am I a true collector? Probably not. But I am a huge fan. I love the format and I will support it until I lose interest, which probably won't be until my children grow up. And by that time, who knows? But that doesn't make me any less of a fan. Am I the biggest fan? It's all relative.



(and you nailed it, Dark Shadow)

[palitoy]

I've had two experiences with the "biggest fan" thus far:

1) I was wearing my Mego Con T Shirt at a show and this toy dealer pops up and begins to tell me how he should have been a special guest there. How he's a "major player" in the Mego game, blah blah blah... He then pointed to the Star Trek communications console under my arm and said "Who made that?" Sometimes it's too easy..

2) I know a family that I honestly enjoy but it's obvious that they derive some sort of thrill from believing their collection to be the "BIGGEST". They always go on about having "OVER 100 BOXES OF TOYS" in storage.

I believe it to be mostly 90s action figures but I'm not sure, I've never really been that nosey about it. Like Sandy mentioned, the idea of a storage locker filled with toys kind of makes my stomach ache. I'd rather sell it all and buy some choice items to fill a Detolfe.

Both times, I'd say the claims of "biggest" made the person look kind of foolish and silly. I could have debated with the Mego guy about his claims but why? It's what gets him through the day and I just learned to not make any sort of eye contact at shows now.

[megoapesnut]

I collect Superman stuff

You collect Superman stuff, Hec? Wow, the things you find out about people...

[Gorn Captain]

I personally have never understood the whole "I've got tons of stuff in storage..." mentality when it comes to collecting. I don't collect what I can't display. If you can't get the joy of holding, or at least looking at your collection, what's the point. Just my two cents-- I know a lot of guys who have boxes and boxes of toys and comics piled in the garage, that they never open or look at. What's the point?

Regarding the money/value aspect of it all; I have one or two really high priced items in my collection, but they're not toys. Though I have spent upwards of a few hundred bucks here or there, on something I really want, my megos and Star Wars figures that I have from when I was a kid, that are all dirty, beat up and played with, are THE most valuable pieces in my collection. If the house catches fire, family photos and those figures are the first things I grab.

SC

My sentiments exactly.
I try to display all that I have (even if it gets crowded on the shelves). I need to see, smell and touch my figures. Make a nice display where Godzilla is fighting Gamera. Try a different pose.
I have a friend who keeps everything he has in storage. He just has a list of what he has...and he looks at the list to "enjoy" his collection.
I can understand that lack of space hinders your displaying options, sure. Not everyone has room.
But I can't help it: when I can't see it, I can't love it.

And my most prized possessions are still my childhood (so quite beat up) toys.

[enyawd72]

I only buy what I like, but I do like some expensive things. I love to show my collection to friends and fellow collectors so they can hopefully enjoy it like I do.

I think it's natural to want other people to be excited about the things we're excited about. We're probably all a little guilty of bragging and/or being envious of others at one time or another.

We're only human after all...

[toys2cool]

I don't know about biggest fan, but I think some people take pride in being the biggest collector of something...I have yet to find anyone with a bigger Warrior collection then mine..but that doesn't make me the biggest fan