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**Hedji** · Jan 10, '14, 4:35 PM

They have no taste.

Now, if you'll excuse me, Wheel of Fortune is on.

**Werewolf** · Jan 10, '14, 4:42 PM

Originally posted by enyawd72

with some guy over at the Marvel forum.

There's your problem.

I think with us being so sheltered here we tend to forget (or not even realize) how nerdom has degraded. If you lurk any comic, toy, video game or pop culture site for any length of time, you will notice they are flooded with the most vicious, ill socialized, emotionally stunted man-children you could imagine. I'm not sure if age even plays a part. I love Star Wars but I don't post at any SW forums. A SW forum I lurk has a section for the new Saga Legends/Mission series toys and figures. The people that like those have to put up with constant stream of vicious comments and insults from the people that only like Black Series. This is from adults. It's quite bizarre.

The majority of people here are generally respectful and enthusiastic over other collectors interests even if they are not interested in or don't collect the same things. The moderation here plays a huge factor and trolls and jerks are usually weeded out pretty quickly.

**Earth 2 Chris** · Jan 10, '14, 4:49 PM

It's the reason I left the DC forums a decade ago. Their opinions aren't opinions, they are fact. And they mercilessly mock and belittle EVERYTHING. Even the stuff they like.

Not saying all young fans are like that, but there are folks out there who perpetuate the stereotype of the comic/geek fan as anti-social sub-humans.

The Mego Museum is kind of like Grandpa Simpson's nursing home "I don't like the looks of those teenagers..."

Chris

**enyawd72** · Jan 10, '14, 5:02 PM

I pointed out to the little whippersnapper that although I collect and enjoy older, simpler toys didn't mean I couldn't appreciate the newer realistic stuff like Sideshow and Hot Toys. A person can like both. This youger generation doesn't seem capable of doing the same.

**Werewolf** · Jan 10, '14, 5:03 PM

Originally posted by Earth 2 Chris

Not saying all young fans are like that, but there are folks out there who perpetuate the stereotype of the comic/geek fan as anti-social sub-humans.

To be totally fair, I've run into my fair share of older nerds like that as well. But, yes, it does seem to get to be more common with younger nerds. Probably because they grew up in a era where nerd interests are much more common place and accepted. The people that would have been the outcasts in our generation have become the bullies and tormentors of this generation. It's actually kinda sad. Nerd culture as we knew it is probably dead.

**enyawd72** · Jan 10, '14, 5:17 PM

Originally posted by Werewolf

To be totally fair, I've run into my fair share of older nerds like that as well. But, yes, it does seem to get to be more common with younger nerds. Probably because they grew up in a era where nerd interests are much more common place and accepted. The people that would have been the outcasts in our generation have become the bullies and tormentors of this generation. It's actually kinda sad. Nerd culture as we knew it is probably dead.

It's not just nerds. I honestly believe 90% of kids today are little *******s. They've had everything handed to them, don't have any concept of hard work to accomplish anything, and think the world owes them something. They walk around with huge chips on their shoulders and think they're the center of the universe.

I remember last year, I held the door open for a kid, probably 18-20 years old. He walked right into me because he was engrossed with his phone or music or whatever it was, didn't even apologize and didn't thank me for holding the door for him. I sarcastically said "You're welcome!" and he just looked at me and said "What the f*** ever dude."
I wanted to beat him so badly I had to just walk away.

**Wise4671** · Jan 10, '14, 6:51 PM

"What the f*** ever dude."

Yeah I would have punched him in the throat

**Zemo** · Jan 10, '14, 8:00 PM

A punk, but I do think this statement carries weight. " But, that's what your generation has their hearts and minds set on and will continue to spend money on until the market for your demographic is obsolete."

**samurainoir** · Jan 10, '14, 9:24 PM

Sharing a studio with folks in their twenties and early thirties, not to mention hanging out with my younger brother who is ten years younger, really puts things in to perspective for me.

We do live in a bubble here, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. We just need to understand that Mego as a "Retro" format won't really be a mass culture thing. It really is hugely niche format for a relatively SMALL aging demographic. The numbers simply aren't on our side here.

The generation that grew up on Megos is a deep trough on the population charts between to HUGE Baby Boom generation and the Boomer Echo kids. Accept that Mego/retro generally taps out at a target audience of low four figures, and work around that knowledge.

The survival of the format to me is going the NECA or even Hot Toys route so we can piggy back a younger demographic. Even if it doesn't seem "Mego" to us, the scaling works to our advantage. Leaving behind the rotoscoped vinyl heads in favour of harder plastic that can hold the detail of today's sculpts (just check out Freddy and Jason). Upping the detailing and fit of the clothes.

I know folks will scream bloody murder at this... Hot Toys and the 1/6th format have priced itself out of casual collectors. A 1/9th scale Hot Toys like figure that retails for just under $100 might be appealing to those that don't remember when candy bars were a quarter.

Play Arts Kai is currently producing a line of anime influenced figures based on Superheroes, movies and video games which are hugely popular (but fairly loathed around here). It's close enough to Mego scale though. A license like Street Fighter or Tomb Raider or Resident Evil would be a great way to bootstrap tooling for more niche Retro looking things.

The average price for these figures is currently $50-$70.

**thunderbolt** · Jan 11, '14, 5:38 AM

what goes around comes around, eventually that guy will be in his forties and will be mocked for being a fan of the Marvel Legends or whatever it is he's in to.

**Figuremod73** · Jan 11, '14, 5:52 AM

I've always found it strange that growing up I liked old Tarzan, Zorro, and Errol Flynn movies but the kids around me could have cared less about them. I barely knew any that liked comics and cartoons.

**LadyZod** · Jan 11, '14, 7:08 AM

Quite simply the world is a smaller place now than it was when we were kids.

When we were kids, unless our folks sprung for cable TV (which mine didn't until I was a teen) all I had to watch on TV were broadcast cartoons (weekday afternoon fair like He-Man and GI Joe), Saturday morning cartoons (Superfriends, Smurfs, Scooby Doo), rerun sitcoms (Batman, Mork & Mindy, Diff'rent Strokes), and Sunday afternoon stuff (Little Rascals, Abbot & Costello, Three Stooges) ... we were kids of the public domain and older B&W movies. Heck, I even had a tiny 13 inch B&W TV in my room which put newer stuff like Punky Brewster on level playing field with Brady Bunch, I love Lucy and the Honeymooners.

So it's not so strange that we can have a love for stuff that's well before our time, because in essence, it WAS our time.

The toys available to me were whatever were discounted at Odd Lots, and during Xmas, maybe some newer fair found at Woolsworth.

Kids today can watch anything and everything on TV, their Computer, Smartphones, tablets, and whatever device they have. They can buy toys from Timbuktu if they wanted. They can watch Japanese stuff as it comes out IN Japan, not 30 years later (like Speed Racer to me.)

It has everything to do with what they have, and what we didn't.

Heck, this generational disconnect is no different than my folks. My dad played sports, and my mom had a baby doll. That is what they were brought up with. They had no TV, and only had access to stuff in movie theaters growing up. So they played outside, made up games moreso than when I was a child.

**Nostalgiabuff** · Jan 11, '14, 7:53 AM

I agree today's youth has an entitlement mentality and it is a scary thought that these inarticulate, entitled little *******s will one day run the country. they don't even know how to have a normal conversation anymore because all they do is text

**enyawd72** · Jan 11, '14, 8:50 AM

Growing up in the 70's we were all used to color television and movies, yet we would still watch an old B&W monster movie or the Adventures of Superman without objection...seems we were much more open minded. My wife and I are friends with another couple whose children are perfect examples of everything wrong with kids mentalities today. They will not even TRY to watch a B&W movie. Think of all the incredible films they will never experience. The dad is also an avid model kit enthusiast but his son won't even look at one, citing that they're "too much work". They also have an aversion to doing any type of chores. There you have it. No ambition or willingness to work at something. No creativity or willingness to try new things. All they want is the latest gadget, instant gratification and they're unwilling to work for any of it.

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