Hobby Anxiety

[Crossbreed]

I used to collect AOL CDs.

America On Line...? What was the draw?

 

[Progster]

Games/toys/comics/books can have a lower age limit, usually displayed clearly on the box or package, but not an upper age limit. I've never come across anything with 'not suitable for ages over 10' written on it.

 

[LadyS]

America On Line...? What was the draw?

I have no clue still. I just know I used to get them all the time in the mail and they always had different funky designs on them. My friends suggested I do something with them like some collage or art piece but never did.. Like I said, weird.

 

[Giant Hogweed]

This is all based on cultural pressures and the need to fit in and the fear of being different and not fitting in. But I look at it like this, why would I want to fit into a false narrative that doesn't even exist? To be yourself is one of the goals of life, in a society that does its best to stop you. I hope you can enjoy your hobbies and be proud of them.

 

[Yeshuasdaughter]

Any on the spectrum get worried about being to old for "childish hobbies"
I'm 24 and I love comic books, love Hulk, Captain America, Thor, Fantastic Four all of them....but I sometimes worry I'm to old for those things
How do you cope with this anxiety?

I have yet to meet a 24 year old that isn't into videogames. As long as you're paying the bills, there's no reason you can't bring home comic books and video games as a reward for your efforts at work.

 

[Judge]

Any on the spectrum get worried about being to old for "childish hobbies"
I'm 24 and I love comic books, love Hulk, Captain America, Thor, Fantastic Four all of them....but I sometimes worry I'm to old for those things
How do you cope with this anxiety?

"Mind over matter". You don't mind, so the opinions of others don't matter. Besides, comic books themselves fall into the category of serious adult collectibles. Whether people appreciate them or not. As a former insurance underwriter, none of us would think twice about covering them under a Fine Arts Floater. - Strictly business based on an understanding of intrinsic demand.

I build plastic models of war machines of the Third Reich. So sue me. Of course at my age, many of my peers are in the same boat. That we simply have stopped caring what others thing of us, for better or worse.

 

[Bort]

Any on the spectrum get worried about being to old for "childish hobbies"
I'm 24 and I love comic books, love Hulk, Captain America, Thor, Fantastic Four all of them....but I sometimes worry I'm to old for those things
How do you cope with this anxiety?

I think you'd be surprised at how many adults have "childish" hobbies. Your hobby isn't childish. Plus, Marvel is very popular right now. Also, there's nothing wrong with having hobbies that might be childish. A lot of people still get enjoyment and a nostalgia trip out of things they liked as a kid. I'm sure if you went and searched online, you'd find that a lot of adults still enjoy things like LEGO, Pokémon, and whatever else might be deemed childish but also quite popular right now.

 

[Streetwise]

I have no clue still. I just know I used to get them all the time in the mail and they always had different funky designs on them. My friends suggested I do something with them like some collage or art piece but never did.. Like I said, weird.

Some people make curtains out of them, not personally my taste ,but some people do it, I cut some up and attempted to make a mirror it didn't look great

 

[Streetwise]

Watch the interview on YouTube between the two actors Chris Evans and Paul Rudd watch in particular what Paul Rudd does at the very beginning

 

[Dadamen]

Ignore it being "childish" and persist with it.

 

[Streetwise]

The best thing about getting older is ceasing to give a flying flip about what others think and just doing what makes you, you.

(P.S. when I was younger, I used to collect AOL CDs. People thought I was weird for sure!)

People thought I was weird before I collected anything

 

[Streetwise]

Great bugs in that movie!

I think it was a thing back then. Maybe influenced (or vice versa) by the Mars Attacks cards.

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I personally think it's because people are frightened by what flies go near to (dead bodies)

 

[Streetwise]

I can relate, and had similar feelings at your age. One way I managed it was keeping my so called childish hobbies literally in the closet . Fairly quickly I stopped caring, as I sensed most people don't care and quite a few think they are cool too. But I still was selective with who I shared them with for quite a while. At this point it doesn't matter at all and I keep them out for all to see. I might still get an odd look or comment but nothing more. There are a lot worse things in this world after all. It is I think actually more accepted now. Comic's, Action Figures, etc, are more mainstream. So I would try and not worry about it and focus instead on the enjoyment you get out of it.

Oh and let me know if you ever come across any of these guys. Hamiliton's Invaders. One of the coolest 1960s toy series ever made. Bugs that walk, guns that fire, soldier snipping spring loaded mandibles. Hamilton is the big green big boss bug btw.

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Just saw one on etsy.com but the price took my breath away

 

[Judge]

Perceptions of who a hobby is intended are often skewed by their prices. Which more often than not dictates the reality of who the actual target market is by manufacturers.

Plastic modelling for instance ceased to become a hobby for boys as the market shifted some time ago to accommodate the tastes of adults more than willing to pay for quality, authenticity and detail that demanded much higher prices.

And to think the cheapest model I could buy as a youngster was an Airfix biplane for twenty-nine cents (1963).

 

[KimS]

I'm fifty and I'm so darn excited my daughter promised to send me a stuffed toy Loki gator! My 58 year old sister does Disney cosplay and has an awesome time doing it! Life is too short to let other people rain on your parade.

 

[Nairobi]

Any on the spectrum get worried about being to old for "childish hobbies"
I'm 24 and I love comic books, love Hulk, Captain America, Thor, Fantastic Four all of them....but I sometimes worry I'm to old for those things
How do you cope with this anxiety?

I have had this anxiety for sure...so much that most of my life I think I wasn't even honest to myself about some interests. I was shamed so much from the time I was a small child, the whole environment was hostile to quirky interests - so much was mocked. I actually don't think your interests sound odd for a 24 year old, actually - and many still love it. Maybe learn how to deal with shame in general, and to have a sense of humor about yourself? I'm just guessing, since I am still working on this myself. Also, the realization that with the right group of people, your interests would not be looked at negatively at all - maybe even positively or just neutral.