fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #5496 ]

[ SECRET POST #5496 ]

⌈ Secret Post #5496 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 40 secrets from Secret Submission Post #787.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I don't get it at all. People who buy it, what do you do with it? Does it give you joy just owning this stuff?

Depends on the merch, but most of it I use as decoration. It makes me smile to have merch of my favorite characters.

Same. I like having things that make me happy when I look at them.

It is a substitute for social interaction and a real sense of community involvement. That isn't a slam. It is stuff that makes us feel part of something, when there are few people who are into the same weird nerdy thing. Humans are social creatures, even the avoidant introverts.

In the old days our grandparents had collections of those Precious Moments figurines and ceramic angels and stuff to put all over their houses. Why shouldn't people who like anime/games buy collectible figurines they like?

I mean, that's basically what I do with it. Where my grandmother had a shelf full of cute little miniature whatever, so do I, just my cute little miniatures are game/anime characters. (Also bobbleheads of Adam and Jamie from Mythbusters. <3)

+1 It's just fun trinkets and decorations for me.

It gives me a brief high when I initially buy it. Like, 'oooh, shiny keychain of favorite character', but then I inevitably do nothing with said merch and it just sits in a box collecting dust.

Yes, it gives me joy owning it. Sometimes I like to display it. Or wear it. It's a reminder of my experiences with a series I found meaningful.

I just like having it around, it's fun. I also have some weird merch that I got out of like,,, a combination of it being funny and a genuine interest in the history of my fandoms.

Some weird merch I own - several Blake's 7 and Sapphire & Steel badges (the kind of free fan club tat that goes for, like, $7 each on Ebay nowadays), all 5 of the Doctor Who Target novelizations that were released in Japanese in the '80s (featuring some AMAZING illustrations by an artist who had clearly never seen the show), and far too many old fanzines ranging from the late '60s to the '80s. When it comes to fanzines I tend to focus on zines from periods where I know there was drama going on in the fandom (for the letters columns - it's very funny to see these people bitching about fandom drama through snail mail) and slash zines (again for the historical value).

Where are you buying slash zines from???

Ebay lmao. Generally speaking the seller will note if the zine is gen or slash in the listing. Slash zines are generally slightly more expensive (because they were less popular at the time), but if you keep your eye open and look for them in lots rather than individually you can usually find some good deals.

(for the letters columns - it's very funny to see these people bitching about fandom drama through snail mail)

I can confirm, this is incredibly funny and awesome

I drink out of the mugs, wear the shirts, pin the pins to the messenger bag I use at cons, or the lanyard I keep my work keys on, frame the art and hang it up, squeeze action figures and figurines in between books on my shelves... idk. I have a bust of Shakespeare on a bookshelf, is that "merch?"

same on all accounts. this is joy.

(I really don't need any more mugs though...)

I've got a Kylo Ren keychain, a hoodie and a couple of t-shirts that I work out in. A friend made me a Kylo prayer candle after TROS came out, lol. And every Christmas along with putting up my tree I put up a display of dolls and toys having their own Christmas party, so there's all these random pieces like old Blythe dolls and star wars action figures, there's plastic animals and stuffed animals ive been given over the years, and stupid little toys I got from various prize machines or whatever. Its fun for me, but I'm not really into collecting stuff. Like yeah I appreciate the Hot Toys figures but I'm not gonna spend that kinda bank on something like that, but thats just me and I don't think less of ppl who have money to spend on stuff like that, ya know?

I like wearables T-Shirts and now facemasks. I have to wear clothes anyway and now I am reminded of a thing that makes me happy.

I buy things I can use, or put up in my room (pictures, posters, pins, figurines, etc) and looking at the stuff brings me joy! Touching it, playing with it, admiring it while I think about the fandom brings me a lot of joy! Things I can use practically (I have a hairbrush that is Cinderella themed; I have a "World's Best Boss" mug from The Office) I use often.

I got in Kpop and discovered the Photo Cards, and they're like Pokemon cards. I never understood card collecting even though my siblings collect cards from various fandoms until I got into Kpop. Sometimes I will pull my binder out and just flip through the book and admire the PCs!

I'm very...reluctant about buying merch and when I do, I try to buy things that I use and enjoy (i.e. earrings, a keychain, a folder, a shirt). Things like figurines (even mangas! And DVDs! I just feel so wasteful about buying one) I find hard to justify, but I've been gifted a Funko pop once so part of it was the sentimental part and the other is having something small to express a fandom I enjoy, just lounging around.

I'll admit there's only been one time I've truly wanted to buy a piece of art (a small sculpture that would arguably be on display in home); I wanted it because it meant something to me and to look upon it would give me some level of happiness. I can only imagine that people who buy figurines feel something similar about a character they love.

I hyperfixate big time, so basically anything that evokes thoughts of my OTP, or one of my faves, gives me a very tangible dopamine hit. Evoking thoughts of my OTP/faves can also offer a little bit of comfort when I'm anxious or sad--like a talisman, I guess.

That said, I mostly stopped buying merch a long time ago, because as much as seeing it in stores gives me a little bump of happy chemicals and makes me impulsively want to take it home with me, I've learned that, 1. knick-knacks aren't my aesthetic, and 2. I get a much better dopamine hit from thinking about my OTP, reading fanfic, or listening to songs I associate with my OTP than I get from merch.

Thanks for sharing your experiences/feelings everyone who commented! From what people have said, I think I kinda get it now? Maybe. Lol

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ SECRET POST #5496 ]

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OP