I had a discussion recently with a long time Friend Of The Crack and I really can't disagree with him at all.
Now he's been an attendee of the GRC since either the first or second one and his addiction has spanned many more years than mine, moving with the ebb and flow of Transformers product throughout the various eras.
I went with him to my first GRC back in 2003 and every year since but this year, for both of us, the love just isn't there any more. Not only for the con but for a good chunk of everything else!
He mentioned to me that he probably will now only make a day trip of it, and then only because he's got to get the things he's already paid for . He's even considered taking the small hit and canceling his Primus package because he just doesn't care anymore and the expense can't be justified this year.
He's even decided to drop the monthly hamster cage liner and once again, I can't fault him for that one bit.
The thing is... if it wasn't for wanting to get my yearly fix of Zeta Convoy, Mr and Missus Duce, Despotes, and the few others I enjoy meeting up with, I would probably just do exactly the same thing!
The chance to see these people is the only thing keeping me from total apathy right now. My sense of being... and I use this loosely... part of the fandom... revolves around the people I've met and has absolutely nothing to do with the product any more.
The con toys this yearhave zero interest for me. Zilch.
If I don't dump them immediately at the con for maybe dealer table credit I may end up quickly breaking up the sets and auction them or offering them to you all. (My honest feeling on this is that a lot more people will be dumping this set than keeping it so I've got to try and do it before others do.)
This may change when I see the actual figures but quite frankly, I know right now that Jazz, Richochet, Goldbug, the minicon, and even the Prime hold no real interest for me. And my Starscream interest is really tenuous at best.
In our discussions, my friend and I kept coming back to the same problems we have with FP and the con in general now and sure enough, I think a huge part of our issues are with something I've talked about a lot on here: the adult collector.
Neither of us really can tolerate spending money on events or things that we do not know exactly what we will get before hand.
And Botcon unfortunately, is now all about prepaying for something vague and even then historically the same old thing over and over again.
I don't care what the FP apologists say, the fact there's no guest list, and especially one of any uniqueness or caliber, really has to warrant consideration for me again.
I've plopped down thousands of dollars to attend professional conventions and conferences and I know up front exactly what I'm getting and when I can attend it.
Should I expect any less from a toy convention where my typical expenses still run around $1200 or so?
Hell no!
Toy conventions, useless clubs, blogs, and all the other pointless shit don't even bring any enjoyment to me anymore.
And my fandom frustrations? Oy koledy! I don't even want to go there.
I don't even care to even post here anymore (and certainly not contribute elsewhere)... if I did I'd have finished the site redesign and such but it just doesn't matter. This was only supposed to be an online database to keep track of what I owned.
Indeed... maybe it is time I swallow my own pills and remember that they're just fucking toys and move on and pursue my adult interests because frankly, like my friend, when it comes down to it, I really don't care any more either.
Kid's toys, a kid's cartoon, and shitty Hollywood movies based on kid's toys and kid's cartoons aren't worth wasting time on anymore. My own retardation is the only reason I can say why I've lingered for so long with this crap.
My adult frustrations with the con are merely just the tip of the proverbial iceberg for me. Most of you probably know this already. Especially you long time readers.
Maybe it is indeed time for me to just enjoy the little bits of this addiction on a personal level and to say Do widzenia to all this online and fandom toy silliness.