Goki's Rantage Engine: Transformers becoming mainstream

[GoktimusPrime]

Disclaimer: My "Rantage Engines" are like STL's Soapboxes and only represent my personal opinions. Kay thanks.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

For better or worse, with the advent of the live action movie, Transformers is steadily creeping out of nerd-dom and into mainstream pop culture.

Signs I've been seeing recently:
+ Last year I saw a year 10 girl with a Transformers backpack.
+ This year I saw a year 11 boy with a Transformers backpack. He was kind enough to tell me where he bought it.
+ Last week I saw a year 8 girl with a Transformers handbag (using it as a schoolbag, yeah, it's a trend with girls and not just at my school) - it's that black handbag with the rainbow coloured Autobot insignia from Jayjays.
+ We've all seen an increase in the number of TF badges on cars and people wearing TF shirts.

I've had some good and bad experiences with this...

On my way to the last Parramatta Collectibles Fair, I saw another car with an Autobot insignia on it. As I drove past I beeped my horn and waved Legends Beachcomber out the window. I couldn't see his reaction but Rampage told me that it was a positive one.

Earlier today I was shopping with the Mrs. at Westfields Parramatta - and as always, I'm walking around wearing a Transformers T-shirt, Transformers hat, Transformers backpack and holding a Transformers toy in my hand (today it was movie Deluxe 70s Camaro Bumblebee). I saw another guy walking around with a black shirt with an image of Optimus Prime in front of a silhouette of the Autobot insignia. As we passed each other I smiled at him and said, "Nice shirt dude!" but he totally ignored me and fobbed me off!

Now I don't know if either of those guys were actual TF fans or just people who decided to sport TF images on their car/shirt... it's entirely possible that they're not real fans. The thing is, I felt a bit gipped by the guy wearing a TF shirt who gave me the cold shoulder... I mean, if you are going to wear a TF shirt - even if you're not really a fan - then don't be surprised if other fans try to give you some kind of acknowledgment. To do that would be like wearing a shirt or jersey of a sport team that you don't really go for, and then becoming stand-offish when someone comes and acknowledges you for it... like say if you're not really a Sydney FC fan, but you walk around wearing a Sydney FC shirt -- if another Sydney FC fan saw you they're going to naturally assume that you like that team and maybe say something like, "Go Sky Blues!" to you.

Sometimes when people see me walking around with all my TF gear on I get people saying, "Yay Transformers!" - Last year at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras where I was walking around with a TF shirt and Optimus Prime helmet, a girl ran up to me and said, "Go Transformers!" and showed me her Autobot wristband! And I acknowledged her attempt to briefly connect to me as someone else who also likes/appreciates Transformers, even if she may not be a fan (of course the idea of "fan" is subjective).

I'd like to propose something that we as fan can say to other fans as a common form of acknowledgment or greeting -- and I think a good one would be "Till All Are One!" So anyway, next time I see someone wearing TF clothes or what not, I'm gonna say that to them. In fact, a few months ago I saw a car in a car park with TF stickers all over it. I got a piece of paper and gave them the web address for OTCA and wrote "Till All Are One" on it.

Anyway, I know I'm making a mountain out of a molehill - that's the entire purpose of this rantage engine and possibly future rantage engines.

---------
P.S.: Another sign that TFs is becoming mainstream - I saw this on NineMSN on Friday:

[Lint]

Transformers was in nerd-dom?

Not everyone has to voice their love for transformers vocally. I would supremely annoyed if every fanboy (girls are fine ) that crossed my path had to say something to me about transformers. A smile and a nod is good enough for me.

That guy who fobbed you off was probably a jerk Gok

[Paulbot]

The guy that served me at liquorland yesterday was wearing a Transformers belt. I considered asking him about it as an opening because he was cute. But I accept that these days a lot of people are wearing TF clothing but it doesn't mean they are fanboys. I assume most people aren't a TF collector unless proven otherwise.

I admire people like you and STL and others who will just start talking to people in TF aisles or wearing TF clothing. I guess I'm not quite an out TF fan but I think for me that's partly because it's only in the last two years I've been hanging out with guys who are also TF fans. Before that it was an interest I didn't think others want to know about.

[Sky Shadow]

I saw another guy walking around with a black shirt with an image of Optimus Prime in front of a silhouette of the Autobot insignia. As we passed each other I smiled at him and said, "Nice shirt dude!" but he totally ignored me and fobbed me off!

I think Optimus Prime and an Autobot symbol are such iconic symbols in the global consciousness that it's a bit a leap to these days to assume that someone wearing their image is necessarily going to be someone who is excited about Transformers in the way that we are. Certainly for the past eight years or so, my first assumption when I see someone wearing a Decepticon or Autobot symbol is that they're *not* going to be as into Transformers as I am. And - with the exception of people I see at the Parramatta fair - that's almost certainly right. If I walked past someone wearing an image of Elphorca in front of a Blendtron symbol, however, I'd definitely say hello.

[GoktimusPrime]

I don't expect most people to be as into Transformers as I am. I'll be the first to admit that I'm freakishly hardcore (heh ).



But as Lint said, a simple nod or smile would be great. Just some kind of acknowledgement.

That guy who fobbed you off was probably a jerk Gok

I know he heard me. I even held Bumblebee up as I greeted him. It was almost as if he were thinking, "Oh god, a real Transformers fan! Get away from me you freaking nerd... why did I get this ****ing shirt?!"

[Paulbot]

I didn't catch that "I was holding Bumblebee as I walked around" bit. Sorry to say it but I think 99.9% of people would not engage in conversation with a grown man walking around a shopping centre with a Transformer backpack and Transformer toy in his hand. I'd say more but I don't want to offend.

[optimus1]

Don't worry Gok, that guy is the one with issues!

I'm actually proud that it's going more mainstream, it makes it easier to find things more TF related.

[shokwave2]

Some people may buy a shirt for it's design, colour or comfort. If you wear a polo shirt, that doesn't make you a golf fan does it? I own a Star Wars shirt but that doesn't mean i want to marry George Lucas.

I class myself as a TF fan, not only because i collect TF's but also because i grew up on the G1 series. My friends call me a nerd because of this but to me it's only a hobby. I don't shop everyday for toys, don't troll TF websites daily, don't wear a TF shirt 24 hours. I'll buy a TF, open it, transform it, display it in my cabinet and get on with my life. I'd sell my whole collection tomorrow if i needed the money. They are just toys after all.

But there are hardcore fans out there and i'm guessing a few on here that live and breathe Transformers. Each to their own. But not every TF fan out there owns every toy, knows every character, has TF on their mind 24 hours. I surf but i don't talk to every person wearing a Billabong or Quiksilver shirt i pass. Wearing a brand doesn't mean you fit into that genre. That's stereotyping.

For instance if you didn't walk into my loungeroom and see my display cabinet you'd never think i'm a TF fan. I don't talk about them at work, to my friends, or wear the latest TF fashions. To some they're just a hobby, not a lifestyle.

And because someone doesn't respond to you in public doesn't make them a jerk. I don't reply to every stranger that talks to me. Just try not to take the fob offs personally.

If i saw a grown man all TF fashioned out, backpack and carrying a figure like a child carries their favourite doll, even i'd raise an eybrow. No offense.

[SilverDragon]

Some years ago, on an annual clothes shopping trip, I got a Yu-Gi-Oh shirt, despite the fact that aside from articles in K-Zone I had little-to-no idea about the entire thing and wasn't a fan, simply because I thought it looked cool.

I reckon that's why a lot of people who aren't Transformers fans (or simply wouldn't call themselves such) have TF clothing. It's a valid reason, IMO-the Autobot and Decepticon logos, as well as the robots themselves, look cool.

Now, if only I knew where to buy some myself...

[Fungal Infection]

I didn't catch that "I was holding Bumblebee as I walked around" bit. Sorry to say it but I think 99.9% of people would not engage in conversation with a grown man walking around a shopping centre with a Transformer backpack and Transformer toy in his hand. I'd say more but I don't want to offend.

I'm in the same boat. I've even seen peeps holding the latest kickass toy which isn't available in Australia through retail channels and haven't said anything simply because I acknowledge the fact that some people just want to be left alone and I'd expect others to show me the same courtesy. And I don't even have a TF shirt!!