Note to bachelors: Sonic figures are a turn-off

by Kyle Orland { Apr 2nd 2007 at 3:56PM }

No less an authority than the New York Times has weighed in on the sex appeal of video game collectibles. News flash: They tend to scare away potential mates.

About halfway through a story on scary bachelor pads, the Times comes to the case of 46-year-old Bob Strauss, who finds that, among other things, his Sonic the Hedgehog figurine display tends to put off the "tough, smart, aggressive, challenging type people" he likes to date. Strauss, for his part, thinks the collection is "provocative" and says he doesn't want to "blandify my apartment to make myself generically acceptable."

We know it can be hard to choose between finding romance and giving away your three-foot tall stuffed Mario doll, but we still recommend the collectibles go into storage for the first few in-home visits. It's best to ease the idea of your video game obsession into the relationship slowly, so by the time they see your candle-lit shrine to Lara Croft, it'll seem practically normal.

Tags: apartment, collection, dolls, figures

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Mick @ Apr 2nd 2007 4:11PM

First, I treat anything I read in the NY Times with the same level of skepticism due any post online by a random stranger.
Maybe true, exaggerated in the very least, flat out made up in other parts.

That said, the stuffed baby seal is classic!

mugginns @ Apr 2nd 2007 4:13PM

The smarmyness of the people in that article is astounding. Not wanting to date someone because of a painting they hung in their apt? UGH.

boywundr @ Apr 2nd 2007 4:13PM

OK, I hate to be the one to admit this.... but that's what screen names are for. I have a MASSIVE collection of video games and related toys and they are all on shelves in my office, at work or at home. I met my wife at my job and she is the farthest thing from a geek/nerd/dork/whatever, all of which she truly believes that I am (and I agree...). When I finally convinced her to go on a date with me (I'm not the suavest dude on the planet), and then make an innocent trip to my apartment to "look at my etchings", she was met full force with gaming crap and stuffed, non-adult toys. Not only did she return and stick around to see that I can actually be a grown-up, but she has been known, on a few occasions, to try her hand at my nerdy obsession. I don't care what the NY Times says... it worked out well with me...

shase @ Apr 2nd 2007 4:16PM

Jeez 46 years old, no girlfriend, and collecting figurines.... I guess I can see him being single for the rest of his life.... If my girlfriend tells me to remove my KosMos figurine off of the tv i would do it- just because an inanimate object is insignificant to a loved one. With that said I imagine this guy (if the story is true) probably has his figurines lined up somewhere to "show off" and scared off the girls. Having one or maybe two is probably not gonna scare anyone off but having shelves or rows of them will..

JodyAnthony @ Apr 2nd 2007 4:18PM

hooray to the NYT for making a broad generalization about women being shallow.

teitoku @ Apr 2nd 2007 4:19PM

Heh, good thing my fiancee doesn't mind all of my figures and loves Toyfare magazine ( http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/toyfare/ ). The dude in the article is just after the wrong type of girl, like most idiots do.

shase @ Apr 2nd 2007 4:20PM

Ooops sorry about my above post. Although its ALL about stuffed animals but game figurines is pretty much the same - well maybe not as creepy as stuffed animal collection

JodyAnthony @ Apr 2nd 2007 4:20PM

Jason Bunin: "stuffed animals are immature.
Jason Bunin: Elvis-themed wedding, wearing a black sequined tuxedo.

JodyAnthony @ Apr 2nd 2007 4:22PM

damn this article makes my blood boil.

JodyAnthony @ Apr 2nd 2007 4:24PM

Im glad I was able to find someone to marry that isn't fucking stupid like some people.

JodyAnthony @ Apr 2nd 2007 4:24PM

four comments in a row!

randomshagz @ Apr 2nd 2007 4:24PM

@ shase

What figures do you collect?

I collect stuff also, I was just wondering how bad is bad?

kraoro @ Apr 2nd 2007 4:29PM

Attn: NY Times: my collectibles don't scare off potential mates; my appearance does. tyvm.

JodyAnthony @ Apr 2nd 2007 4:30PM

attention new york times: stop printing bullshit

polly @ Apr 2nd 2007 4:30PM

Yeah, Klimt's "The Kiss" and Doisneau's photo are pretty atrocious. But I probably would have just made fun of her for adorning her walls with that sappy pretentious crap.

AirIntake @ Apr 2nd 2007 4:32PM

Whatever, my limited edition space marine (War Pig I think he was called) from Starcraft is awesome and gets me laid all the time.

Fernando Rocker @ Apr 2nd 2007 4:34PM

Thats why my wife is a geek like me...

Can't wait to go home and play videogames with my wife (ahh Im so lucky)

Lee @ Apr 2nd 2007 4:37PM

Well, this article obviously sounds like a load of pointless bullshit. Don't the NY Times have anything better to write about these days?

Mr Khan @ Apr 2nd 2007 4:38PM

I don't know, it depends on the girl

Some girls would find a neat collection "cute" (as long as its presented to her properly, not as an obsession, but as a hobby)

Some would just find it creepy

Some girls find my enjoyment of some non-masculine TV shows (like Sex and the City) "cute" (too bad i'm too shy to act on that), it depends on what the girl is looking for in a man...

32_Footsteps @ Apr 2nd 2007 4:45PM

My wife loves that I'm a video gamer - it's a big part of what made me the guy she fell in love with. Just like her manic need to buy new CDs is part of what made her the woman I fell in love with.

Thus, the video game memorabilia is perfectly acceptable out - as long as it's organized.

How much you want to bet the author thinks a Beanie Babies collection is perfectly acceptable, while a collection of video game character figurines is not?

shase @ Apr 2nd 2007 4:45PM

@randomshagz

I have KosMos figure, couple of Gundam Destiny figures (inf. Just + S Freedom) and a couple of cat statues on my desk. I used to collect more but kinda stopped (and they are in storage now). I saw if your significant other tells you to remove them its probably a good idea to do so because:

1. an inanimate object like this is not worth arguing over.
2. that said inanimate object cant help you with your relationship.

And from my pov a couple is enough...maybe thats because I am not an avid collector but if i have a collection of figurines (or anything else) on "plain sight" I would get sick of it too.

Au @ Apr 2nd 2007 4:45PM

Is it only videogame collectables? What about anime figurines? Like the ones with cute panties and .....

I think I just answered my own question.

Cee @ Apr 2nd 2007 4:55PM

Almost any collection the first time you see it can be a little overwhelming. I dated a woman who collected Tweety bird anything. When you see on or two things you think it's cute, but when you go to an extra bedroom and it is totally Tweety'd out, I can see how large collections can be a turn off. This coming from the guy who still buys the original Transformers for hundreds of dollars, unopened boxes of course. Forget I said anything.

samfish @ Apr 2nd 2007 5:05PM

Yeah, I myself tend to make sure my comic collection is tucked away in the closet whenever I hate a date over the first few times. Even though I'm upfront about being a comic collecting geek (which that fact in and of itself has yet to scare anyone off, actually), it doesn't hurt to make sure she doesn't see all those long white boxes and stacks of unbagged books.

Although I do have a bookshelf full of graphic novels and TPBs, but that makes me looks smart because it looks like I have a lot of books.
...until they notice that they all seem to have 'Batman' and 'Spider-Man' in the titles...then I'm exposed as the geek I truly am and the relationship may or may not continue.
:p

randomshagz @ Apr 2nd 2007 5:07PM

It really does depend on the girl.
Most girls love my collection... and dont mind it.

Dicaprio is a huge toy collector ie. G1 Transformers... he is getting laid left and right.

When it comes down to it... just collect Robots. Chicks dig Robots.

http://a751.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/58/l_1342c9fb34b9e427dcbc24aab10b73c6.jpg

samfish @ Apr 2nd 2007 5:09PM

"Chicks dig Robots."

WRONG!

Chicks Dig Giant Robots.

Jake @ Apr 2nd 2007 5:10PM

Hmmm. Video game figurines are a turn-off. Thanks Kyle. This explains a lot.

Zertoss @ Apr 2nd 2007 5:12PM

Ha! A buddy of mine has a big collection of game figurines, mostly Sonic with some Mario and Zelda thrown in. It's all around a binary clock. He's really got a neat place. Gadgets and video game figurines in every room.

The girl he's dating now apparently has a My Little Pony collection and the same binary clock. You'd never guess that she was into that sort of thing just by looking at her.

I guess the NYT fails at dating advice.

Virtua Fanboy @ Apr 2nd 2007 5:13PM

Look, if you wanna just get some ass then do yourself a favor and put the Sonic toys and (for Gods sake please) the Thundercats poster from over your bed away, lol. If your takin a girl home from the club she doesn't wanna see that stuff and trust me she's gonna tell her friends and your gonna have a harder time scoring later on. If anything "accedentally" leave out one of your barbells and maybe a baseball bat or glove, but nothing too obvious.

If your going out w/a girl that you think could be "the one" leave that stuff out (in moderation) and see if she'll accept you for who you are. If not, let her make some other guy throw all his shit away and be miserable. You'll be better off no matter how fine she is.

randomshagz @ Apr 2nd 2007 5:22PM

"WRONG! Chicks Dig Giant Robots."

I have many of those too.

But I can always get a smile from my "Colgate Bot".

(Its a small robot that transforms into a tooth paste box.)

sheppy @ Apr 2nd 2007 5:23PM

Heh, I remember when I dated a chick who was "into anime" but that translated directly to "loves Inuyasha." So when she saw my Gundam Kit rack, she looked em all over before telling my "OMG, these two are the same" when holding up a Zaku II 1/144th scale and a PG Zaku II Char Edition.

I also dated this one girl who proceeded to tell me I was some sort of sicko for modifying a milk delivery truck model kit to a Sweet Tooth model...

Good times..

samfish @ Apr 2nd 2007 5:26PM

heh- not a fan of Megas XLR, 'eh?

Mr Khan @ Apr 2nd 2007 5:29PM

@ samfish

you win for referring to Megas XLR

most under-appreciated action cartoon in history

"I could really go for a Philly Cheese Steak, or 28)

randomshagz @ Apr 2nd 2007 5:30PM

"OMG, these two are the same" when holding up a Zaku II 1/144th scale and a PG Zaku II Char Edition."

HaHa.
What a stupid Whore.

All this talk about toys and robots makes me wanna see what everyone collects.

Kunikos @ Apr 2nd 2007 5:35PM

Totally take down all those video game posters. Those chicks are still gonna dig the ones left on the walls of anime "babes" with their arms missing and their entrails pouring out of a knife wound to the stomach.

PhrawzT @ Apr 2nd 2007 6:00PM

I wonder if I should move my framed Spiderman animation cell and my Boba Fett helmet off my bookshelf.

losttoys @ Apr 2nd 2007 6:17PM

"...blandify my apartment to make myself generically acceptable."

This is such a good statement it hurts. Not because this ideology is false, but because it is exactly what is causing his situation. To be different is to be alone.

Super-Jesse-Mario @ Apr 2nd 2007 6:24PM

Hey! All the woman that have been to my house LOVE mario giant, massive Mario collection > http://www.myspace.com/superjessemario

And I married her, so there. :P

32_Footsteps @ Apr 2nd 2007 6:36PM

"Chicks Dig Giant Robots."

Nice.

By the way, am I the only one who thinks it's bordering on criminal that Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends (possibly the worst thing Cartoon Network has ever produced) already has a DVD collection, but there isn't any for Megas XLR?

AoE @ Apr 2nd 2007 6:58PM

@randomshagz,

wow, I'm impressed! Your collection looks like my friend's toy store; very impressive indeed!

@32_Footsteps, Yes you are, but we'll forgive you for dissing Craig McCracken's masterpiece and applauding the worst giant robot series in the history of giant robots. ;)

randomshagz @ Apr 2nd 2007 7:22PM

"Worst giant robot series in the history of giant robots."

I didnt like Megas XLR much... same goes with Southern Cross. I do miss Big Guy and Rusty.
I still have Big Guy in his Box mint.

randomshagz @ Apr 2nd 2007 7:27PM

Megas XLR and GoBots worst robots ever.

SymetriX @ Apr 2nd 2007 7:46PM

NYT definitely fails at giving relationship advice.

If the girl doesn't like your nerdy habits, lose the *GIRL*, don't try to pretend you are something you're not.

That said, there are probably some interests that are definitely anti-female such as gratuitous posters of anime girls in lingerie.

But the same could be said of a sports fan with a poster of Anna Kournikova.

Enjoy what you like but use taste, and try to decorate your pad like an adult and you'll be fine.

32_Footsteps @ Apr 2nd 2007 7:49PM

I did not just hear people compliment the cartoon starring the jerkiest character in cartooning history. And I most certainly did not hear people trashing the one show that seemed almost calculated to make sure I appreciated every little joke.

It's obvius I'm just seeing Joystiq miscount posts. Because nobody'd be crazy enough to actually compare Megas XLR and Go-Bots. Seriously.

patriciafox @ Apr 2nd 2007 8:19PM

Speaking as woman, and one happily married to a gamer I might add, any relationship built upon lies and/or sneaking around is one doomed to failure to begin with. Granted, there is a very fine line between being the poster child for an otaku, gamer or otherwise, but come on. A few figures on a shelf is a turn off? Who are you Paris Hilton or something? If you are that shallow to be hung up on something like that rather than oh I do not know trying to get to know the person then you have a serious problem girlfriend.

Brinstar @ Apr 2nd 2007 8:23PM

Way to alienate women gamers there.

The article and this post makes a number of assumptions:

1) All relationships are heterosexual
2) All gamers are male
3) Women don't collect things
4) All women are shallow

Tom @ Apr 2nd 2007 8:40PM

Maybe the guy's problem is he's pursuing the wrong type of woman?

P.S. LOL! + Congrats! @ JodyAnthony for repeatedly and aggresively attacking the stupidity of the article!

Jack @ Apr 2nd 2007 9:09PM

I collect vinyl from Kidrobot...and I could care less if you like the dunnys or not, I'm still going to buy them.
One day someone will just accept them as fun for me and that's that, well, and they'll also be out of the way more so they're not "in your face" on the bookshelf.
But whatever, if you don't like em, too bad. Ehh, I'm single but whatever, there's more important things - people react weirder to my multiple cell phones than little toys.

samfish @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:59PM

Seriously, you people dissin' Megas need to check yourselves into the booby hatch or something. That's just not right...
Such a travesty that Cartoon Network canned that show. The worst part is, I remember reading that they had laid down all the voices in the studio for a third season.
We can only hope for a DVD box set..