Shoutout to the guy at the Portland comic shop who said collecting was for kids

He saw me buying a trade paperback and said, 'Aren't you a little old for picture books?' in front of a whole line of people. I just told him my 3-year-old nephew loves when I read them to him, which is true, but it made me think about why we still feel the need to defend liking this stuff. How do you guys handle those kinds of comments?

4 comments

4 Comments

park.miles2mo agoOG Member

That guy's insecurity is showing. People who police hobbies are usually miserable. Your comeback was perfect, by the way.

emeryj662mo ago

Ever notice how the loudest critics never seem to have any fun hobbies of their own? What do you think they're actually getting out of tearing down someone else's interest? It's such a weird way to spend your energy. Makes you wonder what's missing in their own life that they need to do that.

drew_mitchell2mo ago

Honestly that part about "what's missing in their own life" hits hard. Tbh I see it all the time, not just with hobbies but with anything people enjoy. It's like they get a little power from saying something isn't good enough. Park.miles is right about the misery. Ngl, I figure if your own life was full or fun, you'd be too busy living it to trash how someone else spends their free time.

thomas_sanchez1mo ago

Lol shouldve asked him if he still reads the funnies in the newspaper every morning. Nothing screams grownup like a 3 panel Garfield strip.