#5FandomFriday: Guilty Pleasures

June 26, 2015
It's that time again! This week's 5 Fandom Friday's theme is Fandom Guilty Pleasures. I must preface this by saying that I don't feel guilty about these pleasures, they make me happy, less stressed, and help me connect with others. These things are part of who I am, and it would be unhealthy to try to hide them or feel guilty about them (a bit embarrassed by some of them, maybe!). 




  1. Comic books! 




  
 I am running out of space for all my comic books! Sometimes on the weekends, I'll go to a couple of comic book stores to grab the latest issues of my favorites. I don't get to do this very often, so nowadays I stick to the limited series or one-shots. I have loved comic books for a long time, and I truly believe that reading comic books has many benefits, including promoting literacy, encouraging a love of the arts, encouraging a love of reading, and helping kids to learn to read as well as to connect with their parents. I usually promote Free Comic Book Day at my workplace, and oftentimes am told by coworkers and parents alike that it was a good chance to spend time with their kid doing something fun and connecting. 

2. Toys!






   I blame my stepfather for this one. My stepfather has collected anything collectible all of his life (as far as I know), and I've picked up on his habit. I love my toy collection. I used to be a bit embarrassed by it (I'm an adult!) but I've come to embrace that part of myself. This is not hoarding as many people might think (I swear!). It might be behavioral from having observed my stepfather doing this, and it might be generational, from being part of this current society that embraces geek culture and makes it mainstream. 

3. Cosplay!

   I have posted a picture of me cosplaying before. Here is another of my Ciel cosplay:


   I love to cosplay, and someday I will write in more detail about why, but the reasons involve the feeling of community and belonging, as well as the fun!

4. Binge Watching TV Shows!

  Whether it's on Netflix, Hulu, or Crunchyroll, some of my favorite days are when I can just sit and binge-watch a good program. Things I have recently binge-watched include Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 2 and Tokyo Ghoul. 

5. Buying books that maybe I'll read one day!

   Call me old-school, but I prefer a book in my hand. There is something about holding it, and smelling the pages. In fact, there is some research about the role of our olfactory sense in memory, and I think that has a lot to do with it. When there is a smell associated with an event, we are more likely to remember it for longer and recall it when we catch that smell again later, even if it has been years. It's a powerful thing, our olfaction! This is why I'd rather buy books in physical form rather than electronic. I currently have a lot of books waiting to be read. 

It's okay to not feel guilty about your pleasures, as long as you're not harming yourself or others while enjoying them. They're part of what makes us whole people. What would life be without them? 

What fandom guilty (or not) pleasures do you have? 










12 comments on "#5FandomFriday: Guilty Pleasures"
  1. Buying books that I'll maybe read some day, that one sounds like me haha

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    1. :D There are just so many good books out there! One day we'll get to them! :D

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  2. I also have too many comic books +++ books that I will end up reading one day xDDD I can relate to that strongly & also: toys! My real weakness: Funkos. They're so cute!!! Binge watching shows too ;)

    xoxo
    dePepi.com

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    1. Funkos are great! Super cute and they're the perfect size too! :D I don't collect them but I do have several.

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  3. Binge watching is such a guilty pleasure that I love!

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    1. Binge watching is one of the funnest weekend activities because at the end of it there's another fandom that you belong to! :D

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  4. Oh yes binge watching is definitely my go to activity if I have any free time! I have a feeling I should have added toys to my list too as my collection is ever growing and you'd be surprised how many I've 'won' well that's what the hubs thinks anyway!!! Great list!

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    1. Thank you! Toys are awesome, the only thing that sucks is when you run out of room D:!

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    2. Thank you! Toys are awesome, the only thing that sucks is when you run out of room D:!

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  5. Books! I love actual books. I have a spreadsheet of "to read." I like to buy off that list and have some on my shelf so I have s good selection to choose from when picking something new to read. :)

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    1. That's awesome! I had started a list some time ago but gave up on it because I thought I wouldn't get to them anyway. Now I just buy the books if I see them, but they pile up. Definitely take more space than a list would! What book/s are you reading currently?

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    2. That's awesome! I had started a list some time ago but gave up on it because I thought I wouldn't get to them anyway. Now I just buy the books if I see them, but they pile up. Definitely take more space than a list would! What book/s are you reading currently?

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