Funny thing happened today, as usual, i posted my bi-annual email to all the company to mention that i was buying/cleaning/fixing/selling pinball machines and arcade related stuff as a hobby. I even added a nice picture of my current lineup...

Asked them to pass the word around, of course, in case some relatives wanted to get rid of a game, you know the deal.

Half an hour later, a woman came to tell me that she was VERY happy that i was not her husband or boyfriend... according to her, pinball machines should never be allowed in a basement, they take too much space !! DOH ! Yeah, for sure it takes space, at least as much as the fourth couch you would want me to buy if i was your boyfriend...  

So once the day is over, i was putting my boots on and another girl came to tell me that when the "others" (women, of course..) besides her saw my email they all said that i should live alone for having such a hobby...   They asked if i had a girlfried ?? To what she replied that i was married and had 2 kids, i think that scared them even more  

So, wtf is it with liking pinball machines ? Should i be shy ? Should i hide ? Should i just keep it for myself ? God, i can drink, and go out with the boys 5 times a week but i cannot own a pinball machine and be married ? Too funny

Ah well, maybe they will help me unload these F#@*#@# pinball machines their boyfriends have in their basements for cheap

Same women that have 1800 pairs of shoes. Stay far away. Very far away. And they have the nuts to tell you your crazy?

Ask them how many pairs of shoes they have tomorrow. Then ask them how much space they take up and how often they wear them all.

I had a similar situation with my wife 5 years ago. My wife was openly complaining to my mom (who lives in my basement) that I was spending lots of time on the hobby, and that it was stupid. My mother said this:

"Is he out drinking with buddies often?"

"No."

"Is he cheating on you?"

"No."

"Is he gone gambling?"

"No."

"If you need him for something, does he come up from the gameroom to help when you call him?"

"Yes."

"So let me get this straight... you have a husband that is home pretty much every evening, is happy overall due to his hobby, is not drinking, not gambling, and is available whenever you need him?"

"Yes."

"Then WTF is the problem?????"

...To put things in context, my biological father was a mean drunk at the time my parents were married (he is ok now, no more booze), cheated on my mother left and right, and was barely home.

My wife pretty much stopped complaining loudly at that point.

I see where you are coming from though, Az... I have noticed the same thing with many women today. I don't know what it is, but many women today seem to think that whatever is not OK according to them should be bad. My wife loves cycling to the point of biking 50 kms just for the hell of it. I am happy for her that she has a pastime, but she looks at me crooked because I don't bike. She now respects my hobby, but won't go near it. I have seen her play pin 4 times in 5 years (3 times on my Haunted House, once on Tales From The Crypt).

My mother on the other hand, loves the hobby! She has become my pin-tester! But she never forgave me for selling her favorite, Getaway.

Long story short, anyone who disses on someone elses hobby is an a**hole. If you do an activity that makes you happy and makes you release the tension of the daily grind, whether that be pinball, videogames, biking, needlepoint, collecting pet rocks or going ape-mess on Beanie Babies, if it makes you smile, and meet new people on top of it, it is all good!

When the subject used to come up, I would just offer to sell everything so I could buy some project cars, to put on blocks, in the driveway.  And of course I would also have to store a new boat on the front lawn.

Everything in perspective

- or -

Lesser of two evils

(You decide)

Quoted from Sparky

My mother on the other hand, loves the hobby! She has become my pin-tester! But she never forgave me for selling her favorite, Getaway.

Now your an a**hole Ian. Making me feel bad for keeping your mother away from her pin.

I'll get over it... Ok, I am over it.

My mom still comes over and asks what happened to FH. She liked Rudy for some reason. Too bad she didn't say anything before he left.

Makes me love my wife even more. She is very supportive of my new hobby. I have 3 pins and a MAME cab int the (not very big) basement. She doesn't play much but she loves seeing me beam when I come out of the basement (not so much when I am cursing losing another screw in the cab (why do they always roll under some imovable part on the bottom with just enough gap?

My brother in law has old cars (on blocks) in front of his house. He makes me look good.

Pins Rule!!!

WOW...I think if you tell your co-workers about me they'll likely put out on a contract to have me killed for the benefit of all womankind!!!!  Then again I think my wife has already done that...

    As I said yesterday my wife always calls me an "enabler"....I say, yes I am, I enable many people to experience the pure pleasure of playing Pinball!!!! I'm sure to some wives out there I'm like the drug pusher or the pimp....hey theres a new name..the Pinball Pimp!!!  I'm gonna get myself a nice big Cadillac and fill the backseat with IJ's, cruise around town and start breaking up marriages wherever I go!

Quoted from 265

  I'm gonna get myself a nice big Cadillac and fill the backseat with IJ's, cruise around town and start breaking up marriages wherever I go!

At least my wife is now very understanding..

That just pissed me off today.

Can't believe you would email every one in the cie to fish for pinball...

Are you paying with cashier checks too ?!  

I've been working for 11 years there and pretty much knows everyone... just not talking pinball everyday with them

This is a great topic.

At first my wife didn't understand the hobby one bit, and my new found obsession with it when I bought my fist pin (FH).  That was mainly because the whole time she;d known me I had never really set foot in an arcade, but what she didn't know is that I pretty much grew up playing pinball through the 80's and was obsessed with it then.

Now after 5+ years of the hobby and MANY more games through the doors, she is a little more understanding.  As much as she pokes fun at me sometimes, I know that she's cool with it all as long as we have a roof over our heads, food on the table and clothes on our backs.  I've even caught her explaining it to some of her friends and the benefits of having games @ home when it comes to entertaining.   And I can confirm she definately likes this hobby a hell of a lot more than my last, which was cars and anything to do with performace.  (I shake my head when I think about the amount of $$ I've put into my car and the collection I could have had...... OH THE COLLECTION!!!)  At least this way everyone gets to enjoy my hobby, where with the car, only I did.

The part of the hobby I don't enjoy is having to defend myself (and the hobby) to ignorant people.... (you know... the type described in the first post, and not just women either!)  I have no patients for ignorant people.

D.

I hear your pain. I had a large pinball party one time. Everyone had a GREAT time. They were overwhelmed by all the games. All the ladies were lining up to play Theatre of Magic or Centipede. The guys were playing Indiana Jones or Dracula. The night was perfect and it couldn't be better. Everyone, but me, was a newbie. They weren't really into pins, so I enjoyed it even more knowing I was introducing folks to the allure of the silver ball

The next day, one of the guys comes over to me and says, "The minute we walked out of your place, my wife said, "NEVER in our basement". I said, "You choose poorly." ! Then explain how my wife supports me and my hobby.

Later, it hit me and I was pissed. I mean WTF!!!??? 30 people had a great time, great memories, and all this piece of work was concerned about was having one in her basement? Like what would happen? Her husband might enjoy himself and actually have fun?

At the end of the day, we all have different interests and tastes.

I love my basement and everyone that comes to my house has a good time and that's all that matters to me.

Duane

I get the old "See I am not so bad, Look at all the games that guy has, I should get another one..." from people.    My Wife really likes the games, but seems to think we have enough?? Can you believe that?? Enough Pins?? Then She rolls her eyes and starts playing whatever new game rolls in the door.

Dave

Quoted from 265

    As I said yesterday my wife always calls me an "enabler"....I say, yes I am, I enable many people to experience the pure pleasure of playing Pinball!!!! I'm sure to some wives out there I'm like the drug pusher or the pimp....hey theres a new name..the Pinball Pimp!!!  I'm gonna get myself a nice big Cadillac and fill the backseat with IJ's, cruise around town and start breaking up marriages wherever I go!

(looks to see if wife is looking over the shoulder) If you're giving away the pins, you can break up MY marriage.  

Although not pin related, I've also got a wife who "tolerates" my gaming hobbies.  Although she doesn't get it, she knows it keeps me happy (and at home eh Sparky? ).  I will say this though, whether it's pins or anything else, in defense of some of these ladies, it's a lot of money and THAT's what is really their big concern, they just don't see the value in spending money like that on what to them is a toy.  I don't agree with that of course, whatever makes you happy and doesn't put your family in financial hardship is ok, we're all allowed our hobbies).

I have to say though, the ladies where you work have a huge set for going out to you and questioning what the hell you do with your own life.  Sorry, not a huge set, I meant to say "they have no class", it's none of their freakin' business.

Quoted from TwilightZone

Later, it hit me and I was pissed. I mean WTF!!!??? 30 people had a great time, great memories, and all this piece of work was concerned about was having one in her basement? Like what would happen? Her husband might enjoy himself and actually have fun?
Duane

Amen Duane! It's atrocious, and even disgusting to hear about arcade games nearly cast in the same light as
instruments of torture from the Third Reich....how can anyone have such low self esteem to want to repell
something that people enjoy?....it's almost creepy....no....it "is" creepy...

Since I'm pretty stupid, can someone please clarify just what in phoque's name people have in their
houses that is so sacred that an arcade game could tarnish by its mere presence?  let me take a guess here....

Is it that stupid Hockey player bobble head gift from the christmas office party?

How about the 3 year old "to do list" that's yellowing on the fridge under a replica fruit magnet?

A turd-like statue  of Buddha that you bought at Pier 1 Imports to try and look spiritual to pretentious friends?

Is it that monstrosity of a dining room table with worn legs that's been mercilessly handed down generation
to generation only because adult children couldn't say no to the festering old folks?

Are Arcade machines not good enough to breathe the same air as the shitty magazine basket you bought in
morocco that collects dust next to the UNmatching love seats you bought at the Brick?

Is it the thought of an Arcade next to your "pharmacy white" walls highlighting the fact that they're too lazy to
paint, and haven't got a creative bone in their body anyway?

How about that cd tower that stands as a 4 foot monument to their failure to play an instrument, and end up listening to the Eagles like everyone else.........yeah......that's what I thought......   

Craig

Why space is so important to women?  I think the problem with pinball machine in the basement is that she can't move it by herself to fit is mood

     Heres another stab at it....I think most wives/girlfriends just can't understand how so much $$ should be tied up in what they view as just expensive toys. Its always about how that money could be put to a better use..." max out the RRSP" or "a down payment on a cottage" or "put aside for our childs future", etc...it doesn't matter if you're also actually doing all of those things..because you could have a BIGGER RRSP or a NICER cottage or a  LARGER college fund set aside. We can preach till we're blue in the face about how these machines are "truly an investment that you can enjoy every day" ( as I like to put in my EBAY listings). To most of our significant others, our machines are just expensive toys that point to our inability to completely grow up and let go of our childhood.   I say I NEVER want to grow up...its very overrated!!!!

I had someone I work with on the robotics team suggest all the robotics staff & spouses go out for dinner, and then come back to my place to play games.  That makes it all worthwhile.  

I wouldn't really care if other people I know or work with don't support my hobby, because quite frankly, it's none of their business.  I'd semi-politely point that out to them, and they'd never get an invite to come & play.  Their loss.

My wife supports me doing this, but we're on a "1-in, 1-out"  policy with pins now, mostly because the size of the basement, which only holds 3 pins (I own 6) and because she wants us to reduce our overall debt before I get any more.  

I just have to throw in my .02 right here, i think i win on this topic!!

When i met my girlfriend (wife now) i had one pinball machine and one arcade machine, she thought it was really cool, and so did all her friends,
mind you, at the time, she was 19 and i was 21.

Fast forward to last year, for a wedding gift, she bought me a RollerCoaster Tycoon pinball machine, so if that doesn't say she approves of the hobby
i dont know what does, now she doesn't go down there and play all the time, but every couple weeks i can persuade her to go to the gamesroom
and play some pinball and cruis'n and when we have people over, the gameroom is always packed.

Now i have a space issue as well, but i'm dealing, i now have 6 pins and 4 other misc machines, i'll have pics up sometime.

but again, she always wanted me to have a hobby, and is happy i found one i can do at home, and one i get to know a bunch of people with
and she still approves even after meeting alot of the cgcc'ers haha

so all i can say, is just be happy for what you have, and if somoene else bitches about it, just know in your head that it's because they are jealous
cuz all they have is a ping pong table with a broken leg

Keep up the good work ladies and gentlemen

Eric

Quoted from thunderstorm

I just have to throw in my .02 right here, i think i win on this topic!!

When i met my girlfriend (wife now) i had one pinball machine and one arcade machine, she thought it was really cool, and so did all her friends,
mind you, at the time, she was 19 and i was 21.

Fast forward to last year, for a wedding gift, she bought me a RollerCoaster Tycoon pinball machine, so if that doesn't say she approves of the hobby
i dont know what does, now she doesn't go down there and play all the time, but every couple weeks i can persuade her to go to the gamesroom
and play some pinball and cruis'n and when we have people over, the gameroom is always packed.

Now i have a space issue as well, but i'm dealing, i now have 6 pins and 4 other misc machines, i'll have pics up sometime.

but again, she always wanted me to have a hobby, and is happy i found one i can do at home, and one i get to know a bunch of people with
and she still approves even after meeting alot of the cgcc'ers haha

so all i can say, is just be happy for what you have, and if somoene else bitches about it, just know in your head that it's because they are jealous
cuz all they have is a ping pong table with a broken leg

Keep up the good work ladies and gentlemen

Eric

       Just in case thing don't work out, can I give her my number???????

Quoted from thunderstorm

...
Fast forward to last year, for a wedding gift, she bought me a RollerCoaster Tycoon pinball machine, so if that doesn't say she approves of the hobby
i dont know what does...

Well, my wife did buy me a TFTC for Xmas 2 years ago... she understood then. She was also grateful when I sold it for cash to put against the new house. She then understood that my priorities were in the right place. She is OK with it now.

Oh, I still get the occasionnal "you're obsessed with pinball" comment, especially when machines come in the house (even when most of the time they aren't mine... takes a lot of convincing her to make her understand that they are someone else's there for repair), but it usually is OK, as long as I keep it reasonable and I don't put myself in financial jeopardy over it.

think the ladies at your work would say that about you even without your hobbie!  lol.


  i too am lucky to have a great wife that lets me buy almost all the machines i want.  inlaws have to put up with them mostly and they too enjoy my hobby.   they love it when i get machines from there era and they play the crap out of them.  as for my mom.  she is just happy its pinball and not toys.  i use to have over 4000 package toys from the 60's on.  also over 500 board games.  they all too up more room and looked ugly compaired to even when i had 22 pins set up.  i still have over 100 board games that need to go and quarter of a garage with toys and other stuff.    

Quoted from 265

I say I NEVER want to grow up...its very overrated!!!!

there is something I heard I while ago from an old man. He was saying that people never grow up but grow old before being old. And this one phrase stood out:

"Grow up, Not old."


This goes for men and women. Why should I stop doing something because it's seems childish to someone else who has never even tried it themselves or is to afraid of what others think of them. These people will never be truely happy. I love pins and Vids but my real hobby is RC cars and trucks and when I take one out on the street I get comments like "les enfants s'amuse" (the kids are having fun) and "wow that is much faster than what I had when I was a kid" with a smirk on thier faces as if saying aren't you too old to be playing with those things. Most times I don't say anything or just smile and other times I just think yup, I am a kid at heart and always loved RC so I have no reason to defend my hobby. Also my wife is happy that I am happy doing what I love most (too bad there is not a really nice track closer to home, guess I have to open one up).

Tolerate may be the right term but it seems harsh imo. Do these people that tolerate our hobbies have any of thier own? if not they cannot understand why someone would be passionate about thiers.



Voila.

If there's one thing my wife understands is that what she sees before her may change in appearance, but it's not going to change inside.  I'll be 60, 70, 80 years old and I'll still be the same guy who loves to play games, joke all the time, etc.  That's also the same guy who'd drop in front of a mack truck for her if it would save her, so I think she's ok with me being me.

now look at what you guys did?  I'm getting all emotional now!

Azatotht,

I've had a lot of people come through my gameroom over the years.  Everything from pinball parties to birthday parties and just the sight of people of all ages having fun and letting loose is pretty satisfying and being able to host this madness is even better.

Some people on the other hand have no experience or limited experience with pinball or arcade games and to put it nicely they "just don't get it". I could go on and say that some people are just too goal oreintated and they just don't know how to unwind.  Or I could say that some people are cursed with a gene that makes them far too uptight while others have a tendancy to travel through life with blinders on.............but in reality this really isn't the case.  

Arcade games and pinball games are skill games and generally speaking the better people are at them the more fun they have.  But you have to be attracted to these games in the first place to experience the fun factor.  Ya' know....whatever floats your boat.  People are diverse and varied and as such have different interests and passions.

Surprisingly the majority of people who visit my gamesroom experience the fun factor and I usually find myself in the company of those who "do get it" and I usually don't have the time or energy to convert those who are not.

As far as your co-workers are concerned (women) all I can suggest is that the next time you speak to them about your hobby....just tell them....."Hey, Don't knock it until you try it" .............and then blow them a kiss".  

                                                      flashman
  

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