Marvel Legends Gamerverse

[AceofKnaves]

I have no problem with anyone making money any way that they can, as long as it's legal and not hurting others.

Unfortunately, “legal” is dependent on who is making the laws, and whom said laws are made to benefit.

And that “harming others” one is the doozy. There is no truly ethical consumption under capitalism so no one truly gets away clean from harming others, but deliberately fostering parasocial relationships really isn’t a grey area. It’s exploitation.

And super-duper fuck AI.

 

[Enforcer]

Speaking of action figure influencers, which I always found it hilarious they all just started identifying themselves that way all at once, as sad as it is... they did start influencing people with their reviews and opinions. There is an entire subset of collectors whose purchasing habits and opinions are parroted from people like Shartimus Prime (scary as that is) or Dan Who (who I actually really dont mind). The influencer lifestyle seems incredibly draining, and definitely depends on the chronically online. People with the appetite to consume social media and YouTube for 90% of their awake time are obviously some of the biggest interactors and who are contributing to their monetary wealth. And what kind of people are the chronically online? The type who have enough attention span to give rise to the influencer... to actually be influenced by them. Again, as sad as it is... OnlyFans is an insanely lucrative service because of the abundance of chronically online people who feel more comfortable interacting with their desired gender via electronic financial correspondence. The reality is there are a lot of people in current generations who feel that this is normal, and can develop a "relationship" with an influencer enough to be influenced. It takes a special type of susceptible person to give rise to this culture... and there are billions millions of people who do. To me, the influencer culture is inherently bad because it takes advantage of people who are addicted to being online, similar to cigarettes or online gambling. Its probably not the healthiest thing, but people love it and society doesnt tie a huge stigma to it.

I'll watch a review to see how a figure looks before my pre-order comes in... but I generally dont find my opinions impacted by that of the reviewer. Depending on the person, their whole opinion could be shaped based on the review. They are influenced. The title is apt, but the implication is pretty embarrassing and I would have not a ton of respect for a person who identified themselves as an influencer upon meeting them in person.

 

[CTV]

I agree, other than not having respect for them because I don't care about what other people do for work if it isn't criminal. I've never understood the need for professional critics, either (influencers exist in the same vein to me); I find it odd that so many people will let someone else tell them what to see/like/dislike etc. rather than just seeing for themselves.

I remember recommending the MCU She-Hulk show to a lawyer friend of mine, and his response was "Well, I saw a lot of people on YouTube saying it was bad, so I don't feel the need to watch it." Years later, he told me he'd watched it recently and thought it was hilarious.

 

[Enforcer]

I agree, other than not having respect for them because I don't care about what other people do for work if it isn't criminal. I've never understood the need for professional critics, either (influencers exist in the same vein to me); I find it odd that so many people will let someone else tell them what to see/like/dislike etc. rather than just seeing for themselves.

I remember recommending the MCU She-Hulk show to a lawyer friend of mine, and his response was "Well, I saw a lot of people on YouTube saying it was bad, so I don't feel the need to watch it." Years later, he told me he'd watched it recently and thought it was hilarious.

The respect thing is entirely subjective to me with bias based on a high percentage of influencers that I've seen be incredibly narcissistic, entitled by the "profession", and very very vapid. I mean, imagine thousands or millions of people are influenced by your "expertise", which in many cases is just a subjective opinion or preference. The power of that creates some monsters. And then the opinion becomes a brand so at what point is the expertise anything more than a reinforced group-think by like minded folks who can be easily influenced? Culty, as was alluded to before. Not to mention a lot of these opinions are financially motivated based on payment, freebies or other self serving perks.

Most toy influencers would openly admit, and i think have, that their channels received highest ever engagement (money) for posting negative commentary on the Engine of Vengeance HasLab. Even if you felt positive about it, you could make a few bucks and explode your viewership if you went with the very vocal negative sentiments. So why not? And at that point, what is your opinion or professional ethics worth? Its not even an opinion anymore. You're being paid to influence the thoughts of your flock of sheep... essentially.

 

[CTV]

I still lay the blame with the sheep themselves. I'm one of 5 people who loved The Eternals film; there's no amount of online vitriol that can override my personal opinion. But I also like designer clothes, which is really bad I think! There are a lot of strong opinions about the purchase of luxury goods in this thread. I hope none of you have backed a Haslab!

 

[Enforcer]

I still lay the blame with the sheep themselves. I'm one of 5 people who loved The Eternals film; there's no amount of online vitriol that can override my personal opinion. But I also like designer clothes, which is really bad I think! There are a lot of strong opinions about the purchase of luxury goods in this thread. I hope none of you have backed a Haslab!

Lol definitely. The cell phone addict culture has created a loooot of sheep. Don't hate the player.

 

[PantherCult]

First of all I still love the Eternals movie and as I've said elsewhere its my wife's favorite Marvel movie.

I'm not into designer clothes at all myself. I also don't care about fancy cars. But I don't care if others do. Those choices don't inpress me, but also don't cause me to look down on them.

I don't mind spending money on good food and spend thousands a year on action figures so I'm in no position to judge others for how they spend their disposable income.

 

[mrboshek]

No sarcasm.

It is a lifestyle. I have a few clients and associates who do it. In a way, I think it's the action figures and comics that equalizes us in their head.

I mostly get it, but It sounds exhausting, on the other hand, I have spent way too much time thinking about and chasing toys over my life. After browsing kith's site, I see a lot to like, but it's more the subtle and subdued fashions, and not so much the colabs between sports and comics/videogames. I guess it's the difference between saying, "this guy looks sharp, while that guy looks loud, obnoxious , and trying too hard."

 

[Enforcer]

Love the movies you love. Buy what makes you happy (provided doing so isn't putting you into financial ruin). Ain't hurtin nobody.

I think for a lot of (old white guy) collectors this KITH thing was a first ever exposure to this type of "beastcore" consumer. And it came in the form of our favorite toys being marked up like 80% for brand logo deco. And it sold out in an instant. I dont get it, but it... made some people happy?

 

[CTV]

The WRONG people

 

[AceofKnaves]

To be clear: I have no particular problem with folks being into “luxury goods”. I mean it’s definitely generally not for me and I don’t “like” it, but that’s a preference.

The problem is doing it for “clout”, for the “look at me I have a desirable thing [and you don’t]”. Or trying to “influence” or “create popularity”.

It’s the “hype” not the “beast” that is the issue.
Self-aggrandizement is always fucking gross.

 

[Enforcer]

The people who are ok with paying $45 for a Legend. Or $200 on a shirt.

Maybe I'm wrong for buying a mini comic wave plus an extra pinless Silver Surfer for like $270 Canadian.

 

[CTV]

To be clear: I have no particular problem with folks being into “luxury goods”. I mean it’s definitely generally not for me and I don’t “like” it, but that’s a preference.

The problem is doing it for “clout”, for the “look at me I have a desirable thing [and you don’t]”. Or trying to “influence” or “create popularity”.

It’s the “hype” not the “beast” that is the issue.
Self-aggrandizement is always fucking gross.

I don't think you having a problem with any/all aspects of it [edited to add]: is a problem. As someone who's in closer physical proximity to hypebeast culture than most of you, and who understands it as largely a white corporate co-option of Black American streetwear culture (among other things), I think it's interesting from a psychological or anthropological perspective to read this group's reaction to these two subcultures finding a connection point even if I think some of you are missing the fact that you're a similar person in a different fandom fueled by the same conspicuous consumption.

 

[altcunningham]

To be clear: I have no particular problem with folks being into “luxury goods”. I mean it’s definitely generally not for me and I don’t “like” it, but that’s a preference.

The problem is doing it for “clout”, for the “look at me I have a desirable thing [and you don’t]”. Or trying to “influence” or “create popularity”.

It’s the “hype” not the “beast” that is the issue.
Self-aggrandizement is always fucking gross.

To be fair, there's a lot of toy collectors that do that same attitude. I always roll my eyes when people talk about getting characters they aren't even familiar with just because it's a new drop or an exclusive drop or a rare drop. And so on.

But that's because I have learned over the years that my personal satisfaction and happiness comes from a specific approach as well, which I know is not everyone else's.

 

[Enforcer]

I don't think you having a problem with any/all aspects of it. As someone who's in closer physical proximity to hypebeast culture than most of you, and who understands it as largely a white corporate co-option of Black American streetwear culture (among other things), I think it's interesting from a psychological or anthropological perspective to read this group's reaction to these two subcultures finding a connection point even if I think some of you are missing the fact that you're a similar person in a different fandom fueled by the same conspicuous consumption.

For me it's very interesting that a Legends offering reaction could contrast so strongly. Between people who simply must have it, and dedicated Legends collectors who had a very easy time passing. I'm completist, but I had no interest in a branded repaint sold at a premium in very very limited quantities.

I feel like Dan is most definitely a part of the hype beast culture, and likely was instrumental in the production run numbers (thriving secondary market low, in line with the consumer culture) and understanding what these should cost. Curious if we ever see something like this again, or it opened the door for general release P2 colored figures.