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Getting Our Geek On: What Our Symbols Mean to Us

As I’m sure you’ve all noticed, I am occasionally struck with an intense (if not profound) need to question the workings and motivations of my inner geek, generally expressed via long-winded navel-gazing in the form of a blog feature. In today’s installment of this periodic ramble, I address the question of my outer geek, what that means and why. As usual, I’m coming at the question from a strictly personal angle, but though the bulk of this post is about my own experiences in displaying my fandom, I’m hoping to motivate the rest of you to tell me about your own.

The outward display of fannish/geek paraphernalia is certainly nothing new or profound. From t-shirts to full-out cosplay, fans like me dress up constantly to some extent or another and have been doing so for longer than any of us have been around. I’m sure there have been academic studies done on fan culture and so on which address the subject in detail. Something that has struck me lately, however, is how personal some of these displays can be–to the point where I question the object of wearing them in the first place.

Those of you who have met me will know that I wear a necklace featuring a serpent on a cross, familiar to manga and anime fans as the symbol worn by Edward Elric in Fullmetal Alchemist. It’s a common item, sold at cons and shops all over. I picked mine up at Tokyo Kid in Cambridge a couple of years back. I have a lot of little items like that–trinkets, figurines, etc.–but this one I wear pretty much every day, outclassed only by my wedding ring. Because of this, I get a lot of comments and questions about it, almost always from people who don’t recognize it for what it is. The most common of these is some variation on, “What a beautiful cross!” To these people, I simply say, “Thank you,” partly because having a discussion about my non-theism at the 7-11 is not something I especially wish to do and partly because I don’t want to make them feel sorry about being friendly (and after all it is a cross, if not perhaps the one they’re thinking about). Other common queries include, “Is that a medical symbol?” “Is that Wiccan?” or simply, “What is that?” Funny thing is, despite my determination to wear this symbol every day, I find that when asked, I really don’t want to answer. I stammer a bit, mumble something vague like, “Oh, it’s a geek thing,” and flee the scene as quickly as possible.

The truth is, the simple answer is too simple and anything more is too personal. Just as my interest in manga (including Fullmetal Alchemist) is much deeper than could be stated in a simple sentence or two, so is my attachment to that symbol. The true answer is two-fold. On the surface, yes I’m expressing my manga geekdom in very common fashion. It’s fun to have a piece of almost-normal jewelry that I can wear anywhere without causing distraction–both as a means of identifying myself subtly to others of my kind and as a semi-subversive way of bringing my geekdom into the mainstream world, unnoticed. Secondly, though–and this is where it gets personal–the symbol itself holds a great deal of meaning for me. I’ve read a lot about the origins of the symbol, its meaning (“fixation of the volatile”), and how it fits into alchemic principals, but what “fixation of the volatile” symbolizes personally for me is the idea of harnessing the inherently chaotic power of my deepest passions and focusing it in a meaningful and productive way. Though I expect my interpretation is pretty far off the historical mark, it is something that motivates me so profoundly I actually feel more powerful and focused when I wear the symbol, ridiculous though that may seem. With such deep meaning attached to it, I have difficulty explaining my necklace to strangers in surface terms, but since the more detailed explanation is too personal to go into with the guy at Jiffy Lube, I’m left basically speechless. Still, I continue to wear the necklace nearly every day.

Not all of my geek symbols are meaningful on that level (most aren’t, in fact), though they are frequently just as difficult to explain. Sure, the Hufflepuff scarf is easy in most company, but ever try explaining your “NUMFAR” license plate to someone who has never heard of Joss Whedon? Chances are not, but I’m sure many of you have had similar experiences with your own obscure items. On the other end of the spectrum, I have at least one item (a hat resembling Kino’s in Kino no Tabi) that feels so personal, I have never even worn it. So the question I’m asking myself is: Why? Why do we so love these symbols of our geekdom and what is our purpose for displaying them (or not) to the world?

Some potential answers are obvious. I’ll use the NUMFAR plate as an example. First of all, it was an exercise of the most fantastic, hilarious kind to sit around with my husband and think up six-letter words to appropriately express our then-rabid Whedon fandom. (“GACHNAR,” sadly, was too long. “SRNITY” was a possibility.) Of course, in our dreams we imagined giddy honks of solidarity from other fans on the road (this has never happened). So first we have a fun inside joke for our own enjoyment, followed by the hope of connecting with other fans. After that, things get murky. An obvious suggestion would be the opportunity to bring attention to our fandom–to spread the word to those on the outside. Yet, more often than not, I feel uncomfortable and even embarrassed when someone asks me about it, and I rarely give an adequate (or even coherent) explanation. So what gives? Is this merely a symptom of social anxiety, or do I actually not want to explain? I suspect the answer is a little bit of both and though I’m unsure of what that means, I’m a bit fascinated by the question.

So I ask all of you: From full-out cosplay to inconspicuous accessories, how do you express your fannish geek and why? Do you have particular fannish symbols that mean more to you than what they might represent to others, even other fans? How do you respond when someone asks you about them?

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Comments

  2. Interesting conversation you’ve started here, Melinda. Well, for me, being a nerd is as much a part of who I am as being Filipino or Mexican. Besides, being Asian, wearing glasses and reading too many books kind of lumps you into the nerd category regardless (see: Long Duc Dong). I’ve always been a nerd, so I’ve never felt weird about it. But, that’s probably because I have “nerd pride” and have always been fairly extroverted.

    I do own a few fannish things, mostly T-shirts and some other accessories. Nothing that means too much to me (except perhaps my “I luv nerds” T-shirt featuring Milhouse from The Simpsons — I got it last year at Comic-Con). But, I’ve developed a reputation over the years as “the comic book girl.” Living in San Diego makes comics less fear-inducing among the general public simply because we host Comic-Con, so I’ve never really run into any trouble explaining stuff to people. I’ll just brush it off as a “comic book thing” and if they’re interested in learning more, I’ll go into it. But, most folks are happy with the simple explanation.

    But, I’m even a “nerd among nerds” when it comes to comics, since I gravitate towards manga. When explaining whatever comic I’m reading, say “Sexy Voice and Robo,” to my buddy Ramon, a traditional comic book nerd, it’s the same process of giving just enough info. Interested people will ask for more and I won’t find myself overexplaining to someone who doesn’t care. If I’m wearing something particularly obscure, I usually have a canned response handy, especially since my husband isn’t particularly nerdy and asks questions about whatever I’ve got on. Of course, talking to people is easy for me because of my work as a PR writer.

    Regardless, it seems that there’s a growing nerd subculture and that probably comes from more visibility in pop culture and it being deemed a “hip” thing to read “graphic novels.” As the negative connotations rub off, I’m sure more people will feel less uncomfortable talking about their fannish things.

    Reply

    • I think I’m not embarrassed/weird about the potential negative connotations people might have about my fandoms. I wouldn’t use my real name all over the place online if I was. I’m embarrassed/weird about having to explain the elements of it that are really personal to me. It’s totally unfair of me, really. I put it it out there for everyone to see, but then I act like it’s an intrusion if they ask me about it. Heh. Yeah, it’s partly social anxiety (I’m quite shy with people I don’t know) and partly… something else.

      I envy you extroverted folks, I really do! :D

      Heh, yes, I can imagine living in San Diego makes comics easier to explain.

      Thank you so much for joining the discussion!

      Reply

      • Ah, I see! Yeah, general social anxiety makes it quite hard to explain anything to strangers, let alone something that holds meaning for you. But, plenty of people have a hard time explaining personal things to other people, so I wouldn’t be overly concerned about it. It’s simply difficult to share anything near and dear to our hearts with folks outside of our “secret club,” if you will.

        And I forgot to mention that I do much the same as Sara K. — I read manga in public. It’s mostly my own quiet form of raising awareness of manga. I have had folks ask me about it, but they’re usually into comics anyway. If nothing else, I just want folks to realize that “normal” people (as opposed to the fanboy stereotype) read comics, too.

        Anyway, this has gotten very interesting as I’ve scrolled through the other comments! Good stuff.

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        • Also, it’s interesting, isn’t it, how I’m able to write about deeply personal things and post them for everyone to see, but I can’t do the same thing face-to-face without anxiety? Obviously it’s not the *sharing* that’s the problem. I’m very comfortable with that (and in fact, it used to be my job in a way—I was a professional stage actress for many years, and had to be able to be completely vulnerable in front of thousands of strangers night after night!), except when I’m just meeting people in a normal, everyday situation. Weird.

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  3. Good question. I tend to be sort of surprised when something catches my eye in a way that I want to have or wear it. The only HP symbol I have is a wand I bought that I absolutely love—and it’s, well, it’s a wooden stick. I have some comics tee-shirts too. I do have a tee-shirt with Draco on it.

    But it’s just like you explain here—it’s almost hard to say exactly what the symbol means, because in order for me to actually wear something or buy it it’s going to mean something personal I might not even be able to explain. I mean, it’s not always personal on the level or your necklace. But it usually is a symbol of something that I’m glad to have a symbol of—which is why I don’t really have any HP things in general but I wanted to have a sweatshirt of *Draco* specifically, and the wand kind of goes beyond having anything to do with Harry Potter and becomes about how cool it would be if this magic wand was magic and chose me.

    I tend to get into symbols a lot, especially ones that are kind of hidden, like your alchemical symbol. I usually wear this pendant that’s got 3 hares on it. It’s a copy of a symbol that appears all over Asia and Europe and is so old nobody actually knows what it means. I think of it as fannish even though it’s not actually connected to any fandom. (But who knows—maybe it was and we just don’t know it!)

    What I do have a lot of are figurines on my desk and again they’re the same way. I like to collect totems and symbols of things, but it’s hard to really explain just what they mean because as you say, it’s personal. But if one were to actually study all the stuff on my desk you’d notice many different incarnations of Robin/Nightwing, for instance. That sort of thing.

    Reply

    • Yes, yes exactly!! I can relate to this very much. If it’s something I’ve bothered to buy, it probably is personal on some level.

      I love how you think about your pendant with the 3 hares.

      I actually have an HP wand as well! :D

      Whee! Thank you for joining in!

      Reply

  4. I have posters, magnets, notebooks, pens, pencils, t-shirts, shoes, figures, mugs, keychains, eyeglass cases, etc. Part of it is a rebellion against drab functionality. Why use the old standard yellow pencil, when I can have the Justice League. Part of it is because I like being surrounded by things that have meaning. I also have magnets, et al, of places I’ve visited over the years. I enjoy looking up from the computer at work and seeing all these crazy things stuck to my cubicle walls. As Erica Friedman says, it’s a way of living in color in a b/w enviroment.

    The women I work with stick up pictures of kids, husbands, friends, and family members. So have art from their kids, or flowers, or decorative paperweights. That’s their form of geekery. It’s what comforts them in the midst of cubicle city.

    I think when people ask about your necklace you should tell them that it’s alchemist symbol that you understand to mean ‘fixation of the volatile’. If they ask further, tell them you discovered it from an anime show, but that it’s come to mean something more profound for you.
    It’s a wonderful testament to the power of art to have real meaning in our life. And further, a testament to the fact that anime is real art.

    Reply

    • The women I work with stick up pictures of kids, husbands, friends, and family members. So have art from their kids, or flowers, or decorative paperweights. That’s their form of geekery. It’s what comforts them in the midst of cubicle city.

      That’s a very good point!

      Also, Ed, I think I *will* borrow the explanation you’ve suggested here. Why couldn’t I ever come up with that in the moment??

      It’s a wonderful testament to the power of art to have real meaning in our life. And further, a testament to the fact that anime is real art.

      Yes, yes yes!!

      Reply

  5. I love this post! The way you describe your feelings about your necklace is lovely.

    I don’t really wear a lot in the way of overtly geeky things, although I remember reallyreally wanting an Utena duelists’ ring. My home is proudly geeky, between random swag and a wallscroll here and there and a framed Fruits Basket print on my office wall, but clothing/accessory-wise I mainly have a few anime shirts that are all too big for me (t-shirts) or too tight across the shoulders (tanks). (Apparently my frame isn’t conducive to swag. Odd.)

    For me my Chinese zodiac necklace (or jade horse necklaces) are both geeky and personal; the geek connotation is probably obvious, but it’s also my actual zodiac year, and the Horse has a tangential and positive connection to my personality type as well. So that’s a lot of meaning in one symbol, but I rarely need to unpack it for anyone because I just say “it’s my eastern zodiac sign” when someone asks. ^^

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    • (Apparently my frame isn’t conducive to swag. Odd.)

      That seems profoundly unfair!

      I really love the way you talk about hour Chinese zodiac necklace, and knowing your feelings about Fruits Basket, I can imagine how much it means to you.

      Random: I’ve never liked my own Zodiac animal (I’m the rooster) which has always bothered me.

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      • That seems profoundly unfair!

        It is! I feel that my difficulty with finding so many types of clothing that fit ideally is genuine evidence of the conspiracy among clothing-makers, because for the most part I have a tremendously average build. >.< (I’ll waste this sentence saying I do know what the trouble with those tank tops is and leave it at that, rather than wasting a paragraph explaining. ^^)

        It’s sheer coincidence that my favorite character is possessed by my zodiac, but I’m delighted by it. ^_^ (It also amuses me a little that it made me get into zodiac swag, since I don’t believe in eastern or western astrology at all.) But it adds up to meaning a LOT to me. The kanji is one of the two things I’m seriously considering getting a tattoo of, but it’s entirely likely that the world has too many white North Americans blithely wearing kanji tattoos, so the idea makes me a bit uncomfortable as well. :/ But then I remember my students in Hong Kong taking me to a temple and all very keenly grilling me to figure out what my zodiac was so they could set me up with the appropriate charm…

        I’m sad to hear you don’t like yours. :/ Does it help at all to think of it as a bird instead of specifically as a rooster?

        Reply

        • Does it help at all to think of it as a bird instead of specifically as a rooster?

          Sadly, my brain is not so easily fooled. :D

          I am so glad that you share your zodiac with your favorite character. I completely understand why that would add meaning for you.

          Also, I think the tattoo is fine. It comes from sincere love and joy on your part. How can something so sincerely felt be wrong in this instance?

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          • Brains are silly things. :/ (Tell it there’s no rooster in Fruits Basket. ^_-)

            I may never get up the nerve to get a tattoo, regardless, but that’s true. I’ll remind myself of that. ^_^

            (A less geeky note, but: out of similar concerns, when I was in an entirely honu-themed store in Hawai’i I asked the store owner whether—in his opinion—it would bother Hawai’ians to see a turtle glyph on a random white girl. He said he didn’t think so. I know one person is far from representative, but I found that reassuring. And the honu has a few meaningful layers for me as well, so I like the idea…)

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  6. The only symbols I carry of my comics/manga love are the comics/manga themselves. I take them all over the place. They make the bus ride so much more fun. Of course, since I read manga and comics in public places, people notice, and I’m used to people asking about them. The responses range from people who have no idea what a graphic novel is (such people are rare these days, but they used to be more common) to fellow fans. Probably the next level would be to encounter somebody who actually works at Viz, but that hasn’t happened yet. I personally find the most interesting encounters to be with actual Japanese people. Generally, they find it interesting that Americans read manga, but often they’re pretty shy about going much deeper into the conversation. Probably manga is very personal to them, and they are not comfortable talking about it with foreigners.

    Reply

    • Thanks for joining in the discussion!

      I’m actually rarely in a position to read manga in public, except when I fly (I always bring some on the plane). I would, though! :)

      Reply

  7. First of all, you are so totally a Hufflepuff, it isn’t even funny! :)

    Secondly, even though I didn’t honk at you on the street, I did recognize the NUMFAR plate right away. I even know exactly who GACHNAR is without looking it up. Whedon fans unite!

    As for my geeky displays, well, I’ve got a wall scroll at my work cubicle as well as a batch of Sailor Moon magnets. You wouldn’t believe how many people comment on the scroll, “That was a good series.” I have to wonder, “Er, you’ve seen Full Moon o Sagashite?!” What series do they *think* it is?

    Reply

    • Haaaaaaaaaaa! You know, I was devastated at first to realize I was a Hufflepuff. But eventually I came to accept and even embrace it. It helps if I think about the way Helga Hufflepuff approached her students, rather than the stupid prejudices of other students.

      Yes, I thought of you while I was writing that! You are nearly the only person who has ever commented on that plate, even online! :D

      Haha, I do wonder what they think it is!

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          • Well, I think a lot of the bad perception stems from the idea that Hufflepuffs are leftovers. It’s a bit like the American higher education system. I doubt that going to Harvard gives students more benefit per dollar than going to a good public university, but knowing people who have tried/succeeded in getting into Harvard, a lot of what makes it important to them is that they want to prove that are good enough to be accepted by Harvard. And that’s the source of the bad rep community colleges get – if they accept everybody, then anybody who goes there must be the dregs of academia, right? Having gone to community college, I know that’s just not true, and I could talk all day about it.

            Also, Cedric Diggory was Hufflepuff.

            As for me, everyone says I’m Gryffindor. I don’t exactly like that because I feel like I’m being pompous to put myself in the same house as you-know-who (and I don’t mean Voldemort). On the other hand, I shouldn’t care who is in what house, or the prestige, even in reverse, and just go with what best fits my temperament. And I have to grudgingly admit that it’s probably Gryffindor.

            Ravenclaws have it easy. They don’t have to overcome a inferiority complex, yet they don’t have the embarrassment of putting themselves to close to the heroes.

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              • I firmly believe that the notion of Hufflepuff accepting the leftovers is a RETCON! Early in the series, Hufflepuffs possessed their own admirable qualities. They’re hard-working, loyal, determined individuals. They’re not just whatever wouldn’t fit elsewhere. So no, I don’t buy this new, later interpretation of Hufflepuffhood that JKR spewed out. And therefore I say it’s nothing to be ashamed of whatsoever.

                But yes, as a Ravenclaw, I agree that it wouldn’t bother us at all. :)

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            • Haha, one thing I’d forgotten (and you guys can’t see, because it is in Jaci’s locked entry I link to) is that she (the person I’m blaming for the Hufflepuff business) held a poll asking, “I put dorrie6 in Hufflepuff. should I be punished?” :D

              Also, she is the one who wrote that lovely fic.

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          • OMG. Thank you for unlocking that! I felt the same way when I realized I was absolutely a Hufflepuff. It’s just so… uncool. I mean, *Hagrid* called us “duffers.”

            What helped me was remembering that, 1., the books(/Harry) were terribly biased against everyone who wasn’t Gryffindor and *maybe* Ravenclaw, and 2., sorting only makes sense when it’s based on values, not abilities. I’m ok with saying that I value kindness and inclusiveness more than anything else.

            That’s a lot better than thinking we’re just too cowardly for Gryffindor, too stupid for Ravenclaw, and too — naive? unambitious? — for Slytherin. We’ll take the lot, including all the rest. :)

            Reply

            • “I’m ok with saying that I value kindness and inclusiveness more than anything else.”

              Exactly, those are good things. Not everybody is like that. And I must point out that kindness is often braver than aggression.

              Reply

  8. I haven’t really anything at the moment. In the past I have had t-shirts with various fannish stuff on it (GIR from Invader Zim, Darth Maul from Star Wars, Dragonball, and some shirts with Japanese bands like GLAY and B’z), but they weren’t necessarily chosen from an especially strong connection (I had one with Thundercats, too, and I never even watched the show as a kid; it just seemed like one of those neat nostalgic shirts), just that I like t-shirts with stuff on.

    When I was in school and carried a backpack I had more fannish stuff on it, some buttons and a zipper pull or what have you.

    I don’t think I would ever wear jewellery from a series (or the same type as X singer/actor wears), even if I were the jewellery type. I think that’s a level beyond my fannishness. XD

    Reply

      • Yeah. I mean, I’m impressed with your explanation for the FMA necklace, but I don’t think it would ever even occur to me to think that deeply about something like that!

        So any fannish stuff I had/have tends to be just like pictures of characters/people that I like/think are cute. (Like one of the zipper pulls I used to have on my backpack was a Pikachu omamori that had come free with a magazine. It didn’t mean anything and I certainly don’t believe in good luck charms, but Pikachu is really cute.)

        Reply

        • Something I’ve always admired/envied in you is your lack of attachment to things. You know, you’re always cleaning out your possessions and moving on from them. That’s something that is really hard for me, so I have always admired it.

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  9. It’s quite a coincidence that you posted this today of all days. Every Monday at the library where I work, we have a “theme” day in honor of the summer reading program. We have worn concert t-shirts, library shirts, and this Monday was college shirt day. Did I pick my alma mater the University of Texas at Austin? No, I proudly wore my UC Sunnydale shirt. In a few weeks when we have sports team day, I am wearing my Sunnydale Razorbacks shirt. For concert t-shirt day, I wore my Dingoes Ate My Baby Shirt (the one with the most personal significance).

    I have been part of organized fandom since I was 13 years old. I am now 41. I was a fangirl before I was 13 but I didn’t have a word to describe how I felt about the media that consumed me as much as I consumed it. For me, these things are part of me. Part of my identity. They are how I identify my tribe. The Geek Tribe.

    Reply

    • Oh, I love this comment! Thank you so much for sharing all this!

      I have been part of organized fandom since I was 13 years old. I am now 41. I was a fangirl before I was 13 but I didn’t have a word to describe how I felt about the media that consumed me as much as I consumed it. For me, these things are part of me. Part of my identity. They are how I identify my tribe. The Geek Tribe.

      I relate to this entire paragraph to a terrifying extent.

      So tell me, why is the Dingoes Ate My Baby shirt the most personal to you? If you feel like talking about it, that is. I would have my own reasons for feeling that way (if I had such a shirt) but I’m curious about yours. :)

      Reply

  10. Oh, oh! This is my favorite kind of blog post, where the comments enhance and amplify the post and vice versa.

    I have a couple Superman t-shirts, but they don’t mean that much to me, except as “nice, thoughtful presents” someone gave me. I think where my real emotional investment lies is in the toys. I have, I think, at least four or five Captains America? And two Rukias (♥ to Darla), an Oz and a Falcon and a Nightwing and a couple Robins. And Aang! It’s not that I play with them or display them well, but that I actually kind of *need* to have them around (preferably on my desk or nearby) to…help with writing and such. Their presence just fixes my own volatility, I think?

    And, briefly, I would *love* a Gachnar plate and to be a Hufflepuff.

    Reply

    • This is my favorite kind of blog post, where the comments enhance and amplify the post and vice versa.

      *heart*

      It is my favorite kind too, which is why I’m always pressuring people to join in! :D

      Their presence just fixes my own volatility, I think?

      Yes, yes, this makes so much sense!

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  11. Back in 2001/2002 I wore a Got Snark? t-shirt constantly until I just had to stop because everyone asked me what it meant. In restaurants, one time at a mini-golf course, I had three different people stop me, and request a definition. It got old.

    My worst was living in Philly – I got my Slytherin scarf, and loved it, wore it to work, and they went OMG AN EAGLES SCARF. I was so horrified. I hate football to the nth degree. Oh well.

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  12. I have a State Alchemist pocket watch, so I know the appeal of owning a chunk of Fullmetal Alchemist — but of course, I can keep it in my pocket, and even when using it it’d be hard to catch the design. Most comment, “Oh, a pocket watch. How quaint” thinking I’m just a geek, without knowing the true depths.

    I am also the proud owner (& designer) of the “otaku fanboy t-shirt” but I only wear that one to cons.
    http://www.rocketbomber.com/images/207.jpg

    Reply

    • Hahahaha that shirt is awesome! :D

      I actually have one of those State Alchemist watches as well! I do carry it around sometimes, but not as often as I wear the necklace. And yeah, it tends to just seem nerdy in a more general sense to people, I think.

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  13. I actually have a t-shirt that says “Manga Lovers Read Right to Left”, but the text is vertical with each word reading downwards, starting on the right side. I’ve had so many people ask me to tell them what my shirt says because they can’t figure it out, that I stopped wearing it. It just became annoying to explain all the time. Not once did I ever encounter another manga reader who “got it”.

    My husband is the one for intellectual t-shirts, and he wears them because he says it usually helps him to connect with other geeks who “get it”. He tends to wear ones that have clever computer coding or lingo. He does have to explain them to some people, but I’ve heard him start some interesting conversations with complete strangers who get a laugh out of his shirt. So in some ways it’s just being able to identify with others that are part of the same geek fan club.

    Reply

    • I’m sorry your shirt ended up being so troublesome! It sounds like a pretty great shirt, actually.

      I can definitely identify with the geek club feel… sometimes these things are almost like a secret handshake. I think maybe why I don’t experience that often is that where I live now has relatively few like-minded geeks.

      Reply

      • That is my same issue. The only people in my area that might get my t-shirt, are in a different age bracket than myself, and I don’t run into them that much. So I feel kinda lonely until I get online and find geeks like you all here! :-)

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  14. Hey Melinda! I LOVED this article. So much so that I spun off a response on my blog.

    Although I didn’t mention it in my article, I have been collecting fan art at conventions for years. My neighbor owns a store specializing in framing stuff and I have a very nice set of beautifully framed artwork to hang up when I finally move into a place I own.

    Reply

  15. Ah, I could give a long answer but I’ll just give a short one. Which will turn out long. I have a FMA shirt that I got at a con. It says Fullmetal Alchemist on the front and on the back is Al’s bloodrune. Complete to look like Ed’s blood and all. It takes up the whole back of the shirt too. And I used to wear it proudly but then I started getting comments from kids at school. They were between insults and compliments but both awful to me. Either people thouhgt I worshiped the devil or people thought I was a Slipknot fan. Both things I did not want to be associated with. Slipknot fan more than a devil worshipper… So now I only wear it with a coat on, hoping against all hopes that another fan will at least see the front that says Fullmetal Alchemist. Never happened.

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  16. ” However, truly binding engagements in Jewish law are connected to major consequences should they be breached, whether in the matter of Tenaim or betrothal of kiddushin. Saying every one of these, the question that now arises is how to choose romantic band for ones loved one. Of course low-priced the magnitude of a gemstone and setting against its size you have to think about the proportions in the cut.

    Reply

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