With everything going on today from mystery boxes, coin flips, card cleaning kits, fake cards, fake signatures, cursed Akabane items, adults fighting over cards more than we can count, does anyone feel embarrassed talking about pokemon? For over a decade I used to defend to friends/acquaintances how collecting was natural and a healthy outlet, now I feel embarrassed talking about pokemon. Maybe its a me thing because I’ve been around forever, but I was just curious if anyone else feels the same?
I definitely feel that way. I’m going to quote myself from a similar discussion:
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Around the time I got to middle school, I was embarrassed to talk with other kids about Pokemon because it was “for kids”.
Feels like it’s come full circle. I’m embarrassed to talk about it with other adults because it’s for kids again. Just a different kind of kids. (man children)
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Ive never been more embarrassed to be associated with this TCG
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Might be wrong but I don’t think the general population is aware of all the crap that is going on behind the scenes. My experience is that if someone isn’t involved in Pokémon, they have absolutely no idea how big it is worldwide, let alone the finer details of assholes altering set cards or Akabane etc etc
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In my experience, my non pokemon friends usually tell me about some viral tiktok of a Costco brawl, the fake prototypes, or something along those lines. The more positive/neutral stories I get are large sales, but lately it’s been a lot of the nonsense.
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This is a perfect summary!
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For me no, because I have nothing to do with all of that.
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No. If someone wants to shame me, or blame me as a problem I can easily explain why I collect in this hobby. I will say though I am ashamed of specific people thats ruined it for me.
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Ive never been less embarassed. I also dont associate with people who give the hobby a bad name other than internet (you know which of you are degenerates).
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Most definitely! Social media is a good reminder every day. E4 is the last frontier to avoid it..
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I feel like the general perception of someone who collects pokemon cards is now someone who waits outside of stores for hours, gets into fights with people, buys out shelves, scams, and tries to rip people off.
I don’t know if embarrassed is how I feel, its more like I just don’t want myself, or the perception of myself, or my character to be associated with those negative traits.
Even though I have nothing to do with any of these embarrassing behaviors, the general perception of the public is that pokemon people are like that. So it’s like a guilty by association type of dynamic.
It’s becoming shameful to be associated with pokemon in any shape or form.
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I wasn’t even aware of “card cleaning kits” or any controversies around fake signatures. And if I wasn’t clued into it, I doubt the general public is either. I feel like the only stuff that’s become known to some of the general public relates to modern product (e.g., scalping, mystery boxes). I doubt even 0.1% of the general public knows about akabane and the like.
I normally try to avoid mentioning Pokemon cards to people who aren’t going to understand it (e.g., my girlfriend of 2 yrs’s pretty traditional parents aren’t aware that I collect, AFAIK). But if someone specifically asks about my hobbies, I just say “vintage Pokemon cards,” which (hopefully) avoids negative associations with scalping/mystery boxes.
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I think the main thing the general public knows about are the costco fights or just long queues/scalping at retail stores. It is a bit embarrassing to be associated with that but it quickly passes.
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The public does not need to be completely aware of all of the behavior for you to still feel embarrassed.
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I ended up unfollowing a lot of people on IG in the last 12 months. All the people that used to be wholesome collectors for the most part are now just full time sellers and pumpers and that’s not really particularly interesting to me
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Enjoy 1999-2013, endure 2014-2019, cash out in October 2020, forget that Pokemon ever existed. The arc of champions.
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It kind of sucks you cant really discuss your collections out in the open with others who are interested in the hobby with out the worry of someone possibly hearing and then plotting there next steps. Not being able to feel safe in this hobby now is embarrassing 
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No, maybe the reason is that I haven’t bought anything new in 2025. But maybe that’s exactly why I don’t buy anything—because of all the trash surrounding the hobby.
If I am being very honest I am actually having a great time in the hobby. I am not buying anything but I am using time to interact with a lot of younger people within the hobby. With the advent of Chinese Pokemon and the hype that has been 2025, Pokemon as a hobby has been picking up steadily in my home country in India so I am actually finding it fun to try and connect with collectors back home.
Even here among friends I think the noise around the Pokemon social media is not that bad or maybe I have not been paying attention to it. I think I get some acknowledgement stating cards are hard to come by but I think people here only know that I collect cards but do not know any specifics. I personally am also more sure of myself and what I like so I feel like I so not have to pretend otherwise.
Also, considering everything, I feel I might get stereotyped way more for things other than my hobbies which might cause some embarrassment.
Cheers!
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