BOTCOLLECTOR:  So, are you going to be able to help us find out what's in the minds of women regarding these issues?

Kak:  Well, that depends.  I can tell you what I think, and a lot of other girls I know.  Being involved with [Botcollector staff member] has exposed me to a lot of collecting-related issues with my female friends and all.  But, of course, everyone's different.  

BOTCOLLECTOR:  So why don't GIRLS collect robots?

Kak:  Hey, some do.  A lot of GUYS don't collect stuff either, or have all kinds of sports stuff.  Society, man.  I think stuffed animals are kind of lame, and I HATE Barbies, but that's what we all get as kids; boys get guns and robots, we get dolls and ovens.  I like the robots, but to each their own.

BOTCOLLECTOR:  So what do YOU think of when you walk into a room and it's covered in toys or collectibles of some kind?

Kak:  If it's cool stuff, I like to look around at it.  Like [Botcollector staff member] was saying before, it's the same kind of thing as museums and stuff.  Most people like looking at displays of things, whether they're a guy or girl.  Even if it's toys or something you're not personally interested in, if it's lined up all nice and looks somewhat cool, EVERYONE is going to want to check it out.

BOTCOLLECTOR:  So what if it's not cool stuff? Let's say it was something you HATED.

Kak:  [laughs] You mean like Barbie or Beanies?  If a room's full of stuff that's not cool, it's no big deal.  It's not like a collection automatically marks someone as having something wrong with them.  It just means they're very into something that has physical items that you can collect.  If they have a collection of Beanies, there's something about Beanies they like; that's all you really can get from a collection; this person likes this stuff.

BOTCOLLECTOR:  So what's your call on Botcollector's setup here?  Are we obsessed?

Kak:  [laughs] Yeah, you're all obsessed.  But it's not a bad thing so much; you guys have put a lot of effort to helping other people out, and it's still possible to have conversations with you guys that aren't about toys.  The house is full of toys and boxes and bubble wrap, but we can still go to movies and talk about politics, animals, etc.  Plus, the Transformers really are cool, I mean to most people.  You don't have to collect these things or even know about them to think they're awesome.  Especially THIS guy [points to her favorite item from our case, the God Magnus].  I've seen a lot of girls go into rooms with a robot collection, and they're not turned off, they usually go over to look more closely at some of the cooler ones, the same way everyone does.  That's usually dependant on a nice set-up, too, though.

BOTCOLLECTOR:  So which is it?  Is obsession bad, good, doesn't matter?

Kak:  Okay, I guess it's OK in moderation.  Everyone can probably be said to be obsessed with SOMEthing.  Collections and physical displays of someone's affection for or....what's the word for it?  Fanship?  Being a fan, but the noun form?

BOTCOLLECTOR:  No idea.  Fanship sounds good.

Kak:  Okay, someone's affection for or fanship of a toyline or movie or whatever isn't bad, it's how much of the mind it takes over.  Can you have fun on a date without thinking about robots?  That's the real question, I guess.  Some girls see the big collection or whatever as a sign that the person is too involved with something to put energy into a date or relationship or whatever.  Plus, a lot of the time it's a real mess.  Like I was saying before, if it's a real nice layout, like with shelves and glass and stuff, it looks cool to everybody.  If it's just a bunch of toys all over, and you can't walk or set things down because everything's so stacked with odds and ends and stuff, then it's a mess, and that has nothing to do with collecting, or being nerdy; girls just don't like big messes anyway.  Collections don't mean anything bad to any of the girls I know; it's how the person acts who has the collection.  People make the automatic jump to thinking girls are dissing a guy because he collects toys; it's usually because he's obsessive about them, and can't talk or think about anything else.  A lot of women date and marry guys who collect stuff; he just has to be nice to her and attentive and all, same as with any woman and her guy.

BOTCOLLECTOR:  Do you think there's some relationship between obsessive, non-dateworthy personalities and the act of collecting?

Kak:  Maybe, that's possible.  Maybe guys that are obsessive about stuff have a tendency to collect stuff, since that's a natural physical avenue for a mental compulsion.  So, the random  sampling of collectors has an over-average percentage of guys who seem too obsessive to women.  But it's not because of the collections, it's because of the personalities of the guys.

BOTCOLLECTOR:  Gotcha.  Collections and collecting, good.  Obsessive and compulsive, bad.  So we seem to have made a break from the physical presence of toys being a bad thing when a guy invites a young lady over.

Kak:  Definitely.  Just clean up the place and have somewhere she can sit:>)

BOTCOLLECTOR:  Well, thanks for your time and company.  Anything else you want to say?

Kak:  Yeah.  America rocks.