Botcollector:  So, Naomi, before we start on Transformers and the like, tell us a little about yourself.

Naomi:  Well, personality-wise I'm an eccentric 21 year old, mother of one two year old little boy. I'm a mixed blood who's probably had experiences with just about every culture I can think of off the top of my head.....(thinks) and every religion for that matter. If you spoke to me though, you'd find out I value my native upbringing the most. I'm Lakota raised on the Lummi reservation...which is actually right near Seattle. I consider that my hometown, but I've never spent enough time anywhere to feel like I belong completely...(shrug) more so the better. My friends, ...the few who can tolerate me (laugh) probably think I'm pretty weird.  My mother exposed me to all sorts of intellectual pursuits, teaching me to love libraries and classics like Tolkien and Jack London.  I was in love with computers, I read all about them but didn't get to use one until I was almost 17.  Now I couldn't stand to be without one. I have DSL instead of broadcast television, that's telling you something.  My idea of fun is either...being out in the wilderness, tooling around on the internet with games or research, or just talking with one of my friends.  Oh yeah flirting is fun too. (grin)

Botcollector:  We already know you collect Transformers. When did this start?

Naomi:  Technically, a few months ago, but I've always known about them. I'm not exactly sure what made my mother stop buying me Star Wars and He-man toys when I turned 4, ...maybe peer pressure from my other relatives, who knows. There was a couple of kids who lived across the hall of our apartment building, I used to go to their slumber parties... they had Transformers I got to play with, and they were the coolest toys. I was discouraged from actually having any of my own Transformers, even after asking about them.  I was not allowed to watch the cartoon, so I had to settle for My Little Pony and She-ra.  THIS....after being fascinated with a little Darth Vader toy I used to have... made a huge impact on me. I always root for the dark side now.  I'm sure if I had been allowed to, my Transformers collection might have been huge. There's no comparing the quality of Transformers with He-man and My Little Pony cartoons and toys.

Botcollector:  What is it about Transformers that drew you to collect them?

Naomi:  For years my husband kept telling me how cool Transformers were. He was way into it when he was a child. I got interested a little, then watched Robots In Disguise, but I wasn't impressed. The animation was horrible and I had this idea that all the robots were just tools being used by the stupid little anime humans. The toys like Skybyte look awesome but the cartoon was sad. Even David didn't like it. (that's my son).  Once I saw the Transformers movie I sort of freaked, it's so cool and different from the RID. It's a great cartoon and story, except for the humans taking the camera time of the robots (heehee).

Botcollector:  Is there any focus from the Transformers toyline that you are most interested in adding to your collection, or that you have spent the most time/money on to collect (for example, mostly G1, G2, Beast Wars, specific vehicle types, etc.)?

Naomi:  I haven't been at it long but the G1 toys I like, since they were the ones I remember vaguely from when I was a kid.  Soundwave, Optimus Prime and some of the little Autobots, that's about it. I remember seeing them in stores and being curious...and (sigh) being steered firmly in the direction of the dolls.  I also collect Armada now, since it's on the shelves and is more affordable than the G1 toys. The cartoon looks...cool. I downloaded the pilot off the internet.

Botcollector:  Who's your favorite character/figure?

Naomi:  That would be Starscream. Galvatron comes in second.

Botcollector:  What about this figure/character makes it your favorite?

Naomi:  Starscream is the best. He gets no respect and is constantly getting into trouble. As an individual, I think it's great he's this badass warrior and then he's also a great scientist. Plus he has a really weird sense of humor and this crazy voice. It's like...how does a robot get a voicebox like that? It's hilarious. The first time I noticed him was in the movie, when he's screaming at the Autobots "There's no escape!!!" and then he chases them, gets his foot caught in the blast door, and shoots it off. I've been in love ever since. 

Botcollector:  What kind of collector are you? Meaning, do you try to get boxes, perfect and complete figures, etc., or do you just want to get the toys, and the whole "MISB, MIB, C-0, C-8," etc. is not really part of your criteria for collecting?

Naomi:  I keep the boxes if I buy new, just because of that stupid idea you need the box to get a good price when reselling, but I specifically look for old transformers without a box and with minor wear, so I can get a good deal. I would prefer they have their original weapons and accessories, but sometimes its okay if they don't, depending on the figure. As long as they look good on the shelf, that's all I care about. 

Botcollector:  What would you have to say to or about a woman who automatically dismisses a guy as "undateable" when she sees that he obviously is crazy about something like Transformers?

Naomi: (snoop dogg) We don't love them hos. 

Botcollector:  If there are any unpleasant qualities about collecting, or potential problems that can arise from it, what would you say the most serious would be?

Naomi:  Trying to find storage room for those ridiculous boxes you're supposed to keep in mint condition. 

Botcollector:   What would you say is the first sign of someone having a collecting "problem?"

Naomi:  Doing the toy thing to the exclusion of personal odor and appearance.  Hygiene first, collecting second.

Botcollector:   What is the main cause of the whole "Barbies are for girls, 'Bots (or whatever warlike toys) are for boys" understanding in society? Is it legitimate?

Naomi:  Human stupidity, I'm assuming. Hopefully it'll get better.

Botcollector:   What's different about girls like yourself who DO like 'bots better than dolls and pink/oven/nurture/furry toys?

Naomi:  We're liberated.

Botcollector:   Botcollector staff believes that the collecting craze started by Beanies both corrupted and helped the "art" of collecting in America. While it utilized a fad-like approach that publicized and glorified the empty principles of collecting (needing to complete sets, keeping the "tags" in perfect shape, Mint vs. played-with, limited production items being a necessity, etc.), it also introduced the phenomenon of becoming enraptured and collecting a thematic series of objects to mainstream society, and made it a much more common and acceptable hobby or pastime. What we are left with (after Beanies were left by the wayside) is an overall high comfort level with collecting or becoming very personally involved with something that captures our imagination and interest. The lines between "geek," "nerd," etc. and the rest of society have been blurred.  What do you think about our take on that?

Naomi:  I think Beanie Babies are hideous for collecting. For a stuffed animal, they're soft and well-crafted at an ok price. I own two...some godzilla looking thing and chinese zodiac edition dragon. What's so great about a bag of beans with eyes, who doesn't look even a little bit like the animal it's supposed to be, sitting on a shelf on display? It sags and looks sort of trashy, quite frankly. They're meant to be given to children, I think, and that's about it.  Anyway, I hate keeping boxes in pristine condition, it's so ridiculous. It wasn't started by Beanies.  Doll collectors have done that for years, and fine porcelain ware is always more valuable in the factory box...ah....Enchantica, Beatrix Potter, Royal Doulton.  Collecting is hardly new or not accepted. Collecting children's toys or items marketed towards kids is.  Some adults still have this weird idea they have to be all stoic and grown-up, and it rubs off on their kids, so they think collecting toys is unacceptable. This sound familiar? "You're too old for that."  Girls collecting Cabbage Patch dolls and Barbies somehow is an acceptable pattern of behavior into adulthood.  Bizarre.   Maybe they think that boys collecting toys are unmanly or something.  Who knows...I certainly don't. The sexiest guys I've met are into collecting or are great with computers.

Botcollector:   Thanks so much for your time.  We had an enjoyable time meeting and picking at the mind of another Botcollector Babe.  Any comments or issues we didn't cover?

Naomi:  Giant robots own you.