Bah, X-wing is infinitely more juvenile than esports and Yu-Gi-Oh.

I think "pushing around plastic toy ships" is just as ridiculous as "sitting around looking at splotches of ink on paper" or "lounging on the couch staring at flashing lights in a box." Everything we do for fun is kind of ridiculous at some level.

I think the reason we need reminding that we're just playing with toy spaceships from time to time is that people sometimes forget that we're just doing this for fun. Even at the highest levels of play, there are no real monetary gains to be had, no fame, no sponsorship deals, etc.

But people sometimes don't act like that. Sometimes, people act like X Wing is a most serious thing.

In fact, sometimes people stop being nice to each other when they're playing, because they're afraid that doing so might make them less likely to win.

And that's when people need reminding that it's just a game of toy spaceships.

Call people out when they need called out. Doesn't matter if it's the interwebz or not. "It's the Internet, what did you expect" was a worn out excuse before the turn of the century. It has no more place in this one than the last. Keep expecting people to be decent, let them show their own colors, then call a spade a spade... Make it all a better place.

I have a lot of people tell me they will never retire because they will get bored. I've been retired now for 5 years and I'm never bored because I play with plastic toys representing ships, aircraft and spaceships.

And I have a lot of fun doing it with a lot of different people of all ages. The bored can work their whole lives but, it is not for me.

I have a lot of people tell me they will never retire because they will get bored. I've been retired now for 5 years and I'm never bored because I play with plastic toys representing ships, aircraft and spaceships.

And I have a lot of fun doing it with a lot of different people of all ages. The bored can work their whole lives but, it is not for me.

I think it's really sad that some people never developed enough interest in anything other than their jobs, to stay active and interested after that job ends.

When I was five, we played in the back garden with Star Wars toys, and ran about making "pew pew" and "whuuummm" noises. The only difference now is that I use a set of rules to help adjudicate the "I shot you, you're dead", "no, you missed", "no, I definitely did" argument. I'm still pretending that the spaceships really are dogfighting each other.

I'm definitely a perpetrator of the "we're just playing with little toy spaceships" on these forums, but to be honest I hadn't quite thought it through to the extent that I now have, after reading the OP. That, if nothing else, makes this thread of value, in my opinion.

So, now that I've thought it through, I think I will try to be a little more specific in communicating the ideas that were behind the "toy spaceships" argument. It's true that these aren't "toys" in the strictest sense, but probably something closer to "models." Regardless, it's not semantics in this sense that are the most important thing when I've made toy spaceship comments in the past.

I do disagree, at least in my case, with the argument that calling X-Wing miniatures is about denigrating what we do as childish. I also have no problem with anyone having passionate opinions about the game. What I do have a problem with is when people are so passionate in their opinions that they feel the need to passionately denigrate the those that express opinions in opposition to their own. The OP addressed this as well, in a roundabout way, but that's the central issue for me.

Whether the miniatures are toys or models or counters or whatever, their purpose is ultimately to have fun. The purpose of making disparaging comments about the opinions and suggestions of others isn't about having fun - it's about an insecure individual building themselves up at the cost of others. For me, that's the opposite of fun, and is also quite childish. It's similar to the gloating, trash-talking tournament opponent that enhances his own experience by trying to diminish yours. It flies in the face of the purpose of these forums, which is ultimately to help us all have more fun with this game in any of a number of ways.

So, based on that, I must apologize to anyone that has had their experience of X-Wing in any way diminished by me referring to the miniatures as toys. It isn't strictly true, for the reasons offered in the OP, and I should've taken the time to be more specific in arguing for a more cordial environment on the forums. I come here to learn how to do better in competitive matches and to share in my love of the Star Wars universe with others of like mind. Those things are fun for me. Reading a bunch of condescending immaturity is not fun.

I have a lot of people tell me they will never retire because they will get bored. I've been retired now for 5 years and I'm never bored because I play with plastic toys representing ships, aircraft and spaceships.

And I have a lot of fun doing it with a lot of different people of all ages. The bored can work their whole lives but, it is not for me.

I think it's really sad that some people never developed enough interest in anything other than they jobs, to stay active and interested after that job ends.

Some of us have fun jobs and work with fun people.

E.g.: After our morning standup meeting this morning, several of us stuck around to debate whether Star Trek's form of FTL was more plausible than Star Wars'.

Things got a little spirited.

When I was playing 40k my wife would ask if I was going on my play date to play with my toy soldiers. Now she asks if I'm going to play x-wing. A distinct difference.

Bah, X-wing is infinitely more juvenile than esports and Yu-Gi-Oh.

What about X-Wing on Motorcycles?

Yes, we are playing.

And yes, it is with little toy plastic ships that we play.

I object to the "just", however.

It's the "just" that is demeaning; not the ships, nor the game, nor seeing that adults are still able to have fun playing board table-top games with each other.

There are a couple of solely "adult" things you can to have fun:

• Drink
• Smoke
• Talk About Politics with Other Adults
• Have Sex
• Watch R-Rated Movies
• Play with Guns
• Talk About Sex with Other Adults
• Any Combination of the Above

and if you want to live your life doing nothing but the above, that's fine.

But what about:

• Eating Fast Food
• Driving Too Fast on the Highway
• Teasing Siblings
• Playing with Little Plastic Toy Ships
• Playing with Little Plastic Toy Bricks
• Playing with Anything Little
• Playing with Swords
• Playing with Fire
• Playing Sports (and Calvinball Variants)
• Playing with Cats, Dogs, Snails, etc
• Playing.....Period
• Talking About Politics with Kids Too Young Too Care About Politics
• Dancing
• Stargazing
• Climbing
• Making Memes
• Everything Not Designated as For Adults Only

What about all of the rest?

You have a billion options when it comes to having fun, and if some are less "respectable" because kids can enjoy them as well as adults, well that's unfortunate.

Nevertheless, this particular poster will be playing with little plastic toy ships long into the future, and never mind what anyone else may say.

― C.S. Lewis, On Stories: And Other Essays on Literature

This is an incredibly subjective topic.....whatever your feelings are towards whether miniatures are toys or not is your opinion....and that's the only one that matters in this particular subject. Either way if you play x-wing and enjoy doing it more power to you!

Different people play for different reasons. I wouldn't have gotten into this game if I didn't already have a love of Star Wars ships and the X-wing Minis models weren't so beautifully painted and detailed. So yeah, I'd say I'm into it mainly to play with cool toys. It's something I can do with my friends and even make a few new ones.

For whatever your reason is, the base reason is simple: we enjoy it.

I have a lot of people tell me they will never retire because they will get bored. I've been retired now for 5 years and I'm never bored because I play with plastic toys representing ships, aircraft and spaceships.

And I have a lot of fun doing it with a lot of different people of all ages. The bored can work their whole lives but, it is not for me.

I think it's really sad that some people never developed enough interest in anything other than they jobs, to stay active and interested after that job ends.

Some of us have fun jobs and work with fun people.

E.g.: After our morning standup meeting this morning, several of us stuck around to debate whether Star Trek's form of FTL was more plausible than Star Wars'.

Things got a little spirited.

There is a difference between working because you would be bored and staying on a job that is fun.

I'm glad to that you are having fun at your job.

Star Wars.

I'm playing with toys and I'm okay with that.

STAR WARS TOYS... YAH!

“When I was ten, I read fairy tales in secret and would have been ashamed if I had been found doing so. Now that I am fifty, I read them openly. When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.”

― C.S. Lewis, On Stories: And Other Essays on Literature

Wish I had this quote on hand, because this is exactly what I was thinking of when I posted (Well, that and some things Extra Credits have had to say on games).

I've seen at least two threads that have degraded into some weird arguments today alone. Keep some perspective fellas.

PS: My toys are better than yours.

Playing with X-Wing toys in 2015 is still as much fun as it was in 1977, AWESOME.

@OP: Yes, we are just playing with little toy spaceships. And it is glorious!

When I first met my wife, I was playing Axis and Allies War at Sea. I was a history major with a focus on the Pacific Theatre in World War II, and a lifelong gamer. She hates history, but tried to get into the game because I loved it.

Now I play X Wing and Armada. She is a lifelong Star Wars fan. But she has gone from trying to play the game, to calling it "a supposedly grown man playing with toys" to implying I'm playing with divorce. Oddly enough, I haven't played a game in months, but the hatred of the game is stronger than ever in that one. Now I'm drinking a lot of tequila in the time where I used to be gaming. But that is a more adult and healthy activity so it's ok. So I'm told.

Where was I going with this? Oh, right, to refill my glass.

I miss playing X wing

When I first met my wife, I was playing Axis and Allies War at Sea. I was a history major with a focus on the Pacific Theatre in World War II, and a lifelong gamer. She hates history, but tried to get into the game because I loved it.

Now I play X Wing and Armada. She is a lifelong Star Wars fan. But she has gone from trying to play the game, to calling it "a supposedly grown man playing with toys" to implying I'm playing with divorce. Oddly enough, I haven't played a game in months, but the hatred of the game is stronger than ever in that one. Now I'm drinking a lot of tequila in the time where I used to be gaming. But that is a more adult and healthy activity so it's ok. So I'm told.

Where was I going with this? Oh, right, to refill my glass.

I miss playing X wing

hugs

When I first met my wife, I was playing Axis and Allies War at Sea. I was a history major with a focus on the Pacific Theatre in World War II, and a lifelong gamer. She hates history, but tried to get into the game because I loved it.

Now I play X Wing and Armada. She is a lifelong Star Wars fan. But she has gone from trying to play the game, to calling it "a supposedly grown man playing with toys" to implying I'm playing with divorce. Oddly enough, I haven't played a game in months, but the hatred of the game is stronger than ever in that one. Now I'm drinking a lot of tequila in the time where I used to be gaming. But that is a more adult and healthy activity so it's ok. So I'm told.

Where was I going with this? Oh, right, to refill my glass.

I miss playing X wing

This story has more depth than most of the big-budget movies I've seen in the last five years.

It's also sad as onion-flavored violins.

Can I.....

Um.....

Here.

My son would shortly be "flying" the ships (by hand) around my house, making engine, laser, and explosion noises in harmony with whatever imaginary scene his mind happens to be dreaming up as he goes along.

Playing with X-Wing toys in 2015 is still as much fun as it was in 1977, AWESOME.