A man asks, “Is it okay to be over 18 and still have extremely nerdy hobbies?” Social media overwhelmingly replies with their own nerdy collections

When young adult @pyrarity asked if it was “okay” to still love plushies and Pokémon cards as an adult, social media answered loud and clear: with support, stories, and lots of plushie photos.

The rise and rejection of cringe culture

However, there was a reason @pyrarity felt the need to ask. For Gen Z and Gen Alpha, the fear of being “cringe” often overshadows genuine self-expression. A Rolling Stone piece described how online culture weaponizes the label. From trying new hobbies to simply caring too much, anything that shows effort and enjoyment risks being ridiculed.

Ocean Vuong, a poet and professor at NYU, has seen this mindset firsthand in his students. “They say, ‘I want to be a good writer, but it’s a bit cringe,’” he shared in an interview with ABC News. “‘I don’t want to be perceived as trying and having an effortful attempt at my dreams.’ They are absolutely scared of judgment.”

According to Vuong, many young people hide their effort behind irony or detachment. They want to care—but only in private.

“They perform cynicism because cynicism can be misread, as it often is, as intelligence,” Vuong said. “I think sincerity is something we deeply hunger for, particularly young people, but we are embarrassed when sincerity is in the room.”

Still, there’s pushback. Memes like “I am cringe, but I am free” have become rallying cries for young people reclaiming their joy. Vuong emphasized the importance of creating environments where trying isn’t mocked but celebrated. “You have to set the tone […] so that they can be sincere and earnest without being condemned or ridiculed for it.”

The replies to @pyrarity’s tweet proved that such spaces exist, and they’re growing. Adults of all ages flooded the thread with their own nerdy passions, offering not just validation, but community.

“Yep. I have some Pokémon Cards, my single star & double star Hunter Licenses, a bunch of Hello Kitty Stuff, a few stuffed animals & I’m nerdy about my hobbies and interests. It’s completely ok lol,” wrote @jessmcmxci.

Advertisement Advertisement

@gilmxres tweeted, “I hate that everyone thinks your life is just supposed to be mundane and boring once you’re an adult. enjoy your nerdy hobbies and interests!! who cares!! we’re on a floating rock in space.”

@pyrarity followed up after the deluge of comments, saying, “hihi i can’t reply to everyone but thank you so much for not making me feel alone and makes me so happy to see ppl embrace themselves and their hobbies we really are all just a bunch of nerds.”