I'm 15 and really enjoy programming. I'd like to buy stickers for technologies I actually use or like, such as the Go gopher, but I'm not sure whether that's considered weird or somehow less legitimate than collecting stickers at conferences. I live in a smaller city in a smaller country, so attending those events isn't really an option. Is buying or printing these kinds of stickers perfectly acceptable?
3 Answers
There’s no special rule that stickers have to come from conferences. Most people won’t care how you got them, and some organizations are fine with people printing logos for personal use. Just make sure you’re choosing things you genuinely like rather than trying to prove anything.
Go for it. Buy whatever stickers you like for the tools and languages you use or enjoy. I’ve never seen anyone judge a person based on where their stickers came from.
Some people might have strong opinions about a language or logo, but that’s about as far as it goes. They’ll either recognize the sticker, approve of it, or simply ignore it. Put the stickers on your laptop, case, or notebook because you enjoy them—not because you need to pass a test.

Thanks, that makes me feel better about it.