Subject:
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Re: Lego Hobby Blues
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.general
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Date:
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Sun, 11 Dec 2005 05:13:10 GMT
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Viewed:
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2755 times
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In lugnet.general, Thomas Main wrote:
> The thrill is gone. There's so much about our hobby that has changed over the
> last few years and a lot of it has changed for the worse.
I dunno, I think it can seem that way sometimes, but it helps me to remember all
the cool sets/themes that have come out in the last few years (Star Wars,
Legends, Designer series, Vikings, expanded parts packs & factory, just to name
a few).
> LUGNET
>
> This used to be THE place that the online community got together and talked
> about the hobby. Now, it has a fraction of the news it used to have.
>
> Yeah, there are other sites now -- but I don't want to have to visit 10
> different sites to get what I used to get in ONE place. Plus, there's little to
> none of the cross-pollination that having Lego stuff centralized on LUGNET
> provided. Classic-Castle, Classic-Space? I never go to those sites, whereas I
> used to see some cool castle and space stuff on LUGNET and enjoyed it, even
> though those areas aren't my primary interest.
It does feel that way to a certain extent, but I focus on the cool MOCs that are
still posted, many by builders that were here before, but not given as much
attention. I too like looking at all themes for 'cool' factor & inspiration.
>
> Where are people getting news these days? LEGOFan? The few times I have
> visited that site, it seems to be directed at a different audience (those new > to Lego?).
I'm not familiar with it, so, I dunno.
> And why is the closer integration with a TLG a good idea? I mean,
> really...wasn't there something kinda cool about FANS building with Lego without
> any involvement from the company? What's the benefit? Lego Ambassadors?
> Certified Builders? Have any of these developments actually increased anyone's
> enjoyment of just clicking together bricks? Is having a handful of regular
> people "in-the-know" a benefit to you personally or to a sense of community?
I kinda like the by-fans-for-fans boost it gives - even though the Kristiansen's
were obviously passionate fans or there wouldn't be a LEGO Co. I'm referring to
the coolness of knowing that people you've talked to on LUGnet, at meetings,
shows, etc. had talent recognized by the LEGO Co. & official master builders.
>
> THINGS THAT ARE WRONG
>
> Our interest in the Swanberg case -- it's a court case, it's a person's life, it
> only has to do with Lego incidentally.
Yeah, I only thought it was briefly interesting & only because of the small
relation to the hobby, like "Wow, I can't believe somebody did that to get
LEGO!"
>
> Our addiction -- how much Lego is too much? I probably had about 100 sets when
> I was a kid, built up over 4-5 years -- now I have 60,000 pieces. I feel bad
> about this. I want to buy more Lego, but why? What's reasonable? $200 a year?
> Is more irresponsible? There are people living in poverty all over the world --
> it's kinda sickening to think I spend more on a toy in a month than some people
> spend on food. :( I'd really like to know what a sane amount of money is - not
> based on what we have done as a community in the past - but what is really a
> moral amount. Anyone want to really examine this? Do we dare?
This hits home for me big time - my collection is big partly 'cause I've been
collecting since i was 5 & I'm almost 32 now. Also, since I was able to work
for my own money in summer jobs in high school & now have worked full time for
years, I can pay for my own & therefore buy at my own pace; being my primary
'buying' hobby, I've grown it faster. Last year during Advent, the guilt of
'toys-for-me-but-some-people-in-the-world-don't-eat' hit hard, so I went to
Confession & talked it over with the Priest & he said that as long as we live on
this earth in our human forms we are material beings & will have material needs
& wants; our job is to not be greedy/idolatrous about material things & to share
what we have, whether it's food, LEGO, our time, talent, etc. That paricular
priest did say that he loved LEGO. I realized I could still buy LEGO, I just
need to make sure the hobby does not become an idol to me (taking precedent to
the detriment of my: spiritual life, relationships with family & friends, &
giving to those in need. I discoverd a very helpful way for me to reduce the
amount LEGO that I buy; for example, getting the 'just-as-cool' $20 LEGO set
instead of the $30 set, or getting 3 $4 or $5 sets instead of the one $20 or $30
set. I'm still getting LEGO, just more efficiently & the extra money I use to
get something for someone else. I also make it a point to buy LEGO for
Toys-for-Tots program in Advent, & when i can, also send some money for charity
(Food-for-the-Poor, Habitat for Humanity, local charities, etc.)-I'm not
bragging, only telling you what I've found helpful. Also, if you have other
toys/hobby stuff that you've become disinterested in, give them away & keep your
core hobby. It allows giving & uncluttering. LEGO collecting is a moral hobby;
it's mentally stimulating in a positively constructive way & it brings people
together in the sharing of the hobby & ideas. As with keeping the hobby moral,
we must avoid excess; a extra LEGO treat is not neccessarily bad unless it's
part of a constant, all-consuming, financially selfish/ruinous, compulsive,
exclusion-of-all-else-or-others mindset & lifestyle)
> I know this soinds like a complaint - it is - and it's not as structured or
> thought out as I had hoped it to be. But what it comes down to is that I am
> looking for answers. I used to feel good about this hobby. Some days I still
> do. But I want to know what happened to the community - is it still there? Is
> it thriving or dying? And I want to know how sane and moral this hobby is. To
> me, these are important questions. I am hitting a wall coming up with answers
> -- I am looking for discussion and insight....
>
> --
> Thomas Main
> thomasmain@charter.net
It's a totally sane & moral hobby with a vibrant community, they're just trying
to hang out in a lot more 'new' places than one, and the responses generated by
your thoughtful & timely question have brought us together & helped us to be a
better, more responsible community.
Hope this helps.
Jeff
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Lego Hobby Blues
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| The thrill is gone. There's so much about our hobby that has changed over the last few years and a lot of it has changed for the worse. LUGNET This used to be THE place that the online community got together and talked about the hobby. Now, it has a (...) (19 years ago, 7-Dec-05, to lugnet.general)
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