Subject:
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Re: Improving the adult image of LEGO
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.general
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Date:
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Tue, 16 Sep 2008 18:16:48 GMT
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Viewed:
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10626 times
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Hi,
Thanks for bringing this up, it's nice to see some action on Lugnet again.
It's become a lot easier fo me to be be accepted as a LEGO builder now than when
I was a teen or in my early 20s. Partly that's because my peers are older and
aren't all that concerned about being cool and doing the fasionable thing as
they were. But partly, I think it's also that LEGO itself has become a little
more accepted than it was before. Along with Starwars, video games, and so
forth, the post-baby boomer generation has embraced, toys and playing as
something that grown ups can do. Of course it's not going to be as cool as
skydiving or whatever, but being an AFOL is a lot easier for most of us socially
than it was being the kid who played Dungeons and Dragons back in high school.
Of course when I tell people I build LEGO, there's often a sense of amusement,
but it's often accompanied by a positive curiosity. I don't remember in my
post-college life that anyone gave me a really hard time about it aside from my
parents, but even they're used to it now. I'll bring it up on a first, second,
or third date, and if that alone scares someone away its their loss. But most
women I meet seem more intrigued than turned off. I met a guy at a wedding last
year who looked at me as if he had misheard me, but I also met other people at
the same wedding who thought it was kind of cool and original.
When explaining your hobby, especially is you find yourself on the defensive,
I think it is important to emphasize the creative element. And think about it,
what outlets do most adults have for being creative, aside from cooking and sex?
Some play a musical instrument, some engage in crafts, but most spend more time
watching TV, socialising, and working out or playing sports.
So next time someone looks at you strangely about it, make a comparison to model
trains, painting, or knitting or something.
Of course we use LEGO differently than kids do, but there is a level of fantasy
in many AFOL's MOCs - and that doesn't have to be a bad thing.
A bit of playing is healthy for all ages (and as I said, I think our generation
is beginning to accept that).
TLG is beginning to release sets that are tailored to older builders. But I
think that it will ultimately be up to the AFOL community to raise awareness of
LEGO as being the one toy you never have to grow out of.
Magnus
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