Have you "come out" as an AFOL?

[Blue_Bird]

Just curious, does anyone know you enjoy lego as a hobby?

My mom knew and she thought it was really cool. I felt comfortable telling her anything though because she was my best friend (she passed away this month).

Anyway after she passed my sister offered to let me stay with her a few months until I get my own apartment, No problem, right? Well being the worrier I am I was terrified of her or any of my other family finding out I like Lego. So I decided to just tell her when I talked to her, I was worried what she might think but she said there's nothing wrong with it. Especially since I find it relaxing, she's all for anything that's therapeutic.

I had thought I would have had to give up Lego as a hobby or keep it as a secret but it was relieving to get it out in the open. It's really no big thing but for someone with as much anxiety as I have it was.

[Zerobricks]

I think coming out as a Lego fan is not such of a big deal, compared to coming out as gay, or things like that. Still glad to hear they support your hobby.

[mechamike]

Most people around me knows about it, (I never tried to hide it from anyone), my friends, my relatives, people on my Facebook, the kids teachers, my colleagues (today my boss asked me if it would be ok for me to do a 30-45 min presentation of hobby for the people I work with),some of the clerks at nearby toy shop, even the postman and the driver for DHL they all knows it. I don't bring it up all the time or talk about it all the time , but often have T-shirt with Lego related material. I almost never met any negative reaction, one of my bet friends is a bodybuilder and I thought perhaps his friends would have some to say, but they all think its really cool , an now even he is an Afol. So far only negative reaction was from a 50+ woman at work, she found it "childish ad ridiculous for adults to play with Lego", to that a college quickly replied "Yeah, its almost as stupid as.." (and then he described her hobby in a kind of mocking way).. a few weeks after that I did a Lego related team activity with he as well and, after that , she said Lego was fun and that she often buy it for her grandchildren and asked my for some advice on good sets).

But know some Afols that hide It ,I met one that is also a member of Eurobricks and I fully understand why he keeps it a secret..

[neonic]

My condolences with your mother. Sorry to hear that.

Can I ask you how old you are?

Actually is doesn't matter at all imo, just curious. It's nice to hear that you sister said that about the Lego.

Well being the worrier I am I was terrified of her or any of my other family finding out I like Lego.

Why should be worried about that ? There are plenty of people who has more dumb hobbies

I'm building a little truck (more like a 'renovation') and sometimes I think maybe it's a bit childish. But on the other side ... who cares. And it's relaxing indeed.

[Zerobricks]

Also my condolences for your mother. Just wanted to add, yes some people I know think Lego is childish untill I show them my remote controlled technic models... Than its cool!

[dr_spock]

Sorry to hear. My condolences.

I haven't done any kind of official coming out. I have a feeling that most of the members of my LUG might know.

[Blue_Bird]

Thank you for the condolences everyone, I appreciate it.

My condolences with your mother. Sorry to hear that.

Can I ask you how old you are?

Actually is doesn't matter at all imo, just curious. It's nice to hear that you sister said that about the Lego.

Why should be worried about that ? There are plenty of people who has more dumb hobbies

I'm building a little truck (more like a 'renovation') and sometimes I think maybe it's a bit childish. But on the other side ... who cares. And it's relaxing indeed.

I have no idea, I tend to worry about strange things. I am 21 but haven't lived by myself yet due to finance trouble and having Schizoaffective disorder, I was unstable for the first few years out of high school but have been doing well this past year. A year ago my mom was diagnosed with Leukemia and that's why I lived with her, she needed someone to take care of her. Sorry for going into details, hope that explains the situation a little better, and maybe why I'm a little odd

Anyway, back on topic, I know this is nothing in comparison to coming out as gay or anything like that, it's was just the best title I could come up with. It is really no big deal. I was just curious if people knew about you guys's Lego hobby

[Captain Britain]

Thank you for the condolences everyone, I appreciate it.

I have no idea, I tend to worry about strange things. I am 21 but haven't lived by myself yet due to finance trouble and having Schizoaffective disorder, I was unstable for the first few years out of high school but have been doing well this past year. A year ago my mom was diagnosed with Leukemia and that's why I lived with her, she needed someone to take care of her. Sorry for going into details, hope that explains the situation a little better, and maybe why I'm a little odd

Anyway, back on topic, I know this is nothing in comparison to coming out as gay or anything like that, it's was just the best title I could come up with. It is really no big deal. I was just curious if people knew about you guys's Lego hobby

My condolences also.

Lego wise - The majority of my friends know and they quite like Lego themselves which is a bonus. My family know and aren't fussed and luckily both my girlfriend and I collect together .

[TomKraut]

I think everyone I have more than a passing relationship with knows: family, friends, close co-workers, neighbors who accept packages for me...

However, only close friends know that I (35yo guy) am mostly into Friends, Elves and Disney Princess

[CptPJs]

I felt weird at first, but so many of my friends are into Lego too that it'd be pointless to hide it! The ones that are into it share news and go to the Lego Shop with me, and the others are always buying me Lego related gifts, so it was worth telling them! I see so many AFOLs in the Lego Shop, it's more common than you'd think.

[Andy D]

Everyone I know knows I am a LEGO builder. In fact when people visit, even for the first time, the first thing they want to see is my LEGO. Most of my friends are 50-60+++ I am the second or third oldest member of EB (70), the oldest is over 80 and still building.

Anyone who criticizes someone for LEGO just doesn't understand LEGO. LEGO may be first a toy, but for us older adults it is an art form.

I look at my LEGO bricks as the ultimate, reuse able art supply. If someone buys clay, or paint, it is used once... LEGO is reused over and over and over. The most bang for the "buck" of any art medium I know. I guess I can't choose inexpensive hobbies, my othe hobby is GoPro. I even mix my hobbies!

So YES I am "out" as an AFOL, proud of it and very,very happy with my hobby.

Oh, yeah, I am also the founding member of the "Older Than Dirt" club here on EB just look at the members badges, if you see the "Old Timer's" badge you will know that they came out as a member of the over 50's group here on EB. I'm "Older Than Dirt" and proud of it!

Keep on clicking those bricks together! (And be proud of it!)

Andy D

Edited January 29, 2016 by Andy D

[Ulrik Hansen]

Condolences. We all have different ways of coping. It's good you found yours.

During my dark age I always knew that those two big cardboard boxes in my parent's basement were filled with awesomeness. I had a notion of LEGO as the quality product it is and a sence of design. And it was Danish just like me and we grew up half an hour drive from Billund and the original Legoland. Sometimes I miss viewing it from outside the AFOL perspective cause I'm so engaged in it these days. Originally my older brother took the first steps finding Bricklink and becoming a member of the local LEGO User Group two years before I entered ... I remember both me, my parents and my other brother thought it was a fad that would pass. He kept explaining the vocabullary with great joy: AFOL, SNOT, Bar 4L, light bluish gray, clutch, MOCing. Slowly I realized he was on to something but it wasn't until I started being creative with it myself, finding my debut MOC subject and later getting a little press attention, that I realized how versatile it coud be and a valid side show to my other profession which is graphic design. So I quickly came out. It still surprises people though, and they immediately wanna see pictures, so there is nothing to be closeted about :D (sorry for the long essay)

[TK924]

Sorry for your loss.

Edited January 30, 2016 by TK924

[Junior Shark]

When did I "come out"? I've always been out! Like others have said, the people around me have always been supportive. It's just something I do, y'know? Certainly more creative, challenging, and productive than some other hobbies.

FWIW, there's an existing thread that's pretty similar to this if you wanted some other perspectives: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=118593

[-zenn]

Anyone who criticizes someone for LEGO just doesn't understand LEGO. LEGO may be first a toy, but for us older adults it is an art form.

Agreed.

I don't hide being AFOL, especially in toy stores its an honor of sorts people asking for advice and stuff.

Also still think it's funny to see peoples look on their faces when they first see your builds.

[Aanchir]

I think there's probably hardly anyone who knows me who doesn't know I'm a LEGO fan. No "coming out" was ever really necessary because it tends to be one of the first things people learn about me.

[Vindicare]

The few friends I see on a regular basis know. One of them, like a lot of people who aren't really aware of what LEGO is today, thinks its strange. Athough, I'm not entirely sure if he's just messing with me, or because of his conceptions of what LEGO is. One friend understands, as he's a toy collector, of a different sort. None of them, unfortunately for me , has bought any for me as gifts.

[Robert8]

I've never heard of "coming out" as an AFOL before

Maybe we need an AFOL pride day with a pride parade hahah

Edited February 11, 2016 by Robert8

[L E G O]

The row of big yellow technic diggers, cranes, and bulldozers, on top of the bookcase is a dead giveaway to anyone who knows what Lego is; anyone else assumes the 'toys' belong to my kid. If someone notices and shows some interest I might show them what else lurks in the hobby room, otherwise meh, we'll talk about something else.

[GunwitchUK]

Work colleagues know, family knows. My father in law thinks it's cool because at 67 he's still into lego although he tends to use it to show my daughters how to make molecular structures .

My wife is suffering of it because of the costs involved and my youngest daughter who is 9 thinks i'm a big kid but doesn't care as long as i buy her lego whenever i buy it!

I'm 47 this year and have never grown out of it, although now i'm more into modding than building standard sets.

On a side note, i recently left the armed forces, i'm a mountain bike instructor, gamer and cycle mechanic so my interests vary.

Lego is just so good

[Breakdown]

I don't really have a single friend who's into lego as an adult.

My parents were very rigid around me when I was a child. Specifically my mother, she would tell us things or bend reality to her liking, which I guess is good for children in a way. I grew up as "Ricky" and when we moved at age 5 she told me about how all Rickies become Richards as they age. As a result of the move, no one called me Ricky any more aside from family members which greatly annoyed me since it was my "little boy name." As an adult she still employs the same non-sense, After she's asked me the same stupid question 3 times just rephrasing it to try and solicit a different answer out of me, I usually hang up the phone on her.

I'm 37 now, and I think that I've discovered the meaning of life, and what I'm supposed to do to make things worthwhile. I don't care what others think. I care about what makes me happy. Most of my happiness is found in those I interact with.

There doesn't have to be boundries and rules. There has to be rules within our society, but not within the confinds of your mind, etc.

When I was 27, I bought my dream car from my teen years for $2900.

When I was around 28-30 I started to play serious ball hockey, I'm a goalie and have a style that is . . . . . worth paying to see in my opinion.

When I was 20 I started playing ice hockey - it was my dream as a child, but my parents took that away from me because they were cheap as a child.

When I was 37 I acquired my first Lego monorail.

When I was 29 I bought my first house, in addition to having a decent sized garage for the cars, I have raspberries, pears, strawberries and blueberries (amongst other things) growing there.

When I was 22 I started buying up 12V lego trains that I had only seen on the backs of the 4.5V train sets that we had here.

When I was 35 I started really getting back into lego, and buying up all sorts of old sets.

When I was around 24 I started buying some of the Transformers that I wanted as a child.

When I was 33 I wanted to be a long distance runner despite having a body built to lift weights, in 2015 I ran 10K race in under 1 hour.

The point . . . . or my point is you're never too old for anything as long as you really want to do it.

I have a high level of confidence, I'm proud of my lego. I'm proud of my accomplishments. If you're quiet and reserved, people will be happy to see that you're up to something.

[Forresto]

Does posting a pic of a mini figure in a diorama on instagram count? Most of my friends saw it

Anyone whose been over to where I live knows that I am into Lego. I don't think my ex girlfriend knew, not because I hid it fyi , although I found out later her brother was really into them.

[Pieter Dennison]

Really sorry about your loss

I'm 19 and I still find it hard to tell people, even my friends(some of them even make fun of me, just for fun tho )

But that should not discourage you from carrying on with the thing you love to do!

So I say you shouldn't hide it, just let it out because there are so many of us out there

[Geology Joe]

I teach Earth Sceince classes at a college and use legos as a way of explaining how crystals are formed. I also declare my love of anything Lego to my class at that point. Next, I ask the class if any of them still play with legos and typically about 25% of them raise their hands!

[Jared]

My sincerest condolences about your mother. hope you're doing alright now!

I have a feeling that most of the members of my LUG might know.

Well this is a SHOCKING revelation! ;)

But I know some Afols that hide It ,I met one that is also a member of Eurobricks and I fully understand why he keeps it a secret..

I've mostly had the same experiences as MechaMike. I'm in a younger age-bracket so anything now mainstream like lego is cool, but I certainly don't wear and carry around things that broadcast it to the world. Sure, it comes up in conversations from time to time, but I usually am involved in a range of hobbies that allow me to talk about other things. LEGO is mostly a therapeutic and personal experience for me. The building just helps me relax, while conventions are just a fun way to meet friends you don't get to often see.

I don't hide being AFOL, especially in toy stores its an honor of sorts people asking for advice and stuff.

Also still think it's funny to see peoples look on their faces when they first see your builds.

I sometimes cry (in the good way) when there's a LUG meeting and I'm just browsing the store and people see my builds that i bring then get all excited. It's really heart-warming, though sometimes it makes me a little uncomfortable (I don't always like spotlights... seriously, they're so bright and annoying!)

I've never heard of "coming out" as an AFOL before

Maybe we need an AFOL pride day with a pride parade hahah

.... and free lego. Lots and lots of free legos.... ;)

Edited February 27, 2016 by Jared