The Annoyance of Already Bought's

[Dovchenko]

Prepare for my stupid story, and try to answer it if humanely possible.

My cousin's cool. He likes LEGO too, Star Wars strict most of the time. Unfortunately, lately it seems that he's already bought all of the sets I wanted to buy on my own, and when I visit him I see all of them up close. Sounds minor and stupid, but I was planning on buying them too, of course. So I go to TRU with my sneaking hood on in case anyone I know sees me, I go to buy the set... but the feeling's gone. I've already seen the set up close, fooled around with it, played with it, and most of the time, I've built stuff for him already. Awesome cousin has suddenly put me in a pain in the arsenal predicament. I just don't feel like buying any of these sets any more- I just "won't have fun" with them. So I've been planning to buy all of the Indiana Jones sets, but now, he's got them right away. I practically cried when he got the upper hand again, I lost interest the second he had them. Why? I got the Slave I and he didn't, I felt geniuine. It worked out: He got the ISD and Jabba's Sail Barge, V-Wing and B-Wing, I got the Slave I, B-Wing, A-Wing and Tie Interceptor. My top four star wars sets, I like them. But one thing's for sure- I bought 2 sets in 2007... a deformed Pridak, and 10 months later, the Tie Advanced UCS. Wow, it's fun to look at and all, but UCS models are frustrating. They're cool models, but they sit there with no play and dust. Raiders is an all-time favourite, my personal #1, and he goes out and buys three except for the big one- he's getting that later. I'm buying him the 30$ one, which made the steam just rise... for the love of god, I wanted them but I lost interest when he had them. I don't get it, I feel like I'm just lashing out of frustration. He bought at least 350$ worth of LSW, I got 130$. I didn't mind until he bought the Indy first and ruined the chance of having a set he finally didn't. What I'm asking is if you've ever felt a situation like this, or if I'm just an idiot who should honestly be banned. I'm 14, he's 10, so I feel like a monster for talking like this. It's a small issue, but I feel strongly about it. It's probably just some uncontrollabl jealousy, but it worked out before- he gets the sets he wants, he clears a path usually for the ones I want to get (he didn't buy the Slave I). But the only sets I like left over from what he didn't buy are the Jedi Starfighter, the Rogue Shadow, and the AT-AP. I actually hate them, but they're reasonable if I get desperate. I've tried buying past sets, but I'm sick and tired of getting sets 20 days after my Birthday, or having to wait, or having to pay triple for something I should have bought. I've been planning to quit for 8 months, I've been hiddenly miserable, and all I've gotten was sarcasm. I just want to buy a few sets and leave, I just don't want to buy anymore. I want to keep the "last ones" I get, to keep forever and look back at in 30 years. You get what I'm saying. But him spending on them as if there's no feeling behind them really bugs me. He got a Wii. He got the 300$ sets. I'm still waiting for a gap in which he doesn't buy the sets I was going to get and ruin them by making me build them/having them before me.

Sorry for lashing out, I just wanted to get them out. I could buy all of the Indy sets right now, I've barely spent anything. But he has them, and there just seems to be no point as to why I'd start buying them when he has all 4, which I've already played with and ruined the building process.

[Shadows]

Whoa dude. Seriously, there is a lot more going on here than just "it's been ruined because I've seen it, played with it, etc."

I am not going to go point by point through the post, playing psychiatrist, but honestly, it shouldn't matter if he gets a set first, and no one can make you play with them unless you want to. Therefore, if he gets something you want and somehow it is really that big of an issue for you, don't build/play with theirs. Tell them you're waiting until you get the set, tell them you're not interested, whatever, but don't let your mind trick yourself into thinking that they're somehow tainted because your cousin got them first.

OR ... buy old sets you know they don't have.

Either way... wow. Just, wow.

[Siegfried]

No, this wouldn't bother me at all. Most of my sets I buy to admire and play with for a while, and then I build something else. It's a big world out there and somebody always has something before you. I'm happy when someone that I know has something before me (not often sad to say) as I can make a more informed purchase decision. I hope you don't feel this way when you start dating. ;-)

or if I'm just an idiot who should honestly be banned

Banned? *wacko* Errr.... why?

But the only sets I like left over from what he didn't buy are the Jedi Starfighter, the Rogue Shadow, and the AT-AP. I actually hate them, but they're reasonable if I get desperate.

Hate? I though you were...

ONE OF THOSE RARE ROGUE SHADOW LOVERS!

[Opproperaar]

I can understand you've lost the interest in building but that shouldn't stop you from getting them anyway. Cause that's where LEGO's "hidden power" comes into play. You can break it all down and build something else.

And since that would be entirely up to you, I'd doubt he'd have the MOC you were planning on building before you do! ;-)

[Asuka]

I can understand that you lose some of the fine excitement that it is if you hold a fresh built set in your hands, seeing it closely and 'in real' for the first time,

but for me the best part is the sheer building fun, nevertheless, and it´s always pretty cool to imagine what kind of MOCs you can do with the parts, too. :'-)

[Deinonychus]

Heck, this worries me...

So I go to TRU with my sneaking hood on in case anyone I know sees me, I go to buy the set... but the feeling's gone.

When did buying LEGOs become as embarrassing as buying a dirty magazine or DVD? Or is this one of those things where you haven't gotten to the point in you're life yet where if someone gives you crap about the hobby that makes you happy you can turn around and tell them to go f##k themselves.

As to the main issue...LEGO is supposed to be about building and creating. I can't see how handling a pre-designed LEGO set once can ruin its entire appeal. If it's a good set, it's a good set and you'll enjoy building and tearing it down and building it again over and over, and even if you don't like the finished product...build something else with the pieces. Or add the pieces to your stock and use them for the future.

I dunno, I think my mind may be in a very different place then yours, and if this sort of thing bothers you to the point tht a paragraph like that came out of it...I don't think anything any of us can say will help. 8-|

[legotrainfan]

I can only support Hairy Ruben's opinion: moccing is the key! Create your own models and hope that your cousin cannot read thoughts! ;-)

I understand what you mean. If I had assembled and played with a set I wanted to have, I'd lose interest in that set. However, this is only true for some sets. Since I'm a great train fan, I'd just buy a train set, no matter how often I've used someone else's. I simply love train sets and my longing for them does not cease unless I can claim that I bought one copy for myself. In short: buy those sets if you really want to have them! Maybe you'll regret not buying them in the future and then you'll envy your cousin's collection more than before; and start creating MOCs!

EDIT: Deinonychus, when you are 14, it's indeed embarrassing when you're seen buying LEGO. At that age many consider LEGO to be uncool.

Edited April 2, 2008 by legotrainfan

[Brainbox]

When did buying LEGOs become as embarrassing as buying a dirty magazine or DVD? Or is this one of those things where you haven't gotten to the point in you're life yet where if someone gives you crap about the hobby that makes you happy you can turn around and tell them to go f##k themselves.

That bothered me too. It's your way of life, and if other people don't like it, get over it.

As to the main issue...LEGO is supposed to be about building and creating. I can't see how handling a pre-designed LEGO set once can ruin its entire appeal. If it's a good set, it's a good set and you'll enjoy building and tearing it down and building it again over and over, and even if you don't like the finished product...build something else with the pieces. Or add the pieces to your stock and use them for the future.

And exactly how much of a leap is it to reading a review of a set here to actually seeing a set up close. The reviews scrutinise every little detail of sets, pointing out the 'hidden features' and such like. You could then say that this 'ruins' discovering the set for yourself.

[Athos]

I kind of know how you feel. I felt the same way, building the town plan set, because I'd seen it up close and personal in a display at the Lego store. It kind of ruined some of the excitement. I didn't have the same trouble with the Green Grocer, even though it was similarly on display, because it was out of stock and I had to wait a week before I could actually build it. So the memory of the display had faded.

That being said, I'd look at your situation this way, if playing with the set at your cousins really ruins all the fun of buying the set, then you don't need to buy Star Wars sets. Then you can put all that money into buying the really [much] cool[er] non-Star Wars sets (like the Green Grocer, Castle line, Indy, etc.).

Plus, its like you get a hands-on review of all those sets. So you won't be wasting your money on a crappy set. You'll only buy sets that are truly worth it to you.

You get to experience twice as many sets that way. Plus, if there is really a must-have piece in one of those sets, you don't have to buy that set to get it, just swipe it from your cuz.

Steve

[Deinonychus]

EDIT: Deinonychus, when you are 14, it's indeed embarrassing when you're seen buying LEGO. At that age many consider LEGO to be uncool.

Yeah, I can understand that, but that is also the age where you should start recognizing how much other people's opinions may be influencing your own behavior and to take steps to become your own person despite what others may say. Sadly, all too many adults still don't have these skills :-P

And I suppose my frame of reference my be quite different. When I was 14 my "toy playing" had already made the transition to "toy collecting" and I really didn't care what anyone else thought...I was too hypnotized by the swanky new LEGO pirate theme

[Asuka]

Well considered, Athos. *y*

Ahem.... do you wanna be my cuz.... um, friend, buddy, or so...? :'-) :-$

[Ronan Nissen]

Heck, this worries me...

When did buying LEGOs become as embarrassing as buying a dirty magazine or DVD? Or is this one of those things where you haven't gotten to the point in you're life yet where if someone gives you crap about the hobby that makes you happy you can turn around and tell them to go f##k themselves.

That Is some good advice you have there! *y* + You should tell your cousin your problem.

[General Zen]

I understand what you are saying. It is a little downer to see the set up close and than view it for yourself. Personally, I don't usually have this problem. Lego is lego all the same, and I am not afraid to say I love lego and it is my creative outlet! *sweet*

Heck, I'm in my teenage years too and I still find myself making laser blasts while running around the house with a lego tie fighter. (imagine how foolish i must look!) Don't worry about expressing your love of the hobby or it being ruined for you.

[Matn]

I don't have the same problem, but I understand you. But, seriously, what you are saying is a bit lame, isn't it? =/

And I'm 15 years too, do you think I care about what other people think of my hobby? I know what they think and I know that some of them don't appreciate it, but it is me that is playing with LEGO, not them? If the hobby is fun, why care about other teenagers who make fun of you?! I love LEGO and I let people know I'm into those plastic bricks. I have even two friends who are now again into LEGO thanks to me.

[Dovchenko]

Heh, no problems guys. Just the anxiety people get, I just posted it because I had nothing better to do and I was annoyed. I ended up buying Temple Escape just last night, and I topiced without thinking.

No more sneaking, don't want to look like some shoplifter.

Also, I'm gonna put up a Temple Escape Review. I'm trying to collect all of the Indiana Jones sets this year, it'll take a while, but heck, maybe one day I'll reach normality. :P

Sorry for wasting everyone's time, and close please.

[iamded]

Don't close it before I cut in!

There's kind of the same thing going on (only quite different) between dragonator and I (though he doesn't know it yet ). There'll be a really cool set that I'd love to get, and I'll go see dragonator and behold, he'll have the set on display. But this doesn't annoy or sadden me, it's really quite great. I can see all the details and if it lives up to my expectations and whatnot, I can see if it's worth buying, and I can play with it without paying anything! I can get his opinions on the set as well.

Then if I get the set, I'm usually too absorbed in the building to be jealous or annoyed, I go to my own happy place. Then after the build I can admire my very own set, and proudly put it on display.

So, come next week, dragonator's Troll Attackship better be prepared...

~Peace

Edited April 14, 2008 by iamded

[Siegfried]

Sorry for wasting everyone's time, and close please.

Don't stress. It wasn't a waste of time; people post here as they want to afterall. But I will close it for you.