Wasting my Time with LEGO (and Loving it)

[zenaiid]

Hello good people of eurobricks forums,

I am very impressed with the number and quality of responses I got on my original post. Also, I appreciate the welcoming as this was my first post here.

After reading every reply (which took quite some time!), I see your overall tendency is to not letting yourself block up with worries about selfnessless that could be. Instead, most of you take action in some sort by helping those around you, which includes keeping your heads clear trough a hobby like LEGO.

I also liked the post that admitted a more selfish approach, although I don't think this is to apply to everyone here, as mentioned later on. I don't even want to believe that this is exactly what the author really feels. It certainly reminded me that I shouldn't be hypocritical concerning this matter.

Some of you presented their point of view from a Christian perspective, which I find nice, others quoted philosophers, that I like, too. I myself tend to refer to the principles of the late Kōdō Sawaki, which I still don't fully understand, but I am trying to. I guess he would have asked, why I was worrying instead of practicing.

What wasn't mentioned yet, I think, is the cultural aspect of play in general and LEGO in particular. Somehow everything can be seen as belonging to the current culture, as well as everything can be seen as useless. The latter is a one-way thought to me, as everything can just be accepted as meaningful to the individual and the universe. Anyway, I think that all this are just illusions needed to take on human life. And why not do that, I think it's fun.

So accepting the action of play and building things with LEGO as part of the culure, I must add that I somewhere heard that culture is a very important part of society, very contributing the well-being of all its members.

Concluding my somehow too long essay (I'm very sorry for that), I thank you for this very interesting discussion. I know that it is up to me and everone personally to find a balanced way to have LEGO as a pastime and not to exaggerate it, for the sake of personal resources that must be spent on charitable activities, too.

I wish you an enchanted evening.

[Eilif]

I guess he would have asked, why I was worrying instead of practicing.

Great quote.

I think you may have set a high standard for new members. I don't think many (any) EB members have put so much into their first two posts, or started as deep a thread with their first post. Stick around.

[dhaas06]

I've been wondering this stuff too, as I've been spending more and more on Lego in the last year (and running out of places to put it). Here's my two cents:

First of all, everyone has a vice. I've decided that this is mine. When my fiance wonders why I bought more Lego bricks again, I kindly explain that the rest of our friends have their things too. Some spend their money on beer, liquor, cigarettes, movie-going, designer clothes, cars, etc.

Everyone spends a relatively large amount of money on something that they don't need. I choose not to drink, not to smoke, not to buy too many clothes, etc. This is my thing.

The best part of this argument is that Lego collecting is forever. All of those other things come and go, but when I buy Legos, I keep them. I don't drink them away, smoke them, or walk out of a theater two hours later with just a ticket stub. Therefore, as my collection grows, it retains its value and I will always have something to show for my money.

Also, I have decided that I will collect Legos for a reason~ not just for my own amusement. My plan is, once I have my own house with a basement, I will finally begin to build a display and unpack what I have been hoarding for years. Everything I get is going to be part of this city/train/mountain/castle/pirate layout for a reason: showing it off. First of all, I want it to be a huge way of connecting with my future kids. What better way to connect with your children than providing a huge Lego wonderland in the basement? Also, I want to show anyone else that I can, young or old. I want to inspire people, bring a little joy to anyone that I have over.

I was struggling with this stuff a little while ago at work, and here's what my boss told me when I confessed my love for Lego and the obscene size of my collection:

"David, don't question this stuff. As you told me about this, I saw a light in your eyes that I've never seen before. This is your thing, just like music is mine. Everyone has their thing, and the biggest tragedy is when they have to snuff that light."

It was enough encouragement for me

[WesternOutlaw]

One should do what they enjoy.

[Minifig Lecturer]

First of all, everyone has a vice. I've decided that this is mine. When my fiance wonders why I bought more Lego bricks again, I kindly explain that the rest of our friends have their things too. Some spend their money on beer, liquor, cigarettes, movie-going, designer clothes, cars, etc.

Everyone spends a relatively large amount of money on something that they don't need. I choose not to drink, not to smoke, not to buy too many clothes, etc. This is my thing.

EXACTLY.

[Joebot]

First of all, everyone has a vice. I've decided that this is mine. When my fiance wonders why I bought more Lego bricks again, I kindly explain that the rest of our friends have their things too. Some spend their money on beer, liquor, cigarettes, movie-going, designer clothes, cars, etc.

Everyone spends a relatively large amount of money on something that they don't need. I choose not to drink, not to smoke, not to buy too many clothes, etc. This is my thing.

A lot of people within this thread have used similar reasoning to justify their spending habits. They're basically saying, "Other people waste money on stupid crap, so it's okay if I do it too."

That sort of rationale might work when you're 8 years old and you get busted for talking in class ("But everybody else was doing it!"), but it doesn't work as a grown-up. Take ownership of your own decisions, and deal with the consequences, whatever they might be. Trying to deflect responsibility for your decisions is just a lame cop-out.

This is an interesting question to wrestle with, and there have been some very thoughtful responses here. My take on it is that building with Lego bricks brings me joy, and joy is inherently a Good Thing. There's nothing wrong with spending your resources on the things that bring you joy.

However ... you have to closely examine what it is about the hobby that really brings you joy. Is it building with bricks, or is it acquiring MORE bricks? That's the trap that our consumer-driven society lays out, and it's a very easy one to fall into. If one Lego set brings me joy, then TWO sets must double that joy! And three sets triples it! And 100 sets ... Well, you get the idea. We're tricked into thinking that it's the acquisition of new things that brings us happiness, when if you really examine it, that's not at all what it's about. All hobbies (not just Legos) should be enjoyable, challenging, relaxing, or inspiring. Enjoy what you have, and don't obsess over acquiring more, more, MORE.

Now, that being said, I'm going to go drool over the pictures of the '09 sets.

[dhaas06]

A lot of people within this thread have used similar reasoning to justify their spending habits. They're basically saying, "Other people waste money on stupid crap, so it's okay if I do it too."

That sort of rationale might work when you're 8 years old and you get busted for talking in class ("But everybody else was doing it!"), but it doesn't work as a grown-up. Take ownership of your own decisions, and deal with the consequences, whatever they might be. Trying to deflect responsibility for your decisions is just a lame cop-out.

Joebot, you took my quote out of context. If that was all I said, then that's one thing. But I went on to say almost the same thing as you, that it brings me joy and that fact is irreplaceable. When one uses "first of all," it means that they're starting to walk down a path but have not reached their destination. I was showing the progress of my own reasoning. I started there, but then ended up with recognizing the simple joy that only Legos can give.

[Joebot]

Joebot, you took my quote out of context. If that was all I said, then that's one thing. But I went on to say almost the same thing as you, that it brings me joy and that fact is irreplaceable. When one uses "first of all," it means that they're starting to walk down a path but have not reached their destination. I was showing the progress of my own reasoning. I started there, but then ended up with recognizing the simple joy that only Legos can give.

Fair enough, and I certainly apologize if I misrepresented your argument. My point wasn't directed specifically at you though, as several others had made similar arguments in this thread.

Terrific thread, by the way. It's been a very interesting read!

[dhaas06]

Terrific thread, by the way. It's been a very interesting read!

Agreed! I think it's so interesting because it's something many of us have thought about to some extent, but usually not with each other! I like seeing what others are saying about it

[Manta]

I can understand your search for justification, but my justification for you is simple. Would the people who are poor, with your mindset, and love for lego, rather buy lego, or do charity. My 2 3 cents.