How open are you about your Lego passion?

[Baylego]

I usually share it with only family. I tell others, but they could care less about my hobby. The Lego Store workers are actually quite happy to see somebody my age shopping for myself.

[lisqr]

I'm very open about my hobby. I show pics of mocs during group meetings presentations to my colleagues. It keeps things interesting. And it amazes them too. Although my mom is (was and will be) very against my hobby, not much she can do now Good to grown up.

Store staff usually assumes that I'm buying for kids. And I don't try to explain myself. There are a few times when I was at the lego store and got 6+ sets, people start to notice that I'm buying for myself (you can see it on my face ).

Edited December 30, 2010 by lisqr

[happymark]

haha.. I understand why some teenagers would feel a little shy about lego.

I never feel that way.. maybe because I am in 30s, so all the people assume I buy Lego for my kids

(I do 'share' lego with them :)

[Gryphon Ink]

I love Lego, but my biggest hobby is knitting and crochet, which I do just about everywhere including on the city bus. Now, there are not that many people left in the world who knit, and maybe one in fifty of them are men. The most frequent comment I hear from Muggles (i.e., non-knitters) who see me knitting on the city bus is "gee, I never saw a man doing that." Even when I go into a knitting shop to buy supplies, people often assume I'm running an errand for my wife. And once I've convinced them I'm actually a knitter, they mostly assume I'm gay, because, well, a lot of male knitters are.

I'm also a writer. People tend to love talking to writers, so they always ask what I write, thinking it will be something important about man's inhumanity and the dichotomy of good and evil. You should see the looks on some people's faces when I tell them it's mostly ratwomen and lobster monsters and gay swordsmen battling Lovecraftian demons, and that the nicest thing anyone's ever said about one of my stories in a review was "guaranteed to make your skin crawl."

People who find out I build Lego are rarely surprised, and I could give a rat's behind if some clerk at TRU thinks it's childish.

[Zeya]

I am 28 and have no real embarrassment buying Lego. Some people make it sound like the uncomfortableness that happens when buying "family planning" goods. First of all you can just pretend you're buying for your non-existent son or nephew's birthday if you are that worried. Heck I was at TRU recently to buy the two largest Kingdoms sets and at the checkout behind me was a man in his 80s buying large sets too (city and creator houses). That would have made me feel comfortable if I wasn't already anyway.

Also, I tell myself that there are other much worse hobbies to have. My girlfriend knows I could be out on a motorcycle or blowing money on booze. The worst you can say of Lego is that it is pricey and takes up a bit of shelf space. There are much worse things in the world, know what I mean?

[CP5670]

I tell anyone who is interested. I'm proud of the hobby. My friends and thesis advisor have all seen my collection and think it's awesome. I have even briefly mentioned it in my job applications (my website has links to my Brickshelf gallery and EB), as many places like to see unique interests such as this.

[ZO6]

I tell anyone who is interested. I'm proud of the hobby.

Ditto.

Never in my life have I been secretive about Lego. In fact it seems as though every year I go out of my way more and more to make it known that Lego is my hobby. I'm in college for film & television production and living on campus and my dorm room is absolutely covered in Lego. I've got the Tower Bridge + about 20 or so sets currently built and on display. My room has become somewhat of a tourist attraction. Whenever I get new sets my neighbours always stop by my room to check out what I bought and help with the assembly. There is a TRU about a 10 minute walk from the residence and the staff know me well - there's no more "Would you like a gift receipt?" - they know I'm buying for myself.

I can't recall anyone who's ever thought that collecting Lego was a bizarre thing, and even if I did - that wouldn't change my attitude towards it at all.

If something makes you happy in life (especially something as brilliant as Lego) then don't be afraid to let others know. And at the very least, don't go out of your way to hide the fact that Lego is your hobby, I'm sure you'd be surprised to find how many people would be envious.

[charlieboy]

Everyone I know knows I love my Lego! My family buy it for me, my freinds at work do to! We do secret santa each year just before christmas, I got an Atlantis set this year, also got a darth vader keyring too. I have an Atlantis shark man keyring dangling from the rearview mirror of my works van! I've even been sat at lunch with various vintage castle set instructions writing down parts I need to order from Bricklink, they all think its great and cant believe we have a room just for Lego

Im 33 now and have no shame in telling people its my hobby, my son and I enjoy building together and its really thanks to him that my dark ages ended.

Edited December 30, 2010 by charlieboy

[fff]

Everybody that knows me puts the words Heavy Metal & Sci-Fi & Lego more or less close to me... When i returned from my dark ages, i said to buy lego for my kids... but one day after seeing the ARC-170 & the Y-Wing & tie, i said "These are for me" ...

So what, is this only a kids toy? I do not agree. I love putting bricks together and with imagination, the sky bricks are the limit. I even created a blog to 'count' all my sets, and i am very proud to have this as a hobby.

I admit that where i work, people consider it crazy to spend so much amount of money in a 'toy' but... who cares, i enjoy it and that is enough!

[Iysk]

Just remembered, a 20+ guy called at my house trying to sell me some new internet package and in passing he asked if he was interrupting anything. I replied that I was sorting through Lego minifigs and the guy almost broke his neck trying to peer into the room where the minifigs were. twenty minutes later he was on his hands and knees giggling

As someone who's nearly twenty, my mind wandered...

and I proceeded to giggle. Sorry, couldn't help it...

[Modulex Guy]

To add to my previous post, Heck I still buy and use Duplo in MOCs! (mostly as under-structure, but hey its still Duplo)

I have, and bought, more Duplo bricks than I had when I was little! haha!

[Peppermint_M]

No shame.

A friend of mine (although she is 13 years older than me...) was surprised when every weekend I would be in Woolworths picking up another Exo-Force set, as she worked there, I think she became used to it. My friends all know how much of a nerd I am. A boxing day trip to the pub in which my bothersome younger brother came along was surprising for him, upon my announced intention of going to Chicago (a large undertaking, living in Wales and all) for a Lego Convention the reaction was "Awesome!" and "I should come along and film a documentary for my uni course!" (I think he was expecting a negative reaction). As a whole, I am semi worshipped by my youngest brother's friends, my family purchase Lego as a gift and my friends follow my flickr stream for new MOCs. The consensus being that as soon as I move out I should have a mass Lego Playtime instead of a housewarming party .

There is no reason for me to hide my Lego addiction, I am a grown woman after all (however much I cringe upon realising that 22 really does count as adult) and I see no issue in a perfectly healthy hobby. I do appreciate however that it is harder for younger members of the community to be accepted by their peer group (been there, done that by 18 it was no longer an issue) but that is a maturity issue and "grows out" eventually (except in the mundanes, but they are just CO² factories who hardly count anyway).

The adage "Each to their own" is best kept in mind.

[Nightshroud99]

I'm lucky I suppose. I'm 19 and my family doesn't care nor do my friends.

[dr_spock]

I don't hide it very well. I mention it when I teach a Junior Achievement program to a bunch of 8th graders.

[Cpt Smileyface]

I have a Christmas Eve party at my house every year. This year, all of the young kids were in my room playing with my Lego. I got some strange looks from some of my older cousins when they saw me sitting on the floor playing with the little kids and they realized the toys were mine, but everyone was impressed by 10210 Imperial Flagship.

When it comes to buying Lego for myself, I don't care if anyone knows. I've worked at a grocery store before and have seen people buying things much stranger than Lego. Whenever I'm at Walmart, I always walk through the toy aisle to see if they have anything new. I'll occasionally have my regular purchase plus a small Lego set. I think most clerks just assume I'm buying for someone else.

[smittyfan]

I'm kinda secretive about it, since only my family knows. It's not a big deal, as I only have one shelf of Lego, and not a full room like some people here.

yep, my brother's one of them with a room full...

actually i really don't care what others think of my Lego hobby... i still look young enough that i don't really get any strange looks from people at the stores.. although now that i think about it, so far 90% of my Lego collection i either got directly at a Lego store or through Lego Shop At Home.... and at the Lego store they kinda encourage buying lots of Legos.. the people that work there are Lego enthusiasts too!

i don't scream out everywhere i go, that i enjoy Legos, but i don't try to hide it either!

[Jargo]

As someone who's nearly twenty, my mind wandered...

and I proceeded to giggle. Sorry, couldn't help it...

Naughty naughty..... I assure you it was purely lust for Lego.

[The Crazy One]

I'm half half. My close friends all know, and my girlfriend even collects it herself, but it's not like the first thing I will say to people I haven't met is: Hey, I collect Lego! let's be friends!

Do I feel shame? Nah, not at all. A hobby is a hobby. It's just a more creative way of passing time than say, gaming for hours on end. (I would like to state that I am a casual gamer! )

Lego is awesome, and always will be.

Edit: if you don't already know I'm 21.

Edited December 31, 2010 by The crazy one

[brickmack]

I'm definitely not in the closet about LEGO. I tell anyone that asks about it. Pretty much if anyone thinks its dumb that I play with a kids toy, there is a pretty big possibility that isn't a person I would want to be friends with.

[Niku]

Well I`m 22, my family, close friends, and perhaps future girlfriend , know about my hobby.

And I am OK with that. No prejudices, and with strangers when they ask me about it I say it is for design, collection or to complete some of my chilhood dreams

To be honest some guys of my local toy store even recognize me...

Edited December 31, 2010 by Niku

[wtfbbq]

My wife and I were never the type to care what random store patrons or employees thought of us. Although we typically favor the more adult oriented sets.

[Iysk]

So today, I went to the Lego store for the first time.

Was okay, the selection was okay too, the PAB wall had no cheese slopes, plates, roof slopes, tiles, or 1 stud round plates. But they did have the smooth tires + car chassis, which I will pick up next time.

Parents/adults didn't seem to mind. I was kind of shunned by the male store workers at the beginning, but the female one was nice.

Then a little boy, probably ranging from 4-7 years of age, asks "what are you doing here?" (after I asked him 'what?' since I'm sort deaf in the right ear). The mom politely moved him away, only to be asked by his younger brother/sister to ask me the same thing after I didn't reply (cause I wasn't expected to be asked that).

Feels bad man. And I'm only 19. =[

Also, I saw a box full of stuff but it was in a paper box, looked like a mini-happymeal stuffed of legos. Is that the grabbag I read about? Would one be allowed to open it, and how much do they sell for?

[Stash2Sixx]

Also, I tell myself that there are other much worse hobbies to have. My girlfriend knows I could be out on a motorcycle or blowing money on booze.

Ok, I'm older than you, I blow money on booze and have a Harley. What's wrong with that? Oh yeah, I also have a ton of LEGO.

I hide my hobby from no one. Anyone that asks or shows interest, I'll talk about it to them until I see they are no longer interested. I think being part of a LUG helps too. When people actually have real life friends who are also interested, support in numbers right?

And if the people at TRU and Target are giving you dirty looks, why shop there? Go to the LEGO stores!

[Karto]

Personnaly I don't hide it (I don't yell it out either). The good thing to let people know, is that some might give you their own collection, usually for free. I've got dozens of collections from relatives, friends, friend's friends, colleagues, etc. The weird side, is when being over 30 and getting Lego as present from people you barely know

[Cerlin]

I'm 29, and it's exactly a year since I came out of my dark age. I first stashed the sets out of sight when my girlfriend came over, but after a couple of months all the Lego became impossible to hide, so I told her I was totally into Lego. Turns out she was fine with it, she even brought me a PoP set from her vacation.

My family and friends now all know and no one (except my mother, who thinks I should "grow up") has a problem with it. I don't exactly get Lego for christmas or birthdays, but I did get a glass display cabinet from my sisters, which I will obiously use to display my favourite sets.

My girlfriends best friends now play Creationary with us sometimes, I guess everyone is getting used to seeing Lego around when visiting us

At stores I get asked all the time (not only before christmas) if it should be giftwrapped, and usually I just say "no", sometimes "no, it's for me", but I don't get strange looks for that. I seem to be the only AFoL in a 100km radius, as there's a lot of older and rare set in toy stores all around me, but that's ok for me. The community is mostly online anyway and I still can buy Batman and Exo-Force sets, which I missed due to my dark age