Gryphon Ink Posted January 2, 2011 Posted January 2, 2011 Feels bad man. And I'm only 19. =[ Kids can be randomly cruel little monsters who pick up and comment on any kind of atypical behavior. I say this as a parent and as someone who often has these kinds of conversations with kids. ("Hey mister! Why is your hair green?" "Because brown is boring.") It sucks that they tainted your first Lego store experience like that. Don't let it get to you. For every kid who thinks you shouldn't be in the Lego store, there will be another three or four who think you are awesome because of your love for the brick. Quote
Sirens-of-Titan Posted January 2, 2011 Posted January 2, 2011 Feels bad man. And I'm only 19. =[ Ouch! Well what are you gonna do, in a perfect world you could give them sarcastic response they'll understand but, they're kids and chances are they won't even remember the encounter, so neither should you. I say, don't let it get to you, and the only reason employees are worried to see older patrons in a store is because they have pedophilia fears, and that's got nothing to do with Legos Quote
Omicron Posted January 2, 2011 Posted January 2, 2011 Feels bad man. And I'm only 19. =[ Your response should have been "Looking at these awesome sets!". Sounds corny, but it shows enthusiasm and that you belong there. Silence just shows how more awkward it is for you to be there. 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. That's me right there, minus the Harley. :P -Omi Quote
Rumble Strike Posted January 2, 2011 Posted January 2, 2011 I am definitely out of the closet as an AFOL. I got my mum to get me some Atlantis sets for Christmas. At work, my colleagues used to all try to guess which Series 2 Collect A Minifigure packs I had bought by feeling the bags (like I had done in the shop) whenever I bought them from the supermarket at lunchtime. They'd have a good look at the list and then try to work out which ones they were. They were more impatient to see them opened than I was! I can understand why some of the late teens-early 20s AFOLs could get a bit embarrassed but that passes with age. I have been collecting action figures (Star Wars/Transformers/Minimates) for over 15 years as an adult (I'm 35 now) and I always say I can grow old but I don't have to grow up! I don't really care what anyone thinks. I have had a couple of sniffy cashier girls ask me if I was buying toys for myself and I never really saw any reason to lie. I'd always be polite and respond but to be honest it's none of their business - bottom line is, I'm spending money in their store. Quote
CMP Posted January 2, 2011 Posted January 2, 2011 *Quickly puts away Legos positioned for war based around my room in strategic positions* Er...what? I buy them and play with them. I know I don't give a crap what anyone else thinks about it. Quote
Shieldwolf Posted January 3, 2011 Posted January 3, 2011 I'm fairly open about my hobby, but I also don't shout it out to the world either. My direct family knows and close friends know very well, since they are the people who will actually listen to me geek out about it. ;) They go so far as to buying me sets for my birthday/Christmas, which is nice, and will encourage me to pick sets that I'm on the fence about. Honestly, it's great to know someone else likes to talk about it, and even go so far as to actually beg to help build sets! As far as other people are concerned, I've mentioned it, and people ask a few things, but I don't say too much and keep to myself unless they are a closer friend. I can't say I've gotten any negative looks here, that's for sure. :) My favorite moment is when I was doing some super macro shots with my camera on some minifigs I had set up on my campus, and people would just walk by and give me that "that's so awesome!" nod, and smile. That made me happy. Quote
Sirens-of-Titan Posted January 3, 2011 Posted January 3, 2011 I went to TRU yesterday and the cashier asked if the sets I got were and I quote; "secretly for me" I looked at her smiled and asked; "secretly?" Quote
RubeusHagrid Posted January 3, 2011 Posted January 3, 2011 You know what else is kind of awkward? Standing in the middle of W H Smith/ John Lewis feeling up the minifig packs. I'm a teen too. Quote
Niku Posted January 3, 2011 Posted January 3, 2011 I went to TRU yesterday and the cashier asked if the sets I got were and I quote; "secretly for me" I looked at her smiled and asked; "secretly?" What she answered You know what else is kind of awkward? Standing in the middle of W H Smith/ John Lewis feeling up the minifig packs. I'm a teen too. Is kind of odd to see that scene but also funny. I remember when at the store with two friends i ask them to help me search for the figures of series 2, three guys in front of the register box "feeling a minifigure" caught the attention of other shopers Oh and missed something, with the lates celebrations where the house is full of relatives, friends, friends of friends, friends of friends of friends... somehow people went into the place of the hobby and their reaction was WOW I don't have many legos as some people here but the few i have are in display, so back to the litle story, they spend like two hours and 40 minutes admiring what was in there with the sets, others at first embarrased touch them, then fully playing and the thing was that were people much older than me like in their 30's with sons and all the package, well some guys and girls of my age too (the group of friends of friends) leave there with a sense of appreciation for Legos. Oh and the best part i think the seed of AFOLS was planted in some of them muahaha no just kidding it was a great time of fun Quote
Eilif Posted January 3, 2011 Posted January 3, 2011 LEGO proud here! All my friend's and most aquaintences know I'm into LEGO as it's hard to hide when you show guests around your house and they see the LEGO building area. I had LEGO's on my desk at my last job and I'm not shy at all about inviting people to our club's LEGO shows. As to the whole "these are for my niece" thing, don't bother. Toy stores and retailers are very used to adult collectors coming and buying toys of all kinds for themsleves. When someone smiles and inquires about who I'm getting them for, I let them know it's for me. There are enough things worth hiding already. LEGO isn't one of them. Quote
fred67 Posted January 3, 2011 Posted January 3, 2011 (edited) Hi, I'm Fred, and I'm a 43 year old LEGO addict. Hi, Fred! I'm not ashamed nor embarrassed by it. I like LEGO more than my 11 year old son ever did, and I often visit the LEGO Store just for myself. I spent an hour "feeling up" minifigure packets at TRU just before Christmas... and some people gave me odd looks, but some actually figured I knew something and asked about sets for gifts (like "my sister tells me my nephew likes 'advanced' LEGO, do you have any idea what that means?") I have a great LEGO collection. I'd buy it all if I had the money, but I have everything I really want right now... my wife went all out for Christmas for me, and when the dust settled she bought be Diagon Alley for my birthday later this month. I love seeing my collection on the wall at home, and even though few people ever get to see it (it's upstairs in the bonus room my wife and I share as 'office' space), I sometimes stand there and just look it over and admire it. Sometimes I'll move the Emerald Night back and forth a couple of times to see the working parts go, or re-pose some figures. The architecture series on display in my office at work has a lot of admirers, many of whom really want sets like those for themselves. I also am lucky enough to work in a really creative environment (television production) and many people have "toys" on display. But I don't tend to talk about it much unless people ask me. I don't go to people at parties and say "I like LEGO, what do you like?" although I'd like one of you younger EB'ers to try that out on the ladies next time you go to a bar. I guess that when I look at it rationally, there's a lot worse hobbies one could have. I'm not a big fan of spectator sports, for example (although I like playing some sports, I hate watching), so it would amuse me to no end to get ridiculed by some sports fan who thinks my hobby is lame, when at least it's creatively productive (at most it's incredibly rewarding), and watching sports leaves you with nothing at the end of the day. I mean, it's not like I don't watch ANY sports, I watch World Cup, for example, and some Olympics, but it's not my "hobby." I create things. Even if I take them apart, at the end of the day I have things I've created. You can't beat that. Some other parents I met thought I was a bit immature when I volunteered to by Odyssey of the Mind coach for my son's team - until they built a tracked vehicle partially out of my LEGO and made it to the statewide competition. Hey... I don't run around my house with my X-Wing making spaceship noises... I build things, including remotely operated vehicles that I scare the dogs with... that's pretty cool, if you ask me. Anyway, after some consideration a long time ago, I decided that I ultimately don't really care what anyone else thinks. It's surprisingly easy and makes life more enjoyable. You know what else is kind of awkward? Standing in the middle of W H Smith/ John Lewis feeling up the minifig packs. You should see my story about Series 3... I was in the LEGO store with my son and there we were, feeling up the minifigures when a lady with two young daughters walks over and picks them up and starts feeling them... her daughters wanted the "girl" ones, and had randomly bought some the day before... but ended up with the space guy and a couple other ones they didn't want, so I told them it was easy to feel what it was you were buying and telling them what to look for... so there we were, the five of us crowded around the minifigure box, feeling up packages. It must have been a sight. Edited January 3, 2011 by fred67 Quote
Kynergy Posted January 4, 2011 Posted January 4, 2011 (edited) I definatly have felt embarrassed about it. Currently, only my family knows about my collection. But even they think it is kind of strange. My mom actually told me tonight that it was a waste of money when I went to Target to by the ARC 170. I never told anyone at school, and since I'm 18 and finishing up high school, I figure why bother now. (Though everyone does know I am a huge Star Wars fan). Its just the whole collecting toys thing that would throw people off. However, next year I am going to college and I hope to begin to atleast tell some of my close friends that will be going with me. The school is a very math and science based school (mostly engineering degrees) so I'll feel more at home with my fellow nerds and can't wait I think the thing about LEGO is that people just remember what they played with as a little kid. The simple, colorful city sets and the big 1000 piece boxes they would get of random pieces, building red, green and blue airplanes and robots. Not many know of the whole online community and thought process that goes into building MOCs and how sets are now vastly different than what they were ten years ago. Also, to the people who ask for a gift receipt when buying LEGO, I do the same thing Edited January 4, 2011 by Kynergy Quote
Sirens-of-Titan Posted January 4, 2011 Posted January 4, 2011 I think the thing about LEGO is that people just remember what they played with as a little kid. The simple, colorful city sets and the big 1000 piece boxes they would get of random pieces, building red, green and blue airplanes and robots. Not many know of the whole online community and thought process that goes into building MOCs and how sets are now vastly different than what they were ten years ago. Also, to the people who ask for a gift receipt when buying LEGO, I do the same thing Agree with you 100% about how people perceive it. It occurs to me that if somebody sucked at building as a kid that may be a lasting impression of Legos to them; something that you haphazardly throw together and don't think of twice. I'm sorry for people who think it's just a toy after all there is a lot of artistic, architectural and fantasy skills involved in building a MOC but it escapes most people. Quote
Admiral Ron Posted January 4, 2011 Posted January 4, 2011 Nearly everyone who comes in contact with me knows I love LEGO. I have them all over my room at home, and I devoted a very valuable shelf to the LEGO I brought with me to college. My keychain is the golden man that you got with a $75 dollar purchase last year as well. And whenever we go to our local mall, we always have to stop at the LEGO store. I always get weird looks from the parents of kids there, but that my be my trenchcoat and my WW1 Iron Cross Whenever I go in, the employees ask who I am buying for. I always say me! I have never really cared what people think about me, so I let the world know... I LOVE LEGO! Quote
fred67 Posted January 4, 2011 Posted January 4, 2011 Agree with you 100% about how people perceive it. It occurs to me that if somebody sucked at building as a kid that may be a lasting impression of Legos to them; something that you haphazardly throw together and don't think of twice. I'm sorry for people who think it's just a toy after all there is a lot of artistic, architectural and fantasy skills involved in building a MOC but it escapes most people. I often end up telling people that LEGO today is not the LEGO you remember as kids, the buildings are not just boxes, but beautiful architectural designs involving a lot of intricate detail; the Emerald Night train, with it's working pistons and connecting rods, and the ability to create remotely controlled vehicles, not to mention robotics. Quote
NovaStar Posted January 4, 2011 Posted January 4, 2011 I think far more people love Lego than who actually admit it. We've had great fun over Christmas - I had the Winter Village displayed on a table downstairs, and there were a number of Pinky's Technic bits and pieces around. If anyone comments on them or simply says 'wow', we take them upstairs to see the loft. That said, we're kind of reknowned for having a lot of 'toys' and gadgets... Oh and I have a Lego heart on my desk a work that also generates interest (present from Pinky) Quote
peterab Posted January 5, 2011 Posted January 5, 2011 I'm 45 and I've been an AFOL since my late 20s. I don't really hide the fact and most of my friends know and since they are mostly geeks don't have a problem with it. My partner doesn't have a problem with it, she knits so she understands creative hobbies. My wider family also know or there would be no hope of Lego presents. I'm a member of a LUG and on the organization committee for Brickvention so there are times when I promote the fact I'm an AFOL but otherwise I don't really push it unless people are interested. I have had friends bring their kids over for play dates with my Lego on occasion. As far as anybody reacting negatively to it, I see that more a reflection on their lack of imagination or tolerance. I can completely understand others not being interested but anything more than that is their problem, since at that point I really don't care, either about their opinion or them. Quote
Pinky Posted January 5, 2011 Posted January 5, 2011 Quick note from my experience, Most of the friends, work colleges etc that have responded negatively to Lego and most "toys/hobbies" ( for me personally that means Lego, petrol/nitro rc vehicles and more most of which are considered to be kid things done to extreme : ) in my life are always the people that seem to be the least happiest.... Quote
supersympa Posted January 5, 2011 Posted January 5, 2011 interesting topic! :) i am 32, came out of "dark age" a little bit more than a year ago, and i am very open about it! colleagues, friends, family, i mean everybody knows about it. my wife been collecting lego for me, my mum did, my dad did, my mother in law did!! picked up lego for me that i bought on local second hand markets or ebay... i have even convinced a few colleagues that did love lego secretly, and by opening my mouth, 5 colleagues went to talk to me and we talked about our lego passion! we are even thinking of creating a lego club in our office since more and more colleagues come to us and talk about it!!! the other day, at a dinner, i met a guy who was a collector in comics, i told him i was a fan of lego...well we spent 2 hours talking about our common passion... felt great! i have so much more examples with neighbours, friends, colleagues, or just people you meet in local shops...I feel proud and happy being an AFOL, and i want to share it! Quote
escortmad79 Posted January 5, 2011 Posted January 5, 2011 I'm very open about my Lego hobby. My fiancee encourages me to build, my parents & future in laws buy me Lego for Birthdays & Christmas. Most people where I work part time (Toys-R-Us) know about my obsession... comes to that so do a lot of customers when I'm working the Lego wall & trying to do the hard sell Quote
nicoga3000 Posted January 5, 2011 Posted January 5, 2011 I'm a younger AFOL (read: 24). I just came out of my "dark ages" about a month or so ago, and I would say there's a bit of a weird feeling to it at the moment. My friends don't care, but then again, most of my friends are into "different" things, too (40k, Magic the Gathering, etc). We're the guys who look normal at the bar but have crazy nerdy hobbies. :) My thing is the whole resurgence that happens. I've bought quite a few LEGO sets in the past month due to that overwhelming joy of LEGO being new to me again. That much doesn't bother me, but I know I'll have some explaining to do when my fiance visits again! Haha - but that's another bridge entirely. When I buy sets at the store (which I seldom do thanks to the crappy selection and no nearby LEGO store), the clerk almost never asks. If a comment is made, I'll merely agree with them to make my life easier! When I bought the Fallingwater Architecture piece at the LEGO store in Chicago (while I was with my fiance, so there's another boost to getting her on board!!), the lady asked who it was for. I told her straight up that it was for me and for my office - which it is. She thought it was pretty cool and started talking about how obsessed she still was with LEGO, and it made it sort of fun. :) So would I say I'm ashamed? Not really - just not ready to share the art that is LEGO with everyone who asks. Yet. Quote
gondortoast Posted January 5, 2011 Posted January 5, 2011 Well, I'm 17 (sorry, I guess I'll get kicked out )and have just entered my first year of six form (post 16(year 12)) at school, most of my freinds know that I'm partial to the odd plastic brick . They've even bought me LEGO presents and such, it's my only source of bricks now-a-days, mum and dad are part of the "grow up" gang :hmpf_bad": Most of the people that matter in my life seem okay with it, only a few people think it's odd but hey; haters gonna hate. Quote
Zeya Posted January 5, 2011 Posted January 5, 2011 I would also like to add that my girlfriend likes Thomas the Tank Engine (a british "kids show"). I've bought her a couple of the die-cast figures. Sometimes we watch old Thomas episodes on Netflix before going to sleep. (It's narrated by Ringo Starr and Alec Baldwin by the way. It used to have pretty impressive hand-made sets but in the past year they sadly changed it all to mediocre CGI.) Watching Thomas really takes the edge off things like the ten o'clock evening news and paying that mortgage bill a couple hours prior. The Lego (Duplo?) Thomas sets are more or less gone from the market now, but I don't think she would like those anyway since Lego or building bricks aren't her thing. Anyway she doesn't criticize me for the occasional lego purchase. I am starting to worry about cluttering up the house with built sets and finding the time to take them down and store them away, but there's another pinned thread for that. Buying from stores isn't much of a concern for me. And for you younger folks, you get less embarrassed about what you buy as you get older. When you're a "working stiff" and it's your own hard-earned cash you kind of stop feeling guilty or at least embarrassed about what you buy. I think if I bought Lego between the ages of 15 and 21 I would have been a little nervous and said "this is for my cousin's birthday" or something. I would have definitely been embarrassed about dating a new girl and her reaction at little plastic men everywhere. I was embarrassed at encroaching hair loss too, but it's kind of like that; you just get more comfortable in your own skin as you get a little older and past that clubbing/partying age. You stop sweating the small stuff in life, I guess. Quote
Sirens-of-Titan Posted January 5, 2011 Posted January 5, 2011 (edited) And for you younger folks, you get less embarrassed about what you buy as you get older. When you're a "working stiff" and it's your own hard-earned cash you kind of stop feeling guilty or at least embarrassed about what you buy. I DO work stiff and spend my own money but still get antsy when I'm buying a set. I'm more confident buying condoms, to be honest I feel more at home in the age-bracket! Edited January 5, 2011 by Sirens-Of-Titan Quote
Zeya Posted January 5, 2011 Posted January 5, 2011 I DO work stiff and spend my own money but still get antsy when I'm buying a set. I'm more confident buying condoms, to be honest I feel more at home in the age-bracket! Wow! Okay what happens if they start packing Lego in with condoms? You rip it open and there's a Trojan (condom) and a Trojan (collectible minifig)? Quote
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