Kids only?

[Big Cam]

Well, as an adult I can have any hobby I wish to have, so I do not listen to the small minded comments of others.

My family thinks it is fine, although my father believes I spend too much time on Lego. My teenage brothers waver between it being cool and it being stupid/childish. My younger brothers think it is fantastic.

I guess in the adult world, one person will spend £5000 on a marine fish tank and another £75 on golf shoes. Some will spend much money on a horse or surfing equipment. I choose to spend on Lego. (All theses are examples from my place of work). I have never encountered hostility towards my hobby in the work place, just amazement at what can be accomplished with plastic bricks.

That is so so so well said.

I think as soon as you think you are too old for LEGO, then it's time for you to quit.

I am 28 and I love collecting LEGO sets. I may not play with them as a young child would, but I can almost guarantee I appreciate them more.

Anything can be a hobby, if you are afraid of what people think, you'll spend your whole life worrying. That's no fun.

I wish they would make LEGO stores and the bags not so obvious. In the MK shopping centre the store is surrounded by clothes and music shops, so you get noticed. I tend to get a bag from another clothes shop and put the LEGO bag in that. Then people think you like the latest fashion etc.

I don't mean for this to be rude or an insult, but that's really sad. You hide the LEGO bag? Something you claim to really enjoy. I think if I was that ashamed of something, I just wouldnt participate in it anymore. I'm an adult and when I get to the closet LEGO store to me, I love the big yellow bag, because I know I get to go home and enjoy some new LEGO, I have to go to the mall of america for my LEGO store needs, so thousands of people see me and my yellow bag, do I care, no. Let them think what they want, it won't hurt me.

[The Legonater]

I don't mean for this to be rude or an insult, but that's really sad. You hide the LEGO bag? Something you claim to really enjoy. I think if I was that ashamed of something, I just wouldnt participate in it anymore. I'm an adult and when I get to the closet LEGO store to me, I love the big yellow bag, because I know I get to go home and enjoy some new LEGO, I have to go to the mall of america for my LEGO store needs, so thousands of people see me and my yellow bag, do I care, no. Let them think what they want, it won't hurt me.

Well said. My TRU is about 20 feet from any other store, so it's hard not to get noticed .

[josykay]

It is ok, to play Lego if you are an adult. Remember, that there are some sets, that are not designed for children like the "Volkswagen" or the Taj Mahal. Build Lego makes fun, collecting minifigs also does. There is nothing wrong about the hobby.

I suggest, just do not care about other peoples opinion. If a hobby makes fun, why should you stop it?

My family is a little bit difficult:

My mother thinks, that "playing" Lego is to childish and I would be to old for that.She does not allow me to play lego. My fother sais, that Lego is very nice, and it makes a lot of fun playing with it, but I should not buy to much Lego. I should save the money for more important things. My brothers do not care, but they share my fathers opiniomn. There are several more important things.

The other people do not know my hobbies. If I buy Lego in a store, no one looks at me. But there is no reason. I am 21, so I am old enough to have nephews or nieces (although I do not have^^).

I do not know... but maybe the people think, that it would be "more normal" for a woman to buy toy because they would do this for their children. I do not have any idea. Sadly there are to many people, wo think, that it is a womans order to rise the children.

I have only ohne wish to all AFOLs: Pleace put youro are bricks back into boxes afer building something oder playing with Lego. There is nothing more annoying than stepping at night right onto the Lego bricks. It hurts!

I just want to wait, until I got my own children, who should be in the age of playing Lego for stepping on some bricks.

Edited June 5, 2010 by josykay

[Siegfried]

I tend to get a bag from another clothes shop and put the LEGO bag in that. Then people think you like the latest fashion etc.

I'd be more likely to hide the fashion bag!

[Batbrick]

My friends actually enjoy looking at my latest models and additions to my Batworld. One of my friends likes looking at them so much he fires those annoying technic blasters at them to try and knock some of the minifigs down!

That said I do understand the attitude some people have toward such a hobby. While with most people I know don't care, I refuse to judge someone else on being wary about casually talking about it with others because everyone has different relationships with people, and even I don't tell some people merely as a matter of convenience.

For some people Lego collecting is fine, others prefer privacy, and there's nothing wrong with either.

Batbrick Away!

[-JD-]

I don't mean for this to be rude or an insult, but that's really sad. You hide the LEGO bag? Something you claim to really enjoy. I think if I was that ashamed of something, I just wouldnt participate in it anymore. I'm an adult and when I get to the closet LEGO store to me, I love the big yellow bag, because I know I get to go home and enjoy some new LEGO, I have to go to the mall of america for my LEGO store needs, so thousands of people see me and my yellow bag, do I care, no. Let them think what they want, it won't hurt me.

I see what you mean. I am not ashamed of it, but I do notice poeple giving me looks when I walk down the mile long shopping centre with the bag to get to the car park. That is the only thing I don't like.

I'd be more likely to hide the fashion bag!

Lol.

Depends which one it is.

Besides, looking at some of your recent photos you may need to go to some clothes shops.

[Mac-K]

In 1999, I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. Though I've been losing the battle against it over the past decade, the past few years have been extremely tough. More than ever, I use Lego as an escape from the harshness of reality. Though no one ever gave me a hard time about my Lego hobby before my diagnosis, since then no one has dared to give me anything but positive support towards what makes me happy in life - and I owe much of my happiness to Lego.

I am very, very sorry to hear you have to deal with that godawful disease, ZO6. I sincerely hope you are able to overcome it. I myself was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in 2004, and it was with me until the end of college in 2009. Like yourself, I used Lego as an escape from the hell of the sickness. The few people in my dorm who saw the occasional set I'd bring back thought it was really cool. But at the same time, with a disease like that, it's really hard to physically or mentally get out and socialize with people. And even though I was a lurker during that time, the ease I had in associating with people here on EB was a tremendous comfort in those years.

That's why I'm even more adamant now about not giving a good damn if anyone chooses to criticize my hobby. As so many others here have said, life is too short to worry about the condescending comments or misunderstanding of others.

[HumanPackMule]

If you have parents who complain about you buying LEGO and think its a "waste of money" or whatever, a good response might be (depending on the parents) "would you rather I spend that money on drugs or booze or junk food or heavy metal music" (substitute as appropriate for the situation)

I use the same excuse to explain it to my parents(also use a similar method to persuade my parents to let me play WoW)!

Dad sees it as a potential investment (having encountered bricklink).

I should really show this to my dad! He's an eBay addict, so bricklink shouldn't be too much of a stretch for his mind.

As I approach adult status(18 in August) and college(this will be my senior year of high school), I look forward to the shift in attitudes towards this beloved hobby, and like the idea of buying a large set and building it in my dorm room with the door open to allow others to see. I've also had a great support group, consisting of my mother, grandmothers, and teachers(esp. the History teachers). I don't see the addiction as a turn off for women, since the women I'm interested in seem to have bubbly and nerdy personalities that are open to hobbies such as Lego.

[Artanis I]

I was into Lego sets as a boy, there is nothing unusual about that sort of thing! Once you get to the high school age, girls seem to "mature" or something, and toys are apparently uncool. "Do you still play with Lego? Hahaha. Why don't you grow up and watch these (stupid) TV shows and listen to this (awful) pop music instead? That's what all the cool people do" they say. Some boys get into cars or sport, but some of us are still interested in Lego etc despite the bad attitudes we get for it.

I stopped buying Lego in my teens, for that reason & because I'd get dirty looks in shops. "What an immature young man, he'll never grow up or become a real responsible adult, he'll obviously be an unemployed burden on the rest of society" they tell themselves. But I kept building castles in my room and playing wars with my knights and forestmen. My parents didn't say much, they'd just frown and hint "you're a bit old for that aren't you?"

Fast forward to adulthood where hobbies are allowed again. I discovered Bricklink, then eBay, & then Paypal opened up the whole world's Lego supplies. I later found out I was an AFOL (and also, not the only one). Having only recently discovered an active Lego forum, I can talk about it with others who share the interest. My friends know about my Space collection, but not many have actually seen it. On talking about new acquisitions one time, one girl asked "how old are you" (she knew my age) "old enough to not be too cool for Lego" "haha, okay then" from that point on it was always "you and your Lego *shakes head*" (which is almost nothing compared to her bizarre obsession...) But noone else seems to think ill of it.

I'm not embarrassed about collecting or building Lego, but I still hate being watched when I'm looking at it in shops. It's hard to pretend you're buying it for your nephew when you keep buying big sets haha... I do often get dirty looks if I'm walking through town with a big set! These people probably spend all their money on "grown up" things like getting drunk...

[Hewman]

Once you hit your 20s or older, buying lego can be a great way to flirt with pretty girls at department store toy sections, or so I've been told. It shows you have a sense of fun and are comfortable in who you are.

[Lordofdragonss]

Once you hit your 20s or older, buying lego can be a great way to flirt with pretty girls at department store toy sections, or so I've been told. It shows you have a sense of fun and are comfortable in who you are.

Haha I never think about this way! Niceee!

Back in topic: I don't care when people looking at me when I am singing with big lego box in hands.

I am like: "Hahaha! I am cool because I have Lego, you can't buy Lego and be cool because you growed up! That sucks! Yay!

Yeah I am still big child....

Edited June 9, 2010 by Lordofdragonss

[LuxorV]

Once you hit your 20s or older, buying lego can be a great way to flirt with pretty girls at department store toy sections, or so I've been told. It shows you have a sense of fun and are comfortable in who you are.

Good luck with it! I never found many pretty girls above 15 years old in the toy section of department stores, but you might be luckier

Oh, and make sure they are not young mothers buying something for their children who are waiting in the car outside with their big strong fathers

[Hewman]

Good luck with it! I never found many pretty girls above 15 years old in the toy section of department stores, but you might be luckier

Oh, and make sure they are not young mothers buying something for their children who are waiting in the car outside with their big strong fathers

I was more referring to staff. Slightly more upmarket department stores in Aus seem to have a lot of staff in their 20s. And if it's young mums shopping there, there's nothing wrong with some innocent flirtation to boost your confidence and social skills.

Anyway on topic, the bottom line is as most people have pointed out, enjoy who you are and those that judge you for having such a peaceful, creative hobby are the ones with the problem.

[BearHeart]

I can relate to some of the posters here. I used to feel very awkward standing in the LEGO isle at the store and felt like everyone else was watching me and making negative judgements about me in their heads. But this has been improving over time.

After four years of being an AFOL, I don't care nearly as much any more and I think in a year or two I won't care at all. I've come to accept that LEGO is my hobby and if some stranger at the store has a problem with it, its their problem, not mine. I'm in my late twenties and I've outgrown that phase in my life where I try to fit in with my peers and care what they think about me.

[Plastic Nurak]

Have you ever been bothered by the fact that your friends, family members give you funny expressions or tell you that Lego is for kids?

Yes, it's happened. But I refer to these simple minded persons as "provincial"s .

[The Legonater]

"Do you still play with Lego? Hahaha. Why don't you grow up and watch these (stupid) TV shows and listen to this (awful) pop music instead? That's what all the cool people do" they say.

Finally someone who agrees with me .

[Dan the Brickman]

I have stranger hobby's then collecting/building lego. (LARPing, Bookbinding, alchemy,D&D etc.)

So, its hard to get stared at for something your friends are relieved your doing, rather then actually hand-making and writing in Draconic your own spell-book.

[JCC1004]

Finally someone who agrees with me .

Me as well. It's a much better hobby and actually has something that can come out of it. Why go in with the crowd when you can be a unique individual? As for negative comments I usually don't get them. But on occasion I do I just let them go right over me. I had the same attitude in school. Their opinions don't matter and usually the person is lacking common sense somewhere. I'm honest about my hobby and help parents and kids pick sets out sometimes. No, I am not tired of hearing them because they go right past me and I know it means nothing. That's mytwo (it's not worth two ) one cent.

Best regards,

JCC