A some what strange question, would you ever "discourage" somebody from taking up the LEGO hobby?

Background: At work we have somebody who has a habit of jumping on to what other people are doing. In the past when somebody was talking about fishing he went and purchased a heap of fishing gear to also do it. A few months ago he found out somebody has a collection of guns and now he wants to get in to this too. He gets obsessed with things and does not leave the people above alone now he thinks they are his "friend". His manager has had multiple talks with him about this in the past.

I am on leave at the moment but have heard that he is keen to talk to me about LEGO and getting in to it when I return from leave.

Let him do it... Worst or best case scenario: he gets over this hobby; has a bunch of sets; wants to unload them; you get or buy them...

If not, then for trying to "discourage", explain what we know: It can be a very expensive, time consuming, and space taking hobby

Better he buys Lego he doesn't know what to do with than guns he doesn't know how to use . . . ? In all seriousness, it sounds like the problem is less whether he has Lego at home than whether he's going to jump on you as his new best friend when you go back. Discourage him from Lego, he'll pick up photography or cycling or whatever other hobby he thinks you've got, no? That's a tough situation, especially if he's basically a nice guy.

I also don't think this is really about Lego, but much more that you don't want to be bothered by this guy. But I understand this, it's not easy.

I would becuase they will be able to retire sooner than I.

Let him do it... Worst or best case scenario: he gets over this hobby; has a bunch of sets; wants to unload them; you get or buy them...

This is also what I thought...Let him buy the expensive sets..After a year, buy it from him on a very low price

Or sell him sets for a too high price. Once he finds out he doesnt want to be friend anymore

Just tell him it's a very expensive addiction!

I'm not so sure what to think of this. Maybe talk to him the good and the bad of it so that he can decide for himself, rather than discourage it altogether. Maybe let him try a bit of yours so he can see if he likes it. If he does decide to get into it, ten you should recomend some sets that are best for starting a collection; creator is good because it has multiple model instructions per set and the parts that are the most usable for creations.

And for the gun thing; in the US it's far too easy to get a gun, if that's were you live. Here in Canada they are slower and more controlled.

I would rather have a Lego guy than a guy with only half a brain when it comes to dangerous firearms!!!!

And for the gun thing; in the US it's far too easy to get a gun, if that's were you live. Here in Canada they are slower and more controlled.

Probably good to keep this thread non political. We all have opinions on what is a right and what isn't.

Edited September 13, 201311 yr by TomLego

Hide the Lego and take up knitting.

A few seem to have focused on the gun issue... But I say, what about the poor fish?

Thanks for the replies. He has already decided that he wants to get in to my theme (Technic) and I have heard he has a list of questions for me when I get back :(

I will see what happens and if I can steer him in the right direction.

I have thought a bit more about this now.

I think that the best thing to steer him towards would be to buy one set at first. There's not much to regret about buying a small-medium Technic set. For Lego, it's easy to start small and build-up over time. Don't explain too much variety of information before he starts, because that could get him obsessed so he'll want to spend more initially. Just recommend one product as his "first Technic set", which isn't huge. 9392 Quad Bike is a good inexpensive set which I got for a friend as a birthday gift. I have not gotten many recent Technic sets, but looking S@H; 42004 is the same low price with a good parts value, then going higher there's 9395 for some variety of functions. Just recommend one that you think is a good one. I imagine him taking the set you recommended initially, and then getting more on his own if he really likes it.

Is it so bad that someone in your workplace has an interest, or is trying to be friendly? It may be his way of trying to get on with people and it if it isn't really though might have fallen down with his other "hobbies" maybe, but then guns and fishing are expensive as LEGO and fishing can be boring as watching paint dry at times! (No offence fishermen, but my boss fishes and says it himself!) Best case: You make a new buddy and might be able to co-op build or LUG with him, worst case he gets bored/frustrated and drops it, only to offload the sets on you.

It seems plain nasty to try and rip him off or shoot him down...

Even the most annoying people can turn out ok once you get to know them or see them in places where their annoying-ness doesn't overwhelm him. Have a chat, guage his interest. He'll soon drop it if he finds it isn't for him.

The most important thing is: Be friendly and open. If he gets annoying and too close: Tell him! Only by telling him he will be able to change himself.

As Peppermint_M says, he's probably trying to make friends, and joining someone in their hobby is the only way he can think of to do it. He probably drops his hobbies, not when he gets bored, but when he realizes he's doing it alone.

The problem is not with him taking up and dropping hobbies, but with bothering people. If the boss has already talked to him about it, with no change, there's not much you can do but set personal boundaries. As in, "I'm not going to talk LEGO at work. Feel free to email me, or post to this LEGO Technic forum online." (If necessary, send him to a different LEGO forum than Eurobricks).

Ragnar

As Peppermint_M says, he's probably trying to make friends, and joining someone in their hobby is the only way he can think of to do it. He probably drops his hobbies, not when he gets bored, but when he realizes he's doing it alone.

Ragnar

Well said. I feel a bit bad for the guy; struggling to make friends and trying to get into others interests. Much like myself in elementary school. It could be nice to invite him home to show a bit and talk, or just do it on a break from work.

There's a blog post that I read a while ago, which demonstrated success with adults getting into Lego; http://gimmelego.blogspot.ca/2010/11/not-rocket-science.html

Sounds like he's just socially awkward and wants to connect with someone. Hopefully it works out and he'll a good friend. As would you.

Love that gimmelego article, what an interesting observation

I've never had to discourage anyone from taking up LEGO as a hobby, because usually the cost of LEGO is discouragement enough for people who aren't already deeply invested in the brand. I've never encountered a person who has this habit of impulsively jumping on bandwagons to establish a social connection with friends/colleagues, and if I did I doubt I'd discourage them from getting into LEGO unless they clearly need financial guidance. If it was clear that he wasn't getting any actual enjoyment from LEGO except as a social gateway, then I would perhaps try and avoid him so he doesn't feel like that kind of impulsive spending gets rewarded, but I don't think explicitly telling him not to invest in LEGO would be the right solution.

I've would never discourage someone from lego. You say he's now interested in your technic collection if so just answer the questions he asks, why? Well he looks like a bit of follower the saying "a rolling stone gathers no moss" is a perfect example here in a few weeks he'll tag along to someone else's hobby and so on. As said above he might just want to be friendly and have something to talk about which is fine.

Edited September 16, 201311 yr by Tariq j

So, what happened?

So, what happened?

Not a happy ending :(

Well the day I got back to work he came and saw me as soon as I walked in the door. I told him I would have a chat with him at lunch time. By then he had printed out heaps of stuff on line and had a list of sets he wanted to buy. At lunch time I sat down with him and explained the hobby, some of the things I do and sets I like. He seemed happy enough and decided to buy a couple of small TECHNIC sets to start off. Over the next week I was busy off site and I didn't see much of him. When I did get back on site the next week he grabbed me and asked some questions, this didn't take long and I was happy to help him out.

The weeks following this he sent me heaps of emails with questions, links to sites and sets and also asking for advice on what to buy. I replied and made it very clear that if he wants to talk to me he should do this during break times as I am busy with my work. Come to the end of last week and he brought in one of the sets he has been working on (42000) as he was having a problem with it. I told him I was happy to look at it for a few minutes after work. Twice during the day he came and saw me to ask questions about it. The third time this happened I went and saw his manager about it. Now he is in trouble for not doing his work and stopping me from doing mine. It seems over the past month he has been spending heaps of time on the Internet and building sets at his desk instead of working like he should.