03-21-2005, 06:57 AM
My brother and I had our fair share of Legos, but I was never that big a fan of them. We had a huge tub of them, but that was mostly because they seemed to be the default gifts given to children in my extended family during major holidays (for whatever reason). When they were finally sold en masse at a garage sale when I was 10 or so, they were not missed that much.
I certainly did indeed enjoy creating and building stuff of course, but the medium through which that desire flowed changed often. Rocks, dirt, sand, water, trees, snow, etc. are all cheap whereas Legos are quite expensive. As I am browsing through lego.com right now I have to ask myself - "Who the heck is paying $30-$100 for a set of molded plastic blocks with grooves?" The prices seem to have only gone up since I was a kid. Of course back then I didn't understand the various pricing dynamics, but I certainly *did* understand when my parents said that I could have either this one Lego set or two to three of those toys over there. The price for these Legos seriously absolutely boggles my mind.
On a slight tangent, I'd like to flesh out the topic of childhod toys in general. Looking back on my own childhood, I am just kicking myself for some of the horrendous, horrendous money sinks to which I subjected my parents. Are these expensive toys that seem to be perpetuated throughout our society really so necessary to a child's social and psychological development that they become worth the cost? Although having children of my own is still far off in the future (hopefully), I can't help but think that I would basically refuse to buy any sort of toy that seemed as though it could not withstand the test of time (whether it was a fad, or fragile, or whatever). Then again, a large aspect of the toy-giving aspect from my parents poont of view was that it made them happy to see us happy, so I'm sure my perspective on this matter will change once I am no longer an arrogant college student and have become a parent myself. But nonetheless, it boggles my mind to think of what a tremendous waste of money some of that crap was and what could have been done with the money instead (we were/are hardly bad off, but wasting money is still wasting money as far as I'm concerned).
I certainly did indeed enjoy creating and building stuff of course, but the medium through which that desire flowed changed often. Rocks, dirt, sand, water, trees, snow, etc. are all cheap whereas Legos are quite expensive. As I am browsing through lego.com right now I have to ask myself - "Who the heck is paying $30-$100 for a set of molded plastic blocks with grooves?" The prices seem to have only gone up since I was a kid. Of course back then I didn't understand the various pricing dynamics, but I certainly *did* understand when my parents said that I could have either this one Lego set or two to three of those toys over there. The price for these Legos seriously absolutely boggles my mind.
On a slight tangent, I'd like to flesh out the topic of childhod toys in general. Looking back on my own childhood, I am just kicking myself for some of the horrendous, horrendous money sinks to which I subjected my parents. Are these expensive toys that seem to be perpetuated throughout our society really so necessary to a child's social and psychological development that they become worth the cost? Although having children of my own is still far off in the future (hopefully), I can't help but think that I would basically refuse to buy any sort of toy that seemed as though it could not withstand the test of time (whether it was a fad, or fragile, or whatever). Then again, a large aspect of the toy-giving aspect from my parents poont of view was that it made them happy to see us happy, so I'm sure my perspective on this matter will change once I am no longer an arrogant college student and have become a parent myself. But nonetheless, it boggles my mind to think of what a tremendous waste of money some of that crap was and what could have been done with the money instead (we were/are hardly bad off, but wasting money is still wasting money as far as I'm concerned).
--Mith
I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.
Jack London
I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.
Jack London