Im not that old, but I do wonder at what point, if ever, is it sad to find toys/stuff designed for young people fun?

I dont like hunting and meat smokers. Or sports. Im into classic consoles and rc cars and Legos. Sometimes I feel like people have kids just so they can try to relive their own kid days. But I do that on a daily basis. Im surrounded by “kid” stuff, right down to 90s vhs cartoons and a Bop it.

My co workers would think its very odd that I spent the weekend playing atari and building legos. I guess I did put up some wood paneling too. But most other people were probably trucking their kids to sports practice and smoking a hog.

  • fruitycoder@sh.itjust.works
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    5 days ago

    Children’s toys like games are limited in their function and scope. I don’t think that makes playing with them sad ever but it can be more rewarding to make things with less constraints some times.

    I feel like Ive been playing less games now that games turned to hobbies turn to a career in which I can try to solve complex problems in more creative ways.

    I still play with blocks, little puzzles, games, etc though, so again a hard cut off doesn’t really make sense to me.

  • zxqwas@lemmy.world
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    7 days ago

    Turns out that if you do your work and pay your taxes you get to decide what to do with your money and time.

    Accept that people may not like the things you do. You can always find someone enthusiastic about the same things you are online.

  • sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    6 days ago

    When you either have no personality outside of liking childrens toys, or you find yourself rushing into a store and elbowing people, potentially children, out of the way, so that you can get the toy first.

  • stringere@sh.itjust.works
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    6 days ago

    Never.

    I’m 48 and this is only a small part of my home office.

    Being an adult lets me make adult money and spend it how I see fit. Always wanted a Lego Star Wars collection. Now I just need better displays.

  • HuntressHimbo@lemmy.zip
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    7 days ago

    Not always a winner for takes, but this quote by C.S Lewis I’ve always found helpful

    When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up. - C.S. Lewis

  • Fluffy Kitty Cat@slrpnk.net
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    6 days ago

    Legos are awesome and when you’re an adult you have money to buy them. Is the wood paneling creative or just home maintenance?

  • the_grass_trainer@lemmy.world
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    5 days ago

    I say anything that fuels creativity is a good hobby to have. Legos can build lots of things especially if you have a engineering mind.

    Atari games I’m sure are fun, but I’m also sure they spark some kind of imagery in your mind that if applied elsewhere (ie art) could be seen as creative. Or you know… Just fun.

    Where i draw the line: you’re 30+ yrs old, and no kids but your favorite show is Bluey… 😒

  • TexasDrunk@lemmy.world
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    7 days ago

    I’m a dudely guy. I love my smoker (where do you live that they’re doing it that often? Even here in Texas it’s a niche hobby 99% of the time). I work on and ride motorcycles. Woodworking. Hog hunting, but that’s mostly to keep wild hogs from tearing up land of people I know. I love camping. Music production. So I’d be considered pretty normal, minus the sports, if someone were to know my hobbies.

    But also I’ve got some plushies in my home studio. I like them, they make me smile. I’ve got a bunch of retro games on modern equipment. I read a lot of fantasy and that includes a healthy dose YA fantasy. In addition to tabletop games that a lot of folks play I have an entire shelf dedicated to kids board games that I play.

    I don’t have kids. Never will. I’m the crazy uncle to everyone else’s kids and we have a great time when they’re over. And if anyone doesn’t like my childish hobbies they can go fuck themselves.

    Liking kids stuff isn’t sad at all. Ever. If you aren’t harming others and you’re having a good time then anyone who gives a shit has stepped way the fuck out of their lane. If you met the most amazing person tomorrow and wanted them to be your partner and they found out about your hobbies and made fun of them, even if they were perfect in every other way, that’s not the right person for you.

    Now I’m not personally a Lego person. I don’t have the concentration for it. But if I found out you were my neighbor I’d 100% offer to smoke a brisket or whatever you eat and supply some beer if you’d bring over the Atari for some Combat or have an extra RC car that we can race. That sounds like an incredible way to spend a Saturday if I’m not headed out of town.

    • Twinklebreeze @lemmy.world
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      7 days ago

      Hell yeah, fantasy. I just finished reading all of the Discworld books in chronological order. I didn’t think I would like it jumping between characters, but it was actually refreshing taking a break from themes and characters.

  • 3PO40K@lemmy.world
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    7 days ago

    I love the replies in this thread and agree with them whole heartedly.

    Enjoy playing with toys. Keep that imagination strong. Don’t ever let anyone else make you feel wierd about it.

  • ExperiencedWinter@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    When I was ten, I read fairy tales in secret and would have been ashamed if I had been found doing so. Now that I am fifty I read them openly. When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.

    C.S. Lewis

  • 5too@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    Yeah, I’m the wrong person to ask. I’m 43, have a massive Lego collection, and play games in my spare time (what the kids leave for my wife and I).

    (Edit) You should Google “AFOL” groups - Adult Fans Of Lego are all over the place. And even if you don’t end up joining any, they have some impressive builds!

  • Rooty@lemmy.world
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    7 days ago

    The only thing that’s sad is being ashamed of your hobbies and interests. Do whatever you want with your free time, I promise that nobody gives a fuck.

  • gwl@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    7 days ago

    At the point that you do it not for fun, but for an obligation to your past self or for the potential profits later down the line

    Otherwise, there is no limit. Age limits on fun are a capitalist lie