I can feel the dark ages creeping in...

brickupdate

I find myself checking this forum with less obsessiveness.

I find myself getting into another hobby more and more.

I find myself feeling the need to "thin the herd" of my LEGO collection.

I find the darkness of the dark ages creeping in.

Help me...

jdylak

So what is it the interests you less about the hobby?

samiam391

I never thought I would check this forum and get depressed looking at a post.... I even have classical music going on in the background which makes the surrounding air even more heavy...

@brickupdate- Open a set. Built a set. Enjoy the set.

Now....

yys4u

I'll help you out. Send me of list of the sets your getting rid of XD

VaderX

The only way for me to have fun with this hobby is to build giant mocs...

I find my ability to tolerate the recent horde of people who are just looking for a way to make $$$ by buying and selling less on a daily basis.

Every thread on this forum always turns into .... How can I make $$$$ fast.

Just my thoughts. Good luck!

Ypres

If it's of any interest to you, as of late, I have felt exactly the same way. Whether it has been from the lack of sales, a year of rather run-of-the-mill sets from Lego, and/or taking up more interest is some other hobbies; I too have reflected upon the possibility that I too might be not as fond of Lego as I was the year before. I've even considered selling some of the sets which I bought previous years and hadn't opened yet, which is a thought that never would've crossed my mind before.

Of course, my collecting was always a problem. I spent the last few years buying more Lego then I could build, neglecting my old hobbies, and getting into what I consider a 'lego obsession'. I don't think I'm entering my dark ages, because I still like Lego and have plans to purchase the sets I want. Does sizing down your collection or finding different hobbies signify a end to collecting? Not for me. Perhaps my obsession has ended, but I'm still a fan of Lego and consider myself a collector even if the size of my collection doesn't increase like it has in other years. Everyone needs a breather. Sometimes people have to slow down completely with their hobby otherwise all the stress and frustration that comes along with the joy and passion ruin the fun of collecting.

Crownie

Granted, I think most of the people who are on this forum and talk about making $$$$ fast wish to do so primarily to fund their LEGO hobby.

(Or so I like to think.)

To @brickupdate - I've always come in and out of hobbies myself, though if this isn't your first dark age, maybe it's just a temporary slowing down period? Needing a break from things certainly isn't bad; sometimes it takes something a little different to re-charge our batteries. I don't know that I'd start selling off any of your collection just yet though.

As a note, I've always really enjoyed perusing your blog, so thanks for that!

CapnRex101

It seems to me that if you are losing interest, not much can be done, but I agree with @samiam391, build a set and enjoy it, that way it may reinvigorate your love for Lego.

kor

I have a lot of different hobbies and interests. Over the years I've found that taking a small break actually improves the hobby and collecting enjoyment when you come back to it. Just don't sell anything you'll truly regret later. I've made that mistake!

Yellowcastle

It can be cyclical. Take some time away. Like anything in life, it's best enjoyed with a bit of moderation, balance. Otherwise, you can burn out. It can be difficult if you're a bit compulsive like me but it's doable. Right now I'm back in my scrabble phase yet hadn't played for almost a year. Same goes with me and poker. If I don't balance myself, I get burnt out and am them away from things for many months. Of course nowadays, my biggest issue is pacing myself on how many Fisher Price Little People, Duplo Animals and Take and Play Thomas trains I get for my son. :o)

mathew

brickupdate said:

I find myself checking this forum with less obsessiveness.

I find myself getting into another hobby more and more.

I find myself feeling the need to "thin the herd" of my LEGO collection.

I find the darkness of the dark ages creeping in.

Help me...

Just curious what other hobby are you getting into?

Personally I find that as an AFOL I've come full circle since I came out of my dark ages a year ago. Lego introduced me to architecture. I enjoyed building little houses and other structures. Simple bricks. Not themes. Not minifigs. Not "collecting". Obsessing over collecting is what will turn you back to the dark side.

Zon

You can have other hobbies... Just don't go bailing on us completely! I don't know if I would enjoy it as much if it was all my main focus. All things in moderation like Yellowcastle said.

BooTheMightyHamster

It happens.
I only rediscovered Lego a matter of weeks ago. For 20 odd years, I've toggled between videogaming (the gaming equipment in my loft looks like the Lego in most of your lofts!) and playing in bands.

I've found that while I'm 'into' one, the other tends to fade a bit. Might be six months, might be a year or more. But sooner or later, something changes. If I've been gaming, then a band rings up, or I just get the itch to pick up a pair of drumsticks again.

Or vice versa.

So Lego takes a backseat for a while? Doesn't matter.
All I'd say is don't sell anything just yet. If you decide further down the line that you're done with the hobby, then fair enough. And if you come back to it, and make a rational decision to sell some of it, again, fair enough.

But don't sell it on a whim. If you ever realise you want it back, you know it'll cost you three times as much!!

Amiko

I agree with Yellowcastle that these things can work in a cyclical way. I've recently come back into LEGO after a couple of years of being less interested. The great thing is that all the sets are fresh and new to me and I still have all my old LEGO to bring out... I would enjoy whatever it is you do for a hobby and if you're anything like me, you'll be back into LEGO as soon as 'that perfect set / MOC idea' draws you in again.

pvancil27

VaderX said:

Every thread on this forum always turns into .... How can I make $$$$ fast.

Just my thoughts. Good luck!

Not every, but many. And it was usually the same suspects until recently where everyone new seems to be doing it, which is partly (IMO) because if they read the forums here they saw the others doing it. Basically people are mad about new people do what they said it was ok for the "old pros" crowd to do.

As for the OP, like others have said, build a set. Go to the store and just buy some cheap small like 10-15$ set and just knock it out in 5 minutes. Play with it some, be a kid. If you find that doesnt ignite the spark back, then do what others have said in just taking a step back and letting something else occupy that space, be it another hobby or family or friends or whatever. But dont give up on it. If you find yourself a few years down the line still not caring, thats when I would say the spark maybe gone for good and selling off the collection is a good idea.

Renny

My advice is just to take some time off from Lego. If you miss it than great, if you don't then it's time to move onto your other hobbies. Forcing yourself to stick with a hobby you really are not passionate about is a waste of your time and money.

my 2 cents.

brickupdate

Wow, I didn't expect such a big response!

@jdylak I think it is a few things:
1. Capacity: being interested in LEGO is an obsession. If another hobby piques my interest, there isn't room for two obsessions.

2. Like many folks here, we became interested in LEGO again 1-3 years ago and went on buying binges with all the great deals. After awhile, it seems odd to guess at which sets will become rare, and which will just stick around forever.

3. And odd "problem," but BOY is LEGO releasing too many good sets. With Chima coming out, with new Star Wars movies, there are just so many great sets.

4. Time. To build. There is very little of that!

@samiam391 - GREAT ADVICE! Build and they will come.

@yys4u don't tempt me!
:)

@VaderX - I like that a lot. I have outlined MOCs to make, but run out of time.

@Ypres - thanks. I'm sure others must feel this way too. Easy to buy, time consuming to build.

@Crownie Yes, this is likely a slowdown. I think I would benefit from reframing things a bit, thinning the herd so I have the room and time to build and SELECTIVELY collect.

@CapnRex101 - Thanks. I don't think it's a matter of losing interest, but finding a way to keep it manageable and fun. I tend to get OBSESSED with hobbies, which works against "manageable and fun!"

@kor Thanks! Good advice!

@Yellowcastle I hear you, I have that same issue! I enjoy going to the toy aisles as much as he does!

@mathew Audio. I was REALLY into what they call "high end audio" years ago, and got out of it when my kid was born. Expensive tube amplifiers and babies don't mix. But I got back into it via headphone equipment. I LOVE music. I have only really had one dark ages (teenage years), and have, on some level, been into LEGO since college. That was maybe 20 years ago.

@Zon Thanks Zon! I have to say, reading all these comments re-engages me here.

@BooTheMightyHamster Thanks. Honestly, I could half my collection and still have plenty!

@Amiko Indeed. I should focus on a MOC

@pvancil27 Thanks!

@Renny Yes, but I can't look around without seeing LEGO!
:) I suppose that isn't really much of a problem.

Thanks all!

mathew

^ Ah yes, I was once an audiophile too. I still have my Music Hall turntable that unfortunately I don't listen to anymore. I would of sold it by now, but packing a turntable is PITA. Sold my tube amps and expensive speakers. Now I mostly enjoy streamed music through a pair of Pioneer speakers hooked up a cheap Insignia receiver. To be honest I enjoy music almost as much. The problem with being an audiophile is that you wind up listening to the equipment more than the music. At the same time I do sometimes miss it. Especially spinning vinyl.

brickupdate

@mathew Yes, indeed. I've owned a LOT of turntables, but never a Music Hall. I still have most of my equipment, but packed away. I've gotten really into headphone amplifiers recently. There is a line I am hoping not to cross in terms of what you speak: using the equipment JUST ENOUGH to enjoy the music, but no more.
Thanks.

mathew

I like headphones, just not how they feel on my big noggin. My favorite headphones were the Sennheiser 598. Unfortunately, despite their rep I just couldn't feel comfortable with them on my head for more than a few minutes.

nkx1

^Regarding your Insignia receiver, you could get a fairly inexpensive T-amp and probably enjoy much better sound. I love my little T-amps.

Regarding the topic in general, I sort of find that I have less time for Lego than I would like, despite loving many of the new/upcoming sets being released. I have a bunch of sets (primarily time-consuming Technic) that I would love to build. But building Lego obviously detracts quite a bit from doing other stuff (such as generally relaxing, various errands, reading, etc). And it's going to get much worse once our baby is born! If only I didn't have to work...

Reliant

Some great responses above for sure. Its ok to take a break. Just dont sell everything. When you come back it will be fresh and you will have fun again. I usually go between Lego, Transformers and then GI Joe. Keeps things interesting.

brickupdate

@mathew I've never tried Sennheiser. I have a really nice pair of Grado's which are very comfortable, and then a pair of Audio Technica for everyday use.

brickupdate

@nkx1 Congrats on the upcoming arrival!

FollowsClosely

I am definably playing with the block less. It has been a year since I have completed a MOC, and my kids are fading as well. My 11 year old is done with her LEGO phase. She is selling off all of her sets and buying American Girl dolls. Just the other week she says: "That set can get me two more dolls". The only sets she saved is her GG and DS. My 9 year old is still into the blocks, but she is starting to bore. Chima is pulling her back I think. We will see. My 7 year old has never really enjoyed building, but playing with Friends sets that here big sis builds is her thing. My twin boys, who are 6 are still crazy about the blocks.

I sell on the side to fund the hobby. I have two inventories of LEGO, one to sell and one to play with. However, over the past 6 months or so I have been selling many of our personal sets that I thought I would hold onto forever. I have been selling them for multiple reasons.
1) We simply are running out of space.
2) We are running out of interest in our old sets.
3) I am increasing the size of my collection of firearms.

If it where not for the kids, I would have much more sold off by now. We are down to only 130 sorted out sets in our personal collection. Down from 400+ just a year ago. Our investment stash is also dwindeling, it's sank to around 20K and no longer growing. I think in two years time that 20K will be down to a few thousand, just the FBs and DSs.

So you are not alone @brickupdate, my second dark age may be coming as well. Do you have any kids @brickupdate?

samiam391

After reviewing most of the posts, I would almost classify myself as well as one in recession.

I used to have dozens of sealed sets and hundreds of minifigures. However, since than I've drastically reduced the size of it all to my "favorites", which mainly have to due with rare/promotional/exclusive minifigures. I've also decreased the number of sets I won by more than half to only specific ones which I enjoy walking past on a daily basis.

I've also become more picky about what I buy. If I saw anything for a good deal, I used to pick it up. However, now a days I only seem to purchase the bricks that really catch my eye.

Perhaps it is not so much a dark age, as it is a narrowing of interests.

Which I would consider very healthy for us all.

Better to enjoy the few, than to find satisfaction only in mass.

Drmnez

Personally, I try to buy only one of each set I want, build it, and enjoy it (through display).
I don't see a point in build lego sets If you don't build them. I don't see the fun in staring/storing a box.

legomason

@brickupdate It's funny how you would always show giant BL orders for MOCs but never actually post any MOCs that I can think of. You should do that.

Also, I always appreciated your idea of documenting Lego aisles for future reminiscing.

jockosjungle

Got to agree, it is ups and downs. Loved it as a kid, got back into it when they released the HP stuff. My interest wainedwhen they released more and more HP lego sets and I couldn't keep up (i was a student) when I'd hoped to own them all.

Got back into it with a new child and discovering the Shuttle Adventure and how they're doing great new modles for an older market, also like the LOTR and Hobbit sets.

But on the whole there isn't a lot so far that has grabbed me this coming year, like the look of the Lone Ranger sets.

The truth is though, I buy a lego set and build it, as the OP probably does. I don't get any secondary pleasure from buying ten of a set to sell for profit, so there isn't that interest in models i don't care for, just because I hope I can flip them for twice what I paid

Drmnez

^amen

cheshirecat

OP, do/did you love lego or love collecting and lego was just the vehicle for that?

Coolsplash

I myself thought I would never post a comment over Dark ages but since past few months I have been slipping in and out of this phase. But thanks to my son and the fact we made the LOTR Mines of Moria and Attack on Weathertop sets while vacationing last week, it was lots of fun. But I do feel the creepy crawling phase, as my problems are mainly, lack of space/privacy to build/create, too many amazing sets coming out so quickly (calm down TLG) and last but not the least, the time to build/create...but I guess things will change as I am finally stepping towards building our very own Lego/gaming/entertainment room :D so hopefully that would change things....

jdylak

For me, this hobby is what baseball cards were for me when I was a kid. Not the money part. The fun and always something to do part. I loved cards as a kid. Loved buying packs to see what I get. I do the same thing now, only with huge boxes of pieces. I buy the "bulk lots" when I know I see a good one. Yes, it does make me good money. But it is also fun to dig thru 25 pounds of pieces to build that set. I love it! Who cares if I need or want the set. If I don't, I sell it. I had my fun with the building and piecing and all. I just finished one lot and netted a Wind Turbine, City House, City Corner, Public Transportation, Garage,Helicopter + Limousine, + Passenger Train. Fun builds and will probably keep them. I paid a whole $150 for it.

Super excited about my next one coming in the mail. I saw lots of Airport Monorail parts, monorail track, airport runways, train track, and all kinds of goodies. Should be worth my $200 for the 30 pounds!

Sorry, don't mean for this to turn into a "brag". My point was it's just fun to dig into a HUGE box like that or just dump the whole thing on the floor in front of your wife and make "snow angels" in the pieces.

Try that and tell me you lose interest!

Huw

A great thread, and good to hear such good advice being given.

I hope we can persuade you to stick around!

Huw (who recently bought a pair of B&W P5s which are frickin' awesome, and has some 2000 vinyl 12" singles and albums in the garage :-) )

Doom4

When I always decided to collect something I have never swept my hobby away from me. They always were bulding my personality. I think it's possible to have many hobbies and devote to them fully at any stage of life. It's a passion which drives me and force me to buy another piece and I know that without this passion I would only be a normal men with empty soul. That can't never happen.

bellybutton290

It's funny as I was thinking about this the other day. Space is becoming an issue and I am seriously questioning the amount of money I have spent In addition to seemingly the hobby getting more expensive. I also come to Brickset less often (no reflection on the site itself of course) Having said that I now have a 4 year old who is starting to show interest which i think will help keep me interested. But another dark ages looming or not I think right now the obsession is over and is being replaced with a more sensible , casual interest and occasional purchase.

CCC

I think I was getting the same way a few years ago - buying probably too much, building it, looking at it, packing it away. Space and moneywise it is not really sustainable. The money wasn't really a problem, but I prefer to spend money on other things rather than enjoying building a set for a few evenings before packing it away.

At that point I decided to mix everything together. I know I am unlikely to rebuild a lot of older sets, which is why I mixed them together for MOCing. I now have very few actual sets. But I have a lot of parts in my MOC-kit. I don't feel the need to buy more sets which helps on the space issue. I do buy lots of parts on bricklink, but these tend to be more useful ones in quantities I actually use, rather than one of these in this colour, one of these in that colour, and so on. Of course, I still like modern minifigs in my MOCs, which is where brickset (and bricklink) is useful. And if a good deal comes along on a parts set like Helm's Deep, then I go for it.

I also find MOCing more liberating than following instructions.

vwong19

If it wasn't for Collectible Minifigures, Super Heroes, and now TMNT I may have slipped into a Dark Ages... Star Wars has gotten a little blah.

Due to space limitations, I have been selling off some old sets to make way for new sets, however, the turn over of new sets is outpacing the old. There are too many great old sets that I probably will never part with (i.e. Modulars).

I can go months without building or buying sets, but when I go more than 2 days without visiting Brickset that is when I start my Dark Ages.

MCNwakeboard

I am feeling a bit similar, but hopefully it just means I don't have to compulsively check all the Lego fan sites for possible updates.

Haven't built a MOC since the fall, still getting a couple new sets, but being more selective and selling off some old ones that just aren't worth keeping at the price they are selling for. Still, I'm excited for some of the new sets coming this year.

mathew

I also find MOCing more liberating than following instructions.

Good way to put it.

bellybutton290

MCNwakeboard said:

I am feeling a bit similar, but hopefully it just means I don't have to compulsively check all the Lego fan sites for possible updates.

Haven't built a MOC since the fall, still getting a couple new sets, but being more selective and selling off some old ones that just aren't worth keeping at the price they are selling for. Still, I'm excited for some of the new sets coming this year.

This is essentially where I am at right now. I am still excited to see the new sets coming and still get a certain wow factor from a small number of them so don't think I will completely give up on this hobby for a while yet.

brickupdate

@FollowsClosely Yep, I have a toddler. He doesn't yet "get" what all the stuff in daddy's room is. One day he will. It should be a magical day!

@samiam391 Yep - I am trying to not just buy ANY set that is a great sale. "Selectively" still buying loads though!

@Drmnez Building is it's own joy. I come from a family of collectors. I feel it's in my blood! For some weird reason, there is something special about an unopened set.

@legomason SO TRUE! I have planned MOCs, worked on them, but never finished them. Thanks for the kind words on the blog!

@jockosjungle Thanks. I am feeling more and more like reselling/investing is a thrill, but not worth the mental energy or my time.

@cheshirecat Yep, I have loved collecting LEGO in many forms. It used to be just loads of bricks. Then LEGO seemed to get more complicated!

@Coolsplash YES, I too wish LEGO would stop giving us so many amazing sets. It's too much of a good thing!

@jdylak My family owned a baseball card business in the 1980s. We were front row for how that whole industry just got overblown and imploded. And yes, there is something fun about the archeological dig aspect of a big box of LEGOs! Rebuilding that buried dinosaur.

@Huw The response from the community here has become SUCH a big part of the LEGO experience for me. So yes, thank you, I will be sticking around. The P5s look interesting! The Audio Technica are good on an everyday basis while out and about. I have a pair of Grado GS1000 headphones from a couple years back that I got a great deal on. Now THOSE are fun! Wow, 2,000 vinyl records! I have paired my collection down several times.

@Doom4 Passion!

@bellybutton290 Once your 4yo becomes old enough to get into LEGO, I bet you will be swimming in them!

@CCC VERY interesting idea to just mix it all up and MOC. Thanks!

@vwong19 agreed. Brickset has become such a center of this hobby for me.

@MCNwakeboard Thanks. Yep, lots of good sets coming up.

Drmnez

@brickupdate I respect that. For me the joy comes from collecting the sets/figs/promos I want and then building them.
My initial attraction to lego was the chance to work with my hands. Coupled with imagination and design, it was a perfect childhood toy.
As an adult I still love building with lego but now I build/collect/marvel at my collection.
Now it's just a matter of how to display them, finish my collection, and care for them

CCC

Drmnez said:

Now it's just a matter of how to display them, finish my collection, and care for them

Displaying and caring for them are easy. As for finishing, good luck with that! Collections are never finished, there is always one more thing to get ... :-)

brickupdate

@Drmnez "Caring for the collection" is a part of this! All that dusting!

@CCC agree about the ability for collections to constantly grow.

Drmnez

@CCC true. I'm trying to be more picky with my choices so I do not go over board again with everything. I think a better way of saying it would be finish my collection to the point where I'm just buying current sets.

@brickupdate dusting sucks. Still trying to decided whether or not to get a dust-free solution or if I'm going to just suck it up and dust every so often

NgclarkIV

@brickupdate - I feel ya. It's not because my interest is gone though, it's because I'm getting married. And supposedly you become really poor when you get married. :/

beegeedee

@brickupdate This year may be a make or break for me in terms of LEGO too. Financially I have less money (starting a pension, medical bills, tax increases and a huge gas and credit card bill this month doesn't help) so I understand having to make a choice. With me it has been LEGO or Xbox/Games and LEGO has been winning. I also love reading, 3D modelling and games development and pretty much all that has been swept aside too.

I also have 2 kids and both are toddlers (20m and 3yrs) though I have to say they are both LEGO crazy because daddy plays with Lego - they are about the cars and minifigs though.

Drifting back to the dark ages for me will be not buying new sets or a minimum over the year. I may build other sets out of the ones I have or try my hand at a few MOCs. To be honest, I doubt either will happen as most will appreciate the lack of time when you have young kids. My wife also teaches piano in the evenings and weekends so all other free time is spend doing family activities and household chores...mostly.

Wow...that sounds depressing - it's not. I have a lot of Lego and I'm not getting rid of it. I'm parting out the sets so it's better organised for making other stuff and that's going to take a while. In fact I may not get it done this year. Also, my attic looks like a toy shop with trains, creator houses and city sets scattered around and I even have a desk up there although it's very useless at the moment as it's also covered in assembled sets.

My advice?
Put buying of new sets on hold for a bit and keep your existing sets for your kid. If you get rid of them you'll regret it. Hold on to them for 6 months and then make a decision.

I'll still be checking in here I reckon whatever happens and there will always be something that tempts me into buying....

Yodalicious

^I second the 6-month "rule." I've done this with every hobby, collection or whatever I've ever had. As soon as I feel "do I even want to do this anymore" I start the 6 month countdown. If in 6 months I feel the same way, then I sell/move on. The last thing I want is to realize I only needed a break, but have sold everything off already.

Si_UKNZ

I think its natural that the hobby should plateau after the initial surge from the dark age. We all have finite space and money and collections can't just grow infinitely, there has to come a point sooner or later when its 'one out one in' if you want any more, or you stop buying.

Just because you're not buying any more doesnt mean you're entering a dark age, it might actually mean that you have more time to enjoy the Lego you already have.

nkx1

^Totally agree. That's why I plan on selling every set I've built after EOL (effectively the one in one out strategy). Then I never really run out of space, and a nice bonus is that the hobby is pretty self-supportive financially.

I was going to make an exception for the Imperial Flagship just because it is such a awesome ship, but I stuck to my plan and recently sold it. So far, no regrets. I sold it used for double what I paid new (albeit in perfect condition), and I now have more a teeny bit more storage space for a new set.