Sibling Rivalry

[Sir E Fullner]

Many of you who have elder siblings might have had this problem while growing up. Many of you may still have this problem, even though you are grown up. Either way, the results are extremely discouraging.

In my family, I have two brothers; their identities shall remain secret. My older brother is your hypothetical redneck; some [insert synonym for loser] who likes trucks 30 years past repair and a real stunt-performer. My younger brother is just a pain in the neck. Both together, they equal the destruction of Charlie Sheen in a hotel room. Introductions aside, let's cut to the chase.

There are two memorable accounts of their shenanigans. The first one involves the both of them making a train crash video. They ran all of my 9-volt trains at full speed around a circuit, successfully destroying a building and knocking over several minifigs. Their response: "It's just legos." For any of you language majors, another cringe in the neck. The second time, not too long ago, they decided to do the tradition of ramping one of my train motors. To add to the yokel-ness, they put wings on the sides. Later in the afternoon, I discovered the remnants, and it was a combination of a Battle of Britain blitz and Dante's third circle of Hell in one destroyed plastic package.

These are just a few accounts. There are many more stories, but I prefer not to go in detail any further. Please respond on alternatives and if anyone knows of a product to repel brothers from a LEGO display, please write about it in detail.

Always entertaining, always inspiring, always:

Edited August 17, 2013 by efullner

[BlueberryWaffles]

A product to repel people?

A shotgun.

[Jaller8240]

I'd say use Mothballs, bear traps, landmines, or change all the locks to your house. If all else fails, I usually resort to going further than the landmines, but your mileage may vary.

[Legogal]

Having four brothers, I resorted to enjoying my one or two treasures of an entire lifetime in a dark closet. Have you ever tried keeping your LEGO in a dark closet? You have to remember to never talk about it either. (At least I never owned anything as nice as LEGO that I had to keep secret in order for it not to get torn up.)

On another note, we did have an incredibly spoiled neighbor kid who entered our house one day while we all were away, and used our baseball bat to destroy several of the cherished model airplanes my brothers had carefully built and hung from the ceiling with string. All I can reveal is that my brothers were experts at turning dirt into deep pits of quicksand. And that our neighbor had no brothers or anyone else to rescue him for many hours....we timed just how long it took his parents to figure out where he was. Nope, he didn't try anything that dumb again. So I guess you just have to figure out how to keep your *&^$#%&*())&^% brothers out of your home. Are you experienced with quicksand pits?

[OriginalJK555]

Have you thought of buying a lock for your room where Lego is kept? I would.

[FuzzyBallz]

A product to repel people?

A shotgun.

I'm a firm believer in violence is the solution to all problems. The other solution is of course moving as far as way from the problem as you possibly can.

[Sir E Fullner]

A product to repel people?

A shotgun.

No gun license, plus I don't want anyone getting hurt.

Have you thought of buying a lock for your room where Lego is kept? I would.

There is a lock to the door to the basement, but it's only on the outside.

I'm a firm believer in violence is the solution to all problems. The other solution is of course moving as far as way from the problem as you possibly can.

That might be an easy solution, since the older one is moving back to college.

[SteampunkDoc]

Just spread a bunch of Lego out all over the floor and put a no shoes sign on the door.

Even if they break in once, they won't be able to walk around for a while to do it again.

[Leo604]

Maybe talk to your parents and get them to tell your brothers to stop? And if you haven't already, have a really serious conversation with the two of them about how you don't appreciate at all what they do.

[N-4K0]

You can do as Leo Crimson proposed - talk to your brothers and tell them that Lego is your hobby. Ask them how they would like it if you repeatedly ruined something they spent hours to improve.

[Hrw-Amen]

How about telling your parents, show them the damage to your train motors etc, then get your brothers to pay for the damage to be replaced out of their pocket money &/or college fund. Once your older brother realises his future employability is in doubt if he does not have the funds to finish college and get his qualifications he may not find it quite so funny?

[LEGO Guy Bri]

When I had my city up as a kid, I'd have my two brother's (3 & 8 years younger) and their friends occasionally go and play and tear things up. I tired of that and eventually got a keyed door lock. Problem solved, but if your sets are in a a room you can't lock, try what was suggested above. Gotta keep your assets safe

[Tariq j]

You can do as Leo Crimson proposed - talk to your brothers and tell them that Lego is your hobby. Ask them how they would like it if you repeatedly ruined something they spent hours to improve.

I agree, however don't actually ruin it, revenge is not the right thing to do.

[Sir E Fullner]

Just spread a bunch of Lego out all over the floor and put a no shoes sign on the door.

Even if they break in once, they won't be able to walk around for a while to do it again.

Yeah...see...my older brother is not that stupid, and he'd punch me and make me pick them up. Same with younger brother.

Maybe talk to your parents and get them to tell your brothers to stop? And if you haven't already, have a really serious conversation with the two of them about how you don't appreciate at all what they do.

You can do as Leo Crimson proposed - talk to your brothers and tell them that Lego is your hobby. Ask them how they would like it if you repeatedly ruined something they spent hours to improve.

How about telling your parents, show them the damage to your train motors etc, then get your brothers to pay for the damage to be replaced out of their pocket money &/or college fund. Once your older brother realises his future employability is in doubt if he does not have the funds to finish college and get his qualifications he may not find it quite so funny?

I have spoken to my parents, but they just say I'm overreacting. I have also spoken to my brothers, but they're so thick-skulled and say, "You're just a nerd," and, "You have no life."

Plus, my parents say I have enough in my collection, and a few busts and bruises to my train motors, minifigs, and bricks are no big deal.

[N-4K0]

I agree, however don't actually ruin it, revenge is not the right thing to do.

Of course. I mean the thought of getting their hobbies messed up or ruined. Not him actually doing so.

my parents say I have enough in my collection, and a few busts and bruises to my train motors, minifigs, and bricks are no big deal.

It's not a question of having or not having enough. Lego, like every other hobby, costs money. And that's what it is - a hobby. If your father collected rare stamps and your mother knitted decorations, they would not like to have stamps and half-finished creations ruined by someone who thought it was "stupid hobbies". You could try to play that card to make your parents understand how you feel when your brothers ruin your Lego.

And besides, ruining something that belongs to others is wrong, no matter how "childish" anyone could consider it.

[OriginalJK555]

No gun license, plus I don't want anyone getting hurt.

There is a lock to the door to the basement, but it's only on the outside.

That might be an easy solution, since the older one is moving back to college.

I suggest eye for an eye then. Take what your brothers like the most and do as they would do unto you. I have two younger brothers. While they never destroyed any toys or Lego that I owned, my youngest took my old dirt bike and parted it out right after I moved out of the house claiming, "you weren't doing anything with it." I feel your pain.

[LEGO Guy Bri]

Show them the price tag of a new 9V motor or sets, as well as to your parents. Stress what the value of them are and what it takes to replace, and what you will seek if they destroy one

[legotrainfan]

Show them the price tag of a new 9V motor or sets, as well as to your parents. Stress what the value of them are and what it takes to replace, and what you will seek if they destroy one

Guy Bri has posted a good idea! You could just show them how much a new/used 9V motor is on Bricklink or eBay! I just hope that pointing out the price of a new/used 9V motor to them won't make them sell yours on eBay!

[Redhead1982]

Having four sisters, our situation was different to Legogals. I didn't hide my hobby pre-dark age, but there was an unwritten rule not to touch the finished creation. Eventually, that drove me away from the bricks, as the youngest of my sisters constantly kept her models build...

Having four brothers, I resorted to enjoying my one or two treasures of an entire lifetime in a dark closet. Have you ever tried keeping your LEGO in a dark closet?

On another note,...Are you experienced with quicksand pits?

Quicksand sounds interesting...

Have you thought of buying a lock for your room where Lego is kept? I would.

Even if your collection is in the basement, you should get your own key, even if it means changing the locks, so your immature brothers can't get there.

How about telling your parents, show them the damage to your train motors etc, then get your brothers to pay for the damage to be replaced out of their pocket money &/or college fund.

Showing the prices for some of your models is a smart idea. Even if they consider your hobby as plastic toys, you should emphasize a point that you'd be able to sell off your collection once you overgrow it (even if that never happens... ).

Show them the price tag of a new 9V motor or sets, as well as to your parents. Stress what the value of them are and what it takes to replace, and what you will seek if they destroy one

And most of all, good luck with this.

[XtheTyphlosion]

Get a lock for your door, and keep your Lego's hidden in your closet or something.

[Tariq j]

Just had an idea: Purchase some small clone brand sets and display them in your basement, then hide your Lego somewhere else then when you brothers come they think they're messing up your lego but actually it's a clone brand!