Ignited_Impulse Posted September 24, 2011 (edited) Hey guys, could really use some help here. I'm doing an ethnographic research paper on the AFOL subculture and would really appreciate if you all could answer some general questions. If you don't want to answer a particular question feel free to leave it blank. Also if anyone is in the Tampa, Fl region or will be coming down sometime soon for the Legoland opening and wouldn't mind me conducting a personal interview please PM me. Age: Age you started building: Country: Occupation: Married: Children: Does your spouse or child/children build: Do you have close friends who build: Do you build together with your friends: Do you regularly attend Lego conventions: How much money do you spend on Lego product a year: How much time do you spend building/playing a day: Favored theme/themes: Do you primarily collect retail sets, build MOCs, or both? Did you experience a "dark age": If yes, what age did you enter your "dark age" What age did you exit your "dark age": Other hobbies (other toy collecting, sports, drawing etc.): In your own words what makes Lego bricks so special: May I PM you with a request for a personal interview: Edited September 24, 2011 by Ignited_Impulse Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
-zenn Posted September 24, 2011 (edited) Here you go mate Age: 27. Age you started building: 4. Country: The Netherlands. Occupation: Assistant Store Manager. Married: No. Children: No. Does your spouse: My gf builds sometimes. Do you have close friends who build: Yes. Do you build together with your friends: Sometimes. Do you regularly attend Lego conventions: Yes. How much money do you spend on Lego product a year: +/- €800. How much time do you spend building a day: 3/4 hours. Favored theme/themes: Space Do you primarily collect retail sets, build MOCs, or both? Build moc's. Did you experience a "dark age": Yes. If yes, what age did you enter your "dark age": Early teens, like 14. What age did you exit your "dark age": 21. Other hobbies (other toy collecting, sports, drawing etc.): FPS gaming, scifi dvd collecting. In your own words what makes Lego bricks so special: That it can give matter and form to my imagination. May I PM you with a request for a personal interview: Edited September 25, 2011 by -zenn Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1974 Posted September 24, 2011 Age: 37 Age you started building: 1976 Country: Denmark Occupation: Technician/electrical & audio Married: Thankfully not Children: Son 2.8 year old Does your spouse or child/children build: My son, yes .. very much so :) Do you have close friends who build: No Do you build together with your friends: No Do you regularly attend Lego conventions: No How much money do you spend on Lego product a year: Spend 3Keuro in 3 months. I guess I'll spend about half that each month in the future How much time do you spend building/playing a day: A lot .. say a couple of hours Favored theme/themes: Train/town .. some pirate/castle/technic Do you primarily collect retail sets, build MOCs, or both? Both Did you experience a "dark age": Yeah If yes, what age did you enter your "dark age" 1989 What age did you exit your "dark age": 2011 Other hobbies (other toy collecting, sports, drawing etc.): Music gear (analog synths etc), music composition, anything electrical, art, books and music In your own words what makes Lego bricks so special: Lego is not a toy, it's a way to mold you into life May I PM you with a request for a personal interview: Sure .. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slovakiasteph Posted September 24, 2011 Hey guys, could really use some help here. I'm doing an ethnographic research paper on the AFOL subculture and would really appreciate if you all could answer some general questions. If you don't want to answer a particular question feel free to leave it blank. Also if anyone is in the Tampa, Fl region or will be coming down sometime soon for the Legoland opening and wouldn't mind me conducting a personal interview please PM me. Age: 30 I'm female, by the way. Age you started building: 5, maybe? Stopped around 14. Came out of my Dark Ages this year Country: USA Occupation: college instructor Married: nope Children: nope Does your spouse or child/children build: N.A. Do you have close friends who build: no, unless you count my 11-year-old friend Trey! ;) Do you build together with your friends: no Do you regularly attend Lego conventions: have not and probably won't How much money do you spend on Lego product a year: after my initial $200 in 'start-up," probably about $50 a month How much time do you spend building/playing a day: Anywhere from 30-90 minutes a day Favored theme/themes: City, Creator... also some occasional Kingdoms and Ninjago. Will definitely get a few Friends sets when they're out. Do you primarily collect retail sets, build MOCs, or both? I don't see myself as much of a "collector" per se... I mostly buy LEGO to MOC! Did you experience a "dark age": From about age 14-30. Other hobbies (other toy collecting, sports, drawing etc.): Hiking, mountain biking, camping, weaving, reading, other textile arts (crochet, knitting, sewing) In your own words what makes Lego bricks so special: They're so versatile! It's like another craft media... I can take a pile of bricks and transform them into so many different things! It's a challenge to find the right piece for the project, and if I don't have it, to be creative and come up with something else. May I PM you with a request for a personal interview: Sure! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
legomaniac83 Posted September 24, 2011 I'll gladly help! Age: 28 Age you started building: 7 Country: Canada Occupation: Technical Director - TV Broadcasting Married: Yes Children: No Does your spouse or child/children build: Yes Do you have close friends who build: No Do you build together with your friends: No Do you regularly attend Lego conventions: Yes How much money do you spend on Lego product a year: $1000+ How much time do you spend building/playing a day: Varies - 1 hour or more. Favored theme/themes: City, Castle, Model Team & Technic Do you primarily collect retail sets, build MOCs, or both? Both Did you experience a "dark age": Yes If yes, what age did you enter your "dark age" When I went off to college - Around 2000 What age did you exit your "dark age": Around 2005 Other hobbies (other toy collecting, sports, drawing etc.): Auto Racing and Hockey In your own words what makes Lego bricks so special: There are endless creations you can build with them. May I PM you with a request for a personal interview: Sure Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Captain Becker Posted September 24, 2011 (edited) Age: 18 Age you started building: Active 17 Country: Finland Occupation: Student Married: No Children: No Does your spouse or child/children build: No Do you have close friends who build: No Do you build together with your friends: No Do you regularly attend Lego conventions: No How much money do you spend on Lego product a year: Hard to say, i am not able to spend anymoney on Lego next 3 years because im studuying at the moment. But around 500-800 How much time do you spend building/playing a day: Hard to say, but i guess hour or two? Andover sometimes. Favored theme/themes: Pirates and Castle (Pirates mostly) Do you primarily collect retail sets, build MOCs, or both? Both, but i dont show my MOC´s here, or not just yet. Did you experience a "dark age": well, im not sure if i have never been on a real Dark age. So maby If yes, what age did you enter your "dark age": Cant remember What age did you exit your "dark age": late in 2009 and early 2010 when the new Pirates sets hitted on the shelves, so 17 Other hobbies (other toy collecting, sports, drawing etc.): Do we count sleeping? In your own words what makes Lego bricks so special: For me its just a great way to relax and its just a hobby wich i like. May I PM you with a request for a personal interview: Sure, why not? Id love to. Captain Becker Edited September 24, 2011 by Captain Becker Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Niku Posted September 25, 2011 Age: 23 Age you started building: 8 Country: Guatemala Occupation: Student Married: No Children: No Does your spouse or child/children build: Im not married Do you have close friends who build: Just one Do you build together with your friends: No Do you regularly attend Lego conventions: There are not conventions here on Guatemala How much money do you spend on Lego product a year: Between 300-500 How much time do you spend building/playing a day: Per day from 0 to an hour. Favored theme/themes: Castle, Western, Pirates Do you primarily collect retail sets, build MOCs, or both? build MOCs Did you experience a "dark age": Yes, I did If yes, what age did you enter your "dark age" 16 years old What age did you exit your "dark age": Last year Other hobbies (other toy collecting, sports, drawing etc.): Soccer, Tennis, Reading, Ride my bike, Bake cakes with my mom xD, and do collect some dinosaurs . In your own words what makes Lego bricks so special: The unmatched experience of creation with the imagination May I PM you with a request for a personal interview: Yes Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Edmond Dantes Posted September 25, 2011 Here you go mate Age: 27. Age you started building: 4. Country: The Netherlands. Occupation: Assistant Store Manager. Married: No. Children: No. Does your spouse: Sometimes. Do you have close friends who build: Yes. Do you build together with your friends: Sometimes. Do you regularly attend Lego conventions: Yes. How much money do you spend on Lego product a year: +/- €800. How much time do you spend building a day: 3/4 hours. Favored theme/themes: Space Do you primarily collect retail sets, build MOCs, or both? Build moc's. Did you experience a "dark age": Yes. If yes, what age did you enter your "dark age": Early teens, like 14. What age did you exit your "dark age": 21. Other hobbies (other toy collecting, sports, drawing etc.): FPS gaming. In your own words what makes Lego bricks so special: That it can give matter and form to my imagination. May I PM you with a request for a personal interview: Lol - this made me laugh. How can your spouse build without you being married? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cloud0 Posted September 25, 2011 Here's mine Age: 30 Age you started building: 10 Country: Singapore Occupation: Sales Married:Yes Children:No Does your spouse or child/children build:Nil Do you have close friends who build:Yes Do you build together with your friends:No Do you regularly attend Lego conventions:Not available How much money do you spend on Lego product a year:$10k usd? How much time do you spend building/playing a day:1 hr Favored theme/themes:10xxx Do you primarily collect retail sets, build MOCs, or both? both Did you experience a "dark age":yes If yes, what age did you enter your "dark age": 12 What age did you exit your "dark age": 29 Other hobbies (other toy collecting, sports, drawing etc.):Video games In your own words what makes Lego bricks so special:chance to be creative May I PM you with a request for a personal interview: Don't think a trip to asia is worth an interview... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brickmack Posted September 25, 2011 Age: Rather not say Age you started building: 10 Country: USA Occupation: Student Married: No Children: No Does your spouse or child/children build: N/A Do you have close friends who build: Not "close" friends, but friends Do you build together with your friends: Not recently Do you regularly attend Lego conventions: Not yet (Planning on attending at least a few in the next few months though, not sure if it will work out or not) How much money do you spend on Lego product a year: Including gifts, probably around 2000-2500 dollars per year (No idea on just my purchases without gifts though) How much time do you spend building/playing a day: 7-8 hours on weekdays, most of the day on weekends Favored theme/themes: Space, Modular Buildings, Castle Do you primarily collect retail sets, build MOCs, or both? Both Did you experience a "dark age": No If yes, what age did you enter your "dark age": N/A What age did you exit your "dark age": N/A Other hobbies (other toy collecting, sports, drawing etc.): Just about anything with computers, making scientifically plausible versions of things from Science Fiction (TARDIS from Doctor Who, for example), model rocketry, video games In your own words what makes Lego bricks so special: Their ability to, when used by a good builder, be turned into wonderful, intricate, and beautiful designs May I PM you with a request for a personal interview: Sure Hope this helps Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MCNwakeboard Posted September 25, 2011 Age: 27 Age you started building: 5 Country: USA Occupation: Tax Accountant Married: Yes Children: No Does your spouse or child/children build: just modulars or large sets Do you have close friends who build: very few Do you build together with your friends: no Do you regularly attend Lego conventions: no How much money do you spend on Lego product a year: around $800 How much time do you spend building/playing a day: avg of .5 hours (peaks and valleys) Favored theme/themes: Modular buildings, castle, trains, pirates Do you primarily collect retail sets, build MOCs, or both? Both Did you experience a "dark age": Yes If yes, what age did you enter your "dark age" 15 What age did you exit your "dark age": 23 Other hobbies (other toy collecting, sports, drawing etc.): Snowboarding, basketball, coin collecting In your own words what makes Lego bricks so special: the endless possibilities, expression of ideas May I PM you with a request for a personal interview: sure Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
splatman Posted September 25, 2011 Age: 32 Age you started building: 2 or 3 Country: USA Occupation: None at this time, though sometimes I recycle scrap metal for a few extra bucks. Married: Nope Children: 0 Do you have close friends who build: No. Do you regularly attend Lego conventions: Not at all. I hope that changes soon. How much money do you spend on Lego product a year: $1000+ How much time do you spend building/playing a day: ? Sometimes I'll build something, but it averages out to a minute or less per day. Hoping that will change. Favored themes: M:Tron, Monorail, PaB, and Bricks, bricks, bricks, oh and more Bricks! Do you primarily collect retail sets, build MOCs, or both? Mostly MOCin'. Did you experience a "dark age": Yes. If yes, what age did you enter your "dark age" About 9.3 yrs.Thought I was getting too old for LEGO What age did you exit your "dark age": 9.7 yrs, thanks to my sister. By age 12, I learned to disregard the "This set for ages X thru Y" thing, and just get what I like. Other hobbies: Working with wood/metal/glass/whatever can be made into things. In your own words what makes Lego bricks so special: Do I have to put this into words? That's the hardest way to express something. Using words to describe something is like trying to put a house in an envelope and mailing it First Class. Give it a Splat! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ExpiredHero Posted September 25, 2011 Age: 28 Age you started building: As an AFOL: 28 As a Child: Can't remember Country:UK Occupation: MIS / IT Techinician Married: Yes Children: Yes Does your spouse or child/children build: No Do you have close friends who build: No Do you build together with your friends: No Do you regularly attend Lego conventions: No How much money do you spend on Lego product a year: £400 - £600 How much time do you spend building/playing a day: Average of around 1hr Favored theme/themes: Space (Ice Planet, Futuron), Castle, Aquazone Do you primarily collect retail sets, build MOCs, or both? Retail is by far the majority, but hope to move towards MoC as the collection increases Did you experience a "dark age": Yes If yes, what age did you enter your "dark age" 16 What age did you exit your "dark age": Briefly at 25 for a few month, properly at 28 Other hobbies (other toy collecting, sports, drawing etc.): DVD Collecting, DnD, cRPG In your own words what makes Lego bricks so special: Ability to create anything, where your imagination can fill in the gaps. May I PM you with a request for a personal interview: Yes Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
-zenn Posted September 25, 2011 Lol - this made me laugh. How can your spouse build without you being married? My gf builds... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drudoo Posted September 25, 2011 Age: 20 Age you started building: 3 Country: Denmark Occupation: Student Married: no Children: no Does your spouse or child/children build: no Do you have close friends who build: no Do you build together with your friends: no Do you regularly attend Lego conventions: no How much money do you spend on Lego product a year: so far this year 5000$ How much time do you spend building/playing a day: 2 hours Favored theme/themes: Architecture Do you primarily collect retail sets, build MOCs, or both? Only retail sets. Did you experience a "dark age": Yes, this January i purchased my first set for 5 years. If yes, what age did you enter your "dark age" 15 What age did you exit your "dark age": 20 Other hobbies (other toy collecting, sports, drawing etc.): Computer gaming, programming and graphic design In your own words what makes Lego bricks so special: You can build everything with them and reuse them again. May I PM you with a request for a personal interview: Yes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SilentMode Posted September 25, 2011 Age: 29 Age you started building: ~14 Country: UK Occupation: Freelance Web Developer Married: no Children: no Do you have close friends who build: no Do you build together with your friends: no Do you regularly attend Lego conventions: whenever I can How much money do you spend on Lego product a year: around £1000 How much time do you spend building/playing a day: on average about two hours Favored theme/themes: Town/City, Space Do you primarily collect retail sets, build MOCs, or both? primarily build MOCs Did you experience a "dark age": yes If yes, what age did you enter your "dark age": around 15/16 What age did you exit your "dark age": 27 Other hobbies (other toy collecting, sports, drawing etc.): arts and crafts, fine dining In your own words what makes Lego bricks so special: being able to create almost anything, thanks to the versatility and variety of parts. May I PM you with a request for a personal interview: sure Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Erik Leppen Posted September 25, 2011 Age: 25 Age you started building: Dunno, simply "as a kid". Country: Netherlands Occupation: Teacher Married: No Children: No Does your spouse or child/children build: N/A Do you have close friends who build: No Do you build together with your friends: N/A Do you regularly attend Lego conventions: Only LOWLUG meetings, about twice a year. How much money do you spend on Lego product a year: ~EUR 200 How much time do you spend building/playing a day: Varies a lot. Sometimes nothing over several weeks, sometimes entire days. Say it averages about 1 hour/day (more if you include MLCAD). Favored theme/themes: Technic Do you primarily collect retail sets, build MOCs, or both? MOCs. Did you experience a "dark age": No If yes, what age did you enter your "dark age" N/A What age did you exit your "dark age": N/A Other hobbies (other toy collecting, sports, drawing etc.): Programming computer games, visiting amusement parks, swimming In your own words what makes Lego bricks so special: You can build anything; you learn a lot from building. Building is a creative process. May I PM you with a request for a personal interview: N/A Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pingles Posted September 25, 2011 Age: 46 Age you started building: 6 Country: USA Occupation: Electronics Technician Married: Yes Children: Yes Does your spouse or child/children build: Yes Do you have close friends who build: No Do you build together with your friends: No Do you regularly attend Lego conventions: No How much money do you spend on Lego product a year: $2000 How much time do you spend building/playing a day: 1 hour Favored theme/themes: Trains/City Do you primarily collect retail sets, build MOCs, or both? Retail Did you experience a "dark age": Yes If yes, what age did you enter your "dark age": 19 What age did you exit your "dark age": 45 Other hobbies (other toy collecting, sports, drawing etc.): Computers, Drawing, Writing In your own words what makes Lego bricks so special: Flexibility and Quality May I PM you with a request for a personal interview: Yes I hate winning the "Who's Oldest" contest. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Endigo Vandane Posted September 25, 2011 Age: 38 Age you started building: 6 Country: Netherlands Occupation: Production operator Married: No Children: No Does your spouse or child/children build: N/A Do you have close friends who build: Yes Do you build together with your friends: Yes Do you regularly attend Lego conventions: Yes How much money do you spend on Lego product a year: $2200.00 How much time do you spend building/playing a day: 1.5 Hrs Favored theme/themes: All the Space related themes Do you primarily collect retail sets, build MOCs, or both?: Both Did you experience a "dark age": No If yes, what age did you enter your "dark age": N/A What age did you exit your "dark age": N/A Other hobbies (other toy collecting, sports, drawing etc.): Sci-Fi television/movies - Science (all fields) In your own words what makes Lego bricks so special: You can make the most complicated structures with the simplest of bricks May I PM you with a request for a personal interview: N/A Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ignited_Impulse Posted September 25, 2011 I just wanna thank everyone who has already replied and encourage those who haven't to please share! I won't include my own info in my paper but I'll go ahead and share too. Age: 25 Age you started building: As far back as I can remember. 3 or 4? Country: USA Occupation: Currently holding down 3 part time jobs in various fields as well as being a college student Married: No Children: Yes Does your spouse or child/children build: No Do you have close friends who build: No Do you build together with your friends: N/A Do you regularly attend Lego conventions: None in the area How much money do you spend on Lego product a year: $50? Must pick and choose wisely. Baby comes first. How much time do you spend building/playing a day: Almost none sadly Favored theme/themes: City and various action themes Do you primarily collect retail sets, build MOCs, or both?: Retail sets Did you experience a "dark age": Yes If yes, what age did you enter your "dark age": 13 or 14 What age did you exit your "dark age": Still built about one set a year but didn't subscribe to being an AFOL until about a year and a half ago. Other hobbies (other toy collecting, sports, drawing etc.): As with Lego the extent and frequency of which I get to do my other hobbies varies but I console game (Xbox and PS3), fire dance, slackline, practice martial arts, and watch martial arts films. In your own words what makes Lego bricks so special: Lego is hard to describe. It has a nostalgic value that fills me with a sense of wonder and imagination where anything is possible. Spacemen on a pirate ship? Knights storming a castle with a city crane? The scope of adventure is limited only by your imagination. May I PM you with a request for a personal interview: N/A Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
charlieboy Posted September 25, 2011 Here you go bud.. Age: 33 Age you started building: 4/5 Country: ENGLAND Occupation: VAN DRIVER/COURIER Married: YES (DOH!) Children: YES 1 X 7 YRS 1 X 2 YRS Does your spouse or child/children build: MY SON AND I REGULARLY BUILD TOGETHER,MY DAUGHTER IS GETTING INTO DUPLO NOW TOO! Do you have close friends who build: NO Do you build together with your friends: NO Do you regularly attend Lego conventions: IF SOMETHING COMES UP CLOSE TO HOME,YES How much money do you spend on Lego product a year: £1000+ How much time do you spend building/playing a day: 2-3 HOURS,MORE AT WEEKENDS. Favored theme/themes: SPACE/EXO-FORCE AND THEMES SUCH AS BATMAN BUT ONLY FOR THE MINIFIGS Do you primarily collect retail sets, build MOCs, or both? BOTH Did you experience a "dark age": YES 1991-2008 If yes, what age did you enter your "dark age" 13/14 What age did you exit your "dark age": 30 Other hobbies (other toy collecting, sports, drawing etc.): I ENJOY TINKERING WITH CARS AND LOVE MY PS3! In your own words what makes Lego bricks so special: I think for me it has a massive place in my heart from playing when I was a child, these days much of it is nostalgic for me. Many of the sets I buy now I had as a child or really wanted but could not afford at the time. Playing with my son now brings back so many fantastic memories of my own childhood, memories that I would love my son to experience too. Of course building anything you can think of is a massive bonus, and showing my little boy how to build is great and seeing his face when he comes up with an idea of his own is priceless! May I PM you with a request for a personal interview: SURE CAN! Hope that helps Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nebsirob Posted September 25, 2011 Age: 33 Age you started building: 3 Country: Germany Occupation: At the moment, just a part-time-job. Married: No Children: Nope Does your spouse or child/children build: No Do you have close friends who build: No Do you build together with your friends: No Do you regularly attend Lego conventions: No How much money do you spend on Lego product a year: 600 - 700 € How much time do you spend building/playing a day: 1 - 5 hours Favored theme/themes: City/Trains Do you primarily collect retail sets, build MOCs, or both? Both Did you experience a "dark age": Yes If yes, what age did you enter your "dark age" 15 What age did you exit your "dark age": 26 Other hobbies (other toy collecting, sports, drawing etc.): Video games (PS3), Boards Games, Books In your own words what makes Lego bricks so special: A simple way to create almost everything May I PM you with a request for a personal interview: Sure Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy D Posted September 26, 2011 I hate winning the "Who's Oldest" contest. I love winning the who's oldest contest! It means I am still here. Andy D I'll answer the survey later. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phrea Posted September 27, 2011 Age: 40 Age you started building: 3/4 Country: The Netherlands Occupation: N/A Married: no Children: 1 Does your spouse or child/children build: no Do you have close friends who build: no Do you build together with your friends: no Do you regularly attend Lego conventions: no How much money do you spend on Lego product a year: A few hundred Euro's How much time do you spend building/playing a day: ~30 minutes, averaged out Favored theme/themes: [Classic] Space, Kingdoms, older/classic buildings in general [MMV, Diagon Valley, etc] Do you primarily collect retail sets, build MOCs, or both?: Sets Did you experience a "dark age": yes If yes, what age did you enter your "dark age": ~13 What age did you exit your "dark age": 37 Other hobbies (other toy collecting, sports, drawing etc.): Computer technics, Internet, reading In your own words what makes Lego bricks so special: Creativity, Quality and Fun May I PM you with a request for a personal interview: Preferably no Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Debrick Posted September 27, 2011 Age: 35 Age you started building: 6 Country: Australia Occupation: Cso Married: No Children: No Does your spouse or child/children build: Do you have close friends who build: Yes Do you build together with your friends: Yes Do you regularly attend Lego conventions: Yes How much money do you spend on Lego product a year: Appox $5000 AuD How much time do you spend building/playing a day: 1-2 Favored theme/themes: City/Trains Do you primarily collect retail sets, build MOCs, or both? Both Did you experience a "dark age": No but it did get dim for a while around the time jack stone walked the earth. If yes, what age did you enter your "dark age" What age did you exit your "dark age": Other hobbies (other toy collecting, sports, drawing etc.):no In your own words what makes Lego bricks so special: Being able to build something new everyday with the same materials is what makes it special. Always wanted a model train but being clumsy as a child having something that if a dropped it i could rebuild was a bonus. From there it just got out of control. May I PM you with a request for a personal interview: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
