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.

    • MissJinx@lemmy.world
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      5 days ago

      Misery likes company.
      My SIL “jokes” that I “must be autistic” because I didn’t want to have kids and like to play legos with my niece.

      “You’re a very childish adult”, “you don’t want to grow up” well fuck her, you know what she likes? doomscrolling tiktok, following “influencers” and complaining about her kids. I’m VERY happy being who I am and going to keep ignoring her stupid ass

      • Chivera@lemmy.world
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        4 days ago

        I have an uncle in his 40s, no wife or kids, just buys the newest games and locks himself in his room. Nothing wrong with doing what makes you happy.

  • fruitycoder@sh.itjust.works
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    4 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.

  • Xtallll@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    5 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

  • zxqwas@lemmy.world
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    5 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.

  • the_grass_trainer@lemmy.world
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    4 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… 😒

  • hanrahan@piefed.social
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    3 days ago

    It’s not sad, it is infantalizing, whether that’s “good or bad…”

    https://theconversation.com/the-infantilization-of-western-culture-99556

    As to spectating sports (rather the participation) :)

    Visiting America in 1946, French anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss commented on the endearingly infantile traits of American culture. He especially noted adults’ childish adulation of baseball, their passionate approach to toy-like cars and the amount of time they invested in hobbies.

  • sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    5 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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    5 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.

  • FinjaminPoach@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    The most well adjusted people I know stay in love with something/things from their childhood. Also, revisiting childhood experiences is a popular therapy exercise for recovering from mental trauma.

    Lego and old console gaming are two very common things to be interested in as an adult :) If you have a genuine connection to something, don’t force yourself to sever it.

  • Ryanmiller70@lemmy.zip
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    4 days ago

    It’s sad when you cry while playing with them. Unless the story you came up with while playing was just so good it brought a tear to your eye.

  • Fluffy Kitty Cat@slrpnk.net
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    5 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?

  • HuntressHimbo@lemmy.zip
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    5 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