Comments on: When Lego Goes to War http://www.10zenmonkeys.com/2007/02/27/when-lego-goes-to-war/ Your source for technology culture, internet phenomena, politics, interviews and entertainment Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:31:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: security6600 http://www.10zenmonkeys.com/2007/02/27/when-lego-goes-to-war/#comment-8857 security6600 Wed, 07 Mar 2007 17:28:00 +0000 http://www.10zenmonkeys.com/2007/02/27/when-lego-goes-to-war/#comment-8857 I'm not sure about the first point of this post, simply because even without Lego moving in the "war" direction, many kids do it themselves. As a young boy that grew up with Lego and who never owned any war themed kits, I still periodically built war machines out of my own creation. I often mixed generic sets and further modified kits with tape, tools, or other toys to create structures (and yes even weapon systems) that were otherwise impossible. Lego was as much a stand alone "learning activity" toy as it was part of my "galaxy battles" that involved GI Joe, Transformers, and the occasional Barbie (as the enemy of course). I think the point is more about where kids get the "inspiration" to build the things they do, and whether even if they do build things with violent tendencies, one can conclude they will all turn out violent. I know I certainly didn't. As for the rest of your points, I here you. I hate the specialized pieces and that Lego is no longer made in Denmark. I’m not sure about the first point of this post, simply because even without Lego moving in the “war” direction, many kids do it themselves. As a young boy that grew up with Lego and who never owned any war themed kits, I still periodically built war machines out of my own creation. I often mixed generic sets and further modified kits with tape, tools, or other toys to create structures (and yes even weapon systems) that were otherwise impossible. Lego was as much a stand alone “learning activity” toy as it was part of my “galaxy battles” that involved GI Joe, Transformers, and the occasional Barbie (as the enemy of course). I think the point is more about where kids get the “inspiration” to build the things they do, and whether even if they do build things with violent tendencies, one can conclude they will all turn out violent. I know I certainly didn’t.

As for the rest of your points, I here you. I hate the specialized pieces and that Lego is no longer made in Denmark.

]]> By: LEGO KING http://www.10zenmonkeys.com/2007/02/27/when-lego-goes-to-war/#comment-8573 LEGO KING Thu, 01 Mar 2007 17:47:32 +0000 http://www.10zenmonkeys.com/2007/02/27/when-lego-goes-to-war/#comment-8573 Loss of Lego Memory Lego's founding family (starting with Ole Kirk Christiansen) promised over and over: "no war toys". The family was quoted numerous times in the 1970s and 1980s repeating this mantra, as part of Lego's values. A 1988 article in Smithsonian stated: "Lego has traditionally avoided a classic theme many other manufacturers feature. Ole Kirk decreed that Lego was to be a peaceful toy, and the company shuns martial motifs and guns. The idea of producing a castle and knights caused soul-searching; the family finally approved a medieval model as romantic, rather than bellicose." A Lego PR director is quoted: "...we don't want to inspire children to make [tanks and machine guns]." The slippery slope started with medieval knights, policemen minifigs, soldier, pirate, and samuri themes. "Ah the romance!" claimed Kjeld Christiansen. And then the exceptions became larger and larger. A 2001 article in Fast Company stated: "The only thing more vivid for Lego than the bricks and the history are what are known universally within the company as "Lego values." Not just the importance of free-form play. No Lego-designed toys are allowed to portray weapons from the 20th century -- although a recent exception involved a new, advanced kit for building a Sopwith Camel, the Allies' World War I biplane fighter." Today, they seemed to have stopped their soul-searching altogether. In the same Smithsonian article, Kjeld Christiansen is quoted as saying "Our philosophy is not to go with quick fads." Been to a Toys-R-Us lately? Loss of Lego Memory

Lego’s founding family (starting with Ole Kirk Christiansen) promised over and over: “no war toys”. The family was quoted numerous times in the 1970s and 1980s repeating this mantra, as part of Lego’s values.

A 1988 article in Smithsonian stated: “Lego has traditionally avoided a classic theme many other manufacturers feature. Ole Kirk decreed that Lego was to be a peaceful toy, and the company shuns martial motifs and guns. The idea of producing a castle and knights caused soul-searching; the family finally approved a medieval model as romantic, rather than bellicose.” A Lego PR director is quoted: “…we don’t want to inspire children to make [tanks and machine guns].”

The slippery slope started with medieval knights, policemen minifigs, soldier, pirate, and samuri themes. “Ah the romance!” claimed Kjeld Christiansen. And then the exceptions became larger and larger.

A 2001 article in Fast Company stated:
“The only thing more vivid for Lego than the bricks and the history are what are known universally within the company as “Lego values.” Not just the importance of free-form play. No Lego-designed toys are allowed to portray weapons from the 20th century — although a recent exception involved a new, advanced kit for building a Sopwith Camel, the Allies’ World War I biplane fighter.”

Today, they seemed to have stopped their soul-searching altogether.

In the same Smithsonian article, Kjeld Christiansen is quoted as saying “Our philosophy is not to go with quick fads.” Been to a Toys-R-Us lately?

]]> By: infobong.com » linkdump for 2007.02.28 http://www.10zenmonkeys.com/2007/02/27/when-lego-goes-to-war/#comment-8534 infobong.com » linkdump for 2007.02.28 Wed, 28 Feb 2007 19:19:46 +0000 http://www.10zenmonkeys.com/2007/02/27/when-lego-goes-to-war/#comment-8534 [...] When Lego Goes to War A teacher discusses ways he feels Lego has gone astray. I agree, I wrote a column freshman year of college when gendered Legos were introduced, and I think the licensed tie-ins are appalling. (del.icio.us tags: Lego toys education) [...] [...] When Lego Goes to War A teacher discusses ways he feels Lego has gone astray. I agree, I wrote a column freshman year of college when gendered Legos were introduced, and I think the licensed tie-ins are appalling. (del.icio.us tags: Lego toys education) [...]

]]> By: Ross Notes » Wednesday is the new Link Day http://www.10zenmonkeys.com/2007/02/27/when-lego-goes-to-war/#comment-8529 Ross Notes » Wednesday is the new Link Day Wed, 28 Feb 2007 14:34:50 +0000 http://www.10zenmonkeys.com/2007/02/27/when-lego-goes-to-war/#comment-8529 [...] When Lego Goes to War: “Over the last decade, I've seen Lego's themes take them gradually to war”. [...] [...] When Lego Goes to War: “Over the last decade, I’ve seen Lego’s themes take them gradually to war”. [...]

]]> By: Edward Champion’s Return of the Reluctant » The “Wow, Where Did All These Deadlines Come From? Cool!” Roundup http://www.10zenmonkeys.com/2007/02/27/when-lego-goes-to-war/#comment-8515 Edward Champion’s Return of the Reluctant » The “Wow, Where Did All These Deadlines Come From? Cool!” Roundup Tue, 27 Feb 2007 19:32:30 +0000 http://www.10zenmonkeys.com/2007/02/27/when-lego-goes-to-war/#comment-8515 [...] Legos have changed. [...] [...] Legos have changed. [...]

]]>