Lego won't make modern war machines, but others are picking up the pieces
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Re: Lego won't make modern war machines, but others are picking up the pieces
#2IMO this is a really stupid move by Lego. There's a whole world of military model making that they could get involved in. Little boys want to build cool aircraft and tanks, they don't want to build a Lego version of the set from "Friends" (which is an actual lego set that I saw at the store one time.) The military is not evil, and they are not going to go away. Lego should stop being stupid.
Re: Lego won't make modern war machines, but others are picking up the pieces
#3IMO this is a really stupid move by Lego. There's a whole world of military model making that they could get involved in. Little boys want to build cool aircraft and tanks, they don't want to build a Lego version of the set from "Friends" (which is an actual lego set that I saw at the store one time.) The military is not evil, and they are not going to go away. Lego should stop being stupid.
Is it that hard to believe lego might not market one of their products towards boys?
Re: Lego won't make modern war machines, but others are picking up the pieces
#4IMO this is a really stupid move by Lego. There's a whole world of military model making that they could get involved in. Little boys want to build cool aircraft and tanks, they don't want to build a Lego version of the set from "Friends" (which is an actual lego set that I saw at the store one time.) The military is not evil, and they are not going to go away. Lego should stop being stupid.
> 'the military is not evil'
that's very debatable. The military is definitely not the best influence on children either. Doesn't take too much critical thinking to see how normalizing war and deadly machines in childrens toys could be potentially not healthy for everyone.
Re: Lego won't make modern war machines, but others are picking up the pieces
#5IMO this is a really stupid move by Lego. There's a whole world of military model making that they could get involved in. Little boys want to build cool aircraft and tanks, they don't want to build a Lego version of the set from "Friends" (which is an actual lego set that I saw at the store one time.) The military is not evil, and they are not going to go away. Lego should stop being stupid.
To Parents
The urge to create is equally strong in all children. Boys and girls.
It’s the imagination that counts. Not skill. You build whatever comes into your head, the way you want it. A bed or a truck. A dolls house or a spaceship.
A lot of boys like dolls houses. They’re more human than spaceships. A lot of girls prefer spaceships. They’re more exciting than dolls houses.
The most important thing is to put the right material in their hands and let them create whatever appeals to them.
Re: Lego won't make modern war machines, but others are picking up the pieces
#6There was good conversation about this when it happened:
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23917537
I'll repeat what I said then: that the V-22 set directly funded arms manufacturers and thus was a huge jump past the line Lego had set themselves. Personally, I think it's good that Lego are taking this moral stance. We all know about the links between military media aimed at children and recruitment, and I think it's immoral to engage in it.
But beyond that, it's even better that Lego are allowing people in the community to create and sell these sets. This is really refreshing to see in an era where companies C&D anything that moves, no matter how much of an asset it would be to their communities.
Re: Lego won't make modern war machines, but others are picking up the pieces
#7>The kit, set to launch under LEGO's vehicle-focused Technic brand, depicted a search and rescue version of the Osprey. But it drew a quick, harsh protest from the German Peace Society -- United War Resisters (DFG-VK in German), an almost 130-year-old anti-war group.
WW3 averted
Re: Lego won't make modern war machines, but others are picking up the pieces
#8IMO this is a really stupid move by Lego. There's a whole world of military model making that they could get involved in. Little boys want to build cool aircraft and tanks, they don't want to build a Lego version of the set from "Friends" (which is an actual lego set that I saw at the store one time.) The military is not evil, and they are not going to go away. Lego should stop being stupid.
If it’s stupid, they’ve been awfully successful in spite of it for a while. The policy isn’t new. The argument was that the V-22 Osprey set went against their policy, and I guess Lego ultimately agreed, though belatedly.
> Is there really a difference between the Death Star or the violence of a galaxy far, far away and the machines that kill people here on Earth?
Yes. Of course there is a difference. Is there really an argument that there isn’t a line between those?
Anyway, there is really no controversy here. You can build whatever you want with Lego. That’s the whole point. The model that comes with a set is, at most, a starting point or something to learn from.
If you think you need Lego to provide the pieces and instructions in a set to build anything you want to build, you are definitely missing the main point.
Re: Lego won't make modern war machines, but others are picking up the pieces
#9Good for Lego.
One of my adult epiphanies was realising that having superpowers would not realistically solve anything. I grew up with so much media telling me that problems can be solved with violence that I never questioned it. And if the problem is not solved it's only because the good guys don't want to use as much violence as they should. Gotham's problems would be a thing of the past if the vigilantes would finally do what's needed, pesky laws be damned.
It is refreshing to know that Lego will not be part of this, knowing full well (as the title implies) that they are leaving money on the table.
Re: Lego won't make modern war machines, but others are picking up the pieces
#10One thing I do miss from both Lego and Meccano is the generic sets.
Maybe they can still be bought online, but whenever I walked into a toy store these past years, all the sets have a theme and a 'prescribed' thing that you are meant to build.
I just want to buy a bucket of parts for my kids to sort out what to build on their own. It somehow feels really restrictive nowadays.
I understand they are probably making a lot of money with film royalties and star wars themed stuff etc. but it definitely feels like a downgrade.