Not sure if this is serious, or a prank, but I thought I would share a PM I got today from a "BIONICLEFan606":
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Hello,
I made an account on Bzpower specifically just to be able to contact you, Mr. Farshety.
I dont know anything about Bionicle, but I got your name from one of my brother's Bionicle books, and decided that you were the best person to come to.
My little brother, 15, is a really big fan of Lego Bricks, specifically Bionicle. He goes to Central High and plans to attend their College too.
The other day, my brother came home with a broken collar bone and scarred face from some school bullies all because of this stupid toy he like.
That's not all of it.
I am sick of going into his room, and see it covered and decorated with pictures of bionicles and displayments of his 'masks'.
He is becoming a reclusive to our family and is constantly on this website socializing with others about these toys that ruin lives.
I blame all of this entirely on you.
Please go home and think about how there is one teenage boy who you made into a freakin zombie and sucked into your little world.
I am leaving this message anonymous mostly because I will never be on this account again. My brothers name will also be kept entirely secret on this site.
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If it is serious, it raises some interesting questions in my mind --
1) Lots of anger at me, and at LEGO by extension, but no mention of any for the people who beat up his/her brother -- ignorant, intolerant people who would hurt someone for having an interest different from theirs. The evil here is people who want others to think like they do and act like they do -- they are the ones trying to create zombies incapable of independent thought.
2) If the account was created specifically to tell me about this, why was it created 12 days ago, and includes posts in the BIONICLE-based creations forums? And why keep it anonymous when you could simply cancel the account, and thus never hear from me?
3) If true, this is a tragic story. Even if not true, there may well be similar (if not as extreme) situations liek this out there, so it is worth discussing anyway. But I am not sure what BIONICLE is guilty of here other than being entertaining. No one is forced to adopt it as a hobby -- it is certainly not omnipresent in our culture or something a 15 year old is going to feel he has to be involved in against his will. It sounds like this person found an interest they were genuinely enthusiastic about ... so we are to blame for making BIONICLE worthy of interest.
BIONICLE is not a cult -- it's a toy line for 7-9 year olds, supported by a comic, a web site, and some books. There is no TV series popping up on your screen, no MMRPG everyone is talking about, or anything else forcing its way into your life. If BIONICLE is part of your life, it is because you actively chose it to be. And, unfortunately, standing up for things you care about can be painful. I know a lot of BZPers can testify to that.
If this young man was spending too much time on BIONICLE -- obsessing over it -- then that is something for the family to deal with. If we are going to blame/shut down everything that has the potential to absorb someone that much, we will not have much left in our culture.
Any thoughts?
Greg
Pm I Got Today
Posted by GregF on
1) If that guy is angry at those "bullies", he doesn't show it. I wonder why he would shift the blame entirely to you...
2) I dunno.
3) I like Bionicle, and I'm well over 7-9. I was hooked in 2001, and I'm glad I stumbled into the world of Mata-Nui. Sure, I don't obsess over it as much as I used to, but it still holds my interest.
The only thing that would actually be left in our culture would be a cardboard box, as everything else offends someone. Even the box may not last.
It's really sickening.
I do feel sorry for this kid's brother, but if he is obsessed, then that is a paternal problem, not Lego. And he should complain to the school, not you.
Personally, BIONICLE is a hobby. If somebody likes something, they should not attempt to control them, unless they are going too far.
So to whoever it was who sent this, it is not our fault at all. It is nobody's fault. Your brother likes BIONICLE, and you should attempt to encourage him to being less obsessive, rather then blaming everything on BIONICLE.
~ Bioran
Seriously, that's one of the few things I like about my school: if you like something completely different than everyone else (in my case, it's usually music taste), no one says anything against you and they accept it. My thoughts? Someone over there better start taking care of their peers/friends/whatever, not blaming an entertainment company.
^TZT^
And blame-shifters, geez... I once reported two absolute ##### who were getting on my nerves. They acted as if it was my fault that they got in trouble. GENIUS logic right there. I can fully understand their point of view. Of course. It's obvious.
Bionicle is about the least worrying hobby I could possibly think of. I mean, be glad your brother is playing with a plastic toy and posting on a kid-friendly site as opposed to smoking or drinking or engaging in otherwise illegal or immoral acts. Yeah, it does happen in high school, I don't know anyone personally but I've heard people talking.
I mean, if someone gets beat up because they're smarter than the average ape-like lump of aggressiveness and testosterone, what do they do, hit themselves on the head with a mallet and get dumber?
An interesting thought, p'raps -- which is more painful:
A. Being physically hurt, bullied, and looked down upon by a small group of individuals who claim their opinions are superior to your own.
B. Being bereaved of what you love, in this case, an intriguing, mind-challenging series of stories and models, so as to avoid being attacked by thoughtless persons.
Not an easy decision, and if this person's brother is becoming a reclusive due to his hobbies, that is a subject to take up in their family. But living in fear of threats and and violence will only serve to further said matters, and only the person involved can redeem himself. Believe me -- I did that.
Complicated indeed.
-Ikk
It's sad that there are people who are so unfeeling that they will try to manipulate their siblings in this way. Noone should try to ruin another person's enjoyment so that that person "fits in." It's a senseless practice, and evidence that this member did not feel sorry for his brother, and rather felt ashamed. That is a sick and disturbing fact, but it is the obvious truth.
If the member's little brother reads this, let him be aware that he has earned our sympathy, and that his older brother most certainly has earned our contempt.
-
Obsession can be brought on for many reasons. Yes, it's usually an obsession with something that is somehow, a massive alt. world (such as LoTR, Star Wars, WoW even). But seriously, there are more things at play here, considering that there are millions of other kids who like those sorts of things yet don't spend their lives over it. One of which could be the family, or the school, or any other thing. The thing being obsessed about is NOT the source, but merely the outlet for that person for an even bigger trouble.
But I want to hit up on something else as well. Specifically, you calling this an if-prank. The account name you gave I decided to check out. The posts you mentioned don't seem like that of a older brother who is apparently older than 15. Also, when I went to the profile, that account was currently on, looking at the M&B. Also, the name certainly doesn't seem like someone who created it just to contact you.
However, while this case I believe is bogus, you are right that there may be other cases that are like this out there. Unfortunately, there are also the same problems with basically everything else, anything from a certain online website to three novels that created a totally new world. But as I said, these 'hobby interests' aren't the source for the trouble, but merely the outlet for that person. If one is really spending that much time on one interest, that just means to me that there is something else missing in his/her life; something we can't unfortunately fill.
~U
EDITSIES: But on the off-chance that this is true, my sympathies go out to that person and any others like him. For the obsession, try to find a few other activities to do, and then it won't be a total obsession but a hobby. As for the bullies, yea, tis the cruel world we live in to have to conform to be not picked on.
some people with likes will try to make other people have their dislikes, some to a cult based way.
me: my likes are Duelmasters, Guilty Gear, and some other things.
but i still think the entire serise of Bionicle is cool enough.
Bionicle itself is more like a thing slightly different from Lego alltogether.
Bionicle shows what both Technology and Fantasy has to offer.
even with supprises at every turn!
I am Argroh Valdios, and I say:
Bionicle is the Best Thing Lego has Came out with!
oh, and Faust would like to say Hello
1) Well, I don't think many people hate Lego. Even as a high schooler, people have come to understand this is my hobby. Lego shouln't worry.
2) Hmm, good point. Maybe s/he looked around and actually saw somethingcool. I'm going to see what he posted....
Is strange though.
3) If it is true, soemthing needs to happen. Moreso for that kid so he won't be riduculed by his hobbies.
Bionicle is great. If his brother can't handle it, he should talk it over with his family in a calm manner so maybe he'll understand what is so great about Lego.
I don't think the kid is obsesing over Bionicle. He is just being a great fan. I am on BZP almost everyday, have MOCs displayed in my room, go to LUG meetings proudly wearing a BZP t-shirt infront of AFOLs who don't care too much for Bionicle. I stand out and don't worry about what others think of me. (But this is me. I hope this kid can handle his problems and not worry about other's thoughts)
Yeah, this is sad, I feel sorry for the kid, and hope he stays with Lego. He might get into some Dark Ages because off this, but will re-emerge after college as a full-fleged AFOL!
(Me and my optomistic self....)
-CF
My room was always full of toys as well.
The way this kids brother reacted was not appropriate, nor aimed at the right place.
A boy comes homes from school with a broken collar bone and scarred face. Must say, thats some bully. I have never heard of a bully that would go to that limit on a kid just because he likes Bionicle.
Which makes me think this letter is fake. Person who PMed you is most likely that boy who gets picked on (although probably not to the point of broken collar bones). So in order to vent his anger, he looks for the person to blame (it being you Greg). Makes up this wild story to get something out of you. The part about the internet, well, that could be something involved with his parents and him being on the computer way to long.
So whose fault? Kinda hard for me to draw that conclusion. If this story is true, then the school is at fault for allowing these things to happen, and also the parents fault for letting their child become a "zombie" when they can help him.
If this is false, well, parents fault again I guess.
-Omi
GNG
-- If the account was created just to talk to me about this, why was it created two weeks ago? Why with that name? And why was he/she posting in "BIONICLE-based creations?"
I also suggested that if their story was true, it would make a lot more sense for them to contact LEGO Consumer Service with it, and their school, rather than me. I certainly have a lot to do with BIONICLE, but I work for the company that puts it out -- I don't own the company.
My guess is neither I nor LEGO Company will hear anything more about this, as it is probably fake.
Greg
-Omi