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Ugh. Really, Lego and Playmobil?

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Ugh. Really, Lego and Playmobil?

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Old 10-16-12, 07:51 PM
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Ugh. Really, Lego and Playmobil?

My younger son wants an ambulance set. So we went to look at Lego and Playmobil sets, and BOTH of them are ambulances responding to hit cyclists. Just when I'm getting my boys, especially my very cautious 5yo, more comfortable cycling with me. They both just stood staring with big eyes.
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Old 10-16-12, 07:56 PM
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Originally Posted by annlaura
My younger son wants an ambulance set. So we went to look at Lego and Playmobil sets, and BOTH of them are ambulances responding to hit cyclists. Just when I'm getting my boys, especially my very cautious 5yo, more comfortable cycling with me. They both just stood staring with big eyes.
I definitely agree with your boys' reaction!!
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Old 10-16-12, 07:59 PM
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A friend of mine is a volunteer firefighter. Around here, the fire departments run the ambulances. When I look at the web site that lists the area's calls for dispatch of firefighter/ambulances, they are mostly dealing with heart-attacks (sedentary lifestyle disease) and car-on-car wrecks. If Lego or Playmobil wanted to reflect reality, that's what their ambulances would have been dealing with. However, since cycling is now so cool many television commercials are finding ways to work it in, maybe they just want to be cool.
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Old 10-16-12, 10:15 PM
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OMG Too funny!! Watch the lego video for the lego ambulance set. Apparently the cyclist just ran off the road and hits a trashcan.
https://city.lego.com/en-us/Products/Default.aspx#4431
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Old 10-16-12, 10:21 PM
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At one time, wasn't the selling point of Lego, that you created your OWN scenarios?

Now it seems you just build what's on the front of the box.
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Old 10-16-12, 10:41 PM
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Originally Posted by Bikepacker67
At one time, wasn't the selling point of Lego, that you created your OWN scenarios?

Now it seems you just build what's on the front of the box.
Even in the 70s, they were selling kits based on a finished model, maybe a couple alternative builds.

Realistically it worked like this: you built it per instructions, got bored, made modifications, took it apart to make other stuff... and then it got mixed up in a bucket with all the other legos, the box long gone, model build instructions lost, ready for some freeform lego constructing.
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Old 10-16-12, 10:56 PM
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I just remember the "Big Box", and always running out of green "platform" legos.

Sidenote: How 'bout those Lincoln Logs, and Erector Sets?
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Old 10-16-12, 11:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Bikepacker67
At one time, wasn't the selling point of Lego, that you created your OWN scenarios?

Now it seems you just build what's on the front of the box.
that bothered me about my son's lego experience. On the plus side, the newer lego pieces are a lot more interesting than the old blocks
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Old 10-17-12, 02:31 AM
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Originally Posted by annlaura
My younger son wants an ambulance set. So we went to look at Lego and Playmobil sets, and BOTH of them are ambulances responding to hit cyclists. Just when I'm getting my boys, especially my very cautious 5yo, more comfortable cycling with me. They both just stood staring with big eyes.
Send a complaint to the manufacturers. They certainly aren't going to change anything if no one makes them aware that they find it objectionable.
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Old 10-17-12, 05:57 AM
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My guess is that it is a misguided attempt by toy manufacturers to come up with an emergency children can relate to and to help "teach" them to be mindful of bike safety.
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Old 10-17-12, 06:08 AM
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What kind of bike was the victim riding? Not to marginalize your post, but it would really be a bummer if lego was teaming up with some shotty bicycle outfit.


Seriously, there is nothing like one of the little square pieces digging right into the middle of your heel as you walk down a dark hallway...

You know what is says to me? "Look little children, bicycle bad." Ride a bicycle on the road, your bound to end up on a lego box...
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Old 10-17-12, 07:13 AM
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Cool!

The ambulance kit is rare and not often in the catalogues. Must get one for my sister (paramedic and collector of toy ambulances).
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Old 10-17-12, 07:44 AM
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Originally Posted by annlaura
My younger son wants an ambulance set. So we went to look at Lego and Playmobil sets, and BOTH of them are ambulances responding to hit cyclists. Just when I'm getting my boys, especially my very cautious 5yo, more comfortable cycling with me. They both just stood staring with big eyes.
You are making a mountain out of a molehill.

If Lego should make a fireman set and it displays them fighting a home fire would you get all in a twist about the fear raised by your belief in the possibility of a nightmare inducing scenario for big eyed children?
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Old 10-17-12, 08:53 AM
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Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
You are making a mountain out of a molehill.

If Lego should make a fireman set and it displays them fighting a home fire would you get all in a twist about the fear raised by your belief in the possibility of a nightmare inducing scenario for big eyed children?
Geez. I'm with ILTB. Who needs Lego's scenario? Make the ambulance crash and have the cyclist come to the rescue. Teach them to use these toys as an imaginative springboard.
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Old 10-17-12, 08:57 AM
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Originally Posted by Bikepacker67
I just remember the "Big Box", and always running out of green "platform" legos.

Sidenote: How 'bout those Lincoln Logs, and Erector Sets?
Still have my 60s era Legos. When I die, I want to be buried with a classic red brick in my hand. What are Legos mode out of? The stuff is indestructible.

As to the OP, is this really an issue?
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Old 10-17-12, 10:09 AM
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Settle and breath everybody. Both Lego and Playmobile are based in Europe, Denmark I think. Marketing and cultural perceptions are different and may be reflected in the products you're ranting about.
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Old 10-17-12, 01:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Bikepacker67
I just remember the "Big Box", and always running out of green "platform" legos.

Sidenote: How 'bout those Lincoln Logs, and Erector Sets?
Legos seemed to hit a perfect medium for me -- a bit more adaptable than lincoln logs; not quite as technical as erector set.

I had the wonderful experience of handing my legacy bucket of legos off to my kid, and relived a bit of youth, playing with them again while he was into it.
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Old 10-17-12, 02:14 PM
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Originally Posted by DieselDan
Settle and breath everybody. Both Lego and Playmobile are based in Europe, Denmark I think. Marketing and cultural perceptions are different and may be reflected in the products you're ranting about.
Such as the perception that riding a bike in the US may be quite dangerous?
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Old 10-17-12, 02:23 PM
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Originally Posted by genec
Such as the perception that riding a bike in the US may be quite dangerous?
You and the OP could do just as well reading tea leaves as reading Lego Blocks for cultural perceptions of cycling. You'll see what you want to see.
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Old 10-17-12, 03:05 PM
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Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
You and the OP could do just as well reading tea leaves as reading Lego Blocks for cultural perceptions of cycling. You'll see what you want to see.
Hey, I'm merely suggesting that the Denmark perception of cycling in the US may not be very positive.
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Old 10-17-12, 03:10 PM
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Originally Posted by genec
Hey, I'm merely suggesting that the Denmark perception of cycling in the US may not be very positive.
U.S. cycling environment negative compared to the Danish? Who in the the U.S. or Denmark would disagree besides the Forester tribe? Though dragging Lego blocks into the discussion is far fetched.
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Old 10-17-12, 03:11 PM
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Tell me what your thought is on this collection of parts...



Or this illustration:



Or this description:
Race the patient to the hospital!

There’s been an accident at the traffic lights and we need an ambulance fast! Lift the patient onto the stretcher, load him into the back of the ambulance and rush him off to the hospital as fast as you can! Includes 2 doctors and a patient minifigure.

Includes 3 minifigures: 2 doctors and a patient
Features opening rear door, detailed interior and removable stretcher
Accessories include traffic lights, bicycle, helmet, trash bin and doctor’s equipment
Remove the roof to play inside!
Rescue the patient with the stretcher!
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-pla-_-NA-_-NA

Now how and why Denmark chose to put these particular play parts together in this manner... well your guess is as good as mine. Must be something they just pulled out of thin air.

BTW I do find it rather amusing.
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Old 10-17-12, 03:27 PM
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Originally Posted by zirger726
OMG Too funny!! Watch the lego video for the lego ambulance set. Apparently the cyclist just ran off the road and hits a trashcan.
https://city.lego.com/en-us/Products/Default.aspx#4431

In no particular order:

- It's clearly marketed for American audiences; the cyclist is wearing a helmet.
- Why hagen always is so fond of the pedestrian left.
- Looks like one of those cardboard bikes.
- Somebody didn't read the BF thread on counter-steering.

Not much there. Somebody can do better.
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Old 10-17-12, 03:31 PM
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Originally Posted by genec
Now how and why Denmark chose...
I wonder if they held a referendum...
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Old 10-17-12, 03:35 PM
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I want this to be immortalized in Lego: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky0MjMN-lTI
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