Ok, I wasn't going to say anything at all about all of this, but instead I thought I'd give my impression of everything. Believe it or not, I actually think I understand where AB is coming from.
Here goes....
There are a few different deffinitions of what a
toy is. Most relate
toys to a devise that is used for a childs amusment. This is where the trouble starts. There are a few guys who don't want MF being equated to something that is intended for children. Rather, they want it being associated with adults instead. Yes, technically, it is a
toy. Pure and simple. So are trains, playing cards and dice. If you give a child any of these, then they would play with them and amuse themselves. Therefore, they are toys.
But wait a moment, there are thousands guys, many well over 40, 50 or 60 years old, that collect trains. They build elaborate sets in their basements, complete with tunnels, roads, bridges etc. Model Railroading has a very large following. How do you think they feel about it? I'm sure they would tell you that it is a hobby, and would probably feel offended if you told them that they are playing with
toys. The same would more than likely hold true for Poker players or couple playing Bridge. Next time you go to a casino, see how the people there react when you tell them that they are playing with
toys.
Personally, I don't like it when people refer to MF as
toys. I think the game, or hobby, whichever you prefer, has elevated itself above that level. Somewhere, in some point in time, games or objects become something more than just
toys. They become a
hobby. Cards, trains, pool, air hockey, Warhammer, RC cars and planes..... These are all just
toys, but nobody refers to them as such. They have evolved and grown into something more than that. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a word to describe it.
I think this is what AB was trying to convey, that MF has evolved into something that is on a higher level than what it was 30 years ago, (I know his system of playing certainly is) and I think he is right. Look at what is out there, the custom boards, the detail of the players, stadiums, etc. These are not intended for children, rather they are for adults who have an appreciation for something that is more sophisticated than a simple
toy. What we need is a new word, something that would describe an object that may have started out as a
toy, but has grown into something that adults use more than children. Sort of like model railroading has.
** This is just my opinion. I know my opinion doesn't amount to a hill of beans in this wacked out world, though I wish it would. Bean prices are about to jump and a hill of them would amount to a small fortune of which I could use every bit of.**