Oh yes I loved my Erector Set and I used to have these red bricks that you could create realistic looking houses. I remeber when chemistry sets had mercury. My first telescope to explore the night sky and one of my friends said "wow you can look into girls windows" and I asked "why". I always loved toys I could take apart and put together. I spent many years building models of all types and even enjoyed building and launching model rockets. Even though my toys were considered boy appropriate toys I was never an appropriate boy.

As a child I was not into toys quite so much as I was into reading and playing games that involved fellow children and imagination. If you want to look at the books I read (many of them were clearly written for girls), or the children I played with (primarily girls), you will see me leaning toward the feminine side.

However, I never really owned any girls' toys. I did own many of the typical boys' toys, such as cars, trains, action figures, blocks, etc. I enjoyed playing with most of them, although building, machinery, and taking things apart were certainly not my thing and are still not. I am not mechanical at all. I don't do well with machines, parts, tools, or basically any object that requires use of one's hands in order to function properly.

I did play with some of my female friends' dolls and similar girl toys, but I didn't get any special thrill out of doing so that I didn't get from my own toys. To me I don't see toys a gender issue quite so much as I do whatever it is you like playing with.

As a kid, I loved playing in the forest. I would leave home in the morning and go exploring, build forts, go swimming, climb trees, and play make-believe. I'd be a wood-elf, mogli from the jungle book, someone exploring an alien planet, a wizard, or whatever else came into my head. My dog and I would see what animals we could find, go berry picking, or just lay on a log that went across the stream and read. On rainy days I'd play with my smurfs, plastic dinosaurs, legos, constructs, or make art. Living way out in the countryside made it so that other kids lived a long ways from me so most of the time I would play by myself in the woods. It was always exciting though when someone would come over (though they usually got tired quicker than me when outside). I did love playing tag, hide-and-seek, freeze tag, and if there were a few of us, capture the flag.

blondboy (imported) wrote: Fri Nov 14, 2008 12:54 am As a kid, I loved playing in the forest. I would leave home in the morning and go exploring, build forts, go swimming, climb trees, and play make-believe. I'd be a wood-elf, mogli from the jungle book, someone exploring an alien planet, a wizard, or whatever else came into my head. My dog and I would see what animals we could find, go berry picking, or just lay on a log that went across the stream and read. On rainy days I'd play with my smurfs, plastic dinosaurs, legos, constructs, or make art. Living way out in the countryside made it so that other kids lived a long ways from me so most of the time I would play by myself in the woods. It was always exciting though when someone would come over (though they usually got tired quicker than me when outside). I did love playing tag, hide-and-seek, freeze tag, and if there were a few of us, capture the flag.

I also know that blondeboy likes toys even now, as he took one special toy back home with him after visiting me in the UK - which he loves ..............

wanders off sniggering

tugon (imported) wrote: Tue Nov 11, 2008 8:32 pm The other day I received a toy catalog in the mail. I have no young people to buy for this Christmas but I decided to take a look anyway. As I was looking through the toy selections I became aware of the toys that were of the most interest to me. I saw a remote controlled helicopter and the building sets and I thought what fun. I did look at the dolls and my interest faded. On the other hand I do have three stuffed animals that were gifts that mean so much to me.

I know toys do not need to be gender specific but I was drawn to the toys geared to boys more than the ones developed for girls.

In part what I am saying is the catalog reinforced my thoughts that I was not meant to be female. Eunuch appearing to be male is where I seem to belong. Another assurance that my choice was right for me.

I would be interested in how others find themselves drawn to toys in a catalog.

Toys? oh, not the adult stuff but the plastic crap for kids!

I guess my favorite toy growing up was my Erector Set. Not being from a wealthy family, toys were hard to come by and I found that I could build darn near anything with that ingeneous marvel from A.C. Gilbert. Like others have said here, I also enjoyed playing outdoors being "Davey Crockett", "The Lone Ranger" and others. I also enjoyed sports too, especially baseball. Now my grownup toys include motorcycles. Still a kid at heart.

LOL! I'm 62, M2F Transsexual, out & about since 08/1996, and still love toys. Has a blast with a microscope when a kid-have one now. Always loved cars-have 3 RC cars to run in the summer; looking at(for now) fuel powered cars instead of the electric. Have a couple of diecast '56 Tbirds for display. Enjoy looking at the toy ads from the stores and sometimes think, "Wow! It's been neat-o to have something like that when I was a kid!"

I may be getting older, but I'll never grow up!

Gerri

Mebbe so, but,

I think you're rather unlike today's kids. I wanted to give a metal detector to a friend's grandson. I was told that he wouldn't be interested in it.

Gee whiz, when I was a kid, I'd have gone ape over a keen gift like that. Golly, I could find coins and rings, and who knows what ? Of course, I couldn't use it while sitting at a computer, [which didn't exist yet, so that was no problem.] I'd actually have to go outside and walk around with it and even dig a little for the stuff I discovered.

Apparently, all today's kids want to do is play arcade games on their computers. I think I had more fun. Gosharootie, who wants to sit in the house all day ?

Hmmm,

Do you still like to play with...

TOYS!? (http://www.realdoll.com/)

Well, you are probably not alone (http://funkybrownchick.com/2008/04/02/g ... -sex-toys/). Many times certain objects that are seen as toys are very useful. Considering how your friends, associates and those with whom you live look at life, some useful objects seem to some to be toys (http://www.exquisiteaircharter.com/images/g550_copy.jpg).

Some people make a LOT of money with their toys... (http://www.stratosjets.com/aircraft/air ... harter.php)

Others, however SPEND a lot of money without manking any with their toys... (http://www.worldgolf.com/golf-destinati ... angolf.htm)

Still, others say that the only difference betwenn men (or women) and boys (or girls) is the size and cost of their toys... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBlwygIWgeo)

One persons's toy is... well... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g7_bHlQhd8)

Dangerous toys (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_XkBv_zt1w) sometimes can get you into trouble...

SOME TOYS ARE MORE EXPENSIVE THAN OTHERS... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYozReK0 ... re=related)

Are they singing... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGpiUnN0 ... re=related) POTTY ALL THE TIME?

Yeah?, well, it only gets worse... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux5Z7lpB ... re=related) and worse (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA3KEyhs ... re=related) and worse... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud5XOart ... re=related)

This (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC4zcY7z ... re=related) is the breast.. er.. BEST video... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsTYDxFO ... re=related)

One is reminded (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDi6dv_P ... re=related) of the cartoon (http://www.collider.com/uploads/imageGa ... ad_mtv.jpg)

The child in us is ALWAYS there. Try to be kind to it and to protect it form yourselves and jealous others who try to control you by ridicule.

And who can forget "Pet Rocks".

And they were not plastic.

Cold and hard they were.

Ah, the memories.