# Stupid Lego instrusctions. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 29, 2004, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-lego-instrusctions/262113 "2004-08-29T17:59:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2004, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-lego-instrusctions/262113/1 "2004-08-29T17:59:48Z")
While visiting a local flea-market yesterday, I happened upon an unopened lego set, model 7470, for a mere 10bux. It is a really cool space shuttle set and since the rest of my legos are buried underneath my parents house, I figured I would just build the set as shown and keep it as a desk decoration. While attempting this I learned that Lego instructions suck. I hate these things! Every page is like a “What is different about these two pictures” puzzle! Would it be so freaking hard to highlite what was changed and where it was put?! This is why when I was a kid I never bothered with the instructions. I just built death-rays. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2004, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-lego-instrusctions/262113/2 "2004-08-29T18:04:11Z")
Huh. I’ve always thought Lego instructions were a miracle of clarity and extremely easy to follow. Different strokes. ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2004, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-lego-instrusctions/262113/3 "2004-08-29T18:05:55Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > Huh. I’ve always thought Lego instructions were a miracle of clarity and extremely easy to follow. > > Different strokes. For simple parts yes, but when you litterally have several hundred pieces in one picture it gets a little confusing. ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheValley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2004, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-lego-instrusctions/262113/4 "2004-08-29T18:37:34Z")
Since you find the instructions so difficult, I’ll be glad to help out by taking that set off your hands. No, no…no need to thank me. 🆒 The only time I have difficulty with Lego instructions is when there are identical pieces in light gray and dark gray. I find them very hard to tell apart in print. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2004, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-lego-instrusctions/262113/5 "2004-08-29T19:41:46Z")
> [@Muad'Dib](#): > > For simple parts yes, but when you litterally have several hundred pieces in one picture it gets a little confusing. That calls for some tiny violins. 😉 > [@](#): > > The most complex machine ever built, the space shuttle has more than 2.5 million parts, including almost 370 kilometers (230 miles) of wire, more than 1,060 plumbing valves and connections, over 1,440 circuit breakers, and more than 27,000 insulating tiles and thermal blankets. [Amazing Shuttle Facts](http://www.cnn.com/2000/TECH/space/10/02/shuttle.overview/) ---
**Author:** ![Cowgirl\_Jules](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@Cowgirl\_Jules](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowgirl_Jules)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2004, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-lego-instrusctions/262113/6 "2004-08-29T19:45:45Z")
Well, it’s pretty clear to me, **Maud** , that what you need here is a ten-year old boy. I see you’re in California; mine would be more than happy to oblige. That kid can whip out a lego set in ten minutes, where I’m still trying to find the first pieces in the box. Revert to your inner ten-year old. I’m sure he’s in there somewhere. You’ll be fine, just stop being an adult for a minute. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2004, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-lego-instrusctions/262113/7 "2004-08-29T20:01:45Z")
The great thing about Lego instructions is that they are language independent: you just have pictures, no words at all. ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2004, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-lego-instrusctions/262113/8 "2004-08-29T20:05:27Z")
The great thing about building with Lego is, there’s no need for instructions. I made a little lego display once. I found that the “torch-flame” piece doubles very well as a “carotid artery spray” piece if you simply pop off a lego-guy’s head and replace it with the torch piece. I put that display in the back window of my car. ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2004, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-lego-instrusctions/262113/9 "2004-08-29T20:10:35Z")
> [@Cowgirl Jules](#): > > Well, it’s pretty clear to me, **Maud** , that what you need here is a ten-year old boy. I see you’re in California; mine would be more than happy to oblige. That kid can whip out a lego set in ten minutes, where I’m still trying to find the first pieces in the box. > > Revert to your inner ten-year old. I’m sure he’s in there somewhere. You’ll be fine, just stop being an adult for a minute. 🙂 My inner-ten-year-old got frustrated, skipped ahead to the satalite portion and is now pretending it is a death-ray. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2004, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-lego-instrusctions/262113/10 "2004-08-29T20:26:53Z")
Put those together all the time as a kid. It’s not rocket science. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2004, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-lego-instrusctions/262113/11 "2004-08-29T20:40:36Z")
I agree with the OP. I usually don’t notice that I forgot to put on a piece until three steps later when something is supposed to attach to it and it doesn’t quite work. Or worse, you get to the end and there is a piece left. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2004, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-lego-instrusctions/262113/12 "2004-08-29T20:44:47Z")
> [@Cowgirl Jules](#): > > Well, it’s pretty clear to me, **Maud** , that what you need here is a ten-year old boy. I see you’re in California; mine would be more than happy to oblige. That kid can whip out a lego set in ten minutes, where I’m still trying to find the first pieces in the box. ROFL ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2004, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-lego-instrusctions/262113/13 "2004-08-29T21:13:22Z")
> [@OtakuLoki](#): > > ROFL WHTYA? ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Dirx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Sir\_Dirx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Dirx)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2004, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-lego-instrusctions/262113/14 "2004-08-29T23:21:55Z")
> [@Tentacle Monster](#): > > I made a little lego display once. I found that the “torch-flame” piece doubles very well as a “carotid artery spray” piece if you simply pop off a lego-guy’s head and replace it with the torch piece. Now that’s just plain awesome. I stopped looking for novel uses of the flame pieces when I discovered they fit in the alligator mouths just as nicely as the dragons’. And **Muad’Dib** : perhaps you’d like _LEGO Technic_ instructions better. They show you exactly what pieces you’ll need on each step. And there are some really great sets too, if you can find them (I don’t think LEGO makes that line anymore). ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheValley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2004, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-lego-instrusctions/262113/15 "2004-08-29T23:46:28Z")
> [@Sir Dirx](#): > > (I don’t think LEGO makes that line anymore). _pssst…_ [Lego Technic](http://www.lego.com/eng/create/technic/Default.asp?x=x) ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Dirx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Sir\_Dirx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Dirx)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-lego-instrusctions/262113/16 "2004-08-30T00:03:49Z")
Could’ve fooled me; all I ever see at the toy stores nowadays are the Bionicle and Harry Potter sets. Thanks for that link! These sets look awesome (not quite as awesome as my old pneumatic crane truck I have, but that’s hard to top). I think I just might pick up some new sets… ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheValley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-lego-instrusctions/262113/17 "2004-08-30T02:17:36Z")
> [@Sir Dirx](#): > > These sets look awesome (not quite as awesome as my old pneumatic crane truck I have, but that’s hard to top). I think I just might pick up some new sets… I think I have that set too. [8460](http://www.brickset.com/search.aspx?Set=8460-1)? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-lego-instrusctions/262113/18 "2004-08-30T03:11:01Z")
> [@Muad'Dib](#): > > My inner-ten-year-old got frustrated, skipped ahead to the satalite portion and is now pretending it is a death-ray. I was wondering how long it would take you to figure out the obvious solution. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Dirx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Sir\_Dirx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Dirx)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-lego-instrusctions/262113/19 "2004-08-30T03:49:00Z")
> [@LilyoftheValley](#): > > I think I have that set too. [8460](http://www.brickset.com/search.aspx?Set=8460-1)? 🙂 Nope. Even older and bigger: [8868](http://www.brickset.com/search.aspx?Query=8868)🆒 (one of my only two LEGO sets that have stayed intact all these years [the other being an old M:Tron [behemoth](http://www.brickset.com/search.aspx?Set=6989-1)]) ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-lego-instrusctions/262113/20 "2004-08-30T03:59:23Z")
Oh! I used to have that M-tron set! It is not complete at all any more though. I remeber always pretending that the “M” squares were some secret computer chip. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-lego-instrusctions/262113.md?page=2)