Are cubes are kids' toys?

n00bCube

n00bCube

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It's weird, I've never viewed them like that. To me they're something that kids and adults would enjoy, like word puzzles, fishing, whatever.

I've never got the impression at least where I live (the North West in the UK), that the typical 3x3 Rubiks cube that everyone knows was seen as a kids toy by most people either. I see plenty of adults with them.

But for some reason, in China, pretty much every puzzle is classed as a toy for children. And on Youtube, from a lot of comments that I see, cubes/puzzles are seen as though they're just kids toys, and that it's immature or sad for an adult to be into them.

So yeah I've never understood this. Anyway, it's just something I wanted to get off my mind, and I'm interested in other peoples thoughts about this on here.
 
They are meant for children, but they are fit for adults too. Sort of like Lego.
 
People just think they are kids toys, but it takes intellect to solve one of these (which makes it more meant for older kids/adults). Also, Rubik didn't invent the cube to be a kids toy, the initial reason was to help teach geometry.

Non-cubers say the darndest things.
 
It's a toy. Kid's toy? Um. Anyway it's also an interesting puzzle for adults too. I think only we can appreciate the sophistication and interesting aspects of the cube. To some non-cuber's it's just a toy that once you've solved, you've "won the game" as some have said to me.
 
Last edited:
BlueDevil said:
People just think they are kids toys, but it takes intellect to solve one of these (which makes it more meant for older kids/adults). Also, Rubik didn't invent the cube to be a kids toy, the initial reason was to help teach geometry.

Non-cubers say the darndest things.
Click to expand...

Exactly.

An adult doing word puzzles is the norm and is seen as perfectly fine, yet learning to solve a cube is a LOT more complicated IMO.
 
"... And on Youtube, from a lot of comments that I see ..."

There's your problem right there.

It's hard to justify as a hobby to many people because of how repetitive it looks (and is) and how obviously unproductive it is. Many people are just being hypocritical when they say it's a waste of time, as if they don't do anything that's a waste of time themselves. I don't really see it as much of an issue. Some (too many) people are just like that.
 
I once read some useful definitions in "Fundamentals of Game Design":

Toys: A toy does not come with any rules about the right way to play with it, nor does it come with a particular goal that you as a player should try to achieve.

Puzzles: Puzzles have one rule that defines the goal, but they seldom have rules that dictate how you must get to the goal. Some approaches might be fruitless, but none are actually prohibited.

Games: A game includes both rules and a goal. Playing a game requires pretending and it is a more structured activity than playing with toys or puzzles.
 
Stefan said:
Nice definitions. But what's the last combination, things that have rules but no goal?
Click to expand...

I once thought about this. There are some video games that don't have a goal defined by the game. An example would be Free Roam in Grand Theft Auto IV. You must follow rules defined by the game, you, and your friends, but other than that you are free to play around in the city and do what you want for as long as you want.
 
In the boom days of the early 1980's, the 3x3x3 cube was considered the "latest hot toy" that you had to have. And because of that hype, people brought it. But just like any other "latest hot toy" you got bored of it and moved on to the next "latest hot toy" that was going at the time. So the attitude that the Rubik's Cube is a toy was created here. And also the fact that in the early 1980's, the Rubik's Cube was sold in toy stores as a toy item.

My parents bought me (at age 11 in 1981) my first cube ever from a bricks and mortar (no online retail stores in 1981) toy store. Despite their efforts, including buying me two "how to solve" book, I could not do it. That moment came in May 2009 at age 39 with a store brought Rubik's cube brought from a bricks and mortar department store where the cube was in (you guessed it) in the toy section of the store.

Yes, I do remember the Rubik's Cube craze of the early 1980's well.
 
Most of the people that call it a kids toy, and say how it's a complete waste of time, then turn around and spend £100 on alcohol at night, and then vomit it over their carpet.
 
Same is said about video games a well. I don't see how they are a waste of time if you're enjoying yourself.

I don't see why people should constantly be productive 24 hours a day. Nothing wrong with doing something just because it's fun. You're right about these people being hypocritical, as most of them will listen to music, watch TV/DVD's, etc.
 
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