What is the appeal of Bucky Balls?
Sorry, I jut don't get it. What is the purpose of Bucky Balls, and what is woot's fascination with them? Curious mind(s) want to know.
by
klacour
asked 7 months ago
It's like an engineer's play-doh (not that I don't also knead play-doh all day at my desk as well)
just a neat tinker toy
It's funny, I was asking the same thing last week. I ended up searching on Youtube to watch a couple videos of what exactly you can do with them. There are some pretty neat things you can do with them.
They keep a 5 year old kid occupied quietly for hours on end.
@shale69: And a 25-year-old too. I want to order more.
Which Dallas star gets AIDS on TV's Hotel? Enquiring minds want to know.
+1 for the 80s awesome ad phrase.
I like to swallow them and stick metal objects to my stomach.
I have no idea, but thanks for asking. I though I was the only one who didn't get it.
The appeal of Buckyballs is that not only are they super shiny, but......something else probably.
they're attractive!
Well I have a NeoCube and not Buckeyballs, but they are awesome. I've had my NeoCube since before Woot started carrying the Bucky's all the time. Later, I bought several sets of Bucky's for my nephews. Didn't know it, but they had played with them in a store and were thrilled to get their own.
They're just fun. You'd have to play with them to understand.
if you owned some you would understand, they are super fun. I never actually buy bucky balls because they are way overpriced, but they sell cheaper knockoffs if you know where to look.
@woothulhu: +1 for catching the Enquirer joke, I missed it. Bonus points if you can name the competitor who featured "bat boy".
Spoiler: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_Boy_%28character%29
They are just plain fun... I have given them as gifts to many people and everyone loves them. I also have a set on my desk at work and co-workers and constantly coming to my desk to play with them.
I think a lot of it has to do with our perception of magnets as a toy. Growing up I thought of magnets as things you use to stick papers to the refrigerator. These little magnetic balls give people a new perspective on how fun magnets can be.
@pickypickypicky: I thought it was the Sun, but I clicked your link and found out it was the "best magazine to read while standing in line at the grocery store", Weekly World News. Too bad it isn't around anymore, it was always good for some over-the-top ridiculousness.
Bucky Balls are kind of like those magnetic paper clip trays that let you sculpt and build using the paper clips. They're just fun to play with, and a pretty cool toy to have on your desk at work.
@woothulhu: Nope, WWN was the one that could be relied on to give the latest news about miracle cures, Bigfoot, the loch ness monster, and space aliens in one handy form. Not so much celebrity gossip, which is why I liked it.
I hear Captain America likes to play with 'em.
I have spent hours upon hours just trying to get them back in to the orignal stack they came in and last night I was soooo close. Of course once I have accomplished this I wont touch them again, in fact I may pour clear epoxy over them so no one can ruin my work.
@shale69: And the emergency room physician too, as he pumps the poor kids stomach.
@shadowhunter312, I'm going to second engineer's play-doh, a co-worker and I both ahve sets at work and they are great for all sorts of fun. Put single balls on a table, spaced out, and then roll more through. When they hit they spin like crazy. They've also inspired a few new designs! On the flip side, they've also been turned into more than a few rude 2D pictures as well...
@kwsharman: Watch the youtube videos. Once you have the technique down it's very easy. You just have to get used to the polarity of the balls.
@portezbie: Woot routinely has them for $10 a set (usually in packs of 2 for $20). How much are your "knockoffs"?
Speaking of engineer's play-doh, if you haven't discovered "Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty" yet, you're missing out:
http://www.puttyworld.com/
ThinkGeek used to sell their own brand of the same stuff as well, not sure if they still do. There's nothing quite like an adult-sized blob of silly putty (in whatever color you chose to order) for being the ultimate stress ball.
I have absolutely no connection to the product or receive any kind of referral fee for this. I just really, really like the stuff (I'm known to even bring it to meetings and play with it). And since someone mentioned "engineer's Play-doh" it seemed like a good tie in :)
@pickypickypicky: Apparently my humor is lost on some people, judging by the downvotes above :\
@woothulhu: Oh, come on, now I got your cooties too, LOL.
@woothulhu: I get that sometimes to, some people don't get jokes or normal internet memes so they just downvote you.
@woothulhu: Having had more than a couple "witty" comments I've written mercilessly downvoted (my record was -25), I do feel your pain.
Fun to play with mindlessly, but some people have their panties in a twist about these things:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-regulators-warn-of-magnets-marketed-as-desk-toys-stress-relievers-20111110,0,2108980.story
If suits are fired up, you know it's something fun!
Bought 90 recently (yep, 90, not a full set) when Woot was selling the refills. Had coupons to burn. Even with 90 of them, it is a lot of fun just to sit and make shapes, cylinders, and other things. I already want more.
Just fun to mentally disconnect a bit and play with magnets.
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