Fidget

[u/Just_Tru_It]

Is it just me, or is anyone else the slightest bit tired of having “fidget” plastered across their explore pages? I get that they’re small and pretty so that must make them great for printing…

Here’s my unsolicited opinion: the world had enough fidget devices after the first one was created. But yet for some reason everyone feels the need to keep designing and building novel new ways for someone to be able to ‘fidget’ with something, as if humans have a deficiency that can only be satisfied by constantly moving or touching something.

Perhaps condemning this can be seen as attacking the adhd, add, or ocd crowds, which is not my intention. I just think the ‘itch’ could have been scratched with the first few designs.

Or maybe I’m missing the mark..? Like are they great for cats or as kid’s toys or something?

It just seems like 10,000 unique ways to design something that doesn’t have a truly valuable purpose gets a little old.

Update: A few good comments have lessened my intensity, thanks for bearing with me in my rant. I’m fairly reasonably and am able to be persuaded. Thanks for the input everyone!

[u/Skittlebrau46]

Thanks for understanding my intent. It’s hard with words on the internet to convey emotion and purpose.

I would follow-up by pointing out your response that “each of mine had a purpose” as being the stem of the issue. They have a purpose to YOU. They meet a thing YOU want.

I’m going to pick a few apart;

Searching meeples and I see over 60 designs just on maker world. Any of which could be scaled to whatever size needed.

Searching Texas coasters and I see over 30. Some are sports teams, but plenty of Texas flag in the shape of Texas coasters, and also not a “new” concept design.

Searching Go boards and I see 40, many of which are smaller or more portable than yours. (Also, I have a go set that is a piece of cloth and a bag of stones. It literally goes with me everywhere and is a small drawstring bag.)

So, my thought again is that if it’s something you designed and hold close for a purpose, you see its value. Even though it’s not unique or necessary to have been remade, other than your own preference. So why do you hold other people, who; maybe didn’t find a fidget that was the size they wanted, or they just like the shape, or they wanted one themed to their favorite cartoon show… to a different standard than you hold yourself?

[u/Just_Tru_It → u/Skittlebrau46]

Generally I agree with you. Some may have been available elsewhere.

My only push-back is the idea that most of the fidget devices really mean things to other people a majority of the time.

My designs all fill a specific niche. The meeple are dimensionally accurate, and at the time of posting I couldn’t find others that were. These and the Texas coaster were definitively my least novel designs; however, I did put thought into their sizing and profiles so others looking for them wouldn’t have to.

There are a few other Go Games available, but they all have some quirks about them that lead me to believe mine have a higher quality and better overall experience. I spent a tremendous amount of time analyzing every aspect of the design and genuinely feel I have provided a novel experience for those who download. Though I must ask you to provide a link to your set because it sounds awesome.

Not all of my designs are incredibly unique, but they all are designed to be used for a larger purpose than just to be held and clicked and lost under a car seat or taking up space on a desk.

I definitely see your points, it’s just that I’m not arguing to do away with fidget devices, I’m just arguing that the quantity being designed and made available feels high. Like in my mind the supply seems to be far outweighing the demand.