2018考研英语双语阅读：玩具不再专属儿童_第2页

　　在恩菲尔德的家中，他在床底下存放着两只彩色箱子，里面是童年时代已经松动的乐高玩具，他还用各式各样怀旧的大件模型来装饰房子。比如有一只大众牌露营车的乐高玩具(价值85英镑)，这是去年夏天他与阿黛尔收到的结婚礼物，这件乐高总是让他们想起在新西兰时开的那辆大众车。还有一只星球大战的“X-Wing战斗机”，这是他所在的青年组织一起买给他的谢礼。而私下里，他每两个月左右就添一件新的收藏品，通常都是乐高城市系列的趣玩基础款，这些东西不像有些玩具那么幼稚。

　　“In a way, this comes around with each generation,” says Lou Ellerton, a brand consultant with considerable experience tracking consumer trends. “A decade ago, people might remember board game cafés being all over the news. That was Generation X experiencing the same nostalgia and backlash against work; we called them ‘greenagers’ – grown-up teenagers. What we’re seeing now is Generation Y having the same feelings, and they’re less ashamed about it.”

　　“某种程度上说，每代人都会这样，”善于捕捉消费趋势的品牌顾问卢•伊勒顿说，“十年之前，人们或许还记得，新闻中全是桌游咖啡厅的报道。那是有着相同的怀旧情绪并且同样厌恶工作的X一代(出生于1970年代的美国人)，我们称他们是“成年的孩子们”。而我们现在所看到的是Y一代(出生于1980年后的美国人)相同的情感，只不过他们不那么感到羞愧了。”

　　Indeed, as millennials have sought to return to the toys of their own childhoods, clever brands have pandered to their every needs, often charging very adult prices for essentially souped-up versions of 90s toys. Could it be that Gen Y, unable to afford to move on with their lives in the traditional sense – getting a mortgage, for one – are seeking more immediate pleasures?

　　的确，当千禧一代回归各种儿时的玩具时，精明商家便努力迎合他们的各种需求，经常把改装过的90年代的玩具高价卖给成年人。Y一代会不会因为承担不起传统意义上长大的代价——比如支付不起抵押贷款——而去寻求更加直接的乐趣呢?

　　“Probably true,” says Ellerton. “If they put every spare pound they get into savings now, it could [still] take 10 or 15 years to get a deposit. This generation is characterised by not putting off today for tomorrow – they spend on experiences, so £500 for a toy is worth it to them.”

　　伊勒顿说：“很有可能是这样。如果他们把多余的每一分钱都存进银行，也得花10到15年才能有一笔像样的存款。这一代人的特点就是及时行乐，他们喜欢花钱体验生活，所以一个价值500英镑的玩具对他们来说是物有所值。”

　　And it’s not just millennials. The ‘middle aged’ bracket of 34-50 may be least likely to buy their own toys – as they’re most likely to have young children themselves – but baby boomers account for a fifth of the ‘kidult’ market spend.

　　不仅仅千禧一代是如此。34到50岁的中年一代应该是最不可能给自己买玩具的人群，毕竟他们基本都有自己的孩子了，而事实却是，战后婴儿潮一代(1946年-1964年出生人群)的消费竟占据了五分之一的“成人玩具”市场。

　　“I have a lot of toys around the house, but it’s more of a way of connecting with the kids,” says Andrew Birkin, a 71-year-old screenwriter with young children from his second marriage. “[The toys] went away when my older ones grew up, but now I get them out to spend time with them and fiddle about myself. I’m fortunate – my five-year-old loves World War One and rockets and planes, so that’s interesting for me as well. I even bought a drone, to take photos and show him.”

　　“我家里有很多玩具，但这些大多都是与孩子们一起玩耍用的，”71岁的编剧安德鲁•伯金这样说，他与继子女住在一起。“年纪大一些的孩子们长大后，他们的玩具就都收起来了，但是现在我把它们找了出来，陪孩子们玩，自己同时也以此打发时间。我很庆幸我五岁的小儿子喜欢一战玩具，还喜欢火箭和飞机，我对这些也很感兴趣。我甚至还买了一架无人机，用来拍照并给我的小儿子展示。”

　　Willner’s motivations are slightly more profound. When he became a man, it was important he didn’t put away childish things.

　　而维尔纳想得更深刻一些。当他长大成人时，还能葆有一颗简单的童心是多么的重要。

　　“I don’t want to be one of these people surrounded by models or spending all my money [on toys], but it’s more like a symbol of what really matters – fun.”