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In lugnet.lego, Jake McKee wrote:
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In lugnet.lego, Jim Green wrote:
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- Considering the original intent of this publication, this is how we as AFOLs will be represented internally within the Lego company. I don’t think this gives us or our concerns credibility and only serves to further a negative stereotype that may or may not already exist.
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Well, the idea was in the same vein as that old adage... “Those who laugh
together, stay together” I figured if I could get my colleagues laughing
about these issues, they would stick in their minds a little more. Greg and I
also tried very very hard to create humorous, but descriptive ways to get
certain points across.
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Yes, laughing does foster fondness and I genuinely applaud your efforts---the
comic is good work and the folks here really are enjoying it with enthusiasm.
Yet, not that I disagree with your communicated purpose or greater hope, but I
feel that maybe laughing at AFOLs isn’t especially appropriate at this specific
time for the company... when the community is communicating a feeling of
betrayal over color changes and at seeming attempts to create division (by
endorsing of a non-existent fan site).
These specific concerns are threaded elsewhere---it’s not my wish to pursue them
here. Nonetheless, it just doesn’t seem in good taste that our issues would be
made known by means of a comic. We can laugh at ourselves but AFOLs are not
funny monkeys.
But to a greater point...
Jake, you were one of “us” and may well understand our motivations. It is our
best hope that this is the case now that you have crossed the line and are with
The Lego Company. And that you are specifically charged to foster communication
between AFOLs and Lego, there is a trust that you will go to bat for us and
communicate our passion for this hobby... as I know you must. It may as well be
an understatement.
I just find it strange that you would choose to communicate within the company
in this way, with a joke book, to folks who may not know exactly the mind of the
AFOL or who see us as a curiosity. Maybe the idea just needs better
clarification, but right now the method gives me less confidence about what you
convey to your colleagues about AFOLs in general.
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AFOLs are, for better or worse, somewhat eccentric - just like all
enthusiasts of any subject (As I often say: “everyone has their
hobby/weirdness”). The original task for this piece was to show that while it
may be unknown, it’s not strange, it just “is”.
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Is this really a new concept for Lego? To think, they would at least know us by
now. Maybe they don’t care who we are?... we are after all just a footnote in
their strategy. Will a comic fix that?
It strikes me funny that we are this untapped marketing powerhouse that they
occasionally look askance at. This is something I know you can’t answer (though
ex-employees maybe can), but who are we to Lego, really?
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Hey, I’m a fan too. I have a LEGO room, a pretty sizeable (not comparing me
to Lar++ anyway!) collection, and build regularly. I’m part of a local group,
and follow much of the online discussion. I know people think I’m a bit odd,
but that’s fine by me. For me it’s all about “owning” the odd! :)
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Jake, no need to justify, you are a die-hard AFOL, and I apologize that how I
may be communicating is leaning near being personal for you. Please know I would
never insult you, Lego brother, but I just don’t trust your employer and you are
in a crucial position. We count on you and want you to do a good job... for
us. You have the unenviable position of having thousands of backseat drivers
watching your every move. Tree!
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- As for distribution of the comic to the general public, these are all inside jokes and not a good way to make fans, in as much as it does in making friends. If this is Lego’s hope (to make fans), then it would be better served to use the money to help Todd publish and distribute his book... which is a better testament to the AFOL community.
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Not sure that I did a very good job explaining originally. The comic will
have to be tweaked to make it work for the new audience (sleepers) rather
than the original audience (LEGO colleagues). My colleagues got most of the
inside jokes, but like you mention, it might not be the right mix for the
general public. There have been a TON of terrific ideas posted in this thread
already to help tweak the content for this purpose.
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I would work on that. To me, wowing folks with incredible models seems to earn
more fans than telling them the trademark isn’t plural. I think this is another
cue for Todd to introduce his book... “Oh, Tah-odd...”
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Hope that makes you feel better.
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Feelin’ great! Though I had been feeling a little bley lately. ;-)
Jim
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: AFOLs - The comic!
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| (...) Laughing at and laughing with are much different things. (...) I guess, you could interpret the "AFOLnet" callout this way, but honestly, that thought had never crossed my mind until I just read it here. As mentioned elsewhere, the point of (...) (20 years ago, 27-Feb-04, to lugnet.lego, lugnet.general, lugnet.org, FTX)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: AFOLs - The comic!
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| (...) Well, the idea was in the same vein as that old adage... "Those who laugh together, stay together" I figured if I could get my colleagues laughing about these issues, they would stick in their minds a little more. Greg and I also tried very (...) (20 years ago, 26-Feb-04, to lugnet.lego, lugnet.general, lugnet.org, FTX)
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