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Long ago, when lugnet.people was created, the idea of subgroups was
entertained. Possible subgroups envisioned at the time included Kids,
Teens, Parents, and NSLOs. At the time, LUGNET was still small, and it
was felt that creating these subgroups at that time would be premature;
instead, see how things go in .people and then create subgroups someday
later, as needed.
The idea was posited earlier this past week for an LGBT (lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender) subgroup. The request generated a vast flood
of responses, pro and con. Though at points painful in the present, this
type of discussion is a maturing process, and the discussion per se is an
important milestone in the community’s development and sense of identity.
The LUGNET Transition Team discussed (and debated) the issues raised
during the week and over the weekend and achieved general consensus on
new group charters and decided to move forward with the creation of new
subgroups of lugnet.people.
So why are there so many newsgroups on LUGNET? Why is it so
compartmentalized?
Newsgroup theory is all about identifying subsets of interest within a
community and creating focused discussion groups for those subsets, in
the context of a logical newsgroup hierarchy. It’s about creating and
nurturing individual areas where people can discuss topics of interest
without fear of being off-topic or being lost among the ambient noise
of a larger or more general area.
Some have suggested that an LGBT group is unnecessary, as sexual orientation
has absolutely nothing to do with LEGO. The reality is that no one knows
for sure whether such a group is necessary or useful until it is created and
used. Many groups on LUGNET go unused -- for weeks at a time, sometimes
indefinitely -- and that’s OK; they don’t waste any system resources.
Conversely, many groups previously thought to be unneeded here have actually
found enormous followings.
Some have suggested that sexual orientation has no business being openly
discussed on LUGNET. This opinion is quite respectable, but it does not
recognize that sexual orientation is as much an identifying aspect of life
for some people as, say, religion or occupation or hobbies are for others.
Now, some people are of the further opinion that religion, occuptation,
and other hobbies also have no place on LUGNET, and that’s also a valid
position. However, because of compartmentalization, one can always pick
and choose the groups one wishes to read and participate primarily in.
In fact, everyone should probably take a few minutes to review their
skip filter settings
periodically.
Some have suggested that certain religious beliefs are being actively
ignored, and that allowing the creation of an LGBT group, which openly
embraces a lifestyle that is counter to those beliefs, is disrespectful to
those beliefs. The fact is that while LUGNET respects all religious
beliefs, it is also religion-neutral. Thus, religous beliefs play no role
here in determining whether or not the creation of an LGBT group is
warranted.
Some have said that they come here for LEGO (and LEGO only!) discussions,
and have suggested that several of the new subgroups of .people are likely
to run rampant with non-LEGO-related discussion. If this is the case, then
the recommended course is to simply ignore such discussions, just as one
would ignore LEGO-related topics that one finds uninteresting. That said,
however, it bears pointing out that LUGNET has always had groups in which
LEGO was not the main focus, and that with the possible exception of
.off-topic.debate, having such groups is healthy if not essential for a
large community like ours. Many people have made friends here initially
because of a common interest in LEGO and have seen those friendships blossom
far beyond the context of LEGO alone. This is liberating, and ties back
into why compartmentalization can be so useful.
Finally, the measuring stick that was used in evaluating these groups was
not whether they are relevant within the context of LEGO, but whether they
are relevant within the context of the LEGO community. We all lead far
richer lives than we could ever show or share though LEGO alone.
Peace to all, and may we all continue to love and grow.
--Todd
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Message has 9 Replies:
 | | Re: Why these news groups were created
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| <MAJOR SNIPPAGE> (...) </MAJOR SNIPPAGE> A suggestion to help encourage the religious aspects LEGO and LEGO collectors would be to make a .religion group. Another group that could have a necessity here is a .politics group. If it's not only about (...) (20 years ago, 20-Sep-04, to lugnet.admin.nntp)
| | | Re: Why these news groups were created
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| (...) So if LUGNET is religion neutral, why can't it be sexually neutral too? If you don't see a need for a religious-oriented group, it follows that there's no need for this type of group either. You talk about how people can simply not look at (...) (20 years ago, 20-Sep-04, to lugnet.admin.nntp, FTX)
| | | Re: Why these news groups were created
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| A big public thank-you to you, Todd, and the LUGNET Transition Team. I have subscribed to people.lgbt as a mailing list--my first! [LDrawPart 3004:373] -Teddy p.s. I guess I have a Yellow Brick Road to build now! (20 years ago, 20-Sep-04, to lugnet.admin.nntp, FTX)
| | | Re: Why these news groups were created
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| Todd, just a non-partisan comment here to say thank-you for making this post. Whether they agree or disagree with its content, I hope all the readers appreciate the fact that you provided some kind of "official statement". As a long time (albeit (...) (20 years ago, 20-Sep-04, to lugnet.admin.nntp)
| | | Re: Why these news groups were created
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| In lugnet.admin.nntp, Todd Lehman wrote: <SNIP> (...) By taking the premise of this site and adding specific adult themed groups, you've opened the door for what so many parents cringe about the internet. Now, thanks to this unilateral decision, we (...) (20 years ago, 21-Sep-04, to lugnet.admin.nntp, FTX) !
| | | Re: Why these news groups were created
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| In lugnet.admin.nntp, Todd Lehman wrote: SNIP I think that it's pretty cool we get a Kids news group, seeing as how I'm a kid. I think it's fine if your gay or whatever, but I think my Mom would get mad at me if see me looking at the LGBT group. (20 years ago, 21-Sep-04, to lugnet.admin.nntp, FTX)
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