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In lugnet.general, Tim Courtney writes:
> Over the better part of the last year, I've done a lot of thinking about the
> LEGO hobby and the LEGO community, trying to develop a philosophy on it
> which I use to channel my efforts, energies, and interactions. I'm
> interested in hearing others' thoughts on the LEGO community.
>
> Particularly - what do you think the LEGO community includes? what does it
> exclude?
I have pondered this sort of topic a bit. I have intentionally only read one
post here so as not to color my thoughts up front.
Only a couple of small points frist on the LEGO 'community.' It's hard to say
'what' that is. I generally consider that AOFLs. I think that without the
internet this would not be happening at this scale (the recognition of some
'community') -- we are simply too few and far bewteen.
Computer knowledge in the community? Well, you need to have some knoweledge to
participate in the online community. I would say that of the AOFLers that I
know they are pretty well above the norm in computer knowledge. How can you
know how many are out there but not 'plugged in?' The online
community/resources are essential.. without bricklink this hobby would be
pretty much impossibly frustrating for many.
I think it is an interesting hobby that contains a paradox or two and some
interesting aspects that sort of filters or pre-determines the type people that
consider themselves in the community or select this hobby.
This is a creative hobby. It draws people that want to 'build' things. In
order to build things you often have to spend a lot of time, and a fair amount
of money to aqcuire parts. This is not true of all (most) creative hobbies.
many other creative hobbies use cheap materials and readily available
materials...with more emphasis on the skill. This hobby is more of a balancing
act.. and eprhaps a challenge. Some people attempt to make models of real
things to scale, others make fanciful things with a boatload of imagination.
Both are contrained by part quantity, color and methods for connecting. Many,
many clever method for connecting bricks have been found. We delight in doing
this and seeing this. I would guess 9 of 10 non Lego fans would not find these
things mildly interesting or clever.
So what was a paradox... how about.. most of us select this hobby and embrace
'element.' We will not generally cut, clue or paint (unless forced). It is a
central theme that we restrict ourself to the existing element. Then we try to
make things .. often scale models. In most cases size is a factor either for
sheer cost, effort, availablity or ..desire (to make something smallish). The
result is are attempting to make the most 'accurate' or at least pleasing
creation within the bounds of the brick.
-- personal zone ahead --
I thrived on lego as a child. I believe I had about 2000. I counted and
sorted even then. I dropped lego and moved onto plastic models.. I felt at the
time that it was for the detail. I was out of lego probably 1976. I kept
every brick. I ketp visiting the lego at the stores over the years. I bought
a set here and there, put it together, took it apart. Then in early 1990's
picked up on RTL. Lo-and-behold I was not alone. But interest ebbed-and
flowed, at that time MOC pictures were not all over the place. I am very
computer literate, but still only found out about this 'community' via
accident, a chance conversatino between my wife and another AOFLers. Another
lucky chance was a meeting happening that week. If not for that, I may still
be a lurker or possbily not even aware of lugnet etc.
Also, I think the clubs are pretty important to the existence(?) of any
community.. and for me my personal activity. If I could not share MOCS through
brickshelf, and shows I would not be that involved. If I did not get the
commradery and shared enjoyment of club meetings I would not build as much
(still not a lot -- but it would be less). I have found the courage to come
out of the lego closet at work too! Imagine that!
So, why all the history? I have often wondeed what my draw is to the lego
hobby. Some is nostalgia. Some is that I can deal with the tradeoffs of
limiting detail on a creation for the sake of speed of build (sometimes) ease
of tweaking/changing/resuability. The otehr thing is I simply have too many
interests (in terms of things I'd like to build). With Lego you can do almost
all of them, it also opens the propects of robitic things that I always wanted
to muck with as a child. So, at thsi time the postiives outweigh the negatives
for me.
Another plus of the hobby. There is something satisfying about physically
manipulating objects with your hands to make something. I do a lot of computer
work and you can do a lot of lego creation on the computer, but to me, it's
just no substitute for building. the desire for this may be another common
characteristic of the 'members' of the community.
Rambling through all this kind of leads me to something I had not thought of at
the outset. Perhaps some type of survey.. one of those personality profiles
would be interesting to have a bunch of us complete. I would bet that thee are
some defintie patterns that would illustrate a different profile than the
general population... but I could be wrong.
Ken
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