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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 entered the online LEGO community in late 1996, when there was only RTL
> (and a dying ATL) for mainstream discussion. The LEGO community was not very
> big compared to today, and there were few resources available. Also, since
> discussion centered around Usenet newsgroups, the active members were more
> experienced computer/internet users - often programmers by trade or college
> students.
>
> Since then, we've seen an apparent change in the demographic of the fan
> community. More people online and involved today are general computer users,
> and perhaps barely computer literate. They come from a wide variety of
> backgrounds and with that have different attitudes and outlooks towards the
> LEGO community.
>
> Through local clubs and community events worldwide, we know that many LEGO
> fans are not connected to the internet, or choose not to participate in
> online discussion. There are also people who aren't a part of the
> "mainstream" LEGO hobby - they embrace "controversial" [1] themes such as
> Bionicle, or participate in LEGO organizations not directly connected to the
> online community such as First LEGO League.
>
> There are people who participate for different reasons. Some participate
> purely for light fun, others for the artistic qualities of the brick, and
> yet others who put serious time into building community resources to enhance
> the LEGO experience.
When I had left the service back in '99 and discovered that LEGO made
trains...my jaw had hit the floor! And I was totally engrossed in LEGO (and
the online AFOL community). However, since that time I have become involved
in other hobbies as well...so you could say my level of participation has
changed.
>
> As I'm trying to determine what the LEGO community means to me, I'd like to
> hear what it means to you.
>
> I've encountered very conservative and very liberal attitudes towards what
> "the LEGO community" is. I think some feel it is (or should be) limited to
> LUGNET, others limited to active online participants. Where on the other end
> of the spectrum, some openly and enthusiastically include Bionicle builders
> and First LEGO League kids, artists who use LEGO as a medium but don't
> communicate with LEGO fans online, and more. I've also experienced different
> attitudes towards how the LEGO Company fits in (or doesn't fit in) as a
> participant in the LEGO community.
>
> I see everything in the world of LEGO as having its purpose. Though I lvoe
> LUGNET, I don't see it as the end-all, be-all of LEGO sites. I think there's
> plenty of room for places like From Bricks to Bothans and BZPower, even
> though they cater to a different demographic than LUGNET does. I also firmly
> believe in the in-person community; local clubs, groups like First LEGO
> League, and people who follow LEGO news and attend public shows like those
> at BricksWest, Northwest BrickCon, LEGOWORLD, LEGO Train shows, and more.
>
> I'm for evangelizing the LEGO hobby. I want to see more people discover this
> amazing hobby and the resources that are available to them. I want to see
> those people grow in their building skills and build friendships with
> like-minded blockheads. I like open LEGO events, that encourage the public,
> or at least members of the public interested in the hobby for themselves, to
> attend. At the same time, I like to get together with my LEGO friends from
> all over the country (and even world) and talk shop with few outside
> interruptions.
>
> So, where do you think LEGO interests which aren't necessarily "mainstream"
> accepted values fit in? What makes someone someone a "member" of the LEGO
> community? If someone actively participates in a league such as FLL, but
> doesn't post on LUGNET, are they "in?"
I've considered myself as 'in' until recently...there have been a few
persons who have turned me off on 'evangelizing the LEGO hobby' due to their
incessant habit of marginalising what I may have to say.
>
> I know there are no concrete answers to the questions I am asking. I am
> simply wondering what others think. Maybe these thoughts can open peoples'
> eyes to what else is out there, beyond our corner of the LEGO world. And I
> hope the ideas will help me continue to form my opinions and attitudes
> towards the LEGO hobby as a whole.
I still find LUGNET to be the most concise online LEGO-related resource that
there is, few can approach it generally speaking IMHO...
-HRH
>
> Thanks for reading - and I'd love to hear your thoughts!
>
> -Tim
>
> [1] In the sense that it was quickly shunned by adult fans online when
> released, and to this day is not yet widely accepted as a legitimate
> building medium by the same.
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