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Subject: 
Lego Hobby Blues
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.general
Date: 
Wed, 7 Dec 2005 15:53:38 GMT
Viewed: 
2161 times
  
The thrill is gone.  There's so much about our hobby that has changed over the
last few years and a lot of it has changed for the worse.

LUGNET

This used to be THE place that the online community got together and talked
about the hobby.  Now, it has a fraction of the news it used to have.

Yeah, there are other sites now -- but I don't want to have to visit 10
different sites to get what I used to get in ONE place.  Plus, there's little to
none of the cross-pollination that having Lego stuff centralized on LUGNET
provided.  Classic-Castle, Classic-Space?  I never go to those sites, whereas I
used to see some cool castle and space stuff on LUGNET and enjoyed it, even
though those areas aren't my primary interest.

Where are people getting news these days?  LEGOFan?  The few times I have
visited that site, it seems to be directed at a different audience (those new to
Lego?).  And why is the closer integration with a TLG a good idea?  I mean,
really...wasn't there something kinda cool about FANS building with Lego without
any involvement from the company?  What's the benefit?  Lego Ambassadors?
Certified Builders?  Have any of these developments actually increased anyone's
enjoyment of just clicking together bricks?  Is having a handful of regular
people "in-the-know" a benefit to you personally or to a sense of community?

THINGS THAT ARE WRONG

Our interest in the Swanberg case -- it's a court case, it's a person's life, it
only has to do with Lego incidentally.

Our addiction -- how much Lego is too much?  I probably had about 100 sets when
I was a kid, built up over 4-5 years -- now I have 60,000 pieces.  I feel bad
about this.  I want to buy more Lego, but why?  What's reasonable?  $200 a year?
Is more irresponsible?  There are people living in poverty all over the world --
it's kinda sickening to think I spend more on a toy in a month than some people
spend on food. :(  I'd really like to know what a sane amount of money is - not
based on what we have done as a community in the past - but what is really a
moral amount.  Anyone want to really examine this?  Do we dare?

I know this soinds like a complaint - it is - and it's not as structured or
thought out as I had hoped it to be.  But what it comes down to is that I am
looking for answers.  I used to feel good about this hobby.  Some days I still
do.  But I want to know what happened to the community - is it still there?  Is
it thriving or dying?  And I want to know how sane and moral this hobby is.  To
me, these are important questions.  I am hitting a wall coming up with answers
-- I am looking for discussion and insight....

--
Thomas Main
thomasmain@charter.net



Message has 14 Replies:
  Re: Lego Hobby Blues
 
(...) <SNIP> (...) A lot of people have been complaining about Classic-Castle, Classic-Space and all the other websites 'responsible for the fractioning of Lugnet.' So here are some points that you and others may have not thought about: New Blood: (...) (19 years ago, 7-Dec-05, to lugnet.general)  
  Re: Lego Hobby Blues
 
Hi Thomas, --SNIP-- I'm not going to comment on the first section as I am not sure myself what I prefer there. (...) AFOLs are people and people like to gossip. The Swanberg case is just spomething to gossip about really, much like the Michael (...) (19 years ago, 7-Dec-05, to lugnet.general)
  Re: Lego Hobby Blues
 
Hello Thomas, Your posting caught my eye today as you're obviously unhappy with the way you see things. At the bottom of your message you say: (...) I'm hoping to provide some discussion. As to whether or not that also constitutes "insight" is up to (...) (19 years ago, 7-Dec-05, to lugnet.general)
  Re: Lego Hobby Blues
 
Hey Thomas, A good and thoughtful post, but I have to disagree with some of the points. Swanberg - Yes, there is the Michael Jackson factor and we all like to gossip, but I do think there were some relevant questions that did impact the community: (...) (19 years ago, 7-Dec-05, to lugnet.general, FTX)
  Re: Lego Hobby Blues
 
(...) Yeah, it seems Lugnet's kinda dead. I've noticed this for a while. (...) Well, I don't think they detract from the community, if that's your concern. Ambassadors help spread the news, help take in ideas to Lego and that's not a bad thing. (...) (19 years ago, 7-Dec-05, to lugnet.general)
  Re: Lego Hobby Blues
 
Thomas, Good Afternoon! Things aren't all bad...it sounds to me as if you're sorely needing a building break. So do I! But don't let that fool you into thinking things are worse overall; really, this is a matter of perspective. (...) One thing about (...) (19 years ago, 7-Dec-05, to lugnet.general)
  Re: Lego Hobby Blues
 
(...) Yes, I would concur with this. But I don't see it as being all bad. IMHO, the more choices the better for everyone. Some forums Murrfle at the drop of a hat...some seem Elitist...others are full of drivel. Take for instance JLUG - it is not (...) (19 years ago, 7-Dec-05, to lugnet.general)
  Re: Lego Hobby Blues
 
(...) I'd say some of the fun in gone, but maybe it is just out of our reach and it is up to us to make the most of it. I personnaly have so many driving and creative juices I could be occupied for the next umpteen years. Does the community hold the (...) (19 years ago, 7-Dec-05, to lugnet.general)
  Re: Lego Hobby Blues
 
(...) Then take a break. I know I have, many times. I haven't updated my website in almost a year. I've got about five completed projects that I would love to photograph and display, but I'm too busy trying to find a new career. Lego as a hobby is (...) (19 years ago, 8-Dec-05, to lugnet.general)
  Re: Lego Hobby Blues
 
(...) <snip Legofan paragraph> (...) I think your concern over your Lego hobby is a bit hard on yourself. Those of us in the 'developed world' often spend more on a burger then some families in less fortunate parts have to feed a family for a week. (...) (19 years ago, 9-Dec-05, to lugnet.general)
  Re: Lego Hobby Blues
 
In lugnet.general, Thomas Main wrote a lot (...) I will keep it short as I can as some of these are long. Swanberg is an issue because no one has done what he has or at least hasn't been caught doing it. It's a big deal because it reflects poorly on (...) (19 years ago, 9-Dec-05, to lugnet.general)
  Re: Lego Hobby Blues
 
(...) I look at my spending as a pack and a half of cigarettes a day! Face it, if you're working, paying taxes, you deserve something for yourself. I don't believe we're all here to just scrape by. Like the Rush song - ROLL THE BONES! "Why are we (...) (19 years ago, 10-Dec-05, to lugnet.general)
  Re: Lego Hobby Blues
 
Thank you for the nice personal email. I'd just like to say; you were right. Look at what just happend. I'll keep in mind what you said regarding that. e (19 years ago, 11-Dec-05, to lugnet.general)
  Re: Lego Hobby Blues
 
(...) I dunno, I think it can seem that way sometimes, but it helps me to remember all the cool sets/themes that have come out in the last few years (Star Wars, Legends, Designer series, Vikings, expanded parts packs & factory, just to name a few). (...) (19 years ago, 11-Dec-05, to lugnet.general)

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