Subject:
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Re: Questions about fan involvement with TLC
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.general
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Date:
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Tue, 11 Apr 2006 01:17:16 GMT
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First, I am currently under 2 NDA's (Ambassador and MDP).
>
> Q1. Are the NDA keeping our most prolific quiet? (Aside from the obvious, I
> understand they can't discuss certain things, but are there people that would
> have been posting otherwise that are now remaining silent, in fear that even
> guessing or hypothesising might end up being factual, and then be some violation
> of their agreement?)
Personally, I had become much less prolific here on LUGNET long before signing a
single NDA. Most of my efforts and attention had turned to my local club where
I am a member of the EC and Webmaster. I never saw my involvement with my club
suffer at all due to my NDA. Of course it helps that my club is very good about
not asking me awkward questions.
As a whole I would say that those under NDA tend to err on the side of caution
which means we don't talk about as much as we could/should. Being on my 3rd
cycle as an Ambassador I have become much more comfortable with what I can and
cannot share. The NDA doesn't mean I can't participate or talk about the things
I like to do. It also doesn't mean I can't comment on things that I know are
public knowledge. It is also nice to know you can be critical of LEGO and they
won't kick you out of the program you are involved in. Occasionally I think
that gets in the way for folks, especially those new to being under NDA.
>
> Q2. Is this hindering or benefiting our communication as a community?
Hard to say, it probably depends on the NDA. For me the MDP NDA isn't hindering
anything, it is a relatively short NDA with a clear end date. That makes it
easy to go about your business knowing you will be able to talk freely very
soon.
On the other hand the Ambassador NDA can be much more restrictive. Some things
that the Ambassadors have learned under NDA won't be public for years, that is
tough. Other things we learn are not as much of a problem. I will say that
from first hand experiance the Ambassadors have been given information at times
and we have ask (some might say fought) for the right to announce it to the
community. Usually we don't get that priviledge but as you have all seen, in
the last few weeks we have been successful in fighting for our right to give
certain information to the community (even if it might be bad news).
Overall I think this is good and will get better as LEGO grows more confident in
the programs under NDA. I also think it is good to have an Ambassador group
with a core of multi-cycle members mixed with first timers. This keeps new
blood in the group but keeps folks that are confident in there role in place.
>
> Q3. a) Is the help/advice/feedback those under an NDA are providing to Lego
> really being taken in account, or it just be considerd dandling carrot by the
> company? (2)
Great question. I guess I have to say both but lean more towards the "Dangling
Carrot" with things starting to move towards our feedback being considered
valuable. It is a process and LEGO is a big company where a new process can
take time to mature and take hold.
> b) If so (based on Q3a), is this a reasonable price to pay to have so many
> of our high profile members unable to discuss things openly?
To an extent yes, only because I have seen some pretty cool stuff which I can't
talk about... With that said, I think those of us under NDA need to make an
effort to keep our public profile high. I personally have taken an interest in
doing what I can to save 9v trains. This could only be done because LEGO
authorized us to make something public. My efforts in this regard don't break
any NDA and helps put me back on the public AFOL map, at least temporarily.
Now will we get information like we did on 9v trains often? I doubt it, there
just are that many products so in tune with the Adult community. If they ever
canceled Mindstorms it would cause a similar effect but little else I can think
of would. That is because you don't need Star Wars sets to make Star Wars
models but you need an RCX/NXT to build a robot and you need 9v Track and Motors
to be able to do large scale model railroading.
Imagine if no AFOL's were under NDA and LEGO Announced tomorrow that 9v trains
were discontinued. It would be the color issue all over again just maybe even
more damaging to the adult community. Now we have a chance, even if it is a
slim one, to effect a decision within LEGO. That would not have happened if
AFOL's didn't have inside information.
>
> Q4. Are members spending many of their community hours behind the scenes that
> they don't have time as much free time to dedicate to the public forums that
> they once had?
Unfortunately yes. This is somewhat my fault, I bit off a little more than I
could chew. Fortunatly the NXT program will have the first part of its NDA
lifted soon so that will start freeing me a little from my responsibilities.
This whole 9v trains deal was also unexpected and is now taking a considerable
amount of my time. I just hope I am around in a year to see if it bears any
fruit at all.
Honestly, my biggest problem isn't interacting with the community. It is
actually building with LEGO and coming up with new MOC's and ideas. Eventually
this will have to change or I will pull myself out of my NDA groups. I still
need to build to enjoy the hobby.
>
> Q5. If the individual departments within TLC alone can not corelate information
> with each other in a timely manner, are they capable of doing so with the
> various fan/company groups they are spearheading?
My personal hope is that fan groups may actually help internal LEGO
communications over time. One thing I have definitely learned is that the
information you get from one group in LEGO does not always corralate with what
another group says. In those instances fans can actually help get everyone on
the same page.
>
> Curious,
>
> Janey "Red Brick"
Great questions, I hope my answers were helpful.
-Eric
LEGO Ambassador
http://save.9vtrains.com/
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Questions about fan involvement with TLC
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| After an interesting chat about "Fan involvement with TLC" the other night, a few concerns/questions came up, and I can't seem to shake them. Historically a large portion of AfoL/ALE's have wanted a closer relationship with TLC and over the last few (...) (19 years ago, 10-Apr-06, to lugnet.general) !!
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