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Purists are idiots.
I can’t think of another situation in which someone would have this kind of
insane brand loyalty when working with a particular medium.
“Get that Grumbacher oil paint out of my studio, it’s Winsor & Newton or nothing
for me!!!” When quality is that much of an issue for someone, niether brand
will do -- one would have to mix and grind paint down from oil bases and dry
pigments with a mortar and pestle. Yes, I know what I am talking about...
Is there a quality difference between TLC manufactured bricks and clone made
bricks? Often the answer would have to be a resounding “Yes.” If the clone
bricks in question were Tyco bricks the answer would be “No.” And if the clone
bricks were Mega Bloks the answer would be “It depends.” And it would depend on
the age of the set, the product line from which the bricks originate, and the
actual design of the bricks in question -- some items made by MB are vastly
superior to their TLC counterparts, if they even have a TLC analogous element in
the first place. I couldn’t build a lot of my stuff with TLC only elements --
it’s frankly too limiting.
But if Terry’s attitude is correct for 99% of lugnet members then my Castle
Blacktron might as well not be documented online at all I suppose. A lot of it
is custom, and a lot of the rest often includes at least some clone elements.
With that said, I’d also assert that Castle Blacktron stuff is 99% TLC elements.
When I see a MOC that includes a clone element I often note a gap in the
marketplace where TLC itself has left a competitor an “in.” I otherwise don’t
care at all. If TLC made all the good stuff that’s out there, we wouldn’t be
having this little discussion, but they don’t. A lot of good stuff is made by
others -- the clone brands.
Because a recent racial issue has reared it’s ugly head in off-topic.debate, I
can’t help but feel there’s an analogy in there somewhere...aren’t TLC purists
actually a kind of xenophobic brand loyalist?
If I blindfolded you and gave you a TLC brick in one hand, and a Tyco brick in
the other, I’d then defy you to tell the difference from quality alone. The
blindfold would be necessary only because of branding marks on the bricks
themselves and not because of some sort of visual defect. While not perfectly
identical to TLC bricks, many clones bricks are at least as good as TLC bricks
-- certainly as regards their actual use, what one actually does with them. If
the quality of the elements alone is your basis for comparison, I’d have to
assert that Tyco quality is actually better. The clutch strength is slightly
tighter and the bricks are strangely resistant to normal wear -- over time they
show very little play wear or abrasions.
Bah!
Dave!’s stuff is very heavy on the clones bricks -- that’s his whole thing. In
fairness to the way this site is organized, I don’t have a problem with Dave!
posting his clone MOCs only in off-topic.clone-brands. Those of us that care to
see them will see them there. Ultimately, it must be admitted that a place has
been made for Dave!’s unique contributions. But then, his stuff tends to be
100% clone bricks. And 100% clone MOCs DO have a home.
But this 100% purity or nothing crap is madness. Utterly.
I don’t mind the odd clone element here or there at all, and I can’t see why
anyone else would either. People have been carving, painting, and redesigning
elements slightly for a long time. TLC even benefits from this, I feel sure.
I could easily argue that this TLC element:
 is based on a design of my own:
http://www.freewebs.com/raininmysoup/wingattachment.html.
Too much is made of purity, some percentage of clone stuff has always been okay.
100% clone or custom stuff should probably go to off-topic.
-- Hop-Frog
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Message has 5 Replies:
 | | Re: A serious clone question
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| (...) I resemble that remark!!! But in all seriousness Richard, labelling purists idiots I find very arrogant and just a little offensive - it is simply a choice some people make, maybe for brand loyalty, maybe for a greater challenge - whatever the (...) (21 years ago, 16-Aug-03, to lugnet.off-topic.clone-brands, FTX)
| | | Re: A serious clone question
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| (...) And such affirmation is too. I don't think i'm an idiot because I don't appreciate clones, but nontheless, your answer was purely provocative and I won't sink to the level of excusing myself or saying that i'm a purist or not. Purists are (...) (21 years ago, 17-Aug-03, to lugnet.off-topic.clone-brands, FTX)
| | | Re: A serious clone question
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| (...) You made a typo there. It's spelled "s-e-l-e-c-t-i-v-e". Either that or "d-i-s-c-e-r-n-i-n-g", depending on the exact meaning you were shooting for. (...) Really? Have you ever talked to people who customize cars (there are some who only (...) (21 years ago, 18-Aug-03, to lugnet.off-topic.clone-brands, FTX)
| | | Re: A serious clone question
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| (...) heh, the same could be said for those that call people idiots ;) (...) I seriously doubt you can. Maybe it will make you feel better, maybe you can feel like Lego stole your idea - but I disagree 100%. I think its safe to say that part spawned (...) (21 years ago, 19-Aug-03, to lugnet.off-topic.clone-brands, FTX)
| | | Re: A serious clone question
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| (...) Good to see you keep an open mind:0) I can tell the difference between Lego and Clones -any clone- simply from the sound. They sound cheap and they are cheap. In respone to your paint analogy- An artist uses quality products not cheap knock (...) (21 years ago, 19-Aug-03, to lugnet.off-topic.clone-brands, FTX)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: A serious clone question
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| In lugnet.off-topic.clone-brands, Terry Prosper wrote: **snip of my clones-ok-in-the-MOC-group question*** (...) Makes sense. That's why I thought a feeler question was a better way to start than with a dozen "Hey Look At My Clones" postings. (...) (...) (21 years ago, 15-Aug-03, to lugnet.off-topic.clone-brands)
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