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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.
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 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.
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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