Is LUGNET finally melting down??

[gylman]

For those who aren't following this.... it is a kind of a sick entertainment.

I think the LUGNET mods truly have decided to let the place fall apart

Sad though. Let's not let EB ever get like this.

CAUTION: profanity alert.

http://news.lugnet.com/general/?n=52392

[Mister Phes]

They obviously don't have a torture chamber...

[Deinonychus]

They obviously don't have a torture chamber...

wait...we do? 8-|

[Cutty]

They obviously don't have a torture chamber...

wait...we do? 8-|

Mais oui! Every european message-board has one! Didn't you know? Don't forget, we in Europe invented the spanish inquisition... ;-)

Seriously, I don't find much appeal in Lugnet where a posse of Brickfest-chums socialize and blow sugary compliments up each others arses...or release hell on each other.

Thy might not have such a kiddy-problem like other sites (EB included) but given the shite that unrolls there from time to time I think the overall difference in posting habits is miniscule and neglible...though our crash-kids here might not know any better due to age...the mature crowd on Lugnet however...well, I think my point is clear.

I thank the powers that be, or our wonderful admins for that matter ;-) , for this nice refuge of good-clean-fun which is EB.

Although: Lugnet has it's benefits! When they highlight a Moc there it is, by good chance, truely a beautiful accomplishment in Lego, which is of course what it all should be about.

[Jipay]

I think Lugnet will end up by a lack of new members one day. Nobody understand how it works anymore, it seems pretty messy and not really user friendly. I think most of the newcomer afols will prefer smaller websiets and forums. I think there's one thing missing on Lugnet : the powerfull admins that kick megablocks :P

As for the torture chamber, yes we do have an hidden forum called like that... For special purpose only >:-)

[snefroe]

g... i had no idea it was that bad at lugnet...

we had a member insulting another member thru pm once. the admins took care of that very quickly, as it should...

i don't think it's our place to tell any other website what to do, however, i think it needs a facelift. i never joined lugnet because it was waaaay too complicated, too many newsgroups... i do hope they stick around tho, their database is a lifeline for me...

[Kikuichimonji]

Jipay is right. I'm just not willing to pay to sign up over there, and I think I'm not alone in that. They won't be getting lots of new members and eventually it might fade out...

Plus, the way is the message board is set up is not userfriendly. It's hard to follow a discussion. Most boards work like EB, which is a lot more userfriendly for that matter (don't know about the rest, I don't visit LUGNET that much ;-) ).

[Mister Phes]

I agree the default layout of LUGNET is horrible! But there are options down the bottom to change the layout to make it somewhat more comprehensible. Clicking Nested: All changes the layout to a format similiar to Eurobricks threads.

Why does LUGNET require a manditory donation when signing up? Is it because their server gets so much traffic they need extra funds to pay for hosting and bandwidth, or does the management pocket it all?

[The Hordesman]

Hmm... Its wierd Lugnet still exist, all one hear about it is pretty much bad. Sure, all the big guys are there, but its so... Unattractive. And now flamewars.

Kids spam, adults troll. its the same intellectual level, but used by different age groups.

[Hobbes]

Plus, the way is the message board is set up is not userfriendly. It's hard to follow a discussion. Most boards work like EB, which is a lot more userfriendly for that matter (don't know about the rest, I don't visit LUGNET that much ;-) ).

That's because LUGNET actually is a usenet platform. What you see is not a message board but rather a webinterface for newsgroups. With a news reader it's a bit easier to read (Outlook Express suffices, although many don't see it as a real news reader)...

[SuvieD]

Lugnet is not dead or falling apart yet. If the current admin will release the site like Jake suggested I think it can have a good period of revival. Perhaps even growing as it should have been for the last five years. It has features that are very valuable and with some help it could become the great LEGO hub many have sought after. On the other hand if it is not released it will indeed die and become a ghost site.

Either way Eurobricks is still the best LEGO forum around. Jipay and crew keep a tight ship and are not afraid to make the deserving walk the plank. *skull*

We love you Eurobricks! *wub*

[blueandwhite]

I think LUGNET fills a much-needed void in the LEGO community, and it would be an utter shame if it should fail. For years, LUGNET was the premier site for builders. It was a sight that one could go to, looking for building tips, and good advice from some of the best AFOL builders in the world. Now, it looks as if most European experts have abandoned LUGNET alltogether (opting for alternatives such as 1000steine), and those who are left constantly flame each other. Newer members asking for advice or criticism are outright ignored.

The problem is, no other site offers a viable alternative to the avid builder. Sites like Classic-Castle, Eurobricks, and FBTB cater to different crowds. These sites are certainly essential to the AFOL community, but they don't offer the same support to builders looking to improve their work. This was LUGNET's biggest selling point. Moreover, theme-specific sites seem to have a splintering effect, driving a wedge between different types of builders. LUGNET used to be something of a central hub where any fan could discuss anything LEGO related.

Don't get me wrong, I love Eurobricks. The thing is, there just isn't the same focus on MOCing here. Most of the heavyweights of the MOCing world don't frequent this site. Eurobricks is oriented towards the set collector more than the LEGO MOCing crowd. Yes, there are some excellent MOCers who visit these boards, however many of the best do not. This, more than anything is what I will miss if LUGNET dies.

Later.

[Jipay]

Actually there is a special forum dedicated to MOCers where the bests are supposely hidding, exchanging tips on how to build better MOCs. But you have to be invited to register.

As for the Mocs, yes we do not focus on this, but neither on the collecting aspect. In fact we've never focussed on anything else than creating a place where people don't get insulted and can share their interest in this wonderfull hobby. We are also more focussed on the global european AFOL population, and in contrary to 1000steine, we use a more accessible language (Deutsch is sehr schwer...)

back on Lugnet, I think the fact it's aimed at some sort of elitist MOCers (even if it wasn't the initial intention) can only bring problem, most of them having a terrible ego. I think MOC related things should be left to brickshelf : no comments, only the model itself, and eventually a small note from the creator, or a subfolder explaining the technique used.

[Mithrandir]

My take:

- It's rather difficult to post things there. I managed to post a few things once, but haven't been able to for the past 8 months. Every time I post something, it says I need to log on, and when I do, it doesn't post it. So after 5 different attempts, I just gave up and found a better place to talk (here).

- It's also pretty difficult to navigate the posts. Yes, I know it's usenet; but there's a reason most people stopped using usenet a long time ago (heck, I'm willing to wager more than 70% of internet users now have NEVER used usenet); it's just organized badly.

- Lack of discussion; no doubt caused by the first two problems I listed. I go into the technic forums and there hasn't been posts made in months; or maybe once every 3 weeks or so.

So that's why I come here.

Other sites:

Legofan - very low frequency of posts, not very interesting

FBTB - too much bias against non-starwars Lego. Yeah, it's a star wars site, but still...

[Sting]

Lugnet's 'messageboard' is very time consuming and annoying to navigate. I dont even know what a newsgroup is or anything that Hobbes talked about (Outlook Express is that e-mail program... right? LOL).

The site is incredibly important. Its database saved my life and continues to save it. I dont bother reading the news much anymore... the good people here on Eurobricks will post all the best MOCs and we get the news before I hear it anywhere else usually (except maybe that 1000stiene... which is German so I dont even know what 1000stiene means :().

I love this site... I get everything I need here... I just wish the forums were a little more active... this thread wont have another reply for hours... for a computer addict like me... thats too long!

Longlive Eurobricks and longlive Lugnet!

[snefroe]

still, lugnet is degrading tho... how many of the links on their "links" section still works, you wonder? i'm too tired to figure it out, but the website needs some serious maintenance job!

and i guess that's what's wrong with it: there just is no community anymore that's holding the site together and i think there are 2 reasons for that:

1) Lugnet was around when all the other, specialised websites still had be set up. Lugnet was your only choice. Now we have dozens of sites. Lugnet, as a forum, or even a database, is no longer essential to the larger community.

2) as, for instance, a castle mocer, you're beter off showing your mocs via brickshelf and announce it at the classic castle website. after all, many builders want feedback of castle builders, not the sw freaks, belville lovers or bionicle addicts. So why bother going to Lugnet? The people you want are on classic castle.

but i agree about the EB problem, we need more active members. The thing is, they're difficult to find and i don't think the board can do more then they're doing already. it's just a question of time, really...

[Jipay]

Well we could do more, and we are actully doing MUCH more, but the work can't be seen yet lol. We also have real life, and this doesn't help *skull* .

We also try to grow slowly because everytime we have a quick growth in term of members, some little annoying kids appear and mess everything up all around.

[Norro]

Delicately balances 'lugnet defending hat' on head-

Lugnet has a lot to be said for it. It is the only site that keeps all building disciplines under one roof and allows ideas to flourish and cross fertilisation to take place. ie I am a huge castle fan but can go and be struck by a huge space ship and then find it is backed by a whole newsgroup (not just the same people with a diff MOC). It's database is also unrivaled (still!). And (without belittling EB, which I love) the MOC quality on Lugnet can not be matched by any of the syphoned off communities. I also love the posting style, the formal and slightly longer structure leads to well thought out constructive criticism and less one line 'wow' posting or childish interjections. If a poor MOC is posted on Lugnet it does not get a great deal of praise (and in the old more friendly days I could guarantee it would get some help and no rude remarks). I find it annoying when I post a MOC on cc and get say 12-15 replys for a 6ft castle and then swarms of kids fill pages with praise for a baseplate with some bricks on it or basic set modification... that neverhappened on Lugnet. I should also note it is free to post on Lugnet (I did for several years) the fee allows you to personalize the database i.e. store a complete set list with pics/tallied piece count/ and instruction links. on lugent.

see my much better written defence of Lugnet on cc: here

I should add, I love EB and post more here than anywhere else. I just also lave the Lugnet concept and wished it still held...

God Bless,

Nathan

[gylman]

Don't really have much to add on this, but can't resist

<strikes a thoughtful pose>

Lugnet is a resource

EB / CC/ FTBT /BZP are communities.

The total disintegration of Lugnet would be a disaster for the AFOL world. So much information buried in those obscure usenet postings, the set database and its links.... It would be devastating.

Obviously it should be turned over to new hands, and either reorganized as a giant database, or into a modern forum setup like EB or CC or whatever.

[Norro]

Lugnet is a resource

EB / CC/ FTBT /BZP are communities.

Respect where respect is do... Lugnet was a community long before the others existed and I would still not treat it as merely a resource...

God Bless,

Nathan

[Hobbes]

Lugnet's 'messageboard' is very time consuming and annoying to navigate. I dont even know what a newsgroup is or anything that Hobbes talked about (Outlook Express is that e-mail program... right? LOL).

Yes, it is, with a "built-in" news reader. In case you're interested: What is Usenet?

(except maybe that 1000stiene... which is German so I dont even know what 1000stiene means :().

Stein actually means rock. In this case, though, it's short for Baustein, which means brick. Steine is the plural, so 1000steine means 1000bricks.

hth :-)

[Chuck]

They obviously don't have a torture chamber...

wait...we do? 8-|

Mais oui! Every european message-board has one! Didn't you know? Don't forget, we in Europe invented the spanish inquisition... ;-)

Seriously, I don't find much appeal in Lugnet where a posse of Brickfest-chums socialize and blow sugary compliments up each others arses...or release hell on each other.

Thy might not have such a kiddy-problem like other sites (EB included) but given the shite that unrolls there from time to time I think the overall difference in posting habits is miniscule and neglible...though our crash-kids here might not know any better due to age...the mature crowd on Lugnet however...well, I think my point is clear.

I thank the powers that be, or our wonderful admins for that matter ;-) , for this nice refuge of good-clean-fun which is EB.

Although: Lugnet has it's benefits! When they highlight a Moc there it is, by good chance, truely a beautiful accomplishment in Lego, which is of course what it all should be about.

Some kids know better, I' m still here, aren't I?

-l2k-