Elrond Posted April 3, 2013 Posted April 3, 2013 The Plan Reworking of site graphics to better match American visual sensibilities. Shifting the focus of our discussions to a more American point of view. C'mon guys, how can some of you think this is serious?
Cutcobra Posted April 3, 2013 Posted April 3, 2013 Some of you guys are probably seriously tempting the Admins/Mods to leave this up as long as possible, some of the comments are so funny... Seriously though, "A rose, by any other name, still smells as sweet"... Except for the fact that Eurobricks, a normal rose, turned into Ameribricks, an edible rose that tastes delicious. (Imagine a smiley face because I don't know how to put one in this damn Ipad!)
ShaydDeGrai Posted April 3, 2013 Posted April 3, 2013 C'mon guys, how can some of you think this is serious? At this point, I think it's less about whether or not it is a joke versus whether or not it is offensive. As a one day thing, fine we all need to learn to laugh at ourselves more; leaving it up for several days is starting to irritate me and I find myself popping back to the site more to see if things have gone back to "normal" rather than to read and post about LEGO as I used to. If is is a joke - end it, it stopped being funny about two days ago. If it isn't a joke, use the fact that most people assume that it was and revert the changes to save face - all you're achieving at this point is alienating users and dividing the community.
Fuppylodders Posted April 3, 2013 Posted April 3, 2013 (edited) Even if it is a joke, if you are that mad free feel to leave. I think it isn't the best, but who cares? It's still the same site, same forums, same content, etc. And that's all that really matters. Did you not read my post at all when replying to me? "To all those 'if you don't like it then leave' people, Eurobricks staff ASKED for our opinions so gtfo your high horses, we are offering our ASKED FOR opinions." Do you own a car at all? Or a house? Did you ignore its exterior completely when choosing which car/house to buy? Despite the fact the exterior has practically no use whatsoever when actually using it. No, the homepage doesn't make a difference to the content, however, despite the fact that: The Plan Reworking of site graphics to better match American visual sensibilities. Shifting the focus of our discussions to a more American point of view. A more 'American point of view'? I think that changes the discussions (if they are at all serious with that ridiculous quote??! nationality of point of view shouldn't make any difference), and the fact that I don't want to be met with such a garish front page when finding out the latest gossip/info. Why shouldn't everything be changed over to become Chinese, seeing as they have the largest population in the world? Lets just rename the world Chinatopia,get rid of everyone's government (except China) and use Chinatopia's way of life, because, you know... Theres more Chinese people in ratio to any other.... Edited April 3, 2013 by Fuppylodders
305Bats Posted April 3, 2013 Posted April 3, 2013 So I guess it wasn't an AFD joke? Cool,I love America!
Dhivael Posted April 3, 2013 Posted April 3, 2013 My prediction-- it (clearly) was an april fool's joke, but someone is getting too many laughs watching the community flip out about it and is leaving it up for a week just to keep their source of entertainment while waiting for a BL order.
DarkFader Posted April 3, 2013 Posted April 3, 2013 (edited) Just to get all of this perfectly clear: is it still an april fools joke or is it for real and will stick? Edited April 4, 2013 by DarkFader
def Posted April 3, 2013 Posted April 3, 2013 Aside from the name change, I find the banner graphics particularly offensive. Other than the blue brick and the fact that I've eaten ostrich filets, there's nothing there that I, as an American relate to; it's a cliche mockery of how other people typically see us when Fawlty Towers needs an obnoxious guest character or when Woody Allen introduces pretty much any American who doesn't live in Manhattan. I've played exactly one game of (American) football in my life and don't even bother watching the Superbowl. I've never worn a cowboy hat (or outside of a Halloween Party) met anyone who does and it really bothers me when watching the opening ceremony of the Olympics every few years and they dress up the US team like Country Western singers. As much as I myself as a Canadian living in Asia find the need for rebranding stupid, the images in the banner are not there to be offensive stereotypes. They are there to recognise America's contributions to world culture. American football is known so because it is an American sport. Regardless of how many cowboy movies Italian directors made, the 'cowboy' is a creation of America. It's really important for people to tell the difference between a stereotype and a tribute to the great world icons America has produced. This is a big shift, so consider that it's a little bolder for its premiere. I expect future banners to be less focusing on Americana I find myself popping back to the site more to see if things have gone back to "normal" rather than to read and post about LEGO as I used to. Was the rest of the forum taken away? You have the power! Click that mouse and look at other topics!
The Penguin Posted April 3, 2013 Posted April 3, 2013 That is NOT democracy, that is dictatorship, for all you 'that's democracy for ya!' people, try learning something. None of the people were asked in a vote, it was just done. Oh, please! In your homecountry do you really vote for every single decision of the authorities? No! Because you trust them, you trust the people who make it better for you. Unless you don't trust our Mods and Regs staff?! For the record, I consider myself to be first generation "American" and I am a U.S. Citizen (my dad earned his U.S. citizenship fighting in Korea - I was born and raised in the U.S.) I served my country for ten years as a special consultant for the government, particularly in the areas of defense, intelligence and law enforcement and let me tell you, I do not find "Ameribricks" particularly welcoming or attractive. If anything I think it promotes the worst of "American" stereotypes and belittles the distinguished (and inclusive) history of this site. Perhaps, you have not genetically adapted to American life yet? Good day, ladies and gentlemen! )
Sam892 Posted April 3, 2013 Posted April 3, 2013 Was this ever funny? As far as I can see this thread has just been an opportunity for people to spout out American stereotypes, or America is better than ever where else crap. Now that its slowly spilling to other topics its gone to far. It's also become a great place to insult other members point of views. I personally would have thought that once this started happening that this joke would have ended.
Fuppylodders Posted April 3, 2013 Posted April 3, 2013 Unless you don't trust our Mods and Regs staff?! I did... Until now...
RaincloudDustbin Posted April 3, 2013 Posted April 3, 2013 Oh, please! In your homecountry do you really vote for every single decision of the authorities? No! Because you trust them, you trust the people who make it better for you. Unless you don't trust our Mods and Regs staff?! Good day, ladies and gentlemen! ) This is a rather big decision though isn't it. Where I live, you vote on BIG decisions...
The Joker1 Posted April 3, 2013 Posted April 3, 2013 Oh this is real... I'm not sure I will ever get used to this. And i'm sure this will be most upsetting to many people. Maybe we should create a twin site with a more European name and we should collaborate with one another. But our site is more Eurobe based, I would be glad to help see a large project like that through. And im sure we have some European computer wizards amoung us who would be happy to help? Also i'm still dubious of this whole affair. As I have worked with a major internet web design company for a while I know big steps like this are VERY serious. And im sure the staff wouldnt just jump into something like this without any indication whatsoever. Just think of the Administrative issues, User issues, Site reference issues, Web-search issues, History issues...
Jedi master Brick Posted April 3, 2013 Posted April 3, 2013 Does anyone remember that the April fools day joke last year lasted a few days. If this was real it would not of been announced on April fools day and it would it would not mention "Shifting the focus of our discussions to a more American point of view. Some of you need to get a sense of humour.
ShaydDeGrai Posted April 3, 2013 Posted April 3, 2013 As much as I myself as a Canadian living in Asia find the need for rebranding stupid, the images in the banner are not there to be offensive stereotypes. They are there to recognise America's contributions to world culture. American football is known so because it is an American sport. ... (snip) America is also to blame for marketing watered down/"lite" beer, NASCAR, and reality TV shows about 3rd grade drop-outs with severe tooth decay who wrestle alligators for a living, but I'd really prefer that these not be the first thing people think of when I tell them I'm an American. Regardless of how many cowboy movies Italian directors made, the 'cowboy' is a creation of America. Actually, the cowboy is a creation of Spain. The vaquero were wrangling cattle and hanging out in their haciendas for a century before bringing their traditions to Mexico and South America. Romanticized stories of cowboys and bandits first appeared in English in the early 1700's. Cowboy traditions migrated to the US after the Mexican-American War (1848) but didn't really come into it's own as (an American tradition) until after the civil war (1860's) and fell into a long slow decline after the closing of the frontier (1890's). Like the short lived Pony Express, the notion of an "American Cowboy" is more a romanticized/marketing promotion than a realistic slice of history. Over hyped "Wild West Shows" travelled the country pushing as much fiction as fact and trying to tease the imaginations of the general public with revisionist tales of an "Old West" that never really existed (as least as recounted to rich, white city dwellers). In reality, cowboys are and always have been a small segment of the population and a highly localized phenomenon. Now if you're saying that the "cowboy" is a "recreation" of America (that is to say, take something with foreign roots, rebrand it as your own, gloss over inconvenient facts, and market the hell out of it until most people don't remember the truth of it's origins), well then I wholeheartedly agree with you. It's really important for people to tell the difference between a stereotype and a tribute to the great world icons America has produced. I whole-heartedly agree with you there, where we differ is in what constitutes a "great world icon." I'd rather be associated with the moon landing than the Superbowl. There are a lot of great things about America that aren't tired cliches - unfortunately cowboys and football are none of them. Was the rest of the forum taken away? No, but being greeted by the "Ameribricks" banner just rubs me the wrong way and encourages me to click on other bookmarks rather than browsing here. It's childish, I know, but I'm just in the wrong mood to look past it right now. I can say that, were I newbie and I found a forum called "Ameribricks" with the sort of "Bob Roberts"-esque banner on the splash screen, I don't know that I'd stick around long enough to realize there's great content underneath.
Hive Posted April 3, 2013 Posted April 3, 2013 This is one really hilarious April Fool's joke. And the responses only makes it better. Well played, guys.
Flying Ace Posted April 3, 2013 Posted April 3, 2013 (edited) To get away from all this back and forth, here is a little philosophizing from a US citizen: On Monday, our famiily visited the Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine. This impressive masonry fort was built by the Spanish over 300 years ago and has been, at various times, under the control of the Spanish, the British, the United States, and the Confederacy. Although it is now owned and maintained by the US National Park Service, its history and heritage are openly discussed and demonstrated. To the north of where I live (Jacksonville, FL), there is also Fort Caroline, which was for a time a French settlement. We also just finished reading, as a family, a biography of Noah Webster, who wrote the first American English dictionary, a 25 year life's work. Although he wrote most of it in the United States, I found it intriguing that he really felt like he could not complete it without spending time studying in the great libraries in Paris, France and London, England. Even though he was born in colonial Connecticut and had lived through the Revolution (and even served briefly under General Washington), he knew where his culture came from. The USA probably would not have won independence without the aid of Spain and France. The Statue of Liberty represented in the banner above was a gift from France (and by the way she's flipped, the torch should be in her right hand). Of course, there are many more influences from these and many more countries. The United States may not be part of Europe, but Europe will always be a part of the United States. Now back to the fun... Edited April 3, 2013 by Flying Ace
Mr Man Posted April 3, 2013 Posted April 3, 2013 Funny how much humour is missing here. Some of you need to get a sense of humour. We may have to drop the 'U' soon .
Ecclesiastes Posted April 3, 2013 Posted April 3, 2013 Does anyone remember that the April fools day joke last year lasted a few days. Yes, and this one is less annoying, because no certain words get changed now Just let the Americans have their moment
Lyichir Posted April 3, 2013 Posted April 3, 2013 All these party poopers need to relax. If it is a joke, (it is) I don't think it's getting old. On the contrary, I think it gets better and better as the days wear on. Everyone expects a joke on April Fools. Then the joke becomes that it wasn't a joke, and people begin to get worried. And maybe, just maybe, when all is said and done, the joke becomes that it was in fact a joke all along, and everyone gets to smile and laugh. The only thing that's getting old is the people who can't play along, who will look very silly when this is all over. So, does Ameribricks have any very American contests, sweepstakes, or other events planned?
Scubacarrot Posted April 3, 2013 Posted April 3, 2013 Little piece of advice, the longer you get on over how this is a bad change and it is offensive and so on, the longer the banner will stay up. Also remember it takes (some) work for the admins to change the banner back, you can't expect them to do it at once. Also let's all stop and appreciate how cool the banner actually is, I think it's photographed very nicely. Appreciate your admins, guys, Ameribricks isn't a paid service, they do this with their own time. I think the admins are allowed to have their fun for a while, don't you?
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