The Future of Brickset Forums - Committee Members Needed

Switchfoot55

In an effort to get the conversation moving sooner than later, I wanted to solidify a committee of sorts among the forum users who would work in conjunction with Huw to narrow down options, determine new minimum operating standards, and test options in order to have a seamless transition once the current subscription closes out. 

A few have already expressed interest in the Forum Closure 2023 thread. I'll ask that if you've already done so there, that you again indicate your interest here. 

I'll keep this initial phase open for at least a couple of weeks so we don't miss anyone. From there, the group as a whole can determine the most ideal way to communicate and pass along ideas, thoughts, and questions. 

Although I may be the one starting this thread, I am by no means taking the controls over. I'm not "in charge," but simply a member of the community that is committed to seeing it stick around for as long as possible. If necessary, we can elect a main point person, though it may not be necessary in the long run. 

I'm looking forward to getting some options nailed down and helping bridge the gap between what is and what will be! Thank you for your interest, whether you decide to join or not!

Keilup

I'd be happy to help out where I can.  I don't post a lot but been around since 2016.  I've really enjoyed this forum and will say that this forum along with Brickset itself are my primary sources of all things Lego. I come here more than pretty much anywhere else on the Web.  If this shuts down I honestly have no idea how or where I'd fill the void.

I wouldn't be a good person to be a "lead", but I certainly will be happy to provide constructive feedback, opinions, do some brainstorming, some research, test things out etc.

pxchris

Count me in!

Russell844

I'm in still.

560Heliport

I'm very much non-tech-savvy: I've never owned a computer. So I don't know what I could do to help, but maybe this makes me a good guinea pig for potential user-friendliness issues of whatever we end up doing? I certainly don't want to lose this forum. 

M_Boss

I know I haven’t messaged here in a long time, but if people want help exploring Discord as an option, I’ve been using it for a few years now and run a server of my own, so I can provide some insight there.

Modeltrainman

Count me in, even if that just means listening.

sklamb

Like several others on this thread, I'm not very tech savvy, but I've enjoyed the Brickset forum for many years and would be glad to help do something to keep it from shutting down.

Fizyx

My job makes it hard for me to commit to something like a committee, as it's pretty unpredictable... but I would certainly be happy to chip in cash as I can and help as I can as well.

Umandraug

I don’t know how I can help, but I’m open to helping.

BooTheMightyHamster

Count me in.

Lo1sJess

I’m in for whatever I can do.  Not at all tech savvy.

MaffyD

I'm here for it. Discord is familiar to me (fwiw). 

truck730

I'm not techy either but this is my home and I'd love it to stay for the excellence it is. My LUG has a forum and WhatsApp is where they're gone so I'm All alone there. My "can and wire" tech has left me out of touch there!

Mr_Cross

I'll struggle to commit much time to the logistics of it and IT is not my field. I don't really want to lose the forum and would like to help in some way, even if it's only as a sounding board. 

samiam391

Mr_Cross said:

I'll struggle to commit much time to the logistics of it and IT is not my field. I don't really want to lose the forum and would like to help in some way, even if it's only as a sounding board. 

I'd echo this... I'll pretty much be useless for setting anything up but will move to wherever this goes and will be happy to provide feedback on ideas!

jmeninno

Ditto a lot of the above.  Not with the times technically speaking but happy to try to help as family obligations and life in general allow.

im2cre8iv

I’m a backend web developer, but most of my experience is in C#, .NET, and Azure. I am
happy to help in whatever capacity I can

lowlead

*holds two danish pastries on head*

General, count me in.

jason1976

I'm happy to help out too - may not be available all the time because of work and life but will help where I can

WesterBricks

I don't have any experience administering or moderating a forum, but I've used plenty of them in my decades of life. I'm happy to test candidates and give feedback along the way.

1265

Just like Myspace...let it die.

Redbullgivesuwind

I don’t have much tech experience. But I am happy to help in any other way. 

Brainslugged

I'd be interested in whatever capacity was required. I'd really miss the forum if we lost it.

Switchfoot55

Thank you to all who have expressed interest in helping move this forward. It sounds like there may be two (or more) camps of people. If I may stretch some generalized buckets, there seem to be a group willing to help flesh out ideas and a group willing to help test ideas. Perhaps that doesn't quite do it justice, but maybe is a starting point. 

We can have anyone else chime in over the next couple of days, and then I can work to put together a rough-draft list of those who have expressed interest and then we can work toward our first "meeting" of sorts. Still not entirely sure what the best way to facilitate a larger group conversation might be. (If you have any ideas, I'm open to suggestions!)

I appreciate all those who have already expressed a desire to help see us into the next stage of Brickset forums!

Oldfan

I'd be happy to help flesh out ideas. There's lots of good things in the forums that should be preserved and/or continued in some form.

masterX244

Oldfan said:

I'd be happy to help flesh out ideas. There's lots of good things in the forums that should be preserved and/or continued in some form.

Best to have a month of read-only on the old subscription, that way a full dump can be pulled and stored on the internet archive (i did that before the first closure announcement already)

LinuxBrickie

Happy to volunteer for committee and/or technical help. Been using discord for some time now and am about to start writing a discord bot. Basically a software developer with time on his hands atm.

MorkMan

@Switchfoot55 I’m interested. Disregard my DM!

Switchfoot55

Alright, hopefully we've given a solid chance for all those who are interested to assist in the conversation of what comes next a time to respond. I'd say the door certainly isn't closed if others happen to want to join or have a great idea/solution. 

I've done my best interpreting responses and divided everyone into one of two groups. I hope my assumptions haven't/won't offend anyone. If you feel you'd like to be in another group, by all means, please let me know. Again, I don't plan on being THE leader, just hoping to help facilitate some productive conversation. 

I've titled the two groups Focus Group and Testers. My initial thought is that the Focus Group can discuss potential options for the future of the forum. Platforms, current forum history transfers, user models, etc... The Testers would then come along side and help support some test runs. I know Discord has been discussed several times. I feel a larger sample size of users helping test it's functionality may be a good stress test to see if it is a viable option. Plenty of other options as well that could use testing. 

Again, if you want to be moved groups or want to be removed altogether, just say something. 

Focus Group:
@Huw, Switchfoot55, @pxchris, @Russell844, @M_Boss, @Modeltrainman, @BooTheMightyHamster, @Lo1sJess, @MaffyD, @Mr_Cross, @im2cre8iv, @lowlead, @Brainslugged, @oldfan, @LinuxBrickie, and @MorkMan

Testers: 
@Keilup, @560Heliport, @sklamb, @Fizyx, @Umandraug, @truck730, @samiam391, @jmeninno, @jason1976, @WesterBricks, @Redbullgivesuwind

I'll let this simmer for a day or two and then we can determine the best way for the larger group to interact. My initial thought is a Discord server as we can track the conversation and compartmentalize things a bit. A running message thread may get out of hand (and I think is also limited to the number of users that can be on it at any one time). If anyone else has a creative idea for ways the larger group can chat, please chime in!

Thank you to everyone who has expressed a desire to support the future of the forum and our collective community!