Introducing the Brick Alliance and the 2022 Polybag Project

Brickset.com

When you think of organised LEGO fan groups, most think of Recognized LEGO User Groups (RLUGs), online communities (RLOCs) or fan media (RLFMs). What happens when a group of these organisations find a common mission for which to advocate? The answer, at least in one case, was the formation of the Brick Alliance. Read on to learn more about the Brick Alliance and their 2022 Polybag Project (which you can join if you’re interested).

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Source: https://brickset.com/article/73476

BooTheMightyHamster

I understand why the main article was locked off for comments, so if a Mod wanted to delete this and lock the post, I'm fine with that.

@Huw, @CapnRex101, @MeganL

First off, hats off to MeganL and the other organisers for putting this together.  It's hard to imagine a less exclusionary hobby, but I've largely given up trying to understand this crazy world and the people who live in it.  Let's hope that the Bat Signal will quickly grow dusty though lack of use. 

It's hard, though, to put yourself in someone else's shoes.  When I read the comment about the Meme (the man asking the woman's permission to buy Lego), I recognised it and thought, yes.  That is demeaning towards men.  It simultaneously emancipates them and makes them look childish.  Then I read on, and it appears (and please correct me if I'm wrong) that from a few/some/many/all women's point of view, it's demeaning to them.

That made me think, which is a) challenging at the best of times and b) no bad thing.

I'll drop MeganL a PM as I'm interested as to how, as someone who fortunately doesn't really fall into a category that suffers discrimination, I might help.

At the end of the day, we're all people.
And people love Lego.
So let's love the people that love the Lego.
Which is pretty much everyone. 


I wish the project well, and look forward to the Polybag challenge raising creativity levels all aorund the world.

playwell

I don't understand the problem with the meme. Surely it's not saying this is everybody but it will resonate with some people. I buy too much Lego and my wife disapproves and I know we are not the only ones that do fit this stereotype. It's a meme thats making fun of me and my wife so if anyone should be offended surely it's me.

However if the meme doesn't represent you and your experience you might understandably not find it particularly amusing. I do understand that stereotypes can be unhelpful but I'm not sure picking apart things to this level is helpful. For example it talks about “Sending out the bat signal” and this seems a slightly odd metaphor for an organisation like this. Let's ask a wealthy, white, heterosexual, man for help. This is a good example of why we shouldn't read too much into everything.

I think the thing some people have trouble with is that their experience within the Lego community is that it's inclusive because the only barrier to entry is that you have a love for Lego. Some time's these things can be a self-fulfilling prophecy, for example if women are constantly told that the community isn't welcoming then they may not even try to enter it to find out for themselves.

But just the idea that identity is important in the Lego community is something that doesn't fit comfortably with everyone because some of us enjoy the Lego community because it is disconnected from this kind of identity and that is what we find enjoyable. That it's an escape, an escape from ourself.

It also seems to be putting up more divides than it takes down and seems to be segregating the community rather than encouraging it to be inclusive. The Lego community used to be inclusive because you were lucky to find another person that liked Lego so you couldn't be too choosy as to who was allowed in the group. Now it's more popular and therefore has room for groups based on identity, is it now more inclusive or less?

sonatine01

I read the meme part similarly. I sometimes see people posting memes or comments about their partners not being impressed with their Lego purchases or asking if they can spend more on Lego, I’m thankfully not one as my Wife is supportive of my passions. Reading though comments there’s many people of different genders and sexual orientation who have these small issues, as there are many who don’t and will comment accordingly.

 I don’t know the exact details of the meme but the OP said they weren’t important and I’m interested to know what the “Many levels” it offends on ? It seems little to get so angry about, which for many would be factual meme. 

If all this leads to further positivity in the Lego community then great, hopefully it’s of benefit ?

I’d be interested in anyones opinion who finds these memes so offensive and aside from that single example, has faced intolerance in parts of the Lego community ? It’s useful to know what makes others uncomfortable.