The future direction of the Pirate LEGO Forum

[Bonaparte]

Yes, you're right Bonaparte, it would be better if the MOC sub-forum was on the same level as the discussion forum but obviously as part of Eurobricks we can't really do that.

Well we could but I don't think it would go down to well...

Why do you think that Mr. Phes?

Have a better structure would be good for the entire Eurobricks forum!

[Mister Phes]

Many users from outside the Pirate forum believe it is already too big and defies the true "spirit" of Eurobricks. Putting a second Pirate forum at root level may be healthier for the Pirate forum but we must also take into consideration how the rest of Eurobricks would feel about it.

Going by the current reaction to the Pirate forum I don't think some users would like it at all. Why do you think it would be better for the entire Eurobricks forum? Would it not seem like the pirate forum was trying to invade Eurobricks?

[Bonaparte]

Many users from outside the Pirate forum believe it is already too big and defies the true "spirit" of Eurobricks. Putting a second Pirate forum at root level may be healthier for the Pirate forum but we must also take into consideration how the rest of Eurobricks would feel about it.

Going by the current reaction to the Pirate forum I don't think some users would like it at all. Why do you think it would be better for the entire Eurobricks forum? Would it not seem like the pirate forum was trying to invade Eurobricks?

I think the pirate forum is a very unique forum on the internet.

So for eurobricks, it is in its best interest that it has the best possible structure to grow even more.

Because the extra users that the pirate-forum will be attracting (by having a pirate portal website,...) will also find their way to the rest of the eurobricks forum.

From the main eurobricks forum, the pirate forum will just look like the rest, with just 1 link.

The Star Wars fans, Bionicle fans, .... will not be harmed in any way by this and we are not trying to get extra attention on the Eurobricks Main forum.

[Mister Phes]

Unfortunately, as I mentioned earlier many "non Pirate" users don't see things this way. There's been a lot of discussion about the Pirate forum becoming a completely separate community which is seen as a bad thing. Many feel Eurobricks is supposed to be a general forum where the users post in every forum, not just one (I.e. the pirate forum) although not all users post in every Eurobrick forum anyway.

While the Pirate forum does attract new users to Eurobricks many fail to acknowledge this and insist they only post in the Pirate forum. While may be true users many do venture into other Eurobrick forums, but still the criticism remains. There are also many users outside the Pirate forum who never post in it, but this seems to be acceptable. Kind of a double standard, in the sense that users of the Pirate forum should diversify beyond it, while users outside the pirate forum should never feel obliged to post there.

[Bonaparte]

I know some users have a wrong idea about the pirate forum and even might have some negative feelings out it.

But what's there motivation? Is it just of not? Have they given it lots of thought and are they fully objective?

The move to a separate pirate forum was a major one. Afterwards, there came a separate Pirate MOC forum which was another step forward.

Compared to all this, this last step is not so big and it could be seen as natural evolution.

It will also prepare the pirate forum for having a pirate portal site.

[Mister Phes]

Its more than just users, its also administrators that don't agree with what's happening with the pirate forum. We must respect everyone has different views even if they seem illogical to us.

We can't really expand the Pirate Forum anymore within Eurobricks otherwise it would be seen as taking over, nor at this point can we move to a completely new website because we're not big enough yet.

Like I said, the next step is registering domain and then designing homepage or portal, however the forum itself will remain the same for the time being.

[Bonaparte]

Its more than just users, its also administrators that don't agree with what's happening with the pirate forum. We must respect everyone has different views even if they seem illogical to us.

We can't really expand the Pirate Forum anymore within Eurobricks otherwise it would be seen as taking over, nor at this point can we move to a completely new website because we're not big enough yet.

Like I said, the next step is registering domain and then designing homepage or portal, however the forum itself will remain the same for the time being.

You have been with eurobricks much longer than myself and you have the best judgment/view on this "political" stuff.

Well, you already achieved something to be proud off ;-)

[Mister Phes]

My work is far from done and I although agree with your views its important to take everyone else at Eurobricks into consideration. Bare in mind I was once a normal user just like everyone else but over time I've worked my way up to being an administrator but in a sense I'm still the new kid on the block when it comes to administration. So I can't can't get too big for my boots and do whatever I want even if it would progress the pirate forum forward. I my respect the opinions of the other administrators and the longterm users because without them there would be no Eurobricks and therefore no Pirate forum.

Despite not being able to please everyone all the time I shall endeavor to expand the pirate forum in a way that benefits everybody, Pirate LEGO fanatic or otherwise. Although I'm not an experienced forum administrator as I've only been in the position since July and therefore I probably don't always make the best decisions.

[Bonaparte]

I didn't even post in ANY forum before I became a member of eurobricks in June.

So this is all relatively new to me.

[Mister Phes]

For a first timer you've got some good ideas and you show a lot of initiative.

I try my best at taking most ideas into account and have created several feedback threads so I can get as much user opinion as possible. So hopefully thats helped in creating a Pirate forum that suits everyone who uses it.

And look! We've gone off topic, someone is going to have to do some splitting soon.

[Bonaparte]

And look! We've gone off topic, someone is going to have to do some splitting soon.

Indeed we have. I didn't notice :-D .

Thats what I like about eurobricks, you can go a bit off topic (not to much of course like this time).

I noticed that on CC everything is much more formal (not that I'm posting much there, but I'm following some discussions).

[Norro]

:-/ I don't really see how www.classic-pirate.com is going to generate more traffic. Those who aren't currently in the "online AFOL loop" may not realise its a LEGO website and move along.

May I suggest www.classic-pirate.com? It fits in with the AFOL site pattern (classic castle, classic space) and would thus generate more traffic from within the community.

I was only referring to bringing out the pirate fans in the AFOL loop..

God Bless,

Nathan

[Mister Phes]

I think we need more than just AFOLs who are already in the community, we need to attract AFOLs that aren't aware of the community as well.

As for the AFOLs in the community... Once again I state would an AFOL interesting in Pirate LEGO not bother looking at www.pirate-lego.com because it didn't have "classic" in the domain name?

However, I don't think we'd be allowed to use www.pirate-lego.com because certain "officialism ramifications" would no doubt arise. Nevertheless I'm going to ask anyway...

[Norro]

I agree completely about the need for outside recruitment... I was only referring to inter community ease. Keeping everything similar makes life easier, I probably couldn't find the space site (in the time I'm willing to spend looking) if it wasn't classic-space...

God Bless,

Nathan

[Bonaparte]

I agree completely about the need for outside recruitment... I was only referring to inter community ease. Keeping everything similar makes life easier, I probably couldn't find the space site (in the time I'm willing to spend looking) if it wasn't classic-space...

God Bless,

Nathan

Nathan, with castle and space you can really talk about "classic" for the early sets, but I never heard the term used for pirates.

Or is this not correct?

[Jipay]

Nope, you're correct. They use the term classic because they need to differenciate old 80s sets from the new 2000+ waves.

About politics, I don't think there is such a big "political" aspect here at EB. People aren't usually told not to do something. it's just that with the pirate forum, Mister Phes went in a lot of directions at the same time, so we asked him to slow down the process a little bit so it doesn't disturb all the other forums (and the members). So it hink it's more about schedduling and not about interdiction. :)

[Mister Phes]

I agree completely about the need for outside recruitment... I was only referring to inter community ease. Keeping everything similar makes life easier, I probably couldn't find the space site (in the time I'm willing to spend looking) if it wasn't classic-space...

I don't understand how classic-pirate.com would be any easier to find than pirate-lego.com. As long as people can find the link to pirate forum it doesn't matter what what is, just so long as its meaningful. Unless you're thinking hopeful people are going to sardonically type "www.classic-pirate.com" into their browser in the hope there will be a website there one day.

Currently we're using pirates.eurobricks.com but changing the address to whatever isn't going to magically generate more traffic. What's important is advertising the link, and if its advertised people will know what it is anyway.

We're attracting new users every week with pirates.eurobricks.com anyway, but I do think www.pirate-lego.com is more to the point than www.classic-pirate.com. And to be honest I don't like the idea "copying" the name of other websites.

Unless AFOLs are really stupid and need to have consistency to find a website. But I don't believe they are. However, as mentioned before classic-pirate.com will probably be the name if I don't get the first choice.

[Bonaparte]

About politics, I don't think there is such a big "political" aspect here at EB. People aren't usually told not to do something. it's just that with the pirate forum, Mister Phes went in a lot of directions at the same time, so we asked him to slow down the process a little bit so it doesn't disturb all the other forums (and the members). So it hink it's more about schedduling and not about interdiction. :)

Thanks for this explanation Jipay!

Nobody is in a hurry to make changes to the pirate forum, but it is good to know that future improvements are possible.

[Norro]

I don't understand how classic-pirate.com would be any easier to find than pirate-lego.com. As long as people can find the link to pirate forum it doesn't matter what what is, just so long as its meaningful. Unless you're thinking hopeful people are going to sardonically type "www.classic-pirate.com" into their browser in the hope there will be a website there one day.

Currently we're using pirates.eurobricks.com but changing the address to whatever isn't going to magically generate more traffic. What's important is advertising the link, and if its advertised people will know what it is anyway.

We're attracting new users every week with pirates.eurobricks.com anyway, but I do think www.pirate-lego.com is more to the point than www.classic-pirate.com. And to be honest I don't like the idea "copying" the name of other websites.

Unless AFOLs are really stupid and need to have consistency to find a website. But I don't believe they are. However, as mentioned before classic-pirate.com will probably be the name if I don't get the first choice.

I am assuming pirate-lego is not going to work, and then advocating classic-pirate as the next best, I know I only occasionally darken space's door, but when I couldn't find the shipyard and other sites I did type classic-space...

I also agree that all other marketing is more important, with you all the way on that, a comp would be a good kick start btw.

And I don't see it as copying, just grouping, I like to see the lego community integrated and cross fertilizing rather than scattered. If only from the selfish perspective of people like me who enjoy one theme the most but still like to contribute to others...

God Bless,

Nathan

Oh and re classic, I have heard the term used of pirates, it just encompasses the majority of the theme...

[Mister Phes]

Nobody is in a hurry to make changes to the pirate forum, but it is good to know that future improvements are possible.

No definitely no hurry. All the changes I've mentioned in this thread have been discussed with Jipay via MSN about 3 months ago so they're not new and on the spot decisions.

You may have noticed "improvements" in the form of Pirate skin refinements. This is the first step of what I call Phase 2.

I know I only occasionally darken space's door, but when I couldn't find the shipyard and other sites I did type classic-space...

That's more of the fault of those who promote classic-space rather than the actual domain.

I also agree that all other marketing is more important, with you all the way on that, a comp would be a good kick start btw.

Yes, a competition would be good in the future, but I'm not sure what why you think we need to kick start the marketing because I started that when the Pirate forum began.

And I don't see it as copying, just grouping, I like to see the lego community integrated and cross fertilizing rather than scattered. If only from the selfish perspective of people like me who enjoy one theme the most but still like to contribute to others...

Its only Classic-Castle and Classic-Space that are using the "classic" prefix in their domains (as far as I'm aware), and how many LEGO websites are there these days?

Oh and re classic, I have heard the term used of pirates, it just encompasses the majority of the theme...

Where did you hear/read this? How commonly have you read it? You provide very insightful information Mr Norro which is also very helpful.

[Norro]

Yes, a competition would be good in the future, but I'm not sure what why you think we need to kick start the marketing because I started that when the Pirate forum began.

The kick start would be for the beginning of the new domain name...

Where did you hear/read this? How commonly have you read it?

Lugnet... But more commonly I have always used classic to refer to a period of lego as a whole (80s through debatable date in the 90s, probably 96 for me) rather than just one theme. Most of the pirate line falls within this. Pirate is also one of the 'classic' lego themes (castle, pirate, space, and town), as opposed to say adventurers...

God Bless,

Nathan

[Sting]

My only concern with the term Classic Pirate is that to me, it will sound like we only focus on Classic (as Norro described, 80s-96ish) Pirate lego. Now, this is true since Pirate sets stopped being produced in 1997... and the 4+ Line is definately not what anyone on this forum is interested in. (At least to my knowledge).

I would prefer Pirate Lego (if we can get past Lego's rage!) because it holds onto the hope that Lego may again produce a new, quality and exciting pirate line. I guess the "Classic" in "Classic Castle" and "Classic Space" probably refers to the classic STYLE of Lego which mostly ended in the late 90s, which is high quality set design, lack of liscenced themes, and buildability/customization over playability.

What ever happened to Pirate-Bricks? That was a tiny community of Pirate Lovers that had its own domain name. That worked alright.

On another note I have to agree with Phes's statement on the Online Pirate Community: We want a highly organized and specialized Pirate Forum and Website with lots of easy to access information, but we cannot expand on Eurobricks because than the forum is becoming more and more a Pirate Forum, but as seen on Pirate-Bricks... our community is too small. Although larger now we will never be consistent (we do not have a Castle or Space following yet), as at one point, a Pirates-Only Website may be working really well, and when people go on vacation from lego (such as I tend to do), the forum would become empty and hollow. On Eurobricks, the forum will never get too dead because of all the other members. A Pirate Only Website and thus own discussion forum would require a larger following that we have not seen yet.

[Mister Phes]

I would prefer Pirate Lego (if we can get past Lego's rage!) because it holds onto the hope that Lego may again produce a new, quality and exciting pirate line. I guess the "Classic" in "Classic Castle" and "Classic Space" probably refers to the classic STYLE of Lego which mostly ended in the late 90s, which is high quality set design, lack of liscenced themes, and buildability/customization over playability.

Yes, this along the lines of what I was thinking.

What ever happened to Pirate-Bricks? That was a tiny community of Pirate Lovers that had its own domain name. That worked alright.

From what I gather they failed to promote their website and it never grew. I heard of it months before I actually found it which is not a good thing. Being able to find the website is imperative for its survival.

[Sting]

Did the site shut down? Is it still around? I thought it dissappeared?

[Mister Phes]

The forum is no longer there but it appears the domain is still registered.