Caution and unity needed for Brickshelf matter

[Athos]

I know this is probably a (extremely) repetative thread (and will probably get locked for that reason), but at this point, there is no other way to bring this issue forward here (as all the threads have been locked). But I've posted this at other forums and wanted to get it around here too, particularly the point about coordination of efforts, should it become necessary:

Right now, until we have more information, its too soon to start really planning a next step. Maybe this is only temporary and brickshelf will be restored while I type this (or while you read it). Or maybe it is gone for good. Point is, we don't know, so we shouldn't be taking steps yet.

What I do suggest is the various heads of the community (i.e. site admins, ambassadors, etc.) should be coordinating and discussing the matter with each other. Thus, if brickshelf is truly gone, they could be in a position to rally the community (I'm willing to offer some help for this in what limited abilities I have) to set up a similar central/universal replacement site. What I don't want to see is a fractured set up (with a castle-brickshelf.com and a space-brickshelf.com and a pirate-brickshelf.com and an adventurers-brickshelf.com) the way the forums have become... Something like that is just too much to keep up with. And that is what's going to happen, if everyone doesn't get together on this, panics and starts to prematurely set up a replacement.

Personally, I'm not sure I like the idea of Lego taking over brickshelf... too much bureaucratic and corporate issues with that.

Caution, thoughtfulness, organization and unity,

Steve

Steve

[architect]

Hi Steve,

The LEGO Ambassadors are actively discussing the current issue of Brickshelf. I agree that there should be a central site for hosting most fan creations. If LEGO hosted a site, it would surely be heavily moderated (even more so than Brickshelf). I do not think that fans want this.

I believe that Brickshelf will return in some new type of format. If it does not, many community leaders would be interested in starting a new central site.

Ben Ellermann
LEGO Ambassador

[SavaTheAggie]

Indeed. While we all are entitled to our opinions as to the disappearance of Brickshelf, we must all remember to show gratitude to Kevin for what he gave us and for how long he did so.

The loss of Brickshelf, if permanent, is a serious blow to the LEGOverse. When I first discovered Lugnet back in 2000, I would have never become as prolific a builder as I had been had it not been for Brickshelf. Having a place to store ones' creations in a large hub-site like Brickshelf was indespensible, and I would even say that had it not been for Brickshelf, I certainly would not be the AFOL I am today. I probably wouldn't even still be an AFOL, to tell the truth.

Of course now there are alternatives available to the up-and-coming budding AFOL, and that's good in the sense that now that Brickshelf is inoperable these new builders have places to go. I agree, however, that a central site is needed, and I will fully support any effort to ressurrect Brickshelf or the birth of its' sister. However I believe that such a site should be run by fans, just as Lugnet, Classic-Castle, FBTB, and all the others. LEGO needs to do what LEGO does best - making LEGO bricks.

I remain hopeful, however, that this will all work out for the best in the end. After all, if Brickshelf was going to be abandonned and deleted outright, the back door HTTPS link never would have worked; Kevin would have deleted it all.

Long live the LEGOverse.

--Tony

[footsteps]

I echo all that Sava said. I am thankful for the free-to-me service that Kevin supplied for so long. I have no complaints.

As for what comes next (BS 2.0 or something else), I'll wait patiently.

Alan

[ottoatm]

I must confess to feeling initial knee-jerk reactions of annoyance and what-not, but even then I had to concede that Kevin from Brickshelf has been a wonderful help to the community.

If a fan site is created to replace Brickshelf, or if Brickshelf comes back better than ever, I will be interested in helping out in any way possible~

[Princess_C]

Okay, probably by now all of you know that Brickshelf is back up, but only till the 31st of this month. An online chat buddy of mine is trying to come up with a solution to the Brickshelf dilemma. I will post more about the project as we progress (I'm helping him with the design of the site).

Update: If you want to get in contact, here is his email:
zac@brickimage.net

[Dunechaser]

Okay, probably by now all of you know that Brickshelf is back up, but only till the 31st of this month. An online chat buddy of mine is trying to come up with a solution to the Brickshelf dilemma. I will post more about the project as we progress (I'm helping him with the design of the site).

Update: If you want to get in contact, here is his email:
zac@brickimage.net

Not to be a wet blanket, but doesn't it seem to be a bit premature to just dive right in and start creating a whole new image-hosting site?

I could not agree with Steve (Athos) more! His mantra of "Caution, thoughtfulness, organization, and unity" is critical if we are to avoid fragmentation caused by eighteen competing solutions to the now-confirmed demise of Brickshelf.

I realize that some will see this as a business opportunity for themselves (not saying that's the case for BrickImage.net), but I believe we need to take a step back and start thinking about what it is we actually want. Once a consensus is reached across all online communities, then perhaps we can begin moving forward on actual implementation.

Now, I will say about BrickImage.net that moving forward 48 hours after Brickshelf's initial downtime, and without soliciting truly broad support from a variety of communities seems hasty. I have to ask: How can implementation be moving forward so quickly that Princess_C is already helping with site design? I'll certainly get in touch with the BrickImage.net team, but I'm not saying I'm willing to jump on board just yet.

Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither should the next LEGO-only image-hosting site.

[kelderic]

I am assuming that Brickshelf was kept on servers that Kevin owned. If this is the case, then instead of making a new site and re-uploading everything, would it be possible to just accuire the servers from him, and just put Brickshelf back online, with a new owner?

Kelderic

[Troy]

What I do suggest is the various heads of the community (i.e. site admins, ambassadors, etc.) should be coordinating and discussing the matter with each other. Thus, if brickshelf is truly gone, they could be in a position to rally the community (I'm willing to offer some help for this in what limited abilities I have) to set up a similar central/universal replacement site.

They are, and it is being worked on.

This is why I was so upset with the initial negative reaction.

I am still hopeful that BrickShelf can be saved intact, but the impatience and negativity of the community aren't helping the situation.

Troy

[Dunechaser]

They are, and it is being worked on.

This is why I was so upset with the initial negative reaction.

I am still hopeful that BrickShelf can be saved intact, but the impatience and negativity of the community aren't helping the situation.

Troy, I appreciate your sharing that something is going on. The LEGO Ambassadors are trying to work on something that will prevent fragmentation of the community as a result of multiple image-hosting efforts -- and we need to act quickly, given the hastiness I alluded to before. I understand that you might not want to share "in public" what you know or what you're working on, but would you mind PM'ing me? We'd like to involve you and whoever it is you're working with in the centralized, coordinated effort. Thanks!

[Blueandwhite]

They are, and it is being worked on.

This is why I was so upset with the initial negative reaction.

I am still hopeful that BrickShelf can be saved intact, but the impatience and negativity of the community aren't helping the situation.

Troy, I appreciate your sharing that something is going on. The LEGO Ambassadors are trying to work on something that will prevent fragmentation of the community as a result of multiple image-hosting efforts -- and we need to act quickly, given the hastiness I alluded to before. I understand that you might not want to share "in public" what you know or what you're working on, but would you mind PM'ing me? We'd like to involve you and whoever it is you're working with in the centralized, coordinated effort. Thanks!

I'm glad to hear that some of the community's more prolific members are working on this problem. With recent anouncements about new hosting alternatives popping up everywhere, I am quite concerned about the possible splintering of the community. More than anything, I am becoming very weary of fans or opportunists who now seek to jump in as saviors to the AFOL community, despite having little or no real involvement until now. Kevin and Brickshelf (despite any negative comments) were reliable and completely trustworthy. The community would be hard pressed to do better.

More than anything, I think this is why you community vetrans are needed to sort this problem out. You've PROVEN yourselves to be persons who are capable of tackling a problem such as this. I only hope that fellow builders show you the patience needed to create a satisfactory solution.

Later.

[SavaTheAggie]

Honestly, I'm not TOO concerned about the community splintering. Yes, Brickshelf was a centralized locale for hosting images, but it never has been the only place. For as long as I've been an AFOL there's been folks hosting images on other websites, including their own.

And Brickshelf dieing isn't going to cause Lugnet or C-C or any other website to go away. It just means no more browsing on one site for pics, we'll have to rely on AFOLs to post their own creations, or others, to stay in the loop.

Brickshelf is important, and losing it is a major blow, but as long as we stick around the community websites and all our friends and aquaintences we've made, we'll come out ok.

--Tony

[albero78]

I hope there will be a unique site (dedicated to LEGO) in which world LEGO community can upload their creations.

If somebody from the community is gonna preparing a brand new site Is uggest to improve he previous bricklink like allowing comments, votes, pieces used, eventual instructions, advices, whatever...

Actually I'm looking forward such a site

[jokkna]

it is very sad that brickshelf is closing i found many lego sites through it.
and I agree that brickshelf should open again but someone should advertise it on the internet

thats all I have too say

[Black-Mantra]

Is anyone familiar with deviantArt?
I had an Idea about creating a group for AFoLs in dawn of the recent events, to try to keep the community together for a while until a more 'Permanent' home is established.
The page I made up is http://Lego-Legion.deviantart.com

It makes sence. we're ARTISTS, and we're looking to share our Ideas with the global community. we might get a few more Fans if this possibly takes off.
I'd REALLY like to know what the Administration/Moderators/people at the top think about this.
Thanks,
Mantra.