Discussion Forum: Messages by Nathan123 (592)
Redisplay Messages: Compact | Brief | All | Full      Show Messages: All | Without Replies

 Author: Nathan123 View Messages Posted By Nathan123
 Posted: Nov 23, 2019 18:15
 Subject: Re: 4150 not dead?
 Viewed: 82 times
 Topic: Catalog
View Message
View
Cancel Message
Cancel
Reply to Message
Reply
BrickLink
ID Card

Nathan123 (592)

Location:  USA, Minnesota
Member Since Contact Type Status
Aug 1, 2011 Contact Member Seller
Buying Privileges - OKSelling Privileges - OK
Store: System Bricks
In Catalog, maxx3001 writes:
  In Catalog, SylvainLS writes:
  In Catalog, maxx3001 writes:
  In Catalog, Teup writes:
  In Catalog, Hygrotus writes:
  In Catalog, Teup writes:
  That's funny. I just encountered 4 of these:

LEGO just uses everything they have, maybe they dug up an old container with
the X bottom and mixed them in with the newer parts.

LEGO never throws anything away, this is how we got old Maersk blue 3001old in
modern sets

I wonder though: what happens when the variants aren’t functionnally equivalent?

LEGO doesn’t really care, a brick is a brick is a brick.

Except for 3001specials. They are a brick's brick and an example for all
the other bricks to follow.
 Author: Nathan123 View Messages Posted By Nathan123
 Posted: Nov 8, 2019 10:08
 Subject: Re: Forum Reforms
 Viewed: 40 times
 Topic: Suggestions
View Message
View
Cancel Message
Cancel
Reply to Message
Reply
BrickLink
ID Card

Nathan123 (592)

Location:  USA, Minnesota
Member Since Contact Type Status
Aug 1, 2011 Contact Member Seller
Buying Privileges - OKSelling Privileges - OK
Store: System Bricks
In Suggestions, Adjour writes:
  My personal opinion is the format is largely fine. I modded for years on a v
bulletin based board and the only real feature I miss is editing ability.


What I noticed is wholesome posts are largely ignored here. People posting mocs
or collections are almost completely ignored while drama posts create long chains
of comments


I remember a regular member posting a very nice collection photo because they
were excited about finishing or near finishing it iirc. I think it got two replies...

On Reddit, that same post would have got hundreds of positive replies.



I know personally I've had a few cool post ideas, but I know if it's
not negative or dramatic they will only be met with crickets.


Again, just my opinion

The difference in size is probably why there could be hundreds of positive comments
and upvotes while being met with silence here. Here there cannot be more than
a couple hundred people looking at the BL forum for any significant amount of
time from day to day. The issue in my opinion is that there isn't enough
interest to get more people using the forum but the other problem is that if
more people were to use the forum it would become harder to use as posts would
get buried that much faster.
 Author: Nathan123 View Messages Posted By Nathan123
 Posted: Nov 8, 2019 04:23
 Subject: Re: Forum Reforms
 Viewed: 63 times
 Topic: Suggestions
View Message
View
Cancel Message
Cancel
Reply to Message
Reply
BrickLink
ID Card

Nathan123 (592)

Location:  USA, Minnesota
Member Since Contact Type Status
Aug 1, 2011 Contact Member Seller
Buying Privileges - OKSelling Privileges - OK
Store: System Bricks
In Suggestions, Admin_Russell writes:
  In Suggestions, Nathan123 writes:
  It seems the forum isn't getting the same kind of community involvement as
it once did. It is fairly common to see less than 100 messages per day and I
had to go back to July to find a day that had over 200. The way the forum works
right now it can be very frustrating and time consuming finding posts of interest
as even new posts get buried quickly under 2 or 3 more active posts and that
makes it difficult to participate in the forum if you do not have the time to
browse or search through it. In terms of utility the bricklink forum is not as
easy to use and enjoy as say brickset forum. There are a lot of good parts of
the BL forum but I feel it is largely being ruined.

My suggestion is that when a post is responded to the post itself moves to the
top but it doesn't show up as a new message, so if a post is made and has
10 replies it will still just look like one post on the forum. I would also like
to recommend that certain categories get put into a different area apart from
the forum so maybe for example buying and selling, inventory change requests,
and sales posts could be seperated from the rest so they don't bury the rest
of the posts out there and stagnate the forum.

The goal would be to allow more people and ideas to participate in the community.

There are certainly some improvements to be made - pinning posts, notification
/ subscription plans, ability to edit or completely remove posted material -
but most of what you are asking for here can already be done.

First, the BrickLink Discussions Forum is actually many individual Forums all
joined together, including hidden Forums backstage for our community admins.
If you don't wish to read everything, start on this page and read only what
interests you:

https://www.bricklink.com/messageTopics.asp?utm_content=subnav

Second, you can customize the Forum to your exact specifications, including viewing
each thread without the replies. You can also block certain Forums (e.g. sales
posts). See the settings on this page:

https://www.bricklink.com/messageFilter.asp?viewFrom=P

I've never seen a Forum with this level of user customization, and I believe
most members don't even know about these options. Try out these suggestions
and see if that helps your impression.

I have been reading the Forum consistently for over 10 years, and I've noticed
that like rainy and dry periods with the weather, Forum participation ebbs and
flows with time. And if by "community involvement" you mean people like Foster
and Dan/Jon beating each other up on a regular basis, that sort of behavior isn't
tolerated anymore.

Thank you for this information! I had no clue those options already existed although
I probably should have. It could be that the forum is just in one of those periods
of decreased participation but from the stats it doesn't seem like it has
really changed all that much in about 9 months...to me it seems it should be
busier and for whatever the reason is, it is apparent the forum just has not
grabbed people's interest.
 Author: Nathan123 View Messages Posted By Nathan123
 Posted: Nov 8, 2019 02:37
 Subject: Re: Forum Reforms
 Viewed: 41 times
 Topic: Suggestions
View Message
View
Cancel Message
Cancel
Reply to Message
Reply
BrickLink
ID Card

Nathan123 (592)

Location:  USA, Minnesota
Member Since Contact Type Status
Aug 1, 2011 Contact Member Seller
Buying Privileges - OKSelling Privileges - OK
Store: System Bricks
In Suggestions, maxx3001 writes:
  In Suggestions, calsbricks writes:
  In Suggestions, jennnifer writes:
  In Suggestions, Nathan123 writes:
  It seems the forum isn't getting the same kind of community involvement as
it once did. It is fairly common to see less than 100 messages per day and I
had to go back to July to find a day that had over 200.

I love the way this old Forum works. Sorry if I am in the minority. I would argue
that the lack of community involvement is directly related to the management's
antipathy.

Jen

+ several

+ a number of mine

If management is lacking, why use the forum, you can ask, suggest all you like,
it won’t change a thing.

BrickLink is going the way of the Dodo, while sailors are eating on.....

At this point it is just a money generating donkey, pulling a load to heavy for
its back

Why not ask though? Maybe it is unlikely anything improves but if no one wants
improvements then it will never happen. Wanting the forum to be more interesting
and grow the number of people wjo use it seems like is shouldn't be beyond
expectations.
 Author: Nathan123 View Messages Posted By Nathan123
 Posted: Nov 8, 2019 02:26
 Subject: Re: Forum Reforms
 Viewed: 41 times
 Topic: Suggestions
View Message
View
Cancel Message
Cancel
Reply to Message
Reply
BrickLink
ID Card

Nathan123 (592)

Location:  USA, Minnesota
Member Since Contact Type Status
Aug 1, 2011 Contact Member Seller
Buying Privileges - OKSelling Privileges - OK
Store: System Bricks
In Suggestions, JusTiCe8 writes:
  In addition to what others wrote, you can click on "all" link on top and you'll
get new replies to old topics.

The whole website needs work, but forum is far down below the needto list I guess.

In Suggestions, Nathan123 writes:
  It seems the forum isn't getting the same kind of community involvement as
it once did. It is fairly common to see less than 100 messages per day and I

[...]

  
The goal would be to allow more people and ideas to participate in the community.

The forum itself doesn't generate very much business or interest for that
matter but if we don't ask for improvements we shouldn't be surprised
when nothing happens.
 Author: Nathan123 View Messages Posted By Nathan123
 Posted: Nov 8, 2019 02:21
 Subject: Re: Forum Reforms
 Viewed: 37 times
 Topic: Suggestions
View Message
View
Cancel Message
Cancel
Reply to Message
Reply
BrickLink
ID Card

Nathan123 (592)

Location:  USA, Minnesota
Member Since Contact Type Status
Aug 1, 2011 Contact Member Seller
Buying Privileges - OKSelling Privileges - OK
Store: System Bricks
In Suggestions, jennnifer writes:
  In Suggestions, Nathan123 writes:
  It seems the forum isn't getting the same kind of community involvement as
it once did. It is fairly common to see less than 100 messages per day and I
had to go back to July to find a day that had over 200.

I love the way this old Forum works. Sorry if I am in the minority. I would argue
that the lack of community involvement is directly related to the management's
antipathy.

Jen

You don't have to apologize for having a different opinion. My point is that
the forum needs help.l It looks like the forum is getting less and less use despite
supposedly more people signing up as buyers than ever before.
 Author: Nathan123 View Messages Posted By Nathan123
 Posted: Nov 7, 2019 22:48
 Subject: Re: Forum Reforms
 Viewed: 57 times
 Topic: Suggestions
View Message
View
Cancel Message
Cancel
Reply to Message
Reply
BrickLink
ID Card

Nathan123 (592)

Location:  USA, Minnesota
Member Since Contact Type Status
Aug 1, 2011 Contact Member Seller
Buying Privileges - OKSelling Privileges - OK
Store: System Bricks
In Suggestions, dearlydeparted writes:
  I agree that the forum can be tedious. The interface and lack of features compared
to other sites is antiquated. Would be nice to be able to edit for one and a
notification feature with link when someone responds to your post - just to name
a few.

Those are good ideas! I guess the forum already has a button to hide the replies
but it doesn't move the posts up and I would argue it should be the default
setting. If people don't see something that interests them right away they
are not as likely to stay, read, and participate.
 Author: Nathan123 View Messages Posted By Nathan123
 Posted: Nov 7, 2019 21:43
 Subject: Forum Reforms
 Viewed: 304 times
 Topic: Suggestions
 Status:Open
 Vote:[Yes|No]
View Message
View
Cancel Message
Cancel
Reply to Message
Reply
BrickLink
ID Card

Nathan123 (592)

Location:  USA, Minnesota
Member Since Contact Type Status
Aug 1, 2011 Contact Member Seller
Buying Privileges - OKSelling Privileges - OK
Store: System Bricks
It seems the forum isn't getting the same kind of community involvement as
it once did. It is fairly common to see less than 100 messages per day and I
had to go back to July to find a day that had over 200. The way the forum works
right now it can be very frustrating and time consuming finding posts of interest
as even new posts get buried quickly under 2 or 3 more active posts and that
makes it difficult to participate in the forum if you do not have the time to
browse or search through it. In terms of utility the bricklink forum is not as
easy to use and enjoy as say brickset forum. There are a lot of good parts of
the BL forum but I feel it is largely being ruined.

My suggestion is that when a post is responded to the post itself moves to the
top but it doesn't show up as a new message, so if a post is made and has
10 replies it will still just look like one post on the forum. I would also like
to recommend that certain categories get put into a different area apart from
the forum so maybe for example buying and selling, inventory change requests,
and sales posts could be seperated from the rest so they don't bury the rest
of the posts out there and stagnate the forum.

The goal would be to allow more people and ideas to participate in the community.
 Author: Nathan123 View Messages Posted By Nathan123
 Posted: Apr 23, 2019 15:06
 Subject: Re: Help with color id'ing
 Viewed: 35 times
 Topic: Colors
View Message
View
Cancel Message
Cancel
Reply to Message
Reply
BrickLink
ID Card

Nathan123 (592)

Location:  USA, Minnesota
Member Since Contact Type Status
Aug 1, 2011 Contact Member Seller
Buying Privileges - OKSelling Privileges - OK
Store: System Bricks
I expect Ryan will comment sooner or later but for now his picture regarding
the colors may help.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/126975831@N07/17768155498/

In Colors, normann1974 writes:
  I'm trying to sort my Bionicle arms

 
Part No: 53989  Name: Arm Mechanical, Exo-Force / Bionicle, Thin Support
* 
53989 Arm Mechanical, Exo-Force / Bionicle, Thin Support
Parts: Minifigure, Body Part

but I have a hard time identifying the dark grayish colors. I've found these
six variations (numbered from left to right). Here is what I know:

#1 is Dark Bluish Gray
#2-#5 look "pearlish"
#5 is Pearl Dark Gray
Either #2 or #3 (or both) must be Flat silver because they best correspond to
a Flat Silver bionicle eye also shown in the image (the angle of light may not
show their colors being the same, but they are rather close).
#3 is a bit more silvery than #2
#5 has a golden tint compared to #4.

There is a pearl light gray part in the bottom (a fish) to show that none of
the parts in question is that color.

Any help is appreciated.

/Jan
 Author: Nathan123 View Messages Posted By Nathan123
 Posted: Jul 17, 2015 15:32
 Subject: Re: Marbled as a color. And a spot for errors.
 Viewed: 35 times
 Topic: Suggestions
View Message
View
Cancel Message
Cancel
Reply to Message
Reply
BrickLink
ID Card

Nathan123 (592)

Location:  USA, Minnesota
Member Since Contact Type Status
Aug 1, 2011 Contact Member Seller
Buying Privileges - OKSelling Privileges - OK
Store: System Bricks
In Suggestions, j7r7o7c7k7 writes:
  Could we add marbled to the list of sell able colors or to add it so we could
select it for want list colors? Something like that.

And could we maybe have a area where error parts or unknown parts could be listed
for sale. Or any item that is kinda a error. Just a spot where we could list
or search or oddities.

Also side note about these. Maybe if you do list items for sale in these areas
there will be something that says "it is really encouraged to use a actual picture
of the item, if you are listing in these categories".

Something along these type lines where people could find the not so common type
stuff and those really rare one of a kinds.

Good suggestion, the 2x4 collectors already have 3001special and it works very
well
 Author: Nathan123 View Messages Posted By Nathan123
 Posted: Nov 9, 2014 10:00
 Subject: Re: Would like to search part # in calendar
 Viewed: 23 times
 Topic: Suggestions
View Message
View
Cancel Message
Cancel
Reply to Message
Reply
BrickLink
ID Card

Nathan123 (592)

Location:  USA, Minnesota
Member Since Contact Type Status
Aug 1, 2011 Contact Member Seller
Buying Privileges - OKSelling Privileges - OK
Store: System Bricks
In Suggestions, Nathan123 writes:
  I really like the calendar page (imbetween "browse" and "favorites" under the
"Buy" tab). It's easy to find newly listed items and saves a lot of time
however to my knowledge we can't search individual ID #. My suggestion is
to add a option to filter the calendar results by part, set, and minifigure numbers.

Bump
 Author: Nathan123 View Messages Posted By Nathan123
 Posted: Nov 8, 2014 14:06
 Subject: Would like to search part # in calendar
 Viewed: 84 times
 Topic: Suggestions
 Status:Open
 Vote:[Yes|No]
View Message
View
Cancel Message
Cancel
Reply to Message
Reply
BrickLink
ID Card

Nathan123 (592)

Location:  USA, Minnesota
Member Since Contact Type Status
Aug 1, 2011 Contact Member Seller
Buying Privileges - OKSelling Privileges - OK
Store: System Bricks
I really like the calendar page (imbetween "browse" and "favorites" under the
"Buy" tab). It's easy to find newly listed items and saves a lot of time
however to my knowledge we can't search individual ID #. My suggestion is
to add a option to filter the calendar results by part, set, and minifigure numbers.
 Author: Nathan123 View Messages Posted By Nathan123
 Posted: Jan 23, 2014 19:52
 Subject: Re: Definition of Shipped
 Viewed: 64 times
 Topic: Suggestions
View Message
View
Cancel Message
Cancel
Reply to Message
Reply
BrickLink
ID Card

Nathan123 (592)

Location:  USA, Minnesota
Member Since Contact Type Status
Aug 1, 2011 Contact Member Seller
Buying Privileges - OKSelling Privileges - OK
Store: System Bricks
In Suggestions, tylerawalters writes:
  BrickLink Help defines the statuses this way:
Paid- Payment received.
Packed - Package has been sealed but not yet shipped.
Shipped - Package has been shipped but not yet received by buyer.

Thanks!
 Author: Nathan123 View Messages Posted By Nathan123
 Posted: Jan 23, 2014 19:46
 Subject: Re: Definition of Shipped
 Viewed: 75 times
 Topic: Suggestions
View Message
View
Cancel Message
Cancel
Reply to Message
Reply
BrickLink
ID Card

Nathan123 (592)

Location:  USA, Minnesota
Member Since Contact Type Status
Aug 1, 2011 Contact Member Seller
Buying Privileges - OKSelling Privileges - OK
Store: System Bricks
In Suggestions, tylerawalters writes:
  While I agree with you, it is possible to drop a package off at a Post Office
on Sundays or holidays, in which case, I think it is right to consider it shipped.
The Post Office doesn't have to actually be open to mail a package.

Other than that point though, I completely agree. It should be considered Packed
until it leaves your possession.

What does the rules say about it now? I thought that an order wasn't considered
shipped until it was actually being shipped.