Rec.toys.lego: Difference between revisions

From Research Realm
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
(qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnm)
Line 4: Line 4:
| screenshot = PnP rec.toys.lego screenshot.jpg
| screenshot = PnP rec.toys.lego screenshot.jpg
| caption = A rec.toys.lego message from September 1994 viewed in a Windows 3.1 [[Wikipedia:Newsreader (Usenet)|newsreader]]
| caption = A rec.toys.lego message from September 1994 viewed in a Windows 3.1 [[Wikipedia:Newsreader (Usenet)|newsreader]]
| launch_date = {{ubl|January 1993 (ATL)|{{start date and age|10 January 1994}} (RTL)}}
| launch_date = {{ubl|January 1993 (ATL)|{{start date and age|1994|01|10|df=y}} (RTL)}}
| type = [[Wikipedia:Usenet|Usenet]] [[Wikipedia:Usenet newsgroup|newsgroup]]
| type = [[Wikipedia:Usenet|Usenet]] [[Wikipedia:Usenet newsgroup|newsgroup]]
| url = [news:rec.toys.lego rec.toys.lego]
| url = [news:rec.toys.lego rec.toys.lego]
Line 13: Line 13:


== History ==
== History ==
The alt.toys.lego newsgroup was created in January 1993.<ref name="Eaton AFOL 20"/>{{efn|name=ATL date}} It was the first of a number of toy-related newsgroups in the ''alt.toy.*'' hierarchy; others created later in 1993 included alt.toys.hi-tech in May and alt.toys.[[Wikipedia:Transformers|transformers]] in September.<ref name="ATHt created" group="U"/><ref name="ATT email" group="U"/> ATL received continuous activity soon after its creation; however, the [[Wikipedia:alt.* hierarchy|''alt.*'' hierarchy]] was not well-propagated due to many [[Wikipedia:Dial-up Internet access|dial-up]] [[Wikipedia:Internet service provider|Internet service providers]] not offering it to subscribers. Suggestions were made in many ''alt.*'' groups to migrate to one of the [[Wikipedia:Big 8 (Usenet)|Big 7]] hierarchies.<ref name="Eaton AFOL 20"/>  A new LEGO newsgroup under the ''rec.*'' (recreation) hierarchy was suggested in September 1993,{{efn|A rec.toys newsgroup had previously been suggested in news.groups in April 1993, though it had not been created.<ref name="NG Kontei" group="U"/>}} with the goal of making the community more accessible.<ref name="ATL Carter 930916" group="U"/><ref name="ATL Carter 930918" group="U"/>
The alt.toys.lego newsgroup was created in January 1993.<ref name="Eaton AFOL 20"/>{{efn|The earliest alt.toys.lego post archived on [[Wikipedia:Google Groups|Google Groups]] is from 18 February 1993.<ref name="ATL LaLiberte" group="U"/> An ''alt.*'' newsgroup listing from 5 February 1993 does not include alt.toys.lego;<ref name="AN alt" group="U"/> however, an archived message in alt.fan.warlord appears to reply to an ATL message dated 5 February 1993,<ref name="AFW Leverton" group="U"/> and ATL is mentioned in a news.admin.policy message from 8 February.<ref name="NAP Olivers" group="U"/> Koblas's RTL proposal from October 1993 refers to ATL as having been active for nine months.<ref name="ATL Koblas proposal" group="U"/>}} It was the first of a number of toy-related newsgroups in the ''alt.toy.*'' hierarchy; others created later in 1993 included alt.toys.hi-tech in May and alt.toys.[[Wikipedia:Transformers|transformers]] in September.<ref name="ATHt created" group="U"/><ref name="ATT email" group="U"/> ATL received continuous activity soon after its creation; however, the [[Wikipedia:alt.* hierarchy|''alt.*'' hierarchy]] was not well-propagated due to many [[Wikipedia:Dial-up Internet access|dial-up]] [[Wikipedia:Internet service provider|Internet service providers]] not offering it to subscribers. Suggestions were made in many ''alt.*'' groups to migrate to one of the [[Wikipedia:Big 8 (Usenet)|Big 7]] hierarchies.<ref name="Eaton AFOL 20"/>  A new LEGO newsgroup under the ''rec.*'' (recreation) hierarchy was suggested in September 1993,{{efn|A rec.toys newsgroup had previously been suggested in news.groups in April 1993, though it had not been created.<ref name="NG Kontei" group="U"/>}} with the goal of making the community more accessible.<ref name="ATL Carter 930916" group="U"/><ref name="ATL Carter 930918" group="U"/>


On 14 October 1993, ATL user David Koblas drafted a proposal for the creation of rec.toys.lego and rec.toys.misc, both under a new ''rec.toys.*'' hierarchy.<ref name="Myers"/><ref name="ATL Koblas proposal" group="U"/> The name ''rec.toys.construction'' was alternatively suggested as a more inclusive name that would allow for discussion of other [[Wikipedia:Construction set|construction toys]]. Koblas rejected this idea, as his original intention was to increase the LEGO newsgroup's readership by moving it out of the ''alt.*'' hierarchy, and he felt that the alternate name would not appeal to ATL's readers enough to draw them away from that newsgroup.<ref name="Myers"/><ref name="NG Koblas" group="U"/> Voting for the two new groups began on 30 November and ended on 21 December.<ref name="ATL Bailey" group="U"/><ref name="Eaton AFOL TL"/> The results were announced on 3 January 1994: 243 users voted, and both newsgroups passed overwhelmingly.<ref name="Myers"/> The new rec.toys.lego newsgroup was created on 10 January 1994 under the following [[Wikipedia:Usenet#Moderated and unmoderated newsgroups|charter]]:<ref name="Eaton AFOL TL"/>
On 14 October 1993, ATL user David Koblas drafted a proposal for the creation of rec.toys.lego and rec.toys.misc, both under a new ''rec.toys.*'' hierarchy.<ref name="Myers"/><ref name="ATL Koblas proposal" group="U"/> The name ''rec.toys.construction'' was alternatively suggested as a more inclusive name that would allow for discussion of other [[Wikipedia:Construction set|construction toys]]. Koblas rejected this idea, as his original intention was to increase the LEGO newsgroup's readership by moving it out of the ''alt.*'' hierarchy, and he felt that the alternate name would not appeal to ATL's readers enough to draw them away from that newsgroup.<ref name="Myers"/><ref name="NG Koblas" group="U"/> Voting for the two new groups began on 30 November and ended on 21 December.<ref name="ATL Bailey" group="U"/><ref name="Eaton AFOL TL"/> The results were announced on 3 January 1994: 243 users voted, and both newsgroups passed overwhelmingly.<ref name="Myers"/> The new rec.toys.lego newsgroup was created on 10 January 1994 under the following [[Wikipedia:Usenet#Moderated and unmoderated newsgroups|charter]]:<ref name="Eaton AFOL TL"/>
Line 21: Line 21:
[[File:WotI Newsgroups Main Menu.jpg|thumb|rec.toys.lego seen in a list of ''rec.*'' newsgroups, {{circa|1994}}]]
[[File:WotI Newsgroups Main Menu.jpg|thumb|rec.toys.lego seen in a list of ''rec.*'' newsgroups, {{circa|1994}}]]


As it was proposed alongside RTL, the rec.toys.misc newsgroup was originally described as covering "non-Lego toys topics, from {{sic|[[Wikipedia:Barbie|Barbi]]}} Dolls to [[Wikipedia:My Little Pony|My Little Pony]] gift sets." Its charter's wording was soon altered so that it would cover all toys that did not have their own newsgroup within the ''rec.toys.*'' hierarchy, without any reference to LEGO. Many other toy-related newsgroups were created in ''rec.*'' over the following years, though some groups like alt.toys.transformers remained active in ''alt.*''.<ref name="Myers"/> ATL was largely abandoned, though it continued to exist and receive occasional posts.<ref name="Eaton AFOL 20"/> Some Internet directories in the 1990s continued referring to ATL as the primary LEGO newsgroup over RTL.<ref name="Bohannon"/>
As it was proposed alongside RTL, the rec.toys.misc newsgroup was originally described as covering "non-Lego toys topics, from {{sic|[[Wikipedia:Barbie|Barbi]]}} Dolls to [[Wikipedia:My Little Pony|My Little Pony]] gift sets." Its charter's wording was soon altered so that it would cover all toys that did not have their own newsgroup within the ''rec.toys.*'' hierarchy, without any reference to LEGO.
Within a few months, activity in rec.toys.misc had surpassed rec.toys.lego. Many other toy-related newsgroups were created in ''rec.*'' over the following years, though some groups like alt.toys.transformers remained active in ''alt.*''.<ref name="Myers"/> ATL was largely abandoned, though it continued to exist and receive occasional posts.<ref name="Eaton AFOL 20"/>


== Discussions ==
== Discussions ==
What content was discussed on RTL. Also a section about related sites, including fan sites, the reasons for LEGO.com, and LUGNET replacing RTL.
What content was discussed on RTL. Also a section about related sites, including fan sites, the reasons for LEGO.com, and LUGNET replacing RTL.
== Associated websites ==
Paul Gyugyi hosted a RTL FTP server at earthsea.stanford.edu{{citation needed}}. He also tried to start LEGONET.<ref name="HispaBrick"/>
=== LEGO Information ===
{{multiple image
| width = 180
| image1 = LEGO Information Page (1994-12-16) p1.jpg
| alt1 = LEGO Information Page from 16 December 1994 (top half)
| image2 = LEGO Information Page (1994-12-16) p2.jpg
| alt2 = LEGO Information Page from 16 December 1994 (bottom half)
| footer = The LEGO Information website in December 1994
}}
{{quote box
|width=25em
|quote=There are many things here, but it's been somewhat difficult to get everything organized.
|author=David Koblas
|source=legowww.homepages.com<ref name="Sterne"/>}}
RTL founder David Koblas launched an experimental LEGO website (at the time called a "LEGO [[Wikipedia:World Wide Web|WWW]] [[Wikipedia:Web server|server]]") on 28 December 1993.<ref name="ATL Koblas WWW" group="U"/> Originally available at ''legowww.itek.norut.no'', in November 1994 the domain name was changed to ''legowww.homepages.com'' when Koblas moved the server hosting from [[Wikipedia:Northern Research Institute|Norut]] in Norway to his own California-based company, Home Pages, for faster access speeds.<ref name="RTL Koblas Norut" group="U"/><ref name="Betts"/> Koblas's website, titled LEGO Information, featured pages covering the history of LEGO, the [[LEGO Builders Club]], lists of sets that were available to purchase at the time,<ref name="Sterne"/><ref name="Bohannon"/> parts lists, and a written tour of the [[LEGO factory]] in [[Wikipedia:Enfield, Connecticut|Enfield, Connecticut]].<ref name="Maxwell"/> The site also offered entertainment, such as ideas for LEGO projects, games using LEGO, computer programs, and a "LEGO theme song". It additionally hosted images from LEGO catalogues and snapshots of television commercials alongside pictures of homemade LEGO models and LEGO robots.<ref name="Betts"/><ref name="Sterne"/><ref name="Schepp"/> A link near the top of the home page invited viewers to contact Koblas and submit new information, suggestions for site improvements, and images of their own LEGO creations.<ref name="Sterne"/> Other links directed readers to external websites.<ref name="Bohannon"/><ref name="Maxwell"/>
LEGO Information was one of the first pages on the World Wide Web dedicated to LEGO. Koblas's website was featured in Jim Sterne's 1995 book ''World Wide Web Marketing'', where it was praised for its positive tone and user-friendly layout.<ref name="Sterne"/> In March 1996 LEGO Information was featured in [[Wikipedia:MacUser|''MacUser'''s]] list of 101 must-see websites. It was placed in the "Have You Lost Your Mind?" section, alongside other websites with subject matters considered niche or unusual.<ref name="MacUser"/>
In 1995 things went wrong


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
{{notelist|refs=
{{notelist|refs=
{{efn|name=ATL date|The earliest alt.toys.lego post archived on [[Wikipedia:Google Groups|Google Groups]] is from 18 February 1993.<ref name="ATL LaLiberte" group="U"/> An ''alt.*'' newsgroup listing from 5 February 1993 does not include alt.toys.lego;<ref name="AN alt" group="U"/> however, an archived message in alt.fan.warlord appears to reply to an ATL message dated 5 February 1993,<ref name="AFW Leverton" group="U"/> and ATL is mentioned in a news.admin.policy message from 8 February.<ref name="NAP Olivers" group="U"/> Koblas's RTL proposal from October 1993 refers to ATL as having been active for nine months.<ref name="ATL Koblas proposal" group="U"/>}}
<!--for some reason if I include a second efn nested in notelist instead of in the page text it throws an error for any references in it, even though the references in the efn above are fine?-->
<!--for some reason if I include a second efn nested in notelist instead of in the page text it throws an error for any references in it, even though the references in the efn above are fine?-->
}}
}}
Line 59: Line 35:
{{reflist|refs=
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="Bender">{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/legolovestory0000bend/page/24/mode/2up?view=theater |title=LEGO: A Love Story |first=Jonathan |last=Bender |year=2010 |pages=24–25 |publisher=[[Wikipedia:John Wiley & Sons|John Wiley & Sons]] |location=[[Wikipedia:Hoboken, New Jersey|Hoboken]] |ISBN=978-0-470-40702-8}}</ref>
<ref name="Bender">{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/legolovestory0000bend/page/24/mode/2up?view=theater |title=LEGO: A Love Story |first=Jonathan |last=Bender |year=2010 |pages=24–25 |publisher=[[Wikipedia:John Wiley & Sons|John Wiley & Sons]] |location=[[Wikipedia:Hoboken, New Jersey|Hoboken]] |ISBN=978-0-470-40702-8}}</ref>
<ref name="Betts">{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/computerworld2937unse/page/68/mode/2up?view=theater |title=Lego finds unauthorized Web pages easy to build |first=Mitch |last=Betts |magazine=[[Wikipedia:Computerworld|Computerworld]] |volume=29 |number=37 |date=September 11, 1995 |location=[[Wikipedia:Framingham, Massachusetts|Framingham, Massachusetts]] |publisher=[[Wikipedia:International Data Group|IDG]] |issn=0010-4841 |page=68}}</ref>
<ref name="Bohannon">{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/whatsonweb00eric/page/179/mode/2up?view=theater |title=What's on the Web |edition=Spring/Summer 1996 |year=1996 |location=[[Wikipedia:Fairfax, Virginia|Fairfax, Virginia]] |publisher=Internet Media Corp |page=179 |chapter=Hobbies, Travel & Tourism |first=Ric |last=Bohannon |editor-first=Eric |editor-last=Gagnon |isbn=1-884640-19-2}}</ref>


<ref name="Eaton AFOL 20">{{cite web |url=http://www.bricksetforum.com/discussion/11594/20th-anniversary-of-the-online-lego-community |title=20th Anniversary of the Online LEGO Community! |first=David |last=Eaton |date=July 25, 2013 |website=[[Brickset]] Forum |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150625050417/http://www.bricksetforum.com:80/discussion/11594/20th-anniversary-of-the-online-lego-community |archive-date=June 25, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="Eaton AFOL 20">{{cite web |url=http://www.bricksetforum.com/discussion/11594/20th-anniversary-of-the-online-lego-community |title=20th Anniversary of the Online LEGO Community! |first=David |last=Eaton |date=July 25, 2013 |website=[[Brickset]] Forum |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150625050417/http://www.bricksetforum.com:80/discussion/11594/20th-anniversary-of-the-online-lego-community |archive-date=June 25, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
Line 69: Line 41:


<ref name="Engst">{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/internetstarterk00engsrich/page/850/mode/2up?view=theater |title=Internet Starter Kit for Macintosh |edition=2nd |publisher=[[Wikipedia:Hayden Books|Hayden Books]] |location=[[Wikipedia:Indianapolis|Indianapolis]] |year=1994 |first=Adam C. |last=Engst |ISBN=1-56830-111-1 |p=850}}</ref>
<ref name="Engst">{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/internetstarterk00engsrich/page/850/mode/2up?view=theater |title=Internet Starter Kit for Macintosh |edition=2nd |publisher=[[Wikipedia:Hayden Books|Hayden Books]] |location=[[Wikipedia:Indianapolis|Indianapolis]] |year=1994 |first=Adam C. |last=Engst |ISBN=1-56830-111-1 |p=850}}</ref>
<ref name="Hahn">{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/harleyhahnsinter00hahnrich/page/n115/mode/2up?view=theater |title=Harley Hahn's Internet & Web Yellow Pages |edition=Millennium |first=Harley |last=Hahn |publisher=[[Wikipedia:Adam Osborne|Osborne]]/[[Wikipedia:McGraw Hill|McGraw Hill]] |location=[[Wikipedia:Berkeley, California|Berkeley, California]] |year=2000 |isbn=0-07-212170-X |pages=115-116}}</ref>
<ref name="HispaBrick">{{cite magazine |title=Pillars of the community: LUGNET |magazine=[[HispaBrick Magazine]] |edition=English |volume=24 |date=January 2016 |issn=1989-0982 |location=[[Wikipedia:Madrid|Madrid]] |first1=Todd |last1=Lehman |first2=Suzanne |last2=Eaton |pages=34-36 |url=https://www.hispabrickmagazine.com/pdfs/HBM024_EN/HBM024_EN-34-36.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240423103303/https://www.hispabrickmagazine.com/pdfs/HBM024_EN/HBM024_EN-34-36.pdf |archive-date=23 April 2024}}</ref>
<ref name="MacUser">{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/MacUser9603March1996/page/n83/mode/2up?view=theater |title=Welcome to the Web! |magazine=[[Wikipedia:MacUser|MacUser]] |publisher=[[Wikipedia:Ziff Davis|Ziff-Davis Publishing Company]] |location=[[Wikipedia:New York City|New York]] |volume=12 |number=3 |date=March 1996 |issn=0884-0997 |page=81 |first1=Rik |last1=Myslewski |first2=Shelly |last2=Brisbin |first3=Jason |last3=Snell |first4=Michael |last4=Swaine |first5=Christopher |last5=Breen |first6= Geoff |last6=Duncan |first7=Joseph O. |last7=Holmes |display-authors=3}}</ref>
<ref name="Maxwell">{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/nrofficialintern0000chri/page/524/mode/2up?view=theater |title=McKinley Internet Directory |first=Christine |last=Maxwell |publisher=New Riders Publishing |location=[[Wikipedia:Indianapolis|Indianapolis]] |year=1995 |isbn=1-56205-439-2 |page=524}}</ref>


<ref name="Myers">{{cite web |url=https://www.toymania.com/resources/usenet/toyhist.shtml |title=A Brief History of Toy-Related Usenet Newsgroups |first=Eric G. |last=Myers |date=September 17, 1996 |website=Raving Toy Maniac |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240425105223/https://www.toymania.com/resources/usenet/toyhist.shtml |archive-date=25 April 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Myers">{{cite web |url=https://www.toymania.com/resources/usenet/toyhist.shtml |title=A Brief History of Toy-Related Usenet Newsgroups |first=Eric G. |last=Myers |date=September 17, 1996 |website=Raving Toy Maniac |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240425105223/https://www.toymania.com/resources/usenet/toyhist.shtml |archive-date=25 April 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Rickard">{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/Boardwatch1994-12/page/n47/mode/2up?view=theater |title=Webwatch |magazine=[[Wikipedia:Boardwatch|Boardwatch Magazine]] |volume=8 |issue=11 |date=December 1994 |page=48 |issn=1054-2760 |location=[[Wikipedia:Littleton, Colorado|Littleton, Colorado]] |first=Jack |last=Rickard}}</ref>
<ref name="Schepp">{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/kidnetkidsguidet00sche/page/154/mode/2up?view=theater |title=Kidnet: The Kid's Guide to Surfing Through Cyberspace |first1=Debra Sorkowitz |last1=Schepp |first2=Brad |last2=Schepp |publisher=[[Wikipedia:HarperCollins Publishers|HarperCollins Publishers]] |location=[[Wikipedia:New York City|New York]] |year=1995 |isbn=0-06-273380-X |pages=154-155}}</ref>


<ref name="Seybold">{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/outsideinnovatio0000seyb/page/392/mode/2up?view=theater |title=Outside Innovation: How Your Customers Will Co-Design Your Company's Future |first=Patricia B. |last=Seybold |year=2006 |publisher=[[Wikipedia:HarperCollins|HarperCollins]] |location=[[Wikipedia:New York City|New York]] |ISBN=0-06-113590-9 |p=392}}</ref>
<ref name="Seybold">{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/outsideinnovatio0000seyb/page/392/mode/2up?view=theater |title=Outside Innovation: How Your Customers Will Co-Design Your Company's Future |first=Patricia B. |last=Seybold |year=2006 |publisher=[[Wikipedia:HarperCollins|HarperCollins]] |location=[[Wikipedia:New York City|New York]] |ISBN=0-06-113590-9 |p=392}}</ref>
<ref name="Sterne">{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/worldwidewebmark0000ster/page/133/mode/2up?view=theater |title=World Wide Web Marketing: Integrating the Internet into Your Marketing Strategy |first=Jim |last=Sterne |publisher=[[Wikipedia:John Wiley & Sons|John Wiley & Sons]] |location=[[Wikipedia:New York City|New York]] |year=1995 |isbn=0-471-12843-0 |chapter=Interactivity Is King – LEGO On-Line |pages=133-136}}</ref>
}}
}}


Line 104: Line 62:


<ref name="ATL Koblas proposal" group="U">{{cite newsgroup |url=https://groups.google.com/g/alt.toys.lego/c/jr-vq7TSta8/m/ihgEiC4GMpUJ |title=RFD: rec.toys.lego and rec.toys.misc |first=David |last=Koblas |date=14 October 1993 |newsgroup=alt.toys.lego | [email protected] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240427092225/https://groups.google.com/g/alt.toys.lego/c/jr-vq7TSta8/m/ihgEiC4GMpUJ |archive-date=27 April 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="ATL Koblas proposal" group="U">{{cite newsgroup |url=https://groups.google.com/g/alt.toys.lego/c/jr-vq7TSta8/m/ihgEiC4GMpUJ |title=RFD: rec.toys.lego and rec.toys.misc |first=David |last=Koblas |date=14 October 1993 |newsgroup=alt.toys.lego | [email protected] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240427092225/https://groups.google.com/g/alt.toys.lego/c/jr-vq7TSta8/m/ihgEiC4GMpUJ |archive-date=27 April 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="ATL Koblas WWW" group="U">{{cite newsgroup |url=https://groups.google.com/g/alt.toys.lego/c/J_ooJ80Z59I/m/dUZOOxjd-u0J |title=Experimental WWW server online |first=David |last=Koblas |date=28 December 1993 |newsgroup=alt.toys.lego |[email protected] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240428090546/https://groups.google.com/g/alt.toys.lego/c/J_ooJ80Z59I/m/dUZOOxjd-u0J |archive-date=28 April 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>


<ref name="ATL LaLiberte" group="U">{{cite newsgroup |url=https://groups.google.com/g/alt.toys.lego/c/r3QlephBq0k/m/gkN7Tr6Q6HoJ |title=Lego strategy game |newsgroup=alt.toys.lego |date=18 February 1993 |author=Daniel LaLiberte |archive-date=23 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240423104402/https://groups.google.com/g/alt.toys.lego/c/r3QlephBq0k/m/gkN7Tr6Q6HoJ |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="ATL LaLiberte" group="U">{{cite newsgroup |url=https://groups.google.com/g/alt.toys.lego/c/r3QlephBq0k/m/gkN7Tr6Q6HoJ |title=Lego strategy game |newsgroup=alt.toys.lego |date=18 February 1993 |author=Daniel LaLiberte |archive-date=23 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240423104402/https://groups.google.com/g/alt.toys.lego/c/r3QlephBq0k/m/gkN7Tr6Q6HoJ |url-status=live}}</ref>
Line 116: Line 72:


<ref name="NG Kontei" group="U">{{cite newsgroup |url=https://groups.google.com/g/news.groups/c/MRfAKwDRGtg/m/pUHEuJIF3hIJ |title=Test Baloon: rec.toys |author=E. Kontei |date=23 April 1993 | newsgroup=news.groups |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240427091052/https://groups.google.com/g/news.groups/c/MRfAKwDRGtg/m/pUHEuJIF3hIJ |archive-date=27 April 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="NG Kontei" group="U">{{cite newsgroup |url=https://groups.google.com/g/news.groups/c/MRfAKwDRGtg/m/pUHEuJIF3hIJ |title=Test Baloon: rec.toys |author=E. Kontei |date=23 April 1993 | newsgroup=news.groups |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240427091052/https://groups.google.com/g/news.groups/c/MRfAKwDRGtg/m/pUHEuJIF3hIJ |archive-date=27 April 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="RTL Koblas Norut" group="U">{{cite newsgroup |url=
https://groups.google.com/g/rec.toys.lego/c/O_PShsjCJIc/m/Evu-p7CN0tMJ |title=Re: WWW: LEGO page |first=David |last=Koblas |date=12 November 1994 |newsgroup=rec.toys.lego | [email protected] |archive-url=https://archive.is/qfRcL |archive-date=1 November 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
}}


Revision as of 10:34, 4 November 2024

rec.toys.lego
A rec.toys.lego message from September 1994 viewed in a Windows 3.1 newsreader
Type of site
Usenet newsgroup
Created byDavid Koblas (RTL)
URLrec.toys.lego
Launched
  • January 1993 (ATL)
  • 10 January 1994; 30 years ago (1994-01-10) (RTL)

rec.toys.lego (often abbreviated RTL)[1] is a Usenet newsgroup dedicated to the discussion of LEGO products and LEGO-compatible toys.[2] It was one of the earliest online LEGO fan communities, starting in early 1993 as alt.toys.lego (ATL)[3] before moving to the rec.* hierarchy one year later.

History

The alt.toys.lego newsgroup was created in January 1993.[4][note 1] It was the first of a number of toy-related newsgroups in the alt.toy.* hierarchy; others created later in 1993 included alt.toys.hi-tech in May and alt.toys.transformers in September.[U 6][U 7] ATL received continuous activity soon after its creation; however, the alt.* hierarchy was not well-propagated due to many dial-up Internet service providers not offering it to subscribers. Suggestions were made in many alt.* groups to migrate to one of the Big 7 hierarchies.[4] A new LEGO newsgroup under the rec.* (recreation) hierarchy was suggested in September 1993,[note 2] with the goal of making the community more accessible.[U 9][U 10]

On 14 October 1993, ATL user David Koblas drafted a proposal for the creation of rec.toys.lego and rec.toys.misc, both under a new rec.toys.* hierarchy.[5][U 5] The name rec.toys.construction was alternatively suggested as a more inclusive name that would allow for discussion of other construction toys. Koblas rejected this idea, as his original intention was to increase the LEGO newsgroup's readership by moving it out of the alt.* hierarchy, and he felt that the alternate name would not appeal to ATL's readers enough to draw them away from that newsgroup.[5][U 11] Voting for the two new groups began on 30 November and ended on 21 December.[U 12][6] The results were announced on 3 January 1994: 243 users voted, and both newsgroups passed overwhelmingly.[5] The new rec.toys.lego newsgroup was created on 10 January 1994 under the following charter:[6]

To provide a forum for the discussion of all things and experiences relating to the Lego(tm), Duplo(tm) and compatible construction toys. Including interesting models that one has built, experiences one has had using legos, or questions about how to build particular components.

rec.toys.lego seen in a list of rec.* newsgroups, c. 1994

As it was proposed alongside RTL, the rec.toys.misc newsgroup was originally described as covering "non-Lego toys topics, from Barbi [sic] Dolls to My Little Pony gift sets." Its charter's wording was soon altered so that it would cover all toys that did not have their own newsgroup within the rec.toys.* hierarchy, without any reference to LEGO. Within a few months, activity in rec.toys.misc had surpassed rec.toys.lego. Many other toy-related newsgroups were created in rec.* over the following years, though some groups like alt.toys.transformers remained active in alt.*.[5] ATL was largely abandoned, though it continued to exist and receive occasional posts.[4]

Discussions

What content was discussed on RTL. Also a section about related sites, including fan sites, the reasons for LEGO.com, and LUGNET replacing RTL.

Notes

  1. ↑ The earliest alt.toys.lego post archived on Google Groups is from 18 February 1993.[U 1] An alt.* newsgroup listing from 5 February 1993 does not include alt.toys.lego;[U 2] however, an archived message in alt.fan.warlord appears to reply to an ATL message dated 5 February 1993,[U 3] and ATL is mentioned in a news.admin.policy message from 8 February.[U 4] Koblas's RTL proposal from October 1993 refers to ATL as having been active for nine months.[U 5]
  2. ↑ A rec.toys newsgroup had previously been suggested in news.groups in April 1993, though it had not been created.[U 8]

References

  1. ↑ Seybold, Patricia B. (2006). Outside Innovation: How Your Customers Will Co-Design Your Company's Future. New York: HarperCollins. p. 392. ISBN 0-06-113590-9.
  2. ↑ Engst, Adam C. (1994). Internet Starter Kit for Macintosh (2nd ed.). Indianapolis: Hayden Books. p. 850. ISBN 1-56830-111-1.
  3. ↑ Bender, Jonathan (2010). LEGO: A Love Story. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons. pp. 24–25. ISBN 978-0-470-40702-8.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Eaton, David (July 25, 2013). "20th Anniversary of the Online LEGO Community!". Brickset Forum. Archived from the original on June 25, 2015.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Myers, Eric G. (September 17, 1996). "A Brief History of Toy-Related Usenet Newsgroups". Raving Toy Maniac. Archived from the original on 25 April 2024.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Eaton, David (10 September 2013). "The AFOL History Project". Archived from the original on 2021-09-19. Text is CC BY-SA 3.0.

Usenet posts

  1. ↑ Daniel LaLiberte (18 February 1993). "Lego strategy game". Newsgroup: alt.toys.lego. Archived from the original on 23 April 2024.
  2. ↑ The Society for Reviling ATnT (February 5, 1993). "Another listing of newsgroups in the "alt" Usenet hierarchy". Newsgroup: alt.newgroup. Usenet: [email protected]. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024.
  3. ↑ Nick Leverton (11 February 1993). "Re: LegoLand in England??". Newsgroup: alt.fan.warlord. Usenet: [email protected]. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024. In alt.toys.lego, article <[email protected]> [email protected] (Nick Pettefar) writes...
  4. ↑ Erik Olivers (8 February 1993). "Re: Anonymous postings to non-personals newsgroups". Newsgroup: news.admin.policy. Usenet: [email protected]. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Koblas, David (14 October 1993). "RFD: rec.toys.lego and rec.toys.misc". Newsgroup: alt.toys.lego. Usenet: [email protected]. Archived from the original on 27 April 2024.
  6. ↑ USENET news (20 May 1993). "Create newsgroup alt.toys.hi-tech". Newsgroup: alt.toys.hi-tech. Archived from the original on 25 April 2024.
  7. ↑ Steven Mar (12 September 1993). "Transformers E-Mailing List". Newsgroup: alt.toys.transformers. Archived from the original on 25 April 2024.
  8. ↑ E. Kontei (23 April 1993). "Test Baloon: rec.toys". Newsgroup: news.groups. Archived from the original on 27 April 2024.
  9. ↑ Ron Carter (16 September 1993). "A thought for discussion..." Newsgroup: alt.toys.lego. Usenet: [email protected]. Archived from the original on 27 April 2024.
  10. ↑ Ron Carter (18 September 1993). "OK, how about a modified suggestion (trying to please all :-)". Newsgroup: alt.toys.lego. Usenet: [email protected]. Archived from the original on 27 April 2024.
  11. ↑ Koblas, David (16 November 1993). "2nd RFD: rec.toys.lego vs rec.toys.construction (straw poll vote)". Newsgroup: news.groups. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024.
  12. ↑ Ed Bailey (30 November 1993). "CFV: rec.toys.lego and rec.toys.misc". Newsgroup: alt.toys.lego. Usenet: [email protected]. Archived from the original on 27 April 2024.

External links

Retrieved from "https://wiki.researchrealm.net/index.php?title=Rec.toys.lego&oldid=5489"