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The biggest thing to happen (and one of the main causes of the current lack of activity) is what BZPers have taken to calling the "Great Downtime" shortly after Bionicle's main story ended in 2010. I don't remember how many months it was exactly, but it was significant. On the plus side, member tensions were at an all-time high pre-downtime, due to the abrupt ending of the theme the site was built around, and the downtime allowed for most members to cool their jets and reflect. When the forums came back, there was a tempered surge of activity as members who had been checking in on the site since it went down spread the word to those less dedicated members such as myself. BZPower refocused itself as a general Lego forum with an emphasis on Bionicle, rather than a Bionicle forum that occasionally branched out to other themes.

 

BZPower introduced a new feature, the Tracker, that allowed members to submit suggestions for changes in the site, and through that a lot of positive changes have been made. For instance, the advertising policy has been amended, so you can now link to other sites with forums or commenting systems so long as the content in your link itself is BZP-safe. Also, BZP has started its own online LUG (Lego Users Group) that gives members who attend Lego conventions and pay a membership fee certain privileges (such as quarterly discounts in Lego brand retail stores). BZP just celebrated its twelfth anniversary, and introduced a raffle system that will probably be used mostly for similar events.

 

In general, BZP has become somewhat of a more mature community, in part because of the reduced activity but also because of the site's core membership growing along with the site. There's still plenty of Bionicle discussion, although there's now also slightly more discussion of other Lego themes. The blogs have also grown up, to a certain extent, and while the staff still sometimes have to step in if a dispute between members turns into personal attacks, or gets too close to the continued taboo on political or religious debates, they have been very understanding when members of the community choose to bare their souls about their personal lives and struggles.

All in all, even with the reduced activity, I think BZPower is a better community than it was three years ago. Good to have you back.

Not sure about the better community aspect, then again I'm part of it.

 

Also, BIONICLEStory.com and BIONICLE.com were finally shut down just a month or so ago, and we can finally talk about other websites, i.e. YouTube, Eurobricks, BioMedia Project. Except Mask of Destiny. That still gets blocked sometimes.

Except Mentioning sites with forums = bad. That still gets blocked sometimes.

 

Actually, there are only a few sites with forums that are still filtered. The only major reason why you wouldn't be able to mention a forum would be if the forum is inherently unsuitable for minors (e.g., based on explicit topics). Just the other week, Black Six explained that we can even talk about 4chan, just not link to it. (Theoretically, one could even link to 4chan, if one were to find a thread without swearing or explicit images/language. Good luck with that.)

 

Except Mentioning sites with forums = bad. That still gets blocked sometimes.

 

Actually, there are only a few sites with forums that are still filtered. The only major reason why you wouldn't be able to mention a forum would be if the forum is inherently unsuitable for minors (e.g., based on explicit topics). Just the other week, Black Six explained that we can even talk about 4chan, just not link to it. (Theoretically, one could even link to 4chan, if one were to find a thread without swearing or explicit images/language. Good luck with that.)

 

True, but I typed in the true spelling of [Don't bypass the word filter please and thanks. -Shine], and that text appeared.

 

 

Except Mentioning sites with forums = bad. That still gets blocked sometimes.

Actually, there are only a few sites with forums that are still filtered. The only major reason why you wouldn't be able to mention a forum would be if the forum is inherently unsuitable for minors (e.g., based on explicit topics). Just the other week, Black Six explained that we can even talk about 4chan, just not link to it. (Theoretically, one could even link to 4chan, if one were to find a thread without swearing or explicit images/language. Good luck with that.)

 

True, but I typed in the true spelling of [shine, you missed the quoted one. -Takuma Nuva], and that text appeared.

 

The staff have a grudge against that site. In fact, that wasn't even in the word filter until a few weeks ago, I think.

PRIMUS

 

I REMEMBER YOU kindaaaaaaa

 

though we don't really know each other i'm happy to see your drill avatar thingy again =)

BZPower refocused itself as a general Lego forum with an emphasis on Bionicle, rather than a Bionicle forum that occasionally branched out to other themes.

I figured that's what would happen. Even before Bionicle ended, that's what everyone said would happen.

 

BZPower introduced a new feature, the Tracker, that allowed members to submit suggestions for changes in the site, and through that a lot of positive changes have been made.

That's good. I always thought something like that should be implemented.

 

For instance, the advertising policy has been amended, so you can now link to other sites with forums or commenting systems so long as the content in your link itself is BZP-safe.

Wow, I never expected that to happen. Advertising was one of the biggest "no-nos" back then.

 

Also, BIONICLEStory.com and BIONICLE.com were finally shut down just a month or so ago

Yeah, I actually saw that before I logged on here. It's a shame, but was inevitable.

 

Good to have you back.

though we don't really know each other i'm happy to see your drill avatar thingy again =)

It's nice to be back.

PRIMUS

 

I REMEMBER YOU kindaaaaaaa

 

though we don't really know each other i'm happy to see your drill avatar thingy again =)

I agree with this. Although Primus is someone else and he should come back too.

 

~B~