Adult Fans of Lego-Spotlight on Chris Giddens

Because of my respect for the people I have attempted to interview, I asked them to read over anything I wrote about them and let me know if they approve and to also make any changes they felt necessary. In this case, Mr. Giddens used triple brackets to show his additional thoughts or changes. I have chosen to leave the article as it was and to also include his triple bracket inserts. Since I am not a journalist, nor am I a professional writer in any sense of the term, I decided I could get away with making up my own rules here.

Many adult fans of Lego (AFOL) have a family and some have children of their own. Most have jobs and other hobbies besides the brick. Many AFOLs have built up their own websites. But some have a greater presence in the adult community than the rest and Chris Giddens fits the bill.

Also known as Admiral Giddens or Fazoom, depending on which online site he's at, Mr. Giddens was always a fan of Lego. Like most of the members of the adult community, he went through a period known as the "dark age", that chaotic time when childhood is inevitably consumed by adulthood. (((Actually for me, it was a "dim age" I still collected, just ashamed of being a college student buying kids toys, thanks to the internet, I found I was not alone))) There is no telling how long it will last, and in fact, most people will never really emerge from it because they are content to finish out their lives estranged from their inner child. But Mr. Giddens made the choice to embrace that inner child.

Yes, he is playing with toys. (((Fitting that he's a Children's Minister, and hangs out with kids)))

But he is also inspiring his peers to reach greater heights of creativity and challenging them to explore new avenues of creative expression. Adult Fans of Lego choose to use the toy brick as their tool of creativity, often merging several creative methods to express their vision and Mr. Giddens is in the thick of it.

Beginning at Lugnet as many new AFOLs do, it wasn't long before he had his own website up and running. He gleaned from that community all the inspiration that he could but eventually decided he needed to connect with a more specialized group of individuals who would challenge him to improve his presentations and expand his creativity. When he got together with some other like-minded builders and developed the niche community site Classic-Space.com, he got his wish.

As a founder and moderator of that site, he helped many emerging AFOLs develop their creativity and inspired a whole new generation of builders. (((He's since retired from C-S.com as a moderator, but reads it daily and enjoys the comfort of being a bit lazy))) These days his website has been put aside in favor of his Flickr account, a recent trend of AFOLs, where you will find many pictures of himself at Lego events and also of his family. While he no longer builds in the prolific manner that he once did, Mr. Giddens does find time for the brick between loving his wife and raising his son. (((And a busy schedule as a Children's Minister))).

I recently made a template of twelve questions to send AFOLs. Below is the "interview" with Mr. Giddens, the questions are generic and have been sent to other AFOLs, but the answers are his own.

Enjoy!

Interview with "Admiral Giddens"

Q. How long have you been involved in the adult Lego community?

A. I started reading about other LEGO fans back in the rec.arts.lego days. I got involved in Lugnet around 2000.

Q. What kinds of changes have you seen in the community over the years and how have they affected you?

A. In some ways the community is decentralized... Lugnet isn't the hub of all activity like it used to be. Many theme builders have gone to their own focused sites. That said, there is a focus around Brothers Brick, a great site that gleans good stuff from many sites. It's a streamlined way to catch the highlights.

There is such a focus on the adult fan, and Lego is producing so many venues to get brick. It's a golden age in some ways. Consider that when I began as an active adult fan, there was no bricklink, no pick a brick, no LDD, no way to visit a Legoland park (without crossing an ocean), and juniorization was the LEGO way. Many barriers we worked and fought to bring down are gone.

Q. Where do you find the bulk of your inspiration?

A. Memories of old Star Wars, BSG, Star Wars, and sci fi like 2001.

Q. Is there a fantasy project that you have in mind and what keeps you from realizing it?

A. I want to more large SHIPs. It's been a while. I have a son and more life to deal with than I did 5 years ago.

Q. What is the most positive experience you've had with a "fan"?

A. I've met many awesome folks who share a love of LEGO and a love of Space. Many folks I consider some of my dearest friends.

Q. Have there ever been moments when you questioned why you continue to build Lego models, and what kept you going?

A. Heh, I've experienced many highs and lows. Some almost simultaneously. I've had to sit back in the past year and say, "Am I doing LEGO for fun or attention?" LEGO has always been a mode of relaxation and when the hobby became a stress, something had to change.

Q. Is there something you wish the Lego Company would do for the adult fans or have they already done it?

A. It's hard to say. LEGO has really come a long way. Many don't have the perspective of some of the first "Lugnetters" who barely had enough white macaroni bricks to make a full circle.

Q. Are there any builders out there who have challenged you to broaden your talent?

A. Oh sure. It's hard to list them all, and many of the younger builders get SO good SO quickly. It's great. The hobby never needs to be a competition, but always cooperation. Everyone is learning from everyone skills with the brick.

Q. What would you say to up and coming builders who are new to the adult community?

A. Chillax. Start reading, start learning, build and learn to take criticism. Get a good camera, get a flickr account, and share your work!

Q. Is there a model you've built that you thought would be a star but turned out to be a dud (link please)?

A. Hmmm... hard to say... one man's star is another man's dud. I had hoped the Ministry of Space stuff (here and here) I started building as a British PCS offshoot would have taken off, but it never seemed to. I liked it. That's what matters most I guess.

Q. Is there a model you've built that you thought would be a dud but turned out to be a star (link please)?

A. Oh I dunno. I stopped counting thread reads, replies and stuff a long time ago. It doesn't matter who likes it or how many. As long as you're staying sharp with the craft and building what excites you... then have fun.

Q. Is there anything you'd like to share that hasn't been asked?

A. I like BBQ, I don't drink, and I love my son.