unforum

[Phaedra]

Open Letter

[The Watcher]

Don't leave Phaedra... we WUV you.

But all kidding aside, there are always going to be arguments and debates. I read through the Lenny's Xanga thread in question as an objective third-party observer. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't see an attack. What I see is a debate. And in a debate, people express strong personal opinions. Opinions that are not representative of the community as a whole.

To me, it doesn't matter if someone has 10 posts or 10,000 posts. That person's opinions are still the opinions of one single person.

This community is one of the friendliest, most welcoming, and msot fair I have seen on the web. Honestly, in most forums, I resent the moderators and "community leaders" for flaunting their omnipotence, but not here. Here, the moderators are not lock-happy censors. They are real people that I feel I've gotten to know as people, not machines. They too have opinions, maybe even strong opinions that are in direct contrast to yours. But as long as all opinions have an equal chance to be expressed, the system works and the debates continue.

In most of the forums out there, a moderator would have come across the thread, read a couple of posts, and locked it for flaming. Here, we strike an incredible balance, one that has not been replicated on any forum I'm aware of. We are able to maintain complete freedom of speech while having a shockingly small amount of negative content. This is not easy. Somehow, this community has managed to extract the one person on each forum who posts a long, intelligent argument, albeit with strong points of view, and plopped them all down right here. Throw in a complete lack of censorship, and I believe you have a completely unique forum.
(For freedom of speech gone horribly wrong, see the cesspool that is totse. Or don't actually. Forget about even thinking about totse. Coming from a gentle forum such as this one, the contrast will destroy you)

Now, all of this can be applied to any argument on a message board. Let's look at this one specifically. What I see here is a clash of points of view. (This is where I begin to misread people completely and then everyone hates me for painting a bad picture of them). I think most of the people here are just happy to see a new ARG. Until that ARG makes a horrible mistake, people will be curious and play it.

Phaedra, I can see where you're coming from. ilovebees had a certain sanctity about it, and you see Lenny's Xanga as violating that sanctity, almost blasphemizing it. At the same time, this sort of thing happens all of the time in the real world. For exmaple, classic movies often have terrible remakes that do not do the classic justice. Some fans are outraged. But they don't give up watching movies- they simply don't see that one movie.

The unfiction community is about freedom. PMs have the freedom to take an ARG in whatever direction they choose. Players have the freedom to play or ignore any ARG. You or anyone else have the freedom to make a logical argument(as you did) that an ARG is inappropriate, poorly done, or offensive. Others have the right to agree or disagree with you. And all of this combined, is what this forum is comprised of.


In the end, my point is that nobody did anything wrong. It was a debate which, like all debates, had people with strong points of view. And that's all it was.

Whew!

[weephun]

Sad to see you go. If there is anyway to stay please do, but I can understand your misgivings.

While I know not what posts directly you refer to, I definitely noticed a not-so-friendly undertone towards people questioning the "way things work here" and if things could be done better or different. It was not enjoyable and was very surprising considering how openly new ideas have been embraced before.

I think some introspection into motives might be a good idea for some people on both sides of the problem here. Sometimes problems can't be avoided with bunnies, but must be dealt with.

[NashCarey]

What I am about to write may suprise people.

I truly know Phaedra is going through. I have felt the same way at times. Recently I have had many change of opinions.

I came into the ARG world as Bill says "Like a bowling ball in a china store" -- or something like that.

I wanted to provide the best game ever. I failed, but did my best. Only thing was, I could not see any problems with my invention. Yet many of the established veterans did. Many of my philosophies haven't changed, yet many have. I see some of the wisdom which I was presented early on and rejected due to the nature of the delivery. I muted the noise which stood in the way of what I was trying to accomplish. All I wanted to do was make an AWESOME game.

After realizing I could not change the minds of the established I decided I needed to create a sphere of influence of my own. I wanted some of my ideas to live. I wanted them to flurish. I wanted them to be acknowledged. I wanted them to be accepted. After much time I realize maybe all that was wrong.

I made a community, and I barely even go into chat in anymore. Not because I don't like them, but because I sort of tired weilding the power of shaping the minds. I got what I wanted. 30+ people who sit in chat and listen to what I say because I have a silly '!' by my name. I spent TONS of money to give me name credibility by financing games. I spend $150/mo on server. I spend hours which should go to my family on the computer trying to do what I have somewhat accompished. All of that to fuel my freaking ego. I have a few peoples attention and end up getting flamed regularly and even get hateful paradigms written about me (heh-I really am over that). Yet, I don't leave. I thought I was going to leave Unfiction forever a while back. I won't ever leave. If you think you have had it bad, believe me it could of been worse. You could of been fueled by the 'attacks' at your ego and end up spending more than you want just to defend your delicate ego (Yup, that's me).

Now, let me talk about these attacks.

Some were imagined. Some were real.

I appologize for those that I wronged. I appologize to those I didn't. Some didn't know anything about me, and hated me. I was out to 'subvert the form' of the way ARG's were played. I had radical ideas. And many attacks that were at my methods not me personally. I was wrong for taking that personally. To those who never knew me and joined in the conversation during AWARE about sending me back to Iraq, and 'hanging and burning' me which took place in #unfiction I appologize. I wish you had got to know me better before saying such horrible things, even if you were just kidding. I wasn't there, but in a small community it doesn't take long for me to find out about whatever goes on (especially when it has to do with me). I was wrong for trying to come in with the HUGE ego and TRYING to create a game which would get me the blessings I felt I was looking for. I built AWARE in Iraq and knew I was not going to get a hero's welcome when I came home due to many circumstances, I was trying to be everyones hero, instead of just being me.

(Off-Topic)

For those who poke fun at my spelling and grammer, well, please get over it. I am working on it and it does NOT help me when people poke at that flaw. It just makes me angry that you feel you have to mention it.

(On-Topic)

Phaedra reconsider. Please try to put yourself in my perspective. I think we have much in common, and are just handling it differently. Don't make the same mistakes. Just move on and push through. You can't shape everyones mind, but you CAN at least make them read your posts. And if you wish to voice up, get flamed, and so on, remember, you are dealing with a new genre with people who have held their roles a while inside it. They feel they have a grasp on the genre. They are right. Yet, you will have more chance to effect the masses here then you do else where. Would you rather have 6000 people read your opinions of 600? Even if you only convince 10% you would have to convince 100% of the 600 who read elsewhere. You love to post and share. Don't let the silly stuff get you down. It is all just silly stuff. We ARE just playing games here right? Or did it become more than that?

[Ozy_y2k]

You know what Nash.....good for you. Thanks for writing that, it was nice to read.

And the man is right, in a way. We all may be in a position to think we're Righter Than Everyone Else at some point in our lives, but perspective which is gained through time and the willingness to see the other point of view is a wonderful thing.

[RungeKutta]

[Alzheimers]

No one ever asks for my opinions, which is why I always offer them freely.

While I may be a relative newcomer to this community compared to some, I have been all over this Intarweb thing for over ten years. Throughout my meandering journey across this digital landscape I've seen events such as the ones unfolding here repeated over and over, as if on an endless loop.

I'm not going to get all armchair-psychiatrist about why these situations always seem to end in tears, but there is something tragically predictable about how this all unfolded. When strong emotions mix with strong opinions, someone's going to get hurt. When unstoppable force meets immovable object, there's only one sure result: nuclear winter.

I think we all need a reminder about how this wonderful digital universe we inhabit works:

-This is not a democracy. It's anarchy, and it's not fair but it works.
-There are no right or wrong opinions.
-The harder you argue and the more passion you argue with, the harder and more passionately others will argue against you. The devil has more advocates than you do.
-There are no rewards for winning an argument online and there are no consequences for losing an argument online, except those we make for ourselves.
-Nothing is personal unless you choose to take it personally.
-Suicide only inspires sympathy when your lover is just pretending to be dead.

and finally,

-Any fights we pick are our own -- there are no Martyrs on the Internet.

So if you want to leave, or if you want to keep beating a dead horse, go right ahead. As far as I'm concerned, Phaedra's being silly for taking this all so personally, and the rest of you are silly for indulging her or baiting her on. This whole situation is just silly.

Oh, and Nash -- it's Grammar, not grammer.

[Caterpillar]

[NashCarey]

[Alzheimers]

All in innocent fun

If even the great (and I do mean that with the degree of respect it implies) Nash Carey can take one on the chin and see that it's not meant personally, I think we can all learn to be a bit more forgiving in the long run.

Wow, this feels like a Charlie Brown Christmas Special moment. Does that make me Linus, or the poor christmas tree?

[Dorkmaster]

As long as I can play Pig Pen, I'm happy...

My 200 lire... (I have no idea if that is anything near $.02, so no lecturing)

I pretty much agree with SOCRATES* that even if something IS aimed at someone personally, then it still remains up to you to accept that attack as worthy of your time and emotion or not...

Admittedly, I've been fortunate to not have anything further than heated arguments (...so what IS art anyway?) and no perceived personal attacks... but even if I did, I think I would ignore it and move on. I know there were times when we had just flamers from the beginning... (there was someone back in the middle of ILB that was pretty much just there to attack people and make stupid comments... and I am not criticizing idly... I'm pretty sure that even this person thought the comments were stupid.)

Anyhoo... DESCARTES*... I quite enjoy your heatedness in arguments. KANT*, I very much value your intellect... Anyone else involved in this dispute... I dig y'all with ferocity...

I think everyone here can get along just fine, or ignore those we can't, without all this... However, the fact that this thread exists and is being addressed brings warmth to the cockles of my ARG-luvin' heart. I mean, this is that anarchy-based, everyone-has-a-say, you-will-be-heard theory that the entire forum structure is based upon. I think unfiction is a resounding success...

However, personal attacks should be more closely monitored.... even if it's just a well-placed "Watch it... that was close." Private Message from Scarpe*... (Where are you anyway, girly? We need some booty-kickin, you-style, apparently!)

I agree that personal attacks are dangerous, but only if we let them be...

Truth is, I can see cattiness all over the referenced threads... on all sides... some in good fun, and some borne of tender feelings seared by good-or-bad intentioned flames... It doesn't matter who started it.. It doesn't matter who was right (at this point)...

But it does matter that we start valuing all people's opinions, even if you think they're full of poop.

If you don't agree (and you don't think it's important to a game or an outright contradiction of fact) then just ignore it... the post will die.

If you do agree... let it die... no need for more posts of "I agree. Good point!"

If you disagree, but feel strongly about it, then preface it with such... ([RANT]...[\RANT] has always seemed to do wonders for me...)

Finally... without sounding too "warm fuzzy"... Let's just all get along, shall we? Play nice, kids... share your toys... If you disagree, that's fine... but let's not chop heads off... even if you're right, and prove it to the entire community... you're still playing online games with thousands of others...

Take it in perspective.

Love ya all...except you

-DM

EDIT: Names have been changed to protect the innocent. Except for ScarpeGrosse. Chica deserved it, yo.

[jamesi]

Having had a chance to browse through the forum thread that brought about this letter, the administrators sat down and had a discussion. Following this discussion, I think it's time we had a say in this.

First and foremost, personal attacks are not tolerated here, and have always been dealt with when situations have come about. However, it is in our opinion that there were no personal attacks within the thread in question. Granted, there were some negative undertones to many of the posts as the conversation waned, but negative criticism does not an attack make. We will not be responsible for censoring rational thought here, regardless of the spin applied to it.

Secondly, any moderator or administrator reserves the right to state their own mind, just as any member does. The TOU explicitly outlines this fact. This is true of any moderator or admin, regardless of post count, seniority, or level of sanity. Naturally, the administration team at UnFiction works damn hard to make this a comfortable, productive environment for the thousands of registered (and unregistered) guests who pass through on a daily basis. I don't think it is fair that the entire organization gets painted with the same brush at times, particularly in this manner.

If someone truly feels abused or slighted by the actions of any other member, then back channel communication is often the best way to have situations remedied in this type of environment. Trust me -- the admins are not in the business of letting small problems become big ones, because quite simply, we don't need the headache. I hope that others that may be reading this take this point very seriously... this sort of pity rant is not something we need to tolerate anymore.

*pause*

Now, onto the issue of 'policing' the genre. The genre, as we've always said, is a growing one that isn't "fully" defined as of yet. Expecting the admins of this discussion forum to police the actions of PMs of games wholly unrelated to any of the admins is wishful thinking, and frankly, in my opinion, an outrageous waste of our time. Its bad enough that we have to sit here and edit out swear words because some people can't handle a thread or a discussion without involving the words 'bumwipe' or 'douchebag'. However, I do believe that to be our role here, as admins/mods -- to moderate and facilitate discussion in a helpful and intelligent manner by editing out the inappropriate and organizing discussions as necessary -- and not to make sure PMs are running their games correctly and/or efficiently.

UF is here as a resource for players of ARGs. It is not the global regulatory committee for all things ARG. Personally, I have no desire to run around spanking insolent PMs that I don't know from a can of Cheez-whiz just because their game is a subject of debate for players. Unless, of course, they are unable to play nicely within the rules of UF.

So, in short -- we'll govern these boards based solely on what happens on them. We will not make attempts to impact on any ARG unless the game itself (whether it be by character or through content) violates our TOU. We reserve the right to do on these boards as we see fit, and rest assured, after more than two years at it, we're still learning.

*pause*

I think that's pretty much all I need to say about this particular matter. I'm hoping we can all take this as a learning experience, and now live in peace, as one, while butterflies flutter overhead.

[dmax]

I'm the one in the orange shirt. I think Scarpe has the bow in her hair.

[ScarpeGrosse]

Suprisingly, I actually am having *that* bad of a hair day

[Phaedra]

Fine. I stand (or sit, I guess) corrected. Sorry to have created a disturbance.