Error There Has Been!

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Is this going to turn into one of those boards where we get public spankings by Big Daddy if we step out of line?

If you noticed, this thread is now about the fabulous possibility of getting a high-quality IRL publishing of the Spiders project.

It's about both.  It's about getting the project completed (2 pages done, 1 frame per page at the moment), and it's about the prospect of frequently getting publicly called on the carpet because ECH has supposedly received a flood of emails concerning how I - and notionally some others - am wrecking the board.  

On the plus side, it's getting me in the mood to spend a bunch of time with my daughter on the project, and on the negative side, it's making me tired of hanging on, if I have a collection of assholes talking this kind of smack about me constantly, and without the guts to say something to my face, even in PM.

Either ECH said what he said because he wants to get my paranoia cranked back up for some sick reason, or he's on the level and there are "loads and loads" of people bitching constantly about how PD sucks and it's all my fault.

I'm unsure whether it's worth it, in either case.

[Bebek Sincap Ratatosk]

Is this going to turn into one of those boards where we get public spankings by Big Daddy if we step out of line?

If you noticed, this thread is now about the fabulous possibility of getting a high-quality IRL publishing of the Spiders project.

No its about Nigel getting spanked in public... or spanking me in public, I'd be fine with it either way.

[LMNO]

Is this going to turn into one of those boards where we get public spankings by Big Daddy if we step out of line?

If you noticed, this thread is now about the fabulous possibility of getting a high-quality IRL publishing of the Spiders project.

Oh, you're right, I should never respond to the content of a thread beyond the most recent post.

Well, gee, considering one is constructive and will have awesome consequences, and one is simply another wave of shit-stirring and infighting, I can certainly understand how you'd be happier to have the board lie fallow for another three months just for the opportunity to poke ECH with a stick.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Is this going to turn into one of those boards where we get public spankings by Big Daddy if we step out of line?

If you noticed, this thread is now about the fabulous possibility of getting a high-quality IRL publishing of the Spiders project.

Oh, you're right, I should never respond to the content of a thread beyond the most recent post.

Well, gee, considering one is constructive and will have awesome consequences, and one is simply another wave of shit-stirring and infighting, I can certainly understand how you'd be happier to have the board lie fallow for another three months just for the opportunity to poke ECH with a stick.

I can see how you might see it that way.

[Bebek Sincap Ratatosk]

Is this going to turn into one of those boards where we get public spankings by Big Daddy if we step out of line?

If you noticed, this thread is now about the fabulous possibility of getting a high-quality IRL publishing of the Spiders project.

Oh, you're right, I should never respond to the content of a thread beyond the most recent post.

Well, gee, considering one is constructive and will have awesome consequences, and one is simply another wave of shit-stirring and infighting, I can certainly understand how you'd be happier to have the board lie fallow for another three months just for the opportunity to poke ECH with a stick.

STFU and get back to the spankings!

[LMNO]

Is this going to turn into one of those boards where we get public spankings by Big Daddy if we step out of line?

If you noticed, this thread is now about the fabulous possibility of getting a high-quality IRL publishing of the Spiders project.

Oh, you're right, I should never respond to the content of a thread beyond the most recent post.

Well, gee, considering one is constructive and will have awesome consequences, and one is simply another wave of shit-stirring and infighting, I can certainly understand how you'd be happier to have the board lie fallow for another three months just for the opportunity to poke ECH with a stick.

I can see how you might see it that way.

Sorry TGRR, I'm really excited about the project, and I'd hate to see it get derailed.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Is this going to turn into one of those boards where we get public spankings by Big Daddy if we step out of line?

If you noticed, this thread is now about the fabulous possibility of getting a high-quality IRL publishing of the Spiders project.

Oh, you're right, I should never respond to the content of a thread beyond the most recent post.

Well, gee, considering one is constructive and will have awesome consequences, and one is simply another wave of shit-stirring and infighting, I can certainly understand how you'd be happier to have the board lie fallow for another three months just for the opportunity to poke ECH with a stick.

I can see how you might see it that way.

Sorry TGRR, I'm really excited about the project, and I'd hate to see it get derailed.

Project's happening anyway, as a father/daughter thing, and will be posted when complete.

No worries on that score.  You will get your entertainment.

TGRR,
Has his priorities straight.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Is this going to turn into one of those boards where we get public spankings by Big Daddy if we step out of line?

If you noticed, this thread is now about the fabulous possibility of getting a high-quality IRL publishing of the Spiders project.

Oh, you're right, I should never respond to the content of a thread beyond the most recent post.

Well, gee, considering one is constructive and will have awesome consequences, and one is simply another wave of shit-stirring and infighting, I can certainly understand how you'd be happier to have the board lie fallow for another three months just for the opportunity to poke ECH with a stick.

You know, I could just ignore something that I'm concerned about and pretend that everything is fine, or I could address it directly.

It actually does worry me that ECH said there are going to be a lot more public dressings-down for behavior he doesn't like, and that he put some emphasis on this being his board. Why, exactly, do you think I shouldn't voice my concerns about that? I should brush it off, plug my ears and go "lalalalala oh look, a shiny project!"?

This is one of my favorite boards, and it's the one I've spent most of my internet time on for the last two years. I'd be really disappointed if it did move in the direction of autocracy. Do you seriously think I should just keep my mouth shut and go with the flow?

I resent the "poking ECH with a stick" comment. That makes it sound like I only posted what I did in order to jab at him, and that is complete and utter bull. I have absolutely no malice toward ECH, we resolved our argument last year and aren't at odds on any subject that I'm aware of. I'm looking forward to finally meeting him in person when he's all moved in. I posted what I did because his comments sounded ominous and I am very much against the kinds of boards where things are run that way.

[Bebek Sincap Ratatosk]

Is this going to turn into one of those boards where we get public spankings by Big Daddy if we step out of line?

If you noticed, this thread is now about the fabulous possibility of getting a high-quality IRL publishing of the Spiders project.

Oh, you're right, I should never respond to the content of a thread beyond the most recent post.

Well, gee, considering one is constructive and will have awesome consequences, and one is simply another wave of shit-stirring and infighting, I can certainly understand how you'd be happier to have the board lie fallow for another three months just for the opportunity to poke ECH with a stick.

Do you seriously think I should just keep my mouth shut and go with the flow?

No, you should comment on the public spankings!

[LMNO]

The only way this could become an autocracy if ECH backed up his "dressing downs" with a ban.  Otherwise, he's just another poster with an internet connection.

If he started banning, then yes.  If not, he's no different than one of us telling someone else to cut the shit.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

The only way this could become an autocracy if ECH backed up his "dressing downs" with a ban.  Otherwise, he's just another poster with an internet connection.

If he started banning, then yes.  If not, he's no different than one of us telling someone else to cut the shit.

Apparently, you missed the post where he was considering shutting the board down due to these secret complaints.

[LMNO]

"We had to destroy the board in order to save it."
 \



Yeah, I guess I missed that.


I'm betting a 15% chance he'd actually do it, though.

[Cain]

If you must know, I was one of the people who PM'd ECH.*  With concerns and suggestions about the direction of the board, which spent far more time describing behaviours I thought was detrimental to what he originally envisaged for the board, rather than people who I thought should be "chastised".

In fact, as I recall, one of my suggestions pertinent to this argument was that if we wanted a more activist orientated board, then we might want to consider fostering a culture of engaged and constructive criticism when it comes to having problems with people on the site, because otherwise bad feelings and bruised egos will get in the way of doing fun stuff, as well as possibly causing people to leave, reconsider signing up or devoting time and effort to something.  Dealing with them confrontationally sets off the second circuit and makes them want to defy you, simply because.  I'm pretty sure this point was addressed in another thread quite recently, about dealing with other sites, so I don't see why dealing with individual people in a similar way should be so controversial.

As for why I didn't post my worries publically?  Partially because I wasn't sure if I was just alone in thinking these things, and partly because I was worried if I did address them openly, then I would have gotten the same response ECH did - or worse.  I'm not looking for a fight, not if I can avoid it, but I am looking for any way possible to improve the site, improve the brand appeal of Discordianism and to improve our impact on the web and IRL.  And I honestly believe one of the ways we can do that is to treat each other with at least a modicum of respect, a currency that seems somewhat lacking of late.

Oh, and before anyone says it, I know the above criticism can also apply to my actions.  As no doubt ECH will tell you, my PM to him admitted fully that I was complicit, at least some of the time, in the actions I was criticizing.

Right.  If you want to rake me over the coals for that, so be it.

*(I don't have a clue who any of the other people are, so if you want to know, no point asking me).

[The Good Reverend Roger]

If you must know, I was one of the people who PM'd ECH.*  With concerns and suggestions about the direction of the board, which spent far more time describing behaviours I thought was detrimental to what he originally envisaged for the board, rather than people who I thought should be "chastised".

In fact, as I recall, one of my suggestions pertinent to this argument was that if we wanted a more activist orientated board, then we might want to consider fostering a culture of engaged and constructive criticism when it comes to having problems with people on the site, because otherwise bad feelings and bruised egos will get in the way of doing fun stuff, as well as possibly causing people to leave, reconsider signing up or devoting time and effort to something.  Dealing with them confrontationally sets off the second circuit and makes them want to defy you, simply because.  I'm pretty sure this point was addressed in another thread quite recently, about dealing with other sites, so I don't see why dealing with individual people in a similar way should be so controversial.

As for why I didn't post my worries publically?  Partially because I wasn't sure if I was just alone in thinking these things, and partly because I was worried if I did address them openly, then I would have gotten the same response ECH did - or worse.  I'm not looking for a fight, not if I can avoid it, but I am looking for any way possible to improve the site, improve the brand appeal of Discordianism and to improve our impact on the web and IRL.  And I honestly believe one of the ways we can do that is to treat each other with at least a modicum of respect, a currency that seems somewhat lacking of late.

Oh, and before anyone says it, I know the above criticism can also apply to my actions.  As no doubt ECH will tell you, my PM to him admitted fully that I was complicit, at least some of the time, in the actions I was criticizing.

Right.  If you want to rake me over the coals for that, so be it.

*(I don't have a clue who any of the other people are, so if you want to know, no point asking me).

I see.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I'm not sure I see the benefit of dealing with people confrontationally in order to punish them for dealing with people confrontationally. Sorta like spanking your kid for hitting his sister.

Anyway, one of the things I like about this board is that mods and admins are very low-key, no one actively "controls" it, and people are free to behave almost any way they want. Sometimes it's nasty, sometimes it's nice, sometimes it's creative... and I think the great creativity springs from the great freedom. I suspect that any effort in increase control will only trigger the Law of Eristic Escalation, and at the same time, creative output will decrease.