Before I get into this...
EmmKayEss Wrote:
A)You're here to do your job, not make friends.
You're dead wrong here. I'm not here to make friends? I'm sorry, but that's the most absurd thing I've ever heard. I'm sure most of us come to this site, at least the regulars in this forum, to speak to their friends? Why do you think I'm so different from you? I have friends I enjoy talking that I met because of this site... so because I'm now a member of the Staff I can't make anymore new friends? Honestly, that's just not correct at all. You speak of how the mods/staff seem place themselves above the regular members, and yet you expect us all not to make any friends on the site and just do our 'jobs'? Seems contradictory to me.
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Crow, I don't know what your problem with me is mate. I don't know why you have to call me names and 'attack' me personally in front of everybody on the boards. You could have done that in PM if you wanted to, just like you always tell everybody else to. I'm not going to call you a "hypocrite" though, because that would be too easy, and not really all that fruitful (plus I think publicly and transparently is the best way to sort these things out anyway). If all this comes down to is that we just have different opinions or that you don't like me explaining to people why I think your DP system doesn't make any sense, that's perhaps a little sad, but I wish we could co-exist without the animosity.
Honestly, I do not have a problem with you. The reason I said what I did is because I used to have a great deal of respect for you as a user, and now you've changed a lot... and it has nothing to do with your opinions on the rating system or anything else I do on this site. Your opinion is not my concern, it is the way you express that opinion. You were once helpful and productive, but now your replies are rarely of that substance. They are more along the lines of sarcasm or borderline spam, and the reason I said what I did to you is because I dislike losing any member, especially one as you used to be, to those things.
To be perfectly honest, regardless of the thread title, I was just trying to set something straight with a user who had overstepped her bounds and was about to create a whole lot more problems for herself, and others, than she needed too. I guess I could have just attacked her, called her names, or "spread vicious lies" about her, but I figured i'd just be blunt and make it as quick and painless as possible. Is that off topic? Well yes. But I thought it needed to be said.
And while I was already posting, I figured I might as well at least offer up something positive too, so I did that. It wasn't exactly "congratulations" but at least it was a small token of my appreciation towards the users I thought deserved to be recognised for their contributions to the board. At least I didn't just come in and post some random accusation like a couple of other users did, right?
Simply because you weren't quite as severe as certain other users means nothing. I personally don't mind the Shadow Priests attemptint to rectify situations; since the rank is now active they are allowed to do more than just rate posts. If you remember correctly, Pink_Ranger displayed similar characteristics while she was a SP. It helps me know which of the sub-mods are willing (and able to do so correctly) to go beyond that rank should I ever need them. This is why I wished to activate the rank after so many years, as it is very helpful in making decisions on new moderators. People make too big of a deal out of it; they're only words of advice from a sub-moderator, and I personally did not disagree with them in this case.
Well... I didn't care quite as much as you're trying to make out, but I guess I did care, yes. I remember sitting there one day talking to Nova and she said something along the lines of "I'm surprised you're not a Warrior yet", which I was sort of taken back by because A) it's Nova, and B) I didn't think I had done nearly enough to deserve becoming a Warrior. So she very kindly offered to count up my DP's for me, to which I agreed, and she came back later and confirmed that I was around the Warrior mark. About a week or two later I ranked up. And I was still quietly shocked for about a month. I didn't expect it because I didn't seek to rank up, and while I did want to eventually at least make it to Warrior because I thought it would be 'cool' to be like the other Warriors who were very much looked up to when I first joined, I never set out with that as some kind of goal in mind when interacting with people here. All i've ever done was what i've thought I should do.
I honestly don't think the majority of people who rank up via the DP system are "trying" to do so. This paragraph is the basis of why I feel the way I do about you now. You're describing, in my opinion, the perfect behaviour and ideals of a great member as far as the ranking system goes. Someone who doesn't focus on it intently, but at the same time is mildly interested in it. The system is just there to offer a little something for people who contribute greatly to the site something special. Granted, it's only an icon but there really isn't anything more that can be given. I like to reward people who make this site a better place, and that is what the ranking system is intended to provide.
But then, as time went on and the feeling of a shiny new rank wore off, I realised the more I thought about it that the whole thing was completely absurd. More and more people began bickering over DP's and rank, and for what? Why did TRMK not have these problems? When I started to think about it more, none of it made any sense, and I realised that the whole DP system was screwing everything up and was the root of all this hate being batted around, much like money is in our real world. Which is kind of funny, considering the DP system was originally intended to be somewhat of a currency, no? Anyway, I realised that this rank thing was causing more problems than it was worth, and it was only making things worse on the boards at a time when a lot of people seem to think the site "started going downhill". Ultimately I realised that it was never going to work, so it should go. Not that I personally have any sort of influence in that, but that was my opinion (and the opinion of a growing number of people). So yes, I freely admit I changed my direction on the DP issue. At the time I didn't know, but I learned and changed my mind because I thought that's what I should do, and that's what I thought would benefit this community the most.
This is an issue I feel you are greatly exaggerating. If you can point me to posts or threads where people are "bickering" over the ranks, please do so. The main problem with the system comes from only people such as yourself who constantly complain about it. "Bickering" requires two parties, and unless your party brings it up first, the issue tends not to be debated. As for other boards, they have their share of problems. MKO is the most successful and largest of all the MK sites on the net today for a reason... obviously that reason is not the ranking system, but it isn't very deterring to MKO's traffic apparently. Also, I'd like to point out "TRMKarma" and note that every fan site on the web today features some sort of points/statistics or ranking system. Dragon Points being the main cause of friction on this site is a joke; we all know the real cause of friction stems from some people not liking others that are given any amount of power on these forums. Again, please show me the problems ranks cause instead of fabricating stories about it. No one complains about rank other than new users who can't read the FAQ or people such as yourself who simply can't get over the fact it's a part of this site, even after so many years of existence. Most people continously forgot that this is a
Mortal Kombat website, and the ranking system is generally well liked by new users and those who keep to the MK forums. This 'community' you speak of is solely the General Discussion forum party, I'm guessing, and the site is not here to cater to one group of people. As I've said before, all forums feature some type of points system, and MKO's happens to be a little more "real" than most (meaning it isn't rewarded automatically, as some places tend to do).
The reason i'd hand you guys links to threads worth closing and situations worth dealing with wasn't because I was cosying up to you to get more DP's, it was because that's what I was always told to do in order to help you guys moderate the boards and make MKO a better place. I stopped visiting #mortalkombat some time ago, but if I still visted today, i'd still be handing you guys links to things I think should be dealt with, definitely. Not to try get on your good side or rank up, but just because that's a good way to help make MKO a better place. Besides, you can't rank up by doing that anyway, because obviously you can't recievce DP's in #mortalkombat, so you know, moot point, if that's what you were getting at.
The fact that the end of your time in #mortalkombat came around the same point as your personality change, I related the two incidents. If you only were concerned with the rating system, why leave the IRC channel and stop hanging out? Many people respected you and enjoyed having you around, but it just seemed to me that you left the IRC channel and reappeared later with a new name and personality on MKO. I'm simply not too fond of it, mostly because I would think you'd be willing to contribute to what I or any other mod would deem as spam instead of reporting it to us as you once did. Your opinion on DPs was not really the only thing to change, at least not from my point of view.
I don't want to erase my history here, i'm quite proud of it. At a time, I think I was at least fairly well respected by the users I looked up to. But a good deal of them have come and gone now, and most of the one's left are the same one's who've also grown somewhat bitter over what the site has become. Yes, I changed over time. Everybody who's been here has. I remember I took something like a six month hiatus, and after that short time, I came back and went straight to #mortalkombat. The first thing I noticed, and the first thing I said was that everybody had changed. Temp asked me "Everybody?"
And I replied "Yes, everybody, even you."
Everybody had become a little more sarcastic, a little more bitter, and a little less helpful on the whole. In that short time, people became jaded, and some of us more opinionated. Possibly just because we needed to vent our frustration of what had happened with all the new users acting like jackasses, seemingly dodgy calls from mods, more annoying clique's being formed, and just the general lack of respect and snideness on the boards at the time from two faced people who never had the balls to say what they really thought about others. That was very annoying. For some of us, that frustration didn't end for various reasons, and we thought the site would soon be done with. Some of us just up and left because of that. Maybe more of us should have, maybe everybody who was frustrated should have. I personally stayed, because I figured the site would never get better and if it was going to hell, I might as well just enjoy the ride. You know, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. I thought it wasn't as if I could possibly make it any worse. But the one decision I made when I decided to stay, was that I would always say what I really thought regardless, and if people hated me or that got me banned, so be it - It's not like I would be missing anything because I thought the site was declining in quality and I was previously considering leaving anyway.
Again, I don't fully agree with this. People change over time, but six months isn't a very long period of time and you wouldn't have been shocked to find what you did in the IRC channel upon returning. As I said, I feel it was
you who had changed. You were no longer a person who was interested in making the lives of the mods easier, nor did you care about helping or bettering the community as you once did. The snideness on this forum from people who used to seemingly get along and even call mods friends is one thing I have mentioned many times before. The feeling this site will "decline" is absurd; I've said before, and I will say it again: The
vast majority of MKO's members and traffic do not post in General Discussion. I'm not interested in hearing about all the great vets who left or disappeared, because really, they weren't all that great now that I look back at it. I don't miss the past, not at all. Things were as rough then as they are now, certainly no less so. Noobs existed, as did people who gave the mods a hard time for little reason of silly events. Time continues to march on, and MKO has not faltered as far as quality in other forums goes; MKO still is very popular and continues to boast good discussion in those forums along with a high traffic rating. The state of the General Discussion forum is a minor issue really, but it is obvious the root of this problem is members who continuously insult and attack new members and mods alike. What's the point of doing this, really? You have no right to complain about the state of anything if you aren't actively attempting to make it better yourself. Contribute to the cause and you'll have no pity from most.
I find it hard to believe you would adopt a phrase such as "if you can't beat them, join them". That is the motto of a weak person, someone without a real care as to what happens here. If you'd like a better atmosphere, do something about it instead of contributing to the very cause of the 'decline' you speak of. Words cannot even express how it makes me feel to even read such a thing. If you're not at least going to give an attempt to make something better, I don't feel you have a right to complain about it. Of course, you are entitled to complain, but I am less inclined to listen or care, as I said in my previous reply.
As for "babbling", I daresay there's more sense to my babbling in regards to this site at this particular point in time than there is to anybody else's. My babbling at least demonstrates some form of critical thought on my part. If thinking for myself makes me an asshole, so be it. At least I can explain my rationale to anybody who cares to hear it. At least i'm honest, and I think that me and the people like me have gone far to make the users at this site more honest too. For better or worse, people say what they really think now more than they have in a long time. Yes, I have a bit of an internet ego at this site, yes, I can be annoying, yes, I can be an asshole, but that's okay, because you know what else? I can admit that, i'm respected by all the people I would seek to be respected by at this site, and my babbling offends or makes all the people think that I intend it to. Better an abrasive revolutionary than a complacent gentleman.
You claim people here are more "honest" than they ever have been, and yet before you acknowledge this forum is in a slump or downfall. Did you ever consider the possibility the two are related entitites? I truly want the people of this site to state how they feel, but at the same time most "respected veterans" are having a problem doing that without outright insulting people in various degrees. No one is interested in internet revolutions... honestly, it's beyond silly to act like a jerk in an attempt to make any point. Most people are fed up with it, the moderators give me a hard time because I refuse to ban certain users, and lately I have finally begun to give into their demands. That's me being honest, just as you have been. I won't deny I do have an issue with attempting to get as many people to like me as possible. I don't require praise, only approval. I can admit I do get upset when I notice people not giving this to me, so I often question them as to why I cannot at least earn enough respect as to not be verbally assaulted. Perhaps it is a flaw to care so much about the opinions of those who will probably never like you, but that's how I've always been. I feel I have made this forum a better place, at least now as you stated yourself, people can be honest without being too afraid. It isn't honesty I dislike; it's those who cannot form opinions and thoughts without making fun of others or flaming. You yourself can surely admit that is a problem. This isn't going to "improve" the site in any way. Take a look at history, sites such as MKRoK who promoted flaming ultimately died due to hatred. It's simply not the answer to any of this particular forums supposed 'problems'.
Does that make me "cool"? Let's see, I thought for myself and eventually wound up disagreeing with you. Thinking for oneself is definitely "cool", so I guess, yeah, that bit does make me "cool". Or maybe thinking for oneself is uncool? Well I don't know, you're the authority on "cool", you tell me. Certainly you can't think that just because I disagree with you that i'm 'trying to be cool'. I mean, God. That would be like me saying "If anybody disagree's with me then you're just trying to be cool". That really would be delusion.
Did you or did you not just say you thought, "if you can't beat them, join them"? I think you pretty much confirmed my assumptions on this one, krackerjack. Honestly, you admitted that you were going along with what everyone else was doing and here you say you were only thinking for yourself .I find it extremely hard to believe myself, and this is what I meant by "cool". You're doing all the "in crowd" things. Make yourself a new username for no real reason other than to do it, change your personality and stop helping people. So yeah, don't use phrases that approve of submitting to the will of others if you honestly are doing what you think is the right thing to do.
And you know what I think is a pity? I think it's a pity that you've sunken to the level you have. Slinging mud. Calling people names. We both know you're better than that, but you insist on calling me out in front of everybody? Why? What did I ever do to you but disagree? I don't know what's gotten into you, but you're the forum director, and this site is set to get a whole lot worse unless you change your attitude.
How will the site get worse? Honestly, over the last few months I've bent over backwards trying to please just about everyone here, even those who truly dislike me. What has it done, really? Nothing, not a single thing I've attempted has gathered any more respect from the people I target my responses now at. I think it's a pity you have changed as well; since you admit you've done so, don't you find it hypocritical to point out that I've changed so much as well. I'm not 'slinging mud', honestly, and my reply was far lighter than those you have probably laughed at when they were directed to me, a mod or SP. The dilemma is simple... the mods/SPs and other Staff members feel I'm too lenient, and that I shouldn't take some of the things I do from people on here so lightly. Otherwise, everyone is pleased with my work here, but they honestly wish I was a bit colder, a bit less caring and a bit more forceful. This is a difficult task for me, because I don't want it to come to banning long time members, but what else is there I can do at this point? Anyhow, once again, these forums do not revolve around General Discussion. The MK forums are frankly more active, and being that this is a Mortal Kombat website, more focus would be on them. If you don't enjoy the behaviour here, don't single out the moderators and place all the blame on us. Why not respond to members who flame the mods as well? Or maybe you agree with the things they say and think we all should just take the abuse because we deserve it? This is what I meant by "cool". It isn't "cool" to do this sort of thing to someone unless that person is a mod/SP, and yet you claim you dislike the fact the site is in some form of 'decline'. It certainly isn't anyone's fault 100%.
I hate to break this to you and others who consider me 'different', but I'm no robot. None of us are. Expecting us to not have feelings and not feel insulted when we blatantly are at times is an absurd thing to ask for. I apologize if you have taken my post the wrong way, because it was not my intention to insult you. I was simply being honest, I felt what you said was quite hypocritical and since you were the main reason I had to close that thread, I addressed it. Not to single you out, but because it was off topic and ultimately that was the cause of the lock. Again, I'm sorry you feel I was slinging mud, but I assure you that was not in my intentions.
