Animation Source Forums

Ok, this topic was created because i noticed that the topic "Goodbye's/Returns, Apoligy's and Depression cave" was locked when it may have very well had great great potential for the memebers and for the Mods. First of all, im guessing that this topic will be locked, becasue simply it goes against what a Mod did, and.....well that's starting to seem like murder or such. Now, Mods, hear me out, it hasn't only been this topic that had potential, but was locked, but many others, yet this one may be a very important one. Obviously this topic would be used for goodbye's and returns, hence the name, but if all the goodbye's and returns were reverted to this topic, would it not be less hassle then having to lock a topic every time you see one of the subject? This topic would also be of us for it's apoligies section, where people could get out, destroy grudges and such, as well as regain old friends. And finaly the depression cave, now, here people could seek support and aid for there probelms and downs, make new friends, destroy the hate and sadness of their lives and come to a more friendly and peaceful place amoung friends. Now what can be so bad with that? i can understand that it may get confusing with all the topics colliding posts, but then just seperate them and make a topic for each subject? i ask, what harm can it realy do? so finaly i say, in this topic i see potental to help people, is that not what this site does and has does before? And as well as one more thing, i just simply ask the Mods to understand a topic fully before the go and lock and or delete it. Once again i repeat that i am not trying to single the "goodbye's/ Returns, Apoligy's and Depression cave" out, it had great potental as i have said before, yes....but so many more are being cut down in their prime, and silenced when it could have helped people, or the person was trying to only get out what they need to say, or what they feel. And so through this topic i am not trying to spark conflict, yet reduce fustration and anger.

Thank you for listening , weither you see what i am talking about or not

~balto.

I understand what you're saying and I agree with you.

I agree!

Aggreed very much agreed

Amen, buddy! I agree with what you said...especially the elements of it that I quoted above. I have felt that very same sting...of one thread of mine being locked because my point of view didn't tally with a particular moderator (and she locked it after throwing in a final stinger at me. The same moderator who, more recently, threw a petty little "pwned" stinger at me in a thread on THIS forum). And, in that same thread here, I was given an initial chance to respond to attacks on me by a few rabid, uncouth members, and then the thread was locked...just in time for the moderator in question (not the one who locked the thread, with whom I have subsequently made very positive headway in private conversation...on MYSPACE) to lay her petty little stinger (and another childish member as well).

The fact is that these forums are, by and large, NOT fairly administered and moderated. There are exceptions. And there are plenty of good and decent members. And there are some predators...bullies, troublemakers, and foul-minded children.

Sorry to ramble on. You are right though, Balto. And it's a shame. It's probably because a few of the aforementioned bad eggs spoil it for the bunch with their flaming. But the losers always end up being those who have been flamed by these troublemakers (who may often be long-established members, with the tables tipped far in their favor for that very reason)...and THAT is patently unfair.

I agree with everything you said, because I put that topic up and that is after being told by a mod and many people to get more things in one so it usess less space for better topics, so I do and well it gets locked, that is complete bull crap and after being told to do more topics like that one, I mean come on that is not fair, it's also a very good topic too that would help alot but what happends it gets locked, maybe atleast Togo could have asked Steet first if it was ok to lock it before he did, but no so I pmed Steet about it and im not happy for having to do that.

All I wanted to do was help and fawllow the rules and I do and look what happends, this isn't right for that to have happend, not at all.

well, there 5 people that agree with me, i see it as understandable.....and i don't want this discussion to be thought of as a rebellion or anything like that, but more as a plea for something that so far everyone either doesn't mind or agress, it only makes sense

i can understand that it may get confusing with all the topics colliding posts, but then just seperate them and make a topic for each subject? i ask, what harm can it realy do?~qoute

yes, and i also had this ^ in my post, but thanks togo

Thanks Togo for letting me know also im sorry for the rambling about that topic, I should have thought out of the box but I didn't so im sorry.

I suppose that P.S. refers to me. It is okay. I didn't say or even suggest that this forum is a dictatorship. I said that it appears that the forums are administered with an uneven hand. My experiences in the "Fan Art" forum are undeniable proof of that. Long-standing members were permitted to flame me because I had a counter opinion, and the threads were not locked until I stood up in defense of myself, and responded to the flaming and also the baiting. Even though there were some members who did, in fact, see things my way. That is what I mean by an uneven hand. And, additionally, one particular moderator had to make sure she got the last word in before she unceremoniously locked the thread. That offended me. And I let her and Steet both know that (though she claimed, in a private message to me - and in so many words - that I had attacked her integrity and good name there).

Perhaps the solution to issues of complaints is to develop a "rant" folder or forum, which should still be moderated. However (and that is a BIG "however"), members should be allowed to speak their peace even if it runs counter to accepted viewpoints, or the opinions and beliefs and so on of long-standing members and moderators, or maybe even Steet himself. THAT would be fair. The only exception would be that the moderators should strictly prevent any flaming, bullying, personal attacks, etc. And maintain that with an EQUAL HAND...meaning that every single member is equally-accountable...not just newer ones who are not personal favorites of the moderators or a larger majority.

The proper solution is not necessarily to lock threads or delete them altogether (as is the usual process around here, it seems). Rather, if someone clearly misbehaves (rather than just defending themselves), their posts should be deleted. And, if they continue, they should be banned from posting for a certain duration, or permanently banned for unrepentant and repeated violations...and that means ANYONE.

Finally, and this is also very important, Steet does have one clear responsibility. If his forum moderators at any point show partiality or inappropriate behavior, or he receives complaints about them from members (even just one), he should investigate. And, if the moderator proves to be a problem, he or she should be removed from his or her moderator responsibilities. Moderators are only human, and they are capable of making mistakes in judgement or even bad calls. Or misbehaving. And since some of them are minors, that rings especially true...accept it or not, when we are teenagers, our emotions often are in direct conflict with the logic centers of our brains. And that leads to problems...in fact, it leads to MOST of the problems we find on the internet with regard to bullying and flaming.

This is NOT going to become another discussion of what happened in "Cat's rant on the you-know-what", but BaltoSeppala's point was not reacted to negatively because it was a counter-opinion, but because he either then or later insulted people who were contributing good, positive opinions, such as DrewtheWolf, DarkWolf, and Catwhohas14tails herself, calling them bad eggs, stupid, nasty, etc. Also, Cat never necessarily accused MySpace as a whole of art theft, just that it was crawling with numerous art theives and that she preferred not to become involved with the community.

By the way, Catwhohas14tails has deleted all of her fanart and will not post it again. I don't think it's JUST art theives who are to blame for that. *starts scribbling list*

If this becomes another arguement and gets locked, I am willing to accept the fact that I'm responsible because my time can't be wasted with arguements of "It wasn't my fault!" "Yes it was!" "Was not!"... blah blah blah...Yeah, and also because I actually can figure out what I'm responsible for and what I'm not.

Now, to everyone else reading this, this is one measure of the kind of thing I mean. I didn't specifically mention Cat here, nor did I specifically go into details about the other thread. But here we have another more-established member making specific allegations and trying to heat up this thread. It's unacceptable. And it's a further indication of how a certain percentage of members have ganged up together to try and silence someone for having an opinion THEY don't like (in this case, against me...because I dared to criticize - APPROPRIATELY - the brutal tactics of Cat and her friends in that other topic thread). Or for stating facts. And so they use exaggerations, bold lies and intimidation to try and do what they can to either discredit the person they have issue with, or to see if they can get the thread locked in an attempt to silence that person. It's what makes these forums a bad place to be able to have fair and even-keeled discussion.

I am quite sure now that, no matter where I go in these forums, no matter where I post, Cat and her friends are going to be there to bully, cajole and bring up older matters. And that is just plain sick. And Steet should step in. Heck, it'd sure be nice if the MODERATORS stepped in and dealt with people like this. But I wonder if that will ever happen.

We should be punished? If I am not correct Balto Seppala you just keep continuing this little war on to any topic that is open that allows it. You seem to be the only one bringing up older matters.