More than words – The Voice of There

Past There In Styles

STOP THE MADNESS NOW!

An Editorial by JoeyG

October 7, 2004

Sometimes I am simply amazed at what is approved and what is not for public consumption. Did I say that? Weeks ago, during yet another heated mudslinging in the forums I wrote (and have since amended) the following:

Since July (and really for far longer) There has allowed one particular avatar the personal right to harass, defame and critique other Thereians in the comfort of his own private outhouse, the forums. Yes, he has on occasion had his wrist slapped by There Abuse. This “re-education” has had no real effect on making him stop his illiterate abuse. My one concern is that There will not do a thing about this. There seems to be a eunuch when it comes to handling public outrage and outcries. From what I understand the forum is moderator challenged and there are no TOS. It appears that this unfortunate, misinformed, soulless individual has a soapbox to rant from and is protected by a technicality. Obviously this person knows his way around this technicality and uses it to his full advantage happily espousing his ignorant gibberish. He accepts There’s lip service and then goes about his business flipping his middle finger at them. I suggest it is time for everyone to bombard There Abuse with angry E-mail stating that the forums need TOS and abusers need to be dealt with appropriately and with finality.

I wrote the above in obvious anger and frustration at There’s failure to make or keep peace. I wrote in support of my friend ZachC. This section was never published as it seems that There woke up one morning, bombarded with protesting E-mail, and finally took notice of the hate that was festering in the forums and locked the threads and (supposedly) banned the offensive individual from posting anymore trash (or anything for that matter).

Well, I am so wrong (and not for the last time). That person is at it in the forums again and flipping his finger at There’s (lack of firm) authority accusing ZachC, once more, of being unfair, biased, and lacking integrity.

This is the rest of my rant:

There are two sides to There, one lovely and one hideous. This is no more evident than this past weekend. During the happy go lucky Wild, Wild West events (that person) was busy spreading his fecal fertilizer in the forums illogically attacking ZachC’s good name. The E-mail circuits have been smoldering with writing to Zach in support and sympathy against these latest attacks. One well-meaning friend wrote, “Hang in there and we'll do something about this. Unfortunately for (that person), he is burning many bridges left and right. Just remember there are consequences to everything you do, good or bad, his day will come soon enough.” All well and good but too bland and ineffective for my blood!

Zach had this to say in response to what has been written: “You might point out that I, for one, have been logging into There less and less frequently. When it stops being fun, it stops having any point. (That person) is the one who is making There less and less enjoyable for a lot of people.

I've slowed way down on designing, playing, reading the forums, or having much to do with There at all. If someone like this is allowed by the company to ruin the experience, then there are those of us who will leave. At least in Lineage I can get out my frustrations, and hope that someday, he'll log into that game and I can destroy his avatar butt... repeatedly...

I've talked with Jack before, as well as Hula. I would talk with them again, but not if it's going to be pointless. I'm sick and tired of Porter's attacks, his thinly veiled hatred, and his hiding behind the bible to try and destroy people's lives. This is a virtual world. We log in to escape for a time the day-to-day crap we all have to deal with. I, for one, don't need (that person) dragging rl garbage in to our world and ruining it.

Please feel free to pass this on to anyone.”

Now Zach has floored me by putting into words exactly how I feel. Since last week I have had a lot of down time giving me the ability to think about why I subject myself to stupidity in There. This is a game. We don't need any sort of pixilated related aggravation. I have been moving my chair closer and closer to the door more and more lately. If I am here, like Zach, I have certain commitments to There and my club that keep me in check, just barely. I am honestly tired of being reminded of my There responsibilities over and over when I make the slightest outburst of seeking freedom from unwanted speech! (That person) needs to use spell check and a dictionary to look up the true meanings of his words. If I wanted to read malaprops I would read Sheridan!

Zach is now spending his time in Lineage. That is a very bad sign. How many others have left of late, more because they are not having fun any longer than any other reason? It was fine to blame Black Friday for the mass exodus last spring. Black Friday is history now and, There, you are losing your most productive avatars to other worlds because you have no idea how to handle griefing and stupidity.

I wrote the following in response to that and other E-mail of support: “Writing these inspiring and truly wonderful words to each other unfortunately has little meaning or comfort now. It has been said over and over. How many times will our friends act sympathetically telling us that by leaving we let this sociopath win and that would simply not be the proper thing to do? Oh, come on now! This is a game, dammit!

There has to act on this problematic gluteus maximus (I couldn’t write asshole here) responsibly and must do it once and for all. No, we do not have to subject ourselves to this person’s ranting any longer. If this were RL he would be taken care of by the authorities and made to stop his harassment of others by proper legal means. There is not RL. It is a game. When a game becomes uninteresting or self-defeating all we have to do is stop playing. Well, this problem has been going on since July and There is simply incapable of handling it satisfactorily. There is no patch that will erase this bug. It is exhausting to continuously hear that this avatar is acting with in the TOS and it is impossible to rid the game of him without his being a blatant griefer. In any case, There has no choice but to reeducate him ad nausea when he slips back into his misanthropic behavior.

MERDE (that’s French…I had written something else but thought it would not be so acceptable)! Like I said: if this were a RL situation, if this were a store, a restaurant, a theater etc. this person’s ass would have been booted long ago. "The management reserves the right to admit or remove anyone whose behavior is less than exemplary or acceptable." I made up that quote but it works in RL. Like I said: There is a private company and can act accordingly. If they see and understand the potential loss of talent and profit that this avatar's actions provoke then they should act accordingly and not pussyfoot any longer.

You must grief There Abuse and those higher with your opinions. Writing to each other will do nothing to keep Zach in the game or anyone else that has half a brain and any self-respect. This is a game. We do not need to be here if it is not fun. Make There do something responsible once and for all!

Oh, and if the frustration in game play cannot be fixed accordingly, choosing the option of stopping and finding less stressful worlds to play in will be a win win situation. The (person) will remain a cartoon and no longer be a part of our lives. Not being exposed to his rampant insanity would be our true relief and make us true winners.

Let There know that it has no choice but to listen to our protests now.”

This may be redundant but I feel strangely repetitive. I cannot believe that we would allow Zach's integrity to be placed in question and libeled (as I wrote, Libel is a hard word and harder to prove). There owns There and reserves the right to remove any disruptive customer. That is customer service. No TOS required on this one. It should boil down to ThereWay or the HighWay! Go ahead keep (this person) and lose the avatars that keep There going and growing culturally, economically and intellectually. Whose company is it There, yours or (that person’s)?

Well, I guess I have said my piece and now I can return to writing about more pleasant things. Coming sooner than you expect: The Wild, Wild West!

MAY THE PAX BE WITH YOU!