Stormtrooper1990 wrote: Thu Aug 01, 2024 6:29 am
tirepanted3 wrote: Thu Aug 01, 2024 4:20 am
Hi Stormtrooper,
I've avoided getting publicly involved in this discussion up till now, even though - like some other writers on this board - I have been bugged by the issue of excessive and strategically-timed posts in the Stories section for a few weeks now. But this comment you just made on the "Locked Doors" thread gave me pause.
Stormtrooper1990 wrote: Wed Jul 31, 2024 8:33 pmLet's be clear, I run to my own schedule. I'am not changing when I release my stories or my updates. That would be unworkable
I'm curious - what is "unworkable" about the compromise that Esercito asked for? He didn't ask you to change the pace of posting your stories, nor did he tell you to stop adding links to them. He simply told you to edit
existing story posts to add the links, rather than add new posts with individual links every few hours or days (and usually after someone else posts their own update in another Stories subforum).
I understand that some of Esercito's more lighthearted responses may rub you the wrong way, but he
did offer you a perfectly reasonable compromise - as did Rufusluciusivan, in previously suggesting that you should post all your links in one post, rather than spacing them out. Nothing they request has to do with changing the content of your stories or pace of your postings, so I'm not sure why this should be a problem.
I agree with your last point - this conversation is "taking away attention from the stories themselves." That said, your habit of posting constant links to keep your stories prominent on the main page of the board
also takes attention away from the stories themselves - namely, stories from other writers on the board. For the sake of maintaining civility and respect on the forum, it would probably be best to take Esercito's suggestion and edit your picture links into your stories going forward.
Tirepanted,
You misunderstand. I was replying to Simon's suggestion to stagger the realise dates of stories to work around other writers on the board, it was that I was referring to as unworkable. I made no hint or suggestion to the compromises discussed with ES and Rufus.
I'll admit there are many things I take exception to when it comes to ES ( the light-heartedness sometimes) but what I took exception to in case, was when; 1) Telling me I was on thin ice when I only intended to post a
few behind the scenes material and 2) Making a faux apology to jaeger to mask a sly little dig at me, which was clumsy and disrespectful and should have been done in a PM. When I pulled him up on it, he deflected with humour. It's antics like this that make me less inclined to fellow the compromise he outlined, partly because of the insult and partly because I can't seem to take him seriously.
I'am all for maintaining respect and civility on the board but I'am more inclined to follow Rufus' suggestion to block chunk all my images into one reply. What I don't want is everytime I update my stories ( whether they be with an epilogue or with behind the scenes material) for there to be a public panic. I'am not out to make enemies but my first thought is to the world that Arc and myself have lovingly built up. As a writer, you understand what I mean when I say we are each defined by the stories we write and the characters that populate them. I would rather be judged on my stories and my characters. If my passion for my work is misunderstood to be something more and taken out of context, then I'am truly sorry to hear that.
Stormtrooper, I'm sorry to step in so heavily, but I had to. Because you did not follow my suggestion - both in spirit and in letter. You posted your latest story on Mon Jul 29. Then you waited
two days without posting your links. Then, on Wed Jul 31, 3:55 pm,
literally 1 minute after an update on jaegerhunde's story, you posted one link. Besides, you posted four seperate links. That's not "chunking all your images into
one reply".
You rightfully pointed out ES's comment on jaegerhunde's story was clumsy and disrespectful towards you, something to which I agree, something I don't condone. Therefore, I'll also point out your latest actions have been disrespectful towards me. I've reached out to you in Chapter 37. I've made my case harshly explicit in Chapter 38. Both times, you agreed to my compromise. You said you valued my friendship, my reviews, our exchanges, our jokes... Come Chapter 40 Part 2, you're still not abiding by our compromise - or ES's compromise for that matter. Actions speak louder than words.
You mentioned several times you're convinced the conflict is minor and has been blown out of proportion. I respectfully disagree. I try to never bring up my seniority in my argumentation - because seniority doesn't give anyone an edge in a debate, all members have an equal voice - but if there's one thing my seniority has shown, it is that I'm not a drama queen looking for conflict. I never involved myself in an issue until that one. I have many things going on in my life outside of the board. I wouldn't have devoted HOURS of my time writing long comments, hours not spent with my family, carefully pondering my words to try and remain fair and balanced, had it been a minor problem. Other people wouldn't have commented on this topic had it been a minor problem.
When I read...
Stormtrooper1990 wrote: Wed Jul 31, 2024 6:32 pm
Seriously though, don't you think that's a bit of an exaggeration? Its my sub-forum so I update it whenever I wish.
... I felt disheartened, as if the hours of writing I had spent had been in vain.
I wish nothing more that this issue to be solved, but I'll be the harshest I've ever been on this Board: You're the only one who can solve it, Stormtrooper. Simon wondered if there could be a friendly solution yesterday. There is one. Following the letter and the spirit of the rule you agreed to abide by. The one tirepanted summed up efficiently. Trying to circumvent it or find loopholes will only add fuel to the fire. I think it's a fair and easy compromise - one that doesn't put a dent in your schedule or creativity, but would feel like a breath of fresh air for everyone who's having an issue right now. You'll notice I never intervened when you uploaded an epilogue, even if it was shortly after an other story has been updated - even when I had doubts about the intent. Nor did ES for that matter. He only stepped in when you refused to abide by the rule you agreed to - his latest intervention was clumsy at best, maybe, but justified. And to be 100% honest, his attempts at humour are a lot nicer than a factual written description - a factual written description of the event would sound a lot harsher than a picture of a polar bear.
Finally, I'd like to stress a point that's not been made clear, but that is actually the key to understand the issue at hand for people who only come around occasionally on the Board. One can separate the artist from the person when it comes to judging a work of art,
but this is NOT the issue here. The issue is about the Board remaining a healthy and safe social media. Whether we like it or not, this Board is a social media. Interactions are part of the game. And interactions need rules. That's the reason why I insist so much on this topic. That's the reason why it's NOT a minor problem, even though it has nothing to do with the content of the stories. In a way, it's even more important than the content of the stories - it's about the very foundations of the Board as a social media.
As far as this issue of the Board remaining a safe social media is concerned... I'm sorry, but passion, proficiency and imagination - qualities you have in spades and which I admire - are not relevant. What matters is that everyone follows some ground rules. No matter what they think of them - or of the moderators enforcing them. If any other author started to spam posts or to break their written word, I'd step in all the same.
And I agree with Mr Peaky Blinder. As far as I'm concerned, the latest atmosphere is clearly putting a dent in my spark to read, review, and write stories. You said it Stormtrooper: this Board and its stories (and pictures and everying...) are meant to be a leisure - things that bring positive feelings. I barely feel them anymore, my days don't feel brighter when I come around. Maybe I'm becoming too personal here, maybe I'm the only one who feels that way, apologies to everyone, but since you said you valued me as a person, I had to share that.
To conclude, I won't ask anyone (readers, other writers...) who doesn't wish it to take a stance. If they wish to remain neutral, I'll respect their opinion. If they think the issue is a minor nitpick that doesn't hinder the experience of the Board, I'll respect their opinion. However, I believe this Board has reached a turning point. I sincerely wish it's for the best and that we'll one day look back and think to ourselves that these argumentations made the Board a better place - conflict and confrontation of ideas breed progress. But alas I'm not holding the cards. As I said, I believe the friendly solution is easy, and simply requires to follow the rules all parties agreed on.
And now I'll post this before I start deleting and re-writing everything.
Pleasant Summer everyone!
