New VIP Rules at TFN

FTeik · Post by **FTeik** » 2006-05-18 01:20pm

Quick, save this before it is edited:

Mai 19th, 2006:

"Surrounding oneself with a cloud of yes-men is a certain way to be pushed out of business, but who am i to dictate policies. I'm only a small fan, who spents his hard earned money on the products made by those VIPs and now i can't even complain and hope to be heard, if i think the delivered product to be lacking in quality.

Considering this new policy made necessary by a "small minority" (didn't we have thread some time ago, that showed the opposite, hmm???) one has to wonder, what had those people so upset in the first place?

I mean, i've been here at the boards for over five years and i have never seen something like this. Not about Glove of Darth Vader, not about Curtis Saxton before he started to work for LFL, not about anything."

Archon · Post by **Archon** » 2006-05-18 01:33pm

FTeik, I took a screenshot of your post and saved it almost instantly after reading it.

Ar-Adunakhor · Post by **Ar-Adunakhor** » 2006-05-18 01:49pm

Just a little observation...

It is sad how one can go to a forum like that and non-confrontationally non-threateningly critique a book/choice/thought, and then be forced to take a screenshot to prove that is actually what was said. It's like the authors in 1930's Germany/Russia that were forced by the government to censor their own damn work if they wanted it released. And if those enemies of the people publish their slander anyway? There is always the BanHammer for shipping those malacious dissidents off to the camps/gulag.

God forbid you point out where someone made a mistake or was foolish, it could make them feel bad.

Jim Raynor · Post by **Jim Raynor** » 2006-05-18 01:55pm

18-Till-I-Die wrote:I just honestly dont understand why they are so intent on kissing ass. I guess some people just like the taste of wrinkled hack author booty.

This is actually quite common among scifi/fantasy fandoms, from what I've seen. There are a lot of fanboys out there who take any criticism of their favorite franchise personally. These same fucktards also get starstruck by the slightest contact with writers or other people involved behind the scenes, and will defend them no matter how bad they are raping the fictional universe. In some other fandoms I've been involved in, you were accused of not being a true fan if you didn't like the direction the current season was going in. In an eerily similar parrallel to Traviss's "Talifan," critics were given derogatory label of "superfan" (as in, they were arrogant and obsessed know-it-alls who loved to bitch and put everything down). Fans like this don't care about the quality of the franchise, they're just slaves to the brand name who will buy and stick up for anything with that name slapped on to it.

FTeik · Post by **FTeik** » 2006-05-18 02:26pm

Well, seems i'm banned.

Again.

However, i don't know if i should get back this time.

Side-question: Can it be, that the owner of TF.Net tries to cover his ass in case of legal problems? Such as someone as KT trying to sue him, if nobody buys her crap, because people on his boards claim it to be garbage and her not being a nice person?

Archon · Post by **Archon** » 2006-05-18 02:39pm

The best we can hope for now is a resolution of the numbers fiasco in our favor .

FTeik · Post by **FTeik** » 2006-05-18 02:42pm

Archon wrote:The best we can hope for now is a resolution of the numbers fiasco in our favor .

This has ceased being about the numbers a long time ago.

IceHawk-181 · Post by **IceHawk-181** » 2006-05-18 02:56pm

Have we not come to expect such things from the sycophantic masses of idolatrous fools whom make up that particular fan Community? The prime component of ignorance is self-deception; they believe themselves righteous and unique.

We, as fans and paying customers of the material, are not allowed to mention authors by name in nearly any case.
We are not allowed to use any form of language that may be interpreted by another as offensive. This includes such words as foolish and illogical in relation to an author or an author’s ideas.
We must fawn over any person with a colorful screen name, always knowing that with a word any author can have our posts edited or deleted, our comments unduly censured, and our persons barred from response through ban, if they so decide.

Always under the realization that the rules laid down on the boards are purposefully ambiguous and those that enforce them completely beyond reproach.

With all due respect to Godwin, these moderators are now employing a level of intellectual fascism that would be humorous if not for the level of importance they levy upon it.

These rule changes, though presented as a long coming development, are obviously and most overtly targeted at stifling any possible debate that would dissatisfy or offend Karen Traviss.

When Thrawn McEwok charges that Curtis Saxton has written the ICS to pander to his own agenda, and constantly presents the theory that Saxton forced changes in Star Wars to cater to his personal views of the literature, nothing is done.

No warnings, no edits, no removed posts, no bans, no mention.
No changes in policy or hijacking of threads by moderators.

Nothing.

That the majority of the moderators at TF.N apparently dislike Curtis Saxton’s contributions is no secret, a multitude of these people constantly attempt to undermine any use of his source material in argumentation.

That the majority of the moderators at TF.N consider Karen Traviss as some prodigy of Star Wars Literature incapable of making mistakes or doing wrong is easily demonstrable.

That Karen’s constant contact with certain moderators through e-mail has unduly influenced board policy is also apparent, through their own admission.

Much of the administration at TF.N is essentially a pandering sycophantic retinue incapable of honest intellectual and logical debate.

They resort to Logical Fallacies and Anecdotal correlations in the place of logical argument.

TF.N has never been anything more than a forum for impetuous gabbing and idol worship.

I, for one, am not surprised in the least.

In furtherance to this point, I would point out that the moderators, supposedly in an attempt to constitute amiable and good-spirited debate, took the time to essentially denounce every other Fan-Discussion board on the internet as immaterial. (Not to mention a definite slight at SD.Net itself…)

Posted by The2ndQuest

...rabid userbases drive away the desire for VIP's to partake in their atmosphere of immaturity, rudeness and lack of basic decency.

Archon · Post by **Archon** » 2006-05-18 03:22pm

Put me in the ban column.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2006-05-18 05:50pm

This is nuts!

dp4m wrote:
Rohniss wrote:As I understand it, you can say pretty much anything about an Work.. just dont say Author X is a monkey with a typewriter, and probally wrote Work X by flinging poop at the paper...
Pretty much. I'd also even toss in some criticism of writing style and editing, so long as you don't mention the author at all as a person (e.g. "I hated Author X's writing, as it was un-Star Wars-y" vs. "Author X's personal habits/character/dog naming skills/etc. cause too much to bleed over into their writing")

That sort of thing.

I don't like... ah... some... author's... writing style.

So there.

Fingolfin_Noldor · Post by **Fingolfin_Noldor** » 2006-05-18 08:56pm

I was actually banned for a few minutes. I wonder which set of itchy fingers pushed the button "by accident". Or was it a technical error? Hmm

But by and large, the moderators, such as d4pm, Ender_Sai (you know, Sai means shit in Chinese. I wonder if there's a coincidence), are known to be anti-Saxtonite and pro-WEG to the core. So I suppose it was fine to bash Saxton for everything he did. Thrawn McEwok... I refuse to be drawn into any debate with him these days. That slimy, two faced, moronic low brained hypocrite... You debate with him and he twists your words and so forth.

Bah, it's impossible to engage in any rational debate these days.

Knife · Post by **Knife** » 2006-05-18 09:05pm

I'll be sorry to see this contravery die down. If anything, it's been some entertaining reading for me.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2006-05-18 09:17pm

I love the way that moderators freely troll their threads, in an effort to draw a reaction. Observe:

Ender_Sai wrote:To expand on dp's point, I think it's about basic respect and civility, which was mostly absent in some very obvious cases, and was bleeding over into other areas and authors.

E_S

No effort to provide specifics. Nothing added to the discussion.

Duckie · Post by **Duckie** » 2006-05-18 09:44pm

Has anyone pulled a Spotty Abraham Lincoln on them? Ask what 'spot' specifically where they can pinpoint where you were rude or uncivil? Ask for quotes?

Ar-Adunakhor · Post by **Ar-Adunakhor** » 2006-05-18 09:56pm

MRDOD wrote:Has anyone pulled a Spotty Abraham Lincoln on them? Ask what 'spot' specifically where they can pinpoint where you were rude or uncivil? Ask for quotes?

Ah, but comrade, if the posts were not uncivil why then were they deleted?

In answer, yes they have. The mods just gave vague answers about posts they had already deleted and failed to save. They then continued the trolling/flaming/banning.

Lord Poe · Post by **Lord Poe** » 2006-05-18 10:05pm

Mange the Swede wrote:Why were you banned, Lord Poe? (Is it a temp- or a permanent ban?) IMO you haven't done anything wrong. I simply don't understand...

I was banned for the post above. No answer yet on how long the ban is.

Its clear CUNT Traviss (I hope she can see that here) is directing TFN to ban specific people.

Anyway, we should roll out the red carpet for more TFN regs to come here. They can be guaranteed their posts won't be deleted or edited for speaking their mind about "VIPs".

Lord Poe · Post by **Lord Poe** » 2006-05-19 12:36am

Update on my ban:

You're were banned to for continuing on the discussion in the VIP Policy thread in Lit. Given your history in this, your ban is being discussed in MS. - rhonderoo

My HISTORY in this?? I challenge anyone to find such an animal.

Post by **Vympel** » 2006-05-19 01:16am

Did you say that to them? It'd be interesting to see if, contrary to their claims, they're taking into account the KT Jelly (feels good- on the hole) database (i.e. off-site material) and not your behavior on TFN itself.

Lord Poe · Post by **Lord Poe** » 2006-05-19 02:05am

Vympel wrote:Did you say that to them?

Can't say anything to them until I'm unbanned.

It'd be interesting to see if, contrary to their claims, they're taking into account the KT Jelly (feels good- on the hole) database (i.e. off-site material) and not your behavior on TFN itself.

dp4m wrote:Think of it like Vegas: What happens on LJ, stays on LJ. We have our policies. What you do outside of here is none of our business.

VT-16 · Post by **VT-16** » 2006-05-19 04:02am

"If what you're doing on TFN boards, doesn't include kissing author's ass, you can get out."

Thankfully, I left those boards years ago.

Lord Poe · Post by **Lord Poe** » 2006-05-19 09:14am

I used the "unban template" to reply:

rhonderoo wrote:You're were banned to for continuing on the >discussion in the VIP Policy thread in Lit. >Given your history in this, your ban is being >discussed in MS.

Exactly what "history" are you referring to? Can you please provide examples? I don't recall ever spamming a thread, as is implied here. Other users in that thread replied several times, even after me, with no reprocussions.

Hopefully this "history" isn't referring to Traviss. I've done nothing at TFN beyond what several others have done.

Hopefully this "history" doesn't involve any off-site activities. That would completely contradict what dp4m said: "Think of it like Vegas: What happens on LJ, stays on LJ. We have our policies. What you do outside of here is none of our business." Does this not apply to me, for some reason?

Please let me know how long this ban will be, and specifically, what "history" is being considered.

Ubiquitous · Post by **Ubiquitous** » 2006-05-19 05:56pm

Poe's idea is a good one - somebody with an active account over there should start to PM like-minded rational TFN members with the link to this place. So many of us from SD.net are banned from there [myself included] that it would be nice to see some of TFN good members posting over here. They can also be recruited into the evil pro-Saxon conspiracy to spread our ideals around TFN on our behalf.

RThurmont · Post by **RThurmont** » 2006-05-19 07:46pm

This blatant brown nosing sickens me. Mark my words, if George Lucas leaves this growing culture of worship for EU authors unchecked, Star Wars will wind up like Star Trek, a pathetic, derided science fiction franchise viewed only by a few hardcore fanboys who are generally rejected by the rest of society for their enthusiasm over it. Dune, arguably the greatest work in the history of science fiction, is being similiarly abused by Brian Herbert, eager to capitalize on the hard work done by his father, and Kevin James Anderson, eager to broaden his fanbase as a leading contributor to already-existant universes created by someone else.

Quite frankly, if George Lucas joined stardestroyer.net, I would flame him for not properly taking action to ensure that the Star Wars brand assets are managed for long-term growth and continuity. Lucas is literally sticking his company's neck through the guillotine through lax supervision of his subordinates, and it really pains me, because George Lucas is not only one of my favorite creative figures, but also one of my absolute favorite businessmen (for the decidedly cool way in which he and his friends from American Zoetroppe kicked Hollywood's fat, corrupt ass in the 1970s and 80s), and seeing him screw up like this is just depressing.

The Dark · Post by **The Dark** » 2006-05-19 07:47pm

Ubiquitous wrote:They can also be recruited into the evil pro-Saxon conspiracy to spread our ideals around TFN on our behalf.

Pro-Saxton, hell. Pro-visuals and pro-science would be more like it from my side, since I'm not sure I've even read any of Saxton's books.

Lord Poe · Post by **Lord Poe** » 2006-05-20 01:05am

Update: Still no proof offered. I'm banned for 2 months. Oh HOW will I live?

Your history in the whole Traviss argument, i.e. the notes in your user notes that show quite a few instances of you're being edited for continuing on the argmument when we've said drop it, evne if it was more polite that others. Which incidently is why you're banned this time. The MS decided on two months, and would like for the matter to be over when you return. Nothing about who started what and how authors should act, etc. - rhonderoo