Talk about anything on your mind, TradeWars or not. But please, post game playing/hosting questions in the appropriate forum, and leave the arguing in Smack Talk.

Open discussion is not the place for debate, MisBehavin. The thread was locked per the policy that was outlined to myself when I was asked to be the moderator for this section many years ago. I would have thought the explanation was more than sufficient to the reason. I'm not disagreeing with the original post, but I did lock it since other posters were debating. If a decision is made to reopen Smack Talk, I would have gladly moved the thread to the appropriate section rather than ruffle some feathers.

If my actions are inappropriate in your eyes, perhaps you would like to step up and take over? I'm not sure what I've done to get you all fired up and assign me your target, but please feel free to say whatever you want. I'm more than happy to allow you to have the position since I am obviously not doing a good enough job.

IMHO you do a great job but whoever the person running the board behind the curtain needs to step out and make a decision on Smack or No Smack.

So whoever the Great Wizard of TW is, how about a decision!

I believe that would be Singularity at this time.

Who decided to remove smack ?

Thrawn- Sorry I do not intend to make you a target for my tantrum. However, you did lock it. I know that it's your job but some things get locked that I feel are not SMACK forum materian.

I just find it frustrating that there can't be any type "conversation" here unless it is purely positive. If it is anything else it goes to "smack".

I realize you do not make the all the rules here. But this is insane. letting someone know your upset if it is in an appropriate manner ( I realize I cussed, sorry) doesn't go in a smack thread. Then it is taken as nothing but a joke. That is how I and many other see the SMACK forum. Which is fine.


We have an "open discussions" forum and can't even be open there.

Who is in charge here now and who do I need to go to, to discuss this???

Right. So debating in Open Discussion, when the Admin have clearly specified to keep it in the appropriate section, and having people post away cussing and whatnot over an issue with a server or player(s) should be allowed? It was not my choice to have Smack Talk section removed, that was SG that made that decision at the time. As far as bringing it back, that is up to John and the current Admin to decide. I do know there has been a discussion on the matter, but I am only a moderator and do not make the final decisions.

What I do make is the decision to lock threads in my section(s). I make decisions based on the expectations as a moderator and never on the person(s) involved. I use to just move posts to Smack, but some people would purposely post Smack in Open Discussion just to get the thread moved. So I would lock them, and John and SG knew why I used that approach. My thought was that if the "adults" can take the time to post their comments, they can at least take the time to post in the correct area. Your definition of what constitutes as Smack and my definition may not be that different. I might have just locked it because I felt it may lead to a flame war. Again, I use a generic response when I lock. I could have put something like "this thread was locked because it may lead to a flame war and since we have no Smack Talk section, better to lock it now". I was told that this section should be visitor-friendly- if that has changed, please feel free to tell me exactly how to correct my mistake. Or perhaps we should just drop the Open Discussion area completely and that will solve the problem.

Regardless, I do my job that is expected of me. There are some that may not like my decision or even like me, and that is fine. At least I stand by my decisions and can take the consequences and admit/apologize when I am in the wrong. I was asked to do this job by both John and SG, so they obviously had faith in my abilities otherwise I would not have moderated this section (let alone be a moderator) for this long already. You want to rant on me about my decisions, be my guest. I have more important things to deal with and worry about than arguing with "adults" over whether a post should/should not be locked. You know full well by seeing the list of sections right under the Open Discussion name what the description says. If you disagree, then I'd suggest you contact the Admin and John for a change.

Believe me, I am trying to contact someone. Not being able to debate in an open discussion is just dumb. For it to be said that debating can only be done in smack forum? give me a break. the smack forum is a joke. Its for fun not debating. Not for serious discussion.



Appropriate section? As I said before the discussion going on other than the cussing is not something that was to go to smack.

I will not keep arguing with you. If we can't use Open discussion to debate and it certainly doesn't belong in smack thread then there needs to be a place for it. Its better than getting threads locked as if your opinion and feelings don't matter.

And as I said, I would have move the thread (or split the posts that were clearly not to be in Open Discussion) over to Smack, had I the option to do so.



That's your opinion. There have been plenty of discussions here before while I have moderated that have been fine and left alone. Other threads ended up with Smack and were locked/moved accordingly.



You're not arguing, you are stating your position and I am stating mine. While the initial discussion was okay, the extra posts (and you should know what I mean) were both unnecessary and should have been moved to Smack (if the section was there). I could have deleted them, but then that would invite the cries of censorship and that would just makes me laugh. You can use the section for whatever you want. As soon as server/player bashing/insults/flames start, then I will do what I need to do. I have always acted on the principle the same as always.

Look at the Script section for an example. If people are discussing a script and there is a debate, then the moderator there may do what they deem as necessary. They may split the posts they want to move, move the entire thread, lock it- it is their choice. Had certain comments been kept out of the thread in question that was locked in Open Discussion, I would have left it. Instead, you have made it clear that I refuse to allow debate/discussion, which is far from the truth. I kept the thread in place, but locked it to prevent any further flaming/rash comments.

I can't make it any clearer. If my actions make anyone unhappy, and they wish to make this into a personal venture, my advice is to contact both the Admin and John. If they agree that I locked the thread in haste, then I shall apologize and unlock it. If they decide to re-open Smack Talk, I will unlock the thread in question and move it for whomever to continue on. If anyone wishes to rant and dump on my abilities more on the open forum, go ahead. I've been around on the planet a long time and can take it. It's just a responsibility I have here (moderating). I'm not paid to do this- I was asked and I volunteer my time just as the others do. It will not make or break my morals or standards one bit. I don't bend or turn in a direction to earn favor in anyone's eyes- I just do my responsibilities when asked as best I can. Moderating Open Discussion is not an easy task- even SG talked with me when I first became the moderator years ago how hard it is to keep a fine balance without showing favoritism or creating any sort of a double standard. I've had many discussions over threads and comments made, and at the end of the day it was resolved. I can't please everyone, so I don't even try. I simply do my duty and that is it.

Misb is right Thrawn. Lighten up fer Chrissake. If you gotta write pages to reply to a simple observation on her part, we sure need Smack back.

Open discussion is for calm and rational conversation. Open
discussion is not a place for criticism. Debate is fine, but if
it turns to criticism then it doesn't belong in OD. If you
have a problem with someone, take it up in PM.

If you have a problem with something the mods are doing,
msg me. I can't promise I'll do anything (infact, odds are
very good I won't), but it'll give you a way to vent if you
need to. Thrawn doesn't need to defend himself here, he's
doing a great a job.

As for smack, it'll return in time. I'm working on how I
want it setup. If you guys can't handle the rules in OD,
how can you handle the new approach to smack?

And misb, you know exactly who you can talk to if you
want to. I'm still half-tempted to make you the mod of
smack... lol.

Fine. I won't post here. U may lock this also. after all this is debating.

I will answer the question of how I will handle it if you will tell us what were supposed to handle.

Over rated

Blah blah blah… you don’t know what your talking about.

I win you lose get over it.. And I’m not going to hide that fact with some “PM” when I know I’m right.

Ummmm… they are locking threads that don’t seem to need locking… guess ya missed that message.

Spoken like a true politician… I demand a recount.

Yes, yes, great job at NOT letting people speak there minds and shutting down discussions. “GREAT job”. Oh and best Ban man I have ever seen..

After all time is relative, yes no maybe so.

Well get off your bum and do it already.

What “SAMCK” there is no smack, or is that the “NEW APPROACH”? I’m going crazy I just can’t take it any more. (recount please)

But but but what about the rest of us I don’t know who I can talk to, I’m sooooo confused. I’m just going to talk to my self in front of you all, will that work.

Self: what are you babbling about?

I dunno I’m confused can you help me?

Self: No, sorry no one can help you you have lost it. Now move along before you get Ban….again


Vote for me! Vote for me! Vote for me!

Wait never mind I’m taking a break again.

Self: see you’re a nut job no go CBY or something.

Roflmao!

Yeah, we may be adults, but our inner children are having a hissy fit it seems.

I can hear the crowd chanting.. smack.. smack.. smack.. SMACK... SMACK... SMACK!