Raaaaaaaaagh!

[thessalian]

...I'm going to be bitchy now.

Okay, so the Charleston by Night crew basically decided to change everything. New setting, new characters, new staff (cos most of the old ones quit and more and more I start to see why), everything. Fine. So the Charleston by Night crew start discussing new setting. Great, because some interesting ideas came up and I don't know about some of the other players, but I was personally well chuffed to see that the players were feeling like they could have more of a say.

Then came Ryan. I have received the impression from a couple of sources now that Ryan can be problematic to the staff. So when he turned around, basically derided the decision to open a forum to discuss city choice and told the remaining Admin to just make up his mind already and dump an arbitrary decision on the players, I got a wee bit peeved. Of course, the dittomonkeying of this sentiment by those players who hadn't spoken up about feeling like they had no voice in where the board was going didn't make me feel any better either, so I did my usual thing of verbally bitch-slapping the predominant offending party and then wondering why the hell I bothered.

Then came Rck. Oh, that was lovely. That wasn't just "DB, make a decision already". That was, "DB, if you can't make a decision already, step down in favour of someone who can". So ... let me get this right: this seems to be saying that, if the remaining Admin won't take the steps that these players want, he should no longer serve as Admin. Yeah; brilliant strategy. The one person who's still willing to run anything for this bunch of ingrates and they're trying to drive him out. Bra-fucking-vo. I mean, I know it's frustrating - I offered to staff Mage ages ago and still haven't heard a damn thing - but I don't think he should have to take this kind of crap just because he's not moving fast enough to suit a bunch of people who apparently need their RP fix so badly that they're willing to be obnoxious ingrates to get some play. This instead of maybe finding another damn board.

I'm very close now to just saying "Fuck this whole thing" and walking away from that board. I still talk to the people I'm friendly with from it, and I still run for them in an abbreviated fashion. I'm setting up the London board so that I can have a whole new board to play on, preferably without some of this utter bullshit. I don't see why the hell I'm sticking around to see if I might get a staff position on a board where the most active people seem to be the ones who make a career out of pushing the staff around and being obnoxious at them. Some of the behind-the-scenes stuff I'm hearing now seriously enrages me, and I have this itch to find Ryan and repeatedly smack him upside the head.

It's not so hard, is it? Patience and understanding for the people who have been so good as to give their time, creative energies and in some cases cash to provide free entertainment. I will repeat this until I'm blue - the staff deserve better than this. And yet this is what they get, because some people seem to feel like the world owes them a RP; because they're being a bunch of little entitlement bitches who don't seem to understand the concept of being polite to the people who have worked so hard with no reward to make sure a lot of people have a good time. It just infuriates me.

Please find me someone to throttle...

Comments

[darkdanc3r.livejournal.com]

Please find me someone to throttle...

I'm volunteering Thestral for that position *hug* Maybe I'm being a pussy, or something, but I figure keeping out of the whole mess is better than trying to step up, and getting shit on like DB is. I respect DB, I like DB a lot... and really, I think he's too good for the bullshit that's happening on site right now.

Hmm... have you thought of inviting him over to the London game? Give him a chance to play where he doesn't have to worry about being in charge of everything? I mean, I can't say for certain, but I wouldn't be surprised if he'd like a chance to just play, for once.

[thessalian.livejournal.com]

I'm still really cagey about inviting CbNers onto London. Not because I wouldn't be happy to have some of them on board, you understand - I'd be happy to have DB and a few others I can think of on board, and overjoyed to have (just as a for instance) CC, Kai and Kyr as players. It's just that I still have no desire to be seen as 'poaching other people's players' or have to deal with, for example, Thestral hearing about it and asking to join, only to have to tell him in no uncertain terms that I'd rather gouge my eyes out with a rusty shiv than staff for him.

I honestly don't know what to do. I'd love to turn around to some of the Charlestonites and say, "Hey, I'm starting up a new board - want in?" but there's just so much baggage involved. Hey, if you can think of any way of doing it that doesn't make me look like a poacher or a picky bitch when I turn some people down out of hand, I'd be really glad to hear it.

[darkdanc3r.livejournal.com]

let me think on that *s* when i have more than a few minutes to think, i'll get you a list of things to say to people you don't want playing *wicked smirk*

[thessalian.livejournal.com]

Oh, believe me, I could go Spider Jerusalem on people but I'd rather maintain a modicum of civility.

...

Actually, no, fuck it; what I really want is to go Spider Jerusalem on people. But suggestions always welcome. Now I think I'll go read some Transmetropolitan for inspiration.

[darkdanc3r.livejournal.com]

have fun. once i'm out of here in half an hour i'm going to bed.

[futuaris.livejournal.com]

Hi there. I'm a friend of tolshak's and leopard_lady's. We spoke briefly once a while back. I'm a Mage fan and I've followed a bit of the troubles you've had lately with CbN. Even though you don't know me well, let me pour a little poison in your ear.

Start up the London board. Poach all the players you want. Invite the CbNers you want to play or help you admin. Stop trying to be polite by not causing anyone inconvenience. It doesn't help you, and it's not doing anyone else any favors. You're a good writer, and from what I gather, a good GM too. Ignore the fear of baggage. This is an opportunity to start up the game you want, and with you as an admin, you'll have a much easier time weeding out the bad ones. Good players will be happy to participate. The rest will get over it, and are not worth your time.

Good RPers are a treasure. Don't let them slip away because you're afraid of sparking teh Internet drama.

[(Anonymous)]

kai here.

DB posted your offer to run Mage in the ST forum on October 25th, asking for opinions. It was viewed 8 times and has 0 replies.

Ryan's behavior was the straw the broke my back. I believe I sent you a link to my blog; next time I see you on AIM I'll give you a ping.

[seaphilo.livejournal.com]

I used to play on CbN until very recently. If it's of any real comfort to you, Ryan is "known" in the online gaming community. Reading those attack posts directed towards what I felt was a legitimate series of concerns was what pushed me away from even wanting to seeing the site getting back up and running, because no matter what the same problem is going to persist with the same handful of people. Sadly, I feel as though that site is done and I've decided to move along with my hobby elsewhere where I know that certain types of conduct are not going to be tolerated. And what scares me is....the people who are the most offensive about the whole thing get really upset when it's pointed out that it's just a game.

[thessalian.livejournal.com]

Well, when I get London set up, you're welcome to join. I think you might be able to tell that I do not have time in my life for that kind of bullshit.