Thursday, August 21, 2003

Is a Response Really Needed?

I came home today, after a long and tiring day of classes...and I now see an interesting chat transcript between Kevin and others. If you aren't aware of the whole Kevin situation, I'm not going to bother filling you in, because I'd be here forever. In any case, I want to thank Lumi. Apparently she provided this information and I'm glad to see that she has been a bit constructive and helpful here. So, thanks Lumi. ^_^ I notice also that Kevin has made his own profile on myOtaku, even though he apparently hates our sites. Go figure. I normally would not respond to his frequent misinformation, but just this once, I'm going to just my blog to actually have a bit of a dialogue here. Let's take a look at Kevin's latest post in his own blog. "Life is strange, we go through it with the "good guy" attitude. We try to be a nice person live by certain guidelines and turn the other cheek with others and forgive them as many times as we see fit. However under the illusion or perhaps for better terms mask we learn the world if full of hyporcrites." Ah yes. I've noticed this all too well. Kevin is describing my own feelings here. ^_^ "People who pretend to be your friends yet try to stab you in the back at any turn. I only have on question to pose here? If Adam supposidly is in full control of all his sites then why is his own staff members violating the guidelines he's setup? Whose site is this Adam? James or yours? Because from the looks of it if your not too careful you might be the one banned from your own website?" Firstly I'd really have to ask how I've stabbed anyone in the back. I gave Kevin the opportunity to work for OtakuBoards twice...even after he had walked off in a huff over theOtaku.com. And the only reason he decided to leave theOtaku is because Adam wouldn't share a 50/50 control with him. Ah yes, that's what Kevin forgets to tell everyone; he wanted an equal share of Adam's site. Can't forget that. And moreover, what guidelines has Adam set up that I have violated? I can't think of any. Adam and I have been friends for years now...I've known Adam far longer than Kevin has known him. And as a result, I think we both have a really strong idea of what each other is thinking -- that's why we work so well together. I have never been in a situation where I've been angry with Adam, or where we've had a significant disagreement. We just seem to click in a very positive way. And I'm truly thankful for that. Kevin, I don't know how you conclude that I might be banned from my own site. I've been making the rules at OtakuBoards for years, with Adam's complete knowledge and approval. I don't see why your tantruming changes that. "Think about that, you promote equality at your boards. Yet the minute a difference in opinion arises at your board. James is quick to use his "I'm right, your now banned" theory. If your trying to promote these things I suggest you change the rules on the board." You know, I'd really love to see where this has ever been the case with me. I really would. I have never once banned someone because I disagreed with them. Let's look at the evidence here. Take people like Cloricus or Mnemolth. I disagree with both on frequent occasions. I often find Cloricus to be rude...and I often find Mnemolth to be arrogant and egotistical. But are either banned? No. Mnemolth himself said that he's been banned at several other boards. Yet not at OtakuBoards. If that doesn't show a tolerance for a range of views, I don't know what does. Honestly, these kinds of claims come from some vaccuum where facts bear no relevance. It's annoying, frankly. "You aren't promoting a friendly enviroment at all there, and its not your fault since you aren't aware of what goes on there. However I really think you should take a look back at all the members that have been banned on OB. They haven't been banned for breaking rules they been banned for stating opinions that James doesn't agree with." I really have to take issue with this for a few reasons. Firstly, Kevin makes out that a huge number of members have been banned from OB. In relative terms (relative to his own board), that might be the case. But Kevin's board has circa 150 members. OtakuBoards is 5,000+. Isn't it logical, by simple numerical standards, that OtakuBoards will experience a situation where more people are banned than somewhere like AEB? Of course! Yet, this is conveniently ignored by my good friend Kevin. Secondly, I have seen newbies comment on numerous occasions that OtakuBoards is a friendly place. And I believe this to be true. Yes, we have our fiery debates. And yes, some members to argue with one another. But how is this different to any other board out there? And moreover, compare our "freedom of speech" to AEB. At AEB, if you dare say anything that might upset the Administrator, your thread is closed. And yet, how many times have I been in a position where I've been openly discussing things on OB? Take a look at Cloricus or Mnemolth as examples. And take a look at the Suggestions threads and so on. If I were to close every thread that I disagree with, I'm sure I'd be closing a lot more than I currently do. Kevin also assumes that I'm the only responsible party at OB. That is, of course, incorrect. There are a multitude of staff who close threads and make independent decisions. They can support the fact that, by and large, I give them a fair amount of discretion when it comes to these matters. "Think about it, and take a more active role in your sites. You may just learn how to promote a friendly enviroment if you took the time out to pop your head in there. I'm sure I'm not the only one that feels this way." Adam does take the time to pop his head in there. It's just that you never bothered to notice, when you were making highly inaccurate accusations. And no, you're not the only one who feels that way. There's also kuja. Oh, and maybe thimoc. I should probably end this by apologizing to any who have managed to wade through all of this. I really don't want to turn my blog into some kind of mud-slinging match. But at some point, I really have to cut through the crap and bring some much-needed sanity to the table. Kevin, despite apparently hating theOtaku.com and OtakuBoards, is nonetheless obsessed with both sites. His own boards, while being "highly unique", are also not afraid to heavily mimmick OtakuBoards. Moreover, Kevin rules with an iron fist at his own boards. He has fired countless staff. Those said staff have spoken to me about how he treats them and what the situation was like there. I could quite easily throw a flurry of claims at Kevin, all of which would have far more accuracy than what he has dished up for you here. The difference, however, is that I simply won't sink that low. Kevin is already struggling with the weight of his own perceived inadequacy...I don't want to make it worse. But there's a bigger picture here. And it's one that Kevin seems to ignore or, he simply isn't aware of it. OtakuBoards is a website on the Internet. It's not a prison or a nation state. Therefore, people can come and go as they please. What does that mean? Put simply, it means that if you don't have the goods, nobody will want to visit you. If you can't deliver something enjoyable, people will very quickly move to your competitor with the click of a mouse. If what Kevin says is true, why is it that AEB's growth is far smaller than that of OtakuBoards? And why is it that OtakuBoards itself continues to grow rapidly? The answer is clear. We are providing a friendly environment. What would happen if we weren't? Our membership would never grow. Nobody would visit. Nothing would happen. Adam and I cannot control the visiting patterns of members. They come and go as they please. It's ultimately their choice, as to whether or not our ventures succeed or fail. The Internet is, in effect, the ultimate free market. You're only ever as good as what you're providing. Simple as that. I know that what I've said here could easily be spun into yet another tale of destruction and mystery by Kevin. I'm well aware of that. And I'm well aware that his apparent obsession with OB is well out of my own control. But I guess I'm writing this more for those of you who are undecided about the whole thing -- so you can read both sides and make your own choice. Normally, I wouldn't care about this at all. And frankly, it does not affect either myself or Adam to any great degree. Adam finds Kevin's words about as laughable as I do. We've even spoken about his OB-obsession with some amusement. But at some point, the utter rubbish that Kevin pedals has to be met by reason. I could sit here all day and go through this situation point by point, to provide an even clearer view for you. But I won't. I'm sure you guys are all intelligent enough to make up your own minds. This will definitely be my last word on the the whole subject. The sheer idiocy has worn me out. My next post will return to normal, I assure you. ~_^

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