Well, we got what we deserved. Some things can't be put completely right after the fact.
I bear my part of the shame for all of this. I had my differences with some of the assumptions of the DC Group's work, which is natural enough. I didn't spend time praising the parts that I found excellent in proportion with the parts I thought needed revision. I can't fix it by saying I wish I had been more supportive of my colleagues' creative efforts, but I do wish it.
As a group, I think we encountered a conflict of expectations. Some of us have been working towards creating a cohesive world that more-or-less meshes with established material. I don't remember anyone putting that idea into words, but looking back I believe that I felt it. Others of us are simply putting their ideas out there for the rest of the community to use or refuse as they see fit. The latter is probably the more realistic approach, given the inevitable differences of opinion that arise as groups grow.
While I still like the idea of crafting a unified world, different authors are going to come up with different ideas. I have sensed among the reactions to some of the larger works, like the DC Group's work, a feeling that large completed bodies of work make great claims on the common Twilight: 2000 world as a whole. The authors, who have put in lots of time and love, often are resistant to less-than-positive observations by the other members of the community. The authors understandably feel like they are being sniped at rather than acknowledged for their contributions, and they fight for the integrity of their work. The readers, on the other hand, seem to feel put upon by the presumption of completion that may appear to accompany the product. Especially regarding the large-scale works that focus on the more central areas/aspects of the Twilight: 2000 world, readers may feel that they are being pre-emptively told "This is how it goes" regarding the subject matter of the work. Not having been consulted before the work was presented, some readers reply with an understandable annoyance at what seems like a proprietary claim to a segment of the Twilight: 2000 world.
If the idea here is to build some sort of unified Twilight: 2000 world, we're going to have to come up with some procedural techniques to come to some agreement on the material. If the idea is simply to discuss ideas in a public forum while working on independent outgrowths of the established Twilight: 2000 world, then we should consider committing to this idea, albeit on an individual basis. If we're sharing our own ideas and not making any effort to create some sort of authoritative combined Twilight: 2000 universe, then there's no need for anyone's feelings to be hurt either way. If I don't like your idea, I don't use it.
I for one prefer to attempt to create a more-or-less contiguous Twilight: 2000 world. I like using the materials created by others. I'd rather not try to reinvent the wheel regarding such big ticket items as Operation Omega when others have done so well before me. I think we're all going to have to make up our minds what we expect from this forum, this exchange of ideas, and the prospects of a Twilight: 2000 universe.
Webstral
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