OTish - the current situation on the board

[B.T.]

During the last few days, the tone on the board really went into a direction, that the majority of us seem not to favor. And I personally think, we should actively search for a solution. Espacially those "canon vs. non-canon" discussions don't lead to anything positive. Legbreaker mentioned in another thread, that e-mails and personal messages are flying around. As I am PMing for myself, I know, that several members are annoyed, dislike the situation in the moment, and considering to leave the board. And that cannot be the right way! .
Olefin said, he's not here to find new friends, but to discuss the game (and game related background). And he said, he has the approval from one of the moderators, that his approach is okay with the boards policy.
Maybe there is a way, where everybody can put his thoughts to the public, but avoid all the "drama". Just as Webstral said: "I have a wife and two young children, so I get plenty of drama at home. When I’m teaching, I have classrooms filled with tweens, so I get plenty of drama at work. I keep the company of men on the Internet to avoid the drama. Let’s not get spun up over whose ideas are more logically consistent or more likely to win favor from Frank Frey. In all likelihood, Frank is steering clear of us because he doesn’t need the drama, either". Although not all of us are married and have children, I think, most of us think along similar lines, as Web put it! I don't need that kind of drama, either! If we look at the last few threads, it is obvious, that some of the regular posters (I mean the posters, that were regularly posting during the last month, like Medic, just to grab one example.) did not post during the last week (s). Others have spoken up again, like LAW.
I can't speak for others, but if you click to the statistics of several members, there seems to be some kind of scheme: Some people did not log in for quite some time. Maybe those members don't log in but just read the threads as "guests". Or, and that's what I fear, they don't visit us, at least at the moment. Maybe I'm all wrong with that assumption, but the very hot-blooded discussions of recent days seem to have distracted some members.
Don't get me wrong: Everybody should have the chance, to present his personal approach to the game. And everybody should have the chance to comment or ignore those approaches. But keeping it friendly and civilized would be a benefit to the majority.

Now, what follows is my personal view and I adress you personally, Olefin. But I want to do this in public, to make my view and my standing point very clear: Some of your observations are pretty cool. I don't have the patience, nor have I the articles or modules in my posession. But I would prefer, if you would not start that many threads. Maybe one wider-themed thread would be a better idea. Something like: "Olefins T2k version - the changes I've made and why"
I can see some of your points. But sometimes I wonder: What is your intend? If canon suits you and your interpretation, you discuss with the info, taken from canon. But on the other hand: If you think, canon should be altered, you fight canon with canon, so to speak. The question, if a game is still supported or not, has nothing to do with parts of the background being canon. And to be honest: Whenever I see a new post from you, I can see what happens: You say something. And you come around like "the new Encyclopaedia Twilight", as Medic put it at one time. Legbreaker reacts. You react to the reaction. Someone of the more moderate members tries to keep it calm. You both, Legbreaker and Olefin, go for one another. This is boring. It brings bad blood. There is no benefit for anyone. And, frankly speaking, I have the suspicion, that some of the threats suite another purpose: Further provoking Legbreaker. (And by the way: On several occasions you've mentioned, that you would not get personal first hand. That is not true. You are permanently adressing Legbreaker, and on at least one occasion Targan, without any reason. Some of the tension could be avoided, if you would stop that.)

Now, if there would be a thread (or two or three), that are clearly marked as "Olefin's T2k universe", there would be less fighting. Members, who would like to ignore your way, could easily stay away. And all those needless "canon vs. non-canon"-discussions could find an end! And: The input of others might be more constructive.

This board has been a very important source for me. I had the chance, to ask questions. And reading all those older threads gave me inspiration and helped to fix things for my game. It would be very sad, if the momentary situation would make members leave the board. After all (and yes, this has been said by several members on numerous situations!) we, as a community, belong to a dying breed. We are playing a "niche-within-a-niche-within-a-niche game", as Raketenjagdpanzer said, very on point!

I, for myself, would be glad, if all these "pissing contests" (Thank you, Raellus. It was one of the English terms I learned on this board and this term just seems to be nicely fitting here!) could be surmounted. I don't want to read this whole "But it is canon"-"No it is not"-stuff anymore.

One last thing, more true than ever: I've tried to put this post in a civilized manner. I'm aware, that I've criticized Olefin, but I hope, it was in an acceptable manner. Read my sig! If I came on to strong or to offensive, please contact me. I'm trying to find a solution, that works for the majority of the members. Let's keep calm! It is not my intend, to slap someone's face more, than he deserves!

Phhh ... Over and Out!