The PPC Posting Board - Latest posts

Next time you ask for Permission, please look at this page for what to do... like including prompts, for instance.

The second thing: I barely recognize your name. Be a bit more involved in the PPC, let us get to know you.

If anyone else wants to provide concrit of your agents, I'll let them handle that. I'm too tired to do it properly right now.

As the title states, I would like to know if other people would be interested in a PPC scavenger hunt. The idea would be that someone (probably me, since I'm proposing this) would come up with a list of things related to the PPC, and that anyone who wants to participate would try to find them. Whoever finds the most things wins.

The things related to the PPC would be items mostly from badfic, although the occasional item from good to mediocre fic would also be on the list. None of them would require going into NSFW or NSFB fic. For example:

1. A mini with three or more letters added, deleted, or removed


2. An object of an impossible color


3. A Suvian reformed within their own fic

As for finding the items, that would be accomplished by posting them in a thread made for the scavenger hunt. Two boarders wouldn't be able to use the exact same item, though using a different item from the same fic or even the same chapter would be fine, even for the same thing on the list. Also, legendary badfic (or possibly any fic linked on the PPC wiki?) would be forbidden because it would just be a race to post things on the board at that point.

I'm fully open to any suggestions on this. I just want to know if this looks to be a good idea and if people are interested in participating.

While I was taking up the cause of "hey maybe no witch hunts" it somehow completely slipped my mind to put my foot down on the screencap being in the Discord to begin with. Oops.

Sorry.

I agree with voting for them for the same reasons Aegis listed. I freely admit that I don't know either of them very well, but they seem like good, steady, people from what I've seen of them.

First off, I have not been hiding from this issue. I've just been at a friend's house for the past two days. I was very busy there, and I wouldn't have been able to give this discussion a thoughtful response.

I apologize to July for not trying to stop the screenshot from being posted. I was only thinking of it in terms of evidence, and not how it would be an invasion of privacy. This is a very serious deal. I'm very, very, sorry, July. I should've known better. Since I don't even know you at all, I shouldn't have made any comments on the matter.

I apologize to the Discord chat for not helping. I have literally only been part of the PPC for 34 days; add that to the fact that I just vomit out words without thinking when I'm feeling emotional, and you have someone who really should not be part of such an important discussion. In fact, I was pretty aggravating.

I apologize to Ix for being part of this discussion. I don't know enough about Ix, about the Brink incident, about the Glarn incident, about mental health, or really any part of this at all! For crying out loud! Why on earth did I think I could help! So yeah, I feel really stupid. Sorry, Ix, I shouldn't have made myself part of something so important and emotional with so little information.

Of course, the discussion on the Discord is different from the one on the Board. Everyone is supposed to be part of the Board discussion (at least, that's what I'm gathering). But I could have stayed out of the Discord one.

On the subject of bans:
I think Tomash should get a month-long ban at the most. I do think his actions were serious. However, they were meant to help, and that does matter.

Some people have called for Aegis's ban. That's just dumb. He's Ix's boyfriend! I would be worried if he didn't have strong feelings about this! It's only right for him to be agitated about their welfare. Yes, it would have helped for him to take a step back. But that goes for literally everyone on Discord who participated in this fiasco.

For everyone else on the Discord (everyone else participating, that is), I just have to say that we all let things get really out of hand. We should be embarrassed. Though I don't think any bans are in order. Except for one, and that one would be mine. Looking back on it, I realize I acted irresponsibly. As a person with very little information, I shouldn't have tried to be part of the initial argument on Discord. I may be overreacting, but I feel very ashamed of myself, and I think a temporary ban is just.

Lastly, I think mods are a very good idea. I do like the thought of a community where everyone can be responsible. We cannot do that. We clearly need some people who can propose votes, and announce the final decision. For instance, right now there are a million different ideas floating around the Board about what to do. Consequently, no one knows what to do. We're just milling around, voting on this or that idea, and it all comes down to nothing happening.

Sorry if that was slightly incoherent. I'm tired, ashamed of myself, and frustrated with this mess.

This thread has gotten so wild I genuinely don't know where else to lay out my thoughts.


So, first thought, Tomash. I don't think he needs to be permabanned. Doxxing someone is absolutely a serious offense, but it's also (so far as I know) his first in about six years of spotless membership. He has acknowledged it was wrong, apologized repeatedly and profusely for it, and resolved to make amends in whatever way he can. In addition to which, his offense was, or at least seemed to me, a mistake made in dire circumstances with the genuine intention of providing people ait all facts available, rather than a malicious attack or deliberate violation of the rules or common decency. That, to me, is not a situation that merits a permaban.

Some form of consequence is necessary, certainly, but permabans are not the tool for this job. I strongly believe that they should be reserved for cases where there is a repeated or drastic negative consequence to someone's continued presence. I do not see that as the case with Tomash, or anyone else involved in this matter. If people want to discuss a temp ban, I'll leave them to it. I still don't think it's the best course, and I'll vote as such, but I'm only one member.

Now as to the secondary ban proposals, I strongly oppose banning any of the people mentioned in PC and Des' lists, for any length of time. Witchhunting members of the community is very much Not Cool, but neither is mass banning members on first offenses without first giving due consideration to less drastic courses. Even temporary bans are significant, especially in the case of Khryssty, who's only been here about a month, if I recall correctly.

I would also like to voice my concern over the frequency of bans being suggested. Many of the candidates suggested have never had problems before, and are now being considered for bans as long as twelve months, without, as far as I have seen, even any significant effort being made to so much as talk to them about it. This deeply troubles me. I know we want to make it clear that witchhunting/bullying and such things are not tolerated here, but I worry that if we start looking at problems as "does this merit a ban?" rather than "what can we do to resolve this?" we won't look as hard for more constructive solutions. When all you have is a hammer, and all that. Perhaps I'm just being paranoid, but I would be much reassured if we resolved to at the bare minimum tackle each case individually. This name listing in ban proposals does not sit well with me.


All that aside, though, there is something I would like us all to keep in mind as this discussion goes on, particularly in light of the controversial tone it may take; we all try to be friends (or at least pleasant acquaintances) here. We don't always succeed, but that's the goal, so while this is a crisis, try to remember that we're all doing what we think is best for the community and for each other.

In that same vein, I would like to thank everyone who has posted so far for participating in this discussion. This is rough stuff, easy to want to shy away from, particularly if you're not personally involved. It's gratifying to see everyone weighing in.
I especially want to thank Neshomeh, Seafarer, and Storme Hawk for taking the time to so thoroughly and articulately lay out their thoughts on this. I won't deny I was more than a little fired up when I first started going through this thread, but seeing their comments helped me remember to check my temper before posting.

Finally, if we do end up calling for a vote—something I would very much prefer to avoid, for the record—I vote no action taken.

-Badger

P.S.
I apologize for the no doubt error-ridden state of this post. It's taken the better part of the day to catch up on all this and to organize my thoughts on it. Fatigue is not kind to my mental spellchecker.

Before, the meds just made me loopy. They were different meds from the ones that made me, well. Do that; the psychiatrist was trying me on new meds that gave me awful mood swings (seriously, I had to take a few days off work because the withdrawal made things worse and I really don't want to throw a mic stand at my boss). The voice chat from before wasn't really different from laughing at the silly stuff your friends do while tipsy. I'll admit to being amused at some of the stuff I came up with and it doesn't really bother me. What happened the other night was entirely my fault, though, even more so because I acknowledged I wasn't feeling myself and thought it would still be a good idea to chat. They were different situations; I don't think you need to apologize for that.

Re the Discord 'pause' for lack of a better word, yeah, that's a good point. The only question now is if enough people would actually vote regarding that issue when there's like sixteen different votes vying for attention at the moment.

Here's what I propose: Banning the people involved in the witch-hunt from the Discord for at least 1-3 months. This way, the people who weren't involved (like, say, Delta Juliette, Cat On The Keyboard, that one complete twerp called, er, Space Grape? Something like that...) aren't unfairly penalized for the actions of a few that they were, to pull an example completely out of nowhere, curled up under a duvet unable to stop shaking or crying because they were terrified their best friend didn't want them around any more. It also serves as a punishment directly related to their actions; if they can't be trusted to use an IRC channel properly and with respect for others, then they don't get to do so any more. I think that's fairer than, if you'll forgive the obligatory and slightly worn-out fandom reference, turning the Discord into a statue for three months.

Now it's my apology time.

I'm not a well person. I get extraordinarily defensive when I feel that my friends are being attacked. That's no excuse for what I've been saying to multiple people on the Board and Discord, none of whom deserved it. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I got so angry, and I'm sorry I didn't keep that anger under control. I should know better by now, but it doesn't appear that I do.

Given how I've comported myself recently, in multiple threads on the Board, I completely understand if people want to push for my being formally punished in some manner. All I want is to be a credit to this community, the community that gave me second, third, seventh, twenty-fifth chances, that picked me up and dusted me off when I fell off the anger wagon time and time again.

I have failed you.

Most of all, I've failed Ix.

By letting my anger rule me I have made things worse for them and I, I can't... I can't begin to express just how much of a stain upon the surface of the world that makes me feel. You're my best friend and I have let you down and forced you to defend me for... basically as long as we've been friends. I have let you down so, so often.

I'm sorry.

I want to fix it.

I don't know how.

I'm scared to find out.

Everybody has to own their actions, not just you. If you don't think you've been wronged in the ways I've described, that's one thing, but taking all the blame yourself is another, and I for one won't stand for it.

On that note, I'll put my money where my mouth is and apologize for participating in those late-night sessions the times I did. Even though I felt it was wrong, I went along with it and implicitly said it was okay when that's not what I really believe. I should have expressed my feelings more clearly, and I should have left. I'm sorry for not behaving more responsibly as someone who should ostensibly know better.

On the Discord... well, darn. But just to clarify, I'm not suggesting getting rid of it forever, and I know things can and do get out of hand here, too. But at least when they go wrong here, everyone can see it. I'm searching for the middle ground between banning and nothing that some people were wishing for.

~Neshomeh

That would mean they could observe the server, but would be unable to actually participate in discussions on it.

Just in case anyone thought it was aimed at Tomash alone.

But anyway, Tomash, thank you for your responses. I do forgive you. I know things are really messed up and confusing, and I do believe you were trying to do the right thing by your friends. Plus everything I said in my reply to Mattman up there.

I'm very happy to hear that you've found my posts helpful. I regret that I haven't said some of these things earlier, in fact, but this crystallized a lot of them for me, so I hope it's not too late and that we can all learn from this.

~Neshomeh

At least, to me. If I'd been able to just restrain myself, none of this would be happening and things would still be fine. I'm at as much fault as anyone here.

Short of banning everyone from the Discord, I don't think it's possible to actually lock it, and looking at how out-of-hand things got on the Board, both now and in the past, I don't think getting rid of the chatroom would have made much of a difference.

First, on Tomash: I've thought it over, I've talked it out, and I've come to the conclusion that permanently banning Tomash does not fix anything and would not make our community better. I believe he understands why and how what he did was wrong, has done all he can to undo the damage, and will make every effort to avoid the same mistakes in the future. In addition, he was in good standing prior to this. However, a serious infraction merits a serious response, so a temporary ban may still be in order. Perhaps three months.

Second, on everyone else named in PC's revision: an apology is certainly required, not just to July, but to Iximaz, too, for my money. It's absurd how you've allowed your feelings about her to twist you into knots, and it's unfair to make her responsible for that by continuing to excuse yourselves on the basis that you were worried about her. There are lots of better things you could have done with your feelings. No one needs the burden of their friends' reactivity stirring up unwanted trouble on their behalf—and she's said repeatedly that she does not want to be the cause of drama.

However, allow me to propose an alternative to mass banning that still actually penalizes the bad behavior: if possible, lock the Discord temporarily. No one is allowed in for three months, minimum. You abused the privilege of a live chatroom by letting things get out of hand in there, so you all can slum it in forum time with the rest of us for a while. Then, when you go back, perhaps you'll appreciate it and respect it more.

I know some of you will protest that you weren't involved in this fracas, so you shouldn't lose the privilege. Maybe that's true, but on the other hand, maybe a temporary personal sacrifice is a small price to pay for justice and a healthier Discord in the future. Think about it before you object.

~Neshomeh

1. I'm too new. I don't know much about how the PPC works, or how people should behave.
   
   2. In my opinion, the ideal mod would be someone who already tells people that what they're doing is Not Cool/against the rules. Because I didn't do exactly that on several occasions even in the short time I've been here, I can't accept being a mod in good conscience; I wouldn't do enough with it if something were to come up.

I haven't played since the 3.5 days, and I didn't play very well then due to being 8 years old and not understanding anything at all. So, if you don't mind sending some resources my way to help me figure it all out, sure!

Even then I won't know what I'll be doing, but that's not the point here

They've proven they're responsible, level-headed, and exactly the right amount of interfering. They also have the requisite amount of experience. I trust them.

Now that two of us are resigned and the others are either asleep at peak hours or not around often, we need more mods, especially now that we have a troll in the chatroom that can't be kicked in the meantime.

I'd like to nominate Maslab and Delta Juliette as replacements since they have proven to be reliable in the past.

First: I am sorry that I didn't say anything during the incident at all. Not when the screenshot went up, not when the witch-hunt was starting before then, and not even the moment I noticed Iximaz had left.

There is no excuse for my lack of a response to each and every one of these.

I am sorry I didn't immediately respond to the doxxing.

I am sorry I didn't say anything during the extended witch-hunt. At the time, I thought I was trying to gather information and context about the situation while (obviously) worrying about Iximaz; in retrospect, my being passive was a terrible choice to make.

Finally, to Iximaz: I am sorry for not recognizing harassment by Glarn. I am sorry for not recognizing any moves you've made in the past to try and bring bullying here to light and to discuss and act on it in a timely manner. I am sorry for not learning about what harassment looks like online or how people react to being bullied. I intend to fix that as soon as possible.

Just because something happens often, does not mean it okay or somehow not bad. And while I am not certain that a permanent ban is both a) the right decision or b) going to solve this issue going forward, I for one believe that we, as a community need to send a strong message that this kind of behavior is not going to be tolerated.

And before people go, "Oh he apologized" that does not make it better or undo the damage. At best it would count as a mitigating factor.

Look, permanently banning someone is not gonna do the trick. And let me say that many, many, people who serve in the military have their faces and names revealed. That is all.

I call for the 1 to 6 month ban of Tomash, with length determined as per boarder's decision.

I call for the involved boarders, particularly those mentioned in PoorCynic's revision, for an express written apology to July for the action of Witch Hunting. This is especially applies to Aegis, Alleb, Ekyl, Granz, and Khrstty, for reasons mentioned in PC's post

Let's keep this discussion rational.