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Powered by the soul of a forsaken child! ([info]dunc) wrote in [info]fandom_wank,
@ 2004-02-28 22:04:00


Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
The wank will be with you... always
I have been alerted that there is fresh wank over at boards.theforce.net, Star Wars fandom spooge central.

In short, the TFN site ownership has request the names, phone numbers, and addresses of the entire volunteer mod staff. If the moderators do not hand this over, they would lose their mod powers. And if all the mods and staff leave, the site owner has threatened to shut it all down.

An element of site ownership has told the entire Mod Squad that we must provide him with our real names and addresses and such by registering at another message board and then passing on our user names there to him through G-S. If we do not, we get demoted. All future moderators will have to provide this information. This may be expanded to cover City Representatives as well.
The Mod Squad and Old Folks Home have two major issues.

1) The security of the information and the purpose behind the information gathering. As everyone is probably well aware, the Mod Squad is about as leaky as the Titanic. This has fostered worries about how secure this information would be, even though it?s being stored elsewhere. No system is perfect, and there is the worry that that information might come out and what might be done with that information. And we?ve yet to be told why we need to give it (though the guess that it is something along the lines of ?if LFL sues, it?s on the shoulders of the moderators?).

2) The way that this has been handled by site ownership. More than anything else, I think that?s what?s at the heart of this. The feeling in the Mod Squad and Old Folks Home is that an element of the site ownership does not care about the message boards and the users and moderators here in any way at all. We as a group have not been provided with reasons why the information is needed; we feel that we?ve been threatened; we feel that we?ve been insulted; and finally we feel that we?ve been ignored.


It all leaks out when certain mods are spotted as being mere mortals.

And yes, slash even gets a brief mention!

Apparently it's 'settled' now, with a statement from the site owner, but this being TFN... Who knows? Many are still up in arms that the demoted mods haven't recieved VIP status, as is the standard for ex-mods.

ETA: A bit of snark from Jeff 42. (Scroll halfway down.)
A much better Cliff Notes version from [info]lannamichaels


(Post a new comment)


[info]ladylisse
2004-02-29 05:47 am UTC (link)
That? Is fucking beautiful. *gets popcorn*

(Reply to this)(Thread)


[info]dunc
2004-02-29 05:49 am UTC (link)
I have NEVER, NEVER been so glad not to be a regular at TFN as I am on this day. NEVER.

(Reply to this)(Parent)


[info]misswindy
2004-02-29 06:51 pm UTC (link)
Your icon is hilarious. However, my fandom has been wanking/whining even longer than yours!! *points to icon* (the picture, not the sentiment expressed therein) ;)

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)


[info]mael
2004-02-29 07:45 pm UTC (link)
*points to icon*

I win.

(Reply to this)(Parent)


(Anonymous)
2004-02-29 05:55 am UTC (link)
I found out about the TFN mod issue this evening; I was reading the thread where Phillip originally posted (http://boards.theforce.net/Communications/b10006/15063626/p1) and the thing that kept running through my mind was "WANKAGE TO THE MAX!" So I came here to see if there was a way I could contact any of you fine people about it, and lo! you'd read my mind.

I heard that this thing started after some Episode III footage was released at TFN, and Lucasfilm was irate, to say the least. So Phillip (who, by the way, is severely out of touch with the people who frequent the site) needed the mailing addresses of mods and admins for if/when sobpoenas are issued. At least, that's how I understand it, someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

What freaks me out about this is that Amidala_Skywalker, one of the mods who I've spoken to on several occasions, is sixteen years old. She had to get permission from her mom to give Phillip her personal info (I think she only gave him her PO box, though). Frankly, I can't believe her mom agreed to it.

Of course, Phillip is too busy to comment on any of this (aside from his initiating post). As farraday put it, "Phillip has a very busy schedule what with famine and plague and war and all. Once he finishes feasting upon the souls of the unborn I'm sure he'll get back to us."

Heh, and then we get morons like DarthBane77: "Nooooo the JC is over come to my new site and we will begin anew!"

And to think, before tonight I hadn't been visiting the JC very often. Look at this crazy shit I've been missing! TEH DRAMA!11!111

-Danni

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[info]calluna
2004-02-29 07:33 pm UTC (link)
I've heard that at least one of the mods at Gaia is 13. Explains quite a bit, actually...

(Reply to this)(Parent)


[info]cleolinda
2004-02-29 05:57 am UTC (link)
Oh my God. They even invoke the "In Germany they first came for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist" bit.

That said... I'm not very familiar with the SW fandom. There's a fuss, obviously, but... what's it all about, exactly? That mods' personal info will get out? I think I'm confused because I've only used TFN as a movie news source for my site, and know nothing about the forums end of it.

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[info]cleolinda
2004-02-29 06:00 am UTC (link)
*Reads anon above me who posted simultaneously*

Ohhhhh. They're going to subpoena the mods? Asses.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)


[info]dunc
2004-02-29 06:04 am UTC (link)
TFN, the boards in particular, is one of THE prime sources of Episode III spoilers and LFL leaks. Because it's one of, if not the largest SW community on the 'net,. everything appears there almost immediatly. LFL has been VERY understanding with them, and with internet fandom as a whole, but lawsuits are a possibility.  

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)


[info]cleolinda
2004-02-29 06:08 am UTC (link)
See, even I was surprised when that Ep III clip got leaked. I posted a link to it on my blog and was shocked when I wasn't C&D'd within fifteen minutes. I don't visit TFN much, though--it's always a third party like CHUD or Dark Horizons saying "TFN found such-and-such"--so I don't know anything about the management or the forums.

I guess LFL has been relatively understanding with them, but in my experience New Line and Warner Bros have been a lot more mellow about things getting out. Again, "mellow" being relative.

(Reply to this)(Parent)


(Anonymous)
2004-02-29 06:10 am UTC (link)
Ohhhhh. They're going to subpoena the mods? Asses.

Again, I'm not sure. They shouldn't, because the mods weren't involved in that. Josh and Phillip (the guys who run the site) decided to put the Episode III footage up (OMG GENIUSES!), the forum moderators had nothing to do with it.

As for what everyone is getting worked up about - the way I understand it, the information is going to be put up on one of the private mod/admin/staff boards (don't know why, but hey...), and the mods who protested were worried about those boards getting hacked into. Understandable, since many of them have kids, or are single women living alone...

Also, people feel like the mods who got demoted for not giving away their private info are being tossed aside after all their work on the forums. Adding insult to injury is the fact that Phillip has a whopping 15 posts total; he is definitely not a presence there, a lot of people didn't even know who he was before this thing started. So basically, people feel like the mods aren't getting the proper respect after being canned (they're crying for VIP status for those who were demoted).

Not quite sure how I feel on the matter, personally. Right now I just think it's funny. Also, sorry if I got any information wrong, some of the facts are still a bit hazy.

-Danni

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)


[info]cleolinda
2004-02-29 06:13 am UTC (link)
Ooo, nice. I could tell this wank had a fine bouquet; I just needed a little help smelling it. :)

(Reply to this)(Parent)


[info]esseilte
2004-02-29 01:22 pm UTC (link)
Hang on...people were asked to give their personal information, with the only reason being a cross between 'In case I ever need to use it against you' and 'To cover my own backside', and this Philip bloke is all shocked and dismayed that they didn't give it?

I think my response to his request would have ended in 'off'. And that's even leaving aside security issues.

This is why I never venture into Star Wars fandom. This, and that there's way too much history.

(Reply to this)(Parent)


(Anonymous)
2004-02-29 06:16 am UTC (link)
Bad week for DarthSapient.

First he closes the Episode III Spoilers Allowed board to non-registered users, only to have to open it to the public but 3 hours later...(I was really hoping things would get wanky on that front but it just...didn't really go very far).

And now he's been demoted. That's too bad. He was actually a pretty good mod.

(Reply to this)


[info]crickets
2004-02-29 06:35 am UTC (link)
The "statement from the site owner" link needs fixing. Are there EpIII spoilers at any of these specific links? For the most part, I'm avoiding TFN until after seeing the movie, but I'd like to read the sources firsthand if specific movie discussion isn't involved. This sounds like a doozy!

(Reply to this)(Thread)


(Anonymous)
2004-02-29 06:41 am UTC (link)
The forum links are all just community drama discussion, nothing SW related. You might see an icon from Episode III, but I doubt it. Besides, a lot of people have gotten rid of their icons in protest (oh, how hard they fight!). I've managed to visit the boards and still remain spoiler free.

-Danni

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)


[info]crickets
2004-02-29 06:48 am UTC (link)
Thanks! I figured that was the case, but it never hurts to ask just in case.

(Reply to this)(Parent)


[info]dunc
2004-02-29 06:42 am UTC (link)
Link fixed. :)

I didn't see any specific spoilers... Since none of the threads linked are in the movie forums, you should be pretty safe. There are references to the existance of certain leaked materials but on the whole this is pure TFN meta-wank.

Of course, proceed with caution. Not being spoiler-free I wasn't really watching for any of that kind of thing.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)


[info]crickets
2004-02-29 06:52 am UTC (link)
Thanks! I'll proceed carefully, with one eye closed. I think someone on a mailing list already nailed me with the biggest whopper I didn't want to know, but better safe than sorry. :)

(Reply to this)(Parent)

(Reply from suspended user)

[info]apoplexia
2004-02-29 10:09 am UTC (link)
Well no, of course you'd have to put it towards an ad for a second X-Files movie.

(Reply to this)(Parent)


[info]lannamichaels
2004-02-29 07:06 am UTC (link)
Alright, here we go. I'm not a fandom wanker, though I am a bit of a wanker.

Fandom creds: I go by Liz Skywalker over there. Modded for a year, stepped down. Let's see if I can recap the important and pertinent points.


-Scott sold out his share of TFN. Philip Wise, who everyone already knew was a bastard, bought it out. But since, like J*osh, he never posted, we were all fine with it.

-Philip is a complete and utter arsehole to the mods. Hacked thread here, courtesy of Darthy. In it, he calls them paranoid, which they have every right to be (mods have to change their passwords very often and it has to be long and use q08234 shite) and doesn't answer any of their concerns.

-One by one, they fall to darkness and change color schemes.

-Philip returns at the end of 48 hours and starts demoting people.

-People in comms have a cow. Mods are going left and right.

-epic brings up the slash debate and bring me into it which is stupid stupid stupid. Why? Because the slash debate will get your thread closed.

-But since the mods actually have a stake in this thread, they keep it open.

-No, I'm not bitter. Hmph.

-The thread goes through a series of lockings because the remaining mods are going to bed and need someone to babysit the thread.

-It's finally closed when Philip explains himself. Which, yeah, he doesn't. Incidentally, I left the boards for four hours and then thread jumped from six pages to eighteen.

-Through all this, it's become phenomenally clear that there is nothing we can do, the boards are going to hell, Philip only wants money (except that he says he makes no money off the boards and I'm inclined to believe him), and Josh is his bitch.

-And if Josh is his bitch, goddammit, I want pictures.

(Reply to this)(Thread)


[info]dunc
2004-02-29 07:13 am UTC (link)
I am so over my head with this... TFN wank is near impossible for the casual reader. Thank you. :) Mind if I link it from the main post?

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)


[info]lannamichaels
2004-02-29 07:16 am UTC (link)
No prob. Want me to go more in depth? I've been following for a bit. There's just so much pissing going on. And you might want to link to Jeff's newbie joke. Of course, background for that is that there's always a part of the mod squad update that problem users were discussed, and there's some shite and trying-to-be-teh-funneh going on about that.

TFN is too fucking esoteric.

(Reply to this)(Parent)


(Anonymous)
2004-02-29 07:27 am UTC (link)
"It's irresponsible of us to not have the contact info for people that volunteer on the site."

What... the shit... is THAT about?

Okay, how long has the JC been running before he decided to shove his face into things? That man needs to be kicked in the face repeatedly. I'd volunteer, but I don't think I have adequate leg strength to put as much power into the kicks as are needed.

-And if Josh is his bitch, goddammit, I want pictures.

I would pay good money for that.

-Danni

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)


[info]lannamichaels
2004-02-29 07:30 am UTC (link)
What... the shit... is THAT about?

It's either to send them Christmas cards or name them in a deposition. Either way, it's fucked up and unnecessary. Mods are not responsible for what is posted on the boards. Thus spake the TOS.



Okay, how long has the JC been running before he decided to shove his face into things?

Just about six years. Two years on UBB, the rest of it on Snowboards. And it's been running pretty well, considering how big it is and how wanky the Star Wars fandom is as a whole.



I would pay good money for that.

I think we all would. I'd chip in a few "not giving Josh a shiner at C3" coupons.

(Reply to this)(Parent)


[info]cleolinda
2004-02-29 02:41 pm UTC (link)
Page 21:

"I am going to go on a fast! I am not going to eat or drink or sleep until all of the mods are reinstated and Phillip issues a comprehensive apology!"

"Can I have the food that you don't eat?"

Heeeeeeeeee.

(Reply to this)(Parent)


[info]kazzik
2004-02-29 09:32 pm UTC (link)
I love you. I would like this to be known. <3

I haven't been to the boards in a crazy long time. Because they are insane, and because whenever I consider it, I happen to speak to you and change my mind v quickly.

Thank you for the cliff notes sweetling >:D

(Reply to this)(Parent)


(Anonymous)
2004-02-29 07:53 am UTC (link)
I apologize for my continued presence, but I just have to comment again...

"The sun has set on the JC. It's an opportunity for something new and better." <-- an actual quote from one of the threads.

Am I the only one getting a headache from all the melodrama? "Woe! The JC shall fade into obscurity, who now shall be our savior? Which new forumthatspranguptenminutesago shall we retreat to?"

-Danni

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[info]cleolinda
2004-02-29 10:03 am UTC (link)
"Yea verily, who shall lead us to some EZBoard on a Geocities site the Promised Land?"

(Reply to this)(Parent)

Appologies for being off topic.
(Anonymous)
2004-02-29 08:10 pm UTC (link)
Apologies all around. As I am not a member myself, I can't report wank myself.

And I believe this one falls under "Fannish absurdities."

http://www.livejournal.com/community/canon_sues/21026.html?view=252450#t252450

You see, the live journal community canon_sues report Jesus Christ from The Passion as a mary-sue. There's only mild wank at the moment, so you may not wish to report it as of yet. But even if it does not qualify, it should give you a good laugh.


sa@bonasi.com

(Reply to this)(Thread)

Re: Appologies for being off topic.
[info]big_bad_wolf
2004-02-29 11:19 pm UTC (link)
Check yer AOL account, mon cher. There should be a code in it.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: Appologies for being off topic.
(Anonymous)
2004-03-01 12:44 am UTC (link)
Thank you! I'll get my up and running in a moment. Though I think I got a little wanky in the Jesus report, so maybe I won't be reporting it. Er...sorry.


sa@bonasi.com

(Reply to this)(Parent)

Re: Appologies for being off topic.
(Anonymous)
2004-03-01 01:35 am UTC (link)
Are you sure you sent it? I didn't get any mail from you.


sa@bonasi.com

an1gela@aol.com

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: Appologies for being off topic.
[info]big_bad_wolf
2004-03-01 12:27 pm UTC (link)
should be from painispretty@yahoo.co.uk

Otherwise I am just going to give up and post it in thread.

(Reply to this)(Parent)

Re: Appologies for being off topic.
(Anonymous)
2004-03-01 01:50 am UTC (link)
Um, I've ran across you before. I thought you were younger than eighteen? ^^;

-random rock lurker

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: Appologies for being off topic.
(Anonymous)
2004-03-01 02:37 am UTC (link)
Possibly. If you are a fan fiction author for the Yu-Gi-Oh fandom who likes Malik x Bakura, then I know you. If not, I'm mistaking you for someone else.

But I don't recall ever meeting you here.

And, yes, I am under eighteen. I'm seventeen, actually. Why do you ask?


sa@bonasi.com

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: Appologies for being off topic.
[info]loki
2004-03-01 03:32 am UTC (link)
Because you have to be 18 or over to participate at JF.

(Reply to this)(Parent)

Re: Appologies for being off topic.
[info]nights_mistress
2004-03-01 04:01 am UTC (link)
*shoos out poor little young one* Come back when you're eighteen!

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: Appologies for being off topic.
(Anonymous)
2004-03-01 04:22 am UTC (link)
Oh, you do? Darn. Well, in that case, I will see you all in December.


sa@bonasi.com

(Reply to this)(Parent)


[info]valarltd
2004-02-29 09:06 pm UTC (link)
And i thought slashers were wanky.

The gen fans make our tiny kerfuffle about "OMG! The Site moved!" look like a blip on the net.

Now I remember why I'm not a gen fan...

(Reply to this)


[info]crickets
2004-02-29 10:34 pm UTC (link)
Good grief. The fap just goes on and on for pages. I gave up last night when the repetition started putting me to sleep. Anakin_girl said it best:

To make a long sentence short--if Philip Wise doesn't want to be sued, then don't do something that Lucasfilm would sue over. It's that simple. But leave the mods out of it. If someone posts a Hyperspace picture and a mod allows it, then the mod can be demoted. But requiring volunteers to be held liable for lawsuits is WRONG.

If liability concerns are truly what's behind Philip's request, what an asshat! (And why doesn't he just clearly say so and be done with it?) On the need for personal info: what purpose does it really serve since online communication is much faster and cheaper anyway? And even if the info request was reasonable (though hardly polite-pfft) why insist on storing it online, where it can be hacked?

What a mess! Thanks to the people who came by with clarifications. It was practically impossible to figure out the details, even scrolling through most of the pages. (and pages, and pages...) Whee!

(Reply to this)


 
   
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