Quote from: jrientsThe other admin exists.  I don't consider it fair to out others, but Pundit and I weren't the only two admins discussing this situation in the Double Secret Admin Clubhouse.  And back in December when James and Pundit went at it yet a fourth admin called for his outright banning back then.  So there you have it.  We all know who wields the banstick and two times he had people urging him to use it on James.  Yet James didn't get banned.

I just think it's a bit convenient that every time Pundit pulls one of his public moratoriums, or starts fucking with somebody's account, there's always someone else to blame, or some mysterious "other" who supposedly wanted worse, so we should just all be greatful for his great leniency.

It's still dictatorial bullshit, only made worse by patronizing, self-aggrandizing bullshit.

I only mostly lurk (a lot) here, but I do post from time to time.

Pundit, while you come off adversarially in almost every post I've ever seen you make (not all, mind), I get that it's just part of your personality.  I've never gotten the impression that you'd use your modly abilities at a whim.  Many times when you could have (and I know a lot of folks would have) brought your banstick down, you didn't.  You responded in kind, with inflamatory, derisive language.  To me, that does suggest that you value the ability to speak your mind when and where you want to.  

Whether other posters are right about your personality and ownership of the site is detrimental to it, well, I don't know if I agree or disagree, that's a very subjective thing.  

It speaks well of the site to me that I feel comfortable to post in and about political topics here, and I know there's going to be more posters that want to discuss the subject at hand than berate my political or religious belifs.  Given I haven't participated in this sort of thing much around here, but there's a good track record so far.

Personally, I like it here a lot, and I hope you decide to continue with the site.

Quote from: J ArcaneWhy don't you go back to your precious Animalball?  Because right now you DO seem to be a prime example of someone who's only here to disrupt, since you've only shown up and started posting again to ride this latest flap, and haven't even showed your face around here for weeks prior.

Like last time I find myself with more time on my hands, having been injured in the line of duty. Under normal circumstances I have less time to post. But to address you're question I feel no need to return to AnimalBall, having never left.

While a lot of topics aren't game related over there, many are.  Sheer volume doesn't equate to quality in my book, since the vast majority of threads here and there are useless to me.

QuoteI, on the other hand, like to talk about games.

Gee, what game are we discussing here? If you like games so much only post to those threads. Show your unmitigated support of games by never posting  in off topic again! Oh wait, that'd be as unreasonable as you are.

Quote from: RPGPunditYes, but my point is that I HAVEN'T DONE THAT: Not to anyone, not even to Nox, who half this site wanted lynched, and who hates me personally.

And the way some of my detractors are talking, it would sound like I have a pile of corpses of the banned under my skull-throne as the evil-mod King.

When its just not true, and I don't think that any of my loudest detractors would be more capable of defending the rights of people they dislike than I have been; most would in fact be far far worse at it.

RPGPundit

That is true. I was just trying to illustrate the differences in power of a mob and the responsibility of an admin/mod. To your credit, no one has been outright banned, and as far as your detractors are concerned, maybe you are better off ignoring them.

I'm really new, so maybe I should sit down and STFU. But I'm not known for acting with discresion

I've so far called pundit rabid, baited him a bit, and generally acted like an ass. I'm still here. I love TBP. Tangency is a fun place, if you're not discussing politics. But I came here because I heard that I could post a little more freely than over there. And once in a while, I'm a bitch (and not just once a month, so stop rolling your eyes!).

So far, I'm content here. Although we need more small, fuzzy mammals around....

Quote from: shewolfI'm really new, so maybe I should sit down and STFU.

Absolutely not. Todays lurker may be tomorrows prolific poster.That's the thing, this site has to keep a core group of posters, but unless it wants to stagnate it also needs to attract some fresh perspective and opinions.

People who lurk now may be the next big JimBobOz next week, or next year. The guy we run off today may be the creator of the next big thing, and that'd suck to have run someone off when we could set this place up as a clearing house for all sorts of things-games, big ideas, political discourse, entertainment, etc...

It's reasons like this thread that you need to appoint a proper fascist to run one little job now and then. Personally, I can't stand the Pundit's choice of words most of the time, but he's not afraid to tell us his opinions, doesn't suck up to anyone, and has some good ideas. Say what you want about him, but HE DID fight for James. If I had a choice, I would completely do away with the off-topic forum -- to me, it only invites arguments and other problems -- or what I call nonsensical issues like this.

I enjoy reading the rpg-related posts and reply when I have some free time. I do not read the off topic discussions except to make sure everything is running smoothly. But with my limited view of off-topic, all I ever see is James McMurray in the middle of these problems. I don't know if he really is the cause behind anything or if he was egged on by Pundit. I don't care.

So for the record, Pundit was reluctant to impose any punishment on James McMurray. I was the one who said ban him, because frankly, Pundit is a lot more tolerant than I am and does very little to squash these arguments, contributing to most of them himself. He's probably also forged a love-hate relationship with him, whereas I am totally apathetic towards the whole situation. Ban or no ban -- it's all the same to me. The more bickering I see, the less I want to get involved or even read a thread, which is sure to do the same for new visitors.

This is a site about gaming, not idealogy or politics or whatever else. If you're getting that worked up over something, shouldn't it be for something important? Nothing here could possibly be that important. You're not going to change anything that matters here. You're just going to create more wasted space in the database that will just sit and sit until finally deleted.

My advice is to worry less about Pundit and off-topic, and talk about games, the sole reason for this site. The fact that I even have to waste my time writing this is pretty troubling. Again, if it were up to me, I would close this thread along with off-topic, and tell you all to just have some fun posting about or playing some games.

I'm not here to debate anything unless it's gaming-related, so don't look for any replies.

QuoteThis is a site about gaming, not idealogy or politics or whatever else.

Except that Pundit routinely makes even the gaming threads about ideology and politics, and even trots this site out regularly as some kind of personal political statement.

Quote from: J ArcaneWhy don't you go back to your precious Animalball?  Because right now you DO seem to be a prime example of someone who's only here to disrupt, since you've only shown up and started posting again to ride this latest flap, and haven't even showed your face around here for weeks prior.

No way.  We don't want him.  If you haven't heard, he's a giant dickhead.

...

NAH!  I'm just fucking with you, Paul.  You know we love you at AB.  

QuoteI, on the other hand, like to talk about games.  You do remember games don't you?  I mean, I've seen the topic and post numbers over there, they clearly dont' talk about them much, but they haven't totally forgotten them altogether, have they?

Yeah, you really like talking about games in these threads where you bitch.  Don't attack my site and address his point.  Or maybe the diversion was your intent.

Here's the problem with Paul's original point, and I think it was intended in Pundit's original post- he said that this site has the most hands off moderation for "sites of this size".  And I think he's right.  This site is way bigger than Animalball and I wouldn't want my site to be this active for the very reason that I'd have the headaches and bullshit that Pundit has.  Sure I think Pundit had a bit of an overreaction and probably shouldn't have made this post seeking affirmation of what he's doing-- but I totally understand why he did it.  It's fucking hard trying to keep this site true to his vision of it.  It's fucking frustrating and fucking hard and he puts up with a bunch of assholes bitching at him.  Would I do the same thing at Animalball?  Maybe not-- but it's a completely different vibe.  Rest assured I'd have no problem banning people I thought were total assholes and I wouldn't even offer an explanation of it.  But I've just got a high threshold for what I consider a total asshole.

QuoteYeah, you really like talking about games in these threads where you bitch. Don't attack my site and address his point. Or maybe the diversion was your intent.

My only point regarding Paul is basically, "Who the fuck are you then"?

It's not like the guy exactly spends a lot of time here.  Mostly he seems to just pop up whenever there's some big new drama, and tries to fan the flames as best he can.  When he wasn't getting a rise out of one side of the argument, then he turns around to the other side and starts with the sniping.

Fuck him.  What gives him the right to criticize anything on this site, when he doesn't even bother to hang around except when there's OMG DRAMA! to exploit for his own entertainment?

THAT is "disruption" if anything is.  Not James, who despite his issues with Pundit, still spends a hell of a lot of time here and contributes a lot to the RPG discussion here.  But some high-minded little pissant who's only here to start shit, and will promptly disappear again as soon as he realizes the drama's over?  Yeah, I can do without that, thanks.

I could level the same at you, it's not like you show your head here much.  But you made a funny in that RPGnet thread, so I'll leave you alone.  

Quote from: shewolfSo far, I'm content here. Although we need more small, fuzzy mammals around....

Oo! Oo! Pick me!

Quote from: J ArcaneMy only point regarding Paul is basically, "Who the fuck are you then"?

It's not like the guy exactly spends a lot of time here.  Mostly he seems to just pop up whenever there's some big new drama, and tries to fan the flames as best he can.  When he wasn't getting a rise out of one side of the argument, then he turns around to the other side and starts with the sniping.

Fuck him.  What gives him the right to criticize anything on this site, when he doesn't even bother to hang around except when there's OMG DRAMA! to exploit for his own entertainment?

THAT is "disruption" if anything is.  Not James, who despite his issues with Pundit, still spends a hell of a lot of time here and contributes a lot to the RPG discussion here.  But some high-minded little pissant who's only here to start shit, and will promptly disappear again as soon as he realizes the drama's over?  Yeah, I can do without that, thanks.

I could level the same at you, it's not like you show your head here much.  But you made a funny in that RPGnet thread, so I'll leave you alone.  

I don't contribute a lot, either, but I lurk constantly.  I enjoy the site.  I have just as much right to be a part of the site as someone who participates in inane chatter and as a result has a few thousand posts to their credit (not you specifically, I have no idea what you typically post).  So, in  your opinion, because I don't have a high post count, my opinion of the site and its dealings are fuck-all?

Come down off the pedistal, man, you're showing your ass.

Quote from: RooksGambitI don't contribute a lot, either, but I lurk constantly.  I enjoy the site.  I have just as much right to be a part of the site as someone who participates in inane chatter and as a result has a few thousand posts to their credit (not you specifically, I have no idea what you typically post).  So, in  your opinion, because I don't have a high post count, my opinion of the site and its dealings are fuck-all?

Come down off the pedistal, man, you're showing your ass.

If you wanna look for excuses to be offended, then by all means, have at.  But you could at least stop to consider that maybe what I was saying really was just directed at the person I was talking about and no one else, instead of choosing to read a generalization where none was present.

Quote from: J ArcaneIf you wanna look for excuses to be offended, then by all means, have at.  But you could at least stop to consider that maybe what I was saying really was just directed at the person I was talking about and no one else, instead of choosing to read a generalization where none was present.

Yeah, whatthefuckever. :mad: You still gave the vibe that those of us who don't have a post count in the thousands don't even matter. The little guy counts too. :mad:

By the way, Arcane, plenty of your posts are about fighting with someone over various topics, rather than purely about rpgs, so you might wanna give THAT some thought. Furthermore, I don't know why you keep harping on Pundit's "fascist moderation". I guess I'm just not seeing it. Sure, he's unnecessarily combative, but he avoids banning, and gets people talking.

Even though I'm here to stay, I think I'm gonna give those Animalball guys a visit. They seem okay to me. Hey, they managed to get their website name censored on RPGnet, so surely they must be doing something right...! :mischief:

QuoteYeah, whatthefuckever.  You still gave the vibe that those of us who don't have a post count in the thousands don't even matter. The little guy counts too.

You brought your own issues to the table, and they have nothing to do with what I said.  I'm not gonna apoligize because someone decides to read things into my words that aren't there.