I'd like to invite you all to discuss the context behind the events that have spanned back a few months, and more importantly, that have recently transpired. I know that I may not be the most appropriate person to initiate such a discussion as I have been relatively inactive on the site for some time. I would like it if we could think about what we look for in this community and what it means to us. I would even more appreciate it if we could take a critical look at our own participation or alternatively, observation of recent events. It is my concern that what has come to pass, and more specifically the consequences of certain actions have fostered an environment of polarization, mob mentality and mean-spirited behavior. Yes, I realize this is the internet and yes I realize this might be an uphill battle, but i do this becuase I genuinely feel concern for the well being of all of you and this community as a whole. It has been a source of camaraderie and inspiration for me and I truly appreciate everyone here. I hope that in talking about this matter civilly, we can create a conversation about what we value as a group, how to make sure that visiting TBA is an enjoyable experience, and hopefully reach a level of mutual understanding.
I would greatly appreciate it if we could keep to certain guidelines:
-Civility
-Refraining from finger pointing
-Clarification of issues rather than jumping to conclusions
-Trying to maintain objectivity (I realize this might be difficult)
-Empathy towards others' viewpoints
Thank you; I appreciate any and all respectful and meaningful input.
fukc yiou
fukc yiou
Quote from: putfukc yiou
fukc yiou
thank you for this it will be forever remembered as the post that brought us all together
since this topic hasn't really been discussed seriously in a more permanent context, i am going to use this opportunity explain my actions one last time, because i need to take responsibility for it as the admin of the site.
first of all, i want everyone to know who doesn't know already that this was a decision made on my own accord over the course of a few days of talking to several people and watching some events that were at the time unfolding. it's not a decision that was easily made, it's not a decision i wanted to make, and it's not a decision that i thought would come without consequence.
however, what did happen over those few days led me to believe that j had lied to me, and others, several times about putting something behind him that personally, emotionally and psychologically affected others and himself in a negative way, and was exacerbating a situation that everyone would have rather put behind them a long time ago. whether or not he was directly involved in these actions were strictly anecdotal, but what to consider on my perspective was the same story from several people, or a completely different one from the accused.
i had noticed a pattern that j would play the victim and lay the blame on other people for his own actions when confronted about these issues, and expected me to protect his character. this had been going on for months, and in the wake of it, many people that had done nothing wrong were victims of manipulation on his part - perhaps unknowingly, but in my opinion, not.
from my own personal point of view, j used his friends to defend himself when it was advantageous for him, instead of living up to his actions. when a friend didn't do what he wanted or upset him, he would use this same method, all the while pretending to be nonchalant about the issue as if nothing was happening. this passive aggressive behavior had been going on for a very long time.
in the end, i ultimately decided that it was better for tba and for j if he was banned. for tba, because of the negative stigma he was creating and the sense of control and attention he craved, and for j, so that he can find a more healthy outlet.
i don't want to demonize him, but i do think he has some severe social issues that he can only help himself with. after this topic, i would appreciate it if he isn't brought up unless completely necessary, and i also would ask that if anyone has a personal issue with j's banning that they would take it up with me in private or in this topic, because i take full responsibility for it.
Quote from: 99It is my concern that what has come to pass, and more specifically the consequences of certain actions have fostered an environment of polarization, mob mentality and mean-spirited behavior.
with all due respect, i don't understand how you or anyone else who has pointed this out to me could start noticing any evidence of mob-mentality and mean-spirited behavior only now. i'd logically assumed you would have seen it earlier at any point in which myself (though my own attitude and demeanor at the times weren't particularly helpful to my own defense) and a multitude of people at different points were outed from this site and trashed by the "mob-mentality" created at the time by one or more of the people who were banned this week.
Quote from: 99It has been a source of camaraderie and inspiration for me and I truly appreciate everyone here.
i agree, and i don't think the events that have transpired in the last few days have changed that. in fact, it honestly feels more friendly in here. it's nice to be able to talk about things without some moron ironically yelling re-quotes of things i've said taken out of context at me. it's nice to be able to shoot the shit with people without being antagonized. and maybe, in the near future, this place will reach the full level of camaraderie that it had when you came here and even before that, at which point people might be able to tell their close friends that they met here anything in confidence that it won't be used to exploit them later for the selfish and/or malicious intents of said "trusted friends".
as for the actual bans themselves i totally agree that they were deserved, speaking from my own bias as well as the fact that i've been on this site pretty much since it began. honestly, i think that it's the best thing to ever happen to this community. hopefully going forward there doesn't have to ever be any more drama.
where are all these cute cat avatars coming from
Quote from: Zekeywhere are all these cute cat avatars coming from
http://neutralx0.net/tool/bnmk.html (http://neutralx0.net/tool/bnmk.html)
and so there i was...
let's all just hold hands and sing kumbayah
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i got marshmallows
Quote from: sevQuote from: Zekeywhere are all these cute cat avatars coming from
http://neutralx0.net/tool/bnmk.html (http://neutralx0.net/tool/bnmk.html)
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lets not and say we did
nobody move i cut a pig dick and i will force you to eat it
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[vimeo]10972754[/vimeo]
a sonic recolorist cried out in anguish
its my fault guys sorry
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fucc an cooc
Fixed. Sorry about that.
it honestly doesn't matter if your spelling is shit, j is a fag and nobody will miss him, him and his friends wont take a hint and will still talk shit about everyone behind their backs or whatever on skype and the best you can do is not give a shit and go troll random IRC chats for people who are 50+
I felt this one instance is an example of deeper issues in the community. I feel very little connection to this most recent fiasco and ma only commenting from an outsiders perspective. Its the behavior the mentalist of dragging people through he mud that worries me. I just wanted to try see if people would be willing to open up so that we can learn from each other. If there's any way to prevent another drama from occurring i thought most people would to take part in that.
yeah and troll chatrooms for old people too i think that sounds like a good idea old people are funny
Eh, I wouldn't worry about it. If a drama llama shows him/herself I'll shoot on sight
oh, and I don't care
(that was a close one)
Quote from: cipheroh, and I don't care
(that was a close one)
it's okay i don't think anyone noticed anything
fuc u d00d =w=;
http://www.newgrounds.com/dump/item/ae9a92...e0dde68eeac1a3d (http://www.newgrounds.com/dump/item/ae9a92a6d8e4d1ba4e0dde68eeac1a3d)
I wanted to post this in the previous topic, but I could not bring myself to do it. Thank you, 99, for facilitating this discussion. Now, I cannot pretend that I was fully aware of any of the events preceding the exile of J_Seed and Khawner, I know only what I sensed. What I sensed was a feeling shared by many users of this site, that we were falling apart as a group. I have no right to an opinion on the reasons for J_Seed and Khawner's expulsion, all I know is that I would like to remain a friend of them both, and of those whom now find themselves in positions opposing theirs. I would like to consider myself a friend of Bug, Khawner, Sev, J_Seed, Sasha, and of all of you who visit this site, whatever that friendship may mean to you. It is for this reason that I have such strong feelings about the events that followed the previous thread, and what comes now. Each of us will inevitably take something unique from this event, whether it be joy, sorrow, laughter, or apathy. What I pray, what I desperately want, is that our new collective awareness is a positive one, one that brings us closer together, rather than a schism that will further divide us. The removal of one or two members will inevitably alter our group dynamics, but I cannot bring myself to believe that it will make every aspect of this forum better, especially when we continue to find joy from someone else's humiliation. We would be no better than the traits we attempt to extinguish. Now, I know this is the internet, so everything I say will have a sarcastic precedence, but I say this from the bottom of my soul. Please, let this negative occurrence within our forum have a positive impact on ourselves. All the people involved in what happened are gone, and we don't know if they're coming back. That is what makes our perception of this event so ambiguous, nothing good came of it. No one was changed. If someone were able to remain here due to the sacrifice of another, it would be different, but that isn't what happened. If you believe that J_Seed had only a negative effect on this community, I will not try to convince you otherwise. At least let his absence be positive, not because of his absence in and of itself, but because of what it means to all of us. Let J_Seed's absence mean something. Let it serve as a catalyst for our own reformation, if you must, but at least let it mean something. Now you may think me naive, or find this tangled mess of feelings incomprehensible, but I hope at least some of you find a feeling amongst it that you too possess. Possess not as an entity of the internet, not as an avatar, but as a human. A human that many of us, including myself, have tried to deny existed in these forums.
http://www.newgrounds.com/dump/item/204bd2...fe0e6824a66ae4d (http://www.newgrounds.com/dump/item/204bd251de5046958fe0e6824a66ae4d)
I don't know about you guys but I think we should all just say "okay this happened", move on, and start making art and collabs again
I know this is a community of friends and all but there's so much gravity on pointless shit
Quote from: zhicagoI don't know about you guys but I think we should all just say "okay this happened", move on, and start making art and collabs again
I know this is a community of friends and all but there's so much gravity on pointless shit
it would be pretty cool if this were never brought up ever again
Quote from: ropesnakebottom line: you people who came in after jseed really have no business posting shit like this or pretending to know what you're talking about
ignorant gay stupid fuck post ahead:i dont think i was around before j came (i came at the same time as scrib and sasha but i think he was around before for a few months idk) but i thought for a while, he contributed a lot to the community. he was always chatting and moderating the irc (how you feel he did with this is your opinion), he took care of the livestream, participated in contests, and organized games. im not sure about js relationship with bug, but i know that j and darkeon used to be cool with eachother, as were j and sasha.
i went into the irc yesterday and spoke to rtil and darkeon and just based on that little experience, i think i do agree with darkeon that this place seems more friendly, more so than i think ive ever seen it actually. so taking that into account, i might full of shit and he mightve been the worst thing to ever happen to this place, but i really do think he added a lot, and despite the recent events people have been described (which i admittedly know little about as i havent been in irc/ pming people for some time), even though at times i have firsthand been on the receiving end of his negative energy and the "mob-mentality" people have described, i am sorry he had to be banned. i know bug thinks im gay as fuck and i dont know how sasha feels about me at this point, but i am really sorry that you both had to go through such a negative experience. he clearly angered both you severely and even though i kind of disagree with the way you both handled that thread (responding with petty personal insults/ venting), im glad you did, im genuinely sorry, and im glad youre back.
out of curiosity, if anyone has spoken with j recently w-
Quote from: shurait would be pretty cool if this were never brought up ever again
fair enough.
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