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Why didn't I think of that? I must be slow today.
We had a forum that was set up for us by a bunch of people. They let anyone and everyone join up and post, so long as they abided by some pretty basic rules. A lot of the time people didn't, but they were cut a hue amount of slack. Only real trolls and troublemakers got the boot.
Now, over the years this bunch of people (the people who set the forum up) didn't get on so good anymore. Despite everything, trying all they could, they just couldn't make it work.
Now, before the whole place just came crashing down, a couple of them decided that they'd make another forum, so that all the members who had given so much of their time to the place could still have somewhere to go. This would be an updated place (something that they hadn't been able to do before, due to the nature of the partnership) and hopefully more streamlined, easy to use and dynamic. The catch was that they had to do it without warning or they would probably not have been able to give us anywhere at all.
So, this went ahead and the new site was launched. People were understandably upset and shocked, me included. Questions were asked, but initially they couldn't really be answered. The ins and outs are still not really worked out, so there is still a lot that can't be said. I don't know the answers to these questions any more than most, but I had faith there was a reason.
Now, this new place that was set up (here) was provided free of charge for anyone to join and all "oo"s were automatically invited. I say free, because hosting and setting up this place takes time, effort and money. But rather than a "thank you" for at least trying to provide something, all that happened was accusations started to get thrown about. The mods knew as little as the rest of you, I can assure you.
The point is that the old forum was going and there was nothing (other than what was done) that anyone could do to stop it. The electronic data is not physically in our possession anymore. We wish it was. We all gave a lot to that place, but it just feels that the admins and the mods have been held up as responsible for this, when the opposite is true.
So, taking the house analogy... it started as a small house. Many people who were there at the beginning to make that house a home stayed through the years. Over time, more people came to visit the house and the home grew. The guests built their own sections of the house, decided who would sleep where and what the rule of the house would be.
The house grew to be a giant mansion with hundreds of people living there and hundreds visiting regularly to bring more bricks for more rooms and bring flowers to make it pretty. The house was still owned by one small group of people but the home belonged to the greater group of people.
Oh,,, and there was a bit of a business attached to the house... and it grew because the people of the house frequented that business.
So, the house needed rebuilding... and when the guests who had lived in the house comfortably for many years came home to find a new house they were surprised. When they went to their rooms to find all their favourite items were gone, they were surprised.
When they asked the owner what happened and received no answer, they were surprised... and a bit hurt. When they stomped around the new house wondering what was going on, and the owner said like it or leave it, they were hurt further. Yes, they recognised that they had lived in the house for free for years.... but had they not helped build the house into what it was today? Had they not been customers at the business next door? Had they not given of themselves in return all along because they appreciated the owner? They had indeed...
So, yea, I get what happened now. And I do feel for JP... But it took a lot of work just to get a few people in the know to even recognise that the members helped build that library of information and that it was fair for them to be ticked it was gone. It is fair that they expected to be informed. The problem stems from the lack of communication about things for years... it was just assumed that the powers that be were avoiding the questions... which they were and for good reasons - this time.
I think many of us on both sides of the fence wish that we had not been so harsh or hurried with our posts at first.... but emotions were running high...
What I'm finding most hard to get used to on this forum is the constant upbeat posts about it. It's like someone who looks at another person who is frowning and says "Smile!"... The person frowning hates that.
:-<
What I want more than anything else is for members like yourself, whom I infinitely respect, to be as active here as they once were on KTBEU. We give this digital playground its warmth and joyfulness. We, as a community.
Fortunately, some of the owners had been building another house, because they knew what was coming. This was a more modern house, and very different to the familiar old place. However, all the long-standing tenants were invited over to make themselves comfortable.
Understandably, a few of them wanted back in the old place. It was familiar and had all their stuff in it. But we just didn't have the keys. Nothing we could do. But that didn't stop them throwing accusations about. In fact, rather than say "thanks for giving us somewhere to live" there was a lot of name calling and just plain rudeness.
Should there have been an explanation? Should there have been a warning? I'm sure we'd have all liked one. But sometimes that's not possible. You just have to trust that things are done for a reason. In this case it was done so that there would be that other house to go to at all.
Anyway, enough with the metaphor. I'm sorry for the way this has turned out. It might have been handled better. I'm trying to think what I could have said or done differently, but really there's nothing. I did what I thought was right. I'm not sure any of the mods could have done anything else. The admins? Well, I imagine it's the same for those guys.
The truth is that maybe it could have been handled differently, but everyone bears some of that responsibility. It isn't just about what the admins did or didn't do, or how the mod team handled the transition, but it's also about how every single member reacted.
It's been emotional for everyone. I think there's been a lot of strong feeling. But I think now there's been a pretty good explanation of things and we just have to make this place as great as it has the potential to be.
The milk has been spilt. Rather than stand there cryin why can't we all just grab a mop, and help refil another glass?
Though I hope that if @retrokitty activity increases perhaps she will take on a prettier avatar? 8->
The one yo have does not suit you kitty. You're not an ass.
Not that my stoicism now replaces my underlying feelings still of disappointment/shock (which are easing through more understanding) and certainly don't want to appear like some form of simpering martyr, but at the end of the day as my old Dad used to say, "best foot forward."
I have to honour him, no matter where I go, as that adage hasn't let me down yet. ^:)^
and so did I!
I looked upon the rotting sea,
And drew my eyes away;
I looked upon the rotting deck,
And there the dead men lay.
An orphan's curse would drag to hell
A spirit from on high;
But oh! more horrible than that
Is the curse in a dead man's eye!
Double oh seven days, double oh seven nights, I saw that curse,
And yet I could not die.
The self same moment I could pray;
And from my neck so free
The Albatross fell off, and sank
Like lead into the sea.
But soon I heard the dash of oars,
I heard the Pilot's cheer;
My head was turned perforce away,
And I saw a boat appear.
He went like one that hath been stunned,
And is of sense forlorn:
A sadder and a wiser man
He rose the morrow morn.
;;)
PS how did you attach the smiley?
sorry but I still trying to get the hang of this brave new world...
Hahaha... so people have noticed the avatar and interpreted it but only one has 'got' it. YES!
:-D
But I digress...
yes half the posts probably are complaints and negative comments, but isn't that true of most forums?
That was a very well written explanation that offered me some of the answers I have been looking for. Thanks for telling us.
^:)^
Edited by retrokitty
Audience: "Prizes!!!!!"
;-)
Not sure I like this forum setup. On the plus side my twitter handle was the same I used on the previous forum I think. I hope everything gets straighten out. This is the only JB site I use.
I'd like to second that
thanks to Luds for soaking up most of the initial flack
and to others who have posted explanations
but I find doubleonothings take on the situation rings truest
;-)
Communication could - should - have been better. It wasn't, but it's been apologised for. And methinks there has to be a point at which we say s*** happens and move on; we have a new forum to discover, inhabit and embrace as ours. I'm glad so many are... :)