Shy

[size=1]Kill 'em all. Being the creator of Thread Ratings, I have to acknowledge that they once served a very important purpose. With Kill Adam and the various rip-offs, writers were pushing adult content into their stories and RPGs like never before. We had expected that these ratings were going hand-in-hand with a new level of sophistication and maturity in the forums, but that day never came. Years later The Arena has become a joke; a place where not even established members can launch a successful [PG] or [E] RPG. Everything has to be [M-LSV,] although actually reading most of the crap proves that it is anything but mature. I agree with Charles that this expectation for [M] RPGs ultimately hurts the forum. Simply removing thread ratings isn't going to be enough, though. Tastes have changed on the boards, and our method for organizing creative writing feels outdated. The Anthology forum and Underground are basically dead, and The Square seems to become decreasingly active as time goes on. In the olden days we combined all of these things into a 'Games and Stories Forum.' Currently game threads have proven to be incredibly popular, and it would be irresponsible to continue letting them clog up General Discussion. I propose closing The current Arena and Anthology, replacing it two new forums (minus Thread Ratings, of course...) [indent][b]Arena Games and Stories:[/b] RPGs, Games and creative writing will go here. Old threads will be archived in 'Classic OB,' although currently active threads can be moved to the new forum. It will have an active moderating staff and a swear filter to help enforce the rules. Adult content can still be presented in the forum, only it must be done [i]tastefully[/i]. Sign-up threads for games and RPGs can be placed in a new Adventure Inn. [b]Arena Discussion:[/b] Underground threads and creative writing discussion can hand-in-hand with broader literary threads from Anthology. Old Anthology threads will be archived.[/indent] Only by starting over can we really hope to change anything. I'm not proposing killing off RPGs as a whole, I simply think we need to reevaluate what we want from these forums. Currently The Arena is an eyesore to the entire boards. Poor implementation of the original rules have degenerated the forum into the mess that it is. This is not meant to slight the current moderating staff, I just think our expectations and standards in these forums need to change along with the rules. A new Arena G&S can be a fun, welcoming place to meet new members and participate in games and stories - just like The Arena was supposed to be. -Shy[/size]

[size=1]It appears that both Mafia and Labyrinth have been completed ahead of schedule. Congratulations to both Sandy and White for taking charge of these successful Events, and to the members who participated in them. Expect a final interview to be posted on Thursday, as well as one final twist. Now more than ever feedback from the community matters in making this final decision. Please don't be shy in posting your own opinions and commentary. -Shy[/size]

[font=verdana][center][size=5]The OtakuBoards Nifty Fifty[/size][/center][/font] Welcome to the OtakuBoards Nifty Fifty of 2006. In this thread we will continue our grand tradition of awarding various aspects and members of our totally nifty community. Those of you new to the idea may have some questions... [size=3][b]What is it again?[/b][/size] To put it simply, it’s a list of the fifty members, threads, or things that have made the OtakuBoards community great (‘nifty’) in the past year. You, the members, are going to nominate your favorites here in this thread, and the fifty best nominees will be chosen for the list. [size=3][b]So whoever gets the most nominations wins?[/b][/size] No, it doesn’t actually work like that this time around. This particular event is about choosing the best, and sometimes the best don’t receive the recognition they deserve. While one thing may receive seventeen nominations, another might only get one. It’s about quality here, not votes. Make sure that your arguments are strong in your nominations, because that will be the deciding factor. [size=3][b]Sounds incredibly subjective, don’t it?[/b][/size] Yeah, it kind of is. But we’re an equal opportunity offender here at OtakuBoards. To make sure that members from every clique and segment of the site is fairly represented, [b]The Nifty Fifty Committee[/b] will be assembled to compile the final list, the OtakuBoards Nifty Fifty of 2006. [size=3][b]Who are in this Nifty Fifty Committee?[/b][/size] I’m sorry, that’s classified information. You can’t know that yet. They know who they are, and that’s all that matters for now. You’ll know when the final list is compiled. Fair enough? [size=3][b]What kinds of things should be nominated?[/b][/size] Anything, really. Members who really stood out this year, threads that had a big impact, great memories, current events that affected the boards in some way. Use your imagination, as I’d like a very broad spectrum of things to be present on the list. [size=3][b]How do I nominate?[/b][/size] I’m glad you asked. Here’s the simple form required for a nomination. [quote][b]What is it? Why was it nifty?[/b][/quote] That’s it! Some of you may still be unsure of this, though, so here's a few examples. Please keep in mind [b]EACH MEMBER MAY ONLY NOMINATE UP TO TEN THINGS![/b] [quote][b]What is it?[/b] [i]Team Hanzo Thread Ratings[/i] [b]Why was it nifty?[/b] [i]Since 'Kill Adam' came out, many members have been trying to outdo one another in terms of graphic violence and sexual content in their RPGs. The thread ratings made it safe for minors to go back into The Arena. Also, the guy who made them is incredibly handsome.[/i][/quote] [quote][b]What is it?[/b] [i]Bio[/i] [b]Why was it nifty?[/b] [i]With less than 100 posts Bio became a moderator for the Arena Underground, and a darn good one at that. He managed to really give the forum some order, and the whole area has improved greatly because of him.[/i][/quote] [quote][b]What is it?[/b] [i]"Having a Jessica Simpson Moment"[/i] [b]Why was it nifty?[/b] [i]"The point of this thread is to ask if you've ever had one of those moments where your brain simply ceases to function for brief periods of time and it caused some slight emberassment..."[/i][/quote] Your nominations can be as long or as short as you want. Any links or images you'd like to include in your nominations are more than welcome. Just try to make your case fairly compelling, because there's going to be a whole lot of competition! Best of luck to you, and I expect this list to be a great tribute to the past year at OtakuBoards. For a look back at last year's nominations, look at [url=http://otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=44769]this link.[/url] Any questions regarding the Nifty Fifty can be asked in this thread, or via PM. [u]All nominations are due by January 31st. The final list will be posted a few days after.[/u] [size=1]-Shy[/size]

[quote name='Dragon Warrior][size=1']Quick answer: As many that sign up.[/size][/quote] [size=1]Only members not posting their own pictures can vote for the winners, yah? With so many entries it seems like the judge pool is going to be quite small, since anyone even remotely interested in the idea probably posted their own pictures. I plan on being cruel and unflinching in my criticism of these OtaKuties (since most are anything but.) -Shy[/size]

[size=1]The questions I received via PM this week were very interesting, and I would like to thank everyone who took the time to write them. Hopefully our Event Masters will answer them promptly and honestly... I must say that there is one question I received that I withheld from this week's interview. Without giving too much away, I think that this question in particular is something we'd [i]all[/i] like to hear the answer to. Expect it next week in a very special interview! [b]Interview Four: Questions From the Community 1. Who is your favorite member on OtakuBoards and why? 2. Which staff member, past or present, do you look to as your OB role model? 3. [To White specifically] Why did you kill Labyrinth? 4. Which staff member, present, do you feel is the weakest in their position? Why? 5. What do you do for fun when offline? 6. What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment as an OtakuBoards staff member? 7. What do you feel is your greatest failing as an OtakuBoards staff member? 8. Do you have any pets? 9. Which trait do you think is the most important one for an Event Master to have? How do you epitomize that trait more than your competition does? 10. Do you still even want to be Event Master?[/b] -Shy[/size]

[quote name='Generic NPC #3']The only stuff I find myself ordering are whisky and straight vodka. I prefer the whisky. Maker's Mark is good.[/quote] [size=1]Wild Turkey is my favorite kind of whiskey, but that's more because it has a turkey on the label than anything else. By the time I start drinking Wild Turkey I'm usually too far gone to have a preference. Having said that, I don't drink very much and when I do it's (usually) not with the goal of getting completely wasted. Casual drinking is much better for a variety of reasons, the big one being that it's cheaper. If I'm eating out at a restaurant with a group of friends I like to try out the 'specialty drinks.' You have to be careful to read the ingredients they have listed, though. Generally speaking, every single restaurant's 'specialities' are the exact same, only with different names and prices. -Shy[/size]

[quote name='Desbreko][color=#4B0082']February 14 will mark the beginning of my sixth year on the staff. Seems kind of crazy that I've been doing this for so long.[/color][/quote] [size=1]That can't be right, can it? When did you register? Anyway, I also remember you from the Pokemon forums, G/S/B Master. I used to go by Shyguy, but was mostly active in Digimon. Hopefully you'll find that as much as certain things have changed here, others are exactly the same. Welcome back. -Shy[/size]

[size=1]We are a week into the Event Master's new roles, and the results are mixed at best. Labyrinth's activity seems to be suffering under White's control, whereas Mafia continues to be quite active. How much of this is a testament to the members participating in the events themselves, and how much of this is because of the new person in charge? [b]Interview Three: New Event, New Challenges 1. What did you think were some of the biggest problems with your competition's Event prior to taking charge of it? Be specific and be honest. 2. What is your biggest concern regarding the Event you created being under someone else's control? 3. What are some of the challenges in running your new Event? 4. Do you feel taking control over this new Event has impacted its' activity or success in any way? 5. What are you doing differently with this Event that the original creator did not? 6. Will your new Event be able to see completion by the end of the competition, roughly three weeks from now? 7. What is your opinion of your competition's handling of your Event so far?[/b] Also, I would like to ask active participants in Labyrinth and Mafia to contribute their opinions about the Event Masters switching roles. Do you feel that having a new person in charge of the Event changes your enjoyment of it in any way? In addition, [b]I would also like to ask [i]all members[/i] to contribute their own questions for next week's interview. These questions must be PM'd to me, and will be posted anonymously.[/b] Feel free to ask whatever question you'd like (Even the Event Master finalists may contribute questions of their own!) Within reason, Sandy and White will be expected to answer every question I receive. -Shy[/size]

[quote name='Sandy]One [B]question[/B], though: will failing to complete the other participant's event mean [I]automatic[/I'] loss in the Otaku Idol 2? I surely hope other things affect the decision as well... :/[/quote] [size=1]The final decision of who wins and who doesn't will be based on a variety of factors, so failing to complete your new event will not be a 'deal-breaker' in any regard. In certain circumstances, failure to complete the event will reflect poorly on the person who originally created it.[/size][quote name='john']For the entire duration of the event? I understand that they should show that they're able to run entirely different events with a high level of competence, but what makes it necessary to make it last from here on out? After all, either of the contestants might have had a lot more up their sleeves than they've revealed so far, and won't get a chance to show it now.[/quote] [size=1]I'm aware that each of the contestants had more tricks up their sleeves that they may never get a chance to use. However, we are on Week 4 and it already appears that Labyrinth may be reaching completion soon. It was important to give each Jr. Event Master a chance to not only run the other's events, but implement new changes and improvements as they see fit. By giving them control for a longer period of time they will be able to see how their decisions directly influenced the final outcome of the events. If they had regained control of their event at some point it would be more difficult to gauge how their control influenced each event's success, for better or for worse. I am well aware that this will create conflict among those participating in the events. -Shy[/size]

[size=1]Okay, here's your plot twist... Both of you have learned firsthand the difficulty in running a successful event. You may have thought that the most difficult portion of Otaku Idol 2 was over, but it's just about to begin! [b]Both of you are to take control of the other's event [i]immediately[/i].[/b] You are to assume whatever responsibilities the other had in running their event, but you are forbidden to communicate with the other Event Master about what those responsibilities are! There will be no direct (or even indirect) communication between you two, and any attempt to do so will mean your immediate disqualification from the event. Of course, you may communicate with the members participating in these event to figure out anything you need to know. If you were successful in creating a straightforward and well-run event then someone should have no problem taking over the job of running it for you. Conversely, the strength and creativity of the event should be the only factor in its' success, not the person running it. This change will last for the duration of the competition. Post your reactions to this change to the game here. -Shy[/size]

[indent]Hours passed, and the Forest Friends were becoming increasingly tired. Eve's tongue, which had been drooling over the prospect of eating a certain Dormouse for desert, was now bone dry. Even Hodgepodge, whose energy was unmatched, was starting to wind down. "Whereitthis ..mile...we're....loking...for...?" The squirrel said weakly, yawning between words. "A mile is a form of measurement," Mr. Braver corrected, "It should only be--" "A skip and a hop away!" The group rudely interrupted. "I'm beginning to think we're lost," Sapphire said meekly, "That tree over there looks like a tree we've passed before." Jinx attempted to console Sapphire. "Don't worry, Sapphire. Mr. Beaver has lived in this forest longer than any of us. I'm sure he knows his way around." "Indeed I do," Mr. Beaver said as he squinted, attempting find his way through the dense forest. While it was true that Mr. Beaver was an expert on the forest during the day, at night he had difficulty seeing the paws in front of him. He leaned in and grabbed a small pebble he found on the ground. "Ah, just as I suspected!" "WhatisitMisterBeaver?!" Hodgepodge asked excitedly. "This pebble on the ground isn't a pebble at all, it's a stone!" "..." "This is a sure a sign as any that we're only a stone's throw away from the construction site! Faster, Forest Friends, so that we can save our homes!" Led by the blind Mr. Beaver, the Forest Friends continued traveling deeper and deeper into the dark forest.[/indent]

[indent]Sapphire raised her white paw timidly. Having lived in the human world for much of her life, she knew firsthand of all about the dangers that a construction site presented. "I think we should travel at night," she suggested, "Humans usually stay indoors when it's late, so we could explore while they're away." All of the Forest Friends nodded in agreement. "I love to travel at night!" Sunny the Dormouse said proudly. "As do I," Eve, a suspicious looking Pine Marten, added. She moved closer towards the rodent, licking her paws as she approached. "I propose we split up into groups. This delicious looking Dormouse and I can search the grounds, and report back our findings." Eve wrapped her long tail around Sonny, grinning darkly. The other Forest Friends, oblivious to Eve's true intentions, seemed quite inviting to the idea. The exception to this was, of course, Bumble, who wanted to be a hero that day. "It will be nothing, dear friends." Eve bowed gracefully, "But before I travel I would like... a bite... to eat." Sunny began to tremble as Eve moved in closer and closer. Realizing he no longer had control of the operation, Bumble decided to speak up. "We'll all eat together! But I think that I should lead them onto the construction site." "And why is that, Bumble?" Eve asked. "Because I'm the hare, of course." "I WANNA GO TOO!" Hodgepodge screamed. One by one all of the Forest Friends volunteered to join the brave Sunny, and the hungry Eve for their adventure. "You know, it's like the saying goes," Mr. Beaver said sagely, "Ask not what your forest can do for you, but... eh.... what 50% discounts are in stores now through Saturday!" Everyone considered what Mr. Beaver had said carefully. Even if it didn't make any sense.[/indent]

[size=1]After thinking over the issue I have decided to drop Gavin (and Kumite) from the competition. We are three weeks into this event and, for reasons we?ve discussed ad nauseum here, Kumite has failed to attract a following of its? own. While I commend Gavin for making multiple attempts to improve Kumite, none of them managed to take off. At this late juncture it is highly unlikely that he and his event could have made a significant impact in the competition. It is best that our time and attention remain devoted to the two candidates who [i]have[/i] launched successful events, Sandy and White. Next week there will be a major change to the competition; one that promises to take the two away from their comfort zones and into a whole new situation! -Shy[/size]

[size=1][b]Name:[/b] Mr. Beaver [b]Species:[/b] Beaver [b]Colouring:[/b] Furry and brown. Bits of gray here and there (for he is an older beaver, you see.) [b]Disposition:[/b] Friendly, but a bit of a prude. [b]Anything else:[/b] Mr. Beaver claims to be the smartest of the Forest Friends. He built his dam out of human "books" and as a result has learned a few things about their world. Unfortunately he only knows small pieces of information, since he had to tear these books into smaller pieces to put together the dam. If he doesn't know something, he'll just make it up. Everyone respects Mr. Beaver. -Shy[/size]

[size=1][center][img]http://otakuboards.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=25948&stc=1[/img][/center] [b]N-Man[/b] [url=http://otakuboards.com/member.php?userid=148][color=red]N-Man (Nerdsy)[/color][/url] is a popular member of OtakuBoards who on joined March 31, 2001. He is famous for being the self-proclaimed ?King of the Nerds,? and for his vast knowledge of Otaku history and culture. N-Man once served as a moderator, ruling over the Pokemon forum, and is a member of The Otaku Triads clique along with Sara and Shy. He was incredibly active throughout v2 and v3, posting as much as 100 times a day. Due to his activity in the Pokemon forum, N-Man became its moderator during v2. N-Man?s status as a moderator was not renewed after the switch to v3, although he would get the position back in later versions (and ultimately resign from the position.) He was also active in the Digimon forum, where he formed friendships with the tight-knit community there. Widely respected for his history with the forums, N-Man is sometimes referred to as the ?Otaku Historian.? Members also know him for his love of ?Mighty Morphin Power Rangers,? and the signature [color=deeppink]deep pink text[/color] he has been writing with for years. N-Man remains semi-active on the boards to this day. -Shy[/size]

[size=1]Your article and answers were more than acceptable, Sandy. SunfallIE is a great member, and I was pretty interested in the stuff I learned from your entry. Kudos to you, good sir! White posted his entry about Charles, which was quite solid, but has yet to reply to the questions. Please keep in mind that doing both is neccessary for moving forward in the competition. Gavin has yet to post anything, so time will only tell what that means. I would also like to congratulate Sandy for the success of his event so far. From an 'outsider's view,' Labyrinth remains the most coherent and entertaining of the projects. Admittedly this isn't saying much, since Kumite is [i]still[/i] abandoned, and Mafia might as well be posted in Latin. It's just that confusing to me. Shy[/size]

[QUOTE=Boo][size=1]... Why do people ask clothing for Christmas all the time? Aren't you supposed to like... buy them through the whole year when you need them? It's like asking shampoo or something, where's the fun in that? [/size][/QUOTE] [size=1]I'd take shampoo for Christmas. The shampoo I like is pretty expensive, so it would make a great gift. On that note, what I really want for Christmas is kitchen/houseware for my apartment. My roommate is leaving towards the end of December, so once they're gone we won't have anything to cook with. Actually, all of our common areas will be completely bare, so this is something I need to start preparing for now. As for fun things I want, I'd really like a pair of headphones for my iPod that don't entirely suck. I'm pretty spoiled as it is; there isn't anything I'm [i]dying[/i] to get this year. -Shy[/size]

[size=1]Zeh was never a Super Moderator. Perhaps James, or someone more directly involved with Zeh's banning could edit his entry. I don't recall Flash moderating the Sony Forum, either. Anyway, I edited in The Daily Otaku articles. I guess we'll wait on putting in the Charles article until White posts his. Between the two of them we'll end up with a much more complete entry. When is someone going to write the Project Gamer article? -Shy[/size]

[quote name='Kei][color=darkblue][size=1][b]To Shy:[/b] Modesty is the best policy. ;p[/color'][/size][/quote] [size=1]We'll never have an accurate view of OB history and culture if people choose to omit themselves from certain articles. The both of you have a long history with that forum in particular, and it should be acknowledged. -Shy[/size]

[size=1]Okay, I'll edit in everything up to this post (Page 10) tonight. Try to get some natural sunlight until then, Chuck. And Nerdsy, you totally forgot the inclusion of Kei and yourself into that Pokemon article. For shame! -Shy[/size]

[quote name='Sara][color=#b0000b][size=1]If I remember correctly, the original name of [i]that[/i] disaster was actually "The daily [some mutilated spelling of the word 'cappuccino']"[/size'][/color][/quote] [size=1]I believe you're right, but I can't find out what the original title of the thread was. Any help would be appreciated. Also, Renne's signature has her claiming to be the first female to become a staff member, and the first female to reach 1,000. I was under the impression that Angel Saturn Healer became a mod before she did. Nerdsy can you help me with this?[/size][quote name='James][font=arial]I don't know about OB10, but OB8 will definitely arrive. I'm actually going to be spending my own money on it this time, so it had [i]better[/i'] arrive! Haha. :o [/font][/quote][size=1]I must be counting unnumbered version updates or something. Go figure. And what do you mean you're paying for it yourself? Is Adam being cheap again? I'm going to be seeing him in January, so I'll beat him a few times if that'll help matters. If not, I'll probably beat him anyway. We have a lot of history together. -Shy[/size]

[QUOTE=Dagger]If we lived in Massachusetts, Sara, that would be my cue to ask for your hand in marriage. :animesmil ~Dagger~[/QUOTE] [size=1]You live in Massachusetts, Sara? I could have sworn I was sending my letters to you somewhere else all these years. Also, I think we should all take a moment to think about Dagger and Sara being married. Mm. -Shy[/size]

[quote name='James][font=arial']Also, OB's next version is code-named "OB Evolution". But it's not set to arrive until 2007.[/font][/quote] [size=1]Oh thank god. I thought I was never going to see OB10 (or is it 9? Who can keep track of these things anymore?) Remember James, I get a free sandwich with my tenth version. Aaryanna: The Daily Otaku actually shared a name with series of threads that Stardust had created in 2001. [b]The Original Daily Otaku[/b] The original [url=http://otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=3341]Daily Otaku[/url] was a series of threads in the General Discussion (now Otaku Lounge) forum, created by Stardust and others in 2001. The Daily Otaku was the original OtakuBoards newspaper, and each "issue" featured brief articles discussing popular threads and interesting quotes of the day. These articles were written by Stardust and a staff of "Reporters," including Forte, Tec-9, Krillen, Deathknight, Shy and others. Each issue of The Daily Otaku was posted in a seperate thread, and, ironically, on a semi-daily or weekly infrequent basis. These threads were initially well-received by the members; at one point it was decided that new issues of The Daily Otaku would be given prominence among the General Discussion forum by being "stickied." This success led to other members attempting to create their own daily Otaku-themed newspapers, causing a great deal of conflict at the time. Stardust seemed incapable of organizing the ambitious project by herself, and the quality of The Daily Otaku suffered as a result. Reporters became frustrated by The Daily Otaku's [url=http://otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=4572]lack of communication with Stardust[/url], often resigning from their positions shortly after being hired. These reporters were hired over literally a [i]dozen threads[/i], leading to mass confusion and putting her at odds with many staff members. At one point each individual reporter posted their own [url=http://otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=3481]Daily[/url] [url=http://otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=3495]Otaku[/url] news thread, the idea being that each individual forum was active enough to support their own thread. This idea was quickly dismissed, and due to oversaturation it may have been responsible for deteriorating member interest in the concept. Over the course of several weeks only a handful of issues were posted. Stardust became aware of these problems, but her immaturity only made the growing problems worse. Finally Stardust was ordered by staff to end the project, and all of the active Daily Otaku threads were closed (The General Discussion version was closed while still stickied, and remained at the top of the forum for several days following its' closure.) Several attempts to resurrect The Daily Otaku were made, but they were each short lived. Years later Desbreko created his own Daily Otaku thread in the Anthology forum, sharing a legacy with the original in name only. -Shy[/size]

[size=1]This is a great idea, A_M, and I definitely support it. I will be sure to discuss this idea with the winner of Otaku Idol 2, but even if there isn't a winner to OI2, I'll be sure to discuss it with myself. I imagine I'll be very welcoming to the suggestion. -Shy[/size]

[right][color=#33OOCC][i]Spotlights. Judges. Sequins. [i]Drama.[/i][/i][/color][/right][color=#FF9O33]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .[/color][color=#CCOO66]"...this genocide is the largest problem facing civilization today. Women and children brutally slaughtered and attacked, even raped! "There is no excuse for the world community to be ignoring this crisis!" Soft applause. Embarrassment. A moment of silence. The host turns. "...And Ms. Arkansas, what's [i]your[/i] pet peeve?" "Bed hair."[/color]