James

Mario made sure the door was locked. He was standing in the middle of the Guest Bedroom of Toadstool Castle, with a ring of soap bubbles surrounding his body. He bounced over to the wardrobe and pulled the doors open. Voila! Ten sets of overalls in perfect condition, and a small pile of red caps sitting on a shelf above. Mario quickly dried himself off with a towel and slipped into the overalls. He carefully fastened the cap and buffed the "M" with his collar. The room itself was definitely fit for a King. Of course, everything was pink, as per the Princess's tastes. Even the little laptop on the desk in the corner was pink, with the Princess's official logo on the cover. Mario decided to sit down and download a progress report from NES, the 16-Bit Intelligence Satellite. The Mushroom OS booted up immediately (thanks to its handy cartridge format) and Mario connected to the network. This took some time, as the network was rather slow, thanks to the 16-Bit world's narrowband-only policy. Finally, a small window popped up. Mushroom Instant Messenger. Mario's list of contacts was extensive; he even had Wario listed on his buddy list. [i][color=green]>BLOOP!

[color=#335062]Oh, you'd be surprised. ~_^ Hehe, but anyway...yeah, this is something we have no control over at the current time. We will do our best to solve the problem though, which might possibly include moving to a new server. But we'll see. Sorry for any inconvenience caused.[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Mnemolth [/i] [B]James Dealing with your first response only. Its good. Certainly an improvement on some of the things you posted during the NL thing. I think you've given good explanations for why you do what you do. I think its also commendable that you haven't just looked at my post and throw your hands up and just started throwing things at me.[/b][/quote] [color=#335062]I don't think I've ever just thrown my hands up and started throwing things at you. Even during the Newbie Lounge discussion, I addressed your points and responded to them. I've never sat here and taken cheap shots at you. My observations have always been in direct response to your comments. I [i]could[/i] be flippant and just ignore your efforts, but I don't. And whether or not I agree with you, I don't ignore your efforts because I'm showing you respect. By typing this response now -- by taking the time and effort to explain myself, I'm showing you a form of respect. This is why I take such exception to most of what Cloricus has posted in this thread. He [i]doesn't[/i] take the time to respond to individual points and he is often very vague about what he's saying (especially after someone has gone to great lengths to respond to him). I don't appreciate that. And while I disagree with you, I [i]do[/i] appreciate that you're willing to explain yourself and articulate your points in greater detail.[/color][quote][b] In regard to your point about me creating an "us vs. them" scenario, I highly doubt that's the case. There are VERY FEW people 'with' me. Certainly, in terms of my criticisms of you and Charles, I don't see anyone 'with' me at all on this thread. So if I'm trying to set that up, I'm doing a very, VERY bad job of it.[/quote][/b] [color=#335062]Yes, I think you [i]are[/i] doing a very bad job of it. But this is the kind of sentiment that often appears to be the backdrop to your posts.[/color][quote][b] In regard to staff making mistakes, you say you're the first to admit that Mods and Admins make mistakes. That you guys aren't perfect. But you know something? I've never seen you apologise. Now, honestly, you may have and I might have missed it since I stay pretty much in Otaku Public, but no. I haven't seen it. Of course, you can do that privately, but that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about an unreserved public admission, a mea culpa. [/quote][/b] [color=#335062]There are a couple of issues here. Firstly, you aren't looking very far, are you? You are either not on here often enough, or you're not in the right places to see examples that contradict your accusations. Look at the thread that TVE pointed out to you. That's just one example. The truth is, it [i]is[/i] in my interest to admit if I've made a mistake. You accuse me of not being honest about these things, yet I have certainly found myself in situations where I've been quite happy to admit a mistake publicly. I have no problem doing so. But there is another point to this. You are sitting there, talking about the need for me to make these public admissions or wrong doing and whatnot. And you're doing so as though [i]you[/i] are the final say when it comes to judging my character. Just because [i]you[/i] haven't seen it, it can't have happened. I'm quite happy to answer to the community at large -- and I choose to do so on a regular basis. I choose to explain my actions and I choose to clarify what I'm saying. Ultimately, that's the best I can do. [/color][quote][b] For example, say you closed a thread, and you subsequently reconsider. Well, firstly, I don't see you reconsider much, you almost always stake your position and dig in. But, for the sake of argument, let's say you reconsider and decide that perhaps you were too hasty. I've never seen you reopen a thread with a post explaining JUST THAT in it.[/quote][/b] [color=#335062]Once again, what can I say? Just because you haven't seen it happen, doesn't mean it hasn't happened. When the need arises, I'm more than happy to take a step back and reconsider a decision. I don't know what else I can add to that. [/color][quote][b] This gives the impression, ar least to me, that you never think you're wrong. At least not enough to reverse a previous decision.[/quote][/b] [color=#335062]Once again, I can only point to examples that others have brought up here. [/color][quote][b] The other problem is that when you toss in your opinion in the same post as closing a thread, especially a controversial one, you give the impression that you want the last word. And to me, that has ego written all over it. What I'm saying is, if you want to close a thread, then do it, but don't add to the debate with your own views because no one can then respond publicly, no one can rebutt your points, and so it creates an unfavourable impression that you have the last word (not about the thread being open or close, that's your prerogative, but about the debate/discussion/argument itself).[/quote][/b] [color=#335062]Closing the thread is my perogative, yes. Whether or not I choose to include comment on the subject is [i]also[/i] my perogative. Just as I am afforded this ability, so are Moderators and Category Moderators. And there are plenty of cases where [i]others[/i] have both commented on the subject [i]and[/i] commented on the thread closure in the same breath. Yet, that isn't being discussed here. I certainly don't make any apologies for the basic privleges that are afforded to myself and other staff. Clearly, you take exception to these types of posts. But at the same time, it seems that you've had me and others in the site's leadership in your crosshairs as soon as any of us dared to disagree with you. I find it hard to believe that you can accuse me of being egotistical here. Just about every post you make on this board is laced with egotism. Whether it's your frequent references to your age (read: intellectual superiority) or whether it's your thinly veiled put-downs of the membership at large, myself and others are forming an impression of you that is based on your own behavior. In any of the discussions we have had, particularly on the Newbie Lounge, I have always done my level best to stick to the discussion at hand. That is, my interest has had nothing to do with critiquing your behavior, but rather, debating the actual subject. However, in just about every single discussion we have ever had, you've done little else but accuse me of being egotistical/rude/power hungry/etcetc And frankly, I don't appreciate it. I especially don't appreciate that I'm being accused of the very traits that you yourself exhibit on a frequent basis, often without any in-depth critical analysis from me or anyone else. The very fact that you are here now, questioning, critiquing and accusing [i]without[/i] the thread being closed and [i]without[/i] being banned is, I would say, an absolutely clear example of the way I operate. Others within this thread have perhaps been far more blunt than myself, when it comes to describing your behavior on OtakuBoards. And while you may accuse me of certain things, I can safely say that OtakuBoards is probably one of the [i]few[/i] places where you can get away with such frequent jabs at the membership and site leadership. If anything, I'm possibly being [i]too[/i] leniant with you, despite your contention.[/color][quote][b] Now, I would like someone to please explain to me how you can find Charles a nice, reasonable and fair person to deal with when you put his post, next to mine (see second page), and then compare them.[/quote][/b] [color=#335062]The only mistake Charles is making, if you can call it that, is in his frankness. No, you're usually not that blunt. But you are much more venomous. Let's not make [b]any[/b] mistake about that.[/color][quote][b] I mentioned something about "kids" but as Sem points out I do that all the time. I know for a fact that Juutheena didn't like what I said one little bit, but I did apologise for any offense that may have been taken.[/quote][/b] [color=#335062]I think you [i]know[/i] that the constant displays of a superiority complex in your posts are offensive to those who can read between the lines (not that it's always necessary). Yet, you still do it. You constantly do it. In my entire time at OtakuBoards, I've never talked down to the membership. Nor have I ever suggested that I am somehow more wise because I'm an adult and not a "kid". I guess I just find it incredibly ironic that you're accusing me of being egotistical, when this is yet another example of something you need to be looking at within yourself. As I said, I don't feel that you're really in a position to cast stones when it comes to something like this. I could be wrong about your attitude, but it's hard to form any other conclusion when such sentiments arise in your posts on a consistent basis.[/color][quote][b] And what was wrong with asking James for permission to do multiple threads again? Unless you mean the very fact that he allowed me to do it shows that he isn't too strict. I don't find that a very convincing argument in and of itself.[/quote][/b] [color=#335062]I think the point that is being raised is simply that I didn't hold any kind of grudge against you. Despite what you'd said about me and the membership at large, I was still quite happy to support your effort. Once again, I think you'd find that your behavior probably wouldn't be tolerated on other boards as it is here. The fact that, despite what you've said, you've still been able to work with myself and others in a positive way is definitely testament to the professionalism that people here exhibit.[/color][quote][b] What kind of mature adult compares homosexuality to bestiality, for example? I think one of your Congressman did that. I should add here that I did dismiss it in the same post that I brought it up. And I have discussed this with gay friends of mine. Believe it or not, I'm probably closer to more gay people IRL than you or TN. I talk about sexuality politics all the time with some of my more political gay friends. And also I might add some feminist friends too. I've never been hit in the face. They have some idea about where I'm coming from. They're knowledgeable, they read alot and they're familiar with the main arguments that crop up. We discussed these things all the time. Or at least we did, until I moved cities. I used to live in the city with probably the greatest concentration of gay people in the southern hemisphere. I know their community, and I know their politics. And of course I know the laws that govern affect them and their lives.[/quote][/b] [color=#335062]I didn't see you dismiss the statement. I didn't notice any dismissal. Of [i]course[/i] you know all about gay people. Just as you know all about site administration, public relations and management. I'm sorry, but I find this quote typical of your general attitude. If what you said in that post (regarding the bestiality/homosexuality) issue was some kind of joke, or if you were saying that as an example of what an intolerant person might say themselves, then perhaps it's something that I can accept. But I do remember that post distinctly. And my impression (as well as the impression of others), is that you were comparing homosexuality to bestiality. And that you were doing so seriously. If that is indeed the case, then you cannot claim to know about the issues that confront gay people on a daily basis. You simply can't. To do so, having made a serious comparison like that, would be nothing short of fraudulent.[/color][quote][b] As for my behaviour and dealing with people, I've been in teams at university, and I've led teams at university. I've been in teams at work in the private sector and I've led teams. I was Team Leader of a group of 10 people, their ages ranging from 20s to 40s. We won Best Team of the Month for Feb 2000. This is no small little company I'm talking about, this is a multinational, multi-billion dollar telecommunications corporation. I was also once an employee of probably the best known software company in the world. Working with law enforcement, I dealt with customs and police officers as well as executives of small to middle-sized companies (ie between 25 to 500 employees). I dealt mainly with the MD/CEO and IT managers.[/quote][/b] [color=#335062]Oh geeze, here we go again. I'm sorry, but this is becoming such a habit in your posts. I'm not denying that it's true...I just kinda find it humorous. I have also acted as a team leader. In my case, it was for two different companies. One was an industrial supplies company where I was responsible for administrating part of the offices and organizing approximately 40 people on a daily basis. In the other case, I was working with a group of around 10 people who were all in my age group (while in the former example, most of the employees were my senior by several years). In addition, I have been responsible for dealing with Public Relations and Marketing departments for over 20 medium and large size publishing companies in Australia and North America. I have also coordinated joint PR events between both the media and publishers. Do you want me to continue? The point I'm trying to illustrate here, is that you're simply assuming that you know better than everyone else here. Why else would you trot out your life history for us? To validate yourself. To validate your criticisms and to lend weight to the idea that yes, you are indeed our intellectual superior. Others might be impressed, but I'm not. If I was as egotistical as yourself, I could definitely sit here and pull out a file with my professional experience. And I could quite comfortably sit here and tell you that on this basis, I am more qualified than you to speak on these issues. But I don't do that. And as I pointed out earlier, in my entire history here, I've never done it.[/color][quote][b] And you're telling me I have trouble handling myself or dealing with other people??[/quote][/b] [color=#335062]Absolutely. The responses you've seen here (and the responses you've seen to [i]most[/i] of your arguments) are examples of that. We don't need an extensive history in public relations to know when someone's behaving like an arrogant elitist.[/color][quote][b] The difference between your post and Sem's post is that while Sem was angry, he was not offensive for its own sake. He was a bit strong but that was due to his indignation. You, on the other hand, are simply malicious. You set out to cut me down, and then to point and laugh.[/quote][/b] [color=#335062]And your frequent jabs at the membership, as well as your constant assertion of intellectual superiority [i]isn't[/i] malicious?[/color][quote][b] Although both of you have pretty negative things to say about me, Sem kept his eye on the ball and so was fair. His intent was not to offend but to make his arguments or points. Intentions are important. To me, they are probably one of the most important things when judging posts or people in general.[/quote][/b] [color=#335062]Yes, intentions are important. What are the intentions of a senior, professional man with [i]years and years[/i] of experience in big corporations, who sits down at a computer for god knows how long, asking the administrator of an anime message board to explain himself? I'm sorry, but I can't assume that your posts in this thread and others (like Newbie Lounge) had much to do with improving the quality of OtakuBoards in any substantive way. To me, they looked like nothing but exercises in massaging one's ego. I could be wrong, but hey...that's the feeling that the vast majority of people have walked away with, when reading your posts. If this isn't your intention, then I imagine that your public relations experience isn't being put to good use at the moment.[/color][quote][b] To me if a post hurts someone, then that is bad. But if a post sets out to hurt or offend, even if it doesn't end up achieving its aim, its worse. That's what I think of your post.[/quote][/b] [color=#335062]And that's what we think of many of your posts.[/color][quote][b] When we speak of 'maturity' we ought not to use it as another form of discriminatory elitism.[/color][/quote][/b] [color=#335062][b]Absolutely[/b]. Please take some of your own advice, Mnemolth.[/color][quote][b] I'm on this Board because I want to be. I made the comments I did because although this Board works well, there is room for improvement. I critique the management because I have a different vision, and also because I happen to think they're not perfect.[/quote][/b] [color=#335062]That's fine. And it's perfectly acceptable. Yet, there are others (in this very thread) who have been able to critique the site's leadership without causing such a frenzy. Perhaps it's because these people are throwing in an honest opinion without making baseless assumptions. [i]Most[/i] of your contentions can be disproven by simply browsing around places other than Otaku Public. A large amount of your complaints are based on what you are assuming about me. You're assuming that because you may not have seen me apologize, that I never do. And yet, at the same time, other members are clearly telling you their experiences, which sometimes do infact involve an apology from me. You're either ignoring that or you're simply not reading it. You can't have it both ways. You're continuing with these very same arguments, [i]despite[/i] evidence to the contrary that is being brought about for you. It's right here, you don't have to look far.[/color][quote][b] Am I perfect? Heck, no. Am I more perfect than those I criticize? I have no idea. I've never run a Board. But I have been online for the better part of a decade. My first Bulletin Board was one of those dial-up affairs, long before WWW MessageBoards such as vBulletin. And you know, having been on many, many boards, and having seen many, many, many administrators and moderators work, I think its fair to say I have a little understanding of what I speak.[/quote][/b] [color=#335062]You see? Here we go again. You've never run a board, yet you've been involved with them since the stone age and you probably fair to say that you played a role in inventing the Internet too. lol Your wisdom on this subject is no more advanced or important than the views being expressed by other members in this very thread. Whether or not you ran a message board in 1926 is irrelevant. And whether or not you saw 100 or 1000 administrators and moderators work is also irrelevant. They are irrelevant because every board is different. You were banned on several other boards (from what I remember from something you had said), yet you've not yet been banned here. That very fact alone indicates that OtakuBoards works differently to other boards. And that, generally speaking, every single board is different. Your experience on other sites does not add weight to what you have to say here. We're not talking about how a message board works, really. What we're talking about is your dissatisfaction with me. You don't like the fact that I've had the last word on occasion and you would like nothing more than to see me apologize publicly (it doesn't seem to matter what I'm apologzing for, either). To me, that seems to have little or nothing to do with the boards themselves and how they're operated. It has more to do with the desire to claim victory over somebody else. It's about your insecurity and it's about your desire for intellectual superiority.[/color][quote][b] You have to also understand, I see things from my perspective. You may see things differently from you perspective. Just because you're right doesn't mean I'm wrong. Its always good to learn, and to learn one has to understand, and a very good way to understand is by seeing through other peoples' eyes. [/B][/QUOTE] [color=#335062]That's all fine and good. And I agree with that sentiment. But you yourself don't seem to have any interest in that idea. Once again, let me summarize. The vast majority of your complaints revolve around the way I've closed threads in the past. They revolve around the "egotism" expressed by myself primarily, and maybe by others too. You have provided examples of how my behavior has been egotistical. One of the principle examples you laid out was that you've never seen me apologize, which logically indicates that I always consider myself to be correct. That on it's own is fine. But there are two problems. 1) The assumptions you are making are just that; assumptions. Yes, I have closed threads and made a comment about the subject at the same time. I'm quite happy to admit that and I have provided my opinion on it. If you are offended by that behavior, I apologize to you personally for it. It is not my intention to offend, and I'm sure that when other staff respond to closed topics, it is also not their intention to offend. However, you also point out the whole issue of me not apologizing and reversing decisions. But this is most definitely an assumption. You're assuming that it's the case because you have personally never seen otherwise. That leads me to my second point; 2) At the time of making this latest post, you apparently haven't read what others here have said. Just look at TVE's post. He posted that before you posted this most recent message. And his post is a piece of evidence that [i]directly[/i] contradicts the assumption you had made. Have you followed that link? Have you yourself apologized for making an assumption that was not based on fact? No, apparently not. If you wanted to find the truth of the matter and if you wanted to "see things from another perspective", maybe you would actually follow these links and view the evidence. That way, you might actually find the truth of the matter. And at that point, at least some of your concerns could perhaps be laid to rest and the issue would have been dealt with. Yet, here we are. You're still making the same assumptions without actually having any kind of evidence to support them. And at the same time, you're either ignoring or disregarding evidence to the contrary. So, as somebody who wants to make a logical conclusion, what is my impression? My impression is that you really don't have an interest in seeing things from any perspective other than your own. My impression is that this isn't about improving the situation at OtakuBoards, or resolving any issues with the leadership. My impression is that this is nothing but a ego-massaging exercise, with no intention to actually find a reasonable conclusion. Once again, I could be wrong about that. But this is the impression I'm getting from everything you've said. And if you consider the [i]ample[/i] information that myself and others have provided (most of which you've missed or ignored), it's no wonder that people are getting a bit short with you. Just as you have the right to claim that I'm egotistical and whatnot, Charles and others have the right to critique [i]your[/i] behavior, which they deem as being inappropriate. The key difference is that they're now analyzing your comments point by point. But you are continuing to draw conclusions from assumptions that may or may not be based on fact.[/color]

[color=#335062]We ban people if their grammar/spelling/etc is poor and if they [i]make no attempt to improve it[/i]. That's the key qualifier, I think. If your posting is so horrible that nobody can read it, you'll probably get banned pretty quickly. But, some members improve a great deal. Vicky, your posts have improved noticeably since you started here. We didn't ban you right away, obviously. And you're not banned now. So certainly, I don't think we're overzealous when it comes to grammar and such.[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Hittokiri Zero [/i] [B] The only reason I recieve a tiny bit more respect than I did before is because I have been here for a while. Mods just need to show a little more leniency towards newbies, they act as if they are going to destroy the whole world -_-. Also expressing dissaproval or distaste about something such as a certain T.V. Series, food, etc. Should not be considered flaming, so what if someone "flames" a inanimate object/thing -_o as long as it's not a person it should be tolerated. [/B][/QUOTE] [color=#335062]Two things to bring up about this part of your post. First, we do [i]not[/i] act as though newbies are going to destroy the world. If anything, we tend to encourage newbies. I think you'll find that most of our staff are not the ones enhancing the whole "newbie stigma". Your use of the term "n00bish" or whatever it was, is [i]actually[/i] the stigmatizing that you're accusing us of. Secondly, we do not consider the expression of disapproval in something flaming. I'm guessing that you didn't read my comments about that. So, I'll repeat them again. It's perfectly fine to express disapproval over something. It's part of regular discussion. [i]However[/i], as with anything on OtakuBoards, it's the way you present your point of view that matters. Let's say I dislike Toonami and I want to talk about it. The wrong thing to do is to make a thread where I say "I hate Toonami! All they ever do is censor stuff and it sucks!" The right way to do it is maybe to say something like "I personally don't like Toonami for these reasons (whatever reasons you want to include). But, I'd like to start a dicussion about this. What does everybody else think about Toonami? And what suggestions would you make to improve it?" That's just an example, but it illustrates my point.[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by cloricus [/i] [B] I personally have no care if you or others miss it?s meaning, I will not be explaining it. Other than that, have fun being unhappy. -eps- [/B][/QUOTE] [color=#335062]I think you owe Semjaza an apology, personally. You've done the same thing with me in the past and it's not only aggrivating, but I think it's downright disrespectful. I urge you to [i]read through[/i] Semjaza's last post in its entirety. Rather than posting some highly vague response and not really answering [i]any[/i] of his points, you might want to do a point-by-point response. Or at least, actually read what he is saying and respond directly to his post. Semjaza has gone to great effort to fully explain what he meant. But you have shown absolutely no understanding of his post whatsoever, you're just kind of going ahead with pointless, vague, somewhat unrelated ramblings. I feel that if you're going to hold a discussion, you should be respectful enough to respond directly to what is being said to you. [/color]

[color=#335062]But that's not how we conduct OtakuBoards. A thread simply saying "I like chicken" just isn't acceptable. If you don't understand why it's not acceptable here, then it might be pointless for me to explain the rules in any further detail. This site is all about quality and clarity. Maybe if you explained why you don't like chicken and maybe if you presented some kind of question/debate for the rest of the community, your thread would be valid. Otherwise, it's not valid. I don't think that's a difficult concept to understand -- most members seem to have grasped our basic principles pretty quickly.[/color]

[color=#335062]This is the kind of thread that really [i]should[/i] have been closed. The opening post was really nothing if not argumentative. I don't think I need to explain what would have happened here. What Shy was trying to do, in my judgement, was to encourage people to post non-argumentative threads. Rather than just sitting there and saying that the Gundams look like something from Power Rangers, I think that the original poster could have tried to create a more constructive discussion. So, I don't see a problem here. While you may not agree with the thread's closure, that's fine. If you ever don't agree, you can simply PM Shy or anyone else and ask for an explanation. As I explain to Moderators, there is really no absolutely 100% concrete guideline for staff. For the most part, staff are interpreting the rules and sometimes they're making difficult judgement calls. I don't think you can be too harsh on anyone for closing something that you think maybe shouldn't have been closed. Everyone is going to disagree, anyway.[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Mnemolth [/i] [B] I wouldn't say the mods are too strict per se. Strictness isn't really the issue. More problematic I would say are the small (and not so small) remnants of ego and intolerance that are part and parcel of some mods, and both admins. For example, James closes down 'Evolution' threads. Now if I were in his shoes, I wouldn't do that because my perspective on 'maturity' is that people should be able to debate issues, even if they tend to be heated. Keep a firm hand on the proceedings, yet let people have their say.[/b][/quote] [color=#335062]Your perspective on "maturity" is no different to mine. I also believe that people should be able to debate issues, even if they are heated. In fact, I have expressed this sentiment on numerous occasions. Mnemolth, I'm always pretty honest with you. And I'm going to be honest now. It does not surprise me that you are quite happy to make a baseless assumption about me, without actually knowing my opinion on certain issues. I would be surprised if you even read my somewhat lengthy explanation regarding the closure of the latest evolution thread. And obviously, based on what you've said here, you haven't taken any notice of my near-frequent comments on debates at OtakuBoards. Yes, I do feel that we should be able to debate anything here. And I certainly don't mind if debates get fiery and passionate -- they've done so in the past and in some cases, they've proceeded along and nothing personal has come out of them (from some of the political debates in particular). [i]However[/i], there is a core difference between you and I. You have the luxury of being able to sit back and say "Yeah, sure, let 'em go at it". I don't have that luxury. I have to deal with complaints and concerns that arrive in my inbox as each one of these threads go up. I'm the one walking the tightrope and pulling a delicate balancing act in many of these situations. I'm the one who has to ensure that while, on the one hand, the environment is relatively free and easy (regarding debating) and on the other, that it is a tolerable and positive place to visit for people of all ages. In addition, the desire to hold serious debates is something that I've had for a long time. But I can't wave a magic wand and force everyone concerned to behave themselves and not avoid making things personal. If I could, I would. But I can't. I have to deal with the circumstances that exist at the time.[/color][quote][b] But James' perspective is, and no doubt he will correct me on this, that this is primarily an entertainment board, and he's trying to ensure everyone gets along relatively well. He wants this board to be a success. A divisive issue like 'evolution' could cause problems. That's why religious threads also tend to be avoided. That's a public reason.[/b][/quote] [color=#335062]Yes and no. There are really two issues here. Firstly, we [i]have[/i] had several threads about evolution and religion. And for the most part, it's been my tendency to let them continue and run their natural course (until nobody is interested anymore). However, as with most subjects, people will create new threads based on the same subject with some level of frequency. Issues like religion and evolution are certainly issues that should be discussed in an open manner, but by the same token, it's important to moderate the discussion. The simple fact is, I don't want to see these threads come up every two or three pages. And it's got nothing to do with my personal involvement in any of these discussions, it's more a question of ensuring that members aren't wading through the same thing again and again. So, these threads are not necessarily avoided as such. There have certainly been threads in recent times that deal with religion and that promote a positive and mutually respectful discussion. But, the fiery "evolution vs creationism" style threads are something that [i]most[/i] people would rather not see on a regular basis. But because you are not receiving the complaints in [i]your[/i] inbox, your perspective on the issue might be different. I am constantly dealing with different tolerances from within the community. And it's my job to balance the interests of everybody concerned. So, as I said, you and others have the luxury of making certain assumptions. I don't have that luxury. Your next quote illustrates this pretty well, I'd say:[/color][quote][b] The private reason, I would guess, not that he is ever going to admit this, is that he doesn't want to lose the argument. He holds opinions on this and other issues and he is not willing to publicly lose face on them. He is the head honcho here, so its not surprising that he would want some deference going his way. This is why, if you look at 'evolution' threads, there is a tendency for him to throw his two cents in before shutting the thread down.[/quote][/b] [color=#335062]Once again, it doesn't surprise me that you'd make this assumption. Whether or not I tell you that there is no truth to your little assertion is really not going to make an atom of difference, is it? As I have said, we have had several religion/evolution discussions in the past. I have participated in some of them quite heavily, and not so heavily in others. And in some, I've not participated at all. The thing is, you need to check the history on this point. You will find that in the threads I have personally closed, there has [i]always[/i] been a valid reason for doing so. Yes, I include my opinion in these posts. But I also include a completely valid reason for the thread closure. I do this without exception and I do it voluntarily; you should not be under the impression that I [i]need[/i] to explain every action that I take. But I do so because I expect others to follow the rules. And so, I am always finding myself in a situation where I'm explaining my actions. And I'm fine with that, otherwise I wouldn't be doing it. On a very basic level though, I don't think that your assertion that I'm "saving face" really makes any sense. If I were to truly save face, I wouldn't be closing these threads at all. There are often cases where I'm taking an action that goes against "public opinion" and which could potentially somehow damage my reputation among the membership. The thing is, I have a job to do here. I am not concerned about my public perception. If I were as concerned as you make out, I'd probably never have removed Newbie Lounge; much less closed a topic because I felt I was going to "lose" the debate.[/color][quote][b] And then there is, of course, TN. No doubt you'd think I'm attacking you again. In one sense I am, but not because I have a personal vendetta against you. Its just you make the clearest example I can see. The question with TN is who mods the mods? TN has a habit of snapping at people. In some cases he has good reason, in others he doesn't, at least not in the way he does what he does. To put it crudely, he's crass. How many newbies have you seen him laid to waste? The level of animosity is not necessary, nor constructive.[/quote][/b] [color=#335062]There are a couple of points for me to make here. Firstly, I somewhat sympathize with your point. Yes, TN does have a history of being crass on occasion. And whenever there has been a complaint about his behavior, I have brought it up with him and encouraged him to improve his public demanour. I'm not going to beat around the bush and try to sugarcoat things. I'm telling you exactly as it happens. Having said that, I feel the need to remind you that I'm not running some sort of Government here. As Tony and others have said, you seem to have this egotistical view that you're some kind of messiah who needs to uncover the corruption from the powers that be. This is the position you seem to be coming from, on an anime message board no less. Don't you find it contradictory that, on the one hand, you keep talking about "adult perspectives" and "maturity", yet on the other hand, you frequently display thinly veiled contempt toward the membership at large and you constantly struggle not to trip over your own sense of self importance. It seems to me that you can't have it both ways. The constant fact that you're creating an "us vs them" scenario, with your adult versus teenager perspective comments is, to me, immature. And I'm saying that from my adult perspective. ~_^[/color][quote][b] So, again, its not a matter of 'strictness', but simply of the personal encroaching upon the public. Personal preference and ego of mods and admins affect how they run their boards. This is nothing new. You can complain of course, but don't whinge all the time. After all, this is not YOUR board. If it bothers you that much, then don't come to THEIR board. No one is forcing anyone to stay on Otakuboards or any other message boards.[/quote][/b] [color=#335062]This isn't a question of ego or personal preference. I am the very first person who is happy to admit that Moderators, Administrators and myself get it wrong. Of [i]course[/i] we do. We are human beings. And I'm not going to pretend that mistakes are never made. They are. And that's the truth of it. And on that basis, I'm unwilling to sit here and critique everybody else's behavior as though my own is perfect. You of all people should be the [i]last[/i] to be casting stones at the site's leadership. I would also add to what you said about this being [i]our[/i] board. Yes, it's a private board. We are able to run the site however we see fit. And being here is completely voluntary -- this is a free market; if you don't like OtakuBoards, I [i]encourage[/i] you to leave us and visit one of our competitors. I even encourage you to take all of your friends with you. I can make that kind of statement for one reason; what we do [b]works[/b]. In my experience in running online forums (which could quite possibly give me a more informed perspective on the matter), you [i]are[/i] truly in an open market. OtakuBoards does not advertise on any other sites -- we don't even advertise on theOtaku.com. And yet, our visitor base is steadily growing all the time. Despite people like you and thimoc, who are quite happy to liken me to some kind of egotistical dictator who oppresses the people (which in itself is so utterly immature that it casts doubt on any other points you might want to raise), the visitors keep on coming. And despite my [i]constant[/i] reminding people that they don't have to stay here...that I encourage them to leave if they dislike it...that I encourage them to compete with us and draw away our visitor base...it just doesn't happen. And it doesn't happen because I know how to run a message board. It doesn't happen because for every ten "messiahs" like yourself, there are another 500 supporters. So, I am happy to take responsibility for OtakuBoards. If my policies and my way of doing things drives this site right into the ground, I will not complain when Adam throws me out of here. But I suspect that the kind of claims you make are definitely not reflected by the vast majority of members.[/color][quote][b] And that ultimately is the beginning and end of the matter. But yes, on the issue of strictness, I do think some mods are sometimes too strict for the reasons I've outlined above. However, before people start tearing me apart limb from limb, I should add this board is relatively well run. Of course there are egos and personal preferences, but that exists on all boards. For an anime forum, I think, for the most part, the egos are kept in check and the personal preferences are kept to a minimum. You can easily find far worse mods and admins on anime forums everywhere. This post was brought to you by whoever awarded me the best 'spar-rer'. You know who you are. And yes, its ALL YOUR FAULT! ;) [/B][/QUOTE] [color=#335062]Oh, well, [i]thanks[/i] for the compliments. ~_^ In all honesty, you are free to make such comments, despite the fact that this is a private board and that my ego demands that I close this thread so that I can't lose this argument with you. I am quite happy to let you have your say. And I'm quite happy to respond and explain myself. I'm happy to do these things because I'm confident in my own abilities and the abilities of the staff. I really don't need to sit here and justify everything and point out where you're wrong -- the very success of this site is proof in and of itself.[/color]

[color=#335062]Hm, well...I might as well post in here. It's on the first page, afterall. I've only just seen One Hour Photo. Very good (and weird) movie. There is so much social commentary here...you could discuss this kind of movie for weeks on end and still have new things to talk about. The directing was particularly good and I think it really made the movie so visually powerful. Of course, Robin Williams is a great actor. Sy is such a disturbing man for many reasons...it's hard to imagine Robin Williams being like that, but it works. Very good movie. ^_^[/color]

[color=#404040][b]Personal[/b][/color][color=#335062] [b]Member Name:[/b] James [b]Former Member Name/s:[/b] JamesB [b]Member Since:[/b] Late 2000 (November, I think. "Lurker" before that. :drunk: ) [b]Current Status:[/b] Site Director [b]Nicknames:[/b] JamesOtaku01, Product Number 03, Rocket Boy v1 [b]Favorite Forums:[/b] Otaku Lounge, OtakuBoards Moderators, Adventure Arena, Nintendo, Sony, Art & Design, Anime Lounge [b]Favorite RPG:[/b] Maverick Hunters: Personification [b]Favorite Threads:[/b] Too many to list here. [b]Favorite Smiley:[/b] :sleepy: :help: :blulaugh: :shifty: :blush: :bawl: :drunk: :D :smirk: [b]Most Memorable Moment:[/b] The day when Adam asked me to become an Administrator at theOtaku.com Forums. [b]Quotable Quote:[/b] "I'm so angry, I could kick a kitten through an electric fan." - [i]Frasier[/i] (No, not an OB quote. ~_^) [b]Words of Widsom:[/b] "Never apply roll-on deoderant to your genitals" - [i]Robert[/i] (What can I say? It's the truth, people.) [b]Wish to be remembered for:[/b] I don't know. Hopefully people I know will remember at least one positive thing about me in the future. Whatever that might be is their choice. [b]Desired Epitaph:[/b] "Your Account Has Been Banned by the Administrator" [b]Favorites:[/b] Sun showers, chocolate chip cookies, lunch by the lake, soft kisses [b]I will...[/b] ...my [u]plushies[/u] to [u]Queen Asuka[/u]...because she always needs more of them. ...my [u]life-size Yoshis[/u] to [u]Weh[/u]...they seem right for him, somehow. ...my [u]custom status[/u] to [u]Raiha[/u]...because she's obsessed with them. ...my [u]Admin Rod[/u] to [u]Ken[/u]...because I would like to see the kind of hell he can raise with it. :naughty: [/color] [color=#404040][b]Most & Best[/b][/color][color=#335062] [b]Most likely to succeed:[/b] Tony [b]Most likely to secede:[/b] I like to think that everyone has potential, even kuji. So I don't have an answer for this one. ~_^ [b]Worst spelling:[/b] kuji [b]Best poster:[/b] Oh geez. That's very tough. If I had to pick one person, I'd say Charles. But I'm more inclined to say Charles, Tony and Shy. All three are examples of how everybody should post on OtakuBoards, in a perfect world. [b]Cutest couple:[/b] My many husbands/wives and I? :blush: [b]Best writer:[/b] Charles/Shy. I adore Charles' poetry (especially the humorous stuff, which seems to make up most of it ;)) and I [i]love[/i] Shy's RP posts. They're always so much fun to read. [b]Best artist:[/b] Tony. I'm a big fan of his work. [b]Best spar-er?:[/b] Chaos, hands down. [b]Craziest:[/b] Juu...or Mei. Mei seems to love eating those Phazon Cookies...she even gets a kick out of the mutation. o_O; [b]Funniest/wittiest:[/b] Weh. Just read Magik of the Bees and you'll know what I mean. ~_^ [b]Interesting-er-ist:[/b] Adam. [b]Random award:[/b] Spikey. His posts have improved markedly since he began posting here. I'm proud of him for that.[/color] [color=#404040][b]Signatures[/b][/color][color=#335062] [i]Adam - [/i]What can I say? Without you, I would literally not be in the position I am today. I would never have written for magazines or media websites and I'd never have met some amazing people. You are really the catalyst for all of that. And you continue to be one of my greatest friends. You're the most generous, professional person I've ever encountered -- too few people are aware of how much you sacrifice to make others happy. You deserve the recognition. [i]-James, your friend and colleague[/i] [i]Weh - [/i]You've always been able to brighten my day, no matter what. It's a shame that you're not always happy, because you deserve to be. You know a lot of things about me -- moreso than most people I talk to online. And yet, if anything, it's strengthened our friendship. People like that are hard to come by, and I appreciate it. I see a lot of potential in you. One day you are going to do great things, I assure you. [i]-Jehz00rx, your chocobuddy ~_^[/i] [i]Shy - [/i]You've done a more than adequate job for OB since you've been here. You are more than just your job, too; you're a very valuable member of this community. I am glad that if, in any small way, I've been able to comfort you during your times of self-doubt and such. I definitely consider you to be a friend, even though as you said, we don't have a lot of time to talk. [i]-James[/i] [i]Neil - [/i]It's funny how you can get to know people so well on the Internet...even if you don't speak to them every day, your life wouldn't be the same without them. I can definitely say that about you and all of my other friends on here. I'm honored to have been able to meet you and it's always a pleasure to talk to you about anything, whether it's silly or serious. [i]-James[/i] [i]Tony - [/i]I can't remember how long I've known you, exactly. But I remember that I didn't meet you from OtakuBoards and that I knew you for quite a while before you joined. I'm glad that I was able to introduce you to this place and I'm really proud of your contributions to it. I hope that you've made some friends here and that OB has become a friendly destination for you. Our chats (especially about gaming) are always wonderful. You are one of the few people who I can discuss the deeper issues with (our in-depth discussions of the past were always very enlightening ~_^). [i]-James[/i] [i]Jenna - [/i]We have not talked in a long time. And we never really talked [i]extremely[/i] often or anything. But I've always been impressed by you and I've always enjoyed the conversations we've had. It's a shame that you're not here as much these days, but it's nice to know that things are working out for you and that you're happy. [i]-James[/i] [i]Charles - [/i]I couldn't have chosen a better Administrator. I don't think anyone would disagree with that. You rose to the occasion and you've always proven yourself to be a very valuable asset to OB. You're also a great person, with a positive outlook and strong integrity. [i]James[/i] [i]Final Flash - [/i]I haven't seen you around much lately! But you really deserve to be mentioned here. You're one of my favourite members to talk to and I've always considered you to be a friend. I look forward to talking to you again on AIM sometime. [i]-James[/i] [i]Solo - [/i]You sometimes seem quiet, but you always have something pleasant to say. You always keep your cool and you're never anything but completely friendly. I really admire that. And I'm very proud to have you here in our little community. I wish you all the best with your acting, too. I know you'll do well. [i]-James[/i] [i]Sara - [/i]We have never really talked much on AIM, but you are someone who I'd like to know more about. I have always had great respect for you and I've always seen you as a little ray of sunshine on OtakuBoards. You make me laugh, smile and giggle ( :D ). OtakuBoards wouldn't be the same without you. [i]-James[/i] [i]Desbreko - [/i]How can I not pay homage to the local Zelda expert? 'breko, you're one of the most committed people I have ever met. Whenever something comes up at OB, you're always willing to lend a hand and dig in. That is a quality that I greatly respect and appreciate. I'm also very pleased with your work as a Category Moderator here. You may not know it, but your presence is very much appreciated. [i]-James[/i] [i]Ginny - [/i]Well, Ginny...we've had our disagreements. But I'm not going to get so hung up on these things that I can't look past them. I can look past them, and I have looked past them. I don't think that I will ever apologize for being myself and speaking my mind, because to do so would be to deny a part of myself. But at the same time, I greatly respect you as a person and I value the contribution that you've made to this community over the years. I would be foolish not to recognize all the wonderful things you've done for me and others here. And those things far outweigh any negatives, without question. I want you to know that I truly wish you happiness and success in your life. [i]-James[/i] [i]Zidane - [/i]I'm not sure what your name on here is now...(Zidargh?). But anyway, I can't possibly make these signatures without mentioning you. You're a great kid and your positive nature is always appreciated. You are also very intelligent and perceptive, which is something I've noticed about you. I enjoy talking to you on AIM and I look forward to meeting you one day, if you ever come down here to study. [i]-James[/i] [i]Juuthena - [/i]I don't know you all that well, Juu. But that doesn't mean that I don't have anything to say about you. I've spoken to you enough times (crazy OB chats, anyone?) to know that you're a genuine, kind hearted person. You're also intelligent beyond your years and you've never been anything but sincere and kind to those who you know. You've fast become one of the most popular members on OtakuBoards and it doesn't surprise me. Everybody who meets you seems to become your friend. That's a really big endorsement of your character. ^_^ [i]-James[/i] [i]GoKents - [/i]I definitely can't go without mentioning you here. We've always been able to debate/discuss issues and still be friends at the end of the day. It's great to meet someone with such respect for others and I really appreciate that. I also enjoy the little chats we have on AIM now and again. They're usually brief, but the fact that you approach me and say hello now and then is a small, yet significant gesture. You've taken some heat from other members here at times (Cloricus? lol), but I've never seen you get involved in personal insults and such. You've always done your best to stick to the issue. And that's important. [i]-James[/i] [i]KittyLyn - [/i]What a delightful person! ^_^ You're always nice to chat to on AIM. No matter how untalkative I'm feeling (or how stressed out I am), you're always very cheerful and approachable. You should know that it's something memorable about you...and you should know that I do appreciate our little chats. [i]-James[/i] [i]Justin - [/i]Without doubt, one of the best Moderators I've ever seen. As with some people, I feel that I don't know you all that well. And yet, we've known each other for quite a long time (since v2 at the very least). I do know, though, that I've always been impresed by you on some level. During the "v2 incident", I immediately knew that I had to hire you as a Moderator. I'm glad I did. [i]-James[/i] [i]Chris/TN - [/i]We don't talk that much anymore (we didn't used to talk [i]a lot[/i], but we probably talk even less now). But, I've always found that you're a really fun person to talk to. Some people might complain and say that you are a strict Moderator. And you know they've done that in the past. But regardless, these people really never speak to you on a one-to-one basis. So, it's very easy to get the wrong impression. I've always known that you're a great person, who often puts himself out to help others (I can't count the number of times you've helped me on the boards and in other areas). And that's how I will remember you. [i]-James[/i] [i]Syk3 - [/i]Well, without you, we wouldn't have our lovely v6 banner. So that's a good start! :smirk: But also, we would have one less fine Category Moderator. And that would be a great shame. Your contributions to theOtaku.com and OB are really appreciated by both Adam and I. Not to mention the fact that you're a cool guy. ^_^ [i]-James[/i] [i]Red - [/i]Can't forget the local Member of Parliament. Eh, what? (don't worry, I'm not crazy...lol). Over the last few months, we've chatted quite often on AIM. It's great, too. We always have a lot of fun. And despite the silly stuff, we've always been able to talk to each other about relatively personal stuff. That's a pretty amazing thing, I think. And I'm honored that you've chosen to share some personal things with me over the time we've known each other. I hope that my advice has helped you in some way and I really hope that you are able to sort things out over the next month or so. You'll be missed while you're gone, I can tell you that. [i]-James[/i] [i]Mei - [/i]You've only been on OB for a short time, but already you've become so popular! Maybe all those Phazon cookies you're eating are part of the cause? Hm? Well, you never know. :drunk: I hope you've enjoyed your stay here so far. And I really look forward seeing you as a regular here throughout '03 and beyond. [i]-James[/i] [i]Lady Asphyxia - [/i]Where do I start? Your writing is always great to read, you're always pleasant and kind to other members and you're great to chat to over AIM. OB would definitely not be the same without you, so I'm very glad that you're here. ^_^ [i]-James[/i] [i]Lady Katana - [/i]Ahh, my beloved Pokemod. :) You seem to be a quiet person. And for that reason, maybe it's easy for you to slip under the radar, so to speak. But you have some amazing talents. Your writing provides great richness to our little Adventure Arena and you always conduct your Moderator duties with enthusiasm and professionalism. I've always appreciated your presence here on the boards - you add more to this place than you know. [i]-James[/i] [i]Queen Asuki - [/i]Well, Asuki. You're the Queen of the Plushies. What more can I possibly say? ~_^ I can always count on you for a great discussion over AIM. And I can always count on you to do a great job on OB. You've made a lot of friends on here, and it's no wonder; you're a great person and we all value you a great deal. [i]-James[/i] Phew, I know I'm forgetting people. I just can't type anymore. lol I might add to this later. Maybe I'll remember some people who really need to be mentioned. ~_^[/color]

[color=#335062]Yeah, sorry. This really doesn't belong on OtakuBoards. It's best kept in your signature.[/color]

[color=#335062]Absolutely. You have a lot of flexibility with with what you want to do in that forum. However, I recommend keeping this "side story" within your sign up thread. That way, it's nice and easy to locate. [/color]

[color=#335062]Thanks for the offer, Shinji, but right now I'm only looking for people who are [i]very[/i] experienced when it comes to Virtual Bulletin technology. I am not in a position where I can train anybody (due to limited time), nor am I in a position where I can afford to wait for someone to learn from tutorials. So, as unfortunate as it is, that's really the only way that we can develop a complete v7.[/color]

[color=#335062]And really, the bottom line is that we're a family friendly site. So, blocking out offensive language plays a role there. And at theOtaku.com, you won't see any swearing. Both sites are very committed to being "clean" places to visit. Adam and I both feel that we can have popular sites and still maintain integrity in all aspects.[/color]

[color=#335062]We also have people from a large variety of countries visiting us here. I'm very proud of the fact that, generally speaking, the members of OtakuBoars are highly tolerant people.[/color]

[color=#335062]But that's the thing. I don't really think they threw it around much at all. I mean, Barrett did swear quite a bit. But really, he mostly said "damn" and stuff of that caliber. It was never really [i]swearing[/i] as such (though he did say the s-word a few times, but I felt it was used sparingly). Of course, it fitted in with what Barrett was all about. It was part of his personality. If anything, I think that he was kind of soft/tame when you consider what they were trying to do with his personality. They could have gone a lot further. O_O Having said that, there are some animes that seem to have an obsession with swearing. Some of them show absolutely no restraint at all. o_O[/color]

[color=#335062]I don't think soulmates exist. But I do think that out of all the people in the world, there are probably maybe a few thousand that are [i]perfect[/i] for you. You know what I mean? I don't think that there is only one individual in the entire world who is totally perfect for you. The pool of ideal mates is probably limited overall, but still includes a few thousand people. So, I feel that most people will never meet their "perfect match". Divorce rates, as Semjaza pointed out, are evidence of that. And I also feel that love in first sight is totally impossible. You can see someone and feel a connection, sure. You can even have a stronger reaction to a person on first meeting than you've had with anyone else. But love is something that develops with some time...getting to know a person's flaws and falling in love with those flaws, you know? Bah, I can't really work out what I'm trying to say here. So I'll just quit now. ~_^[/color]

[color=#335062]I am surprised that people can complain about the cursing in FFVII. It was pretty tame, to put it mildly. I think they said the "s word" maybe twice in the entire game. [i]Most[/i] of the swearing (if you can call it that) was like "damn" and such. I feel that if you are offended easily, there's a possiblity that more and more types of entertainment are going to be ruined for you. But really, it's just words. And they're not being said to you (or even necessarily said in a degrading context). So I feel that for the most part, I can look past foul language and enjoy what's underneath. Of course, if the language is absolutely unnecessary (Alien 3 might get close to that...if you've seen it uncensored, you'll know what I mean), then [i]maybe[/i] I get a bit peeved. I suppose it mostly comes down to your own tolerance levels, in terms of what level of language you're willing to accept before you decide that something is unwatchable. Although I do think it's a shame that poor language takes precedence sometimes...especially in a story that can be better expressed in other ways.[/color]

[color=#335062]Oh, all you serious naysayers! I like the name "Animerica". *writes it down for future reference* And I like the idea that we can establish a sovereign state where the cultural custom is to wear anime-esque clothing...and where schools teach nothing but how to build a good deck and catch Pokemon. ^_^; Category Moderators would be our state Governors, Moderators would be our Mayors...banned members would be deported (ahem ^_^) and we would have the world's largest variety of 24 hour anime channels. Ah yes. OB as a nation. I can see it now. :drool: [/color]

[color=#335062]I understand the desire to allow swearing in the context of creative writing. However, the fact that we're a child-friendly site underlines everything we do -- from creative writing to general discussions. And so, given the commitment we've provided to parents, it [i]would[/i] be in appropriate to allow swearing in any context. I am sure that creative writers can work their way around this. But yeah, I do understand that particular point of view. And I do sympathize with it. I'm just explaining why there are no exceptions at this point.[/color]

[color=red][size=4]"Gah!! Must...remove...chocolate!!"[/size][/color] [color=blue]...[i]SPLASH![/i]...[/color] [color=red][size=1]"Ahh. Mama-mia, that's better. Phew..."[/color][/size] Mario sat down in the water, which reached his neck. It was all warm and cosy, as though someone had only just run the bath. Mario didn't care though; the embarssment caused outside the castle was too much for him to bare. For a moment, Mario entertained the thought that people might link his chubbiness to overeating. But he quickly forgot that thought, as memories of Peach's tasty chocolate cake swirled through his mind. He was sitting in a rather elaborate bathtub. It was white and pink, with bulbous, exaggerated legs and a large pink curtain running around one side. The tiles were like a white and pink chessboard and the quirky golden window frames made Mario feel at home. Ah yes, this was definitely Peach's bathroom. It occurred to Mario that he'd never seen it before, which struck him as being a little odd. Nevertheless, the water was just fine. Mario carefully washed his moustache in the water. His hat and overalls were hanging on a nearby clothes hook; everything was in order...well, not [i]everything[/i]. [size=6][b]>>SLAM!

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Comfort Eagle [/i] [B]Sorry, but your Forum does not meet my qualifications. For how long its been around it is poor and unevolved. No offense. I just think this could use some work. The mods are WAY too serious too. Plus, the Pokemon thing kinda kiled it for me. It's not my bag baby. Peace out daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwgggggggggzzzzzzzzzz [/B][/QUOTE] [color=#335062]You also have to bear in mind that during v2 in 2001, we lost all of our members (when we moved from v2 to v3). In essence, we had 3,500 members at that time and we had to start again from scratch. I'd say that if our database had been retained, we'd have [i]at least[/i] 7,000 members as of now. So, it's not that important (hey, I'm happy with 4,500 plus ;)), but it's something to remember. Secondly, I don't consider the mods to be way too serious [i]at all[/i]. They're serious when they do their job, yes. If they weren't, they'd probably not be suitable for the job anyway. But at the same time, the mods are people who jump in and have a good time as much as anyone else. Just look at how many RPGs get started by mods...mods' contributions to art and poetry here...etc etc etc... It's a shame that you didn't stick around long enough to find out what makes OtakuBoards so magical. ~_^[/color]

[color=#335062]Well, OtakuBoards has always prided itself on being a place that is friendly for all ages. We've given a public commitment to parents that we will ensure that inappropriate language is censored here. And basically, I'm very reluctant to give any ground there. I think it would be unfair to uncensor text in one place and leave it censored in another. However, I have to acknowledge that our membership is gradually getting older. Right now, I am confident in saying that around 70%-80% of our members are 15-20 years old. When I collate members in the Admin CP, this information is displayed for me. And so, a time may come where we decide to drop our censoring software -- or at least, where we withdraw it a little bit. However, if we do that, we may also decide to restrict the age of those who can sign up (ie: we'd restrict under-13s from registering). Basically, we can't have it both ways. Right now, I'm satisfied with what we've got, because OtakuBoards is a place where both young and old people can come together. And I'm happy with that. But, definitely...things could change. The censorship software issue is definitely not something that I've closed the book on, so to speak.[/color]

[color=#335062]Semjaza illustrated things pretty well. The only thing I would add is that I do not plan to produce any more skins until Version 7 rolls around. I've been told by one of our technical staff (who also provides tech support to theOtaku.com) that some of our current skins might be incompatible in certain areas. So, I don't want to design v6-based skins, only to find that I have to modify them for v7. But with that said, I will also tell you something else. When the time for v7 gets closer, I'll be developing an all-new default v7 skin (which should be something very different) and I'll be completing The Wind Waker skin (and I know some of you are still wanting that one). So hopefully, v7 will launch with two extra skins. But yes, one of the biggest issues is making sure that everything can be put together properly. Right now, none of my technical staff are here full-time; far from it. And that's okay; they have their own commitments, like school and work. But as always, if you know anyone who is a vB-whiz...send them my way. I can get work done a hundred fold quicker with a good technical support staffer.[/color]