I’m sure that many of you are wondering what is going on. This is natural. In precise language, the Athanon boards have been closed indefinitely for a period of reevaluation. This means, simply put, that I’ve locked the place down until I figure out what I want to do with it.
Will they be reopened? Possibly. I really can’t say at this moment. I figure that I’ll open that can of worms when I get to it. And I mean can of worms.
You’re wondering why the boards are closed. Precise language: A number of events both public and private culminated in my stating that a single infraction along a set guideline would result in the closure of the boards. That infraction took place. The boards were closed.
Not so precise language: About three or four months ago, I stepped down as a Keeper. I had reached the point where I either stepped away from the boards entirely or I closed them down. Far too many games were going on for my liking. I offered to give them to someone who had put money and sweat into them and the person declined. I established that I could no longer run the place without losing my cool and I reiterated that Danny was in charge, promoted Dark Typhoid Dave to the position of Keeper, and I left.
I spent as much time as I could with my girlfriend or playing Everquest. I kept tabs on the boards. I helped out with the Herald. I’d post from time to time. I avoided the place as much as I could.
More reindeer games ensued. Most of which I disliked, some of which got me so angry that I started yelling at some of the people involved either by e-mail or on the phone. As a matter of fact, most of my anger and resentment stems from the actions of friends who manipulated things to be as much in their own best interests as possible. Part of it is directed at me for my inability to tell people that I care about when they are fucking up or calling them on a really bad decision. Petty squabbling went on behind the scenes. Danny kept in control as much as he could, however, life got in the way.
Hatter stepped down as Police Commissioner and Keeper. Ouschlander stepped up to the plate. Due to personal problems, Danny was not able to act as mayor. Theoretically speaking, this put me back in the hot seat I pretty much left things up to ouschlander—him being my roommate and best friend, I knew that I could trust him.
The Comic-Con in San Diego arrived and the Mad Hatter had to change real life plans when statements made by RONIN made him worry about the safety of both himself and his girlfriend. This was brought to both mine and ouschlander’s attention. Ouschlander made the decision, which I backed, to ban RONIN from Athanon. In my mind, RONIN was and for me still is an unknown. He could be the biggest teddy bear on the block. He could be a raving lunatic. Let’s look at some facts:
1. Hatter’s picture has been published in the yearbook. As such, he’s easily recognizable. RONIN, on the other hand, had not been seen by anyone other than Cassie at that time. As it stands, only a couple of people saw him in San Diego. 2. RONIN has a tendency to let his temper get the best of him. Hatter has a tendency to push people’s buttons. Even if RONIN hadn’t gone with the intention of fighting with Hatter, the possibility still remained that violence could occur.
Regardless, arguing is one thing. Making comments that put a person in a position to have to change his plans in regards to the safety of himself and his loved ones, is another thing entirely. RONIN justified the banning when he stole jack trades’ ID, changing the password after jack trusted him it.
I do owe RONIN one token of thanks for the whole thing—it got me out of going to the San Diego Zoo.
In the meantime, Franta was on vacation. One of his stops was Las Vegas, however, due to my plans with San Diego, I wasn’t in town the day that Franta was. Still, someone thought it would be funny to start the “Franta’s been banned!” rumor with RONIN’s ban being mentioned in the Town Crier. This got the Nature Boyz stirred up, so that when the real ban came, it was like L.A. after a trial.
Behind the scenes even MORE stupid human tricks were taking place. Part of this was based on the situation that led to the closing of the boards—The Angle in the Vault Affair.
Oakley told these guys to stop. Moorg told these guys to stop. Ouschlander told these guys to stop. Mkisofs e-mailed one of these guys to stop. Razorwitt e-mailed another of these guys to stop. That seems pretty clear to me. “Don’t post anything about Kurt Angle in the Vault or you will be banned.” It’s pretty simple. Pretty damned simple, really.
Franta posted about Kurt Angle in the Vault. As a result, he was banned. It is our habit to try to keep the details of a banning between us and the person banned. Everyone else feels that it is important that they know why the person was banned, perhaps so that they could run it through their personal radar and determine whether or not it was fair. Personally, I don’t think that it’s anyone’s business but the person involved unless that person wants to involve others.
So a number of people decided to show their support of Franta. Some did so in the Commissioner’s Office. Others did so in the Vault by posting threads about Kurt Angle. They got banned. Year of the Bastard came forth with a well written, well thought out request to know why. Ouschlander asked me to get involved, so I did. I stated in my response that I had grown tired with all of the games—and I mean ALL of the games. I stated that if one more incident occurred, I would shut the boards down.
I’d like to congratulate Loch Hexen for her winning entry of the new thread “Who is Kurt Angle?” located in the Vault of Tomorrow. Big round of applause for showing your support for the banned by posting under an alt-ID—you’ve really made the boys back at the home office proud.
Look, people, this isn’t Faber College, none of the Keepers are Dean Wormer, and you guys aren’t Otter and the rest of Delta House. This isn’t a fascist police state. We are not humorless automatons. We are, for the most part, a number of people with various degrees of maturity with the purpose of ensuring that the boards ran properly and that most people were having a good time. Just posters like you, simply in a position of ‘power’ on an Internet message board.
I haven’t necessarily agreed with a number of decisions that were made by the administration of Athanon, however, when that’s happened, due to my own rules of outward solidarity, I’ve sucked it up and watched people get treated like shit, usually with my name being waved around. I’ve had numerous arguments with people that have left me feeling physically ill (you know things are really bothering you emotionally when you’re internalizing them and they make you physically sick). We are capable—quite capable—of making bad decisions. I’ve been making bad decisions about this place since October of ’99. I’ve watched the others do the same.
“It’s for the good of the boards.” If I never hear those words again, it will be too soon.
I’m like a powder keg right now. Anger and frustration are so built up over this and other things going on in my life that the wrong thing could make me explode in someone’s face. I didn’t shut the boards down because of the fact that several people were being loud and obnoxious and acting at a level of maturity just under that of my thirteen year old nephews. I shut them down because I no longer desire to put up with the stress.
I was asked to explain the ‘reevaluation period.’ Simply put, I’m trying to determine whether or not the value of re-opening the boards exceeds the expense. The value is from the people like Bibbo, Razorwitt and jack trades and hundreds of others who post there and have fun, but don’t break the one rule I have. The expense is the emotional drain that comes from, to put it simply, trying to regulate adults consistently acting like children. That emotional drain is a high price because it’s one that affects you physically and mentally as well.
So I’m thinking about it. It’s going to take a while, so you may want to hit some of the other places out there. I’ve got a life to get in order.
And for those of you who were taken completely unaware by this turn of events, I want to say that I truly apologize. Unfortunately, this has consistently been the way of things at Athanon. Any major shakeups have been from a clash between the Keepers and an individual or a relatively small group. I hope that should we open our doors again in the future that you will join us again, or should we never reopen that you are not discomfited too much.
Keep an eye on this space for further information.
