Society of Sinister Minds

Here you can talk about anything (that isn't related to the other forums).

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Zandrav Ibistenn
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Society of Sinister Minds

Post by Zandrav Ibistenn »

"Welcome.

Welcome to the Society of Sinister Minds (SOSM) - please take a seat; I'll begin my speech momentarily.

Tonight's agenda is as follows:

1) Introduction to SOSM.
2) Membership of SOSM.
3) Subverting and debunking the hellish/heavenly bar.
4) Consolidating the Symposium.
5) Our enemies.
6) World domination.
7) Galactic domination.
8] Chroelle.
9) Closing remarks.


1) The Society of Sinister Minds is a meeting place for like-minded people not fully satisfied with the current state of CWF and the world in general.
What we dislike about CWF is the fact that it's centred around the damaging and harmful tedium of the bar-concept, which I'll get back to later. And the unreasonable slow pace in The Symposium and the deafening silence of The Council Chambers. Our goal is to turn the statistics around: The two subforums mentioned must have more topics and posts in them than the marketplace.
As for the much greater task of coping with the obvious inadequacies of the world, we favour the solution of changing it to service our needs, rather than adapting ourselves to that which we dislike.

2) SOSM needs your participation and efforts to achieve its goals. We hope to recruit many ambitious minds with our lofty goals, which will be further elaborated later.
Before moving on to the conditions and rules of membership of SOSM I will first explain the hierarchical structure of the organisation.

Members of the organisation is divided in two, because not everyone can be expected to contribute to SOSM commensurably and in accordance with its ideals. Thus there are two types of membership. Basic membership for those who symphasize with SOSM's goals, but lack true commitment and devotion. Membership of the Inner Circle is restricted to those not encumbered by such doubts.
Members must identify themselves with the twisted evil smiley ( :twisted: ). Basic members with one such smiley, Inner Circle members with two. Inner Circle members are designated with numbers signalling their respective order of initiation to the Inner Circle. Thus I can be referred to as #1, and the next member of the Inner Circle as #2.

To qualify for basic membership you must:
- Agree with the introduction.
- Prefer other subforums to the Marketplace.
- Write long.
- Be a geek (see the geek test).
- Consider the bar to be a chatroom.
- Support nuclear power.
- Support genetic engineering.
- Put the study of science above the worship of God.
- Find the display of zodiacs on CWF distasteful.
- Like the twisted evil smiley.
- Distance yourself from mainstream.
- Know that the answer is 42.

To qualify for the Inner Circle you must besides the terms of basic membership:
- Favour the Symposium over all other forums on the Internet.
- Be willing to create topics in the Symposium.
- Scorn the bar.
- Have a total number of posts outside the bar that is more than your number of posts in the bar SQUARED.
- Have attempted to destroy the bar.
- Believe in (The Necessity Of) The Cause (see brain of tomorrow thread).
- Have megalomania.
- Rejoice at the death of Jedis in Star Wars.
- Hate the green balloon smiley.
- Oppose the display of zodiacs everywhere.
- Recognize superstition as an endemic disease in humans.
- Know that the answer is 42 Hz.

3) The hellish/heavenly bar is a menacing monstrosity polluting the marketplace. Essentially a gigantic spam magnet attracting a type of 'communication' analogous to white noise - in the sense that it communicates nothing and is irritating.
If it was just this, there wouldn't be a problem, but the thing is that the bar corrupts its visitors, turning them into chat-bots mindlessly posting uninteresting banalities, thus reducing the activity of CWF to spam production. It is clear that the bar represents not only a threat to the evolution of CWF, but also constitutes a serious mental health risk. Will new members join a closed bar-community where people constantly consume fictitious alcoholic beverages? NO! Will they risk being turned into chat-bots? NO!
The bar is an obstacle in the way of progress, and it is time for responsible people to demolish it. It is a symptom of death, signalling the gradual decline of a forum. OldGames rapid descent towards lameness was caused by its bar! We cannot repeat the mistakes of the past by continuing to feed this plague.

4) The positive opposite of the bar is The Symposium. We advocate strengthening it by frequently viewing it AND posting in it. And contrary to the bar, you might actually learn something from it.

5) Unfortunately there are people whose existence is incompatible with the future. We know what must be done with them, but who exactly are they?
They are many and diverse, but some specific examples are astrologers. We hate astrologers, because they poison the minds of fools. And New Age people, who lead other people down a false path. And ecological extremists, who threaten the progress of civilization and science. And religious fanatics, who threatens everything. And all who oppose SOSM.

Apropos people opposing SOSM. Such will not be tolerated here at our headquarters, and I assure you that the guards next to me will make short work any protestors before expediting their departure from existance via the underground crematorium.
Ahem. But SOSM is a flexible organisation, which evolves on the positive feedback from members - AND non-members. However, to distinguish between debaters participating in the following discussion, members must mark their post with the twisted evil smiley, while non-members will not use any smileys, especially not the green balloon one, lest they'll share
the fate of the opposition.
Generally our enemies should be dealt with efficiently, but our most exquisite toxins are reserved for those members who betray us or for infiltrators hiding behind the twisted evil smiley under false pretenses. They deserve a slow, lingering death while painfully aware of what is happening to them... Ha ha ahahaHAHAHAHA!!!

Ahem. Sorry, happens sometimes.

6) Next are our plans for world domination. Here we must move to a bigger timetable as we're nowhere close to begin undertaking such an endeavour. We foresee that the average demographic distribution of opposition to SOSM will make it difficult to maintain a public face, thus we prefer to operate in the shadow of a peaceful organisation - like UNICEF.
Taking on the world can happen in two ways. Either taking over a unified world locked in a tight surveillance system by being the masters of the same systems the people believe protect them from exterior threat such as terrorism. Or, less preferable, rebuilding civilization on the ashes of the world of today after a great war of hitherto unseen destructive potential. Nuclear weapons in the middle east show promising opportunities I would think, but instigating feuds between the major powers is a necessity.

7) Once the world is united under our domination we can turn to space at last. It will take great effort to expand there, but I have no doubts we will succeed. Implications of the Fermi paradox indicates that if it is not impossible, then it is very likely, that we'll be exceedingly lonely out there, but then again there won't be anything other than distance to block our expansion. Becomming like the Borg from Star Trek is our ultimate goal.

8] Some of you will want to know what role SOSM has envisioned for Chroelle. For now, nothing - we'll let him continue believing that he runs everything around here, while we're evaluating his potential as a puppet to be put in some place of power, allowing us to control it too. - President Chroelle of the United States of America has a nice ring to it, don't you agree?

9) The reason for all this? Well, since I'll be away from here for a while, I need to be sure that evil will not abandon CWF in my absence, so that I have something interesting to return to.

Application for basic membership is simple. You put ONE twisted evil smiley in your signature next to the name of our organisation - like this: :twisted: SOSM. I don't think control is needed, as I have made you vaguely aware of the implications of opposing SOSM.
Application for the Inner Circle must be made in this thread so that we can keep track of the recruiment order - the next one can put :twisted: :twisted: SOSM #2 in his/her signature.

Thank you for attending. I now declare the debate of the first convention of SOSM open."
Man's fault lies in his propensity towards willingly doing what feels good and his procrastinating reluctance to doing what is immediately uncomfortable but good.

Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.
- Immanuel Kant

Custodian of the Symposium.

[b]Error Tracking[/b]: Let's begin at the amygdala...
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Pater Alf
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Re: Society of Sinister Minds

Post by Pater Alf »

Zandrav Ibistenn wrote:
To qualify for basic membership you must:

- Support nuclear power.
- Support genetic engineering.
So I can never be your member and I´m quiet happy about this. I prefer to be your enemy...
Zandrav Ibistenn wrote: 5) Unfortunately there are people whose existence is incompatible with the future. We know what must be done with them, but who exactly are they?
I think you want to be funny, but you are not. Heard a lot of those shit during the last few years and most of it came from people who agreed with the ideas of racism and fashism.
Sorry, if my oppinion is offensive to you, but I made some bad experience in the past.

I´m out... (if you want to meet me, I´m inside the german bar ;))
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Post by SGSW »

Don't worry Pater Alf, Wogglus/ZI is just kidding .... and if he's not, then let us just say that I can crush him like a bug, not saying that I will, just that I really can
http://www.vinylplastik.com/ - Wall Graphic Interiors - decoration - ships worldwide, AFAIK and it's run by someone I know.

htpp://www.lulu.com/ - Self-Publishing site

If you want a place to stay in Lisbon, staying for more than 3 days (excluding the yoth hostel) and are afraid to leave the girls with me try this http://lisbonsteps.blogspot.com/
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Zandrav Ibistenn
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Post by Zandrav Ibistenn »

"Ha! SGSW thinks we're merely a JOKE!?! That our grand schemes are nothing more than a humerous input - or a gross exaggeration to underline a point.

Dear evil-wannabes, NOTHING could be further from the truth. We are pleased to have sparked Peter Alf's anger :twisted: ; he is closer to us than he is prepared to admit to himself. Come, let go of everything else and let loose the wrath from within, then you'll know the power of the dark side. :twisted: ."
Man's fault lies in his propensity towards willingly doing what feels good and his procrastinating reluctance to doing what is immediately uncomfortable but good.

Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.
- Immanuel Kant

Custodian of the Symposium.

[b]Error Tracking[/b]: Let's begin at the amygdala...
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mistergreen77
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Post by mistergreen77 »

SGSW must also be an enemy since he is the owner of the bar in question. In the short term his opposition will be useful to us as the conflict will stimulate people to think for themselves which must inevitably lead them to one conclusion: the society holds the only hope for this forum and our world. At this point, he will have served his purpose. It will be a difficult task because he rules it with the power of his mind and in his little virtual world his power seems limitless.

I don't qualify for inner circle because my number of posts outside the bar are not at least the square of my posts in the bar (what else was there to do?) yet. This society is not racist, it is revolutionary!

I think the society head is not going to send you to the second level of some imaginary place here. But have you seen the tactics used by SGSW to maintain order in his bar? But we wouldn't dream of suggesting he was fascist so please, in our virtual world your protests are unwarranted. (Just look at Zandrav's signature)

Baldie, the moderator of our beloved symposium is calling our organisation evil and calling for uprising. Excellent!
And now people of the Bar unite against this EVIL [url= http://curlysworldoffreeware.com/viewtopic.php?t=414[/url].
Zandrav, I salute your skill as a strategist.

Resistance is futile.
[size=84][color=green]“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler.”[/color] - Einstein

[color=green]“There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness.”[/color] - Nietzsche[/size]

:twisted: [url=http://forum.connect-webdesign.dk/viewtopic.php?p=5411#5411]Society of Sinister Minds.[/url]
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Post by Zandrav Ibistenn »

"Excellent. I knew I could count on you, mistergreen. :twisted:
But I'm afraid we'll have to maintain the square rule for advanced membership. We simply cannot afford to risk letting a member corrupted by the bar into the Inner Circle.

The destruction of SGSW and his bar, by whatever means necessary, is of paramount importance for the society, because only that way can the great masses of the people be cured from the mind-numbing effects of the bar. And only then we shall have peaccccce...
SGSW also holds some grudge against atomic fission - just look here: Nuclear Power is our Ally

Some minor nuisance also displayed a similar animosity, but not only against nuclear power, but against the wonderful technology that is genetic engineering. However, this particular matter have yet to discussed in details in The Symposium... So let the goodly champions of the bar come there to contest our evil on this matter. However, I would not be surprised if they reveal themselves as COWARDS too AFRAID to actually come. Pathetic.

Resistance is indeed futile." :twisted:
Man's fault lies in his propensity towards willingly doing what feels good and his procrastinating reluctance to doing what is immediately uncomfortable but good.

Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.
- Immanuel Kant

Custodian of the Symposium.

[b]Error Tracking[/b]: Let's begin at the amygdala...
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Post by Dizi »

**Dizi looks around**

Ohh dear I must be the person most hated in this room, Barmaid at the bar, but not just that...the mod of the marketplace, I'm almost scared to come in here. Could this be classed as a hate group, I don't think they are allowed by the rules :p

I have to agree with some of your points though, but I believe in freedom of choice (not speech but choice)

Personally for me, I am not politically charged so posting in council is not really for me, As for the symposium, I do on occassion post in there although I am not weel informed enough to be able to post in there often enough.

I do feel however that a bar is a good place as long as it is not treat like a chatroom and the posts are not of the 'here is your drink' or 'I will have a coke' I like there to be more to a post then just that. And i will admit that I have been slacking on my duties of stopping this So I will do something about that now. I have seen what such short spam posts have done to a bar and how annoying those types of posts are. But the idea that the bar is there to have a genral offtopic chat to a mass group of people, so that they can see how you are getting on and solve problems by chatting about them, I see no problem with that. I am however not allowing more then one of these bars in the marketplace as that is simply pointless, so no one please think about that.

I can see how it can also be annoying to others that such places where quality posts are get hardly any people here postingin there. I wish there was a way to change that and have in more equal, but I highly doubt that it will happen.

I hope I have stated my case wll may this little group be happy and be able to get members that are dedicated to your cause, without taking away others freedom of choice to post where they like.
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Post by mistergreen77 »

No we are not a hate group - we only hate the green balloon smiley :twisted: We love our enemies. You should count it a privilege and an honour to be counted as our enemy. If your bar was merely harmless, then you would only have our contempt. But because it represents a force of unreason we must oppose it.

Please don't feel like you need to be well informed to post in the symposium. If you can ask an intelligent question that is all the qualification you need to participate. And perhaps not being politically charged makes you more qualified for the senate as well.

The destruction of the bar cannot be helped. Whilst I respect your view, we are saddened that otherwise worthy people are seduced in to believing people are solving problems there or that the rest of us care whether you have an imaginary thirst for imaginary beverages. I easily fell into this trap and will not be returning to the bar (until my post count outside of it equals the square of my count inside). There everyone is focused on how many posts you make - here we care only about how good your posts are.
[size=84][color=green]“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler.”[/color] - Einstein

[color=green]“There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness.”[/color] - Nietzsche[/size]

:twisted: [url=http://forum.connect-webdesign.dk/viewtopic.php?p=5411#5411]Society of Sinister Minds.[/url]
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Post by Dizi »

now green ballon hating that is pushing it.

your right thought I will admit this, people do need to see that there is a forum outside the bar, and I have always agreed with this, I think people should use the bar to chat about their days and see how everyone is getting on but need to post more outside the bar. Though I will admit that my post count here is mostly made up of bar room chats.

As for me not being of a political mind or keeping upto date on the goings on around that area I think that is one of the reasons I was asked to be mod of the senate over at OG, as I don't favour one argument over another. That and I can deal with argumentative situations quite well (this past week maybe lost for the record on that last quote), I can deal with people without losing my temper for the most part but like everyone I do have my limits. Sorry straying off topic a little.

Back to my point, I will make an effort to post more in other areas besides the marketplace...but I am not giving up going to the bar, its where I met most the people on this board and got to know them, thats why I think it is a good place, cos I got to make some really good on-line friends.
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Zandrav Ibistenn
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Post by Zandrav Ibistenn »

At last I have returned.

*Zandrav points menacingly at Dizi

"Our philosophy is not like pop music - it's not designed to please and entertain, but to provoke and stimulate a culture of questioning that which is for no apparent reason commonly accepted. By its nature it's anti-authoritarian and thus anti-fascist.
The green balloon symbolizes our ideological opposition: sloppy superficiality, lack of creativity and mind-numbing conformity.
Thus describing SOSM's relationship to our opposite as hateful is perfectly natural, but it's not the people we hate (so you can't hope to illegalize us), it's just their insipid habits. We envision a grandiose future where people strive upwards instead of merely remaining content.
Eliminating the green balloon (among other things) is not just a choice of preference, but a necessity (considering what is better for all). This must of course be dramatically underscored, for example by a strong emotion.
:twisted:
Dizi wrote:I believe in freedom of choice (not speech but choice)
How interesting... But you shall have to defend such opinions lest you passively affiliate yourself with what we disdain. Therefore I suggest you click your way to the council chambers and start a thread about that balance (or imbalance if you prefer). And as mistergreen stated, you need only ask the question (and perhaps provide an example of a potential problem that it entails). Then you'll have done a not insignificant service to this forum and have moved yourself closer to initiation into our ranks. :twisted:


***

Hmm, I wonder what's troubling fadedmind... So completely immersed in the tech forum."
Man's fault lies in his propensity towards willingly doing what feels good and his procrastinating reluctance to doing what is immediately uncomfortable but good.

Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.
- Immanuel Kant

Custodian of the Symposium.

[b]Error Tracking[/b]: Let's begin at the amygdala...
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Post by Parvini »

Image

Dearest SOSM,

The League would like to offer our hands in peace and suggest a permenant alliance against the forces of corruption and users of Green Balloon smilies the world over.

If you are interested in our offer, you are invited to our central headquarters in the far off land of Faerun. Please find directions below:

http://forum.blackdiam.net/viewtopic.ph ... 0398b98a8a

Regards,

Parvini
Chairman of "The League"
"The mind is its own place, and in itself/ Can make a Heav'n of Hell, a Hell of Heav'n" - John Milton (Paradise Lost, Book I, lines 254-55)
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Post by mistergreen77 »

Zandrav, I am so glad that you have returned. If no-one else participates at the council chambers or symposium at least there is someone here with whom one can have rational discussion. But enough chit-chat or else our headquarters will become like another bar.

Yes, the balance of freedom of choice vs the freedom of speech is a worthy topic for the council chambers. I even seem to recall a line by Kierkergaard in his 'diapsalmata' about people demanding their freedom of speech before they have learnt to exercise their freedom of thought. People, you have the right to speak freely - count yourselves lucky because if you fail to exercise your freedom to think such rights may become privileges. The bar is a place to express your freedom to speak, the symposium a place to express your freedom to think. If you do not value the freedom to think above the freedom to speak then you belong in the bar; please don't pollute our forums with spam. But if you have a thought of your own, come and join us at the symposium and share it!
[size=84][color=green]“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler.”[/color] - Einstein

[color=green]“There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness.”[/color] - Nietzsche[/size]

:twisted: [url=http://forum.connect-webdesign.dk/viewtopic.php?p=5411#5411]Society of Sinister Minds.[/url]
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Post by Zandrav Ibistenn »

@Parvini

"We shall accept your offer of an alliance with The League against the green balloon, however I must decline the invitation to your castle at BD. Primarily because BD to me appears to have an exceedingly low potential for development in accordance with our ideals: Its dismal 'library' is a virtual foetus papyraceus in comparison with MAU or The Symposium. It would not be prudent of me to divide my activities when such fora require consolidation.

That said I hope we can have a fruitful cooperation in the future."
Man's fault lies in his propensity towards willingly doing what feels good and his procrastinating reluctance to doing what is immediately uncomfortable but good.

Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.
- Immanuel Kant

Custodian of the Symposium.

[b]Error Tracking[/b]: Let's begin at the amygdala...
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Parvini
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Post by Parvini »

Firstly, let me commend you on your good judgement and taste.

The League has noted a continual decline in activity over in far-off Faerun and the long expected attack from Baldie and his forces never materialised. The League has since ceased many of its activities at BD and released our captive prisoners Pitkin and Dizi. We also seem to have lost our long term leader of The Deadly Blade Squad Sabrina and perhaps out Cheif of Security Freakums too.

As a result of this, I have been putting considerable effort into winning the recent swindle contest in an attempt to raise funds to build a new castle, here at CWF. The League will then hope to move it's central HQ here where I will personally orchastrate activities. However, we intend to maintain a base in Faerun where Comrade Mirkomick, will take over command of the castle. Further details can be found here.

We hope, Comrade Ibistenn, that this proposed move does not interfere with your plans but rather that it will enable our organizations to work closely and coherently. If it transpires they have left, I will soon advertise Sabrina's and Freakums' posts and once again start actively recruiting for the purposes of domination - once the new castle is built.

To freedom!
"The mind is its own place, and in itself/ Can make a Heav'n of Hell, a Hell of Heav'n" - John Milton (Paradise Lost, Book I, lines 254-55)
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Zandrav Ibistenn
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Post by Zandrav Ibistenn »

I look forward to such plans being finalized.

Perhaps The League should also reevaluate its agenda; on CWF there's no gradual corruption of central political figures going on, because there are no one to corrupt. CWF is characterized by a lack of direction and coordination and that is its primary problem, which I think we must focus on.
For example it takes forever for even the smallest thing to happen here. It took a long time for the Oracle to change name to the Symposium, the issue about what CWF should stand for remains unsolved and some of us are still waiting for the new batch of smilies. Consequently CWF still exists as an enclave only nostalgic OG regulars will have any interest in at all. The signs of death are evident: fewer and fewer join and those who remain become less active.
- Without a clearly defined purpose CWF will have little appeal for newcomers, and no one will come anyway because without a purpose CWF is exceedingly hard to locate. The forum must also be immediately attractive if anyone is to join and it won't be without a steady stream of new posts. Existing members may feel they contribute something valuable, but the petrified state of some of the subforums tell another story - and that's the story newcomers will hear and judge CWF by. Who will want to join a slacking "bar-culture" worshipping the idol of apathy and superficiality = the green balloon?
Man's fault lies in his propensity towards willingly doing what feels good and his procrastinating reluctance to doing what is immediately uncomfortable but good.

Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.
- Immanuel Kant

Custodian of the Symposium.

[b]Error Tracking[/b]: Let's begin at the amygdala...
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Post by Maz »

Yes Z. I feel that's sad but true. BUT I believe it's still not too late to... And as has been stated, some changes have been prepared behind the curtains. I just hope we'll be able to finish them on time :) And in fact, quite a lot work has been done too. Bunch of new games has been validated, and some of them even added. Site has been worked on, currently we have an engine to display game info and search for games done. We still need decent design for the output. We also need to add the mainsite asap, as well as review/upload etc systems. I'm working on them, but I do only have 2 hands and limited time :| (Besides I noticed I've forgotten a lot about coding websites...)

I try to think up something, but I do not promise too much because I know I do not have that much of time. Anyways, I feel this site is not doomed, and I believe we'll see the banner of CWF flowing up there as a special flag (we have some excellent ideas) and also having a clear meaning!

So avoid despair my freinds, we're able to do it together. :) (This of course requires we do co-operate).
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Post by Dizi »

*a letter lands at the door of Society of Sinister Minds

Zandrav Ibistenn,

If this is a freeware site and there are no games to download or discuss then no one is going to join othere then those wanting to forge the path that CWF will take. So if there is no real way to find the site, and those that do are looking for a game and see the site in the sate that it is in what would make them want to stay. I would say maybe 96% of the OG members joined because they were searching for a game that they used to play and then found they had to sign up to DL it...some of whom became regulars. Now we don't have that lure yet. Now you may sit there on you high moral horse and judge those in "bar culture" mode but I see this place as no different, in fact I see this place as worse then "bar culture" for the simple fact that you find bar culture pointless yet you sit in here or go here saying how you want it to be different and how people should start a post in here.

Its all talk and not very much action as far as I am concered. You want people to talk about something, create the thread yourself get them talking, you want the place to be more inresting then make it more intresting, you want the site to move more along quicker? Well rather than complaining that a name that doesn't matter that much didn't get change for a few days after it was decided upon, because the admins don't live here 24/7 and have lifes outside this place wasn't here to change it. Either that or forgot some silly little detail for a few days because they were getting the games onto the site or setting up the coding team to do the behind the scenes work two thing which are more important than such details as a name change. Its hard work starting such a site from scratch if you want it to more along quicker then help out, hunt for games, if you can code then help FM if you have an intrest in creating banners, buttons or anyother little graphics help out the design side of things. Sitting and complaining that the site isn't where you think it should be isn't helping anyone. Sitting and complaining that the types of threads you want to be on the site isn't as quick as posting the thread yourself. Take the matter into your own hands, do something about it rather then this waste of time...

This League that you are joining forces with from BD, let me point you in the direction of 242 posts that were cut out of the castle of doom, Here Looking at this they may be against green ballons, but are more a custom to "bar culture" then you would like...So hasn't joining forces with them simply shown that you are willing to join forces with people who are willing to let "bar culture" win over the morals of good posting. Now may I direct you to the make a change bar over at BD Dizi's get away bar, I don't expect you to read through it all but for the most part the bar was a place for people to vent there annoyance of how BD was turning out after the members of the League made the place into a turn threads off topic spam phase. But in all of that people were talking about things that they wouldn't of been had this bar not existed, Maz (guest) for one brought up some intresting topics. Cutting out the drinking and the food orderes out of the bar helped create an atmosphere for people to vent, for people to catch up with others and chat about anything they felt like as there was no topic to follow.

So in short is it fair to isolate people who want to see how there online friends are doing, Most of those people may not be making a huge difference on the forum but are making a massive difference by being the game hunters, and helping out the site in ways that are needed for this time. Yes once the site is up and running the forum will take centre stage, but at the moment getting the site in a state that will lure people into wanting to come here, into wanting to sign up that is the most important part. Have you ever created a website/forum along there lines before? I'm just wondering, because if you have then you should know how much work needs to go into it. With everyone having RL commitments that can slow things down, after all those that are truely making a difference are not getting paid for there work...but still are making a huge contribution to the site. So what if all these members are from OG, that will soon change once the site is fully functional. Yes you may see it as a stand stil but there is a development subforum that only the designers and the coders can see that is getting new things in it almost everyday...and will be more once I get myself sorted out.

So I pose you this question and this question I wish answered. What is it that you want me to do this week...as I feel that I should do something this week as what I have been doing isn't all that productive and I might as well do something for the site, I'll let you decide for me.

Should I spend the time I am willing to use for this site by...

Writing the CSS, and coming up with the layout for main page and download area?

or

Hunt for smilies and create a poll so that members can decide which ones would be best for the site?

now which one to you sounds like it will atract members to the site, a nice clean looking main page and area for the games to be displayed a little nicer then they are now...or the smilies look that little better. Now which ever you decide I promise I will do and by sunday there will either be a layout that I can give to FM or a poll of smilies to be used.

You may think what I have just wrote is a little silly but here is the person who has probably wrote the most in the bar telling you that she is willing to do what ever you feel is better for this site...

But I do ask one thing in return, if you want someting to be posted in one of the subforums rather then saying it would be nice if someone would post a thread on... why don't you do it yourself? you don't have to follow this advise but coplaining that others are not doing something that you can easily do yourself really Pisses me off. I am going to be working hard on this site and forum, it may not show in the posts but once this forum looks different, once the games hunters have validated games, and once the layout and coding of the main part of this site is done, don't those that have do it desever your thanks...you may think that this site has no direction, you may think smilies are the most important part of this sites going ons...but what is it that you have done other than complain about those that are working hard behind the scenes, saying that they should be posting in other places and writing indepth things in places you enjoy. Why can't those that are working so hard on this site go to the bar and catch up with others who are working hard? Why do they have to be the ones who do all the work? Is this because you cannot be bothered? is it because you think this site is going no where? is it because you are worse then they are as while they are in the bar you simply complain that that is where they are?

I find this thread quite stupid, just like I found the League quite stupid, simply because those that work so hard on this place or BD or OG have the right to post where ever they want to. You and other members of the Society of Sinister Minds can sitter here in this very bar like environment and complain, or you can do what you preach and get out there and atract those you want to attract so badly. Post the threads you want rather then being here. But don't expect those that are working so hard to make something of this Freeware Games site to do even more work.

You may take this as a personal attack and that wasn't how it was intended, but I have seen what is going on, I know how hard so many people are working to get this site off the ground. Seeing you complaining that the smiles aren't being updated...that a silly name on a subforum wasn't changed for a few days...and demanding of people that are working hard not to post in places that you don't like has seriously Pissed me off, simply because you could spend less time complaining and more time making something off this site by posting threads of intrest to you...


Dizi

Ps. Sorry if there is a lot of errors in spelling in this letter but I have just gotten up and as it is quite long really can't be bothered to go through it all.
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Zandrav Ibistenn
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Post by Zandrav Ibistenn »

Dizi, first I feel I must applaud you for the dedication you display and for the fact that you, much like ourselves, are not too timid to wave your own moral banner high or higher than those you critizise. However, the austere way you present your case is less than positive, because it is so blind to masked harmlessness; in my above answer to Parvini you really must realize that the issues I brought up are so petty that they do not warrant such language. If you feel they represent a personal attack against anyone then I must remind you of the nature of this very thread and suggest you consider alternative interpretations.
I am genuinely concerned about the dwindling activity here though, but I am very thankful to everyone who contributes. Of course people's preferences vary and it would be silly to expect that people all contribute in the same manner. Naturally, people are drawn to that which interests them, and as it happens the Symposium is my preference. Implying that I'm merely complaining is unfair; without my participation the Symposium would have been a lot more empty. If you''re referring to my "start a thread"-thread when you say "do it yourself", I will just make two observations: First, I cannot debate with myself in the Symposium and thus naturally feel inclined to attract more visitors there (not that I've been in any way dissatisfied with anyone there - quite the contrary). And secondly the "start a thread challenge" have resulted in two new threads in the Symposium, which would otherwise NOT have been there, and that I would not have thought of.

I realize you've been offended by my other post - or you would not have written all that - and for that I apologize.
Man's fault lies in his propensity towards willingly doing what feels good and his procrastinating reluctance to doing what is immediately uncomfortable but good.

Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.
- Immanuel Kant

Custodian of the Symposium.

[b]Error Tracking[/b]: Let's begin at the amygdala...
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Maz
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Joined: Thu Mar 16, 2006 21:11
Location: In the deepest ShadowS

Post by Maz »

Oh, Zandy and Diz.. Please...

I love 'deep thinking' forums much like Zandy. And as you Diz pointed out (BD case), social spamming can go too far... Still this thread is rather good IMO, since it does provocate thoughts which must have been Zandy's original idea ;) Perhaps he went a bit too far when complaining about slowness of changes, but it really must look like nothing is happening, if you do not see the dev forum.. If you look at my posts, I've done quite a high persentage of my last posts in dev forum, so it propably seems I'm dead to those not seeing dev forum... So Zandy's opinion is understandable. But I agree with you in that that certain 'gathering place for friends' is needed. (aka marketplace). There is people who are not willing to post in Symp or Politics forum, but who like to hang on the marketplace sharing amusing facts.. This is valuable work too, since good 'non deep thinking' posts are excellent way to have fun. And after all, the goal for this site is to exist. And grow. So we should have something for different people. I personally do love Symposium posts (afterall, I was the one who found MAU in OG with the help of many others :p). And I wish to see it growing & getting petter & more opinions. You probably know it since I personally asked for you to join :D

So please, cease your weapons. Diz helps & contributes with graphics & design & sharing joy in marketplace, Zandy with thought provoking posts :) You can argue which is more important, but please argue with a blink of humour sparkling at your eyes. I sincerely believe that was the purpose of this thread..

...

/me goes back at the shadows, staring some dull rows of code...
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Parvini
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Location: UK

Post by Parvini »

Dizi wrote:This League that you are joining forces with from BD, let me point you in the direction of 242 posts that were cut out of the castle of doom, Here Looking at this they may be against green ballons, but are more a custom to "bar culture" then you would like...So hasn't joining forces with them simply shown that you are willing to join forces with people who are willing to let "bar culture" win over the morals of good posting. Now may I direct you to the make a change bar over at BD Dizi's get away bar, I don't expect you to read through it all but for the most part the bar was a place for people to vent there annoyance of how BD was turning out after the members of the League made the place into a turn threads off topic spam phase. But in all of that people were talking about things that they wouldn't of been had this bar not existed, Maz (guest) for one brought up some intresting topics. Cutting out the drinking and the food orderes out of the bar helped create an atmosphere for people to vent, for people to catch up with others and chat about anything they felt like as there was no topic to follow.
The League would like to distance itself from the actions of a couple of its renegade members who became somewhat enamoured with each other and proceeded to lower the tone of Parvini's castle. They were subsequently expelled from the main body of the castle after our "guest"/ prisoner, Dizi lobbied against them. Whilst Comrade Mirkomick is still employed by The League, the organization has since parted ways with Comrade Sabrina. The League's righteous leader "Ivan Rip" a.k.a. "a masked and moustached man", was vocal in his condemnation of this excessive social spamming.

The League notes several "thought-provoking" threads that have received rather few replies thus far on CWF. However, we are essentially a peaceful organization with begnign intentions and means, now that Baldie and his evil forces have been defeated The League serves simply to promote the ideals of democracy and freedom. Our alliance with The Society of Sinister Minds is purely politcal as was our "working relationship" with eMTe during the time of strife - we will not interfere in its affairs unless it is strictly necessary.

The honourable Dark Lord has yet to give The League the funds it needs to build its new castle and so this is a period of careful diplomacy before "the big move".
"The mind is its own place, and in itself/ Can make a Heav'n of Hell, a Hell of Heav'n" - John Milton (Paradise Lost, Book I, lines 254-55)