[Gossamer's Scrapbook] The Ethereal Canyon

by **Leo Varniak** on February 8th, 2012, 10:24 pm

I should mention that I'll be away on training Monday through Wednesday next week. Now, whether I'm actually going is anyone's guess because we've had three feet of snow here (seriously? 3 feet of snow HERE? What's the world coming to?) and the school is in one of the country's most heavily hit regions. But my company doesn't seem inclined to lose out on train tickets only on account of blocked roads and wolves coming down from the mountains to feed! With more snow being forecast for the weekend. Bleh.

Other than that, though, I'll try to respond within 24 hours.

by **Gossamer** on February 9th, 2012, 8:27 pm

Three feet of snow? Holy Cow. Doesn't that completely and utterly shut a place down? I know 25 inches did here. We went from bustle to a screeching halt for days. I can only imagine how much worse another foot would have been. Not to mention the roofs collapsing - crazy dangerous!

by **Gossamer** on February 9th, 2012, 8:29 pm

.

This Is Actually A Moderator Intervention!

(12:24:05) Gossamer: Okay people... seriously... I need a gamewide horsewoman's intervention.
(12:24:14) Daniel_Alecson: ???
(12:24:30) Aren_Anazasz: Wuz going on?
(12:24:31) Gossamer: If you are a king, you REIGN. If you are steering your horse with leather strips attached to a bit, they are called REINS.
(12:24:52) Gossamer: If I see any more yanking on reigns I might either laugh myself silly or stab myself in the eye.
(12:25:14) Daniel_Alecson: Lol
(12:25:16) Meera: lol
(12:25:23) ChatBot: Aello logs into the Chat.
(12:25:23) Aren_Anazasz: Oh, heh.
(12:25:35) Gossamer: Everyone clear?
(12:25:36) Shepherd: Lol nice
(12:25:44) Daniel_Alecson: Yes we are clear goss lol
(12:25:51) Aren_Anazasz: I don't even own a horse, so....
(12:26:00) Gossamer: Thank you. Much appreciated.
(12:26:01) Daniel_Alecson: Me neither

.

by **Oluse** on February 10th, 2012, 10:19 pm

lol illiteracy is fun!

(why else would so many of us do it?)

by **Phoenix** on February 12th, 2012, 3:45 am

I think I mix up than and then all the time.

by **Kaya** on February 12th, 2012, 1:23 pm

Such wise words Goss

by **Cachet** on February 14th, 2012, 11:55 am

I KNOW I mix them up. One of the many pitfalls of a spellcheck. It WILL NOT catch things that are correctly spelt but misused.

by **Gossamer** on February 23rd, 2012, 4:55 pm

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Chat Crackdowns

I hate to say it but chat got hit hard with a series of crackdowns that have been coming for a few weeks now. I cannot believe the depth of juvenile behavior that has been occurring in there... spam, nonsense talk, excessive emotes, and no serious discussion because those that want to have them have felt run off by the kids.

Well, no more.

I've been loitering in chat for the last couple of weeks getting more and more pissed about all the behavior I've seen in there. I've had several people tell me over the years we've been open that Mizahar's chat is like an oasis on the internet. You can come in, virtually sit down and have a cup of tea, and talk Mizahar or other current topical writing conversations with a few pleasant diversions and nothing else seems to be happen that's frankly stupid.

What do I mean by stupid? The proverbial dog piles, the emotes flying back and forth, the debates over which celebrity has fake hair, etc. That's not what we are for. If you want chat rooms that are filled with such silliness, then you can find them all over the net. After my series of bans yesterday and then Cayenne's round two, my chatting experience in the evening was incredibly pleasant. I watched players discuss merits of each race, play up some flaws, speculate on gaps in the game theory, all night long. Regions were discussed, some plans made about the Charoda, and kelvics discussed. It was Mizahar Mizahar Mizahar and everyone had a great time. Word got out quickly and those that had been avoiding chat all along came back in last night. And frankly it was our wonderful usual chat handed back to us.

This was a really good thing.

You see... when you play Mizahar, you click your agreement to our terms of service. That includes all our rules, including our chat rules. We don't HAVE to let you play. You don't pay a DIME to be here unless you decide to donate (which you should if you like us because we need the funds). Youth these days think they have a right to your content and you can't tell them no. Well, guess what? We can tell you no. We can do it often and frequently. We can boot you out faster than a thought. We don't do it often, but last night reminded me I don't have to put up with skanky net personas hanging out in chat being well skanky. I don't have to put up with kids that apologize every five minutes and then go do it again ten seconds later. None of us should. And I feel like in a lot of ways I owe the game a huge apology for letting it go on as long as I have.

I'm sorry I let it continue.

I'll be more vigilant next time. Last night proved to me that this chat thing is an easy fix. And if you are one of those people that got booted, believe me it was an EASY decision on my part and I am totally serious. After warning PMs someone logged back on (they always do to test the system and claim innocence) and got their week ban upped to a month ban. I'll be checking logs to see who else did this too. I can totally live without the problem players. We have new ones piling through the door daily and we don't need.... LISTEN TO ME.... we don't NEED to cater to douchbags and idiots who pollute our chat with bullshit.

So, that's my apology and your warning if you are one of these folks in chat. Chat's there to help you and provide a place to openly and quickly discuss Mizahar or to get help as a new person. And that's how its going to stay.

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by **Lazybones** on February 23rd, 2012, 6:14 pm

Serious applause.

Your efforts are appreciated. ^_^

by **Phoenix** on February 24th, 2012, 4:07 am

Honestly? I've felt run out of chat for.... Months. Every once and a while I try it again and am re-disappointed. I had no idea you had done this, so thanks for the scrap. I'll be popping my head into chat soon, I think.