[Gossamer's Scrapbook] The Ethereal Canyon I

[Tabarnac]

[Gossamer]

. Feeling Better I'm just about as tired of talking about my health as you are probably hearing about it. However, if you are in the states and because of my blog you went and got a tetanus, then its worth it to me that I kept harping on it. Without a doubt, pertussis is one of the worst things you can get just by walking around breathing other people's air there is. And now I'm hearing the epidemic is spreading to Oregon and California too. We have whole elementary and highschools here that have been closed because less than 10% of the student body has shown up for classes and no one knows when they will reopen. We have hospitals full of adults with it, and we've had numerous infant and child deaths over it. It seems crazy to me that in the United States we'd get such a bad illness going around that reaches epidemic proportions. You aren't sick like a cold for a week. No, it knocks you flat on your ass for SIX WEEKS (under treatment) and if you don't get treatment - antibiotics, steroids, cough suppressants like perels, and a whole host of other things to treat all the things that come up because of the side effects you'll be out of commission for about one hundred days. Three months folks and ten days... of hellish coughing, no energy, no ability to get off the couch, etc. I know people that have it that have BROKEN RIBS because they have been coughing so hard. Can you even imagine that? Go get your shots. And even if you've had tetanus in the last ten years go get it again because its only been in the last three years they've added the pertussis to it to make it the Tdap. And if you don't, your ten kinds of fool because the way the CDC describes this epidemic, there's really no place in the US that's going to be safe from it (even Canada as well) after it gets done sweeping the west coast because of the way people move around. It's already popping up in isolated pockets elsewhere in the country. And if it holds to historic patterns, it will be on a three to five year cycle and be back again. But... enough is enough. I'm feeling about a thousand times better. I only had two coughing incidents yesterday during the day and I went through the whole day without barfing up anything just due to coughing. This means I can remove the strategically placed containers throughout the house that aren't exactly decorative that ensured I wouldn't be throwing up on my carpets and hardwoods. Its a relief. A big one. But I probably won't blog about it again because its over and I'm tired of talking about it even though its been the number one thing dominating my life. I'd like to get back to Mizahar now. I think I can safely do that without staring blankly at the screen or lurking in chat for hours actually not being there but being passed out drooling probably in the sitting position with no clue where I am. .

[Gossamer]

. Chatbot & My PC I also think Chatbot and my PC are having a secret affair. So if you see me in chat, odds are I'm not there, its just my computer hanging out with Chatbot like a nosy neighbor kid that won't go home. I think Chatbot lures my PC in with promises of cookies and then never lets my PC come home. .

[Gossamer]

. I'm Worried And I've Been Neglectful. 'Okay... so it turned into a rant... that happens.' I'm very worried about Mizahar. I'm worried about its originality. I'm worried about people sticking to theme. And I'm frustrated about how monotone all the cities are growing - evolving to look like each other with all the same offerings. In a general sense its hard to put my finger on just what it is that has been bothering me so much, but the feeling reminds me of watching videos in regards to simulated continental drift in rapid time or perhaps timelapse photography of glaciers melting. Its a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach that makes me think I haven't paid enough attention or that I've been too busy to give the game the time it needs recently and its strayed. We have a set solid theme in Mizahar. Post-Apocalyptic. That means the world has been devastated and is only slowly coming back. It continues to be nailed hard, repeatedly, as the Djed storm of Spring 512 proves. And yet, recently, I've seen cities that were originally designed to have little or no food be RP'd as thriving metropolises - centers of learning, craftsmanship, or safe havens. They aren't rping starving there at all. I've seen cities that by their very definition are to be ruled by having no rules suddenly be controlled by gangs that act as substitute governments almost as if to circumvent the theme. Anarchy is Anarchy. I've seen playful ever changing cities filled with illusions suddenly saddled with a government system that rivals the EU. If a city in this game has a Department of Anything (like a HP Ministry of Magic) then something is terribly wrong. These are city state-esque places only simplified usually with one leader or a council that leads. The only real regal booming metropolis' should be Ravok and Syliras - one being ruled by a God, the other being under basic 24/7 martial law because its just a big military outpost. Everyone should have big problems. I know my players in Wind Reach and Riverfall do. When I was revamping the city of Riverfall and looking at crops it could produce, I deliberately strayed away from grains which Syliras already has the corner of the market on, and went into cheeses and wines as well as orchards that are friendly to the climate (read apples and pears not citrus). Now, suddenly, Syliras has vineyards too just because one player was interested in being a vinter and developed a history there. They never did before. It's irritating and sometimes I think ST's need to give this more thought especially when other domains have decided to claim this as their one contribution to the whole of the game. Its just another example of how when one city implements something, another likes it, copies it, and suddenly the whole game feels monotone. It depresses me like crazy. I want places to have unique ideas, unique things going for them, reasons for players to play. I came up with a really cool IC/OOC store Idea and no sooner had I posted it in my coordination thread, like three people said they were going to use it in their cities. My frustration level peaked and I haven't implemented it yet. Why? Because I think its absolutely bullshit that each and every city is slowly looking like every other city. I do not copy things in other cities... why should they copy things in mine? Or the minute I do something, someone says 'I was going to do that...' and goes and does it as well. I love to innovate things on this site, but keeping things original is very hard because five minutes later you have someone else slapping up something that took them two minutes to duplicate and took you months to develop. And you wonder what in the hell you did it for because now suddenly your city looks a lot like theirs and there's no real way other than post dates for a player to tell who did what first. I want my city or cities to be original. Is that hard to understand? The icing on the cake is when your project or original work is ignored and someone else goes to the duplicator and asks permission to use that in their own location/city/etc because its GREAT and the duplicator says SURE! I want to facepalm repeatedly. That happened to me so many times in terms of the city rules I wrote for Wind Reach especially the NPC guidelines, posting guidelines, and seasonal challenges, calendars of events etc. I truthfully don't mind sharing if folks ask, but its the people that don't ask that irk me the most. And now, everyone's doing it so its boring. You ruined it for me, folks. And no I don't think imitation is the highest form of flattery. Whomever first said that needs a punch in the face. So here's whats going to happen next. When WR and RF come out with their IC/OOC stores, we're keeping our ideas to ourselves. We're not letting other cities take this idea and use it so everyone has the same thing. They can innovate for themselves and do something totally different. If it even LOOKS like folks are using our idea, I'm going to scream bloody murder and put the kabash on it. I think its perfectly fine that we do this. I have never stolen any of YOUR ideas folks. Stop taking mine. I'm doing it for RF because RF is where I moderate now and ITS MY IDEA. WR is doing it because Jules is excited and wants it done for her city because she helped me finalize the idea and thus owns a slice of the pie. So. I'm saying NO RIGHT NOW. You aren't borrowing the store. We thought of it, and we're keeping them for ourselves for originality sake. If you come up with anything remotely like it I'll rage. Think of something else original that isn't our idea. You guys can get off your moderator duffs and come up with things for your city that aren't things that others are doing that are cool. We let your ST because of your creativity. Use it. I'm done letting this game stray off its theme with big government and unrealistic scenarios in quests. I'm also done with all the 'borrowing'. You are warned. I'm starting with the players scrounging freebies out of the trash, and that's just the beginning. Keep your eyes posted on my Founders Announcement thread for details of upcoming issues and things that need attention. Ps. Cayenne says that scraps like this produced by me indicates my 'back in action' and 'feeling better' status and that she's missed me. .

[Verilian]

Yeah, I remember when people stole stuff from my city. I was like, "Hey! That's an exact copy/paste of my post!" ...but other than that, I really never paid attention to the rest of the world. I'm self centered like that. Focus entirely on Ravok, and maybe a bit of Wind Reach. I did ask you if I could make the calendar thread back when I was an AS. Your response was, "Gillar is your DS and he is my husband. He does what he wants." And then I didn't even get around to it until I became DS and made my own version of it. But yeah, I hope I haven't copied anyone without realizing it. That happens sometimes. I try to keep to my own ideas, but if I ever start getting unoriginal, or already am and don't realize it, please give me a swift kick in the groin and tell me to stop. That is all. ~V

[Citizen]

I know your going to rage over this response, but the truth is: you posted this in your scrap and not in a mod forum so that means you want people to read it. This also means people are free to speak their mind and respond to what your saying. IF you delete this post it will only show how incredibally hypocritical you are. Hopefully some people read this.

To sum it up your scrapbook post is incredibally unprofessional and huge sign of a terrible leader. This whole scrap post sums up to me what you are all about.

The fact that your calling out mods directly in public like this... it is so bad it is sickening. It makes me want to throw up. You are doing ALL your mods DIRTY as hell. Your the websites leader! What kind of leader turns around and starts kicking their own mods infront of everyone to see. You basically just admitted to everyone that you DO NOT support your OWN TEAM. Whats even more sickening is that you didn't even go to them FIRST. You publically humilated them (even though you didn't use any names) while standing on your high horse.

This is YOUR point of NO return. You have showed everyone how bad of a moderater you truly are. You make feable attempts to make this post seem like its your fault, but in reality your just pissing on everyone who put alot of effort in this game.

I pray that everyone can see all the BS in this post and understand how truly terrible of a person you really are. Your words speak for themself.


The thing is too, you will never understand what its all about. I already know what your going to respond and say : "Blahblahblah I post in my scraps because its what I do... I can say whatever I want...its how I work, its how I run things around here...blahblahblah". That does NOT make your right and that does not make your method correct OR valid. That is just further proof of how bad you are. Only bad leaders do that. I have never seen a successful mod, leader, captain, do what your doing and actually be great.

You realize that now your website is going to dwindle again since your starting to become more active again? People will naturally gravitate away from you, except for the few who don't your website's activity will dwindle. Ever wonder why mods RARELY last long here? ITs because of posts like this. Look at your own history of the site gossamer. Every time you go in the back burner the site begins to flourish... when you come back and impose your iron fist the site dwindles to a few people that like you.


MY suggestion to you is, stop roleplaying and write a damn book so you can control everything. This is RP... the players and the mods shape the game, roleplaying isnt about railroading people on your own track. I could give you tips on what a good leader and mod should do, but that would be futile.


That being said, you can do whatever you want... you own the site...but dont expect your site to thrive lmao. A huge lore book and which is OBVIOUSLY not 100% original doesnt make a good site thriving site. Mark my words... watch as people slowly start to leave the site as you post scraps like this and start imposing your fascism here.

[Gossamer]

. Response I understand your still mad that I banned you over chatsexing, violating terms of use most critically passing naked pictures of females from this site around. And while you were busy causing all sorts of drama in the name of the Crimson Edge which is still flourishing, btw, despite your best efforts otherwise, I have been and always will be busy running this site the way I think it should be ran. But that still doesn't merit a try at an anon attack in my scrap. At least when I want to say something, I say it out front and very pointedly in my own name. I don't hide behind an unknown account. That is, in fact, the reason this site is probably one of the best on the nets and flourishing like it is. .

[Blitz]

It's funny. Actually people are posting more -because- she's showing herself more. Look at the numbers! And now that exams are finishing all over the world, within a month will be the full onslaught of busy season. Activity from mods and players alike are high. More and more people are joining hourly. Seeing an active Founder's thoughts displayed for everyone to see, keeps her -among- us, mods and players alike, not above anyone. Keep up the good work Gossamer, set things on the right path and let's all work towards making Miza a better place with each post. Mish is right. You're back and game on.

[Gossamer]

. Response I think its hysterical that Kale is so transparent. As soon as I blocked his second pc, he logged on AIM as his Demented Teddy screen name to start bashing me there. Poor guy. If Mizahar is so terrible why is he so obsessed with us? There's other sites out there that are far more conducive to his type of abusive behavior and treatment of women. Blitz, thanks. And thanks to everyone who pm'd and aim'd me about how nice the site is and how much they enjoy it when us Founders are active and involved. .

[Echelon]

*giggles* We aren't leaders, neither is Goss. We are MODERATORS. Be moderate the site. As in we make sure it keeps to it's tone, and the restrictions it is meant to have. Goss is a founder, and thus the mother hen of all moderators. She can set whatever rules she wants. She should set whatever rules she wants.

Then there is the production aspect of being a moderator, which is just icing on the cake from anybody except a founder.

I think he undermined his own point that each and every person builds this world with their posts when he went off about Gossamer having to be a leader. She doesn't have to be shit. =p

That all said, I think I speak for the whole mod team when I say that we appreciate Gossamer being open with not just us be the whole site. We don't want to see ourselves as above our friends on the site, because we aren't. Each and every one of us plays characters, enjoys the product of each others creations, and the other players. We are all on the same level, some of us just donate more time toward being there for questions. That's all a mod is, really, just a little more time. We demand a little respect for that, but no claim to leadership.

SO keep it up Goss.

More importantly, Goss, your post. This is your scrap =p I think through all your ranting you forgot to make your statements clear. I know it's an emotion and thus hard to specify. And trust me this wasn't lost on me, I respect the emotions as much as I would specific words. That said, I'm sure you are ok with some ideas being shared between domains. What sort of ideas bother you, and what sort of ideas don't? If there are any.

I only ask because I think you are onto something that had been bothering me too, and I'm hoping watching you explore the topic out loud a little more may give me some insight into my own thoughts. Is that selfish? XD