> Here's a copy of my closing reply in VPForums, in case the moderators there
> decide to edit or delete it. I've had it with the way they run things and don't
> plan on going back unless there's sweeping changes in moderation.
>
> =======
>
> I take it back. There's a good chance TAF 6.5 or any other table I'm working on
> will not be released, at least not here. I've just about had it up to my head
> with some of the moderators on here and their hypocritical behavior and
> disrespectful and biased policies towards mods and modding authors (see my
> closed poll in the debate area if they heaven't already deleted it and just look
> at the way Plumb responded before he closed it. The modding rules themselves
> say that they are OPEN TO FUTURE DISCUSSION and yet Plumb says "NO" all on his
> own without consulting anyone just to prove he's "da man" and doesn't need AJ to
> approve anything, like he's been invested with the power of a god or something,
> when in reality he's supposed to serving YOU, the community.) (And NO the
> "brain" comment Kinsey refers to there was never intended to be an insult, but
> to show that ALL people, not just authors or moderators should be able to
> anylize and discuss the issue, but since the thread was closed immediately after
> she and Plumb replied, I could never even respond).
>
> Since most of my tables could be considered "mods" as much as anything else
> (including TAF), YES I'm taking it very personally. We have moderators on here
> that insult people like Mitchell ("quit yer damn whining," Kinsey said to him),
> others that make fun of my name and speak to my comments with a condescending
> attitude while stating false statements about modding rules(BJ), yet others that
> close my threads almost as soon as I open them in the debate area (Plumb) even
> though my ideas were perfectly fair and civil and I'm sick of it. The
> moderators, who are supposed to be serving the community in an unbiased,
> non-emotional fashion are instead acting like dictators, dictating all the
> policy and doing whatever they feel like while simultaneously breaking whatever
> rules they feel like. Who is moderating the moderators on here? I've
> complained to AJ, but I doubt he'll care given his waning interest in VP on
> here.
>
> I've done nothing but work by butt off for the community and give it all away
> freely and in return, I and people like me are treated like 2nd class citizens,
> just "modders" not real VP authors. This from authors whose own tables (if they
> even have any) are nowhere near the quality of TAF or TZ. Should I respect
> these moderators who do nothing but insult me and people like me or people like
> Mitchell? "Tii" was banned in a thread for 30 days just for rebutting the BOGUS
> NONSENSE Kinsey spit out at him, including quoting the "quit yer damn whining"
> quote I mentioned above. It was Kinsey that should have been banned. Just like
> the Police who always get away with speeding while giving out speeding tickets
> to others, this place is run by hypocrites (my apologies to the fair and honest
> moderators out there; you don't stand out because you do your job fairly and
> honestly; it's a shame your fellow moderators can't do the same).
>
> I myself was banned from posting all last week because I called BJ on his little
> false modding rule charade! I didn't flame him, but it didn't matter. A few
> moderators who don't like my opinions decided I was out-of-line speaking to him
> that way even though he was insulting me. Clean Richards changed my mind about
> leaving, but after I saw Kid_C treat yet another Modder like he was a criminal
> and Kinsey ban "Tii" for speaking up for himself and watch Plumb ban my thread
> and Kinsey mis-state my intents (therein) for the umpteenth time, I decided I've
> had enough.
>
> If/when I see there are some more reasonable and fair forums where people can
> speak their minds without fear of reprisal from moderators that disagree with
> those opinions, maybe I'll come back. Otherwise... well maybe I'll go hang out
> with Nicky. He offered to let me post on his web site.
>
> No, it's not the lock/mod issue that's driving me away, but the fact that I
> can't even discuss it and also the fact that some of the most active moderators
> are hypocrites that treat people like crap instead of serving the community like
> they're supposed to.
>
> And if any of you have enjoyed my work over the past 16 months, well you know
> full well I'm not making this stuff up and that I've tried to listen to every
> bug report and suggestion made to me. I'm not the kind of person that gets off
> showing off power or by putting people down. Enough is enough, however. As
> some of you might have guessed from my little personal quote, I consider myself
> a very religious person and while Christ did say to turn the other cheek, he
> also told his disciples to leave and shake the dust off their shoes if the
> people in that community refused to hear their message and warnings. Well, I
> think it's time to shake the dust off my shoes as it's become plainly obvious my
> messages of fairness to all authors and reasonable moderating practices is not
> welcome by some here, especially those placed in charge by the very community
> they're supposed to serve.
>
> Like the church elders in Israel in Jesus's time, they're hypocrites. They love
> to eat at the special tables and tithe the people, but they forget all about the
> more important things like generosity and kindness. Seek the Lord while you
> still can for Judgement isn't far off.... Because I came here to talk about
> pinball, I've refrained from doing any preaching, but the sheer fact of the
> matter is that it's my own morality that's forcing me to leave. I don't love
> money or power or fame, but I did like to be generous with the community as I
> really loved to play pinball. But I can't stand to be here another minute
> amidst such dictating hypocrites.
>
> If I have anything further to say, it'll be on RetroGames Pinball board until I
> can find a better set of forums with fair, unbiased moderators because frankly,
> these forums are not a friendly place anymore and are starting to stink to high
> Heaven. If these moderating authors can do as well as Twilight Zone all by
> themselves and without a team effort and without caring about accuracy or the
> suggestions of others, I say let them try. The rest of us should go elswhere.
>
> Goodbye.
>
> -The former poster known as "PacDude"
>
While we may not have agreed 100% on the mod issue, I thought your work on TAF and TZ were Top notch. The 'guidelines' or whatever you want to call the 'rules' that you suggested voting on seemed 'reasonable' IMSHO... I've not ever had a problem sharing information, rather not cared for the idea of watching tables get messed with for no good reason...

But regardless of our diffeences of opinion, you're talented, do a good job of making tables accurate, and will be missed by the community...

The new and improved King of Lamers 2002!