Well, it's the holiday season and I'm enjoying what time I have with my family. I have poked in and out of VPForums for the last 2 weeks, mostly to approve new/updated tables that have been uploaded. I haven't read any particular posts. I haven't been ignoring anyone either. When I find the time, I respond to emails. I'm a very busy person like I'm sure the rest of you are (especially around the holidays).

I had a 2 hour discussion with Kinsey on the phone. Kinsey is the Senior Administrator, with BJ and Plumb being full Administrators as well. I needed to find out what was going on since I've been away. I don't have any problems or doubts about the choices of Administrators or Mods for VPForums. Only a select group of people have a problem with them because they can't follow the rules and guidelines put in place on a PRIVATELY RUN forum. This group seems to believe that they should be allowed to say anything they wish and do anything they want within the forum and community. They claim it's VPForums tearing the community apart. Well, I'm here to say that it's the group that's always arguing about the same crap over and over that is tearing apart the community! The rules and guidelines are there to protect table creators, as well as keep the chaos to a minimum when there are almost 20,000 members. Shiva laid many of the ground rules, and VPForums has kept them and added a few as issues were headed off before they became forseen problems. We have recommended to this group on many occasions that if they feel we are a dictatorship, then start a forum of their own with no rules as they wish, and see how well it does. It's been 6 months and I haven't seen one! Why? Because it takes a lot of work, dedication, and patience to do something like this. We don't want to break up the community, but we do want to filter out the ones who do nothing but constantly cause trouble. There's constructive criticism, and then there's just plain bitching about everything... over... and over!

Bottom line of the above paragraph... I put my trust in the Admins/Mods to keep the forums in shape, and I believe (aside from what the same 6 people say) that they are doing a great job! My main role in all of this is to keep the forums working, upgrade the software, keep the table pages updated, etc... basically technical support. I am not going to respond to people griping about a decision that is almost always made by the entire Admin/Mod staff. Personal issues with a user do not come into play when they have to make a major decision like suspending or banning a user! It is documented and discussed in depth, and they don't take lightly to doing such a thing to someone. We do not ban disagreing users... we've been doing this long enoung to know what's a disagreement and what's just another bitch session. And when the rules are broken, we are not going to sit back and let it happen. A person who breaks the rules never believe they break the rules so it turns into a bitch session here! Everyone gets warned when their doing something wrong within the forums by PM, and if it continues they get restricted for a few days. If it keeps on, then they get banned.

As for the issue about Black, tonight is the first I've heard about this! I have not talked to Black in a month. Black is not 'holding VPForums hostage' by saying he's leaving. There is a lot going on with Black, and he has his reasons... NONE of which have to do with VPForums. I hope he doesn't stay away for long, but it's HIS decision! I wish him well and I hope he gets everything sorted out. Thanks for everything you've done Black!

We have nothing to hide at VPForums... we are doing the best possible job with such a large site, and I know those that want to be part of a good community will continue to visit and contribute to VPForums. Things will get back on track once the trash is emptied!

Everyone have a great holiday season!
AJ

> start a
> forum of their own with no rules as they wish, and see how well it does. It's
> been 6 months and I haven't seen one!

Presumably, then, this one you're posting on is just Scotch mist.

I'm sure VPF will do much better without troublemakers like PacDude and Rodgz. I note you don't bother to even invent a rule that either of them broke. Nor answer, at the seventh time of asking, as to which one *I* broke, come to that.

Pathetic effort, AJ. Enjoy your ghost forum.

> posts. I haven't been ignoring anyone either. When I find the time, I respond
> to emails. I'm a very busy person like I'm sure the

Bullcrap. He never responded to a single e-mail of mine.

> I had a 2 hour discussion with Kinsey on the phone.

Well there's a reliable person to take their word. She even flames people publicly from time to time and when they point it out (like Tii did), she bans them from posting. Tii was right to quit. Who should have to put up with hypocritical moderating? Maybe Tii said some things in private or something, but from what I saw, he didn't do anything in his last post to warrant the response he got from her (30-day ban on posting). He even pointed out how she flamed someone in another thread in that post.

> Administrator, with BJ and Plumb being full Administrators as well. I needed

BJ and Plumb are also BOTH left-wing (as is KC) on their table views. There isn't ONE moderator at VPForums I know of that is middle of the road. Who would I trust to moderate fairly? Just a few examples: MrHide, Fuseball, wpcmame.

> to find out what was going on since I've been away.

Try reading it yourself next time instead of taking the LIES of Kinsey instead (although I wouldn't doubt that she believes what she's saying given her temper and strange logic). Of course she's going to say I was causing trouble. Kinsey has told me to "fuck off" in private before and I'd take a lie detector test to prove it.

>I don't have any problems
> or doubts about the choices of Administrators or Mods for VPForums. Only a

Then you're blind as you want to be. You've admitted you aren't keeping close tabs on VPForums these days and if all you do is ask your staff if they were being "fair" and "what happened" well what do you expect them to tell you? Oh yes, we hate all modders and people that disagree with our views on tables, locks, etc. and we've decided to start banning them with any excuse we can muster (or in my case, no excuse).


> select group of people have a problem with them because they can't follow the
> rules and guidelines put in place on a PRIVATELY RUN forum. This group seems to

I followed EVERY RULE. I've got people here testifying to that effect (and people over at VPForums until there posts were edited or deleted). Point out what I did over there to get my posting banned either time. Having your staff all agree to ban me PROVES NOTHING because they're all of the same mind. They hate mods and they have modders. They don't care if I have permission or not. KC himself told me flat out they don't want mods allowed PERIOD on there.

> believe that they should be allowed to say anything they wish and do anything
> they want within the forum and community. They claim

And what did I do over there? Sure I'm complaining over here. I was banned from posting without cause or reason. Why shouldn't I complain about it? You'd do the same if someone wronged you.

> community apart. Well, I'm here to say that it's the group that's always
> arguing about the same crap over and over that is tearing apart the community!

And who were we arguing WITH AJ? You know it does take at least two to tango. You blame us, but you don't even look at the other side? Why? They're protected by the moderators. The moderators don't complain about people that agree with their own beliefs. Why would they? They've proven time and again they are biased. I sent you quoted proof that they let TiltJP slander me on there and never even gave him a warning, let alone banned him from posting. KC started the last argument there and I didn't flame him over it, but I get banned from posting anyway. He got a warning at best. You don't believe it, it seems because you're taking Kinsey's word for it and she's as biased as it gets.

> The rules and guidelines are there to protect table creators, as well as keep

Yeah well, what am I? A leech? Who protected my rights as a tablemaker? You yourself have modded TAF before without asking first. I've never done that. You've broke more rules there than me.

> the chaos to a minimum when there are almost 20,000 members. Shiva laid many of

20,000 members is a lame excuse. 97% of them are leeches and never contribute anything.

> forum of their own with no rules as they wish, and see how well it does. It's
> been 6 months and I haven't seen one! Why? Because it takes a lot of work,
> dedication, and patience to do something like this.

Yeah, sure it does. It doesn't take anything to set up a message board and some file space. People have avoided doing it before because we kept trying to keep the community together instead of splitting it up, but you seem to want to force the issue.

>We don't want to break up
> the community, but we do want to filter out the ones who do nothing but
> constantly cause trouble. There's constructive

Yeah, I constantly caused trouble by releasing 14 of the best quality tables out there. Don't feed us bullcrap, AJ. I was anything but a trouble causer. Your idea of trouble is taking the opposite side of the staff when DISCUSSING certain issues. The removal of your own Debate forum is proof that they don't want anyone discussing ANY issues.

>criticism, and then there's just
> plain bitching about everything... over... and over!

How would you know? You're never there. I bet Kinsey hammered that one right into your head.

> Bottom line of the above paragraph... I put my trust in the Admins/Mods to keep

That's your problem, AJ. You trust people that aren't trustworthy.

> technical support. I am not going to respond to people griping about a decision
> that is almost always made by the entire Admin/Mod

Again, every one of those people (save maybe Clean Richards) is left-wing on the issue and they don't want mods period. You set rules for Nicky to return and even though he kept them, the staff banned him behind your back while you were away and you took their word for it that he did something wrong (against your terms for him coming back). You didn't look into it yourself. You're doing the same thing now. You already admitted you're taking Kinsey's word for this.

>staff. Personal issues with
> a user do not come into play when they have to make a major decision like
> suspending or banning a user! It is documented and
discussed in depth, and they

The heck they don't! This *is* a personal issue. Otherwise KC and TiltJP would find themselves banned from posting right now too as they behave far worse than I ever did. KC started the argument (and I did not flame him despite that) and I'm the only one that got banned. If you actually looked into thing instead of taking their word for it, you'd know this.

How many people have stepped in and said I did nothing wrong? I watched as their posts were edited and downright deleted at VPForums. The thread on my ban that as started in the debate area cause them to DELETE the entire debate area. Ask MrHide about it if you don't believe me.

> don't take lightly to doing such a thing to someone. We do not ban disagreing
> users... we've been doing this long enoung to know

Again, that's bullcrap. That's ALL I ever did on there. MrHide disagreed. He got his posts edited or deleted.

> what's just another bitch session. And when the rules

Again, you wouldn't know because you don't read the forums. How can you just sit there and parrot back the crap from your staff that people who clearly do not like me because of my own views (Kinsey, BJ, Plumb and KC) are the ones telling you this?


>session here! Everyone
> gets warned when their doing something wrong within the forums by PM, and if it

I'm getting so SICK of your *LIES* here, AJ. I swear that I *never* got a WARNING before my posting status was removed. If you checked the records, you'd see that.

> continues they get restricted for a few days. If it keeps on, then they get
> banned.

That's NOT how it happened.


> As for the issue about Black, tonight is the first I've heard about this! I
> have not talked to Black in a month. Black is not

Again, you prove that you do not know what's going on because you have not been there.

>'holding VPForums hostage' by
> saying he's leaving. There is a lot going on with

I said he was holding *VP* hostage by threatening to let it expire and then leave, not VPForums. And he was. If Randy hadn't showed back up, well....

> We have nothing to hide at VPForums... we are doing

Prove it by talking to some unbiased people instead of your staff.

Hmm, I didn't receive a warning either. They just outright deleted ALL my posting & PM rights. During the 14 months period at VPForums I _never_ flamed anyone (except Gottlieb and we even settled things down in PM's).

I don't think there were ANY other guys on the forums who respected table authors and their work as much as I. I spent hundreds of hours to edit ready-to-use playfield images for Shivasite libraries and to various table authors. If there were playfield images missing from some tables, I was the first one trying to help people. I just _devoted_ lots of my time for the whole community, which I still love.

Now, without a warning they delete my account and posting rights because I posted my opinion publicly. I find that quite amusing. If you knew me in real life you'd know that I _never_ have any troubles with people. I'm extremely mellow guy. Although I'm always willing to defend people who get treated wrong.

I _knew_ those kids are going to delete my account after the post I made. It was probably the last chance to keep this community together. It wasn't a flame. It was a call for truce. I offered a hand to shake, but they rather just spit against my face.

It was predictable. But I'm still very sad. Not because of myself and because I can't read the forums, but because for the destruction of the fine community. A few rotten apples are going to spoil it for everyone.

>The thread on my ban that as started in the debate area cause them to DELETE the entire debate area. Ask MrHide about it if you don't believe me.

Now did that rocked the boat or what ? !!
I am still amazed that it is gone.

> Well, it's the holiday season and I'm enjoying what time I have with my family.
> I have poked in and out of VPForums for the last 2 weeks, mostly to approve
> new/updated tables that have been uploaded. I haven't read any particular
> posts. I haven't been ignoring anyone either. When I find the time, I respond
> to emails. I'm a very busy person like I'm sure the rest of you are (especially
> around the holidays).
>
> I had a 2 hour discussion with Kinsey on the phone. Kinsey is the Senior
> Administrator, with BJ and Plumb being full Administrators as well. I needed
> to find out what was going on since I've been away. I don't have any problems
> or doubts about the choices of Administrators or Mods for VPForums. Only a
> select group of people have a problem with them because they can't follow the
> rules and guidelines put in place on a PRIVATELY RUN forum. This group seems to
> believe that they should be allowed to say anything they wish and do anything
> they want within the forum and community. They claim it's VPForums tearing the
> community apart. Well, I'm here to say that it's the group that's always
> arguing about the same crap over and over that is tearing apart the community!
> The rules and guidelines are there to protect table creators, as well as keep
> the chaos to a minimum when there are almost 20,000 members. Shiva laid many of
> the ground rules, and VPForums has kept them and added a few as issues were
> headed off before they became forseen problems. We have recommended to this
> group on many occasions that if they feel we are a dictatorship, then start a
> forum of their own with no rules as they wish, and see how well it does. It's
> been 6 months and I haven't seen one! Why? Because it takes a lot of work,
> dedication, and patience to do something like this. We don't want to break up
> the community, but we do want to filter out the ones who do nothing but
> constantly cause trouble. There's constructive criticism, and then there's just
> plain bitching about everything... over... and over!
>
> Bottom line of the above paragraph... I put my trust in the Admins/Mods to keep
> the forums in shape, and I believe (aside from what the same 6 people say) that
> they are doing a great job! My main role in all of this is to keep the forums
> working, upgrade the software, keep the table pages updated, etc... basically
> technical support. I am not going to respond to people griping about a decision
> that is almost always made by the entire Admin/Mod staff. Personal issues with
> a user do not come into play when they have to make a major decision like
> suspending or banning a user! It is documented and discussed in depth, and they
> don't take lightly to doing such a thing to someone. We do not ban disagreing
> users... we've been doing this long enoung to know what's a disagreement and
> what's just another bitch session. And when the rules are broken, we are not
> going to sit back and let it happen. A person who breaks the rules never
> believe they break the rules so it turns into a bitch session here! Everyone
> gets warned when their doing something wrong within the forums by PM, and if it
> continues they get restricted for a few days. If it keeps on, then they get
> banned.
>
> As for the issue about Black, tonight is the first I've heard about this! I
> have not talked to Black in a month. Black is not 'holding VPForums hostage' by
> saying he's leaving. There is a lot going on with Black, and he has his
> reasons... NONE of which have to do with VPForums. I hope he doesn't stay away
> for long, but it's HIS decision! I wish him well and I hope he gets everything
> sorted out. Thanks for everything you've done Black!
>
> We have nothing to hide at VPForums... we are doing the best possible job with
> such a large site, and I know those that want to be part of a good community
> will continue to visit and contribute to VPForums. Things will get back on
> track once the trash is emptied!
>
> Everyone have a great holiday season!
> AJ
>
Look PacDude and I don't see eye to eye and frankly I'm unhappy at how things have went too far, but in all honesty it seems blatantly clear some people are power tripping and even more clear you've turned a blind eye to it...

I hope I'm wrong and if I am I'm sorry. It does seem that moderators are abusing power, being intolerant, and something has to give...

At least you and your gang don't have power here, thank goodness for that as more people will come here as you and your gang drive 'em out of VPForum... Remember new forums can be created and as much as I like people at VPForum I can't condone their actions...

The new and improved King of Lamers 2002!

If they are going to delete our accounts and treat us like so much garbage to be carried out, I wonder if we can demand our table work (i.e. any table versions we worked on) be removed from AJ's little file server. After all, what right does he have to carry our work if he won't allow us to even exist on his message board, let alone speak? The hypocrisy of it all is almost overwhelming. We do nothing but work for the community and they treat us like we were hackers trying to bring his server down or something.

Let's face it. The problem is you can't speak your mind (unless your mind agrees with the staffs' mind) at VPForums now without getting banned, not matter how POLITE you are about it. Any others out there that don't believe me? Speak up for us on there (in an upright manner that doesn't imply that what they did "might" have been right) right now and watch what happens to you. It's an absolute joke.

I for one will not go back there period unless AJ replaces the staff with reasonable people *and* he apologizes for letting them behave like that in the first place and turn a blind eye towards it. I apologize when I know I'm wrong, but I do NOT kiss anyone's ass (except maybe a cute girl ;).

I apologized to Kid (and he apologized to me as well in a PM) for the shouting in public, but even so I didn't flame him and he didn't flame me in that thread. Neither of us broke the public flaming rule. TiltJP did break it and he didn't get banned for it because the people he was insulting was us!) But I refuse to apologize for my comments HERE on these matters because what I'm saying is the truth.

> If they are going to delete our accounts and treat us like so much garbage to be
> carried out, I wonder if we can demand our table work (i.e. any table versions
> we worked on) be removed from AJ's little file server.

Someone here has already posted the link to the thread in which I asked the same thing. The response was, as you'd expect, "No, we're going to keep distributing your work without your permission, and you'll have to get lawyers if you want us to stop. Because we don't believe in our own rules. Permission only works one way. WE can do what we like regardless of permission. YOU can't."

I wish it made me happier to point out that this is exactly what I was saying all the time when the modding issue first blew up - the VPF admins are a bunch of egomaniac hypocritical cowards. If a few more people had spotted what was staring them in the face then, maybe we wouldn't be in this mess now.

AJ, you have my reply to your 'holiday' message... please consider replying... i can assure you that many other good people share similar concerns, and that the situation is not getting any better by letting it play out...

if you want names, let me know... if you want examples of 'decision-making' by X, let me know...

i am not here to make trouble! i want to help take care of this before it gets any worse... the middle-of-the road, reasonable folks i am in contact with want this, too, i guarantee you...

PD, I don't want my work taken out of the download sites. The members didn't do anything to me, and the tables are there for the members. I really hope you feel the same way.

Like I said, I still like the community. There are only three rotten apples over there: BJ, Kinsey and Cowboy. They have single-handledly caused this whole mess and are now trying their best to destroy everything. It's not anyone else's fault and I did all my table work for the members.

I'm not seeking for revenge. I'm not even bitter. If they didn't ban me, I would have left anyway.

> > If they are going to delete our accounts and treat us like so much garbage to
> be
> > carried out, I wonder if we can demand our table work (i.e. any table versions
> > we worked on) be removed from AJ's little file server.
>
> Someone here has already posted the link to the thread in which I asked the same
> thing. The response was, as you'd expect, "No, we're going to keep distributing
> your work without your permission, and you'll have to get lawyers if you want us
> to stop. Because we don't believe in our own rules. Permission only works one
> way. WE can do what we like regardless of permission. YOU can't."
>
> I wish it made me happier to point out that this is exactly what I was saying
> all the time when the modding issue first blew up - the VPF admins are a bunch
> of egomaniac hypocritical cowards. If a few more people had spotted what was
> staring them in the face then, maybe we wouldn't be in this mess now.
>
I'm sorry things came to this. In the beginning I sidn't believe it'd come to this. When I asked AJ, Black, and others for a few 'toys' from tables they worked on I wasn't denied them. I didn't think VPINMAME tables would be locked or that people would go this far...

I just honesty thought it'd be nice to allow homebrew authors the right to have their work supported 'as is' and wanted measures to protect that.

But in the long run we all got away from having fun with a cool pinball designer and now it's come to this.

I don't 'hate' anyone but I strongly disagree with what's going on and IMSHO leaving VPForums is the only way to let this thing get settled...

In the long run though there's going to have to be a limit of how much can be supported on a site and there are going to have to be guidelines, but we'll have to see where things end up...


The new and improved King of Lamers 2002!

> Like I said, I still like the community. There are only three rotten apples over
> there: BJ, Kinsey and Cowboy. They have single-handledly caused this whole mess

I have to disagree with you there, kristian.

Kinsey and Cowboy (or should I say AussiePin), ok. But you are underestimating BJ. BJ is the only one that has the stuff to be a great moderator. And he is cool in my book. He is just loyal to his fellow moderators. I think you can't blame him for the position he is in.

> > I wish it made me happier to point out that this is exactly what I was saying
> > all the time when the modding issue first blew up - the VPF admins are a bunch
> > of egomaniac hypocritical cowards. If a few more people had spotted what was
> > staring them in the face then, maybe we wouldn't be in this mess now.
> >
> I'm sorry things came to this. In the beginning I sidn't believe it'd come to
> this. When I asked AJ, Black, and others for a few 'toys' from tables they
> worked on I wasn't denied them. I didn't think VPINMAME tables would be locked
> or that people would go this far...


I've always believed that something like 1984 could happen, not right away, but SLOWLY, *VERY* slowly over time. They get you to trade a few personal freedoms for the "good" of the people. They try and try and try to take away your right to bear arms and form militias in the US. They point to all the crime using guns and they just ask for a "background check." It sounds PERFECTLY REASONABLE, doesn't it? It could elminate certain crimes or could it? People jump on these bandwagons and meanwhile personal freedoms just start eroding away until the point where the conditions become RIGHT for blatant paranoia and BS nonsense to start occuring. Look at what's happening right now in the US. We have one tragic incident in New York and certain leaders in the government are moving as FAST as they can to TAKE ADVANTAGE of the situation. Now is the time to pass bills that will let them SPY on Americans freely and without search warrants. They want to be able to search private e-mail with reckless abandon. They want to ban public encryption methods or install back-doors so they can read things that is NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS. Privacy and personal rights are going away people. You might as well put your life on TV like "The Real World" pretty soon because that's how much privacy you're going to have.

"What he #%#%#ing sh#% does that have to do with VP and VPForums, PacDude? :)"

Nothing but the TREND for things to go WAY TOO FAR over long periods of time. Paratech never thought that locks would lead to this level of totalitarian behavior at VPForums, but a few of us are pointing our fingers right now and saying, "I TOLD YOU SO!"

I said a LONG time ago that locks would eventually destroy the VP community one way or the other. Well I was wrong...sorta. Locks were just another device along the way. PRIDE and its best friend EGO are ultimately what have been destroying the forums all this time...little bits at a time. What drove people to want locks in the first place? Paranoia, maybe? Some people thought that EVERYONE was out to mod their tables. They should be so lucky! That must mean they did a darn good job that everyone wants to tinker with their table. There are a LOT of BAD Vpinmame tables out there (as in low quality, poor recreations). I don't see everyone and their brother jumping on the wagon to go out and MOD the heck out of them. I've seen a few people at best and almost all of them have had permission to do so.

Some wanted locks as soon as one person modded Spiderman and pretended it was theirs. I have to wonder about that incident looking back. I have to wonder if it was even a real event or if it was someone planting the seeds of paranoia in the community. That person was easily dealt with and no one believed for a second that he made the table. No problem then right? WRONG. That set off a chain reaction that has been with us ever since. Nicky's background picture probably wouldn't have touched it off unless that seed was already planted. Why? Because he didn't do anything wrong. He posted a preview picture of a background photo applied to his personal copy of Jetsons (at the time most of his background pictures were just that, stand-alone pictures that people could apply if they knew how and wanted to).

Stein came in and REALLY REALLY planted HUGE seeds of paranoia both by raising a HUGE STINK about it instead of politely asking Nicky to not release the picture. I distinctly recall Nicky saying that if Stein had asked him not to, he wouldn't have ever released it. But instead Stein raised hell about nothing and in the end got exactly what he didn't want, the picture released anyway because he acted like a child about it.

Black made things far worse yet by supporting Stein on this in a big way, both by being a VP co-author that supported Stein publicly and by introducing the killjoy of VP, *TABLE LOCKS*.

"KillJoy, PD?"

Yeah. Have locks served their purpose in quieting down or eliminating the paranoia problem? Hell no! If anything the paranoia has gotten FAR FAR worse since they were introduced. People don't even use them and then they have fits about the idea that someone might mod their table at some point. And if they do use them, they LOCK EVERYTHING. And most, if not all tables locked as such have been extremely BUGGY and people can't help debug them because they can't even see what's going on. So then people whine and moan about the table being locked and the authors get EVEN MORE PISSED. Why? Because they want people kissing their ass for releasing the table, not whining at them! BZZZZZZT. Sorry. If you release a locked table, it had better be damn perfect and it had better be adjustable or you're going to get a bunch of whining. Many such tables have used hard-coded key tables and thus you can't use certain keys for your flipper keys etc. I had this problem with several tables ("H" being popular for "Help" makes it a problem when I use the home row for flippers and side-nudging just like The Web did by default when it shipped; it works much better than the shift keys, IMO). Also the lock system is easily worked around (a big bank vault with a state-of-the-art safe, but with cardboard walls).

> I just honesty thought it'd be nice to allow homebrew authors the right to have
> their work supported 'as is' and wanted measures to protect that.

The best way to protect tables is with respect, not locks. There are some people that are going to do what they're going to do regardless. But I think maybe even Nicky would be following at least the 'ask permission' rules right now if people had treated him with decency and respect instead of acting like he was a criminal for posting a picture preview. People really fell off the deep end with that one. I only hope now that the shit has finally hit the fan that it's a bit clearer looking back that Nicky wasn't just ranting and raving. If you had been treated that way, you might not have thought so either. The grass is always greener on the other side.

How many mods have there ever been of homebrew tables? The only one I think I've ever seen was a cabinet Nicky made for Jetsons at some point. Right or wrong it did look pretty cool that way and it was just a cabinet, not changing the game as far as I could tell. Most authors would have been pleased to see someone create a cabinet for them that they could use or discard. Nicky has mad "DX" versions of TAF and TZ before. I thought it was a neat concept, but I didn't care for the way it made the playfields so much smaller, but still, it never hurt anyone (least of all me) and some people really liked them. I still use Nicky's WhiteWater DX version here as it was the most realistic version made. If a nice cabinet was fitted to it, it would be even cooler.

> I don't 'hate' anyone but I strongly disagree with what's going on and IMSHO
> leaving VPForums is the only way to let this thing get settled...

I doubt it will get settled. There are too big of egos involved.

> > Like I said, I still like the community. There are only three rotten apples
> over
> > there: BJ, Kinsey and Cowboy. They have single-handledly caused this whole
> mess
>
> I have to disagree with you there, kristian.
>
> Kinsey and Cowboy (or should I say AussiePin), ok. But you are underestimating
> BJ. BJ is the only one that has the stuff to be a great moderator. And he is
> cool in my book. He is just loyal to his fellow moderators. I think you can't
> blame him for the position he is in.
>


I have to disagree there. BJ is single-handedly responsible for my first posting ban a few months back. I didn't like the way The Loafer worded his poll on locks and I said so in a different thread. BJ storms in and posts a very sarcastic remark about leaving the moderating to them and also saying that Modding *IS* stealing and defacing work (even if authorized). That's a straight out insult to anyone that has ever worked on someone else's table. Since my own updates have always been in cooperation with other people, I took personal offense to this, but I still didn't flame him. I just pointed out that that is NOT what the modding rules said at all. He same back and got even pissier about his remarks, insisting that he was correct and that I should shut up. Well, I reaffirmed that he was behaving unprofessionally and making false statements about the modding rules and the next thing I know I'm banned for two weeks.

Sorry, but you SHOULD be able to call the moderators on their BS if that is what they're shoveling. Moderators are supposed to be there to SERVE THE COMMUNITY, not the other way around.

BJ also let people like TiltJP and Gottlieb outright flame me before while telling me things like he didn't see any flames. He'd just let other people decide instead. Fine....why is he censoring my statements and banning me then? It's totally biased. KC never got banned for storming in on my WIP thread (I did). The Loafer didn't get banned for insulting all modders wiht that poorly worded poll. I did for speaking up about it. TiltJP didn't get banned for flaming me the debate forum thread. Instead MrHide gets edited for supporting me and Kristian gets banned for calling the moderators on their BS. SAME OLD CRAP and gues what? It stinks. Just because BJ likes to joke around the rest of the time doesn't mean he's not like the rest.

> BJ. BJ is the only one that has the stuff to be a great
> moderator. And he is cool in my book.

Whatever you say. BJ was the one who deleted all my
posting & PM rights without a warning.

> He is just loyal to his fellow moderators. I think you
> can't blame him for the position he is in.

Well I guess you're right. Being a coward is not a crime.

BJ is definitely different. He is human and he may have made mistakes too, but he always tries to sort things out very well and professionally. Sometimes people have a different opinion. He thinks banning PD was right, I don't think so, but I don't blame him for having another opinion. BJ is one of the few admins/moderators at VPForums, who I fully trust and respect.

> I've always believed that something like 1984 could happen, not right away, but
> SLOWLY, *VERY* slowly over time. They get you to trade a few personal freedoms
> for the "good" of the people. They try and try and try to take away your right
> to bear arms and form militias in the US. They point to all the crime using
> guns and they just ask for a "background check." It sounds PERFECTLY
> REASONABLE, doesn't it? It could elminate certain crimes or could it? People
> jump on these bandwagons and meanwhile personal freedoms just start eroding away
> until the point where the conditions become RIGHT for blatant paranoia and BS
> nonsense to start occuring. Look at what's happening right now in the US. We
> have one tragic incident in New York and certain leaders in the government are
> moving as FAST as they can to TAKE ADVANTAGE of the situation. Now is the time
> to pass bills that will let them SPY on Americans freely and without search
> warrants. They want to be able to search private e-mail with reckless abandon.
> They want to ban public encryption methods or install back-doors so they can
> read things that is NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS. Privacy and personal rights are
> going away people. You might as well put your life on TV like "The Real World"
> pretty soon because that's how much privacy you're going to have.

It's worst than 1984's dictatorship, it's a Brave New World like world we're sinking in more and more every day, as poeple are completely asleep and unaware of what's going on... French philosopher Blaise Pascal said one day something like (I'm translating right here from my memory) : "Tragedy of Man comes from the fact that he's unable to stay locked alone in his bedroom." It's the truest thing I ever heard from the mouth of a philosopher.

Anyway, I'm very sad seeing what's happening... I don't come there very often and I don't know both sides of the story, not even one... just the feeling of an observer...

Interviewer : "So Frank, you have long hair. Does that make you a woman ?"
FZ : "You have a wooden leg. Does that make you a table ?"

V@ssili