I'm not going to refrain from comparing something to something else because it might offend someone. When people disagree on AST it often results in arguments and insults, we had our fair share of that here in the past but I think for at least a couple of years we've all fostered an atmosphere where disagreements result in discussion and, at worst, zingers. I see us slipping from the latter to the former and I think the comparison is valid and I stand by it.
I freely admit I have ragged on AST but I assure you, for the most part, my tongue was firmly planted in my cheek when I did so. Even over the stupid asterisk incident, which I still think was pathetic, even when I was being serious I did my best to express my displeasure by trying to be funny.
When Captain Jack was banned from the show we all spontaneously joined in, Captain Jack's name was never to be mentioned again. Apparently there was some confusion as to whether this was sycophancy or a joke (it was both) but its fitting and telling that that discussion took place not here but on AST. As we all know it devolved into a shit-storm.
I could of course use any site where this sort of thing happens as an example, AST is just a convenient reference point with perhaps some residual asterisk ragging thrown into the mix. It pains me that I even have to explain this.
I'm not singling anybody out here, but people really are taking stuff way too seriously and being way too sensitive.
It has just occurred to me that nov 19th saw our five year anniversary. I can't speak for Tom but as far as I am concerned, and I was here from day one, this site, the membership card and the whole Friends of Tom thing was and is an irreverent take on fan sites and fan clubs. A unique extension of the grand human comedy that Jon and Tom weave and as fans of the show we are lucky to have it and should all do our best to keep it fun.
Without wishing to denigrate my forebears, there was a time when people were banned for disagreeing with the moderators political opinions or for not posting about Tom enough. Somewhere down the line we flourished into a pretty cool community, we send each other stuff, meet up and stay at each others houses. Usage and traffic has gone through the roof and god knows its not because I've done anything great with the site, which is after all just this forum. The success of this site is down to the people who use it and I fear that they will also be the ones who destroy it, at least with me around because if I did have any part in that success it's because I am a hands-off, laissez-faire moderator.
I am therefore horrified that anyone would think of me as "Lord and Master". I've only ever had to ban two people, and they really stepped over the line, I think I have only ever laid down the law twice (both times when I thought someone was being ganged up against and not because I agreed with them) and Tom has only ever asked me to delete three things (and two of them were by me). So there will be no new rules, nobody will be banned, no ips given out and no threads will be locked simply because somebody asks for it. I will step in if neccessary but there have been no rules except common sense during my tenure and it has worked pretty well, even if I do now have to remind you all of your individual responsibility.
I'm not fishing for compliments, so don't start. If you want to thank anyone thank Tom who pays for this site out of his own pocket, but to my mind (again I do not speak for Tom) the best way you can thank him is by stopping all this shit-posting.
Don't take things too seriously, discuss stuff instead of arguing and if you're going to put someone down at least try and be funny about it. Continue to make this forum the kind of place that attracted you to it in the first place and maybe one day I'll get around to finishing the mix tape.
