A little perspective

[i am a raging faggot who loves big dicks]

* Blacky Wacky sets rant mode to ON

You see, childrens and not-so-childrens, I have been doing what is colloquially called "busting ass" for most of the last week, setting up one Simple Machines Forum for your yammering pleasure. ITT, I spend a little time enumerating exactly what has been done and, in doing so, bringing a little--let's say perspective--to a certain group of FESSers.

Take, for example, this charming exchange.

   <SomeGuy>   ...it even said in my profile I picked the right one.
   <SomeGuy>   It's just not showing as the right one.
   <Blacky Wacky>   \O_o/
   <SomeGuy>   I didn't have to change a thing in that regard.
   <Blacky Wacky>   I'm busy at the moment, if I remember I'll change it when I'm done
   <ShinQuickMan>   Busy enough to respond here?

ShinQuickMan's name has been intentionally left obvious, because this is in large part a rant to him and the other ungrateful cocksuckers who have been pounding on my metaphorical door to fix this or that little fire.

I want to start with a partial list of times, dates, and jobs accomplished in the course of moving FESS over to SMF. The times are approximate, and in some cases moved slightly (i.e., if I did work from 12:30PM to 1PM, then 4:30PM to 12AM, I made it 4:00PM to 12AM for cleanliness's sake).

November 25th
3AM-5:30AM: After Bus created the default forum on fesssmf.superbusnet.com, I began to apply modifications to ease the transition from IPB to SMF, as well as familiarize myself with the underlying code mechanics.
1:00PM-2:00PM: Final touches on the test forum (you can see this by the "PURPOSE OF THIS BOARD" posts, though some people had had access ahead of time). Opened for general use.
2:00PM-12:00AM (yes, that's eleven straight hours, with maybe a half hour out for dinner): Fielding questions, comments, adding more modifications and changes to the board in response to member feedback. I made the required post groups (FESSer lords, etc.) and spent a good bit of time adminning various people.

November 26th:
12:00AM-4:00AM: See the last day's entry. This makes it *fifteen* hours, by the way.
12:00PM-3:30PM: More of the same. Fielding member concerns/ideas, doing what I could with them to ease the transition. Around this time I found the Dilber Multicolor skin system we are now using, though I didn't apply it right away.
6:30PM-12:00AM: After my classes, I tried applying the Dilber Multicolor skin. When assaulted by OMG BRIGHT COLOR, I started to fiddle with the Navy skin to darken it for immediate viewing, planning to do more to the skins later.

November 27th:
12:00AM-1:30AM: I had to go to bed early that night, seeing as I had a test that I had been studying for while working on the new skin and other site features.
4PM-12:00AM (as usual, some time out for dinner and such): Whew! Ed had a long day of classes. Back to the grind. I started screwing with the PJIRC SMF implementation (Java chat), and got it after a few hours. This was also when I started futzing with the green skin, checking out how files were linked and how the site structure worked (because I hadn't had time earlier). Jack and I made the usual FESS forums and did the permissions dance, and when Steve posted at 10PM we opened stuff up not long after, after I'd nuked the old users.

November 28th:
12:00AM-4:00AM: Lots and lots of validation push-throughs. Lots of bug fixes and other crap, including fixing the somewhat angry gallery (it disappeared from the skin when I switched to DilberMC and I hadn't caught it before now). I also started drawing up ideas for a killer feature that I have sort-of-revealed that will be something no other FE sites have.
4:00PM-12:00AM: Did the rest of the bits and pieces for the Lyn skin, more bug fixing, validation pushes, question answering, post porting, and other crap. Lots of the stuff you don't see because it happens and notice only when it doesn't. Did some more thinking and discussing said killer feature.

November 29th:
12:00AM-2:30AM: Same as above. Began work on the silver Pent skin.
Intermittent time (about five hours after 2PM, in between other things): More killer feature work, more Pent skin (I haven't done the graphics yet, but the coloring and the minor images in the background are, after much twiddling, the exact way I want it. Yay Photoshop.

November 30th:
12:00AM-2:00AM: Exploring other post options I hadn't gotten a chance to mess with. Found an item that warns a poster who tries to reply to a post over X days old - no more necroposts in ignorance.

So, a quick total of that is 52.5 hours. Counting breaks, occasional games of Minesweeper, and dinner, let's knock that down to 45 hours. 45 hours of work in the span of 3AM, November 25, to 2AM, November 30th. 45 hours out of just shy of 120. One hour out of every three, I've been working on FESS.

My usual fee for a 45-hour project comes out to around two thousand dollars. $2,000. $2 * 10^3.

Through that time, I have kept my mouth shut a number of times through whining and complaints. Some of them were worthwhile issues that needed to be fixed right then, although the bitching (as opposed to a PM or post in the appropriate place) was unappreciated. Others were minor issues or personal preferences, elevated to the status of "bug" or "problem."

And some were just fucking cosmetic.


In the example above I have no problem with SomeGuy bringing to my attention a problem. There might be a code problem, after all, and that I would want to know about. I told him I'd take care of it when I had a chance.

Then ShinQuickMan thinks it's a good idea to chime in with "Busy enough to respond here?". My client pings me when my name is said, as SomeGuy did. Of course I will look at it. That doesn't mean I'm staring at an IRC client with bated breath waiting for the next question or complaint. I tossed off a response and went back to work.

Apparently, for some FESSers (and while ShinQuickMan is who I am publically calling out, there are others who have done the same, Kirby/Bobo among them but certainly not alone), this is not enough. Apparently I am supposed to be at your beck and call, ready to do anything that needs doing.

That's not going to happen. I have donated a sizable chunk of time to this project. That is time I could have spent on other things: working on my business plan for a startup competition I'm participating in, preparing materials for my Google Summer of Code application later this winter, studying, homework, sleep. As it is, over 35% of my time over the last five days has been spent directly on this forum.

This isn't just the new FESS, either. I am typically the go-to guy when something breaks. I'm not complaining about that. It's a job I offered to do. When the Homer Alaska Girl showed up, I was the one who called Superbus and told him about it. I was the one to post a message in the forum for those who could see it. I was the one who sent out a mass mail. I was the one who set up the fessdowntime domain and, then, with some tricks I was surprised worked, the tempfess domain.

It would behoove many of you to realize that I turned down sex to fix that mess. That same day, some twit decided it would be a good idea to jerk my chain for lulz.

So I would like to know how much of that $2000 ShinQuickMan is going to pay me. Because while I will do a lot for FESS, I won't do it for ungrateful shits.



Another thing.

I am an asshole. Moreover, I am an unrepentant asshole. I'm not going to change that for you, or Bus, or Steve, or anyone else. That said, I am not unreasonable, and believe it or not, I am approachable and even friendly when the first words out of your mouth amount to "BAWWWWWWWWW". I'm growing sick and fucking tired of getting chewed out because your feelings got hurt because you decided to BAWWWWWWWWW. I notice that certain other people are as pointed as I am, or moreso, but you don't BAWWWWWWWWW about 'Bus, now, do you, huh? (EDIT: Bus refers to one of these people in his own post below mine. She is specifically someone who I expect to respond to this topic, given her little games. I will be contacting you if you do not.)

I'm not pointing at Bus being a pointed asshole to someone to discount his part. I certainly can't afford to run my own domain, let alone seven for a forum that makes me no money. But I am using him as an example: the monetary value of what I (and before me Dale) do almost certainly exceeds that. Consider that the next time you decide to complain, and ask if you'd bitch and moan if it was anyone other than mean ol' Blacky Wacky.

(Aside: I feel I must apologize to Dale, who I have been an asshole to in the process of taking over the webmaster job. He didn't deserve it, and given the clusterfuck I'm currently leading through I can empathize with his position on a lot of these things. I'm an asshole, but I try to be an asshole for the right reasons. So I'm sorry, Dale.)



The floor is open.


EDIT: Well, not quite. I feel that a little bit more of the ShinQuickMan asshattery is in order:

<Blacky Wacky>   Unless you guys want to start PAYING for my time, you can eat the peanuts out of my shit if you want me to drop what I'm working on to jump to your fucking beck and call.
<Blacky Wacky>   Does anyone want to BAWWW about how unreasonable and mean that is?
(omit, but not so you miss the point)
<Blacky Wacky>   I expect a fucking answer, ShinQuickMan.
(twenty minutes pass, and CTCP tells me he's not idle)
<Blacky Wacky>   ShinQuickMan: Still waiting.
|<--   ShinQuickMan has left serenia (Quit: )
<Blacky Wacky>   ...well, THAT'S interesting.

I expect an answer to why he pulled that. In this thread. Before he makes another post anywhere else.

FURTHER EDIT: You can thank him for making me spend the last half an hour writing this, instead of doing further work on the site.

[Superbus]

Ed forgot something:

Total time he took a couple weeks ago to help me get the temp forum up: about 20 - 30 hours of domain changing, SQL dropping, etc. And I'm no longer the only person that's turned down sex to get/keep FESS going.

I'm personally getting a little sick of the "Blacky Wacky is meen!" comments, especially considering most of the complainers were the same people that were all "Blacky Wacky moderator, omgyayz!" when I promoted him in the first place to be a temporary mod after the Jet and Zephyr Incident. It's all good until someone's feelings get hurt. What I love is people coming to me to say "Ed is mean, make him go away!", and while I've been on him to pick his spots better for awhile, not only am I likely the person Blacky Wacky is most like, he's the person who, while I was still root, I asked to fix our website. And in addition to this, I'm not even the fucking root anymore! So people coming to me are wasting their air.

Furthermore, the fact of the matter is I gave up root of a domain and website that I technically own for a reason: I'm getting tired of the day-to-day. I work 14 hours a day on most days; the past couple weeks, no less than 12, and that's not counting FESS shit for a broken domain that I can't get anyone's help with, save... wait for it... Blacky Wacky and Togieduo! This is for the heavy lifting, mind you. If you all wonder why I stick with Blacky Wacky, friendship has nothing to do with it, and we've had it out quite often, especially lately, especially with the way he deals with members at times.

I typically hate posts like this, but I think there's a ridiculous sense of entitlement among the members, where we're giving so much and so much, and they only stop telling me "no! Let us donate! Don't pay!" to tell Steve and Ed "So, what's with my fucking member icon!?". And those are the good ones! I had a prominent member come to me on Saturday, ignored my away message (which said "only if it's important"; put this in perspective, HINATA didn't bother me while I had this up, and I sleep with her!), and whined that she was thinking of leaving because Blacky Wacky was mean to someone in chat (who earned it, BTW). I told her that I felt her pain, but she was complaining to the wrong person, but continued to complain to me, and when I said that I REALLY didn't have time, she just went "oh, he'll (Sword Saint) just shrug me off...", and never did go to him with her complaint. She could talk behind a staff member's back, but couldn't even bring it up to the root; she brought it to a friend because it was convenient. After finding out she never took my advice, I don't care if she stays or goes, and this is a friend of mine.

And that goes for everyone. We're working for you. We're all - mods, admins, Lts., and other people like Aerfall and CrazyDitto, who are doing work behind the scenes. But we're not going to pander to you. If all you're going to do is demand more and more, then leave. Get the fuck off my domain, because I don't want you, and I feel comfortable in speaking for Sword Saint and the others in speaking for them as well. If you want to help us keep this the #1 English speaking FE Community, then great, because I don't intend on going anywhere. Member interference, and our pandering to it at first, is a large reason the website needs a total rebuild, because we tried to please everyone. Not again.

If you're coming to me to complain about Blacky Wacky, I'm behind him and what he's doing. He doesn't have full reign... but no one does here. Not even Sword Saint. Not even me. So I'm asking - no, demanding - everyone get behind Blacky Wacky's and Togieduo's efforts for this board, or go away. If you don't like Blacky Wacky, put it aside.



And let me tell you something about Blacky Wacky and myself: I've mellowed with age. Ed hasn't. He will, but he hasn't yet. But don't cross me, and don't cross the people I originally put in a position to help the community out, or I will make Blacky Wacky look like a fucking kitty-cat. Jesus, times like this, I wish our old FESS archives were still complete. Ask the old-timers what happens when someone gets me going. Remember this before you complain about Blacky Wacky...

[i am a raging faggot who loves big dicks]

Oh. And one more thing.

There are people--Kzer-za, Rei-from-FEPlanet, I'm looking at you--who ask (whenever I'm conveniently not around to hear it) why I'm staff.

I think this is your answer.

Floor's open. Please don't post if all you have is thanks/congratulations/cheers/whatever. I want to hear from people who still have a beef with me--yes, I want to hear it publicly--or have some questions.

I'm going to bed. It's 4:30 in the morning and I have work tomorrow.

EDIT:

Member interference, and our pandering to it at first, is a large reason the website needs a total rebuild, because we tried to please everyone. Not again.

I need volunteers who know HTML or are willing to quickly learn for the website portion of this shindig. PM me if that's your bag.

[Tiltyu]

Just so you guys know (Specifically YOU, Chris) I remember saying that Blacky Wacky hasn't done ANYTHING to me before. So, it's not a case of "He's just being mean to me!"

I was all for him in the beginning, because he was strict, and at the time, we needed that. However, as time passed, I've noticed he's been getting slapped on the wrist many, many times. I've seen the way you treat people, and it's not just being blunt. I've seen something along the lines of "You're wrong, I'm right, suck on my dick and go away" attitude. I don't think this is right for FESS, and it's making it hard to stick around. However, I was ranting to you when I told you that, wasn't I? If I was really this big Drama llama, I would have publicly posted how I feel, like someone else you know, who's been long gone, Chris.

And yes, I only posted this because I have to. However, at least I feel good getting this all out, instead of confiding in someone.

[i am a raging faggot who loves big dicks]

Thank you.

Now I have a question for you. Why do you think that IMing Chris to complain when he and I are busy working on things (that's what the away message was for) is justified? Why do you believe that it is a good idea to complain to someone else instead of making some effort to discuss the matter with the person you have decided to have a problem with?

This is an honest question, because to be frank I don't understand how the notion of doing an end run around someone can be justified. (The excuse of "not being comfortable" is a shoddy one at best, so please don't insult my intelligence by using it; lots of people do uncomfortable things every day.)

[Tiltyu]

Thank you.

Now I have a question for you. Why do you think that IMing Chris to complain when he and I are busy working on things (that's what the away message was for) is justified? Why do you believe that it is a good idea to complain to someone else instead of making some effort to discuss the matter with the person you have decided to have a problem with?

This is an honest question, because to be frank I don't understand how the notion of doing an end run around someone can be justified. (The excuse of "not being comfortable" is a shoddy one at best, so please don't insult my intelligence by using it; lots of people do uncomfortable things every day.)

Well, regarding the away message, I downloaded the new version of AIM, and everything was wonky. He was going on and off away (like alot of other people were), so I wasn't sure if it was AIM or not. I know not to disturb him when he's away.

Because I (found) it comfortable talking to Chris, as he's a way for me to vent my anger. I've never wanted to approach you before, because of the way you act. It might not have been the most honest way of going about anything, but I had to vent my frustration somehow.

[i am a raging faggot who loves big dicks]

Vent frustration? Get a punching bag.

Fix a problem? Talk to the person you have a problem with.

In any case, thank you for being honest.

[Tiltyu]

Vent frustration? Get a punching bag.

Fix a problem? Talk to the person you have a problem with.

In any case, thank you for being honest.

Well, I'm talking to you now. I know you have alot going on with the forums and everything, but I really think you should check in with yourself sometimes.

Notice how I'm friends with Chris? He's really strict, but   it's not to the point where he's calling people names, or raising his opinion higher than others.

EDIT: I'm also not trying to come off as offensive or antagonizing.

[i am a raging faggot who loves big dicks]

That's fair. As I said, I am an asshole, but I think people do not quite understand that it's entirely nonpersonal. I have no agenda. I have nothing against anyone (until they do something particularly stupid, and at that point they know why I have a problem with them--y helo thar, Mitty). And similarly, it doesn't faze me when people speak in kind. (See god-knows-how-many Bus posts.)

And you aren't coming off as such, this is perfectly reasonable and something I am aware of.

[Sword Saint]

Still waiting for that formal complaint, by the way.

Oh, wait.


Anyway, I'm not as much of a yeller as Blacky Wacky or Bus here, but I naturally agree with what they say.  I don't mind reasonable discussions on concerns.  I have them frequently with many members and have since I had a vet badge.  What I do mind is crybaby behavior and passive-aggressive bullshit: this is a problem I've seen in chat lately.  If you really, honestly have a problem, bring it to query or learn to be civil.

[Eltoshen]

There are times when some people don't exactly know everything about what you guys are talking about.  Me, for instance.  And of course, people sometimes make silly statements.

I'd think it'd be better if you guys just told them that the option was already considered, or "blablabla...etc" instead of cussing them out and making them seem like idiots.  I think that'll alleviate some of the tension on the board?

[i am a raging faggot who loves big dicks]

To be honest and possibly offensive: Generally, when we offer an option regarding something technical to the member base, we have considered the alternatives. Between Dale (who still offers us advice), Bus, and me, it's either come up or hasn't needed to be. If we do not offer an option, it's usually because it's shitty.

aznddongman (a name that is probably against our rules, but hey, whatever works) aired the notion we should move to phpBB. I lol'd hard, and backhanded him exceptionally hard, not because of the suggestion but because he tried to sound like he knew what the fuck he was talking about. He didn't. I take a dim view of that. This is an example of a suggestion that Dale, Bus, and I didn't need to even air, because the collective response was "lol, oh my fucking god lol, no." (Because phpBB is trash.)

We know our shit, and we know our shit very well. When we go "this is the best course of action," that's because it almost always is, and while someone may be trying to be helpful by saying "well, what about this," unless they are one of a very small group they are almost certainly wasting our time. (That group generally knows who they are.)

I for one am much less likely to dropkick someone for such a suggestion if it is made in a PM. Why? Because it isn't being dragged out in public. Trying to get a coherent response out of FESSers is like herding cats. Some member throws a shiny, it takes a week to get things back in line. If an idea is good, then we can say "post it," and bring the discussion forward.

[Eltoshen]

Ah, okay.  Well, I've learned something new.

[Tiltyu]

Still waiting for that formal complaint, by the way.

Oh, wait.


Anyway, I'm not as much of a yeller as Blacky Wacky or Bus here, but I naturally agree with what they say.  I don't mind reasonable discussions on concerns.  I have them frequently with many members and have since I had a vet badge.  What I do mind is crybaby behavior and passive-aggressive bullshit: this is a problem I've seen in chat lately.  If you really, honestly have a problem, bring it to query or learn to be civil.

I would have queried you on chat, if I hadn't been locked out (for not being registered, but I can't remember how to, anymore). PMing was an option, I just find them slow. It slipped my mind, I guess.

[i am a raging faggot who loves big dicks]

Chat does not require a registered nick.

[Tiltyu]

Chat does not require a registered nick.

I got a message saying that I needed a registered nick to get there, though. D:

[Furry Curry is Furry]

I got a message saying that I needed a registered nick to get there, though. D:

You must have tried when we had that on as a joke- It's not the real thing, the Admin's just set it every once in a while to annoy the non-regged for fun.

[WyvernSageLord]

And not only that, if you wanna query someone, you don't have to be in the chat they're in to do it. All you gotta do is type /query <Person's name>

[Superbus]

Well, regarding the away message, I downloaded the new version of AIM, and everything was wonky. He was going on and off away (like alot of other people were), so I wasn't sure if it was AIM or not. I know not to disturb him when he's away.

Because I (found) it comfortable talking to Chris, as he's a way for me to vent my anger. I've never wanted to approach you before, because of the way you act. It might not have been the most honest way of going about anything, but I had to vent my frustration somehow.

You were no longer venting your anger about something. You were complaining to an admin about a moderator behind his back, and when said admin asked you to take it to the root, mainly because we had received other complaints and it would help the root to get his shit together, you shuffled your feet, pouted, and never did it. You took my good advice and ignored it because you were afraid of having your feelings hurt. Does it hurt that I dragged this into public? I'll bet Sword Saint and Blacky Wacky were a little hurt (though that might not be the correct word, especially in Ed's case, who's reaction was basically "lol") that you 1) didn't come talking to anyone else, or 2) thought you would get blown off like that. I told you flat-out that I had an entire populace to be concerned about, and you simply did not care to think about that; it was All Tiltyu, All The Time. And when you combine that with ignoring what I have to say that isn't what you want to hear, no, I don't have patience for that. And to hide that behind "oh, I was just venting to a friend", that's bullshit, at best, you were venting to a friend that had the power to get you what you wanted.

The gist of the conversation, from what I gathered, was "it's him or me! ". And if I have to choose? Well, it was great having you as a member of our boards while it lasted, and I'll see you in AIM, Tilt.

Now, onto other issues... Ed is right on one thing, but only partially, because anytime you're dealing with a large group of people, you have to generalize things. EVERY big group I've seen is like that herd of Cats that Blacky Wacky mentioned, where you really have to work to get them going the right direction. Therefore, whenever we need to bring something to the members, it's already been exhaustively researched by us. There's no such thing as a stupid question or suggestion, but if we say "these are our options" and give three choices, A, B and C, that's because D - Q have already been eliminated. The DIFFERENCE between me and most of the others is that I've been making these decisions for three years now, back to when Eaichu and I were building the foundation for this community. We know what we're doing because we've done pretty well by the community for that time, despite what Gunlord might think.

This is an absolutely crucial time for FESS. We're building a totally new forum - the first significant software change since we first moved to FESS2 in 2004 - and a new website, and we're at a strange domain. Furthermore, a lot of members don't even know what's going on; they just know that Ike's been replaced by a grinning bitch with a backpack, and they're sad, and of course, spam filters nowadays are equivalent to Pakistani dictators in that anyone that doesn't fall directly in line is eliminated, so the bulk email we sent out before - and the one that Steve's likely to send out soon - were sucked up by spam filters or outright dropped - so they're never going to know. So we need everyone to pull a little weight here. We essentially need two things:

1) We need to hear any greivances you guys might have with anyone or anything. Have to do it here? Fine. Need to do it in PM? OK. But we need to clear any bad air that's out there. We're not to the point where we need a "State of the Boards" thread, but we do need feedback that doesn't revolve around "u guyz rock~"

2) We need people to get the word out that we're still here, and have moved, and are better than ever. I'm not saying spam up forums, or go breaking rules; I wouldn't tolerate that. But some subtile name dropping isn't a bad idea.

With all this done, we'll be back to normal in no time. 

[Not Jesus. JFC: John Franklin Chicken? Gimme a clue, man!]

I was all for him in the beginning, because he was strict, and at the time, we needed that. However, as time passed, I've noticed he's been getting slapped on the wrist many, many times. I've seen the way you treat people, and it's not just being blunt. I've seen something along the lines of "You're wrong, I'm right, suck on my dick and go away" attitude. I don't think this is right for FESS, and it's making it hard to stick around.

This quote reflecs more or less the way I see Blacky Wacky. I'm gonna be honest, I never liked him being mod or chat op, Not even when we needed someone strict. His ("yours", I'm going to speak to Blacky Wacky from now on) attitude towards fellow fessers always annoyed me, since I found it disrespectful. Your countless useless discussions about trivial stuff (Firefox vs. IE; most recently your argument with Dale) that never end well are starting to get really old. Coming from a staff member it gives a bad example, and we've seen people getting GEOSed for less than that.
Now, I have nothing personal against you, I barely know you for that matter, and I do thank you for what you did since the "second incident". You were great at putting the forum back up. I do like you as a webmaster since you put effort into it, I just don't like an arrogant "asshole" (I didn't want to use this word, but hey, you said it yourself) as a Moderator.
I guess that's my opinion on the matter. Do whatever you want with it.

Also, it's really sad to see how FESSers that I know that disagree with Blacky Wacky's ways are keeping their mouths shut because they are afraid or something... I just added this last lines to ask this persons to post what they think so we could discuss our problems instead of pretending they don't exist.