Feb 2017 Archive, part a - PPC Posting Board

It's been 15 years... by Huinesoron on 2017-02-01 10:44:00 UTC Link to this

... but I've gotta admit I still miss these guys:

"They have a cave troll!"

(Also this and this from Dom's Instagram.)

Hopefully they can get the rest of the Fellowship together in time for the RotK 15th?

Also in Middle-earth news: if you're a fan of spending real money to get fake money, Shire Post have a kickstarter for some new coins, including a lovely crescent moon for Rivendell. They've also got a very pretty four seasons of Hollin on their website if you inexplicably have $90 without a good home.

hS

Re: It's been 15 years... by DrGonzo on 2017-02-01 19:32:00 UTC Link to this

Wait, what? Wow, I remember seeing the first film as a teenager, then going to my local bookshop to get copies of all three volumes.

I feel old now.

Has it really been that long? Goodness. by Iximaz on 2017-02-01 17:32:00 UTC Link to this

Gotta admit, those are some pretty neat fandom trinkets, but money's tight at the moment, so I shan't be getting anything.

~~I will not compare Orlando Bloom to Tom Felton, I will not compare Orlando Bloom to Tom Felton...~~

HI PEEPS! Newbie here! (first post) by Jay - Awesomeness Central on 2017-02-01 19:08:00 UTC Link to this

HI PEEPSIES! I'm a Newbie here!
*sips coffee*
I'm a fan of the PPC (obviously), and would love to eventually write my own PPC Agents.
*sips coffee*
I have one question: how can I adopt a mini-balrog? (though I really would like a mini-baragog.)
*sips coffee*
Want some coffee? I have lots of virtual coffee.
*sips virtual coffee*
See? Smell the exquisite 1s and 0s.
*sips coffee*
Can someone give me a plover? Or a pet Boromir? *drools* Pleeeeaseeee, preeety pleeeeeeeeeeaseeee. I'll treat them very well.
*sips coffee, drools about Boromir*
Ahhhhh.
*sips coffee, slaps face*
Sorry about that. On a more sane tangent, I'd like to recommend a Legendary Goodfic. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to do this, but this fic fits all the criteria. I'm recommending "The Skipper" by LinzRW.
*sips coffee, clears throat*
Now, the criteria... It'll be five years old in December. I turned up four results about the fanfiction itself on the first two Google pages when I searched "the skipper fanfiction," plus an additional three hits for the author's blog. It is the second most reviewed Lord of the Rings fanfiction on FF.net, with 3,988 reviews (and 1,010 faves!). Lastly (bonus!), if you search "Ana Stonbit fanart" you will get a good deal of results; heck, I searched for fanart of her weapon and got a result.
*tries to sip coffee and realizes that he's out, cries*
She is also *sob* the opposite of a *sob, hic* Mary-Sue.
*finds and sips hot chocolate*
If you hadn't noticed, I ramble. I also don't know when or how to stop. So, bye?

First plover! (nm) by Tawaki on 2017-02-03 15:51:00 UTC Link to this

Whoop whoop! My very first plover! (nm) by Jay - Awesomeness Central on 2017-02-03 17:29:00 UTC Link to this

Man, this is gonna feel weird... by HerrWozzeck on 2017-02-03 04:41:00 UTC Link to this

...but hey, I guess I better get back in the groove now, right?

Hi! Welcome to the PPC! We've got craziness here, so have an autographed basketball!

Oh, and also this: https://youtu.be/1BQQQ2bu3GM

Thanks a lot! by Jay - Awesomeness Central on 2017-02-03 15:17:00 UTC Link to this

Unfortunately, I don't play basketball... The music was very interesting though.

Welcome to the madhouse! by eatpraylove on 2017-02-02 03:59:00 UTC Link to this

Here's some popcorn and, since you're so interested, Borromior the mini-Balrog! He likes bacon, raw eggs, and fangirls. Nice to see someone else giving Boromir some love. :)

Erm... by Neshomeh on 2017-02-02 05:16:00 UTC Link to this

Unless you are Cassie Cameron-Young in disguise, you can't actually hand out mini-Balrogs. Sorry. Cassie is keeping that list. (And incidentally, Borromior is not on it. Where'd he come from?)

Unless she deputized you and I missed it?

~Neshomeh does miss things occasionally.

Rats. Sorry. by eatpraylove on 2017-02-02 17:39:00 UTC Link to this

I rescued that guy in "An Appeal to the Gods" and have no idea where to contact Cassie. Please help.

See my reply to AC below. {= ) (nm) by Neshomeh on 2017-02-02 18:08:00 UTC Link to this

Thanks! I hope I'm insane enough. by Jay - Awesomeness Central on 2017-02-02 04:35:00 UTC Link to this

ThankyouthankyouThankYouTHANKYOU, fellow Boromir fan! I will take very good care of Borromior.

Also, thanks for the popcorn.

Welcome! Re. adopting minis... by Neshomeh on 2017-02-02 02:24:00 UTC Link to this

I've recently been working with this very information, and every mini article on the wiki should have information about how to adopt that mini in its infobox. For a lot of them it's just "try asking on the Board," but in the case of mini-Balrogs, there is actually an adoption center! You should ask there; or if that fails, try cassie.dramateacher at gmail dot com.

Now, I'm not sure if you meant to say you also want a mini-Aragog or if you were being silly and/or looking for some sort of terrifying Balrog x Acromantula hybrid. I can help with the former, but not so much with the latter. ^_~

~Neshomeh

Re: Welcome! Re. adopting minis... by Jay - Awesomeness Central on 2017-02-02 02:55:00 UTC Link to this

Oh my GOSH! It's THE Neshomeh!

Actually, there was a Balrog x Acromantula hybrid in HFA. I'm assuming it's the result of misspelling a character's name in a crossover fic. I was wondering if there were more...

Thanks for answering my question.

Welcome aBoard! by SkarmorySilver on 2017-02-02 01:05:00 UTC Link to this

Have one of my own shed feathers and a complimentary kit of Spikes!

Thanks! Despite the fact that I don't know what a Spike is! (nm) by Anonymous on 2017-02-02 01:17:00 UTC Link to this

What's a Spike? (nm) by Jay - Awesomeness Central on 2017-02-02 01:16:00 UTC Link to this

It's literally a spike. by Matt Cipher on 2017-02-02 07:23:00 UTC Link to this

Skarmorys have feathers made of steel... Sharpy-sharpy stabby-stabby.

Ah. That makes sense. (nm) by Jay - Awesomeness Central on 2017-02-02 15:05:00 UTC Link to this

Hello hello! Welcome to your new job at Freddy's by Alleb on 2017-02-02 00:10:00 UTC Link to this

Welcome to the PPC, fellow LotR fan! How is it at Awesomeness Central? My newbie gift to you--an urple ocarina! And some wilver earmuffs. For the noise.

I'm actually familiar with that fic. I'm not up to writing an in-depth analysis of it in regards to Legendary status at the moment, but such a thread should be made, and I will comment on it.

-Alleb

URPLE OCARINA!!! O.O by Jay - Awesomeness Central on 2017-02-02 00:16:00 UTC Link to this

EEEEEE!!! URPLE! It SOUNDS so urple!! Thanks for the earmuffs, they're quite unfortunately necessary.
Everything is perfectly fine at Awesomeness Central ;), apart from the urple noise (it's fast become my Plovermir's favorite toy *shudders*) .
So glad you like "The Skipper."

Hello newbie. by Hardric on 2017-02-01 21:11:00 UTC Link to this

Well, guess this gift is an evident one... Have some black-hole coffee.

Now, research were done and the questions asked, so I'll wish you weelcome here.

~~And leave some coffee for the other peoples.~~

Thanks! by Jay - Awesomeness Central on 2017-02-01 23:15:00 UTC Link to this

Yay! Black-hole coffee.
And there's no way that any coffee whatsoever will be left for the other peoples, I have the black-hole of coffee (muahaha).

HI PEEP! Larfen here! (I'm bad at math, sorry) by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2017-02-01 20:32:00 UTC Link to this

You have come to the right place, my friend. For as a professional gift giver and part-time reverse thief, I can fulfil both your requests!
Huzzah!
So, I present to you: Plovermir!
What do you have to say to our newbie and your new best friend, Plovermir?

'AAAAAAAAAAHHH'

Oh, charming! Anything else?

'AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH'

How cuuuuuute! Do you have anything else to say?

'I AM A CRIME AGAINST NATURE'

Awwwww!
What a sweetie!

And since it seems like nobody else has asked: what're your fandoms?
Well, I mean, other than the extensive Plovermir fandom, home to one of the largest communities on the internet. Other than that, what're your fandoms?

And - welcome!
And, yes, those 1s and 0s are, indeed, exquisite. I have never smelt a 1 or an 0 more exquisite than these particular ones. And 0s.

A Kindred Spirit! by Jay - Awesomeness Central on 2017-02-01 20:35:00 UTC Link to this

AAAAAAWWWWWW! I love the Plovermir!!!! Iss KYOOT!!

My fandoms are Lord of the Rings (and The Hobbit), Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and Generic Fandoms 8, 6, and 9.

I'm also bad at math.
*sips coffee*

'WILL NO-ONE BESTOW MERCY UPON ME?!' by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2017-02-02 05:32:00 UTC Link to this

Awwwwwww!
He's heartbreaking, he's so cute, the little critter!

As a fine fellow who is largely unversed in The Hunger Games, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and any of the Generic Fandoms (I've been trying to get into 6, I swear!) I can safely say we have essentially no fandom crossover. Other than those two times I read The Hobbit.
Or was it three times? Or fifty-seven?
Er. Bad at math.

But, yes, those were an absolutely brilliant one-hundred and thirty-eight reads, they were!
If there's a book out there with a soul, it's The Hobbit.
And Bilbo, mate. Don't get enough characters like him.
Or, well. I don't read enough characters of that type.

Which fandoms are you in? by Jay - Awesomeness Central on 2017-02-02 05:38:00 UTC Link to this

I agree about Bilbo, and The Hobbit in general.

I forgot to mention that I'm also in the Septimus Heap, Shannara, Redwall, Dragonlance, and Inheritance fandoms.

Septimus Heap fans have been crawling out of the woodwork by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2017-02-03 05:10:00 UTC Link to this

Lately, that is.

You could almost say there's a Heap of us? (nm) by Storme Hawk on 2017-02-04 01:16:00 UTC Link to this

*leans against the woodwork* Did someone say Septimus Heap? by Zingenmir on 2017-02-03 15:03:00 UTC Link to this

Those books held up pretty well, last time I gave them a read. I've got fond memories of them, and while they're on the highest shelf with things I don't read often, I do still have the five I own out. Looks like three of them are hardcover.

~Z

Truly, it is a Magykal time for us fans. (nm) by Iximaz on 2017-02-03 05:12:00 UTC Link to this

Yay! Fellow Septimus Heap fans! by Jay - Awesomeness Central on 2017-02-03 15:06:00 UTC Link to this

Frankly, I didn't know it was all that popular.

Pfffwhoa by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2017-02-02 09:34:00 UTC Link to this

That there's a lot of fandoms the PPC is drowning in, that is!*
I reckon you'll do well here, then, oy?

That there's also a lot of fandoms I'm not part of, but that's besides the point!
My fandoms are very small, rather obscure and, frankly, probably rubbish.

Also, were you asking about my fandoms?
If so, thank you very much!
This feels a bit like I'm a carpenter and one of my clients has just come over to my house out of nowhere and installed the wooden outdoors toilet.
Assuming that's the case, anyhow.

If it's not the case, I suppose I'll just follow nature's calls indoors.

*Keep your grain of salt a-ready, for not only am I rather dumb and unobservant with a bad memory, but estimation is technically a part of maths, and I am therefore rubbish at it.
But, I swear, at least three of that four have other people knocking around following them.
Dunno if we got Inheritance people here. Perhaps!

Newbie! *glomp* *poke* by Iximaz on 2017-02-01 20:07:00 UTC Link to this

Hello, and welcome aBoard! For your newbie gift, take this plate of freshly-made SPaGhetti!

*steals coffee for self*

Hope you like it here! It's good to see newbies who've done the research. Still, just in case—let me point you to the the Constitution.

Anyway, welcome, welcome and have a link to our Discord chatroom!

NOOOOOOO!!! MY COFFEE! by Jay - Awesomeness Central on 2017-02-01 20:14:00 UTC Link to this

Also, why am I getting glomped and poked?

Standard newbie greeting. :P by Iximaz on 2017-02-01 20:16:00 UTC Link to this

Because nothing says hello like getting tacklehugged by an internet stranger and then poked on the cheek.

Sure... (nm) by Jay - Awesomeness Central on 2017-02-01 20:26:00 UTC Link to this

Sorry, I'll stop. (nm) by Iximaz on 2017-02-01 20:43:00 UTC Link to this

No, it's totally fine. by Jay - Awesomeness Central on 2017-02-02 03:05:00 UTC Link to this

I was just curious about why, it makes sense though.

Hi there! by palindromordnilap on 2017-02-01 19:23:00 UTC Link to this

Welcome aBoard! I hope you'll like it here. c:
Have this two-hour-long, semi-sentient piece of music. I'm not linking it, it's already lurking around in your head now that I mentioned it. Don't worry, it's nice.

Semi-sentient music?! by Jay - Awesomeness Central on 2017-02-01 19:26:00 UTC Link to this

At least it's a nice piece of music...

Hey ther-- WHOA! by Matt Cipher on 2017-02-01 19:18:00 UTC Link to this

Chill with the coffee, bruh... gurrl... guurl-bruh...

I unfortunately have no knowledge on every formality you need to adopt a mini (OY, NOTARY, WHICH FORM WAS IT AGAIN!?)... and I don't have any plovers on me... I can offer a barrel of Industrial Sprinkles? (Which are probably edible...)

As for the recommendations, cool your jets there and wait until it hits the required five years, okay? Okay!

And besides that... I guess welcome? :P

By the way, I am probably gonna call you AC, just because Jay would be confusing with ~~Our Lady and Founder~~ Jay Thorntree.

AC is fine by Jay - Awesomeness Central on 2017-02-01 19:21:00 UTC Link to this

I'm a guy. Also there is no way I'm going to chill with the coffee. *sips coffee, laughs hysterically* It keeps me nice and hyper.
You can totally call me AC, I had a feeling someone would bring up the name similarity.

Bump thread for the Glarn vote and related matters by Tomash on 2017-02-02 02:56:00 UTC Link to this

So, a rather important thread has fallen off of the front page without conclusive resolution being reached on several important matters. We have reached consensus on the idea of a world-readable mod channel, and #upstairs has been created.

However, the question of what, if anything, to do about GlarnBoudin has not yet been fully resolved. The vote was initially called for in this subthread. A current vote count (which hasn't changed much since the previous one) is below. We seem to be in general agreement on Option 1 (giving Glarn one last chance and automatically banning him for a year if he breaks the rules again), but the matter is not entirely resolved. In addition, the mod team has been able to locate evidence of misconduct due to the introduction of a search feature to Discord.

As a result of the evidence and discussion surrounding it, Huinersoron has called for Constitutional amendment proposals, if needed in response to an apparent lack of clarity in the Constitution on the subject of stalking and other similar forms of harassment.

Current vote counts (same trickle-down count as before):

Number of people who voted: 19 (Tomash, Tira, Good Mod Addict, Desdendelle, SkarmorySilver, Granz, Neshomeh, Akrinor, Delta Juliette, VixenMage, Mattman The Comet, eatplaylove, Hardic, Sergio Turbo, Storme Hawk, doctorlit, Matt Cipher, Aegis, Huinersoron (I think))

Option 1, as written: 84% (everyone except eatpraylove, Mattman, and Akrinor)

Option 1, but with a permaban: 16% (Tira and doctorlit)

Option 1, but with a 3 month ban: 95% (everyone but Mattman)

Option 1, but with a 1 month ban, and then a permaban if it happens again: 5% (Mattman). If the "and then" is removed, I could interpret this passing unanimously.

Short, symbolic ban: 10% (Tomash and Akrinor)

Chat probation on return: 5% (Tira)

Ban: 0-5% (I'm not sure if Huinersoron was voting in favor of it or not)

Please don't reply to the thread that's not on the front page. If you want to continue a discussion from there, please quote and/or link to the post you're replying to from the other thread.

- Tomash, this week's designated paper pusher

Closing the Glarn vote by Tomash on 2017-02-09 21:53:00 UTC Link to this

Ok, so since it looks like we've had plenty of replies and we've been voting for about two and a half weeks now, it's time to actually announce a result.

Given my counts of the votes, the result is that GlarnBoudin will get one last chance if he returns. Should he continue to violate the Constitution, a ban of no less than three months will be imposed. (the exact length of the ban will be determined at the time it is imposed).

And so, final vote counts:
Number of people who voted: 24 (Tomash, Tira, Good Mod Addict, Desdendelle, SkarmorySilver, Granz, Neshomeh, Akrinor, Delta Juliette, VixenMage, Mattman The Comet, eatplaylove, Hardic, Sergio Turbo, Storme Hawk, doctorlit, Matt Cipher, Aegis, Huinesoron, 1visible, Alleb, Cat-on-the-Keyboard, SeaTurtle, [EvilAI]UBEROverlord)

Option 1, but with a 3 month ban (this one passed): 96% (everyone but [EA]UO)

Option 1, as written initially: 75% (everyone except eatpraylove, Mattman, Akrinor, Alleb, SeaTurtle, and [EvilAI]UBEROverlord)

Option 1, but with a permaban: 8% (Tira and doctorlit)

Short, symbolic ban: 8% (Tomash and Akrinor)

Chat probation on return: 4% (Tira)

Ban: 4% (Huinesoron)

Just a warning: 4% ([EvilAI]UBEROverlord)

I'm changing my vote to 'Ban.' by Aegis on 2017-02-09 23:37:00 UTC Link to this

I know, it's a moot point with even less significance now I know it won't actually do anything considering how everyone else has voted.

That said, as I stated previously I was only holding out on a ban because we had no record of Glarn's actions. Now that we do, I think it's clear that he's in violation of at least the spirit of the PPC, and has been harassing one of us after Iximaz made it clear she wanted no part in it.

Since we now have that evidence, I support the motion to ban him now, even if I know it won't actually happen.

Two things before I vote by [EvilAI]UBEROverlord on 2017-02-04 19:30:00 UTC Link to this
1. Would someone be kind enough to repost a list of all of the accusations currently levied against Glarn?
  
  2. This is a big one. Are we seriously trying someone in absentia? Is that really the kind of thing we want to do? All I see are some logs from the chat. And frankly in my opinion only a handful really seem to be discipline worthy, and none in my opinion at this point are ban worthy. I do not think it is fair for us to decide this without input from the accused. Every other vote that I am aware of since I have been here he have allowed the accused to speak for themselves. Why is this different?
  
  So I will go ahead and levy my vote. I say nothing more severe than a warning. We should not be making any kind of decision that could lead to a ban, whether immediate or in the future, without giving the accused to a chance to defend themselves.

A summary, then by Tomash on 2017-02-04 20:07:00 UTC Link to this

Initial accusations, posted here were:

1) Persistently holding NSFW/otherwise inappropriate conversations in chat even after being asked to stop

2) Persistently posting NSFW and creepy things in chat, again, after being repeatedly warned not to do this

3) Harassing (or, as later described, stalking) Iximaz and her characters

Chat moderators issued repeated warnings about these matters and eventually temporarily removed Glarn from the chat, as seen in the post containing the initial accusations.

Evidence for the above is linked mainly in this subthread.

To your second point, the trial is not in absentia. Glarn has been informed and has responded. I can forward you the email chain if you want more proof (I'll just need your email).

Additionally, the current consensus is that a final warning should be issued, and that if Glarn should return and violate the Constitution, he should be banned temporarily.

- Tomash

Well.. by Desdendelle on 2017-02-04 19:54:00 UTC Link to this

Dunno about 1); that's Tomash's business.
As things stand w.r.t. 2), we're not "trying" anybody — this is not a court — nor are we meting out punishment, or anything like that. We're simply debating the community's reaction to someone being rather unpleasant. About that, it seems that most people seem content to warn Glarn — if he returns — that he will be watched closely, and banned if he'd misbehave again.

Option 1, 3 month ban. (nm) by SeaTurtle on 2017-02-02 20:48:00 UTC Link to this

Relayed messages from GlarnBoudin by Tomash on 2017-02-02 19:44:00 UTC Link to this

About two days ago, I emailed GlarnBoudin, letting him know about the discussion and vote, so that he'd have a chance to participate in the conversation and give his side of the story.

He replied as follows:

I've been fairly busy working on my own projects, and I haven't really been visiting the PPC discussion board very often.

I also earnestly apologize for the thing with the RP; I legitimately wanted to apologize both in and out of character, and I really should have stopped a while ago.

I have a really dark sense of humor, and I apologize for not realizing that the PPC Discord wasn't the place for it sooner.

Honestly, I think that I'm probably gonna leave the PPC for a while, take a hiatus to cool off. Carnage has his own home now - a kaiju universe where he can have his own adventures - and, well, not to be rude, but-ah, screw it, I'm gonna be rude. You guys aren't nearly as interesting as I thought you'd be. I respect what you do, but seriously, you folks are kinda sticks in the mud, adopting a distinct 'git gud' mindset concerning fanfics. I still haven't forgotten your reactions to my work - that is, grabbing your metaphorical torches and pitchforks because Ix skimmed it and didn't like it. Yeah, yeah, you lot are probably gonna pick apart my argument, but eh, heck with it.

TL;DR Screw you guys, I'm going home.

I wasn't sure if this was meant to be addressed to me or the community, so I asked him if I could post his words on the Board, and if he had anything else to add. He responded with:

It was addressed to everybody. Sorry, I should have clarified that.

And no, there isn't really anything else I want to say other than, well, to lighten up, maybe ease up on calling what is and isn't a Sue when you've got bloody Time Lords all over the place. I might pop in from time to time to deliver some badfic, but I'm probably going to be gone from the community for a while.

And so, I return to the Pit of Voles from whence I came.

The end....

OR IS IT?

For context:
1) Carnage was one of Glarn's agent concepts

2) The conversation about Glarn's badfic alluded to in the emails did occur. However, I believe his summary of events is rather inaccurate. If anyone wants to see the logs, let me know, and I'll go find them.

- Tomash

Re: Relayed messages from GlarnBoudin by SkarmorySilver on 2017-02-03 13:49:00 UTC Link to this

As an outsider and an acquaintance of his elsewhere, and having now read these messages, I wish to change my vote to "Option 1 but with a 3-month ban if he causes trouble again", as with everyone else. I say this partly because I actually didn't want to be a part of all this initially. Looking back, it was probably my instinct to try and help people I regard as friends in times of adversity that led to me getting dragged in, and knowing that I could easily got caught in the crossfire, and that my efforts didn't make that much of a difference in the thick of things, I may have been better off remaining silent. Maybe.

That being said, it's good to see that Glarn has apologized for his behavior, or at least I hope that's the case - and in fairness to him, I took a second look at that story, and I feel that once you get past the... questionable elements, it actually makes for quite am interesting read, and I at least believe his efforts to justify the events. This of course does not mean I approve of how he behaved on the chat - he has creative potential, I can say that much, but he has yet to understand how to be respectful to others or to handle concrit, which is similar to how I was back when I caused no shortage of infuriating mayhem back in the day. Well, I was even dumber and didn't see sense until far too late, but still.

That being said, I also appreciate that Glarn is willing to take the time off to do his own thing and at least in his view, not have to conform to standards for a place he barely visits anyway. We aren't an obligation, and I know a few Boarders have just dropped off due to Real Life or their own projects, including some I know via PM. (And come to think of it, I haven't posted any new PPC writing pieces myself since last November, and that may or may not have anything to do with the fact that I start up my part-time job next week, and I swear Dad's keeping me away from the Internet on purpose for the sake of preparations!) I still think being blunt and flippant about such a critical situation isn't exactly wise or tasteful, but since it does seem like Glarn is leaving on his own volition, as I suspected, I don't think that really matters.

Glarn, if you ever read this, I hope you know that I harbor no hard feelings towards you for this or all the previous difficulties we had on the PPC chatroom. Opting to leave a tense situation before things escalated is a choice I should've made a long time ago during that disastrous group project, and it's a relief that you're willing to back down, hopefully to take the time to understand yourself a little better. I hope you're learning from this experience as much as we are, and I'm still holding out on the possibility that you may be able to come back to see us when you're older and wiser. For now, though, best of luck with your fiture endeavors, and I hope we can still keep in touch on DeviantArt and Tumblr, at least.

I think I would like to see those logs by [EvilAI]UBEROverlord on 2017-02-03 13:39:00 UTC Link to this

He is not the first person to bring up many of these issues. I would like to investigate it a bit further before making a decision one way or the other.

Here you are by Tomash on 2017-02-03 22:28:00 UTC Link to this

The logs. If you're creeped out by Zerg or similar things, you might not want to click, since they show up at one point. I've included plenty of context (possibly a bit too much).

Sorry about not posting screenshots, but my machine wasn't cooperating. You can search the chat for phrases from this to check me if you want. Also, the formatting's a bit wonky because I'm preserving the text as it appeared in the chat.

(And if you don't want to read all that, the fic in question. Rated T, but warns for gore. RWBY/Starcraft)

Sheesh. by Neshomeh on 2017-02-04 20:00:00 UTC Link to this

I can understand anyone being reactive and defensive in a real-time situation with lots of people questioning your work. That's one thing.

Coming back the next day and throwing a fit, though? Not so much. Especially when everyone has repented and apologized, AND the questions and critiques were perfectly valid, as far as I can tell. Unfortunately, I don't know RWBY or StarCraft, so reading the fic myself wouldn't do me any good, but if both the characterization of the main protagonist and the mechanics of the main antagonists are in question by people who DO know the continua, I call that a pretty shaky premise for a crossover. And I LIKE crossovers. {= /

~Neshomeh

Tell me... by GlarnBoudin on 2017-02-23 00:10:00 UTC Link to this

How does dogpiling and being told that I wrote badfic [i]when nobody even read the Glaurunging story[/i] equate with contstructive criticism?!

I vote option one, with any of the non-permanent bans by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2017-02-02 15:13:00 UTC Link to this

Because like hS said, there's a chance he's just being an inept teenager, and might be tolerable to be around five or ten years down the line.

--Key is assuming a very long lifespan for the PPC, but hey, it's lasted this long

I vote option 1 with 3-month ban. (nm) by Alleb on 2017-02-02 14:02:00 UTC Link to this

I'm fine with Option 1 + 3 month ban (nm) by Mattman The Comet on 2017-02-02 14:00:00 UTC Link to this

voting on option 1 by 1visible on 2017-02-02 10:21:00 UTC Link to this

A bit late, I know, but oh well.

On amending the Constitution. by Neshomeh on 2017-02-02 05:59:00 UTC Link to this

What about just inserting the word "harasses" in Article 1? Like so:

The PPC community will not tolerate any individual or group who intentionally harasses, discriminates against, abuses, persecutes, or otherwise attacks others in any way, shape, or form, for any reason. Et cetera.

"For any reason" seems to cover attention-seeking that crosses the line into stalking, I think, without outlawing repeatedly reminding someone to follow the rules and behave as fits an aspiring writer?

I feel like we might want to say something along the lines of "stop means stop," too—especially if multiple people are saying it—but I'm not sure if there's an elegant place to put it, or how careful we'd have to be to avoid a situation where someone can use Power Word NO to shut up anyone who has an opinion they simply don't agree with, or wants to talk about something they simply don't like. I seem to recall some concerns with that sort of thing being raised in a previous Constitution-amendment discussion. I don't think we want to silence our occasional serious discussions about religion, politics, etc. We just want them to not devolve into flaming.

~Neshomeh

P.S. C'mere, Huinersoron! Neshomesh and Huniesoron have Canon Cookies, and I'm sure they'll share. ^_^

Proposed amendment. by Huinesoron on 2017-02-03 12:06:00 UTC Link to this

Which I'm going to name as 'the Harassment Amendment', though it's expanded waaaaay beyond that scope.

My aim here is threefold: firstly, to work harassment into the opening articles; second, to improve the structure of the opening articles; third, to get 'stop when you're told to' into the Constitution.

In doing this, I ended up adding 5 Articles, 2 Sections, and completely reworking the first half of the Constitution.

Please pick this apart and change it, all at once or piecemeal (including changing things back) - none of it is set in stone. Please note that I've added a couple of questions after proposed Article 11, which I think the community really needs to offer an opinion on.

Section One: On Toleration And Its Limits

1. The PPC community is a tolerant and welcoming place. It is a home to people from all walks of life, with wildly different opinions on all manner of topics. Its members are proud to be able to discuss even difficult and controversial topics without falling into fighting. It is a place where everyone is respected as a person, regardless of who they are. All respectful opinions are treated with respect, whether they come from a newbie or someone who's been here fifteen years.

However:

2. The community will not tolerate any individual or group who intentionally discriminates against, abuses, persecutes, or otherwise attacks others in any way, shape, or form, for any reason. This includes, but is not limited to discrimination on the basis of sex, race, ability, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, and religion.

3. The community will not tolerate the use of language which evokes any form of discrimination or persecution. The subjects mentioned above, and others which cause genuine suffering (such as rape, murder, abuse, and mental health issues) should be discussed with sensitivity. Even 'joking' about these subjects is Not Funny; ‘it was just a joke’ is not an excuse - it’s self-incrimination.

4. The community will not tolerate any form of harassment between members of the PPC, whether it manifests as attacking, bullying, or pestering. Respect people's personal boundaries.

5. Those who engage in intolerable behaviour forfeit their right to respect; however, not warranting respect does not mean they do not warrant politeness. This means you are not allowed to descend into flaming and insulting them, but instead should follow Article 10 and the other provisions of the Constitution.

Section Two: On The Capacity To Engage In Mature Conversation

6. Do Not Flame. You are allowed to disagree with people, but Do Not Flame. There is a distinct difference between 'I don't agree with your opinion and I think that your theory is factually wrong' and 'You're an idiot and your opinion is built on lies and stupidity'. If you find that you're hurling insults around, just stop. This even (or perhaps especially) applies if you consider yourself to have been wronged by another community member. If it’s a misunderstanding, a flame is an unwarranted attack. And if they’re deliberately trying to provoke you, attacking them is exactly what they want - and damages the community as a whole. ((Current Article 2, as written.))

7. We encourage respectful, friendly debates here. Someone disagreeing your opinion is generally not an attack on you, and should not be taken personally. Should a debate escalate into personal attacks, flaming, or any form of disrespectful conduct for any reason, everyone involved should step back and calm down before continuing. If this cannot be done, it may be best to abandon the conversation entirely. ((Current Article 4, as written.))

8. If someone says something that seems offensive, but you’re not sure exactly what they meant, ASK them first, before jumping down their throats. Astonishingly enough, most people aren’t out to offend anyone. (If they are being deliberately insulting, believe me, you’ll have a lot of backup.) Don't be afraid to ask what someone meant - it isn't silly to want the full facts. Then, if there has been an honest misunderstanding, accept your mistake and move on. Apologies for making a mistake, and for being unclear, are recommended, but should not be demanded. ((Slight tweaks to second-to-last sentence.))

((The mimes have been thrown permanently into the pit to create a joke later.))

Section Three: On Making Reparations

9. If you believe someone is doing something wrong, it is important to tell them clearly and calmly what the unwanted behavior is, why it is unwanted (i.e. how it violates the Constitution and/or is offensive), and that they are being asked to stop. Shouting or snapping at people does not usually help, so it is generally best to address the issue sooner, with a clear head, rather than later, with lots of built-up frustration and anger. ((Per Nesh, with slight tweaks.))

10. Everyone deserves an honest second chance – which means, initially, a chance to stop, explain, and/or apologise. This means that, if you believe that someone is engaged in any violation of the Constitution, but particularly Articles 1-4, it is critical to make sure they understand what they are doing wrong, so that they can make amends. Explain it to them yourself, or ask a third party to do so – but the key word is explain. Telling someone to shut up because their opinion is unwanted does not constitute a chance. ((Current Article 7, as written.))

11. If someone or multiple someones have asked you to stop what you're doing, especially on the basis of the Constitution, take a step back. Stop and look at what you are doing or saying. Take the time to think about it - the PPC isn't going anywhere. Remember the foundation of respect that the PPC community is built on (see Article 1). If there is good reason for their requests that you stop, then apologise - it doesn't even hurt a little! It is always acceptable to explain yourself if you've made an honest mistake – we all do sometimes! – but please make sure that explaining why it happened once or twice doesn't turn into making excuses for why it keeps happening. In cases of persistent rule-breaking, may be invoked.

((Article 11 is partially cribbed from Nesh's suggestion, with big changes. In writing it, I ran into multiple questions I needed to ask:

1/ In the past, 'I'm sorry the thing I said offended you even though I didn't mean it to' has been a highly unacceptable response. What sort of apology are we asking for here? A simple 'sorry I said that'? What if you think the thing you said isn't something you should apologise for saying - say, if it's your religious belief?

2/ Nesh's suggested version presupposes that you've actually done something which you should be told to stop. What if you haven't? Article 5 [current] / 8 [this proposal] says that the person doing the accusing should apologise for their mistake - but Nesh has proposed that the person being accused should also be apologising. I think this needs serious clarification. It also has relevance to:))

12. Wilful ignorance is not an excuse. If someone is ignoring the Constitution and claiming that they’re not really doing anything wrong - despite explanations to the contrary - that may constitute using up their chance. However, wilful ignorance on the part of the accuser is also not an excuse. If someone clarifies a genuine misunderstanding, continuing to push for an apology may count as persecution on your part. ((Article 8 as written.))

13. If you find it impossible to get along with another member of the PPC, you can take it up in private e-mail. However, the rules of civility and respect do not disappear outside PPC community spaces, or while talking about someone. Don’t engage in bullying behaviour, and don’t say anything about another PPCer you wouldn’t say to their face. Harassing others by private means is just as serious as harassing them in public, if not more so, and will be treated as such - which means that if you find yourself being harassed or bullied by another PPCer, please make the community aware! We cannot help with a situation if we don’t know it exists. ((Article 9 as written.))

14. The PPC as a community is responsible for upholding the Constitution. If following Article 10 doesn't resolve a situation, any and all uninvolved community members have a responsibility to back up the person who is in the right, or to defuse an unclear situation. It is never wrong to ask a third party to comment on a dispute, but try to find someone uninvolved; a mediator will be more useful for resolving a dispute than a supporter. ((Article 10 as written.))

14.5. If discussion is unable to resolve a situation, persistent rule-breakers can be shunned or told to leave the PPC community. We don’t want to do this - so if you're being accused of breaking a rule, take a step back and, if you are in the wrong, stop, apologise, and move on. Grudges are no fun! ((Article 10.5 as written.))

Section Four: On Sweet Mercy That Was Heavy

15. Wow. That was some seriously heavy reading, but it was important stuff. You still with us? Good! The rest isn't quite as intense, so it should be a breeze for you. As a reward for making it this far, here's a recording of a mime artist's interpretation of Hamlet.

... oh, wait. Never mind.

((Sections 5-8 are sections 3-6 as written.))

I warned you...

hS

Looks fine to me. by SeaTurtle on 2017-02-05 14:01:00 UTC Link to this

[Stamps with the Virtual Stamp of Approval]

Seems alright to me. =] (nm) by Scapegrace on 2017-02-05 08:54:00 UTC Link to this

This mostly looks great by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2017-02-05 08:07:00 UTC Link to this

Article 11, question 2: That's a tough one, yeah. While lots of apologies builds goodwill, which is nice, if the person being accused really hasn't done anything wrong it seems rather twisted to expect them to apologize. Well, perhaps an "I'm sorry for the misunderstanding" would be courteous, but it seems like a bit more than basic politeness. Something like Level Two politeness, or maybe even Level Three. And advanced levels of politeness are hard, especially if you've just been arguing (and if you're a teenage nerd with still-developing social skills, as I believe many of us are), and seem like a lot to require within Da Rules. Maybe we should put together an article on Politeness (like the article I suggested on Apologies), or something.

Minor quibbles:

Article 9: Does "sooner" really mean "with a clear head"? Don't people often say things they regret in the heat of the moment? I think this section would be clearer without the references to "sooner" and "later," just referring to the person's level of upset-ness, or else clarify. . . or am I being silly?

Article 11: In case of rule breaking, what should be invoked? Did you leave out a word? Or did you mean that this article may be invoked in case of rule-breaking. . . Yeah, you did, didn't you. Maybe put this sentence first, or tweak the phrasing.

Article 15: I like the idea of introducing some levity, but this shows a serious lack of knowledge as regards the Hamlet fandom (maybe fandom isn't the right word. Body of tradition? Anyway). The idea of a recording of a mime performing Hamlet isn't that funny, because the play has an intrinsic association with mime. It started in Shakespeare's time, when plays sometimes began with a "dumb show" -- a shortened, mimed version of the whole play. Hamlet's play-within-a-play has one, so the play itself tends to get given one too, spawning many school projects. . . of varying quality (student productions are the Shakespeare fandom's version of fanfic; most of them are terrible)(Not that we don't have fanfic, also of varying quality). Basically, there's nothing unusual about a mime interpretation of Hamlet, and there are altogether too many recordings in this genre.

--Key protects her fandoms, even when the canon's probably taken near-irreparable damage

P.S. Speaking of Hamlet, this is a thing of joy.

Re. 9 and more on 11. by Neshomeh on 2017-02-05 14:35:00 UTC Link to this
1. Hm, I had hoped that "with a clear head" would clarify that "sooner" doesn't mean immediately, in the heat of the moment. What I was going for is basically "don't just ignore it and hope it will go away and then get mad and eventually snap when it doesn't," cuz I've seen that happen plenty of times.
  
  Any thoughts on how to put that more clearly?
  
  11. Y'know, looking at it again, I think the current wording of this does preclude the idea of apologizing if you've done nothing wrong. It deliberately sets up a scenario where people are saying "Hey, person, what you're doing is offensive/against Da Rules, you should stop." Breaking the rules pretty well does mean you should apologize. And then hS put in the bit that says "If there is a good reason," which... actually, I find that's bugging me a little bit, since the purpose of this article is to outline how to gracefully recover if you've gotten into trouble. It's not about what to do if people are jumping on you for no reason. I think trying to discuss that scenario here, or building in a sort of escape route ("But I don't think I did anything wrong!") muddies the waters.
  
  Also, this isn't something I think we can put into the rules without some dangerous implications, but it is worth remembering that a community dictates what is and is not acceptable to it. As many people have commented over the years, we do things quite differently to most of the Internet, so what's acceptable most places may not be acceptable here. To some degree, it's really on the person joining this community to learn its mores and adapt, whether it's explicitly required of them or not. Nobody gets to waltz into a new place and expect it to conform to their desires. So, if members of the community are telling someone that their behavior doesn't work for us, that is our prerogative. If you find the climate doesn't suit you, there are plenty of other communities to join.
  
  There are, of course, crucial limits to this idea, which is why I don't suggest trying to encode it in the rules anywhere. It's just something to think about.
  
  ~Neshomeh

But just because they're saying it doesn't mean it's true. by Huinesoron on 2017-02-05 17:27:00 UTC Link to this

I had a ridiculous example here, but let's be constructive instead. ^_^

Here's a proposed sketch for the first three sections of the Constitution:

Section 1: What's offensive and intolerable. Articles 1-5.

Section 2: What's just bad manners. Articles 6 (flaming) and 7 (disagreement), and possibly pulling up the trolling article.

Section 3: What to do about any problems. This breaks down as follows:

a) Check you're not misreading the situation. Article 8, possibly changed to be slightly less snarky.

b) Calmly explain what the problem is. Article 9, probably with some editing of the sooner/later section.

c) If you're being accused, stop, think, understand what's being said, and apologise if an understanding can't be reached. Article 11, possibly with some of the misunderstanding stuff from 8.

d) Wilful ignorance is not an excuse - ie, just because they say they don't understand a clear explanation, doesn't mean they get to keep doing it. Article 12.

e) Everyone gets Their One Chance, and every effort should be made to resolve disputes peacefully. Combination of Articles 10 and 14.

f) Banning. Article 14.5.

What this does is set up a clear progression across Section 3. In fact, I'd like to start each of its articles with a clear 'If... then...' statement. If you think someone is violating the Constitution/being offensive. If you are convinced the situation isn't a misunderstanding. If you are being accused of stuff. Etc.

The one orphan under this setup is Article 13, the email one. I think this might slot into Section 2, but... do we actually want to say 'if someone's harassing you, send them an email!'? I think the 'private email' part can probably be dropped, or maybe thrown into the try-to-resolve-things part. That means it's just the 'be civil by email' part that drops into Section 2.

Combined with an 'How To Apologise And Not Irritate People' article, I think this handles both my questions, and a lot of what's bothering people in the thread. If someone else agrees, I'll throw together a remade version for discussion.

((And to think, I was supposed to have stopped trying to Fix Things...))

hS

I like that, too. by Neshomeh on 2017-02-05 19:44:00 UTC Link to this

My point with the last bit of my last post is that a large enough portion of the community saying something is bad and they don't want it kinda does make it true. That's what the Constitution really is: the community setting standards for what it will and will not allow.

It's also about making those standards standard, not arbitrary, though, so:

I support pulling the trolling bit up into Section 2.

I like the progression you've outlined here for Section 3.

I think we're looking to have in there somewhere that you are expected to apologize if a) you've unjustly accused someone OR if b) you've been justly accused of something; BUT NOT if c) you've justly accused someone or if d) you've been unjustly accused (though it might be helpful to apologize anyway). This can be discussed in more detail in the proposed wiki article, which I also support. It strikes me that it might be kin to how to give constrictive criticism, just of behavior, not writing.

What's just or unjust will have to be determined on a case-by-case basis, or the document will smother itself in text.

Article 13 is a bit of an odd duck, yeah. I think it's supposed to deal with situations where a couple of Boarders get into an extended debate that isn't particularly on topic and doesn't necessarily involve anyone else? "Let's continue this over e-mail" is often a great choice there; but not if it's gotten nasty. Maybe that's something for "On Thy Topics of Discussion"?

I think "harassment outside the community (e.g. by e-mail) is just as serious as harassment inside the community" may fit best up in Proposed Section 1, Article 4.

So basically, we'd be breaking up Article 13 and possibly making a new article down in Current Section 4.

(Is that everything? I think that's everything...)

~Neshomeh

Second proposal. by Huinesoron on 2017-02-05 21:36:00 UTC Link to this

Okay, here's the latest version for comments. References are to this version where appropriate.

Section One: On Toleration And Its Limits

Articles 1-3 as reference.

4. The community will not tolerate any form of harassment between members of the PPC, whether it manifests as attacking, bullying, or pestering. Respect people's personal boundaries just as much as you do everything else about them. This rule particularly includes interactions outside of PPC community spaces: harassing someone by email is just as serious as doing so in public, if not more so, and will be treated as such. If you find yourself being harassed or bullied by another PPCer, please make the community aware! We cannot help with a situation if we don’t know it exists. ((Merger of Articles 4 and 13.))

Article 5 as reference.

Section Two: On The Capacity To Engage In Mature Conversation

Article 6 as written.

6.5. The rules of civility and respect do not disappear outside PPC community spaces, or while talking about someone. Don’t engage in bullying behaviour, and don’t say anything about another PPCer you wouldn’t say to their face. ((The leftover piece of 13.))

Article 7 as written.

8. Trolls (those who create deliberately bad/annoying stories, reviews or comments for the express purpose of irritating or enraging others) will be ignored or mocked for entertainment. That includes PPCers who act as trolls — you have been warned. It is not clever to deliberately antagonise others in the community, and it is not clever to crow about antagonising people outside the community, either. ((Old Article 27, as written.))

Section Three: On Making Reparations

9. If someone says or does something that seems offensive/inappropriate, remember that they most likely didn't intend to. If their words are ambiguous, go ahead and ask for clarification - it's never silly to want the full facts. Nine times out of ten, it's an honest misunderstanding by one or both of you - accept your mistakes and move on. Apologies on both sides (for being unclear, and for assuming worse than was meant) are recommended, but should not be demanded. ((Tweaked Article 8 from reference, to remove combatative language.))

10. If you believe someone is genuinely doing something wrong, it is important to tell them clearly and calmly what the unwanted behavior is, why it is unwanted (i.e. how it violates the Constitution and/or is offensive), and that they are being asked to stop. Shouting or snapping at people does not usually help, so it is generally best to address the issue as soon as you are able to do so clearly and calmly, rather than later, with lots of built-up frustration and anger. If you feel honestly unable to explain the issue, it's always fine to ask a third party to step in. Ensure that the person you're concerned about gets a clear explanation of what they did wrong - not just denunciations. ((Article 9 from reference as written, with clarification on how soon 'soon' is, and incorporating parts of Article 10.))

11. If someone or multiple someones have asked you to stop what you're doing, especially on the basis of the Constitution, take a step back. Stop and look at what you are doing or saying. Take the time to think about it - the PPC isn't going anywhere. Remember the foundation of respect that the PPC community is built on (see Article 1). If they've misunderstood you, explain that - as per Article 9, nine out of ten disputes are honest misunderstandings. But if there is a foundation to their request, stop and apologise. If you made an honest mistake, or weren't aware that what you said was offensive - we all do it sometimes! - it's always acceptable to explain after your apology (not as part of it!). Just make sure that explaining why it happened once or twice doesn't turn into making excuses for why it keeps happening. ((Article 11 from reference, massively changed. I've referenced back to Article 9 to get the 'misunderstanding/mutual apologies' stuff back in. Whether you think they have a point or not, both articles you read (9 and 11) should link to the Wiki 'Apologies' article.))

12. Wilful ignorance is not an excuse. There comes a point when someone who is ignoring the Constitution and claiming that they’re not really doing anything wrong - despite explanations to the contrary - needs the book thrown at them. However, wilful ignorance on the part of the accuser is also not an excuse. If someone clarifies a genuine misunderstanding, continuing to push for an apology may count as persecution on your part. ((Article 12, tweaked to remove a reference to the One Chance, which hasn't yet shown up.))

13. Everyone deserves an honest second chance, starting with the chance to stop, explain, and apologise. If that's enough to resolve the dispute, excellent! If not, you could try asking a third party to comment on the dispute. Do your best to find someone uninvolved; a mediator will be more useful for resolving a dispute than a supporter. Some issues may be best sorted out by email, or by agreeing to drop the subject. Almost no-one in the PPC will be deliberately trying to antagonise, upset, or offend you. ((Merger of articles 10, 13, and 14.))

14. The PPC as a community is responsible for upholding the Constitution. If following the above rules doesn't result a situation, any and all uninvolved community members have a responsibility to back up the person who is in the right, or to defuse a difficult/unclear situation. Genuine rule-breakers should be made aware that their behaviour will not be tolerated, however justified they think it is. ((Article 14, tweaked a little.))

14.5. If discussion is unable to resolve a situation, persistent rule-breakers can be told to leave the PPC community. We don’t want to do this. If the community tells you that you're not living up to its standards, listen to them! Take a step back, take the time to think, take the trouble to sincerely apologise. If you learn from your mistakes, and don't hold a grudge over them, you can continue to be a productive member of the PPC community. ((Article 14.5, reworked for a bit of positivity.))

Later on, as the last Article in On Thy Topics Of Discussion

XX. Sometimes, a discussion between just a few people takes on epic proportions. If this happens, it might be best to take it to the Lounge, or to private emails, rather than consume the Board with your enthusiasm.

At the end, Article 27 has been stolen for use as Article 8, and the final Section is renamed On What Are You Waiting For?.

I think I'm pretty happy with this version; it covers everything I think needs covering, and does it clearly enough that most disagreements can be cleared up. And since I'm the only person in this community, I hereby amend the--

Wait, what? I'm not? Ohfine. ^_~ Edit away to your hearts' content.

hS

Having closely read this... by Desdendelle on 2017-02-10 15:56:00 UTC Link to this

It looks fine to me, and I don't have any concrete comment to add.

Thank you. (nm) by Huinesoron on 2017-02-10 16:14:00 UTC Link to this

Okay, having reread the whole thing... by Neshomeh on 2017-02-08 17:07:00 UTC Link to this

First, a missing word in Article 7: "Someone disagreeing with your opinion"

One nitpick—I don't like this line:

"If you made an honest mistake, or weren't aware that what you said was offensive - we all do it sometimes! - it's always acceptable to explain after your apology (not as part of it!)."

1. The first parenthetical remark made grammatical sense after "if you made an honest mistake," but doesn't so much after "[if you] weren't aware that what you said was offensive."

2. The second parenthetical remark could be confusing. Does explaining not as part of your apology mean in a separate post, or what? I think "after your apology" is sufficient, perhaps even more than sufficient, mostly because I think "I'm sorry, I had no idea that was offensive!" and "Oh, I never knew that. I'm sorry!" can both be perfectly valid apologies even though they include out-of-order explanations.

Suggested rewrite:

If you've made an honest mistake, or weren't aware that what you said is offensive, it's always acceptable to explain after your apology. Nobody's perfect, and nobody's born knowing everything.

Aaand that's about all I have time for. In general I'd suggest looking for places where fewer words and/or shorter sentences would get the job done, so it's not kludgey, but nothing else is jumping out at me like that line was. {= )

Aside from that, I think that covers it! Not that I want to tempt the Ironic Overpower by saying it's foolproof, because of course nothing is.

~Neshomeh

Thank you! by Huinesoron on 2017-02-08 20:36:00 UTC Link to this

What I was aiming at was "Sorry, but I actually meant X", which has been slapped down numerous times. I much prefer your version of the sentence. ^_^ I've updated the GDoc version.

I'm afraid being overly-wordy is one of my flaws. When I hit a problem, I try to keep writing until I solve it, rather than going back and reworking. I would dearly love the Constitution as a whole to be shorter, but I'm fundamentally incapable of making it so. :( Someday, someone will come along with the same amending bug as me, but with an eye to streamlining the whole thing.

But that is not this day!!!

hS

Anyone? by Huinesoron on 2017-02-07 12:36:00 UTC Link to this

Signatures so far:

Version 1: Huinesoron, Neshomeh, Cat-on-the-Keyboard, Scapegrace, SeaTurtle, Hieronymus Graubart.

Version 2: Huinesoron, Hieronymus Graubart.

I'd really like to know what the people who aren't commenting are thinking. EAIUO asked a question, which was great, and I tried to work on it in Version 2. But most people aren't saying anything.

Why is that? If it's that you think there's a problem with the proposal, please say, and we can work on fixing it. If it's that you don't think an amendment is needed, please say that too! I know I get over-enthusiastic about procedural stuff; if you think the Constitution as written makes it clear that pestering someone = harassment = bad, then say that!

If you're just not interested, or worn out from the previous thread, or too busy... well... then... I guess that's that?

I'm still aiming at 8 signatures, preferably on the current version. Since it's gotten a bit spread out, I've put together a 'current version' document. Everyone should have commenting access, so if you find minor tweaks easier to make that way, go for it.

Current proposed amendment

hS

I approve of the second version. by Aegis on 2017-02-09 23:33:00 UTC Link to this

It leaves less room for ambiguity, and I can't think of anything we might need to add at the moment.

However.

I also think that the constitution as written should have been more than enough for anyone paying attention. Frankly, I think it's ridiculous that we have to say any of this at all. But it's obvious from recent events that we do.

In light of this, I like the second version. I'm glad we'll have something more concrete to point to in the future, should this ever rear its ugly head again.

Let me know if I'm being ambiguous, I just think being mute now serves no purpose even if I'm not clear-headed at the moment.

Thanks for your signature. by Huinesoron on 2017-02-10 08:54:00 UTC Link to this

On your other point: I can't pretend to know why the chat community didn't raise this as a problem earlier. The only experience I can work from is my own, which you can read over in the previous thread if you choose. Essentially, the word 'harassment' has different meanings to different people. To me - and to the Constitution as presently written - it means 'repeatedly attacking, bullying, and demeaning someone'.

That wasn't the sense in which Iximaz and Tomash were using it; their version is also accurate. But bear in mind where you are - the PPC has never been noted for consisting of highly-stable, socially-adept types. A large proportion of us are frankly inept when it comes to interpersonal skills (such as, say, me).

So yeah, I think it's actually reasonable to assume that some of our people - which includes members down to and below age 13, many of whom are awestruck by the presence of Big Names like Iximaz - aren't going to get that 'try and be wherever Iximaz is and talk to them all the time' is a form of harassment. I don't know whether that's the situation with GlarnWhatsit, but it feels like it.

My view has always been that the best way to prevent bad behaviour is to make it clear that it is bad, in advance. Cut things off at the start, and you never have to resort to punishment.

hS

There might have been too many votes recently by Tomash on 2017-02-09 04:37:00 UTC Link to this

(it also doesn't help that I've been a bit busy over the last few days, so I haven't been able to poke at this properly).

I still haven't given this a thorough read, honestly.

I'd like to propose that we come back to this topic in, let's say, a few weeks, or a month and then some, so that we can talk about the anti-harassment amendment without being worn out by the 2-3 votes that we've had to sit through recently.

- Tomash

Okay, sure. by Huinesoron on 2017-02-09 08:52:00 UTC Link to this

I've put the whole thing up as a proposed amendment on the Constitution doc. When you feel like it's the right time, go ahead and propose something; you're free to use what has already been discussed or start over from scratch. When you've got a consensus worked out, I'll put it into the doc.

hS

Let me put it like this: by Scapegrace on 2017-02-08 02:17:00 UTC Link to this

I'm not possessed of a legal mind (my illegal minds are, of course, stashed in a cavity wall in a bedsit in -- but that would be telling). I can't put rules together. I can't put systems in place. I can't focus enough to do that, because I'm not particularly bright, and therefore I can't focus enough to pick holes in someone else's attempts at system creation. I can't give you any input beyond "this seems fine".

I lack the mindset to give a nuanced critique of any Constitutional amendments. This... feels like dereliction of duty, but it is what it is.

"This seems fine" is fine. ;) by Huinesoron on 2017-02-08 08:43:00 UTC Link to this

As long as it means "this makes sense and is fine", rather than "those are deffo some ruley rules you've got there".

hS

The former, definitely. by Scapegrace on 2017-02-09 15:19:00 UTC Link to this

They make sense to me and look like they solve the problem, but I can't make sure all the Is are crossed and Ts are dotted. I leave that to other, smarter people. =]

Sorry I've been silent on the matter. by Iximaz on 2017-02-07 17:40:00 UTC Link to this

I just feel like I ought to stay out of this since it was kind of my fault the whole discussion is happening in the first place.

For what it's worth, I think it looks good so far.

Surely that's a reason NOT to stay quiet? by Huinesoron on 2017-02-07 19:36:00 UTC Link to this

You had a bad experience, which this amendment is trying to keep from happening again. Your thoughts on whether it will help are uniquely relevant.

hS

Getting fatigued with it, yeah. by Neshomeh on 2017-02-07 16:41:00 UTC Link to this

I read it over, and I think I was fine with it (except for the mistake HG pointed out), but I wanted to read it again and actually think about it before saying anything. I meant to do that yesterday, but mostly did laundry and played Skyrim instead. >.>

If I have time to do it tonight, I will.

~Neshomeh

Sorry, procrastinating studying for tests, here. by Desdendelle on 2017-02-07 14:16:00 UTC Link to this

I'll take a close look after I finish this test. It's this Thursday.
*ahhs quietly*

Editing to my hearts' content by Hieronymus Graubart on 2017-02-06 17:24:00 UTC Link to this

If following the above rules doesn't result a situation
Shouldn't this be "resolve"?

HG

Yep! Is your heart content now? (nm) by Huinesoron on 2017-02-06 18:16:00 UTC Link to this

Well, I would have signed the proposed amendment. by Hieronymus Graubart on 2017-02-05 17:41:00 UTC Link to this

But since there are apparently some issues, I would have said:

Should Article 9 say "sooner, still with a (mostly) clear head" to clarify that it does not suggest to act rashly when already upset?

Article 11, Question 1: Since it's probably too complex to put into the constitution, I support the suggestion of a Wiki article on "Apologies".

Question 2: What? The last sentence of Article 5 (now 8) means only the accuser should apologize? I always felt that this goes both ways and apologizing for having caused trouble is also recommended to the accused person. Mutual apologies are the best way to resolve misunderstandings. Does this really need a repetition here? Or a clarification in new Article 8? Also, may we want to add "or unaware of cultural dissonances" to "being unclear"?

But now this clear progression thing looks even better, so go ahead and do it.

HG

Answers. by Huinesoron on 2017-02-05 08:42:00 UTC Link to this

9 I'll let Nesh answer. I think, awkwardly, it works both. I also know we've had both 'why didn't you say anything at the time' and 'it's too soon to make a rational decision' crop up on ban discussions.

#11 is supposed to reference 14.5 (the banning article). Oops!

#15: ha! That's hilarious, and I can't believe I canon-failed in a joke. Or maybe it makes it better? '... here's an audiobook of a traditional mime interpretation of Hamlet.'

Yes? No?

hS

I have a request for clarification... by [EvilAI]UBEROverlord on 2017-02-04 19:19:00 UTC Link to this

Regarding 11/2. If I understand this properly it seems to suggest that a person who is accused of wrongdoing, but did not actually engage in wrongdoing they should apologize?

I'll go into this a bit later to offer my full opinion, I just don't have the time to fully dig into it yet.

That was basically my question, yeah. (nm) by Huinesoron on 2017-02-04 20:14:00 UTC Link to this

*pokes Boarders* This IS for everyone... by Neshomeh on 2017-02-04 18:38:00 UTC Link to this

And kind of important, since no changes can be made without people saying they want them.

It's also really great if people say they DON'T want changes, and if not, why.

BTW, have we said anywhere that you implicitly agree to abide by the Constitution by participating in PPC spaces? I may've brought this up before, but I forget what happened.

~Neshomeh

If not enough people have thoughts on it... by Huinesoron on 2017-02-04 21:01:00 UTC Link to this

... (where 'enough' is flexible; given that we're not actually changing any rules, despite the large edit, I think ~8 would count, unless there are objections) I'll file the whole suggestion at the end of the Constitution doc to be potentially reconsidered another time.

Objections and changes are most welcome, obviously.

I think the Board header makes it clear that these are the rules. It doesn't explicitly say that you agree to follow them, but, y'know... that's what rules are.

I don't think there's anything in the Constitution itself, though, if that's what you're asking.

hS

Well... by Desdendelle on 2017-02-04 19:55:00 UTC Link to this

I don't have a well-formed opinion about this, and it's test season for me right now.

I like it. by Neshomeh on 2017-02-03 16:07:00 UTC Link to this

I think it's much more clear and progresses easily from one point to the next. The bases seem to be pretty well covered.

On your questions:

1. I think there's a difference between "I disagree with you and my opinion hasn't changed, but I'm sorry for offending you anyway [because I care about your feelings]" and "I'm sorry you were offended even though I'm totally still in the right [therefore you're stupid for feeling that way]." The former should be acceptable while the latter is not. But yeah, it is a fairly tricky matter of word order and tone, which has also given us no end of trouble. I think I said something at some point to the effect that a decent apology should be for the hurt/offense given, because the point is to show that you respect the other person and didn't actually want to hurt them. It also helps to say that you'll try to avoid doing/saying whatever it was in the future, 'cuz it shows you understand the problem and do want to get along. Maybe something like that could go in as a sub-clause of Proposed Article 11? Though I don't think it would be wise to dictate "All apologies must take this exact form or else," so... hrm. Maybe someone else can solve this one.

2. I don't think there's anything wrong with both parties apologizing for a misunderstanding. It takes two, after all, and if everybody cares enough about everybody else's feelings to say they're sorry for hurting them even if it was an accident, that's great. {= )

I think what we're looking for here is humility enough to accept that we can always be wrong and kindness enough to put the other person's feelings over our own. It's embarrassing to make a mistake, and being challenged or called on it can make us defensive and angry, but our feelings are not more important than everyone else's. We should help each other realize that making a mistake is not necessarily the end of the world, so we can let it go. This gets proportionally more difficult the more important the thing you're wrong about is to your identity, but there are only a few things that really ought to be that big a deal, I think, and they're pretty well covered in Proposed Articles 2 and 3.

I think I've strayed from the point of the question, though. My sense is that if someone has honestly done nothing wrong and someone else is jumping on them, that sort of thing usually gets nipped in the bud pretty quickly. It may not need clarification. But others may have other ideas.

~Neshomeh

Maybe we should write an article about how to apologize by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2017-02-05 06:55:00 UTC Link to this

The way we have wiki articles on how to spork slash and suchlike. Just some recommendations, as per your first point. We would link to it in the Constitution or put it at the top of the Board with some language like, "If you're having trouble figuring out how to apologize, this might be useful."

(I agree with what you've said. Humility is important.)

--Key

Sounds like the sequel to... by Huinesoron on 2017-02-05 07:48:00 UTC Link to this

...John Cleese's How To Irritate People.

It's a good idea though. Like the Flaming article, we can link it in-line in the Constitution. (I don't think the PPC's /quite/ far enough gone to need it in the header...)

hS

*notices mini-Boarder* Whoops, my bad by Tomash on 2017-02-02 17:31:00 UTC Link to this

This is what I get for trying to spell people's names instead of copy-pasting them.

- Tomash, keeping mini-Boarders off of the endangered species list since 2011 :)

Um. by Huinesoron on 2017-02-02 10:20:00 UTC Link to this

I think that runs afoul of the 'intentionally', plus it doesn't explain what we mean by 'harasses'. As shown in the previous thread, I interpreted it as 'engages in bullying-style behaviour towards', and that reading is implicitly supported by Article 9.

Putting it another way, this conversation:

OlderThanThou: Hey, Lacksi! Quit harassing Oaken (= replying to everything she says and name-dropping her in every post).

Lacksidacksical: That's unfair! I'm not harassing (= bullying, insulting, and attacking) Oaken, and saying I am is a personal attack!

Both OTT and Lacksi are 100% correct, and furthermore Lacksi isn't doing anything intentionally - she's just kinda obsessed with Oaken. ((Note: because this is Lacksi's character, not as a stand-in for GlarnBoudin, whose motivations I don't know.))

I do like the idea of slotting it in like that, but I think we need to be clear what the word means. How do you feel about 'pester'? It's a little lighthearted, but I think the connotations are closer to what we're talking about.

Re: 'stop means stop' - where it impinges on the Constitution, I think this is covered by parts of articles 5, 9, and 10.5 (the various 'if you're told you're doing something wrong, check whether you are and stop' clauses). Given that it is scattered around so much, I think it's somewhat diluted - might a restructuring of Section 2 to give 'what to do if you're being told off' an article of its own?

If you're worried about 'I don't like your opinion so shaddup'... urm, then I don't think there's much we can do. The old Constitution went with 'don't tell someone not to share their opinion', and that was thrown out (on the grounds that, eg, the opinion "homosexuality is sinful" is not allowed to be shared). I think we considered having a list of Protected Categories, but decided that would just lead to rule-lawyering - "oh, but income isn't protected, so I'm allowed to say that all poor people are scum!". At present, we have 'not limited to' and 'such as' in article 1, which avoids the previous two issues, but opens up room for "your opinion that spiders are cute is harmful (because I'm Australian and spiders are deadly) so you should be banned!".

((There was actually an episode of a children's TV show banned in Australia because it taught that spiders are super friendly and harmless...))

I think we have to have a certain level of trust in the PPC community. We have to trust that people won't try and abuse the rules - and that when they do, they'll be slapped down for it.

hS

PS: Does this mean that the Neshomesh/Huniesoron friend'ship is snuggly canon? ^_~

Hurm, true. by Neshomeh on 2017-02-02 16:23:00 UTC Link to this

I don't think we can fit in pestering up there, either, then. It's quite a different concept, and might needs its own article if we feel it's not covered enough by the various iterations of "be respectful" and "if you're told you're doing something wrong, knock it off."

I do think we could do with "how to tell someone off politely and constructively" and "what to do if you're being told off." It is necessary to be clear when a behavior is unwanted. We don't always like to be direct about it, but it should always be okay to say "Look, I don't want this attention. It makes me uncomfortable. Please stop." So, let's see...

New Article 7. If someone is doing something wrong, it is important to tell them clearly and calmly what the unwanted behavior is, why it is unwanted (i.e. how it violates the Constitution and/or is offensive), and that they are being asked to stop. Shouting or snapping at people does not usually help, so it is generally best to address the issue sooner, with a clear head, rather than later, with lots of built-up frustration and anger.

New Article 8. Everyone deserves an honest second chance – which means, initially, a chance to stop, explain, and/or apologise. This means that, if you believe that someone is engaged in any violation of the Constitution, but particularly Articles 1-3, it is critical to make sure they understand what they are doing wrong, so that they can make amends. Explain it to them yourself, or ask a third party to do so – but the key word is explain. Telling someone to shut up because their opinion is unwanted does not constitute a chance.

New Article 9. If someone or multiple someones have asked you to stop what you're doing, especially on the basis of the Constitution, you are expected to stop and apologize for giving offense. This also applies if you are told that your behavior is making someone uncomfortable: as per Article 3, you are expected to exercise respect for others, and this includes personal boundaries. It is always acceptable to explain yourself if you've made an honest mistake – we all do sometimes! – but please make sure that explaining why it happened once or twice doesn't turn into making excuses for why it keeps happening. In cases of persistent rule-breaking, [Current Article 10.5] may be invoked.

New Article 10. =Current Article 8.

New Article 11. =Current Article 9.

Etc.

How do those sound?

Possibly some of the other articles in Section 2 may need tweaking to avoid redundancy, but then again, a little redundancy may not be a bad thing.

~Neshomeh

P.S. Yes, I think so. {= D

I like the word "pester" by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2017-02-02 15:22:00 UTC Link to this

For me, it evokes phrases like, "Do not pester people. We know, it's exciting that your favorite author is right there in the chat with you, but if they say you're creeping them out, back off," which I believe is exactly what we're aiming for.

--Key

My favourite author is in the chat?!!?!! by Huinesoron on 2017-02-02 16:00:00 UTC Link to this

But... but my favourite authors are all dead... :(

... wait.

Wait.

Are you telling me Discord is actually synonymous with Pandemonium? Because I think that's what you're telling me.

hS

Yes by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2017-02-03 03:26:00 UTC Link to this

(Mild spoilers for Paradise Lost and flippant jokes about eternal damnation, highlight to reveal) Log on, and you see a pit of fire. You can claw your way from there to a shining city with ancient-Greek style architecture to find Des (who, in this scenario, is Satan), surrounded by the mods (his favored fallen angels -- Tomash is probably Belial, but other than that no headcanons strike me), justly presiding over this shining city on a hill -- unless we've been randomly transformed into snakes, of course. Then all Hell breaks loose.

Joking aside, you'd be surprised at how exciting it is for newbies to get a reply from someone such as. . . well, you. Especially if they're not used to the PPC's non-hierarchical structure (I think I may have literally squealed the first time you responded to something I posted. I'm completely over that sort of thing now, of course, with my lengthy PPC tenure of nearly a year).

--Key is very cool

I would really, really not be surprised. ;) by Huinesoron on 2017-02-03 10:47:00 UTC Link to this

You forget - I joined in the days when Miss Cam(!!!!!) was still on the Board. I spoke to Jay(!!!!!) once or twice. Andy and Saphie (!!!!!) were still around, and Architeuthis (!!!!!) and... yeah, what I'm saying is, I spent a lot of time hyperventilating when interacting with the Originalbies.

So I totally get it. (But I am not one to let getting it stand in the way of introducing levity onto a Board which sometimes sorely needs it.)

hS

So you're not an old friend of Jay's by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2017-02-03 14:44:00 UTC Link to this

Who joined the PPC back when it was just a bunch of fanfic authors the Originalbies liked/were friends with.

This is very good to know.

--Key is bad at timelines

Nope, not quite. by Huinesoron on 2017-02-03 15:51:00 UTC Link to this

The PPC began sometime before March 2002. We know this, because they were on their fifth spinoff by then.

The very very early PPC community was actually populated by OFUM fans - I think Miss Cam must have been one of their first supporters. In fact, I think the community itself consisted of the FF.net reviews and the OFUM Yahoo group.

Then J&A got kicked from FF.net (in May 2002, and Philosopher@Large set up a homepage for them (it's archived here. At the time, they had 14 missions up - everything through to 'Sisterhood'.

The Board was up within the year. We have a single archived front page from December, which spans post numbers 321 to 404 (in six days). Assuming that rate is constant, you get a foundation date around November 10th. That's probably slightly later than actual (since the number of posts would've been growing), but the Internet Archive shows it didn't exist on October 8th (as in, it wasn't on the Oddlots homepage).

People started to flood in. It started with those who had seen the PPC on FF.net - my wife is one of those [/namedrop]. Then it was people who saw the spinoffs. By May 2003, the Board was huge - the archives show we were racing through the Front Page every single day.

Sometime at the beginning of '03, Acacia left. We have a fairly big archive of subject lines from '03, and she doesn't appear in them. Jay (as Otik) kept posting until at least August, and then left herself.

I joined the Board in September, ultimately by way of OFUM. So good timing on my part! I saw Jay come back a couple of times, which was exactly as overwhelming as you can imagine. And I've been here ever since.

I realise this is a longer reply than you were expecting, but it's good to drag out the ol' history books every so often. I usually find out something new - this time it was that October 8th date on which the Board didn't exist. Fun stuff.

hS

Ooh, I've got the timeline slightly wrong. :D by Huinesoron on 2017-02-04 20:19:00 UTC Link to this

I love it when that happens.

OFUM started on March 8th 2002. Given that J&A had five spinoffs by March 15th, I'm pretty certain that they started before Miss Cam.

Exciting! We get to claim seniority over the OFUs. ^_^

hS

Huh, I might've joined before you. by Neshomeh on 2017-02-04 18:34:00 UTC Link to this

My earliest PPC activity (that I know about) is a comment on a story in June, 2003. That doesn't necessarily mean I'd joined the Board yet, but it's possible! I remember when Mum's the Word gave out brownies for newbies and birthdays. ^_^

~Neshomeh

Aww, I remember Mumsy. by Huinesoron on 2017-02-04 20:56:00 UTC Link to this

I think my contact with the PPC multiverse dates to July 2nd '03 - that's when I spelt Thranduil's name wrong in Pancakes!, and was pointed (apparently not through a review) to Miss Cam and mini-Balrogs. (This is also why I adopted Thanduril.)

--no, I take it back. It was July 9th, when StarlightWarrior pointed me at Miss Cam to get a mini (in the reviews to the Boromir Saga). It's nice to have that localised.

And I'm 11 days older than I thought. I've found the review inviting me over: September 8th. And while Vemi started the thread on the Board about my fic (asking 'should we invite her to join?' ^_^), it was Hellga who actually extended the invitation.

Research is fuuuuuun.

(Both 'Techno-Dann' and 'Huinesoron' first appear in the Board archives on October 15th '03. 'Neshomeh' doesn't appear in the 2003 archives at all, sadly. There's also no data between August 11th and October 14th.

Nesh & Delta J: do you remember Otik being a regular? I know I was less than a month late grar, so if you do remember, then you definitely predate me. (I remember her visiting a couple of times, but that's different.)

hS

I remember her posting once. by Neshomeh on 2017-02-04 22:14:00 UTC Link to this

As I recall, it was kind of a big deal, so it was probably after she stopped coming by regularly.

I seem to have known about the Board by the time I started reviewing PPC fics on FF.net, though. On June 3, I point Mulberry (Jaz and Tick's author) toward Jay and Acacia's Wunderlust account as a way to find the "two sites for the PPC." I was reading the likes of "Just Call Me Mary Sue" and "I, Grûsbálk" and had caught up to the latest chapter of HFA (chapter 21) in January, and apparently then went on to read OFUM, and I know I got to the PPC by way of the OFUM mailing list. I think I may have found "Triumvirate" via the mailing list, too, and I was reading THAT by the end of January... I'unno.

I do know I went on a bit of a hiatus after I first joined the Board, though, then came back and became active. I was really active as of 2004, when I started putting together the updated Substance Menu and the Tech Glossary. (Clearly I wanted a wiki before there was such a thing.)

Research is indeed fun. ^_^

Oh, if anybody wants links to the fics I mentioned, just say the word. I don't promise they'll hold up from when I was a wee young'un, but they probably don't suck, at least. {= )

~Neshomeh

I was seven in '03. I feel little. ;-; (nm) by Iximaz on 2017-02-04 20:57:00 UTC Link to this

I was three! by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2017-02-05 07:05:00 UTC Link to this

My parents still hadn't even the faintest clue as to what it was they had infected the world with, back then!

And I hadn't even written my first badfic by then! by Sergio Turbo on 2017-02-04 22:44:00 UTC Link to this

Really, I only started writing for the Internet around 2005-2006ish - in fact, Mai Dire Fine (started April 13th, 2006), the story Agent!Sergio and Nikki are actually from, was also one of my earliest involvements in fanfiction.

... I am writing the same characters more than ten years later, which is a lot, and the current oldest oldbies PPC join still outdates them. I now feel old and young simultaneously. Tha's... weird.

(This also means that good old hS or Nesh or any of the company could have missioned my stuff back then, if there wasn't a fandom and language barrier in between. It's fine, though - ended up missioning one of these myself.)

I think that makes you the oldbie-est person around, though. by Desdendelle on 2017-02-03 23:51:00 UTC Link to this

Not counting present absentees like Kaitlyn.
I'm not wrong, am I now?

It's me, Nesh, and Delta Juliette. by Huinesoron on 2017-02-04 08:23:00 UTC Link to this

My official joining date is Talk Like A Pirate Day '03. I'm sure they can provide theirs and settle this. ^^

Amomg recent absentees, Araeph and Kaitlyn both predate me. So do occasional visitors BeautyID and Hellga. But yeah. There's a reason the future Gathering reports use the term <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1b2-IsVH5OtrMALHc_Bska0FCxqdCG5i55SeUl52J3Y/pub">Ancientestbies.

hS

Ah, us oldbies... by Delta Juliette on 2017-02-05 23:09:00 UTC Link to this

I don't recall exactly when I joined, I'm afraid - some time around when the recall election craziness was going on in California? That would have been fall '03.

(And I got permission from Otik Herself, IIRC. I.... prooobably shouldn't have gotten it. I certainly wouldn't have gotten it now.)

The crown is provisionally yours. by Huinesoron on 2017-02-06 08:56:00 UTC Link to this

Kaitlyn has a feeling you were here before me, too. Did you get Permission from Otik on the Board, or by email?

It's possible Nesh was here actually-first, but just introduced herself and then went silent. You get the prize for first regular poster who's still regular. Nesh provisionally gets the one for first poster at all who's still regular. Kaitlyn gets the one for first regular poster who's still around at all (she posted in three of the last four months of '16!). And I get... uh, a pat on the back for taking part?

Gotta admit, that's not how I saw this working out. :)

hS

You get the "keeper of traditions" medal, I think. by Desdendelle on 2017-02-06 09:26:00 UTC Link to this

After all, you've done much work on archiving and preserving the PPC's history, no?

So have other people. by Huinesoron on 2017-02-06 09:29:00 UTC Link to this

If I get a prize, it's 'most prolific poster'. I've stopped keeping daily post-counts, but I had the most recorded posts from 2008, and that's with 2009-10 being one of my quietest periods.

But it's nice of you to say so. ^_^ I really wasn't fishing for compliments, though.

hS

I didn't think you were! by Desdendelle on 2017-02-06 13:33:00 UTC Link to this

Fishing for compliments, that is.
I don't know if it's just me, but I think that you're the most visible ancientbie (I think we need this category by now, heh — after all, if I count as oldbie, you're a tier above, so to speak), so it might have to do with that fact.

I'm happy to be an ancientbie. by Huinesoron on 2017-02-06 14:51:00 UTC Link to this

I'm not sure where it should cut off, though. I already coined 'Originalbie' earlier, which I think should cover anyone who became active when TOS was still being written. The hard cut-off date for that is August 12th 2003 - according to Oddlots, that's the publication date for "To Know Where You're Going". That means Kaitlyn (first attested date: May 18th) would definitely qualify, which might make me reconsider the definition. ;) Maybe try and peg it to the last J&A mission, "Elemental Crystals", though I'm having trouble dating that one.

I don't think the rest of us fall into that category, though. Both Nesh and Juliette have indicated they joined late in the year. So Ancientbies we be.

My preferred cutoff for Ancientbie status is the end of 2004. That's about when Bast left, and it's also the line I've had in my brain for a long time. People who joined in 2005 are still newbies, to my mind. :D

Taking those dates, then, here's how our oldest Boarders break down:

Originalbies: BeautyID, Hellga, Kaitlyn.
Ancientbies: Huinesoron, Delta Juliette, Neshomeh, Araeph, and Elcalion who just slips into the records in the same month Bast left.

And - other than the venerable Anonymous, who is always with us - that's it. That's everyone who was on the Board before 2005 and still sticks their head in occasionally.

hS

That must mean... by Desdendelle on 2017-02-06 16:11:00 UTC Link to this

That there are generations, or degrees, of oldbies; it's clear that people from (for example) July's generation are not people from my generation.

Aha - classification! My favourite. ^_^ by Huinesoron on 2017-02-06 16:30:00 UTC Link to this

We also have the term 'Middlebie', which was used at one point. If you accept that 'Newbie' stands for people who haven't really learned the ropes yet, 'Middlebie' is anyone who's settled in but isn't of the 'wow they've been here ages' set. Say, six months for newbies, then another 12 for middlebies.

I think I remember occasional use of 'Olderbie' to cover people who've been here longer than most Oldbies. But that still doesn't give us a great deal of granularity...

Working from the Feb '05 date, the next big change is in 2008, when the Board switched from Server.com to YourWebApps.com. 2008 was kind of a big year in general - we had so many Emergencies and the like that you can really call it a cut-off. Either you were there, or you weren't. Hmm... can we call the people Who Were There veterans? It breaks the chain of -bies, but lets us introduce that extra level. After all, the time since '08 is, uh, nearly a decade - we can't have that all under one name.

So Olderbie and Oldbie now cover 2008-2015: some 7 years. Hmm... by a helpful coincidence, the Constitution was rewritten in early 2012. The Wiki was updated in May, so let's call it that.

-Originalbie. 2002-August 2003.
-Ancientbie. Aug '03-February 2005.
-Veteran. Feb '05-June 2008.
-Olderbie. Jun '08-May 2012.
-Oldbie. May '12-September 2015.
-Middlebie. Sept '15-September 2016.
-Newbie. Sept '16-February 2017.

There! With that set of names, you can pin anyone down to within four years, and most people to much less than that. :D Other than the fact that there's no -bie in veteran (Veteranbie?), I think it's perfect.

hS

((This is all in fun. In practice, 'newbie' and 'oldbie' are all that's ever likely to be used. But I'm a very sad person who has very sad fun.))

If Plort was written today, with this fresh in mind. by Huinesoron on 2017-02-07 09:33:00 UTC Link to this

Oy, newbie! Yeah, that’s right, come over here. You don’t need to be scared of a middlebie like me – it’s only a year ago I was standing right where you are, squeaky-clean boots and all.

Not that I’m saying you shouldn’t be scared at all, mind. You know those stories you heard about the Tsarina, how she secured her throne by cutting down every single other claimant, everyone else who knew the Great Ones before they ascended to glory?

Yeah, it’s true. Every word, and more that don’t even get said.

But most of us ain’t scary. Us middlebies, well, we’re just ordinary folks like you and the other newbies. Even the oldbies – yeah, they’re good at what they do, and you’ll learn a lot by watching them, but they’re basically just doing their jobs.

But the olderbies, they’re intimidating. People like Desdendelle and Sergio are so far beyond even the oldbies that they make… well, they make me feel like you. You listen to them, you do exactly what they tell you, and you thank your lucky stars they’re not telling you off.

And you are lucky, newbie – we all are. The really big names, the proper veterans, don’t show their faces too much around here these days. But if you see them – if you run into the likes of JulyFlame or VixenMage - you salute, and you mean it. They served the Tsarina when you were still playing catch with the kid next door, and they’re… I mean, they scare the pants off some of the oldbies. Just stay out of their line of fire, kid.

O’course, however hard you try, you won’t be able to keep away from the Council of Five – no, it’s Three now, ain’t it? The ancientbies - don’t let them hear you say that, word to the wise – are here all the freaking time, they’re impossible to get away from. Huinesoron, Neshomeh, Delta Juliette – remember their names, and remember that there used to be five of them until Araeph and Elcalion… disappeared.

You don’t wanna ellipsis disappear, do you? No. So watch your squeaky-clean tongue around ‘em, and keep your head so far down your nose scrapes the dirt.

Now look, I know I’ve made it sound pretty scary here, and honestly, it is. But it’s also the greatest job in the world. You’re in the service of Tsarina Kaitlyn the Magnificent, doing the work of the Great Ones, Jay and Acacia themselves. There’s no better place to be – and no better folks to be there with.

Welcome to the war, newbie. Welcome to the PPC.

:D Okay, obviously this is a spectacular misrepresentation of the PPC community and everyone in it. But it was so much fun to write. Quick, someone stop me before I start making campaign ribbons.

hS

All shall love me and despair! by Triumvir Neshomeh on 2017-02-07 16:32:00 UTC Link to this

^_~

Every now and then by Kaitlyn on 2017-02-07 15:42:00 UTC Link to this

hS asks a question like 'if you were a despot, what would your title be?' I don't even blink anymore, tbh.

-Tsarina Kaitlyn

Yesyesyes write more of this! by Desdendelle on 2017-02-07 10:10:00 UTC Link to this

This was a fun thing to read first thing in the morning, and it reminds me of the What if the PPC was actually a military? July and I wrote a longish time ago.

I remember that! by Huinesoron on 2017-02-07 10:24:00 UTC Link to this

It wasn't that long ago, though. Only... well, okay, a year and a half, but even so!

I think if there was more to write, it would be those campaigns I mentioned. Things like the Battle of Goldberg, and other big community events. Your Emergencies and big crossovers would count - because multiple people were involved in writing them.

The trouble is, my list would probably run out around 2008. What Big Stuff has happened since then? It helps if it's stuff where the community as a whole feels like it won - arguments between ourselves where people on both sides are still around are more like internecine feuds, not proper campaigns.

hS

We, um. Well. There was this... one time? by Scapegrace on 2017-02-08 02:08:00 UTC Link to this

I-I'll get back to you. =]

Yeah. by Huinesoron on 2017-02-08 08:55:00 UTC Link to this

I think ribbons for Plort and the Continuity Council would be appropriate. And the Blackout. And one for doing archival work? Other than that, I dunno. Annual ones for the Badfic and Shipfest games? One for being a signature on a constitutional amendment?

hS, ponderance

Pretty sure I said stop me. by Huinesoron on 2017-02-08 12:17:00 UTC Link to this

Before we get onto the ribbons, there are two decorations which can be added to them:
-The Black Lace, indicating conspicuous service. I'll note what it specifically means for each ribbon where it's appropriate. (Filename: BlackLace.png)
-The Cactus, for multiple awards. These come in bronze (1 additional award), silver (5 additional awards), and gold (more than 8 additional awards, at which point we stop counting specifics). (Filenames: 1Bar.png to 8Bar.png, & MoreBar.png)

Campaign Ribbons

- participated in a Badfic Game. (Black lace: archived a badfic game.)
- present for the PPC Board blackout. (Black lace: wrote a story for it.)
- worked on archiving PPC material. (Black lace: hosted an archive.)
- signed the PPC Constitution or one of its amendments.
- wrote a Continuity Council story, or part of one.
- participated in the Plort RPs. (Black lace: contributed directly to the Cyclopaedia.)
- put yourself up to be shipped in the Shipfest. (Black lace: wrote a story for the Shipfest.)

There are also some 'training' ribbons, which can't take black lace (though they can receive the cactus if they apply more than once):

- be granted Permission.
- be made a Permission Giver.
- be a Discord (or previous chat) mod.
- be a Wiki admin.
- be a moderator/admin of a PPC LJ/DW community.
- be the owner of a piece of the community. Wiki creator, Discord channel owner, LJ-DW comm owner/creator, T-Board admin, Nameless Admin.

I'm sure there are more ribbons I could do; anyone got any requests?

(For the military types: I'm aware that this doesn't quite match up with how real militaries do things. But, y'know, this is the PPC; we're an odd lot.)

hS

Let's see if I'm getting this right. by Desdendelle on 2017-02-08 21:06:00 UTC Link to this

So, I should have the Blackout ribbon, the Constitution Signatory ribbon, the Chili Con Council ribbon, the Plort Ribbon with black lace, and the Shipfest ribbon. Also the Permission ribbon, the PG ribbon, the Discord Mod ribbon (probably?) and the Discord Owner ribbon.
That's... nine ribbons.
Na, I only need this one. It's plenty.

Does yours have cacti on it? by Huinesoron on 2017-02-08 21:13:00 UTC Link to this

No. So it's not as good. >:(

hS

Oooh, shinies! by Neshomeh on 2017-02-08 17:19:00 UTC Link to this

I like shinies. There's no stopping now. ^_^

I'll try to come up with some ideas, but for right now, some of your images appear to be broken. I had to tab to the reply button instead of clicking on it. Perhaps the Nameless Admin might fix it, if they have a moment?

~Neshomeh

Oops. ^_^; Fixed that. (Saved as gif not png. Resaved.) (nm) by Huinesoron on 2017-02-08 20:27:00 UTC Link to this

9/10. Needs more unicorns. ;) (nm) by Iximaz on 2017-02-07 09:52:00 UTC Link to this

Oh, they're on their way... (nm) by Huinesoron on 2017-02-07 10:34:00 UTC Link to this

This repesentation of me couldn't be more off than this. by Sergio Turbo on 2017-02-07 09:49:00 UTC Link to this

But it was fun, so good on you!

So I'm an olderbie? by Sergio Turbo on 2017-02-06 22:08:00 UTC Link to this

I joined around May or June 2010, right in the middle of the middle title. Do I get an hat for it?

Wait, so by this list... I'm an oldbie? by Iximaz on 2017-02-06 17:49:00 UTC Link to this

I still feel like a newbie. I mean, I know I've been here a few years, but it still feels like I only just showed up.

By this list, I'm an oldbie. by Scapegrace on 2017-02-06 18:29:00 UTC Link to this

This is the worst decision made in the history of mankind, including the one where I tried to put four pairs of tights on an octopus and subsequently got banned from SeaWorld after they were sure I hadn't drowned. =]

Oh dear! Law of unintended consequences? by Huinesoron on 2017-02-06 18:55:00 UTC Link to this

Don't worry - you're still both shiny newbies to me. ;) Of course, to my mind, Luthien is still a newbie, and she joined in 2004...

I think we can take it as read that every generation thinks of the ones before it as ancient, itself as moderately recent, and the ones after it as so new they don't know which way up the Board goes.

hS

Shiny? Me? Verdigrised would probably be a better term. by Scapegrace on 2017-02-06 19:45:00 UTC Link to this

Especially since it's a condition affecting fake gold, which, given that it's a thing ascribed value by a community which then proceeds to prove it has substantially less, seems apposite.

People who have arrived more recently look up to you by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2017-02-07 05:40:00 UTC Link to this

Sometimes they squeal a little when you reply to them. Objectively, you're an important fixture in the community.

--Key is a mature midbie and certainly does not squeal

Well, now I feel flattered. =] (nm) by Scapegrace on 2017-02-08 02:09:00 UTC Link to this

Someone call the Squeal Police! by Desdendelle on 2017-02-07 10:14:00 UTC Link to this

~~There's a midbie here, and I think she squealed! :P~~

I forget where I heard it, but... by Scapegrace on 2017-02-02 14:07:00 UTC Link to this

The term "ducklinging" works in this regard (in which Lacksidacksical is following Oaken around like a duckling), and I think it's sufficiently whimsical for use in the Constitution.

Snort. by Huinesoron on 2017-02-02 14:15:00 UTC Link to this

That's a very evocative word. Unfortunately I have a feeling it's only evocative if you know what it means.

(Also, I don't think we want to go all-out whimsy. An Article 1 which talks about abuse, persecution, murder, and ducklings is going to give us all emotional whiplash. ;))

hS

New mission! by Iximaz and Aegis on 2017-02-04 01:05:00 UTC Link to this

The Aviator and Zeb are teamed up with the Detective and Jack for a Harry Potter x Doctor Who mission.

Zeb is overjoyed, Jack is confused, and the Aviator and the Detective begin to question their life choices.

Very late nitpick? by Hieronymus Graubart on 2017-02-14 19:16:00 UTC Link to this

... finally scooting Zeb away from the door and waving at the sensor to open them.

As far as I remember there are two door-wings sliding to both sides, so I guess this should be "doors" to match “them” rather than "it" to match "door".

HG

Oops, yes, thank you. :) (nm) by Iximaz on 2017-02-15 00:13:00 UTC Link to this

A good mission by son_of_heaven176 on 2017-02-13 02:37:00 UTC Link to this

But wasn't Zeb shipping Aviator/Librarian? I'm guessing he changed his mind because of the events of "Bad Idea". Or will we he be teasing Ave when either Time Lord is around?

Corrections ahoy:
Bouncing’s better when they’re bored, rocking tends to sooth.
That should be "soothe".

“As far as I know, Eleven and River spent the most time together out of any of the incarnations” Jack said.
Missing comma to close the quotation.

“You don’t exactly have to point it out—I’ve got eyes, y’know,” said the Detective.

“Well, excuse me, princess,” the Aviator said, her lip curling. “So sorry for wanting to make sure the rookie wasn’t going to screw up.”

Non sequitur. The Aviator's previous line was her telling Zeb to move. Was there a line that got deleted in post-production?

Fortunately, it happened to coincide with the newest canon’s first line: “ "Hello, I'm Captian Jack Harkness-"

Extra set of quotation marks.

remembering wading thigh-deep through a horde of mini Aragogs.

Missing hyphen: mini-Aragogs

two sixth years who obviously hadn’t seen one another in quite some time

Missing hyphen: sixth-years

“I’ll meet you back at the RC,” he said as he turned, and walked far too quickly from the Aviator’s.

"from the Aviator's" ... what? You can't mean "RC", since hasn't even left it when the Aviator calls him in the very next line. Perhaps you just meant "from the Aviator"?

Thanks for the corrections. by Iximaz on 2017-02-13 04:53:00 UTC Link to this

Zeb jumps on the first sign of shipping for any reason, so he'll be teasing no matter who's around. :)

I disagree about the non sequitur comment; her first line was directed at everyone, Zeb was just the one she was pushing. Sixth years also shouldn't be hyphenated. I did fix the rest, though.

Let's see, let's see... by Matt Cipher on 2017-02-04 23:27:00 UTC Link to this

Right. The very first thing I have to say is, hooray! Ellie's back with mum! This is definitely a good thing, and I'm glad to see at least this part of Ave's trouble being resolved. The post-mission actually made me smile. Good for her. And good for you, Ixi.

Some of my favourite moments:

1) "“Sorry for the inconvenience, gents, but I have a baby to look after, so if you don’t mind lea—wait, what were you doing here, anyway?” [BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!]"
(You just haaad to go and say it, Ave. You just had to...)

2) "“No, but he sure got her on her back, if you know what I mean,”"
(Hiyoooooo!)

3) Actually, every time those two bloody muppets, Jack and Zeb, were playing matchmaker/teasing any of the Time Lords.

4) "The Aviator snickered. “So tell me, how does it feel to be on the receiving end for a change?”
“Is that what the Detective asked you the other night?” Zeb immediately shot back."
(Booyah, lil' buddy!)

That being said, the beginning felt a little... jumbled for me. One concrete example: Zeb asking how long the Time Lords have known each other follows by the Detective's answer to Jack's previously stated question. And Zeb's question is still hanging to AFTER the console going off and Ellie getting scared. It may not be a big deal, or anything, but it feels chaotic for me. Then again, that may just be me.

Another thing - not a negative one, but I am curious:
"“As far as I know, Eleven and River spent the most time together out of any of the incarnations” Jack said."
Now I wonder, wouldn't that be with Twelve and their 24 years on Darillium?

Long story short, it was a solid piece of mission. Zeb's the MVP, as always, and has everyone else in his shadow. Jack and the Detective have good chemistry both with each other and the other team, and Ave... well, she's just her old, grumpy self. All in all, I am looking forward to next interactions between this lil' semi-happy family.

Having seen the saw. . . by Aegis on 2017-02-05 01:29:00 UTC Link to this

Firstly, I'm glad you liked it! Elanor's Homecoming is something I was happy to see myself.

The chaos at the opening was intended, actually. Elanor's back, everything is peachy, and then the appearance of Jack and the Detective starts a downwards spiral. Ave is trying to get Elanor tucked in, Zeb is teasing both of them, Dee trying to get out of there, and Jack watching bemusedly. All of which is occurring simultaneously, so there's gonna be chaos.

I'm glad it comes across, though.

As to your second, I must restore the reputation of my canonical expertise.

So, yes. :) You're right, those 24 years are the longest (confirmed) time of (consecutive) companionship between the Doctor and River. . .

But it's also irrelevant, because, as you said, they were, as far as we know, on Darillium for those 24 years, and so we weren't counting that particular period.

Still, I'm glad it was a good read. I think 'semi-happy family' might be going a bit far, but I could be wrong.

Time will tell.

It always does.

This was really good! by Ffwydriad on 2017-02-04 16:20:00 UTC Link to this

I love the interactions between these four, it's wonderful. The Aviator is one of my many favorite agents, and I love both of your writing styles. This fic really deserved to die too.

My tiny little nitpick is about the use of the phrase "Time-Lord" because technically, it doesn't refer to people from Gallifrey, just those who graduated from the Academy (and while not necessarily smart, smart enough to graduate) and earned their regenerations, and it would have been nice to see you charge the Sue with that. I don't know, it's a pretty minor thing overall and I can't remember if it's actually shown up in the show.

Thank you! by Iximaz on 2017-02-04 17:48:00 UTC Link to this

And I think I'm blushing over here. Am I blushing? •^w^•

As for the Time Lord vs Gallifreyan thing, they were only named as different species in the expanded universe (namely, Interference - Book Two) but Time Lords were explicitly said to have evolved from Gallifreyans in A Good Man Goes to War, which is from the TV show (more widely accepted as the "main" canon). Since we're sporking to show standards, we weren't going to poke that charge. :)

Oh right, there's a TV show. . . by Ffwydriad on 2017-02-05 02:19:00 UTC Link to this

I feel bad about it, but I actually haven't seen all of the modern TV show, and I don't think I've seen more than four episodes with the Eleventh Doctor. I'm a lot more focused on the original show and the extended universe (moreso the audios than the books) so I forget that it's all really non-canon. I think I was reading a PPC fic recently where they were talking about the whole Gallifreyan/Time Lord thing and it got stuck in my mind...

And if it's going to make you blush, I'll just say again how much I love your writing.

If it helps... by Scapegrace on 2017-02-05 11:11:00 UTC Link to this

"Night of the Doctor" confirmed all the Big Finish Eighth Doctor adventures (and by extension the rest of the Big Finish stuff) as main-universe canon. =]

A fun one. by Sergio Turbo on 2017-02-04 12:52:00 UTC Link to this

And looks like the Ironic Overpower is trying to play matchmaker, now.

Best line: “I’m a mum now, I’m allowed to make threats like that.” And Zeb was incredibly fun. I'm starting to like Jack and the Detective, they've been interesting so far.

Oh, and a little nitpick: "Captain" is seven letters, not six. Unless the mistake was deliberate?

:) by Iximaz on 2017-02-04 17:55:00 UTC Link to this

The IO just loves making people uncomfortable, doesn't it?

(I have no idea what you're talking about. Six letters? Wherever did it say six letters? *hides the edit button*)

And now the IO is playing shipper... by Hardric on 2017-02-04 10:36:00 UTC Link to this

Seeing how much it was taunted, it decided 'Welp, let see if it can turns into an actual relationship'. Always fear the IO. Joke aside, character interactions were fun, and also let hope for more for them in the future. I also Daww'd for the nursery inside the TARDIS...

The fic? It was horrible, and also a good pretext to put all of them together. Still fail to understand why people cannot see the direct relation you can make between 'purebloods', racism', and other words not fit for a civil discussion. Feels good seeing glitterbags like this being eliminated.

And now that other people than me are using 'glitterbag', would it be propesterous to add it to the Creative Curses page on the wiki?

On the nitpick side, the tracker... (partly devolve into rant).

Why couldn't it include more formulated warnings, like: "[Glitter level is raising.] Singing is not a crime, but like I already said, obssessing about me isn't healthy at all. Beep, can you imagine if I was only able to 'beep'?

"Dude, mourning your loved ones is fine, stop thinking me being there makes it a crime/Beep."

"See? I'm just a Suvian, look the tracker is beeping."

"Nonono, feeling emotions is fine, obesssing about me is bad, remember what FicPsych said./ Beep. Beep."

"I'll never be anything else than a Suvian..."

"Great Maker in the Sky, why?/ Beep."

shudders At least I'd be a perfect torture device. A work of pure sadism, destroying any emotion and character development in a negative feedback loop. Thank the Maker He remembered why the C-CAD have these beeping screen for numbers and comments."

Still not a fan of that thing.

Well, of course. It's the IO. by Iximaz on 2017-02-04 18:11:00 UTC Link to this

Glad to know I can pull off fluff alright, though angst is so much more fun I can't wait to torture Zeb next— I mean, thank you. :P

And making a character a pure-blood just for the sake of being pure-blood is bad enough, but when they start lording it over everyone else it just gets awful. Especially coming from Hermione.

Ave will be getting rid of the Sue tracker eventually, don't worry. The Flowers just need to make sure she's back down to normal before they can do that.

Remind me again by son_of_heaven176 on 2017-02-13 02:12:00 UTC Link to this

why the Flowers stuck the tracker on Ave in the first place?

She did kind of steal a PPC TARDIS and run away with it. (nm) by Iximaz on 2017-02-13 07:08:00 UTC Link to this

'Kind of' indeed... TARDISes always steal their pilots. (nm) by Hardric on 2017-02-13 17:52:00 UTC Link to this

Re: New mission! by DrGonzo on 2017-02-04 09:34:00 UTC Link to this

Okay, that was satisfying to read. I'm a giant Who fan, so seeing any Sue in the fandom get taken out warms the proverbial cockles just nicely.

Thank you! ^w^ (nm) by Iximaz on 2017-02-04 18:11:00 UTC Link to this

Wow! Can't wait! by Jay - Awesomeness Central on 2017-02-04 01:50:00 UTC Link to this

I really liked 'How to Kill a Sue' by Iximaz. I haven't read any of Aegis' work though.

Hope you like what's in the mission. :) (nm) by Aegis on 2017-02-04 02:09:00 UTC Link to this

Man, it's been a while. by Acolyte Oakdown on 2017-02-05 07:57:00 UTC Link to this

I joined this thing way back in October and never came back to it. Do we have a discord chat or something? That would be way easier for me to keep up with.

Re: Man, it's been a while. by DrGonzo on 2017-02-07 07:30:00 UTC Link to this

Hello, Acolyte, good to meet you. Here, have a full bottle of Bleeprin. Stick around long enough, you'll need it.

Have a welcome-back plover! (nm) by Tawaki on 2017-02-06 14:22:00 UTC Link to this

Welcome back! by eatpraylove on 2017-02-06 04:03:00 UTC Link to this

Glad to see some returning faces (metaphorically speaking). Here's a pack of sticky notes shaped like your favorite animal, because why not!

Hi! by palindromordnilap on 2017-02-05 22:25:00 UTC Link to this

Welcome (back) aBoard! Have this 7-dimensional rabbit plushie. It looks like a tangled mass of cotton and fake fur but that's because of the way it intersects with 3+1D space.

Well then. Hello, returning person! by Matt Cipher on 2017-02-05 20:41:00 UTC Link to this

Since I've finally got the shipment of the goods, enjoy this slice of Infinite Pizza

Welcome baaaaack! :D *tosses Spikes* (nm) by SkarmorySilver on 2017-02-05 13:42:00 UTC Link to this

Heeeeeeeey! by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2017-02-05 09:24:00 UTC Link to this

I remember you, sort of! You came in and greeted us and sort of disappeared. I'd assumed you'd gotten a case of Disappearing Newbie Syndrome, and withered away into pixels, or whatever it is that happens to other DNS cases, but it turns out, you were fine all along!
You just got kidnapped or got lost in the mountains or entered a country-wide marathon, or something!

Welcome back. My gift upon you is: a flying rowan tree!
To cancel out all that Oakdown you have going on, y'know?

Welcome!

Very funny. by Acolyte Oakdown on 2017-02-06 01:32:00 UTC Link to this

And also very sorry for disappearing. I should really try to keep up with this place a bit more.

I'm glad you appreciated my comedic talents. by Larfen J. Stocke, esq. on 2017-02-06 06:28:00 UTC Link to this

There is more where that came from, I can assure you.
Much, much more.
Much much much much more.
An endless sea of it, where it came from.

No worries, anyhow! Had plenty of people sort of disappearing and then reappearing. Quite a few returnbies have been sliding in as of late, in fact. I mean, you and Badger seem to have bloody synchronised that!

Re: I'm glad you appreciated my comedic talents. by Acolyte Oakdown on 2017-02-06 20:35:00 UTC Link to this

Timelines are weird like that.

Returnbie! *glomp* *poke* by Iximaz on 2017-02-05 08:00:00 UTC Link to this

I remember your name! Have this plate of welcome-back SPaGhetti, and a link to the Discord, which we do in fact have.

The rules of the Constitution apply there as well, so make sure to brush up on them if you're rusty. :)

LFÎ² (Looking for beta readers for permission request) by leafeyes on 2017-02-06 04:22:00 UTC Link to this

As you may know already if you're active on the lounge, I've been inspired to get permission after stumbling across a particularly squicky badfic. I've developed my agents and written the permission pieces, so I would like to ensure they're up to snuff before actually making the request. For those of you who are active on the lounge, these are the same agents you've seen in Rudi's.

E-mail is clickabluu. (nm) by SkarmorySilver on 2017-02-06 16:54:00 UTC Link to this

Clicked, sent. (nm) by leafeyes on 2017-02-07 02:31:00 UTC Link to this

Username is clickable. Send them my way :) by eatpraylove on 2017-02-06 14:38:00 UTC Link to this

I should warn you, though; I'm dealing with college work and a few other projects, so I might not be able to look at them right away.

Message sent! by leafeyes on 2017-02-07 02:27:00 UTC Link to this

Don't worry too much about response time, I'm also going to be busy.

Plort, because unicorns, because Iximaz. by Huinesoron on 2017-02-07 11:29:00 UTC Link to this

The Herds of Kwenaya, featuring a gift from Lady Iximaz, bred (according to the chat log) from mearas and popcorn.

I'm still very concerned as to where the Huinecorns were going to be ridden. I don't want them getting into any trouble. ^~

hS

PS: I've also updated the <a href="http://plort.wikia.com/wiki/Huinesoron#OtherTalesofBaron_Huinesoron">tales section of Baron Huinesoron's Cyclopaedia article. If you're wondering why he has a camel, check out 'Moored'.

PPS: I feel like I've done a lot more with Baron Me since his ousting than before it. I think that's a good thing?

Hmm... by Iximaz on 2017-02-07 17:42:00 UTC Link to this

9/10. Needs more<.i> unicorns. Perhaps Lady Iximaz will send more when she finds them on her next crusade.

But really, Baroness Kaitlyn, why wouldn't one want unicorns? They're lovely, they're intelligent, they fart rainbows, and they can impale people! What's not to love?

Whoops, broke the HTML. (nm) by Iximaz on 2017-02-07 17:42:00 UTC Link to this

Yay, more Plort! by Desdendelle on 2017-02-07 12:26:00 UTC Link to this

Always nice to see more of it.
Which reminds me — the map is kinda out of date; there's nothing about La Wunj in it, or BTA's holdings in the Riding.
also dam youse for writing stuff that is much more interesting than what I'm supposed to be studying right now

'Nothing about La Wunj'? by Huinesoron on 2017-02-07 12:58:00 UTC Link to this

Uh, La Wunj exists on the map of Plort, way over in the east. And, uh, so does BTA's second holding. What map are you looking at? :-/

If you mean there's nothing on there about the Discord, that's because as far as I know no-one's said anything about it other than 'the discord around La Wunj'. It hasn't been named as a nation, so is currently classed as part of the Riding.

If that's not what you mean... then I don't know what you mean. :(

The next Council might get exciting - both Baron Araeph and Baron Cassie are missing in action, which'll leave a huge chunk of Borrd and the Riding unclaimed. Well, claimed by Phobos, more than likely.

Speaking of which: do we still feel we have enough active PGs? July's drifted off again, and neither PC nor Phobos post very much (they're still clearly here, but not very active. And obviously Kaitlyn remains super quiet. That puts the Very Active count at a generous six - you, me, Ix, Nesh, Juliette, and VM. Are some of them more active on the Discord?

I'm aware that there's hardly the workload to need more than, like, two of us - but there wasn't in 2015, either, and the support for making more was pretty impressive. Do people (not just PGs) think we should be making hats for more people - either newer folks, or long-term members who've grown to the point where they should have it?

hS

I aten't dead. by JulyFlame on 2017-02-08 05:24:00 UTC Link to this

In the event people have been wondering. I peek at the board every week or so when I have time between work, trying to make sure the ship doesn't catch fire, and trying to figure out why my couch is spouting glitter at random intervals.

-July, who is serious about her couch making glitter appear randomly

*waves* Hi, July! by Neshomeh on 2017-02-08 17:11:00 UTC Link to this

I'm with Scape: you might want to burn the couch. ^_~

(Why do I feel like this couch also exists in the HQ Lounge? ... July, did you steal the couch from the HQ Lounge?)

~Neshomeh

8D (nm) by doctorlit on 2017-02-08 13:34:00 UTC Link to this

Hi-i! ^_^ (nm) by Huinesoron on 2017-02-08 08:53:00 UTC Link to this

Well, hi there! (nm) by Desdendelle on 2017-02-08 08:14:00 UTC Link to this

Your sofa is clearly Suvian and must be purged. =] (nm) by Scapegrace on 2017-02-08 07:07:00 UTC Link to this

On my activity levels by Phobos on 2017-02-07 22:14:00 UTC Link to this

I'm around and have some vague understanding of what is going on. I just don't have the ability to keep up with everything because I am suffering from an unholy combination of being very busy and becoming progressively more blind (seriously). It's why I don't post or write much, anymore. I've been trying to write a Plort story, to explain this very thing, that is taking forever to write because of this very thing. (Also explains what Baron Phobos wants with all that land.)

All that said, I was never the most active to begin with and I would gladly retire my PG Hat in favor of a more active member of the community. I've thought about doing that before, and I guess this is a good time.

-Phobos

Hey, I'm not picking. by Huinesoron on 2017-02-08 08:53:00 UTC Link to this

I went very quiet for about two years back in '09-'10. People do it, for all sorts of reasons. (Sorry to hear about the blindness thing, that sucks.)

We don't normally take back PG hats - people who haven't been here for over a decade still have them, technically! Besides, they're custom-fitted, so we'd rather just sew new ones for new PGs. ;)

hS

It isn't so much that I'm giving the hat back... by Phobos on 2017-02-08 14:28:00 UTC Link to this

...as it is that I am hanging it up with more fanfare than is strictly necessary. I'm basically just saying that you don't have to consider me when looking at how many active PGs we have.

As for the rest, like I said, I had been meaning to fill the community in. Blindness sucks, but there is hope. I had eye surgery about a month ago on my right eye which should stabilize the condition. Once that heals we'll see about the other one. Once that heals we'll see about vision correction. A long process, but that's what happens when a degenerative condition is misdiagnosed for over a decade.

I really should finish that Baron Phobos story.

-Phobos, Once a Baron of Plort, always a Baron of Plort

I saw that... by Delta Juliette on 2017-02-07 20:19:00 UTC Link to this

(Yes, yes, I know. Everyone wants to be me. You could have been more subtle about it, though. :P )

(For those who are very confused, until the Nameless Admin intervened, hS's post claimed to be authored by me.)

YOU SAW NOTHING! oops (nm) by Huinelta Soronette on 2017-02-07 20:56:00 UTC Link to this

A Great Oldbie One is come! (nm) by Delta Juliette on 2017-02-07 22:28:00 UTC Link to this

"That is not dead which can eternal quote..." (nm) by Huinesoron on 2017-02-08 09:12:00 UTC Link to this

Well, now I have my next Shipfest ship... (nm) by Iximaz on 2017-02-07 21:06:00 UTC Link to this

Oh lawks. (nm) by Huinesoron on 2017-02-07 21:41:00 UTC Link to this

All I see... by Desdendelle on 2017-02-07 20:58:00 UTC Link to this

Is a terrible pastiche between Latinate languages and Quenya.

As if I would ever do such a thing. (nm) by Desuinelta Sordenette on 2017-02-07 21:41:00 UTC Link to this

Well... by Desdendelle on 2017-02-07 14:14:00 UTC Link to this

I meant "La Wunj" as the Discord, yes. And I was looking at the map in BTA's article — it definitely doesn't show his new (ish) holding, and I have no idea how to update it.

Re: PGs: I haven't seen PC or Phobos around the Discord much at all (and July left it ages ago). Do we need new PGs? I don't have a strong opinion one way or the other. I mean, the last Permission request was about a month and a half ago, and the one before that was around a month before it. It's not that big a workload.

If someone involved can decide what the Discord is... by Huinesoron on 2017-02-07 14:39:00 UTC Link to this

... I'm happy to update the maps to include it. What I've said is that the discord is primarily centred on the city itself, with factions spinning up around it.

If I can offer a suggestion: it was decided that 'PPC Lounge' would describe whatever the current chat happens to be. How about establishing La Wunj as a city-state, with hinterlands extending up the Bravneits and down the Chuneils? You could have the factions carving out bits of the landscape for themselves, or co-existing in blissful harmony under the enlightened rule of the Mords - or cutting lines through the city itself, if you wanted.

You'd want to pick a name for the nation. "The City-State of La Wunj" would be simple, obviously, but it doesn't explicitly reference the name Discord. I don't have any particular ideas.

I'll work up a split map to show both halves of Thanasius' holdings; shouldn't take long.

You're right that we don't need new PGs for the workload, but like I say, we didn't when you were chosen, either. You, Ix, and PC were elected because it was deemed unfair that 'Permission Giver' was a title/responsibility/trust only given to super old people; we wanted to open it up to the newer members of the PPC. If the new newer people feel the same way, then it would be perfectly legitimate to add a couple more.

hS

Well... by Mattman The Comet on 2017-02-07 15:25:00 UTC Link to this

I mentioned Discord being a Magical Keystone connected to a magical network known as the Dizzy Chord in a Plort post linked to The Cursed Child.

Hmm, arright. by Huinesoron on 2017-02-07 15:28:00 UTC Link to this

So the City-State (name pending) is filled with people who use Dizzy Chord keystones to communicate. The various factions set up their own circles to coordinate their activities (whate'er they may be). That hangs together, I think?

hS

First Post by Daniel Stretulch on 2017-02-08 01:27:00 UTC Link to this

Hi,

I'm Dan, a homeschooled mathematician. (I'm in highschool.)
Since I found you through TVtrope (I love the site), I've been going through The Original Series and the wiki.
Even though I'm only on the 8th mission in The Original Series, I've decided to post here anyways if only to keep myself sane.

I've almost completed drafting a possible set of agents.
They are undoubtingly going to be revised as finish the original series but I have too much fun making characters.
Side note: TVtropes has been very helpful to me when making characters.

Most watched show: My Little Pony (Through season 5)
Most recently watched show: Samurai Jack (All seasons)
Most listened to theme song: Gravity Falls (All seasons)
As you can see, I mostly like kid shows.
I sometimes love teen-level shows, but not as often.
Get Smart is one of the rare ones.

Feel free to ask questions, make statements, and shout exclamations. (or just ignore me)

Twenty-first Post by Daniel Stretulch on 2017-02-11 23:26:00 UTC Link to this

Hi,

Finished The Original Series now.
Thanks for all the food, STEM stuff, friends, pens, music, suggestions, signs, and other digital things.
I may have spilled some of the popcorn on TOS, but I think I cleaned it all up. (There's no need to warn newbies... probably.)
Any suggestions on what to read next?

I've finished my set of agents.
These will probably not be the agents I use in the distant future, but I will post them soon so that I can get input as to how well these characters work with the PPC.
That advice will be very helpful down the road.
I'll post them as soon as I figure out how I want to post them.
Is there a preferred way to do so?

The wiki has been very helpful... and laggy.
I've had this problem with the Fandom wiki before.
The longer the tab is open, the worse it gets.
I think it even crashed Google Chrome once.
I've already found a workaround, so don't worry about me. (It works well on my phone.)
Quick Question: Has anyone else had this problem on their computer?

And now on to a more light-hearted question.
Have you ever had a work you liked that had one phrase you absolutely boggled you?
For example, I liked the episode of Samurai Jack titled "Jack vs. Mad Jack" yet I was completely boggled by the phrase "This'll be the easiest googolplex I've ever made."

As you probably noticed, I ask a lot of questions.
Here are two quotes from people I know:
"You're very curious, which is great."

"I had a lot of fun discussing our favorite _______ ..."

PS: What's your favorite color?

SECRET MESSAGE 7

Answers, I guess by Desdendelle on 2017-02-12 03:00:00 UTC Link to this

1) Nesh's spinoff was already mentioned, so I'll just point you toward Insanegrrl's spinoff, which I particularly like.
2) Agents... I think Tomash covered everything.
3) Didn't have any problems with Wikia (Firefox 51.0.1 on Windows 10 Home).
4) Not that I recall.
PS: Blue! No, yellow!

Thanks! by Daniel Stretulch on 2017-02-12 03:15:00 UTC Link to this

1) Thanks!
2) Thanks!
3) Thanks!
4) Thanks!
PS: Thankyou! No, Thanks!

SECRET MESSAGE 9! No, Thanks!

Replies and stuff by Tomash on 2017-02-12 02:31:00 UTC Link to this

So, "what to read next" is a bit of a tricky question, partly because it depends on what you're interested in and partly because some folks have written a lot of good stuff, and I don't want to bury you in it. However, I can point you to a few highly-regarded spinoffs. Firstly, there's Neshomeh's missions, which you should probably go read five seconds ago (you'll also see Phobos's stuff linked there, same comment applies). After that, I'd also highly recommend scapegrace's work (Notary & Wobbles, Gabrielle & Doktor Trollenfisch), Iximaz's work (Aviator & Zeb, Ix & Charlotte), Suicide & Diocletian's missions (written by TungstenMonk). What I've read of Huinesoron's stuff is also quite good, and you may want to check it out also. (I'm personally also a fan of WarriorJoe's Fritz & Silas, but that might just be my thing for aliens)

If you want profiles etc. looked over and/or checked for reasonableness, start (or latch on to) a beta request thread, and you'll probably get at least one person willing to work with you on them. We don't usually toss around public links to that sort of thing until it's good and ready, since that basically counts as publishing it (or requesting Permission).

If you're looking to get a better feeling for your possible future agents, I think one of the best ways to do it is (if your set of available times matches someone else's, US evenings tend to be very good) to RP with them in #rudis on the Discord. Unless you're not into that sort of thing, of course. There's also trying to write a few of the Permission prompts with them.

And my favorite color is green.

Thanks! by Daniel Stretulch on 2017-02-12 03:10:00 UTC Link to this

Hi,

Thanks for replying.
Lots of great suggestions for fics, thanks.

Thanks also for the recommendations for my agents.
I'll be sure to implement them tomorrow. (Unfortunately, I need sleep.)

Thanks!

PS: Thanks!

SECRET MESSAGE 8 and Thanks!

Definitely read Nesh's stuff. by Iximaz on 2017-02-12 02:52:00 UTC Link to this

Actually, have a list of my favorites!

I have way too much stuff to read unless you want to spend a good chunk of the year stuck at your computer, and there's much better stuff out there to be read.

(Dangit, Tomash, you beat me to the best color.)

Thanks! by Daniel Stretulch on 2017-02-12 03:18:00 UTC Link to this

Thanks!

Re: First Post by DrGonzo on 2017-02-09 21:26:00 UTC Link to this

Hello, Dan. Hope to see you stick around for a long time to come. As a welcoming present, have a signed copy of Fermat's Last Theorem. Your agents will need the reading material, trust me.

In love (with Math) by Daniel Stretulch on 2017-02-09 21:59:00 UTC Link to this

Hi,

Thanks.
And it is signed in the margin too!
My Agents are gonna love it (whether they like it or not).
Thanks!

SECRET MESSAGE 5

Hello by Bram on 2017-02-09 16:06:00 UTC Link to this

Have a purple glitter gel pen. Your agents aren't allowed to use it for mission reports.

Thanks! by Daniel Stretulch on 2017-02-09 16:30:00 UTC Link to this

Hi,

A purple glitter gel pen. Neat!
I'm gonna have a hard time keeping it away from one of my agents, but I'll manage.
Thanks!

Hello newbie. by Hardric on 2017-02-08 18:39:00 UTC Link to this

Please have a bag of black-hole chocolates and my welcome.

Hope you're here to stick around.

Delicious by Daniel Stretulch on 2017-02-08 19:47:00 UTC Link to this

Hi,

More delicious gifts!
Thanks!

Hello! by Akrinor on 2017-02-08 18:01:00 UTC Link to this

Have this Weighted Companion Cube!
|img src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/82/06/83/820683b908a00b237e673d9f2e88e0af.jpg" alt="Weighted Companion Cube">
This Weighted Companion Cube will accompany you through the PPC. Please take care of it.

Also, what are your prefferred pronouns?

~Akrinor

Thanks! by Daniel Stretulch on 2017-02-08 19:39:00 UTC Link to this

Hi,

Thanks for the Weighted Companion Cube.
It is sure to be useful in the next testing chamber.

Anyway, call me He or Dan or Daniel or DS.

Thanks!

PS: I think it is spelled preferred.

And here's the image without me messing up the html :D by Akrinor on 2017-02-08 18:02:00 UTC Link to this

Welcome! *brohoof* by eatpraylove on 2017-02-08 16:35:00 UTC Link to this

TV Tropes is awesome, isn't it? Glad you came by here. Have some popcorn to eat while you read the rest of the Original Series, a red pen (always helpful), and a keychain in the shape of Dipper's hat!

Thanks! *brohoof* by Daniel Stretulch on 2017-02-08 17:03:00 UTC Link to this

Hi,

TVtrope is awesome. Almost too awesome.

Thanks for the popcorn. Smells delicious.
Nice, a red pen. I'll add it to my lanyard.
Let me explain, I have a lanyard (or three) that I hook my pens on.
That way, if someone asks for a pen or if I need one, I'll always have it on hand.
You never know when you'll need one.
Also, I have different colored pens.
Thanks for the digital red one!
I can clip the Dipper hat keychain to my lanyard as well.
Thanks!

SECRET MESSAGE 4

Hi! by palindromordnilap on 2017-02-08 15:56:00 UTC Link to this

Welcome aBoard! Have this sentient fractal. It's pretty nice, just don't mention political issues anywhere near it, it'll never stop debating.

Super! Tasks! by Daniel Stretulch on 2017-02-08 16:29:00 UTC Link to this

Hi,

I've always wanted a sentient fractal. (I think.)
That might come in handy. (Thinks of new ways to perform supertasks on the Infinite Ice Cream.)

Thanks!

First Welcome by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2017-02-08 09:12:00 UTC Link to this

Aha!
Got you!
This isn't my first welcome!

Ooooh, mate, I fooled you big time. Bet you weren't expecting that, eh?
Prank'd ya! Goof'd ya!

Welcome, Dan, homeschooled highschool mathematician. My gift upon you is: a small black hole. In order to pry your eyes away from TvTropes, should you need to. It might seem like it's not working, at first, but give it a few moments. You should be free from the computer screen by the time your second-last atom is spaghettified.

Welcome!

TVtropes might ruin your life even more. (Whoops!) by Daniel Stretulch on 2017-02-08 15:29:00 UTC Link to this

Hi,

Thanks for the miniature black hole.
I've been needing something like it ever since I found out about the middle click.
It turns out if you got a scroll wheel on your mouse, you can press the scroll wheel for a middle click.
And if you middle click a link, it will automatically open it in a new tab.
This makes tabbing over twice as easy.
Combine with TVtrope for detrimental effects.

And I might have just ruined your life even more. (Whoops!)

Thanks!

Side note: I wonder what would happen if I combined my SPaGhetti with the black hole?

Hello, Bob, and welcome. by Desdendelle on 2017-02-08 08:52:00 UTC Link to this

Unlike Wozzy, I don't really deal in discordant music, so have this bit of J-Pop, instead!
Also, have a hamster.

Thanks! by Daniel Stretulch on 2017-02-08 15:13:00 UTC Link to this

Hi,

Thanks for the music!
And hamster!

SECRET MESSAGE 3

Newbie, welcome! by KimchiRamen on 2017-02-08 08:13:00 UTC Link to this

Another person extracted from the trap that is TvTropes! (But seriously, that site is both helpful and harmful at the same time.)
And you're already working on your agents, too! I applaud your initiative!
Have a complimentary jar of kimchi and working replicas of X9's trumpet and pistols!
I hope you enjoy your stay!

Fire by Daniel Stretulch on 2017-02-08 14:56:00 UTC Link to this

Out of the fire (TVtropes) and into the frying pan (PPC), except still in the fire (TVtropes).

Thanks, I love making characters.
With the help of the fire (TVtropes).

A jar, a trumpet, and some pistols.
Those are sure to come in handy.
Thanks!

Ack, the fire (TVtropes) is spreading!

Welcome, welcome, welcome! by Granz the Ice Cream Monarch on 2017-02-08 08:10:00 UTC Link to this

A fine welcome to you! A whole bunch more lyrics that will not fit in this post! *Blows noisemaker.* Anyways, welcome! Have this free Royal Ice Cream Container! It's basically invincible, and can give you any flavor of ice cream you want with infinite refills!

Infinite? by Daniel Stretulch on 2017-02-08 14:43:00 UTC Link to this

Hi,

Infinite Free Ice Cream?
I wonder how infinite? (Imagines various supertasks.)
Thanks!

SECRET MESSAGE 2

Welcome! by HerrWozzeck on 2017-02-08 05:41:00 UTC Link to this

We're all a crazy bunch around here, so, uh... yeah! Have fun!

As a welcome gift, have some Lachenmann: https://youtu.be/GWEuqv-9z3w

Enjoy the weirdness!

Lovely and Bizarre by Daniel Stretulch on 2017-02-08 14:36:00 UTC Link to this

Hi,

Nice music. (Gave me something to listen to while I read all the bizarre and lovely comments.)
Thanks!

Greetings, fellow newbie! by Jay - Awesomeness Central on 2017-02-08 04:59:00 UTC Link to this

Hello! So glad to meet a fellow homeschooler. My newbie gift to you is a custom-made Lego figure of a Mary-Sue. Have fun ;)!

Thanks for the Minifig by Daniel Stretulch on 2017-02-08 14:32:00 UTC Link to this

Hi,

A minifig... and from a fellow homeschooler no less!
Fantastic!
Thanks!

Welcome to the PPC, then by Tomash on 2017-02-08 03:40:00 UTC Link to this

We're glad to have you, and hope you'll stick around.

So, given that you're joining the (possibly larger than expected) group math and science types who hang out here, have a Klein bottle. Without the self-intersection, mind.

You've already basically answered the fandoms question, but is there any more obscure thing you've read/watched that you think is cool?

Also, since you mentioned having a set of characters drawn up, I'd like to remind you that we generally expect people to spend some time here and become part of the community before going for Permission to write in the PPC.

And before I go, this link is a Discord server invite

Thanks! by Daniel Stretulch on 2017-02-08 14:29:00 UTC Link to this

Hi,

Cool, 4D Klein Bottle. I can't seem to get a good 4D picture of it. (It keeps looking 3D.)
Come to think of it, it might be 5D. (I'm not used to working with 5D objects.)

More math and science people? AWESOME!

Obscure... hmmm.
Alice in Wonderland maybe? It's my favorite book. Not so obscure, though.
Can't think of any others right now.

As for agents, I know it'll be a while before I can write something for the PPC.
I just love making characters.
That's probably why the ratio of characters I've made for RPGs to characters I've played in RPGs is about 12 to 1.
And that's not mentioning all the other characters I've made.

Secret Message

Newbie! by The Good Mod Addict on 2017-02-08 03:29:00 UTC Link to this

Welcome! Sorry I don't have my own Newbie Gifts for you, but at least I can participate in the welcoming committee :)

Thanks! by Daniel Stretulch on 2017-02-08 13:49:00 UTC Link to this

Hi,

Thanks for the awesome welcome sign!

Newbie! *glomp* *poke* by Iximaz on 2017-02-08 03:25:00 UTC Link to this

Hello, and welcome aBoard! For your newbie gift, take this plate of freshly-made SPaGhetti!

If you haven't yet read them, may I point you towards the Constitution? It and the Original Series are pretty much the only required reading around these parts. Another useful resource you might use is the Wiki; if you have any questions, just look here before asking. We like it when newbies do the research. ;)

Hope you like it here!

Actually signed the Constitution by Daniel Stretulch on 2017-02-08 21:54:00 UTC Link to this

Hi,

I finally signed it on the wiki.
Thanks for pointing me to it again, or I would have forgotten to do so.

Thanks!

Mmmm... Delicious SPaGhetti by Daniel Stretulch on 2017-02-08 13:47:00 UTC Link to this

Hi,
Thanks for the SPaGhetti.
I have read the Constitution, but thanks for the reminder.
I wouldn't hurt to look through it again.
The wiki has also been very helpful.
I wonder... has anyone read every page of the wiki?

Welcome aBoard! by SkarmorySilver on 2017-02-08 01:29:00 UTC Link to this

Have one of my own shed feathers, and a Lyra plushie (that doesn't have any suspicious holes, promise ^^;)!

Thanks! by Daniel Stretulch on 2017-02-08 02:09:00 UTC Link to this

Awesome, a feather!
Thanks!
Cool plushie.
Thanks!

URGENT COLLAB REQUEST by SkarmorySilver on 2017-02-08 22:40:00 UTC Link to this

One of my collab missions is officially on hold indefinitely as of today, due to my co-writer being unable to access the PPC community thanks to his Internet filter. To this end, I need to write another mission with someone else to replace it and prevent another bottleneck in my mission queue. If anyone with active agents wants to write with me and is familiar with either Monster Hunter or the Hunger Games series, please let me know ASAP, either by replying to this post or shooting me an email!

The fic intended for sporking can be found here:
https://m.fanfiction.net/s/10695306/1/hunger-games-change-in-the-winds
(I wanted to give this to someone else I know for missioning, but it seems he's also left the community for different reasons. I'm therefore claiming it for the purpose of this collab and will add it to the Claimed list ASAP!)

Chris and Violet volunteer as tributes! by eatpraylove on 2017-02-09 15:46:00 UTC Link to this

I'm gonna bone up on the Hunger Games part of it through TV Tropes and assume that's how Chris knows about it. I needed something for them to do anyway :)

Doc sent! ^_^ (nm) by SkarmorySilver on 2017-02-09 18:15:00 UTC Link to this

Is this canon? by Bramandin on 2017-02-09 16:11:00 UTC Link to this

I remember reading somewhere that only one person was interested in Despatch. Is it part of the ppc, or is it another one of those things in the wiki that contradict what is proper?

update to wiki by Bram on 2017-02-11 15:23:00 UTC Link to this

Would it be fair to say that Despatch is a defunct department?

"There use to be a department where the characters were considered avatars of their authors," Kelly said. "Now we just assume that they're a realistic character."

Can the wiki be updated to have Despatch be defunct?

I intend to be kind to the characters. They're practically built off the OFU template.

No, it would not. (nm) by Huinesoron on 2017-02-11 18:13:00 UTC Link to this

I did one mission that was in the style of Despatch. by doctorlit on 2017-02-10 03:51:00 UTC Link to this

In "The Adventure of the Misplaced Musical Miscreant," I treated the local Sue as both the author of the fic, and as a modern-day inhabitant of Sherlock Holmes's universe. I also wrote a brief "happy ending" for her at the end of the mission. This allowed me to (technically) write a Despatch mission without involving the real world author, and still treating the Sue as more "normal human" than usual. Of course, not every SI-fic in every fandom would lend itself to a similar premise easily.

—doctorlit isn't against RPF missions conceptually, but plays by the community's rules

Cool, this is helpful. (nm) by Bram on 2017-02-11 15:59:00 UTC Link to this

We prefer not to do that sort of thing anymore by Tomash on 2017-02-09 18:29:00 UTC Link to this

The sort of fics that were missioned by the Despatch authors (Meg & Will, I think) are this close to being clearly unacceptable mission material. Namely, these "I plothole characters in for a sleepover" sorts of plots are either RPF or very similar to RPF (depending on who you ask), and missions to them would be very likely to turn into author-bashing. And we don't author-bash. We also don't mission RPF anymore.

Furthermore, over time, we as a community have decided that walking right up to the border of unacceptability isn't acceptable either. This is a reason we don't go after religious fics (like Hogwarts School of Prayer and Miracles). The same reasoning effectively bars writing Despatch missions.

This means that writing Despatch missions is no longer proper. It's not that we've explicitly forbidden it, it's just not something we think anyone should do. This (and the fact that it probably didn't come up before) explains why the wiki's not updated.

Since you're here, there are a few other matters I'd like to continue on the front page. As you are certainly aware, there are noticeable issues with some of the missions you have previously published and your response to constructive criticism, as pointed out in an older thread (and in this reply to that post). I would like to know what your plans are for improving in the future and how you plan to act on the feedback you have received on your previous writing. As a specific point, what are your plans for making edits and revisions to your missions, especially your first one?

If you would prefer not to continue that conversation on the Board, my email is clickable.

- Tomash

Re: We prefer not to do that sort of thing anymore by Bram on 2017-02-11 15:31:00 UTC Link to this

I do have an idea for improving "It's not a Blender" I just haven't gotten to it yet. The Hogwarts one and the Tresure Planet one are beyond my ability to fix. I would have liked to have had a beta on the Hogwarts one, maybe its badness would have been caught.

I'm feeling harassed that this conversation keeps popping up.

Taking this opportunity to apologize by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2017-02-13 05:59:00 UTC Link to this

Hey Bram,

I beta read for you once, right before you got Permission. Now, I've become pretty enthusiastic about beta reading, so since then I've done a lot of research on how good editors work, and I realized I did a pretty shoddy, unhelpful job on yours. Instead of helping it become a better version of itself, I tried to make it into something it wasn't. I'm sorry for that -- I do think your ability to work with a beta leaves something to be desired, but let's not forget that Jay couldn't "deal with criticism (even good criticism)".

Basically, I'd like to have another shot at working with you; email me if you're interested. If you aren't, I understand.

--Key

Okay. by Bram on 2017-02-14 18:45:00 UTC Link to this

I've got a Sherlock Holmes 2009 movie fic that I'm working on. I'll forward it to you when it's ready.

I am frustrated by your replies to this topic by Tomash on 2017-02-11 18:28:00 UTC Link to this

I have drawn your attention to problematic aspects of your interactions with the PPC community, and you have ignored me (and others) instead of responding to these concerns in a reasonable way. Your lack of significant responses has led me to provide further clarifications in the hope of reaching an understanding, which were not intended to harass you.

To go into more detail, I will summarize my views on this conversation:

- I observed that you were not behaving in an acceptable way, and that you were confused about why people were telling you this

- I wrote a post explaining what you were expected to do (especially with regards to constructive criticism and interactions with beta readers) so that you would better understand the norms of this group.

- You ignored my post and chose to shout at me instead

- I clarified my post further, telling you that promises of future reform were not enough, and that you needed to take action to repair your previous transgressions

- Instead of engaging with my points, you ignored them (again) in favor of expressing your feeling of being under attack.

- The thread fell off of the front page, so, when you made a new post, I replied to you, hoping that you would address my concerns, which you had been ignoring

- In this latest reply, you have again failed to demonstrate an understanding of what I (and others here) have a problem with, and what you need to do about it.

I hope this summary has made my perspective more understandable, and that it will help you understand why I am continuing this conversation.

As to your missions, let me be clear: they are poorly written. You are required (Constitution, Article 24) to improve them, paying attention to the constructive feedback you have received. The PPC is a community dedicated to good writing, after all. Your lack of a beta is not an excuse. Not here.

If they are "beyond your ability to fix", you have two choices. You may either retract them from continuity and abandon them, or you may gain the ability to fix them. You have already received broad concrit on your missions, which should help you improve them. I recommend that you read it calmly and carefully.

You also ought to find someone willing to work with you to improve your writing skills. (I do have to warn you that you have a reputation with some of us as a difficult author to work with, and you may need to overcome that.)

I would like to know which of these options you intend to pursue, as taking no action in the face of these requests may cause the community to consider more formal consequences or rebukes. If you do not understand any part of what you have been told or what you need to do, please let us know so that we can help you participate in the PPC.

Again, my inbox is open.

- Tomash

Can we please let this rest? by Hieronymus Graubart on 2017-02-12 20:19:00 UTC Link to this
"The Harry Potter Trollfic" and "Kelly Solos 'Little Treasure'" have never been linked on the Wiki, and the links on the Board are so far down that nobody will ever find them again if we just stop pointing, and the Newbies probably don't even know what we are talking about.

As far as I'm concerned, these failed writing exercises have never been part of the PPC continuity – otherwise I would have linked them on the Wiki. Also, to me it looked like Bramandin, as soon as he was made aware that these stories don't fit our quality standards, and then again whenever it was brought up, tried to tell everybody that he did retract these stories, using phrases like "beyond my ability to fix" or "don't intend to work on them further".

So, the only problem here is apparently that Bram doesn't know how to formally retract them to our full bureaucratic satisfaction, and this fits our general knowledge about his condition. Actually, since this doesn't come up often, I don't know either, and I intended to ask Ix and Des when this came up the last time, but then I forgot.

What exactly should Bramandin do?
- Delete the Gdocs or at least protect them, so that nobody except Bram can read them anymore?
- Say in very clear and unmistakable words that Yes, these stories were actually retracted in August resp. October 2016?
- Something else?
Having that said, I agree that running away and abandoning everything as soon as it's criticized to try and start something new is not a good way to improve one's writing. It irked me when zdimensia did it, and I'm concerned that it happened two times in a row with Bram, but I'm afraid that we are far beyond the point when somebody should have told him that.

HG

Clearing up some miscommunications by Tomash on 2017-02-12 20:40:00 UTC Link to this

As far as I'm concerned, the two missions are, to some extent, part of PPC continuity until there is a clear statement to the contrary. They were, after all, missions, written by a person with Permission, that didn't at all imply that they weren't canon. The fact that many of us are acting like those missions were never published doesn't change the fact that, from Bram's perspective and the perspective of the record, they were.

Now, I also did not interpret "beyond my ability to fix" and "don't intend to work on them further" as implicit retractions. I read them as Bram's refusal to improve her writing in the face on concrit or otherwise do something about them.

I've been proposing to Bram that she clearly and unmistakably take her stories out of PPC continuity, since that would be an acceptable resolution to this issue (for me).

I think we have been telling Bram that abandoning stories isn't done here. Have my posts been insufficiently clear on that point?

Tomash

Re: Clearing up some miscommunications by Bram on 2017-02-14 18:43:00 UTC Link to this

How can I retract without abandoning them, since they are the same thing? Those stories are dead.

They're not quite the same thing by Tomash on 2017-02-14 18:52:00 UTC Link to this

Abandoning your story means you stop working on it. It's a reasonable thing to do with writing that didn't turn out well and you can't/won't/don't feel bothered to fix.

Retracting your story means you declare that it isn't part of PPC continuity. You're free to abandon retracted stories (since it's as if they'd never been published), re-work them and post them later, make confetti out of them, whatever you'd like.

I'd just like some clarity on whether you expect us to consider those two stories published, canonical PPC missions or not. If they're canonical and published, they're in pretty serious need of revision. If not, I don't think anyone can complain about them.

- Tomash

They're not cannonical (nm) by Bram on 2017-02-14 18:53:00 UTC Link to this

Thanks for clearing that up by Tomash on 2017-02-14 19:00:00 UTC Link to this

Best of luck with your writing in the future! If you need a beta at some point, email me (it's clickable above) and I'll try and give some (hopefully useful) advice (possibly after a few days' delay on account of exams or other such things).

Asking you to write well is not harassment. by Iximaz on 2017-02-11 17:47:00 UTC Link to this

It is concrit, and you are doing a sound job of deflecting it and brushing it off. A lack of betas is not an excuse for writing bad fanfiction, and it's not an excuse for writing bad PPC stories, either.

From the Wiki: "We take pride in the fact that our stories are well-written. If someone asks for permission to PPC, and that person's post is riddled with bad spelling, grammar, and logic, permission will not be granted. What right do we have to mock people's stories if our own writings are just as bad?"

You were given Permission because a PG thought you could contribute to the community. Don't continue to prove that trust was misplaced.

Despatch is a canonical department of the PPC. by Huinesoron on 2017-02-09 16:16:00 UTC Link to this

Their roles and responsibilities haven't been looked at in particular detail, since the only person who really wrote for them did so quite early on.

I don't think it would be a very good idea for you to try to change that. It's a department that covers a delicate topic, and I feel it would be best left alone.

hS

Doesn't the PPC tend to avoid RPF missions now anyway? (nm) by palindromordnilap on 2017-02-09 17:01:00 UTC Link to this

Well I'm now part of the alumni-ati by Storme Hawk on 2017-02-09 20:03:00 UTC Link to this

AKA I've just got back from my graduation ceremony. I'm no longer a student at the University of Brighton, and am now apparently part of the wider world of work. Guess no-one accounted for those of us who decided to do a masters at a different Uni...

Congratulations! (nm) & (nm) by KimchiRamen on 2017-02-11 08:13:00 UTC Link to this

Congrats. (nm) by Hardric on 2017-02-10 18:01:00 UTC Link to this

Congrats! (nm) by Ffwydriad on 2017-02-10 02:11:00 UTC Link to this

Congratulations! (nm) by son_of_heaven176 on 2017-02-09 23:25:00 UTC Link to this

Congratulations! *celebratory noises* by Daniel Stretulch on 2017-02-09 23:02:00 UTC Link to this

Hi,

Enjoy!

Congratulations! *confetti* (nm) by eatpraylove on 2017-02-09 22:42:00 UTC Link to this

Congrats! *tosses Spikes* (nm) by SkarmorySilver on 2017-02-09 20:57:00 UTC Link to this

Congratulations! by Jay - Awesomeness Central on 2017-02-09 20:42:00 UTC Link to this

And my deepest condolences. From what I've heard, you're going to need it.

*cakefetti* Congratulations! by Iximaz on 2017-02-09 20:06:00 UTC Link to this

Now get out there and learn how to adult!

Plugging the new chapter of IrregularS! by Sergio Turbo on 2017-02-10 11:13:00 UTC Link to this

AKA the crazy Puella Magi Madoka Magica and Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha crossover I'mn writing.

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8162205/11/IrregularS

As the Chapter 1 disclaimer says: This fanfic is trying to mix epic battles, serious themes and silliness. Possibility of crazyness. Read at your own risk.

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES!!!!!!!! by Granz the Ice Cream Monarch on 2017-02-10 23:47:00 UTC Link to this

THE NEXT CHAPTER! I AM MUCH EXCITE! THANKEE THANKEE THANKEE!

Yes! New chapter! by Hardric on 2017-02-10 18:32:00 UTC Link to this

Rot13'd to avoid spoilers.

Ununun, gung jnf tbbq. Abj, jung jvyy or Ubzhen? Checyr be Oynpx Qrivy? Naljnlf, fur'f whfg orvat njrfbzr gurer.

Tbbq jnl gb qrny jvgu Fnlnxn gurer gbb. ~~Naq abj Xlbfhxr vf bhg bs gur cvpgher, bajneqf jvgu Xlbxb!~~ Abj V gel gb vzntvar Ryfn Znevn jnivat n juvgr synt... Rnfvre guna V gubhtug.

Naq... Anabun Gnxnzvpuv naq Ubzhen Nxrzv jbexvat gbtrgure, gur sbezre tvivat gur ynggre gur bccbeghavgl gb pbyyrpg gur zbfg cbjreshy nefrany rire...

Jvyy jr rira unir n cynarg yrsg jura gurl'er qbar? Jnychetvfanpug pbhyq npghnyyl gb fheeraqre gbb gurer.

Jryy, tbbq yhpx jvgu ynfg puncgre. Nal cebwrpg nobhg n frdhry, znlor?

As of now, a sequel isn't planned. by Sergio Turbo on 2017-02-10 22:19:00 UTC Link to this

Also because... well... considering how long I took to write this, there would be probably no one interested in Madoka Magica left by the time I finish the sequel.

Salutations from the new meat! by Khryssty on 2017-02-10 23:05:00 UTC Link to this

Hello! I'm Khryssty - my goal in devising this screen name was spelling a fairly normal name as extravagantly as possible - and I just thought I'd poke my head in and say hi. I've been a casual appreciator of PPC works for some time now, and I'd love to get involved with all of these great fellow writers.

Usually, in my free time, I write fiction or play video games. Recently, I actually finished something! Whoopee! I'm still hammering away at a persistent motivation problem that I feel like I'm making progress with.

I'm enthusiastically committed to all things Versailles Philharmonic Quintet, especially involving the vocalist, KAMIJO, and I have this Huge Unifying Theory that ties together the lore of the band's songs with some things from KAMIJO's solo project to create this big honking backstory. Deranged, I know. I was probably a conspiracy theorist in a past life. I tried making it into fanfic once. It didn't work out at all. I might go back. Maybe. Unlikely.

I'm also fairly knowledgeable in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, MapleStory, Overwatch, and Undertale, and I have some other bits and pieces of fictional knowledge scattered about in my brain.

I'm a high school student born and raised in the US of A. Feel free to send me questions, comments, or otherworldly virtual knickknacks, as I hear is the custom on this here Board. I look forward to getting to know everyone!

(female, pronouns are she/her)

Greetings to the new brunette! by Scapegrace on 2017-02-11 21:57:00 UTC Link to this

If you're wondering what I mean by that.

Welcome! by eatpraylove on 2017-02-11 21:57:00 UTC Link to this

Yay, we share three fandoms! (Undertale, Pokemon, and Jojo) Here's a basket of Poffins and a cover of Bonetrousle!

Congrats on finishing that thing, whatever it was. Can you tell me about it?

Sono chi no writing hell! by Khryssty on 2017-02-12 13:48:00 UTC Link to this

It was a short story that takes place in an original setting of mine. I started out by trying to make the original setting into a book. It was great at first, but the more of it I wrote, the more it deteriorated in quality, so I'm putting it on hold for now. In the meantime, I decided to write additional stuff in the same setting, possibly as an attempt to get a better idea of the flavor I was going for.

I wanted to submit it so I can apply to attend a forum for young writers that's happening this May, and I also passed it on to my school's literary magazine, which might give me a cash prize if I'm lucky. I doubt it.

Basically, vampires exist alongside humans and have done so for some time, but it was really only until World War I that they made themselves known on a large scale, when Italy turned out to be a vampire state, and only in the mid-1980s, during the American "Red Power" movement, were Western vampires supported by formal institutions such as nocturnal schools and welfare programs that donate small quantities of blood to vampires in poverty. I'm going for a sort of mix between differing ideas in the popular consciousness of what they're like; typically, they look, think, and behave just like humans, with only a fatal sunlight allergy and an addiction to blood, but if they go long enough without it, they snap and go nuts, mowing things down and clawing through anything that gets between them and their next meal.

The short story itself was just about this high-end restaurant that serves vampire customers.

Sorry for all the blather!

As an Italian, I'm quite weirded out by the choice. by Sergio Turbo on 2017-02-13 14:11:00 UTC Link to this

... Why Italy as the vampire state, of all countries?

That happens quite a lot, actually. by Huinesoron on 2017-02-13 14:44:00 UTC Link to this

Twilight did it, and Doctor Who's done it at least once ('Vampires of Venice'). Maybe it's because some vampire fiction leans towards 'supernaturally pretty = long haired men', which harks back to Renaissance paintings?

Or maybe it's because Italy is inhabited by vampires. Do you often feel an urge to go out at night and drink red liquids? :D

hS

PS: Apparently they were part of the local legends up around Venice, which I guess is pretty close to the Slavic regions they're normally associated with. This is a wild guess, but your average early-20th-Century English or American vampirologist wouldn't have heard of Romania or Bulgaria, but Italy was a known quantity (and Venice is famous in its own right). So maybe that's why.

PPS: Or even more simply... the early vampire novels like Carmilla and Dracula feature creatures whose names end in vowels, which isn't all that common in English. Apart from simple, old-fashioned names like Anna or Joe, the first associations that spring up are things like Leonardo, Michelangelo, and all those other Italians/ninja turtles. Take that, add a hundred years, and you end up with Italian vampires coming out of the walls.

Don't apologize, that sounds awesome. :) (nm) by eatpraylove on 2017-02-12 17:05:00 UTC Link to this

'Tis a newbie! by Matt Cipher on 2017-02-11 17:14:00 UTC Link to this

Welcome, welcome! Make yourself comfortable. Actually, I got for you this... waaait... I know!

ZA WARUDO! Toki yo tomare!

KURAE!
(Handles the newbie a slice of Infinite Pizza.)

Soshite, toki wa ugoki dasu.

Hello by Bramandin on 2017-02-11 15:24:00 UTC Link to this

Have a purple glitter gel pen. Your agents aren't allowed to use it on mission reports.

Newbie, welcome! by KimchiRamen on 2017-02-11 08:13:00 UTC Link to this

Congrats with finishing that project! I understand how hard it is to try to get things done while suffering under a motivation problem, considering I'm under a strong one right now, and it must've been difficult to bring yourself to work on your projects. Yet you finished one! How'd you do it?
Also, if it's okay with you, can you tell me what method(s) you're using to improve your motivation, please? I'm just curious if there are other methods out there.

Ah, so you're a mapler? It's been ages since I last played; how's everything going on over there?

Finally, have a complimentary jar of kimchi and another Undertale recipe featuring the most valued consumable!

I hope you enjoy your stay!

Both writing and Mapling are messes. by Khryssty on 2017-02-11 14:43:00 UTC Link to this

I'm not quite sure how I pushed through it, myself. Mostly, I just said to myself, "what the hell, just vomit words onto the paper." The editing came later. I wish I had a more concrete method of getting myself to write.

MapleStory, I've found, is a pretty cash-driven game unless you're on Reboot, the server where paying to win is inherently impossible (no Marketplace, no trading, a lot less in the Cash Shop) and the gameplay is more like pre-Big Bang MS. I spent $50 on pretty clothes to sell in the Marketplace one time to try and get money, and at the end, I wound up with one staff. Yep. One staff. I'm definitely going to start looking into Reboot... Player dissatisfaction with Nexon is as high as it's always been after the trend towards needing real money to succeed, and not even Reboot is immune. Also, FIFTH JOB IS HERE!

Thank you for the jar of kimchi! My father actually used to work as a Korean linguist in the US Army. He still semi-regularly buys these big jars of the stuff from overseas.

Hello newbie. by Hardric on 2017-02-11 08:06:00 UTC Link to this

Please have a pot of black-hole coffee and a welcome. Don't exactly have oother things to say left, except asking you about what spin-offs did you read, and preferred?

Ayways hope you'll stick around.

Still poking around... by Khryssty on 2017-02-11 14:47:00 UTC Link to this

I've read all of TOS, although it has been a while, so I'll probably go back and read through it again. Come to think of it, it's been a while since I read through any of the spin-offs, so I'll be stuffing my face with writing in the near future. I do like the work that Trojie and Pads have done together.

Salutations from the year-old meat! by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2017-02-11 06:39:00 UTC Link to this

Hello! I'm not Khryssty.
You're Khryssty, you silly goose. You got your screen name by spelling a fairly normal name as extravagantly as possible.

Whoopee! You finished something! What was it you finished, if I might ask? Always good to see written stuff, what with the writing community thing.
Also!
Undertale! Huzzah! That game was brilliant and you have tastes which I approve in!
Huzzah!

My gift upon you is: a delicious kkaeyehk. I got a completely traditional bit of sugary food and decided to spell it as extravagantly as possible.

Welcome!

Welcome aBoard! by SkarmorySilver on 2017-02-11 04:30:00 UTC Link to this

Have one of my own shed feathers, and a Spider Donut recipe! (Don't worry, the spider didn't. :P)

SpiderDont by Khryssty on 2017-02-11 14:50:00 UTC Link to this

Thank goodness! I want the spider to make informed and rational decisions.

I forgot to mention this in the initial post, but I love the Pokemon video games! I probably left that out because much of Pokemon fanfic is based on the anime. Oh, well. I actually tried doing stuff in the competitive scene once, and I was a Fairy-type gym leader in a league for about a month or so. Then Mega Mawile was banned. Sigh.

Whellkomn! by Daniel Stretulch on 2017-02-11 03:59:00 UTC Link to this

Hi,

Here's a ghrene ppehnn. Enjoy.

SECRET MESSAGE 6

Newbie! *glomp* *poke* by Iximaz on 2017-02-11 01:06:00 UTC Link to this

Hello, and welcome aBoard! For your newbie gift, take this plate of freshly-made SPaGhetti!

If you haven't yet read it, may I point you towards the Constitution? It and the Original Series are pretty much the only required reading around these parts.

Another useful resource you might use is the Wiki; if you have any questions, just look here before asking. We like it when newbies do the research. ;)

Lastly: Have a link to our Discord chatroom.

Hope you like it here!

Hi there! by Granz the Ice Cream Monarch on 2017-02-10 23:31:00 UTC Link to this

Welcome to this madhouse, Oh She Who Has A Name That Will Probably Invoke A Large Number Of Minis. I think I'll call you OSWHANTWPIALNOM for short.

Now that you're here, have this Royal Ice Cream Container! Strong enough to withstand a nuclear blast, light enough to carry in one arm, and magical enough to never run out of ice cream and always have the flavor you want!

But is it radiation-proof? (nm) (nm) by Khryssty on 2017-02-11 15:51:00 UTC Link to this

Ooh, newbie! by The Good Mod Addict on 2017-02-10 23:24:00 UTC Link to this

Unfortunately, I seem to be the only person around with no otherworldly goodies on hand, so I'll just set up tables for other people to place theirs on. Welcome!

Hello there! by palindromordnilap on 2017-02-10 23:24:00 UTC Link to this

Welcome aBoard! Here, have that... I'm not exactly sure what it is but you can have it.

Rero rero rero! by HerrWozzeck on 2017-02-10 23:22:00 UTC Link to this

I mean, uh...

*swallows cherry*

Hi, welcome to the PPC! We're all full of nutiness here, so come on in and make yourself at home!

Oh, and have some welcome music: https://youtu.be/wIrvTF2AR7A

Say, Wozzy... by Desdendelle on 2017-02-10 23:36:00 UTC Link to this

Do you listen to stuff that isn't... discordant?

On occasion. by HerrWozzeck on 2017-02-10 23:38:00 UTC Link to this

If this is more your speed: https://youtu.be/BLwREAX4d2A

Yep, definitely more my cup of tea. (nm) by Desdendelle on 2017-02-11 11:51:00 UTC Link to this

Hello, Bob. by Desdendelle on 2017-02-10 23:20:00 UTC Link to this

Welcome to the madhouse. Sanity best left outside, etc. Please have this nice bit of music and the best hamster.