Posted:
So, I was absent for some days, and now I return to see you have issued a new bulletin, which is an appreciable move, whether done under pressure or not. Forum has become somewhat of a mess in the absence of DTs. Since you have come to accept your mistakes and apologize, it's only fair we do the same. I accept both sides are at fault. Can't we together reach a middle ground and coexist in harmony?
I won't beat around the bush and come to the crux of problem. This site has its fair share of fans, I will be polite and not use any other term for them here. That's not a problem, when people do work that reaches a mass scale, they are bound to have people who are fond of their work. The problem arises when this fan-ship reaches the level of obsessiveness, a state where the person is not ready to listen to a word against their celebrity. I, personally, was never targeted personally. I only visit two forums on this site, and both are peaceful. Then why do I fight for this cause, you ask? Because many people have been personally targeted for criticizing the celebs. Some of them are my friends. Their review was mature, not derogatory or abusive as you say. You find this, as you should, acceptable. But they were still bullied by the fans. Why wasn't any rule bulletins issued then or any actions taken?
You cannot just go on packing stuff like that forever. It did explode and you are seeing the mess now. And it's not pretty when you are on the receiving side. It gave rise to people who are trying to be negative quite vocally. If they would have been allowed to voice opinions nicely, it wouldn't have come to it. I steer clear of those forums, but the things I have heard! Wishing miscarriages to issuing death threats for fellow members. We people do things just for laugh, at least we don't wish things like that even on the celebrities, let alone members. Members tell me that usually fans of lead pair gang up and anyone praising others or criticizing their favorites is harassed. And to top it all, DTs too support them sometimes. Please tell me you don't endorse this and it shouldn't be tolerated.
The forum I am a regular member of is quite a nice place considering IF, an oasis in the desert if you will. No great fandom or such. We sometimes joke about celebs, but it's not taken in a negative way, we all just have a laugh and no grudges are hold. If we cross the lines sometimes, fans just say the word and we stop. But not everyone can laugh on themselves and their likes, and it's okay. What's not okay is if I can't even say a serious thing against it.
So, I too accept that some of us have crossed the limit, but the fan side has to accept their fault too. I think your apology covers DT too. I can post some links as evidence, and so can you to counter it and we can go in circles, but it's not like this stuff is hidden or something. You know it as well as I do. So, I want you to prove that you mean what you say and you are really trying to make this site neutral. Take Omni for example, you banned him citing various reasons, while the same has been done by some fans who are posting with not a care in the world. Is that you being unbiased? Either ban them too or lift the ban of Omni.
So, assure us that the administration will remain neutral. People will be free to voice their dislikes without any fear. If fans can worship their celebs, people should also have the right o criticize the celeb or the blind fandom, of course in not an abusive way. If fans bully members, strict actions will be taken against them too. Neither DTs nor you will take the side of any camp, you will just judge the members fairly. Then there will be no need for us to cross the limits. You can take action against those who do, but only when fans doing the same thing are treated the same way. And if you can't remain neutral, be a man and say so, you are the master after all and can run the site in any way. But please, don't advertise it for what it's not.
At the end of the day, it's your site and you will have the last say. We are just members, we will move on the day water gets above the head. It may seem to you that by keeping fans happy here your site will flourish, but that won't work in the long run. Driving away good and neutral members will come to bite you later. It's just a suggestion of mine. You may choose to consider it or not, but situations will just get worse if you do nothing. You let one side fly beyond their limits and that has given rise to the others side. Limit the first, and you will automatically control the latter. Shutting up one side by force is never the solution.
It's my sincere wish you show that each member matters and democracy still lives in this forum, and it hasn't become an autocracy.
Web Series
Fan Fictions
