This Ain’t A Scene… (Part One)

…and it’s certainly not a god damned arm’s race either, although recently, the scene has came into question in a number of areas, most notably the bitchiness and backstabbing element. Rewind, say, 2 years? The scene was generally a great place to be, fun and banter (ooh Nimf doesn’t like that word, does he?) was enjoyed all around and FM sites worked together for the good of the community.

Back to 2007 – fights and bitchiness are a lot more common, especially on the big 2, Susie and TI. I know this is slightly hypocritcal, but I’m not looking for a big backlash of a reaction, it is to geniuinly help the staff on both of these sites. I’ll run through the various problems with them, that I have experianced myself, there may be a thousand others. I know websites will never be perfect, I know HQ won’t be, I know this blog won’t be (due to my lack of writing talent, above most others), but this constructive criticism is there to help these sites. If they choose to listen.

First of all, Throw In, the site that’s fashionable to run into the ground until you have no dignity left, It’s well documented how “strict” the staff are, and how they don’t allow spam, among other problems. I’m going to be slightly controversial here and say these are the least of their problems, in fact, they aren’t problems at all. Well they are, but in a different sense. I feel that certain members are allowed to get away with basically anything, no matter what they do, certain staff members will turn a blind eye to it, and choose to focus upon something else. Then another member will enter the thread, and reply to the bait that another member has thrown into the proverbial ocean for him, only to be lambasted for replying. Although recently, I feel this problem has calmed, and the staff are becoming more fair in their distribution of punishment across the forums.

The only other problem I have with Throw In, is the various “cliques” that go around, who are very close to the staff and get better treatment from them and are usually staffed at a later date. This isn’t so much a problem for me, as I’m an old-timer at the place, and aren’t put off by this behaviour, but newbie’s signing up will see this behaviour, try and join in as they believe they will get somewhere from it, and their confidence will be immediatly shattered when someone decides that they don’t know this member, and he may gain popularity over himself and tell him to “Fuck off, you stupid n00b”, or “Who the hell are you”, etc etc.

One way of combatting this I believe would be to remove member numbers, post counts and pips from people’s public profiles, but when I suggested this, I was told that it was the “Least of the site’s problems at the minute.” As far as I’m concerned, it ranks 2nd out of 3 problems. Not bad going. I’ll not mention the 3rd problem, as it isn’t really relevant and I can forsee another flame war if I do mention it, so I’ll keep schtum.

That’s my two cents (see what I did there?) on TI, as in my opinion, other from these 2 problems, it’s the biggest and best resource site on the scene. The forum atmosphere is generally good, people are actually helping each other in the FM sections, and despite a small lack of content, I believe this will increase when the new main site is released however, if it ever gets released, output is generally good all across the board. I feel it is often put under unnecessary pressure, by various articles slating the site into the floor, with no real constructive element to them. This, in my opinion causes the staffers to go over to the said site that was slating them, and start to cause a rucus. Then, the site in question will turn that also against them and start slating them for retaliating so fiercely. Something I resent. Although it may look stupid to the writer of the article, how stupid really is it, I ask myself? Sure they make a twat of themselves and bring attention to TI, but this could be construed as great advertising too, as more and more people will visit TI as a result of it, just to see what’s going on.

Another thing that really get’s my goat (I don’t have a goat) when people write these various articles about TI, is that when people tar all the guides and articles there with the same brush. Sure theres a load of bollocks being produced from various members and staff, but there’s a lot of real quality there too. Thankfully, the likes of Toony, Ash and Adam drag TI’s written content up to some level of credibility. These are really good writers, and I’m sure they’ll get annoyed when you lot (dunno who I’m talking to, you know who you are) call their articles pointless and immature. As they’re not.

At the end of the day though, TI will know they are getting more hits than these various blog sites, and shouldn’t really be bothered, but if they are, what’s the harm? Really.

Tune in (if your somehow viewing my blog over a radio system – impossible) next time for my opinions on Susie, until next time…