Reviews from an Evil Ferret Lass

[Opal]

Well shoot, I'm the admin and I can get around that easily enough. :P

And done. And, I just realized I never updated the word filter from when I had to rebuild the forums (from when Websites Network screwed with us). So you people could have been posting all sorts of profanity!

But y' can't now. Sorry. :P

[Cairn Destop]

And, I just realized I never updated the word filter from when I had to rebuild the forums (from when Websites Network screwed with us). So you people could have been posting all sorts of profanity!

But y' can't now. Sorry

Funniest forum I was on where the word filter played havoc was one about dog care.  You would not believe the many euphenisims we used when describing a female dog since the word filter would not allow the proper term.  Even the admins couldn't get that one word allowed without causing other problems.

[Sycamore]

I haven't been participating, but I have noticed that Ashira's Karma has dropped from at least 3 (at one point I thought it was 5) to 1 (and now 0). I'd like to quote Revel:

On the one hand, I don't think being afraid for your karma should matter in reviewing. I have faith in my fellow writers not to be that fickle. If we disagree with you (and we often will because there's just no way for us to please everyone, or for everyone to say exactly what we want to hear) we'll be civil about why.

But on the other, it is a blow to one's moral to see their points drop after making a post and I can see how that would put some if not many people off. Especially if no one replies to their comments politely. Especially especially if no one replies at all, and your karma just plummets without the persons responsible having the decency to say why.

It's a nice feature for normal forum activity, but with the egos and emotions suffocating the air around here, I think it would be best if it was temporarily disabled, miz Tara.

So who's going to own up?

[Eliza Lacrimosa]

Wasn't me!

I generally try to avoid getting involved in debates, because I find it more often than not it gets far too heated than it should.

But, I honestly don't really see how there's a lack of cohesion. I personally feel that this week was a lot more unified in terms of what was going on than either of the previous weeks. Almost every single post correlated very closely to at least one other character's, and the relationships between various PCs were pretty decently strengthened.

Think of it in terms of a building. We just put together a very solid foundation, so that it won't collapse, and now we're going to start with all of the pretty windows and potted plants and ionic pillars and things. :p

Edit, to say what I forgot to say: Ashira, by the by, you should already know this, but I do absolutely adore you. I appreciate the fact that you're taking the time to give us criticism, and that you're holding us to a high standard. I just also disagree, in this instance. :p

[Bellona Littlebrush]

Nor me. I approve of any commentary on the story, especially when it's constructive criticism. Preach on, Ms. Ferret. I prefer a vocal audience, even if it's one that's a bit put out by the story at present, to a silent one. I will work to keep Bell more 'in character' with what the audience has seen. I sometimes forget that you all don't have a little dormouse running about your heads whispering her past with a certain squirrel and the exact motivations for her actions. Apologies, m'am! XD

[Opal]

Not me, although I notice my karma has gone down since I defended the contestants.

Jeesh. If karma is going to be such a petty thing, I think I might just switch it off.

[Eliza Lacrimosa]

*frantically applauds*

Noo! Then I'll be stuck at 6 forever!

[Opal]

Meh. Not just me. At least my score's stayed mostly positive (plus, as an admin, I can change my score to 30,000 or whatever the max is if I really wanted, so your petty smites cannot harm me! MWAHAHAH. :P). Cairn's had jerks smiting him into the negative basically since I first started it up. And now Ashira's karma's getting smacked for her reviews. It was just supposed to be a silly thing, but it looks like it's just mostly been an anonymous rage relief system. If it's going to be a problem for people, I'd rather not continue with it. I don't want anyone to feel like they're not wanted around here just because someone is being anonymously petty.

EDIT: Okay, I figured out how to disable the smite feature. So suck it, anonymous smiter(s). :P

[Cairn Destop]

EDIT: Okay, I figured out how to disable the smite feature. So suck it, anonymous smiter(s). :P

A definite step in the right direction.  However, methinks the suggestion was to remove it.  Period.  No smite, no applaud, and no points.  Doing half is just as much a frustration as having the negative score.

[Erethas]

Thank you very very much Tara for disabling. I hate to see people being permanently turned off a site because of bad karma. All in all, I don't think it is a healthy feature at all, and Ashira and Cairn are speaking their minds and opinions, as everyone has a right to. And if any one disagrees with any one else, they shouldn't smite them, and they should instead say why they disagree so the other party understands. It's all a matter of opinion, and no one should base karma on that.

[Cairn Destop]

Well the matter is closed.  As well as it should be.  That said, let's hear from our thread host her comments regarding the latest chapters. 

I'm pleased the contestants are posting, and with the explanation regarding posts during the voting period, I'll repeat my suggestion that the beginning of the voting also be the time when the new week begins.