Stop Fighting!

[nealos101 20]

The Simtropolis you knew once upon a time is coming back, you just need to give it time and some dedication with some form of understanding towards everyone that wants to show it to you.

[deadwoods 542]

I don't want to rain on anyone's parade, but the recent blow-up here isn't the first and ST wasn't all "milk and cookies" 6, 12 or 24 months ago. There have been many episodes that have meant seasoned members leaving. I used to get stressed about it, but as there's little of value drawing me back to ST these days, I don't get too fazed.

It is an unfortunate outcome of the internet and sites like this that mean that people can be anonymous and say things that they wouldn't dare say to someone's face. There's also the impersonality of the web that means you can't get the intention of what has been said through visual or verbal message/inotations, nor can you see how a person has responded to a comment you've made.

So ego's run rampant and  comments are made that escalate out of control. Amongst SC fansites, it only seems to be a big problem here. I don't know why it's different here to elsewhere, but the fact that it's been this way for as long as I can remember implies that there's nothing constructive been done over that period to change the culture/behaviour of members.

It's great that everyone here is all warm and fuzzy and promises not to start anything. But what about those that join in the next 6-12 months, how will they come into the fold and "behave"? What can the "staff" do to change the culture of the site so these things don't start in the first place? I don't know the answers, but I'd hope that Dirk would after running this site for so many years and having weathered a number of these. But I suspect he doesn't have the answer and these blow-ups will continue.

[JakeMD 107]

everyone just needs some time to calm down, it will be ok, some of the vets. are getting excited, but they'll come back, its alright...

[JanYpe 17]

Originally posted by: pnorrell Let a hundred flowers bloom. Let a hundred schools of thought contend.

quote>

Seems a bit of an eerie quote to use when talking about criticism of the site. 

[CWLGAMER01 39]

Great Post! I remember the very FIRST website! I was here way back in '02 when it was all started. I witnessed Dirk and gang grow and the site grow from a very, and I mean VERY humble begining. I was even the first person who posted the site on SimCity.com. Hard to believe its grown to over 170,000 members in its SHORT life span.

We have to come to grips that NOT everyone will like the direction the new game takes. Not everyone will appriciate the work and dedication put in at Tilted Mill. Not everyone will be objective to the new game or what it may or can become.

What we do need to come to grips about is that everyone does have thier own take on this. Everyone should have some say or be able to share thier thoughts. But all of the above can and will not happen unless we have respect for one another. We must stop fighting and we must stop bickering back and fourth. This is not the place (Simtropolis) nor the time to do such things.

Does everyone have to agree -- NOPE.

Does everyone have to like SCS -- NOPE.

Does everyone have to like Tilted Mill -- NOPE.

Does everyone have to have respect for one another and what they think or believe -- YES -- CERTAINLY -- A MUST.

We are a community here -- sometimes communities disagree and others they unit for the better good. We are not all going to agree BUT we all must agree to be able to disagree.

The old proverb can to applied to this situation --- "Someone's junk is anothers treasure." -- Remember that -- YOU may think the new game is JUNK BUT I am 200% certain someone else JUST LIKE YOU -- thinks its better then ANY SIMCITY before.

Be good to one another and respect everyone -- even those you disagree with -- !!

[ILL Tonkso 1,236]

Ooh one of these again, ST must hold a record for these lol.

[Rayden 7]

Originally posted by: ILL Tonkso Ooh one of these again, ST must hold a record for these lol.quote>

 

 Geez guys, I really can't understand how that one day you trash everything and everybody and the other day you come back and play guilty and try to stop all this. I'm not trying to tell what you shall or not do, but, wouldn't it be better to channel all those energies to play the game, create some new custom content, instead of wasting time typing and reading all this posts/threads?

[Silur 3,302]

Simple Russian words:

"Don't shoot at the pianist - he plays this song how he can ..."

[pnorrell 4]

Originally posted by: JanYpe

Originally posted by: pnorrell Let a hundred flowers bloom. Let a hundred schools of thought contend.

quote>

Seems a bit of an eerie quote to use when talking about criticism of the site.  quote>

 

Would you prefer "Change must come through the barrel of a gun"?

[CWLGAMER01 39]

Originally posted by: Silur Simple Russian words:

"Don't shoot at the pianist - he plays this song how he can ..."quote>

 

Being one myself (a pianist) -- so true is this statement.........

[Silur 3,302]

Hi, CWLGAMER01

This is my mind - no more ....

"Be careful with a fool " (J.Hendrix)

[Spinmaster 75]

Ok, what did I miss? A good fight? Dang, I always seem to miss them. Wait, what the heck am I saying? I don't know what the fighting is or was about, and I don't care. But let's see if my $.02 story helps at all. I've been wanting to say "why I'm here and why I wasn't before" for a while, but wasn't sure where... but this thread somehow seems like the perfect place for it, so here goes.

I bought and played SimCity 4 back in 2003. Ok, the dirty truth - at first, I didn't buy it. Yep, a bastard was I, and still a tad ashamed , I am. But I didn't regret it at the time because a) it was the vanilla, and was seriously lacking stuff, b) I hadn't discovered (due to laziness) that there were sites like ST providing a vast wealth of add-on stuff to make up for it... so c) I played it for a few days and gave up. I hate paying $40 ~ $50 for something I don't end up using, and it's not like you get a "satisfaction guarantee" with almost any software, let alone games. Then Rush Hour came out. I didn't buy it - I bought the Deluxe, figuring "what the heck, why not get fully legitimate? Not like I'm broke or anything." I loved it, it added so much to the vanilla, played it for about 2 months, almost got fired at work more than once, and then... "now what?" hit me. Then I found ST. Wow... but I was already at my "now what?" phase with SC4, and didn't really spend much time to see what else this place had to offer. I can't even say I was lurking at that point, I just dropped interest in SC.

Fast-forward to November 2006. Dunno what it was, but something bit me in the [pick a place] to check out SC4 again. Not to get into, just a reminiscing-session, install it, fool around until I get sick of it again, not expecting that to be more than a few days, and then I'm done with it. As a similar whim, I thought "I wonder what ever became of that Simtropolis site. Probably dead by now. Most sites like that pack up after a few years, fighting, lack of support, flooded by childish garbage and spam, any number of reasons, but I'm sure it's on its last legs if it even still exists. Well I'll look just for the heck of it." To my delight, I was very very wrong.

This site has only gotten stronger and stronger over the years, and I don't see it going anywhere any time soon. I dunno what the fighting is about, and I don't care. People disagree about things all the time. There's a lot of passionate disagreement about SC:S right now, I'll withhold my own opinion on it here, as it's not the point of this thread in the first place. But what has kept this site so strong for so long is a level of maturity not often seen on any fan-based community like this. "I disagree with you whole-heartedly" is usually considered acceptable unless someone's had a really bad day. "You're a dumb-ass" is not, and there's never an excuse for it. I rarely see the latter here, unlike most every other game-fan-based site. That's why I've become increasingly active in the past 7 months. I was holding my piece(s) for a while because I was in a little dilemma... get good at SC4 when SC5 might be around the corner? Eh... I'm over that dilemma (again, nevermind how for now). I'm staying. I like it here. I like all of you. Even when things do get heated from time to time.

Disputes are normal and healthy. Just please be careful how you conduct them. There is a fine line between passionate disagreements and hateful slander. I rarely see the latter, but I've a hunch that played a role in this thread's creation. To those responsible, please for the love of [insert favorite deity], don't ruin this place with fighting. Disagree all you want, and stand your ground if you feel the need, but watch out closely for that line, and try not to cross it. I've noticed a lot of folks similar to my own situation here lately. Long-time lurkers becoming more active, newcomers excited that they finally found a pseudo-home for their SC dreams, and even veterans returning from long absences. I'll bet the number of countries represented at ST alone outnumbers the unrepresented ones by a long-shot. There's a reason this site continues to draw new people in every day, from all around the world, brings some folks out of the dark corners, and even beckon back many old-timers who, for whatever reason, just had to go away for a while.

As for "site wars" I don't understand that viewpoint at all from anyone who's taken even just a few minutes to poke around the different sites. I see a few symbiotic sites, such as SC4Devotion and Simpegasus, and a couple others. All excellent sites, but certainly neither in any form of "war" with this one nor each other, far as I can tell. I'm honestly not sure if any one of these sites (including ST) could stand on their own, they've each contributed (content and information) - and still do - a great deal to to the entire SC community and to each other. I don't see any of the SC fan sites competing with each other on any level, and most seem to partner together to bring the vast wealth of custom content and information to the entire SC world. That is the equation that has worked so well and kept ST, and the entire community, strong for so long. Partnering, not competing. If there are some sites that do "compete," well.. I haven't found one, so I'm guessing they're not doing very well. Some members have more affinity to one site versus another, usually for purely innocuous reasons, but it's never appeared to me that there was any "we're better than you" attitude from any of them regarding another site or even other members of other sites.

Overall I see something very unique in the gaming world here, a whole community of multiple fan-based sites, all with intelligent rational members who truly support not just the sites, but each other, even when they do disagree vehemently. And all the sites seem to support each other. Some folks live in different houses, but it's all one very nice, friendly neighborhood. Please everyone, try to keep it this way. I like it here.

(Dang... I had no idea how long this had gotten!!! Sorry!!! )

[hamsterTK 93]

Im gonna ask again...

Who's fighting?

[patriots_1228 51]

Guys this isnt an ST is dying thread, nor a fight thread. this is about the need to stop all the fighting. ppl on ST are real ppl, so we cant prevent arguements, fights, insults, etc. but the amount of them is outrageous, there is more of this stuff than there is compliments!

hamstertk-everyone.......little incidents all over the forums, and every week or two there is a huge fight in a thread......its just crazy.

[Craig-Abcvs 1,595]

Simple Russian words:
"Don't shoot at the pianist - he plays this song how he can ..." quote>

Wow can I use that?

Please remember that whenever you post a reply in a thread or send a PM, that there are real breathing living people with feelings, who are going to read what you write.

Remember that tone and emotion is very difficult to convey in a typed written form (that is why we have emoticons ) and type stuff like *just joking*.

Before you hit the reply button - read what you have just written - how would you feel if someone sent that to you?  Would you be upset?  If the answer is yes then I suggest that you don't send it.  Think of a more constructive way of making your point.

Sarcasm is not generally a helpful way to make a point if it is something that you want the person to take seriously.  

Sarcastic or simply rude posts and PMs do not earn respect.  Respect is earned not demanded.

Don't assume that people will understand your intention or motivation behind a post or PM.

Constructive critisism in a CJ thread is acceptable - plain rudeness is not.

Accept that sometimes you will unintentionally offend people - If you do apologise, it is not hard to do.  In fact apologising via a PM or post is far easier than having to do it in RL face to face.

If you intentionally intend to offend people then it is you that has the problem not the person you are insulting.

Remember we are all here for the same reason ... we enjoy playing SC and we enjoy meeting new people who are different to ourselves and have different ideas to ourselves.

That's what a community is all about.

[ILL Tonkso 1,236]

Has the fighting not stopped now, i thought i had. Lets move on and BAT something.

[Krio 624]

Originally posted by: ILL Tonkso Has the fighting not stopped now, i thought i had. Lets move on and BAT something.quote>

Good suggestion! What about Embradaco center? HAH HAH!

[patriots_1228 51]

yea it has.....

Im a MLK!!!!!

[Interchange 0]

You should tonks, you should.

[panthersimcity4 162]

HEY ARE LEAVING CUZ OF GUYS LIKE YOU AND ME, who fight and yell and argue all day long.quote>

Exactly why I'm leavin. At least until CityLife downloads are on the exchange...

Sheesh... I never thought I'd actually leave Simtrop... ahh well, I actually have a life. (The Sims 2 and CityLife... )

[6underground 11]

EA Vader: "Look at our Acquisition minions fight, mwhahaha"

EA Slave: "Their constant moaning about trivial issues keeps them busy from our quest of EA Domination"

EA Vader: "Truer words never spoken slave of all that is EA, they are splintering into factions, al the more easier for us to pick off".

EA Slave: "Yes sire.."

EA Vader: "Once their community is consumed with rage and trolls, we shal replace them with sims Starbucks and even more sims expansion packs."

EA Slave: "The world is ours.. I mean, yours sire!"

[sEAhAwk fAn121 0]

ooo starbucks! great one 6u! exactly like whats happening at EA HQ

[patriots_1228 51]

OOOO when does sim starbucks come out! will it have the orange frapachinos ?

[Cjah 15]

panthersimcity4:

I'm gonna give you the advice this comunity has handed me over the years.,...

if you leave "They" only win....because it is you who is forced to leave....

I have dealt with a lotof stupid people and issues in the past....

I think ST is not as great as it once was...but the attitude here is alot better then in 2004...everyone WAS WAY TO UPTIGHT...

[GreekMan 246]

I know I haven't really seen some of the classic members on ST anymore. I wish they could come back!

and start better Cjs

St is growing and that maybe bad or good

[SimRabbit 48]

Ok, what is this all about? Sorry for being a such an ignorant. I read the entire topic and still do not comprehend.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

The site has a history with different cliques of people fighting with each other.  In a few months you might see a fight.  It's not something to worry about though.

[patriots_1228 51]

yea the fightings gone. was pretty intense this spring though. now things have settled down thank god. o and the site is once again a sc4 site and not a global warming end of the earth site

[Sim shady 12]

lol can we get6undergrounds post on the front page?

I think we are getting along better, but i still think people who dont make custom content could be a little more appreciative of the works of those that do.

[richgray100 0]

I think people already appreciate things people have made. In threads, comments on the STEX, i find that about 95% of all comments are positive and/or have constructive criticism in them.

In fact, ill go make a cj to further appreciate and acknowledge lots and other stuff people make.