The time has come...

[Viridian]

I've recently been vocal with another veteran member of the community who was giving off signs of instigating a "change". The differences were made up, and it was pretty clear from the community that things now are stronger than they ever were before.

I'm particularly confused at the comment about the lack of amateur submissions. I'm not sure whether I should be insulted that I haven't been contributing, or flattered to be not considered an amateur.

[Parzival2600]

I didn't want to speak on this anymore, rather let my actions speak for me, but I feel I need to clarify somethings.

First, I never blamed QSF for anything, I stated this in one of my previous post unequivocally. QSF has done a fine job, but it can only do so much. That's all I'll say on that.

Second, as I said, I didn't set out to insult anyone, but in retrospect, while I'm deeply sorry if I have, I realize that change is usually not welcome, history will attest to that. I don't mind being the bad guy if it will lead to a greater good, and I'm not saying it will, but maybe, just maybe it will.

Third, there is no one in charge of this community, nor have I ever stated there was. I pointed out that there are those with INFLUENCE. However, I will admit, I regret that statement. I apologize for what it may have eluded to. While I feel there are those who have the communities attention more then others, it's unfair to put any weight on their shoulders.

Lastly, while I will not reveal my plans, rest assure they are very real and you'll be finding out what they are very soon. As for my motivation? I stand behind what I said even if others disagree. However, I will reveal one additional factor though; we can put time and space between any given situation, sites and forums can come and go. But in the end I've learned that the more thing's change the more they stay the same. That my friends is a sad truth, at least as far as some in this community go. It made me realize that something a community member said to me once was very true, there must always be balance. The ones who are meant to understand what i just revealed will get it, everyone else don't worry about it, most likely it doesn't apply to you. See everyone real soon.

[Northerner]

Will someone please tell me about the whole notion that there are FOLKS IN CHARGE of our fetish?

It's the Quicksand Illuminati! They're the ones pulling all the strings!

I'm particularly confused at the comment about the lack of amateur submissions. I'm not sure whether I should be insulted that I haven't been contributing, or flattered to be not considered an amateur.

Amen, Viridian!

I checked OP's post history and he's been fluttering around in shock about the changes since 1996 for a while now. I get the impression Parzival loves old quicksand stories, and is going to create some kind of story archive?

Parzival, I don't want to shoot you down, I don't have any stock in destroying any sort of honest quicksand fan's hope and dreams, but you would have to have a truly shocking unveiling to meet the kinds of expectations you are trying to stir up for your "project." You're talking like we should expect some kind of silver bullet / hallelujah moment from your BIG THING. Meanwhile people like Viridian and myself continue to build on a large portfolio of free works with nothing to show for it but a small but devoted following. I like hallelujah moments as much as the next person, but for me, the hallelujah moment comes every time I submit something I created to the community, even if much of the community is probably (rightfully) transfixed by the amazing professionally-produced videos, or even watching all the free mud-stomping videos on YouTube, because this is 2013, not 1997 when YouTube did not exist.

Keep in mind, when you left the community in 1997 the best thing we could watch online was grainy low-quality RealPlayer video at Kaol's Ol' Sinkin' Hole. Internet speeds and video quality was so poor back then (screw High Definition, there wasn't even such a thing as DVD yet!), there was more room for people to gravitate towards stories and artwork.

I think it's pretty well established by this point that neither creators of paid nor free content are particularly impressed by your grandiose claims. In light of this, for your own mental well being you might want to temper your own expectations with a dash of realism.

[Ace]

I don't want to argue this...

But you're going to anyway.

From here, it looks like YOU are.

Try not taking over a decade off. Try contributing something besides random noise about how you are going to do something to fix problems that nobody is complaining about.

People probably would complain more if they weren't scared shitless of being berated or banned for the smallest complaint. Deny it all you want, but this place definitely houses a facade, wherein users are encouraged to speak their mind and give criticism, but in reality, any mention of disapproval is not tolerated.

I've seen it happen here so goddamn many times, including now, to Parzival. People can't tolerate someone speaking their mind, so they immediately create a strawman out of the original topic and attack that.

Yep. I think this whole thing is a meritocracy.

Holy fuck, you are way more delusional than I originally gave you credit for. This place is literally the exact opposite of a meritocracy. I'd even go as far as to call it the Participation Trophy Capital of the Internet.

The same five people will invariably heap praise on any given piece of content posted here, REGARDLESS of how good it is or how much it sucks. And, in the event anyone DOES point out how much something sucks, it's not tolerated in the least.

[dlodoski]

....People probably would complain more if they weren't scared shitless of being berated or banned for the smallest complaint. Deny it all you want, but this place definitely houses a facade, wherein users are encouraged to speak their mind and give criticism, but in reality, any mention of disapproval is not tolerated.

I've seen it happen here so goddamn many times, including now, to Parzival. People can't tolerate someone speaking their mind, so they immediately create a strawman out of the original topic and attack that....

Ok, You're Banned! Take that!!



Oh, wait. You're just blowing smoke and not citing even one good example berating or banning. I think you are confusing those with basic disagreement.

[Acidtester]

Yo, you're moms eat mad butt.

[dlodoski]

Yo, you're moms eat mad butt.

Ok, you're banned too.

In fact, you're so banned, you won't even believe it!

[arisumudvixen]

Your mother was a hamster! And your father smelt of Elderberries!

[Fred588]

My take on this.

Its difficult to respond to this thread (that is to the original stuff) without knowing all that might behind it. I don't know, for example, if its really about an impression of something lacking or just an attempt to generate trouble. Be that as it may, what should someone do if they feel something is wrong? Or missing? Or should be different?

The first thing that comes to my mind would be to try to describe, as specifically as possible, what is wrong, missing, or in need of change. Or perhaps to try to describe, again with specifics, what is desired that is not there. This would be constructive. It might be, of course, that what a member desires is simply not feasible. Perhaps it has been attempted and did not work. These points could be made and while the person desiring something might be disappointed in the outcome it is unlikely anyone would be upset. I would like a box of money to arrive daily by FedEx but I can see it isn't feasible.

Or perhaps something IS feasible and it just has not been thought of before. or not thought of by anyone in a position to do it. For example, the subforum for Second Life was added when, it appeared to make sense to a reasonable number of members. Other subforums have been suggested in the past but then not implemented, for reasons the original suggestor was probably unaware of.

On the issue of creative productivity (which my memory says was part of this thread but I'm not going to go research in the middle of writing this) my impression is that members here are as productive as ever in just about every format I can think of. In any case, I suspect that the best ways to encourage more creativity are to make it rewarding to those who produce and to make it easy to produce. Those who produce anything generally like to receive acknowledgements of what they have done, praise when it is earned, and stuff like that. This need not be just reply posts, although those are nice. Things like the number of views and/or downloads also provide what psychologists call reinforcement. I am not entirely sure what sorts of things might make it easier to produce. A long time ago there was a Yahoo group that was a writer's workshop. That was helpful to me as a writer and I served as its moderator briefly. Many years ago there were people who provided web sites where things such as stories or art work could be posted. This site does that now for just about any form of creativity and there are sites such as Deviant_Art, Youtube, and so on.

OK, back to work.

[DangerGirl]

Lastly, while I will not reveal my plans, rest assure they are very real and you'll be finding out what they are very soon. As for my motivation? I stand behind what I said even if others disagree. However, I will reveal one additional factor though; we can put time and space between any given situation, sites and forums can come and go. But in the end I've learned that the more thing's change the more they stay the same. That my friends is a sad truth, at least as far as some in this community go. It made me realize that something a community member said to me once was very true, there must always be balance. The ones who are meant to understand what i just revealed will get it, everyone else don't worry about it, most likely it doesn't apply to you. See everyone real soon.

I've read through this entire thread, and can't believe the hoopla that's been generated by a simple piece of vague hype about something that hasn't happened yet. Was this some kind of trial balloon to gauge potential interest in whatever you've been planning (some kind of story archive, apparently)? Is it just a trolling expedition? Why not just finish your magnum opus and then announce it with a flourish, rather than do a non-reveal reveal like this? Dude, just shut it, get to work, and let us know when you're done.