After joining the Caledon forums (www.caledonforums.com) I am MOST HEARTILY regretting the decision. I held off due to the asinine policy of 'can't read without joining to prevent spam' (when a policy of 'can't post without signing up, but anyone can read' would be better, I detest the appearance of secret cabals), but relented and joined.
I saw a lot of familiar names, and a few familiar names that are 'important' in Caledon and FAR, FAR more of the new population than the old. Initially, I stayed on the edge of things, then as I got comfortable made a comment on policy.
WOW! Apparently, relaying through what OUTSIDERS have said about Caledon after seeing the sign litter at the telehubs -- and mentioning that that it wasn't always this way gets one accused of starting an 'old Caledon vs new Caledon debate' and, by one odious individual, labeled 'disingenuous'. No wonder they hide behind 'must sign up to read' rules and claim it avoids spam...they have much to hide, as much of the civility you see ingame is gone the second you disagree with the herd mentality of the newer caledonian citizens.
I, for my own part, heartily miss the 'old' Caledon and its civility. The 'new' Caledon and its proponents can have the Caledon forums and their trashy, rummage-sale look to the hubs (terms used by various non-Caledon visitors). I guess putting the look of the sims as a whole and avoiding signs at the hubs has been replaced in the 'new' Caledon with the ego-stroking of hosting a big event. I may be out of date, but give me the old Caledon any day....
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Herr Deckard,
Although I remember the somewhat strident comments on both sides of the issue, I at least would appreciate having your viewpoint available on a regular basis in the forum. Multiple sources of data are valuable in social interaction, not just research.
Yrs.,
Klaus Wulfenbach, Baron
Consulate of Europa Wulfenbach
No, I can guarantee I will never be back on that forum.
First off, I have great philosophical differences with how it is run. I understand being required to sign up to post, but there is no earthly reason to require an account to READ. It comes off as a country club open to ingame friends, which I found to be quite true the second I went against conventional wisdom.
Second, the forums, and in fact, most of Caledon 'events' published there have little or nothing to offer me. :( Ball after ball after costume dance....ad nauseum. You know, I went over to Steelhead saturday for the 'Salute to the Troops' event....had more fun there in one day than in MONTHS of balls and dances in Caledon. :(
The forum to me has come to represent all the things I find wrong in Caledon of late (cliquish, everything run by newcomers, same old - same old events, etc.) so I avoid it and concentrate on the good points of Caledon ingame.
...most of Caledon 'events' published there have little or nothing to offer me. :( Ball after ball after costume dance....ad nauseum.... cliquish, everything run by newcomers, same old - same old events, etc.
You may find me argumentative, Herr Deckard, but if there is no other out-world means of communication, and none of the 'Old Caledon' providing suggestions and guidance to all these newcomers you say are running everything, how are any of them going to learn what the manner of 'Old Caledon' is like?
I can assure you I joined with no sponsorship to this 'country club'; I admit I was guilty of signage at the hubs, but only because the means of spreading word of events have spotty coverage at best, considering Caledon's growth; I would greatly appreciate being able to hold or sponsor events which would enrichen the community I have joined.
Once again, I would encourage your viewpoint - here, at least, addressing what you see as problems and suggesting remedies to those issues.
Yrs.,
Klaus Wulfenbach, Baron
Consulate of Europa Wulfenbach
I think we will have to agree to disagree. :) As far as ideas...
Forums...
1) Open it up...change it so non-members can read, like other forums.
2) Moderate - I didn't get upset until I was insulted. They need a moderator that actually moderates.
3) I am also a bit miffed about the forums. I registered a domain name, created a website (with maps, a db for business lookups, etc) and forums LONG before caledon forums, but was told that Desmond preferred to control that sort of thing, and I took it down out of respect for his wishes. Imagine my feelings finding out it was somehow acceptable for someone else...
Caledon...
1) People need to put CALEDON ahead of ego-stroking via events. You don't see signage in New Babbage's hubs, they don't allow it and they still have successful events.
2) Inclusiveness. We need a mailing list for event anouncements, rather than a closed forum or google calendar. I read email, it comes to me...I don't have to hunt it down.
3) Can the spam on group channel. I rejoined this week, about to quit again...trying to build, got to listen to a half hour of player A, telling player C how she was trying to talk to player B, but B was having connection issues. Frankly, that's abusing the CALEDON channel, IMO. Signal-to-noise ratio is abysmal. :(
4) Events. Would just be nice to see something, anything that is not a book reading or a dance of some sort. Same old, same old.
My last point is on oldtime players. Sadly, I made a run through New Babbage and saw a LOT of the older players I no longer see in Caledon. Asked a couple why...like me...they feel sidelined. Case in point...I knew about the RFL 'war' RP in advance. I WAS going to donate equipment to it and help. In comes a group of newer players to 'run' it for Desmond...I find out apparently they had enough help (their friends) and that I basically had to buy my way into the RP. My donation of equipment was immediately withdrawn, if my services were unneeded (without donation), so were my items.
Now I don't want to be leader, I don't want to be the focal point, but by god I'd at least like to be able to PARTICIPATE in things going on, not be marginalized in favor of friends of friends.
So now, I hope you can understand my viewpoint better. I mostly just log in, build, occasionally chat with Desmond, log out. I do not feel a part of things like I once did...
Herr Deckard,
I have been musing over a reply to your latest answer when one appeared before me from an outside source.
If I could bother you to revisit the Caledon Forums Announcements and Letters to the Editor, the topic 'Making Caledon Forums More Accessible' addresses your very specific objections and is discussed by a variety of respondents.
It is, in truth, a direct response by the Editor to your reasoned complaint. I will save my own response (and questions) here for a little longer yet.
Danke, I appreciate your time for this discussion.
Yrs.,
Klaus Wulfenbach, Baron
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