Warlocks Den Chat Channels

[Vaell]

I refer users to my second post on this thread, pertaining to the owner of the channel stepping forward to discuss.

As far as I know, md isn't responsible for the naming of the IRC channel but there is a better chance that he is contact with them than any of us.

I humbly suggest that the owner steps forward to approach Akasha directly and privately on this matter. If md can facilitate this, that would be an honourable gesture.

If the legality remains a grey area, it is merely a matter of polite sportsmanship to acknowledge where the inspiration came from, and act accordingly in mature, considerate fashion.

To make it clear, at the offset of this thread Akasha was not directing her feelings on the matter singularly to md, but rather the recent re-prevalence of threads on the subject.

If it matters not to you md, why are you perpetuating this crusade?

For protecting her intellectual property and enforcing her forum rules she needs to give no apology.

Internet heroism or power abuse would have seen that this thread was closed long before now, and no attempt to reason or make a considered response would have been made, perhaps with a knee jerk reaction to wield the ban hammer, without discourse.

I'm closing the thread now, not to be viewed as the saviour of the internet or the web gestapo but really for md's protection from potential derision from other forum members.

Edit: Theleb the twin strikes again!

[Akasha]

I'm going to post my reply to this thread. I've moved it back into public view so people can see what exactly was said. I've been accused of lying in the past. The thread will not remain active or available for long, it will be removed once I'm sure people have read my reply.

I'm also going to post in normal colours because on preview, that much orange made my eyes go fuzzy!


Warlocks Den Chat / IRC Channels
As I have mentioned before, and reiterated this past week, there is no chat room or IRC channel associated with the Warlocks Den. None that I have started, and especially none that anyone else has started. I've worked over four years on this site to bring it to what it is today, and I continue working each and every day to keep it up to date and (hopefully) make it better. To me this is a labour of love and I have, many times, chosen to work on it over actually playing WoW or doing other things. Make no mistake, I have zero problems with how much time I spend here.

What I do have a problem with however, is when all my hard work and the site itself is put at risk of being demolished due to things outside of my control, which can be avoided. An example of this is chat rooms that people try to associate with the site due to it's name. Two years ago someone started an IRC room and named it after the site. I didn't really want it to be associated with the site, but didn't do much at the time. Unfortunately I paid the price however when people slung profanity around the chat room, attacked and flamed each other... and then people came to ME complaining about it. Telling ME off for not keeping it under control. Blaming ME for what was happening.

In the end we had quite a few upset members here that left the site because they thought the chat room and site were related. We had more that didn't know about the site until the chat room, come in and treat the forums in the same manner they were the chat room. The site's reputation got tarnished.

Since then I have made it clear at every turn, there is NO chat room associated with the site!

I have also spoken to Blizzard about this in regards to people attempting to sell gold, buy gold, sell or buy characters or promoting private servers in a chat room named after the site. Are you ready for this? Read it slowly to make sure it sinks in: This site can be held liable! That's right, this site, my hard work, can be shut down because of something happening in an IRC chat room someone else started.

Using 'The Warlocks Den' name
While I understand people want their chat rooms to be popular, The Warlocks Den name is copyright to the site, and is not to be used without permission. It's also, in my personal opinion, quite rude to not contact me first and ask a) if you can use the name, or b) if we might already have a chat room in the first place. To just assume we don't and take it upon yourself to create one and link it to the site without even speaking to me is very unprofessional.

Possible chat room coming
The other main reason for me not wanting any outside chat channels associated with the site is because I do in fact have plans to attach one to this site, where it belongs. Unfortunately the current server we are on would not cope under the added use, however we are about to move to a new and improved one which can. If people are already set using an outside channel, it can be very difficult to get people to remember to use a new one. People get set in their ways, they get comfortable.

Originally I was going to announce this feature after I had proper time to break in the new box, test to make sure it would cope. Unfortunately due to the drama that one member caused yesterday, I feel forced to ruin the surprise.


In regards to MD
First, let's get one thing very clear: My news post was NOT aimed at md. It was md who made the assumption that it was.

As drastic as it sounds, anyone opening a chat room and linking it to the Warlocks Den, and continuing to try and promote it as an official chat room for this site, could see their access to the site revoked.

The underlined line clearly states who my post is directed at, which is not md. Three days before md even registered on the site, the creator of the chat room came here and promoted the chat room, claiming to have started it. I have emailed that poster asking them to change the name - ignored. I have gotten in contact with those involved in creating the chat room to change the name, to be told that they weren't going to and basically "stiff bickies to me, they want to get people into the site and since everyone knows the sites name, they are going to use it."

So yes, if people are going to use my hard work just to make sure what they are doing succeeds, then they will loose access to the site. I don't sacrifice all my game time just so other people can benefit with what they do my using the sites name and riding my coat tails. Especially when they don't even have the courtesy to speak to me first. Or speak to me politely (and maturely) when contacted.

For those who care - I have not even logged into WoW since Patch 3.0. I have not spent my refunded talent points, I have not seen any of the Scourge event, I have not even fixed my UI. I simply have not played one minute of game time recently. Why? Because I've been here, trying to make the site better for you, the users. So yes, if I seem a little protective of the site and don't want someone to use the name, that's why. I could be playing WoW every night like most of you are. But I choose to put your needs first, and the site first, and try to make sure I do everything I am capable of to create the best site for you.

In fact, I have not played WoW properly in over a year now. Why? Because any free time I have managed to snaffle has been spent here instead. I've run a total of 3 full instances, and 2 half attempted ones in the last year alone. My current character of choice (my Hunter) still isn't level 70!

Was md the one who created the room? No. Was md one of the ones I have been speaking to? No. Was md one of the ones I was referring to in my news post? NO. Was md the one who got all hot n bothered by my news post, completely derailing it and even ignoring the people telling him that the news post wasn't referring to him? Yes.

Originally Posted by md

Do not threaten readers with bans and such just for having noticed the chatroom, finding it a good idea and sharing this with other readers.

md, please point out to me where in my quote above do I threaten readers of the site?

Originally Posted by md

This isn't the first time admins have thrown with threats for apparently lame reasons. I also hope your reply to this won't be as hostile as your replies have been in the past, to others.

So clearly this is a member who is already disgruntled with the Den. And checking through his IP list, and what other previous users share it, it becomes clear why.

Originally Posted by md

Akasha's post might not have been intended as a threat, but it was formulated in a way that sent that specific message: 'show interest in or promote something not genuine and receive a ban.'

You really do have an odd way of reading things.

Originally Posted by md

Unfortunately this harsh, zero-tolerance mentality, with ill consideration of word choice, is something I've often ascertained on this website.

If you, V. are Akasha's intermediary and this is her way of apologizing (in a very unconventional way) trough you, I will accept it.

md you really don't make a lot of sense. You claim to read this site enough to say that I throw threats around for lame reasons, reply with hostility, ill consideration of word choice, and a harsh, zero-tolerance mentality. Yet, if you spent any time on the site at all, you would know that I have never (ever) sent an intermediary in to speak on my behalf. Really, that right there is such a contradiction it makes me laugh. Clearly you have a huge dislike of the site, so why you are still here is beyond me.

Originally Posted by md

It's a well considered, written and re-read statement.

Please pick a side and stick to it. Did I write my post with ill consideration of word choice, or was it well considered?

Originally Posted by md

If I'll receive a ban for speaking my mind in a respectful and well formulated way, I'll consider it as power abuse.

What out of the above quotes, excluding the one directly above, was written with respect? Either two people are using your account to post, or you require assistance that an internet forum isn't going to be able to provide.


MD stays banned
Bans are not handed out willy nilly. Despite what some people like to believe, I do not enjoy banning people from the site. But, due to his posts in this thread, and his very apparent attitude towards the site itself, and how many members emailed me expressing their very candid feelings towards him, md will be left to enjoy other forums that better suit him. One apple does not rock the cart, and the long time contributing members feelings will always be taken into consideration when dealing with a single new member.

[md]

Like always you distort things in your favour. But I don't mind.

Ill consideration for others differs from well considered phrasing.

Lies become you: My IP wasn't listed. I was abroad for work, I logged in via an Italian GSM connection. That IP has never been linked to any den user whatsoever. This shows your ban was personal.

Akasha, I pity you for letting your personal issues influence your, what is to be considered, professional attitude towards this website.
Proceed with your power abuse, your lies, your bans your hostile gestapo ways of running this website.

[Mollytov]

Md if that's how you feel Akasha is running this site, then hell it makes for one of the best if not THE best site out there. I'd rather come here than the offical forums anyday, and it's because of akasha that i do.

[Akasha]

md, I have all 11 IP's used against your account, would you like me to list them for you? Not all of them come from dialup.tiscali.it. The bad was not personal, for it to be personal would require that I a) know you, b) care about you and c) cared enough about what a complete stranger said to affect me. You're wrong on all three accounts.

As for banning people, I can count on one hand the people I have banned from this site. If I use both my hands, I can count everyone I've banned in the entire 4+ years I've had the site.

Clearly you are not able to see past your personal feelings, and even when the facts were presented to you earlier in this thread, refused to accept it. I hope you enjoy the chat channel, because you will no longer be receiving assistance from the Warlocks here.