February 19, 2014 - 7:00pm — Apoidea
It starts as a tiny feeling and from there it grows. It trickles in through the edges of one's subconscious mind, falling like raindrops into the conscious world. At first, it is a sightless world. Soon, small sounds of birdsong and the rustle of trees remind you that you are conscious. Your soul winks into existence first. Your world fades into existence, bringing a spark of joy. Your soul gathers itself, as if preparing for something much larger... and then a bit of you transforms into many others. A chorus of voices fills your ears, prompting you to wake up and realize that you are not alone, but part of a collective consciousness.
This collective consciousness is why you are here. Each soul behind each avatar shares the same feelings you do. Each new meeting brings sparks of happiness to both souls. Make each meeting as bright and hopeful as if it were the first time. Each parting brings a slight sadness to the souls involved. Make each parting as kind as possible, as nobody ever knows just when they will meet each other again. Each soul comes into this little world of ours hopeful, excited, and new. Remember this. Each soul behind each avatar has its own burdens, triggers, and fears. Remember this as you interact with others. Above all, remember that each soul came here equally: They started off young, growing over time. If love, care, respect, generosity, understanding, and honesty is given to each soul, it will grow into something beautiful. If a wrong is committed to a soul, then it will foster something ugly inside that will spread. Do not lower your tines if you don't want others' lowered toward you. Do not turn your back to someone unless you want your back to feel the score of their tines later. Do not hide behind your mask, for your face is still human underneath. We're all the same under the spells.
We are the deer of The Endless Forest and we should take to heart what the creators wanted for this game. Many people seem to forget that this game is not something we should take at face value, but is made to be enjoyed together.
Be helpful.
Be honest.
Be gentle.
Be accepting.
Be playful.
Be excited.
Be happy.
And remember: You have to help one another to enjoy the magic of this place. Those who do not wish to help will not be helped by others.
-----
It's about time to lay the drama to rest. Please add your thoughts below.
Take your time. Looking
Apoidea - Can you please
It's long, but here goes. I
later
I could really sense a lot of anger in both of these. I am not entirely sure where the calm came in except in the beginning of your second post and then your praise post. Of course you were upset, but at the same time you weren't very gentle, eh? It's difficult to be gentle defending oneself, so it isn't like I could blame you for it.
I want to contribute to the
So.
Let me be piece of shit here. Because shit happens. This is a normal circle of life. For example, shit exists in the forest, and it serves as food for the roots of trees. All logical.
But it seems to me that people have completely forgotten what it means to "personal relationships", which implies that the "personal" should be hidden from the eyes of others.
So what I mean.
Personally, I do not care what and who writes. That people find out the relationship in front of the other. Free series. It's kind of interesting and informative too.
If you look on the other side. You never thought that it dangerous?
Just ...
Unlimited number of persons. Anyone. I, he, she, they, and so on. They know everything about you. How old are you, where do you live, what you do, whether you have a relationship, what do you think, they know how you look like(maybe where you keep the keys to the apartment), do you have a cat. ALL.
How do you know how will the use this information? How do you know that your "openness" never will turn against you? You are so facilitates the task in the destruction of your life - and do not think about it? Anybody can come. And trample in the mud the part of your life, which he wants. And you already nothing can do.
I do not care. In the evenings I can dispel the boredom by looking here. It's great. Continue.
But. Not all people like me. And especially not all kind and tolerant. And most importantly - honest.
Just someone can take advantage of all that you have already said. And it should sound scary actually.
That you have nowhere to hide. The internet is full of false sense of inaccessibility to others. That's a lie. And the more you put on the Web that must know only you and your inner circle, then easier to destroy you.
I guess that's what you should think first of all, when you're going to say something publicly. We can not communicate in a way to suit everyone around us. It's impossible. (and shit happens. but it somehow enhances our lives.)
First of all it is necessary to think - Is it safe to what are you going to do? To yourself.
In any case.
Oops.
I could not resist.
I've never read so much
I've never read so much truth..
I think just like you bro.
Dridro, you're absolutely
@Uit: I think I have it now,
-
I am playing off of others' emotions and it is very obvious. But I am not doing so in ill intention. I am doing so in a way to get the peace point across, using a method that has been proven to work short-term in the past.
-
/explanation
The only way I think anyone can get it to work long-term is to actually moderate this place. That would take away a lot of freedoms, which is bad. (You know, it's really a shame what people will do and say on a non-nodded site that they wouldn't if they had fear of getting in trouble?)
/randomthought
The idea of moderation can be
-removed from the community socially (otherwise they would be biased towards certain posters)
-employed by the owner of the community and answering directly to them (to ensure accountability and non-biased motives)
-anonymous except in extremely rare situations where they'd post with a username "mod" (otherwise people inevitably clamor for their attentions).
Honestly, I've only ever seen one site where it worked well and I won't link because it's an 18+ site (I promise it's not what you think but judge away) and there are kids on this site. The success is, I believe, a combination of huge user base and the reasons I outlined above.
I don't think moderation would ever be successful on this site because of the relatively small community. Also, anyone assigned to mod here who wasn't WAY into role play, deer, and arts might gradually lose their mind with boredom. I once saw a forum that was for insurance salesmen to discuss insurances and plans and I thought, "I hope I never have to moderate there."
I have to strongly agree with
"-removed from the community socially (otherwise they would be biased towards certain posters)
-employed by the owner of the community and answering directly to them (to ensure accountability and non-biased motives)
-anonymous except in extremely rare situations where they'd post with a username "mod" (otherwise people inevitably clamor for their attentions)."
And a lot of the time on sites (or at least the sites I have been on) the ones who are suppose to moderate the site eventually lose interest and then become extremely inactivate, not even responding to reports. The knowing of there being moderation who are suppose to help with the community issues yet are not doing their job, it may cause some problems for the members.
Or idk I might just be rambling about some disturbing fantasy-idea I have on what could happen ^^;;
Honestly, guys, the only
I am not saying at all that I advocate it, considering hat I said in the next sentence that it would be bad for this place to lose its freedoms.
Every cook praises his own
I'm here to offer you a perspective.
Talking only about the method used and its effect-here-and-now. Neither have I been following on what worked for you before nor am I interested in implausible scenarios.
'Welcome to the lush venues of paradise!
Do not pee in the pools.'
If your aim was to make a point, and a strong one at that, 'Cut this shit out' would have sufficed. It's your POV, it should be your voice out there.
Luscious adverts and law don't mix, unless in the Book and we've all seen how it went down.
It's immoral, not to mention absurd. And using parts of M&A's concept as a backdrop only adds to the impression you were just blowing your own horn behind an authority cover.
To sum it up; Leave ideals to art, it makes wonders, slowly but surely. And if you're going to preach, speak for yourself.
The community has got enough illusions as it is, no need to create more, promote bad taste or tick off bullshit meters. Kids have those, too, you know.
Do we not do this in
No, hah, my feels weren't
And I'm speaking on the error of your approach, so I'm as in context as it gets.
Both owe it to your imperative stand.
Yeah, you may have trouble picking up on the effect if this is how you normally speak.
Yet the tone gives you some big shoes to fill. Vividly so once we're talking about personal views. And nobody gave you that sort of authority here.
See how it works on the impression?
How it adds up to the absolutes that had your text locked up for appeal?
Not really, considering I
I am still not entirely convinced your feels haven't been taken into account. Haha
Edited:
I really would like to understand why you are so skeptical that the OP was not written to genuinely be positive.
Apoidea: In response to your
Try swapping out the generalizations for personalizations and reread the original post, it might help you understand where some people are getting their hesitations from.
edit: Here is an example of what I mean:
"This collective consciousness is why you are here."
"Each soul behind each avatar shares the same feelings you do."
Both of the above sentences you used in the original post are based on assumptions and are stating those assumptions as fact when they are just your interpretation. You can't know the reason every person plays TEF, or their feelings 100% of the time when they interact with others. Instead, you might want to state something along these lines: People can share the same insecurities (can as opposed to do) and it's important to take the feelings of other players into consideration, because they are just as valid as your own. That includes all the same points without making broad generalizations or presenting assumptions as fact.
(I'm sorry if some of this is disjointed or there are typing errors I didn't have time to reread as thoroughly as usual!)
I think Terabetha has a
It's less like a disapproving parent and more like a voice reaching out...yes?
I apologize, but I read
I've been talking to others offline on the subject and still do not quite see it.
And I do not see how those are assumptions at all. We are here, on the community, to be on the community. If we didn't want to be, we'd leave.
Edit:
At the end of it all I am sorry if I came off as 'scary' or 'authoritative'. I would like to reiterate that I do not mean it that way. All this post is here for is to try and remind everyone that it is important to give kindness to receive it, and that we are all a part of a community based around a game that is peaceful for a reason.
[REDACTED]
edit: I had a longer analysis
"All this post is here for is to try and remind everyone that it is important to give kindness to receive it, and that we are all a part of a community based around a game that is peaceful for a reason."
This is better! You could have said that in the original post. Just that, without the entire poetic but vague first paragraph, without referencing the Community as a whole (that 'we' I mentioned earlier). This one sentence is what you are trying to say in the original post, and it comes across much clearer. It is you speaking for yourself, not you appointing yourself as speaking on behalf of the communal 'we'.
Maybe try using more personalized, straight forward language like this in the future. I think it might help you get your messages across without turing people off because they interpret you as talking down to them.
... I used the 'we' in that
I basically just said "I am only saying that we should do this differently."
Ok I think I fixated too much
In the new comment when you say we it reads like you saying 'we, the community including me (Apoidea)...' which is much better because it states that you are a member of the community just like every one of your peers and can also help improve by making changes. It's the difference between you telling everyone else they need to change (from an imaginary point of authority) and saying WE as in the Community including yourself on the same level as your peers.
Obviously this is my interpretation and it's a very mild difference verbally. Hell it's the same word used different ways, but I think I'm not the only person picking up on the difference (otherwise you wouldn't have the previous comments on this blog of discontent). I don't have any time left to get into this in any more detail today unfortunately but I hope this has been helpful in some regard.
Oh my, this is such a
The forest is meant as a play of peace and respite, but it seems some people want to twist it into a place of drama and antagonism. I understand if it's RP with friends (it can be quite fun), but I wish some players would not project so much hostility and exclusion towards others, especially new players who deserve understanding and patience. Of course, no one is perfect and we all make mistakes. I know there are times when I should have been more honest, more compassionate, more understanding. The important part is to take responsibility for your actions and lend others the same forgiveness and respect that you would ask from them.
I love this community; it's one of a kind. I have high hopes for TEF and its community, as diverse and creative as it is, and that it will remain alive and welcoming for years to come. I've met so many awesome people here ♥
[e] Reading through others' posts, I felt I should add that I also agree with Mis. Behind each avatar is a human with emotions and that cannot be ignored. It's not "just a game," but it never hurts to try and be kinder to others! When people say things in a moment of fervor, it may have some unintentional, negative results. Like I said, forgiveness and understanding is key in keeping a community strong-- everyone makes mistakes. Here's a quote I find rather fitting:
Also, I can't believe arguments over the use of an inclusive pronoun are actually springing out of this post of all posts. lol Everyone has their opinions, though.
Discord: Gulonine#4267
It's worded exactly the same
Thank you, Aquilo. I agree with Mis on that point as well.
Terabetha, Yes, your first
Yes, your first comment and further analysis cover up most of what I've been kicking off all this time.
Apoidea,
Are you sure you're not drawing your conclusions off your conviction alone?
You are now arguing some of the established ropes of logic and rhetoric.
It's funny: you were quick to write off my blunt op. as a mere product of negative feels, at the same time denying to even consider that your totalizing OP would evoke negativity/scepticism.
Are you always this self-righteous? No way you can make mistakes?
Considering your background is Psychology, not Linguistics, after all.
Uit, honestly you need to
Edit: Now that I have gotten over that frustration...
If I do not understand where someone is coming from, I will tell them so. I do not say that I do not see where someone is coming from or what they are trying to tell me unless I do not see or understand it. It is not belligerence or self-righteousness. It is honesty. I do not like to lie to others, therefore I will not say I understand something that I do not understand. Period.
While I don't see how it
I do lose my patience now and then, but since you stated I wasn't clear on my point, I delved into helping that. I expected a dialogue, was certain we could work things out. Didn't see you as the type to get offended by bluntness either.
As I'm wrapping this up, my motive was to advocate the subtleties in composition, and the difference they can make in the perception of the original idea. I believe it's important enough to pour effort in.
"Are you always this
I think I would call this insulting.
I am not offended at all by bluntness, only by insults. I am also sure we could work this out more easily. I still want to figure out where you guys are coming from... no matter how pig-headed I may sound I am trying to work at this from all angles.
It was an appeal and not a
Though I stand by everything I said, there's nothing I can add after Tera has cut to the chase.
So that was my last theory, as in and off the subject as it could get.
Can't really tell you more than you can tell yourself.
That probably would have
My significant other had a pretty good theory as well, I'll weigh in on it below. It is the only theory that I can really wrap my head around so far, as it hits 'closer to home.'
Theory: The phrase 'Collective consciousness' probably triggered enough negative thoughts to taint the whole damn thing.
What makes you think so?
The whole concept of the
Oddly to me it sounds more plausible than the 'royal we' theory.
The phrase only goes in vein
its context was presented as just that, your personal view. I have no problem with those.
You don't say so anywhere on the wrapper, though, so there.
That's just it: I don't get
How is that hard to understand?
I honestly adore this blog