Several recent threads that have required AmbientShade's attention have led me to do something I had first decided against, but now think needs to be done.

This post.

Now that I am no longer a Moderator, or in any way connected to the Renderosity organization, I'm going to say a few things that have been on my mind for the past couple of years that I could not say while in a position of authority. I offer these opinions in the spirit of community improvement, not as trolling. If anyone wants to disagree, have at it. I am not going to respond to anything posted about this document. The ideas speak for themselves. If anyone wants to try and bully me about them, let me know how that works out for you.

Many moons ago when I was recruited as a Moderator, I was told that the Poser Forum would be my only responsibility. Management was fed up with the trolls, and the way newbies were being mistreated and chased away, and they wanted changes. Well, all I can say is, I tried. Didn't do so hot. The problems I was asked to solve still exist. No excuses. 

Being someone with psychological training, I did, however, learn a boatload about the dynamics of the forum. It is to that end that I post the following:

 

"If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem."

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1.** If you have publicly stated that Poser is not the software you use, why are you posting in this forum?**  There is a group of forum members of whom I have been dying to ask this question for years. I'm not talking about the folks who want to investigate Luxrender or one of the alternative render engines... I get what that contributes to the community. What I don't get is the group who seems to do nothing but tell us how we would be better off using something else. What is it, folks? Do you own stock in a competing program? Does it make you feel superior that you have "moved on?" All I know is, these people NEVER post anything that helps me be a better Poser user. They simply add noise to whatever discussion is underway. 

2.** If all you came here to do is bitch, why are you here?** I'm not suggesting that there is never a reason to complain about anything. I'm suggesting that there is a proper way to seek answers to a problem, and a way that insures that all you are going to accomplish is hacking a bunch of people off. Yes. ALL softwares/add-ons/figures have problems if you look hard enough. This is one of the things that brings me to the forum regularly is trying to solves issues that I have run up against... seeing if anyone else has observed the same thing... seeing if they have an answer that will serve. When I have an issue, I try to describe it, provide as much background as I can so that others can try to duplicate the problem, and politely ask if anyone can help. I almost ALWAYS get help. I have a feeling if I came here loudly proclaiming  "Poser SUCKS!" there would be a different response...namely, my being ignored. I guarantee that unless you detail what your issue is, no one will BE ABLE to help you. Why people think that being unpleasant and over-bearing and just plain MEAN will get them anywhere eludes me. The same goes for those who seem to think gratuitous profanity enhances a conversation. 

3. What do you think Renderosity can do about things orchestrated by Smith Micro, Daz3d, or any other vendor not a part of our site? You do not go into a Chevrolet showroom and loudly decry the shortcomings of Ford. The management is going to put you out in short order so that you do not bother their customers. To use our forum here to bad-mouth Smith Micro for not fixing your pet bug... to bash Daz3d for their decision the end native support for Poser in their figures... to criticize Poser World for their business practices is just plain RUDE. It makes this look like a place where bullies congregate to whip themselves up into a feeding frenzy. Rendo have taken a real beating for allowing anti-Daz posts in the past. I was as guilty as anyone in the beginning. We as a community need to learn from those mistakes how to keep out of the dealings of other firms. Everyone is responsible to drive their own business model. If your issue is with SM, file a ticket there. If the issue is with a Rendo vendor, then perhaps we can help.

4. Why is it necessary to bash everyone else's work? If you don't think something is well-done, why is it necessary for you to make that opinion public? Is your airing of that opinion in this forum going to bring about the desired change? (See item 3 above). Often, things that matter a great deal to a very limited few have exactly zero impact on the masses. Case in point: Dawn. She got bashed to pieces the first few days she was out, and still draws fire when the 8 people who think they know how to design a better figure need a punching bag. Reality: She works great in my runtime, and I'm not alone. Check out the forums over at Hivewire. Example #2: Rex and Roxie are the first SM figures I have actually found useful, but there's a vocal contingent that seems extremely unhappy over any development that some truly talented people here in the forums have undertaken for these figures. Why? They say they want a quality figure from SM... then badmouth the best efforts so far. 

5. Why do YOU feel the need to be a "Big Dog?"  I get it when someone who has made a lot of content for a particular figure wants to promote that figure. Just human nature. (And the profit motive.) What I don't get is people who start threads promoting their own point of view and downplaying everyone else's. I suspect is it akin to the male genital comparisons that occur in Junior High locker rooms... a form of one-upmanship that simply points out the insecurities of the poster. The "Big Dogs" that I respect... (including but not limited to) The Bagginsbill's... the SnarleyGribley's... the Hborre's... the Geep's.... the Ockham's... these people EARN the respect they have, not by posting "here's how smart I am," but by posting "try this... this may be the answer to your question." If you really want respect, try helping people... not feathering your own nest or posting just to boost your ego. 

6. Playing the TOS limits game. COME ON DOWN! The TOS is there to give you an idea of what is considered acceptable behavior on this site. It is not something to see how far we can push before someone pushes back. For some, the game is to see how agregous they can make their behavior before a moderator locks the thread. Most who have been here long enough know who these people are and can spot them at work a mile away. How many times did I see the hand-gernade post, followed by another message "Watch... thread about to be locked" before I or someone else stepped in the send it to the trashcan.  I suspect this is often done by someone who see's their viewpoint losing the argument, and use that as an excuse to close the discussion. 

7. Why are we so nasty to the Newbies? Yes, they ask questions that have been asked a thousand times before. However, I'm going to suggest that a reasonable person will do one of two things: 1. Ignore the thread. 2. Look up the answer for the poor soul and post it. Being ugly, snippy or saying "Do a forum search" to someone who obviously has no clue as to how to search is totally non-productive. Once they've been shown how to search, then they can be expected to mine out info... but not the first time. We need to nurture these people instead of dismissing and intimidating them. 

 

"If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem."

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I once served on a Grand Jury. It was a fascinating exercise. The Commonwealth Attorney made an interesting statement: "90% of the crime is done by 10% of the people." He was right. Most of the people who were dragged before the Grand Jury had rap sheets inches thick. The same is true here. The vast majority of the issues in this forum are created by a very small minority of the users. It is VERY difficult to weed these problem children out. They are, as a class, pretty smart in knowing just how far they can push the TOS to make life difficult for the rest of us. We have, however, been presented with a wonderful tool to help in this regard. It is the "Ignore" button. When I was a moderator, I didn't have that luxury. I had to read every post on every subject that got posted. Now, I have the intense pleasure of skipping threads that don't interest me, and hitting ignore on the people i deem to be non-productive. It's a life-plan that works. If we will all give it a try it will lessen the stress on the Moderators and not damage their health to the point that it damaged mine.

Food for thought.

I've now thrown my final stone into the dog pack. We'll see which ones yelp.