An Open Letter to the SWF

[Guest Grand Slam]

To my friends in the SWF,

 

First off, let me say simply that I am very disappointed at the apparent lack of effort and interest for the SWF being shown by the workers in general. Last night, I had two double no shows, one of them by the reigning World and U.S. Champions. Just like any wrestling organization, real or otherwise, we rely on our Champions to carry the Fed to a certain extent. The fact that two of them neglected to send in a match is dismaying. Equally bad is the opening match with two very promising workers no-showing.

 

I am left to wonder what is causing this? Is it becuase, as King said, it has become a chore to write matches? Is it that you are legitimatly bored with the whole idea? Or is it simply apathy, that you just don't care?

 

If it has become a chore or so boring that you don't want to write, talk to CC. That is our job here. We are supposed to keep things moving, keep things interesting by our booking and help the workers when they need it to keep things interesting enough to make the SWF a fun place for everyone. I have a theory, and I think it may fit in here. One of the best ideas we ever had was the word limit for weekly shows. There was a time when you simply couldn't compete with the people who had far more time than you to write a match regardless of individual talent. Word limits were given and the playing field was leveled. Now, match length wasn't the sole determining factor and the fed blossomed for a while.

 

However, I think the opposite has started to happen. People look at the limits and think they have to write as close to the limit as possible to win. Suddenly, a match they would enjoy writing just to write becomes a chore, a school assignment. Do I think we should get rid of the word limits? No, I don't. They serve a purpose, and I feel it is an important one. What needs to happen is that everyone understand that quality is always preferable to quantity. To be frank, I usually don't check word limits until after I am done reading the matches. Or to put it another way, would you rather watch a half-hour Hogan / Steiner match or a ten minute Angle / Benoit match? I would like to see some feedback on this. This can be fixed.

 

One other thing though. While it is just a game and I agree, it isn't the most important thing in our lives, when you say you can make a card you are making an agreement. We agree not to ignore your storylines and character, and you agree to write a match. It is the same as a promise. Sometimes things happen and matches don't get written. Believe me, I understand. But I get the feeling that it isn't so much not having the time to write, but not wanting to spend the time writing.

 

Thus, while boredom and drudgery can be overcome, apathy is the one thing most lethal to any undertaking, and ours in particular. If no one cares, then our little corner of cyberspace will just fade away like all of the others. it isn't our method that makes us leaps and bounds better than the "competition" (although it helps immensely), it is the people. In general, we do more as a community for this place than any other e-fed I have looked at. And there are more people here that really care about this Fed than most of the others. People who will, and have, gone above and beyond the call of duty to make this a better place. If all of that stops, if no one cares but CC, this whole thing will fall apart.

 

And I can see it happening. From the opening to the mid-card, I can see it starting to deteriorate. And it makes me sad. I don't think it is exaggerating or boasting to say that I love this Fed. I have sacrificed coutless hours of time over the last two and a half years doing whatever I could to keep the Fed moving and growing. I hate to see it fail now, and I do not want to be known as one-third of the CC group that watched the Fed wither and die.

 

So, let's not let that happen. Let us resolve, as a group, that we will not go silently into the night. Let us determine that we will move the Fed forward. Let us decide that it is no one but ourselves that will keep this Fed moving forward. This is all I ask: don't let apathy and indifference destroy what has taken us so long to build.

 

- "Grand Slam" Mark Stevens

[Guest Beingz0wningj00]

I think in fairness... we have no worries about the fed dying, but I know that wasn't what it was about. The main concern is the PPV. This is our time, people. We spend the month building for this. Hell, call me insane, but I'm thinking of spots in my head with the music playing, as in clips of my match like a music video review. In honesty, we are all probably excited about the PPV, but we gotta act like it too.

 

At Clusterfuck, and I know I am guilty of this too. Only 5 people showed... some probably didn't have the time... others thought they weren't going to win. Sorry to pick on you TNT, but did anyone expect him to win? Not really... it goes to show you like it has a million times, this fed is based around the storylines you create and the hardwork you put in.

 

Yes, I know we all know that. But it needs to be resaid. I have a very dull job talking you Americans into keeping Microsoft products. At work, I get bored easily and it made it very simple for me to return. But even when I have the time to write and post. I'm seeing fewer promos... fewer stuff for the site. It disappoints me. I start to browse the other boards in hope that when I come back there will be more posts, stuff that makes me go, "Hey cool!" For example Janus doing the shilling of the matches... I haven't seen that before here, might have been done in the JL. Stuff like that rocks! Frost's Brand Babblings on the site... LDP and Thugg's rankings, superstars of the month... all that makes me glad I am back here writing. I'm sure it does the same for you.

 

So come this PPV people, let's make it a classic. We have all the elements needed, so let's all show what we can do. This isn't a time to burn and have it be a chore... this is our hobby, let's reward our hardwork.

[Guest Suicide King]

An excellent response JD, and just the one that we were hoping to see. I hope many people realize that the excitement that they crave is able to be grabbed in each and every match, if they write what they feel!

[Guest WrestlingDeacon]

I would say that there is a group of people charged with apathy and another group of guys who are determined and focused. Cream always rises to the top and I see that coming with this ppv and after. Have you looked at the JL lately. Tons of new characters, tons of promos written, a big decrease in no-shows. It reminds me of the group of guys I was with down there like Tod, TNT, Danny, Flesher, Z, Ced and anyone I forget. And at that time the WF was a little lost and flailing. It's a cycle. I think the best thing to do is to cut the dead wood if you can't light a fire under their butts and aide those who are trying the best they can.

 

You know what I think would be great? State of the fed meetings. Once a week in chat, say Sunday nights, for like an hour we talk about nothing but the federation. We address issues, but also just comment on what's going on and try to encourage and offer advice to each other.

[Guest Suicide King]

Sorry, Frost, sounds too much like a threat to my enlightened and complete rule here.

 

::motions to guards::

 

Give him a nice cell, one with a east-facing window.

[Guest HVilleThugg]

I'm not sure I agree with Frost's view. We live as a group, and we die as a group. I don't think it's fair to stand there and point fingers at a particular group and say that others are off the hook or are not at all responsible. It's everyone...up or down, win or lose...we are a group. You can't just toss the "dead wood" as you call em...this is a hobby...a place of fun. This is not a job...it's not school...and while it's somewhat of a competition, it's not as cutthroat as you're making it out to be. It's not a Basketball team where if you're not performing, you ride the pine or get tossed off the team. It's a community that takes care of it's own...when people are having a rough time, we understand. We try to pick up the slack, but we understand that there are things that go on in people's lives that are more important than the SWF. We are a family...we don't just kick out those that aren't performing up to the levels that you have set for them...or someone other than themselves has set for them. That's not how a family works. We go to these people...find out what's going on...see if we can help. If we can't...we let them sort it out on their own...but we don't kick them to the curb.

 

And, have you ever thought that a reason people are apathetic or floating around is because those that are really determined only work with those like them, leaving those others with nothing to get excited about. I did some thinking after my retirement, and I figured something out. I always declared that I (and a few others) were the only people doing stuff in the fed during a long down time like this one. All the time, I was saying that if it weren't for me, the fed would have died. Obviously, that's not true...but I figured something else out. Maybe, just maybe the reason people other than me weren't motivated is because I didn't work with anyone that wasn't as enthusiastic as me. I didn't go down and find someone with no angle and see if they wanted to do something. I sat up top, worked with Edwin and King and Mark and those couple people who were gun-ho....and then complained about the other people not being motivated. That's not fair! Like I said, we're a family, and it's up to those people who have the time and those that have the energy and those that have the motivation to help get the others excited and motivated. Get those people involved in angles...get them involved in matches...get them interested in what's happening in the fed, and don't just sit back and say that those people who are motivated are great and those that aren't should be cut loose. That's crap.

 

Da "climbs down off soapbox" H

[Guest AnnieEclectic]

I have to concur with Grand Slam on one of his points. Even though it's not the reason I'm inactive trying to make it to the word limit has been a severe issue for me. I would think I churned out a quality match only to see it a good 2k under the limit and thinking I wouldn't have a chance so I'd have to go back though and add crappy filler spots. Or, I'd get frustrated enough to just no show. Making a point that it's a limit for maximum and not minimum for a while might help some of the less verbose writers.

 

-Annie

[Secret Agent 0]

Well... I'm one of those no showing pieces of "Dead Wood" as someone mentioned and I can tell you It isn't laziness that causes me to no show. Some of it's time, and a lot of it is trying to think of a good story for the match and a good ending. Maybe I spend too much time trying to think of endings, I'm not sure.

 

I have a ton of ideas, storylines, etc worked out in my head and I truly love to write. Although most of the time I don't feel I write very well and it has always been a chore for me to get the thoughts in my head down in writing in a clear format, making me take an extremely long time to write a 6000 word match. People like Silent and there "I can write 6000 word matches in two hours" just amazes me. So to say I have no "love for the fed" or don't care is BS. Probably the best thing for me to do is stop trying to write matches and just get that site I promised Thugg and Mark up and running, but I have an urge to finish off the original Johnny Dangerous storyline first.

 

So you can't just judge everyone and say they don't give a damn and are just being lazy, until you know what is going on with them.

[Guest 5_moves_of_doom]

PPV = 0\/\/|\|/\G3

 

Me = Trying to show... just gotsta finish all this fucking schoolwork first... *cry* I'll write a match though, even if my grandma dies.

[Guest Beingz0wningj00]

Ok... but the important thing is, you'll write a match, right?

 

 

 

Edit: "In response to replies such as Annie's... being under the word limit isn't really a problem. I'm pretty sure it was Stevens who was notorious for that, and look how far he went. I know I hit the limit a lot but I get carried away... If you aim for a 1000 within the limit, you'll be surprised how close you end up hitting it. That's just my thought.

[Guest Coffin Surfer]

Despite work and mid term exams, why couldn't the PPV be next week during Spring Break(for me anyways), I due plan to show for the PPV even if it is a 3000 word 60 minute Iron Match.

 

I've done explained what happened about the last match, and I don't feel a need to do so again. Jesus Christ, shit happens!

[Guest 5_moves_of_doom]

Jesus Christ, shit happens!

Yeah, I mean, fucking TNT won the Clusterfuck! Look what a wreck the fed's in now!!

[Guest Tod deKindes]

About word limits: it shouldn't be a capital crime if you go over them. I'm not saying write a NOVEL here, but the rules about that could stand to be less strict.

 

Like say, for example, I write a match that has to be AROUND 4000 words. With a reasonable allowance to go over. At least just enough to get one last good spot in, then go into your finish. Many times I've had to cut out some crucial spots out of my matches because of this.

 

My opinion: go easier on the word limits.

[Guest Grand Slam]

Allow me to respond to a few comments here:

 

First off, I am glad this has started some real discussion about some of the bigger fed-wide issues. That was totally my intention.

To Johnny, TNT, Danny and whoever else might read this and be even the slightest bit offended, this was certainly not my intention. I tried not to call anyone in particualr out, and in the one case I did, it was more to make the point about "Campions carry the Fed" than blame you for not showing. Wrere I to give two guys who, in general, are there every show crap for no-showing one night then I would be a huge hypocrite. Everyone no-shows... it happens.

 

Annie makes exactly the point I was trying to make. The word limits are a maximum, not even vaugely a suggestion for mength. Aside from the reasons I mentioned above for implementing the word limits, they were put in place for the markers, so they (we) wouldn't have to read four 10,000 word matches twice a week.

 

Tod, the problem I see with using the "vague word limit" theory, is where do you draw the line? Is "around" 4000 words 4050, 4100, or 4250? If it is designed to level the playing feild, then it has to be level, and the same rules apply to every match and every marker.

As far as the "working with cetain people" issue, i think that ties into the communication thing. I think I only turned down one angle in my career, and that was because I was retiring before the angle would play out. The workers here need to feel free to PM not just anyone else in the Fed, but CC as well to try and hook up with an angle or feud.

 

I agree with bioth Frost and Thugg. How? Well, I agree that there are always people who are excited and into the fed, and there are always those that are coasting. And they aren't always the same people... But in the tough times it is the excited people we rely on to keep moving.

 

And finally, let me echo JD and say this: Let's use this PPV as a new start, a new jumping off point for a great time in the SWF!

 

Oh, and excuse my terrible typos... it was pretty early when I typed this.

Edited March 13, 2003 by Grand Slam

[Guest AnnieEclectic]

I have to agree with Stevens again on the communication thing, only because I personally had it happen to me. I didn't know what to do, had no feuds, no ideas... then I just stumbled into chat and Tom said "Hey, Judge isn't doing anything, you two should work together"

 

Sure it never finished due to real life interfering but what we had planned out from a random pairing was incredible. Don't be afraid to work with people because you don't think they'd match up with you well or your writing styles clash. I mean, if it weren't for Judge and me planning a feud we wouldn't have gotten the great "I'm not hardcore and proud of it" HCG champ.

 

-Annie

[Secret Agent 0]

I wasn't offended in the least GS, what you said needed to be said. I was just explaining that even though I haven't been putting forth the effort like in the JL, I still do care and would hate to see this fed die.

 

Word limits have two sides to the coin though. If i am booked in a 6500 word match, and I only write 4500 or so I will loose. There has been times where I felt i made a complete match in that limit but I always go back to add filler spots and such or more commentary, which I feel breaks the flow that i had already set. Now I know GS said its a min, but do all the markers look at it in the same way? Would King say it was great but Strangler thinks i didn't put forth enough effort? I'm curious about that one, because I know nobody marks the same.

[Guest Tod deKindes]

Another thing: commentators.

 

It gets to be extremely redundant when writing matches using nothing but the same two commentators. No offense, Slammer.

 

Although, since we have three shows, why not expand the announce team a little? Like say:

 

Smarkdown: Riley and Stevens

Lockdown: one of the two interviewers and Riley (or we create a new commentator altogether)

Storm: Stevens and a heel wrestler (either not active or not booked for that show)

 

And for PPV's we go back to Stevens and Riley. Or maybe a three-man team.

[Guest HVilleThugg]

That's not a bad idea at all Tod...I think varying up the commentators would be a damn good idea.

 

Da "raises a crippled hand" H

[Guest Beingz0wningj00]

I would like to volunteer Petro the Clown for heel commentator!

[Guest Powerplay]

Yeah, I totally agree here. Maybe it could be like:

 

Storm (Flagship show): Grand Slam and Riley

Lockdown: Maybe a new commentator entirely with a heel wrestler? This is the new show, so we should probably bust out something completely new here.

SmarkDown: Curry/NTD maybe? They weren't all too bad in moderation, and they are somewhat familiar figures.

 

And the three person thing at PPVs would be really neat as well, though it would be hard to choose a good trio.

[Guest WrestlingDeacon]

I've got to toss the hat of the Memphis Eel into the ring as secondary heel commentator. He's a fun character to write and a complete 180 from Riley.

[Guest TheBostonStrangler]

No one should take anything Mark said personally (except for JD and TNT, who should take everything personally, since they suck at life). Just realize that you need to do the work to make this place fun to be.

 

As for commentators, I'd like to see Galatea doing some kind of commentary. Let's see....

 

Storm: Grand Slam/Bobby Riley

Lockdown: Axis/Mr. Galatea (so what if Axis does JL commentary too? An Axis/G commentary team would own SO much)

Smarkdown: Curry/NTD

[Guest Chuck Woolery]

I have to show support for Tod's "unbooked heel gets commentator spot" idea. That's gold. For Lockdown, have someone with the show off do commentator with either Ben Hardy or NTD (depending on their status as heel or face).

[Guest Beingz0wningj00]

I could see it now.

 

Axis: "Fkn jew!"

 

MrG: "This match is gay."

 

Axis: "Fkn jew!"

 

MrG: "This match is gay."

 

Axis: "Fkn jew!"

 

MrG: "This match is gay."

 

Axis: "Fkn jew!"

 

MrG: "This match is gay."

 

Axis: "Fkn jew!"

 

MrG: "This match is gay."

 

Axis: "Fkn jew!"

 

MrG: "This match is gay."

 

Axis: "Fkn jew!"

 

MrG: "This match is gay."

[Guest 5_moves_of_doom]

Yeah, I suggested the different commentary teams idea about 1-2 months ago... everyone seemed to like it (especially Silent) but it never quite got off the ground.

 

Anyhow... MrG would be great. Also, KING might be fun, as he's the evil booker n' stuff...

 

Aside from that... RENEGADE~!~!~!~!~! Heh.

[Guest Suicide King]

I have a gigantic penis. No, it's not really on topic but it needs to be said.

 

Anyway, I have no problem with varying annouce teams. I don't think we need three of them though. How about adding a third commentator and having each show have a different pairing of the three? I would suggest Axis or Galatea for that role, to honor their contributions and the fact that they still hang around. So one show would be GSMS and Riley, the next would be Axis/G and Riley, and the third would be the face love-fest of Axis/G and GSMS. Thoughts?

[Guest Powerplay]

Well, I still think the "Unbooked Heel" puts a great dynamic on some of the shows. I think we should fit it in on one of the shows. But otherwise, I've always been a fan of the three man set up.

[Guest WrestlingDeacon]

I'M TELLING YOU THE MEMPHIS EEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

This is the perfect use for him. It would be like having an amalgamation of Dusty Rhodes and the Honky Tonk Man on commentary, like that wouldn't rock?

[Secret Agent 0]

How about Strangler? I mean GSMS did renew his contact a few months ago and we haven't seen nothing since then. Why pay the fool to do nothing?

 

Aside from that I love the unbooked heel, but then everyone would turn heel so they could comentate. Maybe have a few random shows where someone unbooked joins the two man GS and Riley announce team.

 

Galatea would be strange since the Mr. G character is dead. As for the Memphis Eel... who the hell is that?

[Guest realitycheck]

G honestly doesn't make much sense. Since we'd basically have to write him as the guy in chat, and not the character, the only thing he'd be doing is sitting at the table and riffing on every wrestling cliche our shows have. On top of that, could anybody really write G well? Sans King, of course.

 

When it comes to commentating, Axis and Mark are the same basic face personality. Strangler (The character) was pretty bland, so I don't know how well he'd do at commentating.

 

I think, when you break it down, there are only a few retiree's who could commentate, and actually provide a different personality to write. I'd say LDP, Annie, Wilson, Thoth, Thugg, and obviously Edwin, even if the character walked off into the fade and stuff.

 

There are also guys like Grimedogg and Comet, but you run the risk of going too far back with a character, so none of the new guys knows who they are.

 

-Z