Dr. Tom 0 Report post Posted April 24, 2004 Since I’ve caught wind of some vicious rumors flying around about TSM, I felt this was a good time to make a “State of the Site” address. This gives me a chance to address as many concerns and rumors as I can at once. I’m going to be completely honest here, perhaps to the point of being brutally honest, but by the end of it, you’ll know everything I know, and you’ll know what I think about everything. Think what you will of me in other areas, but all of you should know that I’m a straight shooter. 1. Rumor: Dames isn’t coming back/Dames has sold TSM. I know for a fact Dames has not sold TSM to anyone. He is still the owner, and the site fee is still charged to his card. While I haven’t had any communication with him during his absence, I have no reason to believe he’s not coming back. Think about it: why would someone walk away from a site they were stoked about opening, especially after they’ve put so much time, effort, and money into it? Sure, it’s work to maintain a site and administer a large messageboard, but there’s nothing that makes me think Dames doesn’t want to do either. The latest I’ve heard is that he’s basically settled in now, and is looking at getting permanent internet access within a couple weeks. Is this longer than he originally said he’d be gone? Yes... a lot longer, actually. But the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry. Life has a habit of throwing a monkey wrench into things from time to time. I’m sure Dames’ plans and life are no different than anyone else’s in these respects. 2. Rumor: TSM is closing on May 8th because the site won’t be paid for. Absolutely false. I’ve been assured by Mike, the site’s longtime admin, that this will not be happening. TSM will soldier on like it always has. 3. Hey, I’ve seen some new writers on the site recently... Indeed you have. We lost Jay Spree to semi-retirement, so while he’ll occasionally chip in a review, his days of doing weekly DVD news are over. I think Alex Padrino has taken the reins admirably and done a bang-up job. Our resident baseball guru Al Keiper has been writing a column about the national pastime, and it will continue throughout the season. Former Smarks Board poster and 411 staff writer Jesse “Judas” Baker just made his debut on the site. We’re assembling a dashed fine writing staff here at TSM, with these fine new folks adding to the already very solid writing staff we had in place. Maybe I’m biased, but I’d put our writers against anyone else’s. And that leads us to Chris Coey. As most of you know, he was banned from this messageboard some time ago. That is not going to change. “Jubuki” remains banned, and it’s by his own choice. However, we’d be foolish to pass up someone who writes such bloody good articles, and that’s why he’s on the mainpage. Our very own Sass can take a bow on that one. Regardless of the fact that he can’t contribute here in the forums, we’re quite pleased to have Chris contributing the CRUN-CH on the mainpage. 4. Hey Tom, you can be a dick sometimes. You’re right, I can. However, I don’t think I’m a dick that often, and I’m never one until someone does something to put me in that mood. Is Dames a nicer guy than me? Absolutely. I also think he tries to be nice, at least most of the time, whereas I just come here to do my job. I don’t try to piss anyone off or act like a dick, but things happen and sometimes, that’s the result. And while I can be a dick at times, I think my record of dealing with people who disagree with me (often quite vituperatively) speaks for itself. I’ve never banned one person for arguing with me. Not everyone is going to agree with how I do things; I know and expect this. And I don’t mind disagreements and questions, but if you try to bite my head off in your post, you should expect an appropriate response. 5. The staff and its leadership While our owner has been away, I don’t think we’ve suffered for leadership at all. I’m not saying this to toot my own horn; while I might be the go-to guy in Dames’ absence, the entire staff has embraced their roles as leaders of the board. Things would not have been as smooth here as they’ve been for the past two months without our dedicated moderating staff. Take a bow, guys (and girl): you’ve made my job easier, and you’ve worked to make this board better for the people who use it everyday. 6. Ch-ch-ch-changes By popular request, we’ve recently reopened registrations. Hopefully, this will mean an influx of new posters who can contribute to this board in meaningful ways. Realistically, it means trolls and previously banned posters now have a window to get back on. While we appreciate your vigilance in watching out for such people, having a few more official eyes on the situation can’t hurt. So, over the weekend, we’ll be adding a few forum moderators to those forums that need them. We’re also going to add one global moderator, since our member numbers are increasing, and our potential problems are going up right along with them. This is not the chance for you to metaphorically throw your hat into the ring: decisions have already been made. I’m not going to reveal any names, but over the next couple days, I’m sure it’ll become obvious enough. 7. “I am astonished to observe how willing men are to lumber their minds with such rubbish.” I’m sure there are rumors going around other than the ones I’ve addressed here. While I don’t know them specifically, I can tell you they’re almost certainly false, because rumors usually are. No, there’s no master list of people Sass and I are going to ban. No, FrigidSoul is not a permanent admin or mod. No, Dames did not sell the board to me and retire to a tropical island, where JLH- looking women will feed him peeled grapes all day. (And if he did... hey, hook a brotha up with a plane ticket.) The point is that rumors are just that: rumors. They’re not facts, and they rarely bear any resemblance to fact. If you come across some rumors, the thing not to do is spread them like wildfire. Exercise a little discretion. PM me or another mod and inquire about it, or look us up on AIM. We’ll be happy to discuss things with you, but we don’t want the posting community getting alarmed over nothing. This site and board are here for you to enjoy, and it’s hard to enjoy something with doom-and-gloom rumors flying all about. Help your fellow posters enjoy this place a little more. That quote is from Henry David Thoreau, by the way. That’s all I have. Civil discussion of the points mentioned here is welcome below, or you can find me via PM or AIM. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest cobainwasmurdered Report post Posted April 24, 2004 more mods= bad. Other than that, i agree with things Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Hot Thumbtack In The Eye 0 Report post Posted April 24, 2004 CWM"s worst nightmare is coming Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted April 24, 2004 Lawn Gnomes that use Canadians as pranks on their Lawn Gnome neighbors? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nighthawk 0 Report post Posted April 24, 2004 Hey, Tom used my G-G-G-G Unit stutter. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steviekick 0 Report post Posted April 24, 2004 Where/how did the rumor about the board closing start? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dr. Tom 0 Report post Posted April 24, 2004 Where/how did the rumor about the board closing start? It doesn't matter. It's false. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrRant 0 Report post Posted April 24, 2004 I obviously can't read notices about spreading rumors. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
haVoc 0 Report post Posted April 24, 2004 Where/how did the rumor about the board closing start? It doesn't matter. It's false. Just like the State of the Union Address, our leader gives the public limited information and denies everything. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted April 24, 2004 Tom's going to invade 411 next for their oil Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slayer 0 Report post Posted April 24, 2004 4. Hey Tom, you can be a dick sometimes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steviekick 0 Report post Posted April 24, 2004 Tom's going to invade 411 next for their oil LMAO. But who would be Dr. Tom's Cheney? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest stardust Report post Posted April 24, 2004 Zack? Nah, he isn't quite creepy enough. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
teke184 0 Report post Posted April 25, 2004 Who'd be Saddam, Scott Keith? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted April 25, 2004 Saddam Keith. TSM Troops will find him hiding in his SpiderHole...otherwise known as his Mom's basement Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes Report post Posted April 25, 2004 Saddam Keith. TSM Troops will find him hiding in his SpiderHole...otherwise known as his Mom's basement Come on, stop picking on him. We all know he lives in an apartment for free because he burned his last one down. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest cobainwasmurdered Report post Posted April 25, 2004 Saddam Keith. TSM Troops will find him hiding in his SpiderHole...otherwise known as his Mom's basement oh god no. his parents live in the same city as I do, i don't want to be anywhere near an army of Smarks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Adam 0 Report post Posted April 25, 2004 They're coming... and they want you as their spiritual leader CWM. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest cobainwasmurdered Report post Posted April 25, 2004 no thanks. They can elect Anglesault. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alfdogg 0 Report post Posted April 25, 2004 Since when do you live in Edmonton? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted April 25, 2004 I never heard any of these rumors. Score one for indifference... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest cobainwasmurdered Report post Posted April 25, 2004 SK's parents live in Abbotsford Alf. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smell the ratings!!! Report post Posted April 25, 2004 I quite honestly have no idea what Tom is talking about. That said, I saw Dames farting around here last night so we can at least be assured that he's not dead. I don't know if that was one of the rumors or not. I've also learned much more about Scott Keith than is ever warrented. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thecitythesky 0 Report post Posted April 25, 2004 Hey, Tom used my G-G-G-G Unit stutter. actually... he used David Bowie's ch-ch-ch-changes stutter. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nighthawk 0 Report post Posted April 25, 2004 But I've used it several times recently, thereby claiming any stutter as my own. By the way, my original comment should be faux complaint, not pride. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted April 25, 2004 Not to mention IDRM > David Bowie Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
justsoyouknow 0 Report post Posted April 25, 2004 Blasphemy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nighthawk 0 Report post Posted April 26, 2004 Pestilence. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrRant 0 Report post Posted April 26, 2004 Name 2 WCW PPVs? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob_barron 0 Report post Posted April 26, 2004 The boyhood dream has come true... for treble charged Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
