I have been in and out of communities, from RP-based to general topic. For a few years now I've tried building forums, joining forums, staffing forums, and I have watched most of them crash in a fiery ball of death and destruction. Because of staff? Yes. Members? Yep. General level of disinterest? Not usually. Do you want to know the main reason these places die? Disrespect, drama, and more backstabbing than a private, all-girls, high school. Now then, let's talk about this.

Well Kristin, what kind of drama? STUPID DRAMA. Seriously. Here's the conversation:

User 1: -expresses opinion-

User 2: OMG LIEK UR SO WRONG!!!11!11!!!!!1!

User 1: OMG LIEK NOE IM NAWT.

User 2: YEH U R.

User 1: OMGAWD IM LEAVING FOREVARZ.

User 3: STFU BOTH OF YOU.

Not even kidding okay? What else... Recently, I became active on a forum I had been visiting for about three years. I have seen this forum deteriorate from a respectable fan site to a downright drama llama hangout. It's ridiculous, some of the stories I've read. People say something stupid, apologize, get banned anyway, and we jump all over the staff. But the staff? Well God, you're all as bad as the members! You act as though you are God. Here's the thing. The bad members have made the good staff and members run off. You lose the good people, you're left with those who have a patience and those who are just plain rotten. Finally, those with patience die off and all of the new people who consider joining are very quickly shown how unfortunate your board is.

You know what? There are two types of people on forums these days. There are those of us who have been on for a while and who have grown up with the board. Then there are those who have been on for a while and still act like they are 11 and 12. Really? Some of these boards should NOT have the kind of drama I'm seeing. Fan sites? I'm not there to argue. I'm there to show you my drawings, graphics, music videos, fan-fiction, and Lord knows what else. I am not there to have a debate over whether or not everyone cares that you got offended because someone said purple is stupid. Oh, and the reason you're offended is because purple is your favorite color. Well guess what? If your feelings get hurt over colors, you maybe need to go and join the Mr. Roger's Neighborhood forum. Do any of you realize that you are killing your own boards? You hate it? Hate the people? Leave it. Don't complain all the time about it.

Look, I've done some pretty crappy stuff myself. I've caused havoc. I am hardly saying I'm innocent of stupid behavior. But am I the only one who thinks maybe we've gotten a little out of hand? Come on guys. Let's all grow up a little bit. Please?

In other news, I drew this. By the way, the recipe I gave you yesterday is absolutely AMAZING.

Sunday, Song of the Day: Space Between - Valencia

Gah. Night y'all.