|
|
Post by zimmyhoo on Dec 16, 2013 2:28:43 GMT
I'm copypasting this from the reddit sub. It's by Honeyman/Honeydolphin. If you have been participating in the forums recently, you might remember something called "The Dolphin Conspiracy".
There were theories and speculation about the large amount of dolphin-related users making accounts recently. These accounts were all just banned today. Probably the most popular theory and what might have been the most obvious was that they were all one member with multiple accounts trolling the forum.
This is false.
Every account was a different, unique person. What happened was a story of despair and refuge.
The story of What Do You Do.
WDYD was a web comic made by a guy named Chris. You might know Chris for doing the art for the popular flash game 'Shift'. He made a comic which was basically an extravagant user adventure starring an elf named James. The webcomic had a decently sized following, and so a forum was created. This forum was pretty small, and many users quickly became friends. I was part of this forum, going by the name Honeyman. I made friends, and we all had a fun time just talking about different things and reading the comic. Sadly, after a couple year run, the comic died. Chris has given up on his comic, and us forum goers had 1 day before the URL expired. We quickly tried to archive everything and move to a small refuge forum another user named Wolfe M. Howler created. As the months passed, we came to the realization that we would slowly drift apart from each other, since there was nothing to keep the community together. So we had an idea.
The idea of migrating to another forum.
So came the planning on what forum to go to, and we eventually came to the consensus of invading the Gunnerkrigg forums. But how can we come and make us known? Basically we all decided to sport dolphin avatars and dolphinized versions of our names. I would consider myself the ringleader of this invasion, seeing as I planned dates and everything. Now, this is where all he'll breaks loose.
I wanted to everyone in the forums to know this story, let them know we are nothing to be afraid of. We never had evil intentions, we just wanted to move to another forum. However, this got out of hand. No one else in the WDYD forums wanted them to know who we were or where we came from. We were also planning to take off our dolphin disguises once the conspiracy dies down. We waited too soon, and we were banned.
So to all the forum's regulars. I just wanted to say sorry. Sorry for raising hell in your forums.
Now, I've been busy the past few days, so I never saw what happened in the thread I started, but it never (as far as I know) got trolly or flamey. What, exactly, were these guys banned for? EDIT: here's the link to the Reddit post: redd.it/1swp4p |
|
|
|
Post by Intelligence on Dec 16, 2013 2:32:18 GMT
They were banned because they were making the forums even more off-topic, on purpose. Harmless trolling, but still trolling.
|
|
eskhn
Full Member
You like 'em? Huh? You like 'em?
Posts: 167
|
Post by eskhn on Dec 16, 2013 2:34:31 GMT
What, exactly, were these guys banned for? Picking the wrong forum to "migrate" to. |
|
|
|
Post by zimmyhoo on Dec 16, 2013 2:34:37 GMT
They were banned because they were making the forums even more off-topic, on purpose. Harmless trolling, but still trolling. We need an offtopic board... >.> |
|
eskhn
Full Member
You like 'em? Huh? You like 'em?
Posts: 167
|
Post by eskhn on Dec 16, 2013 2:36:10 GMT
It looks like the thread was deleted, too.
EDIT: Whoa. All this happened yesterday. Time flies when you're completely ignoring something.
E2: There's some great stuff on r/Gunnerkrigg. brb going to Opportunities
|
|
|
|
Post by Gotolei on Dec 16, 2013 2:42:32 GMT
Yeah the topic's been kinda fleshed out in the introduction thread already. Looking at the thread on their forum, they basically tried to do something clever and funny, went too fast, and caused alarm. And then they kept pushing, with people still registering (even their admin).
Somebody here ended up emailing Tom, and boom.
|
|
|
|
Post by zimmyhoo on Dec 16, 2013 2:52:04 GMT
Yeah the topic's been kinda fleshed out in the introduction thread already. Looking at the thread on their forum, they basically tried to do something clever and funny, went too fast, and caused alarm. And then they kept pushing, with people still registering (even their admin). Somebody here ended up emailing Tom, and boom. Ouch. I blinked, and it's gone. I wonder if Tom will drop in his two cents worth here. |
|
lit
Full Member
Posts: 201
|
Post by lit on Dec 16, 2013 3:40:15 GMT
I thought it was pretty annoying to have a bunch of strangers around derailing the threads with dolphin nonsense. I kind of skipped past most of it, and I'm glad they're gone.
If they want to migrate to a new forum, they'd've been better off choosing one with an actual off topic section. This one is actually pretty dedicated to the comic; if they don't read it, how are they going to participate in the discussion?
|
|
|
|
Post by sapientcoffee on Dec 16, 2013 3:44:10 GMT
They were banned because they were making the forums even more off-topic, on purpose. Harmless trolling, but still trolling. We need an offtopic board... >.> Unfortunately, if Tom doesn't want an off-topic board or thread, there's really nothing we can do about it - it's his place after all. I miss having a designated place to interact with forumites on a goofy level as well as more serious comic discussions, but at least the threads aren't rigidly held on-topic. ETA: It might not be a bad idea to add something about that to the rules (forum is for the comic and off-topic is tolerated, but not encouraged). ETA2: Shift? I love that game/those games! I'll have to check out the comic even if it isn't finished. |
|
|
|
Post by thshrkpnchr on Dec 16, 2013 4:21:21 GMT
What, exactly, were these guys banned for? Picking the wrong forum to "migrate" to. No, they picked the wrong way to do it |
|
|
|
Post by zimmyzims on Dec 16, 2013 7:12:50 GMT
Picking the wrong forum to "migrate" to. No, they picked the wrong way to do it I think you're both right. Edit: hey, this was my 500th post. Well, too bad it's off topic, but I kind of like that I ended up saying just that in my 500th post. |
|
|
|
Post by zimmyzims on Dec 16, 2013 7:14:22 GMT
They were banned because they were making the forums even more off-topic, on purpose. Harmless trolling, but still trolling. I'm not sure if it even is completely harmless. Degeneration of forums often starts with trolling, even when it is in itself harmless on surface. And I'm not sure if this was even harmless as such. |
|
|
|
Post by SilverbackRon on Dec 16, 2013 7:35:47 GMT
I thought it was pretty annoying to have a bunch of strangers around derailing the threads with dolphin nonsense. I kind of skipped past most of it, and I'm glad they're gone. If they want to migrate to a new forum, they'd've been better off choosing one with an actual off topic section. This one is actually pretty dedicated to the comic; if they don't read it, how are they going to participate in the discussion? I recall reading a thread from long ago when we were visited by members from the Goblins comic community. Probably because several comics were competing for some award. For the most part, they dropped in to say hello, they had discovered GC by the link in the contest page, et cetera. Overall, they were polite. Some read the comic and might even still be followers today. There is a right way to visit and/or join a community, and then there are silly pranks. |
|
|
|
Post by Tom Siddell on Dec 16, 2013 8:06:40 GMT
Gimmick accounts will not be tolerated.
Admitting a forum invasion is not a good way to introduce yourself.
|
|
|
|
Post by zimmyzims on Dec 16, 2013 9:13:34 GMT
I thought it was pretty annoying to have a bunch of strangers around derailing the threads with dolphin nonsense. I kind of skipped past most of it, and I'm glad they're gone. If they want to migrate to a new forum, they'd've been better off choosing one with an actual off topic section. This one is actually pretty dedicated to the comic; if they don't read it, how are they going to participate in the discussion? Yes, indeed. Have been thinking of this recently, and I think Tom is 100% right to keep this as on-topic as he does. Even us not getting an off-topic thread: great! There are not many web comics able to provide such a source of discussion that they could keep up a vivid forum committed just to the comic itself. But if the comic is rich enough to do that, as GKC is, there are good reasons why it should. I give you two: 1. the forum will provide a good, relatively easy to browse source of information about the comic for those interested. I don't believe I'm the only one who originally came here to see if somebody could shed light on some comic events. And I don't think I'm the only one who has actually found this helpful. It serves the comic readers better if it is not flooded with other topics. Even an off-topic thread would easily, at least, take a lot of forumer interest from the actual comic which would be bad for those who come here to seek knowledge about it. 2. Loosing the ties to the actual comic could also in the long run be detrimental to the forum itself. The first threat is already mentioned in the previous point, in that it may loosen forum's focus on the comic itself, but more importantly, I think keeping focus on the comic is one reason why this is such a nice forum. Keeping discussion tied to one common interest which is more or less objectively determined by the artist also known as the enlightened despot of this forum may serve to keep the discussion friendly. At least this is not filled with trolling, political hate speech and slurs of sport fanatics. Letting other topics in doesn't necessarily lead to that. But if keeping this as much on-topic as reasonably possible guarantees that this forum wont go astray, then I can fully accept that we don't have other topics here. We are going enough off-topic in the actual threads already. And that doesn't yet cause any harm, in my opinion at least, but it is nice that we make efforts to pull the discourse back to topic each and every page. That matters. |
|
|
|
Post by KartoffelnMcNugget on Dec 16, 2013 10:03:10 GMT
It could sound like a very dumb question, but...can anyone explain me what id a gimmick acount?
|
|
|
|
Post by keef on Dec 16, 2013 10:25:43 GMT
It could sound like a very dumb question, but...can anyone explain me what id a gimmick acount? any account made to troll or just to draw attention I guess |
|
|
|
Post by freeformline on Dec 16, 2013 10:28:22 GMT
It could sound like a very dumb question, but...can anyone explain me what id a gimmick acount? Accounts made only for shenanigans, not for genuine involvement in the forum. |
|
|
|
Post by quinkgirl on Dec 16, 2013 16:06:26 GMT
Yeesh... I decide to take a break yesterday and kaboom.
The dolphin thing amused me, but I guess it pretty much is off topic.
|
|
|
|
Post by Daedalus on Dec 18, 2013 8:59:54 GMT
...making the forums even more off-topic.. Huh, glad I'm never guilty of this...  never intentionally, though. Don't ban me, Tom. |
|
|
|
Post by quinkgirl on Dec 18, 2013 15:42:59 GMT
...making the forums even more off-topic.. Huh, glad I'm never guilty of this... never intentionally, though. Don't ban me, Tom.Haven't we all done this at least once? |
|
|
|
Post by snipertom on Dec 18, 2013 15:53:41 GMT
Huh, glad I'm never guilty of this... never intentionally, though. Don't ban me, Tom.Haven't we all done this at least once? I am scared of Tom  |
|
|
|
Post by quinkgirl on Dec 18, 2013 16:42:51 GMT
Haven't we all done this at least once? I am scared of Tom ...I am too D: |
|
|
|
Post by thshrkpnchr on Dec 18, 2013 16:58:13 GMT
I am scared of Tom ...I am too D: Thirded. Tom's scary, I mean, really scary, with his spider minions and his spider-encrusted banhammer and whatnot. |
|
|
|
Post by Gotolei on Dec 18, 2013 17:08:30 GMT
Thirded. Tom's scary, I mean, really scary, with his spider minions and his spider-encrusted banhammer and whatnot. How does he hold it without hands.. I don't even And yeah, pretty sure just about everybody's been part of a thread going off-topic simply because it happens to almost every one of them  |
|
|
|
Post by exdevlin on Dec 18, 2013 17:29:52 GMT
We need an offtopic board... >.> Unfortunately, if Tom doesn't want an off-topic board or thread, there's really nothing we can do about it - it's his place after all. I miss having a designated place to interact with forumites on a goofy level as well as more serious comic discussions, but at least the threads aren't rigidly held on-topic. I dunno, the Hetty thread in the GKC Project forum got pretty derailed. Several times. |
|
|
|
Post by quinkgirl on Dec 18, 2013 18:17:46 GMT
Unfortunately, if Tom doesn't want an off-topic board or thread, there's really nothing we can do about it - it's his place after all. I miss having a designated place to interact with forumites on a goofy level as well as more serious comic discussions, but at least the threads aren't rigidly held on-topic. I dunno, the Hetty thread in the GKC Project forum got pretty derailed. Several times. Oh yeah... Sorry about that D: |
|
|
|
Post by eyemyself on Dec 18, 2013 18:33:08 GMT
The "General Discussion?" thread has survived Tom's recent ban related activity. I really don't think most people have anything to be scared of. I've really honestly only noticed Tom stepping in when things got really overboard. (Hypetrain was a clear troll, Intelligence had been beating the same dead horse with the same tired lines over and over again for weeks, the dolphin pod was making a big splash, the spambot was a spambot.) It doesn't seem like he is out to get anybody, he is just taking a more active mod role.
|
|
|
|
Post by pemichan on Dec 1, 2014 18:42:52 GMT
Ooooooooh dear...
Hello, I'm Pemi. I am a member of the forum that did the dolphin thing. I was on hiatus at the time that they planned this, and honestly my hiatus was in part why they did it. My parents told me to stop talking to people online, so for 6 months I went inactive. The problem there was that I was helping hold our forum community together, and without me, well... They thought it was time to move on.
They wanted to come here because they DID all read and enjoy the comic. It was probably the only one they all knew. They honestly did not mean to troll (although maybe they did want attention, some of them are just naturally like that) they just wanted to introduce themselves as a group jokingly to break the ice and then integrate themselves quietly. From what I hear, they went overboard. Why they thought this was a good idea, I have no idea. But I am sorry and they are sorry. They weren't trying to be off-topic or derail things, I promise. A lot of them are teenage boys with short attention spans. Well... Maybe one of them was, he is our resident troll. But the other ones really didn't mean to.
I've gone back to the forum, so this will probably not happen again. I just wanted to clear up that yes, they were all different people and yes, they did come here with (mostly) decent intentions but no, they were not trolling or purposefully being off-topic and no, they were not trying to take over or really "invade". They were just looking for a new community. I'm sure if I had seen it, I would've been face-palming and yelling at them. I'm not really asking for any action or anything (although a couple of them would like to be unbanned because they like the comic) I just thought I would try to help clear up the confusion a bit. Again, I am very sorry about all of this. My friends are ridiculous.
|
|
|
|
Post by sapientcoffee on Dec 2, 2014 8:18:12 GMT
Why they thought this was a good idea, I have no idea. A lot of them are teenage boys with short attention spans.  *nods* Hmm, yes, tell me more... (While these things happen at that age, I imagine this thread'll be locked soon - if the ones that want to be unbanned create new accounts and actually go with the forum flow this time around, I see no reason why things can't work out.) |
|
never intentionally, though.
