MovieChat Forums > Shop Talk Writers > So long, and thanks for all the fish

So long, and thanks for all the fish

posted 8 years ago by Myosis1
9 replies | jump to latest

Just wanted to thank Speed for alerting me to the closing of the forums.

I have been here for more than ten years, and I have gone from working in a hotel while making small projects on the side, to working for a theater company making promotional videos, to directing a low budget feature film, and now making a decent living as a producer of television commercials.

In that time, I made a few great friends who I have spoken with on the phone and one or two that I've met in person. And at least a dozen of my Facebook friends were met here. This place has always been a mixture of generous professionals willing to share their experiences, to complete idiots. I trust you know who you are.

Haven't been here in a while, and seldom to the degree I was many years ago when I was a frequent "contributor". But that doesn't mean I not a little bit sad to say goodbye to this place.

Goodbye, but not good riddance.

[–] Speed_of_Late 8 years ago

I missed you when you left. Now I have to miss you again. How is that fair?

SPEED
P.S. This is how part of the alphabet would look if you eliminated Q and R

[–] MsJackieO 8 years ago

So long, Myosis. It's been a few years since we had a mind-bogglingly retarded argument and I had a meltdown rant. It was absolutely ridiculous (as were all the arguments from the usual suspects) and I always regretted not being able to apologise and wish you all the best (you took us all by surprise by deleting your account). I am glad all is working out for you. Take care.

Nemesis Rogue.

[–] Myosis1 8 years ago

No harm, no foul. I wish everyone the best.

Regarding the deletion of the account, that was the result of one of the members determining my actual identity and phoning me at home and harassing me.

So I switched my identity to Brian S. Fitzgerald (the real name of Fitzcaraldo, one of my favorite movies), and I was able to post more sober responses without getting personal and abusive. I too have my regrets for my personal attacks. So it was a way of starting over.

Best to everyone!

[–] John-PaulJones 8 years ago

Sad but inevitable. IMDB was under attack by a very small number of very fanatical PETA supporters. They created havoc in an effort to discredit IMDB, and one particular film on IMDB. They created a fake video that they sold to TMZ in order solely to raise money for their kill shelters, and IMDB had to clean up more libellous posts from PETA supporters in the past few days than they normally deal with in five years.

It's a shame that a very small number of fanatical nutbars targeted IMDB in denial of service attacks and outrageous fakery, and took down an entire message board as a result, but moderators at IMDB are a much smaller group of people than most people realize.

Myosis, it was a pleasure to read your posts. If you feel like dropping me a PM, we'll meet up on Facebook.

[–] firearms trainer 8 years ago

Wow, I never thought it would get to that.

I read the death threats against certain people from these fanatics, but I just didn't think they were serious. I love animals; dogs in particular, but I certainly would not value anything higher than human life.

To actually threaten to kill another human-being just to forward a fanatical vegan agenda is unconscionable.

[–] Bioparadoxous 8 years ago

Sad but inevitable. IMDB was under attack by a very small number of very fanatical PETA supporters

I doubt very seriously that any one incident, or group, or threat could prompt such a change. IMDb board moderation was always a joke, this whole thing reeks of avoidance. It's easier (and cheaper) just to shut it down than it is to process people's complaints.

The internet is a cesspool, it seems you either embrace the crap or give up on it entirely.

--
There's no such thing as the establishment. Everyone knows that!

[–] firearms trainer 8 years ago

Having moderating forums, I can assure you it is no "joke."

Responding to complaints, dealing with trolls and reading threads where people think you are a "joke" are part of the business.

What is NOT part of the business is when your forums are used to communicate death threats against specific individuals to forward an agenda of extreme fanaticism. THAT gets you taken to court. Plus, in a denial of service attack, it comes so fast that humans cannot deal with it fast enough. Tie the two together, and you can see why they had to shut the boards down.

[–] Bioparadoxous 8 years ago

I've had comments removed that violated no rules whatsoever. I've had comments not removed that clearly broke rules regarding profanity - for example. The latter is acceptable (in that, they cannot read every comment), the former is not. Hell, unjustifiable removal was so bad: nearly all of Bill's posts were removed instantaneously - which was so frustrating for him that he pretty much stopped posting altogether.... That's a joke.

What is NOT part of the business is when your forums are used to communicate death threats against specific individuals to forward an agenda of extreme fanaticism. THAT gets you taken to court. Plus, in a denial of service attack, it comes so fast that humans cannot deal with it fast enough. Tie the two together, and you can see why they had to shut the boards down.

These things have happened in much larger communities many times over, most of them don't shut down

--
There's no such thing as the establishment. Everyone knows that!