A perspective

[RedDevil]

Looking out my window at the browning leaves and the waning sun bringing forth the short days of frosty morns and pre-holiday tension, I had a few moment to reflect on some things about The Blitz.

:soap:
To me the Blitz is a great place to meet fellow gamers from all over the world and enjoy the occasional tourney/competition. I find solace in sharing tips and tactics as well as debating the history of war and men here. This little Utopia has survived longer then any other ladder club out there simply because the members care enough to stay here and enjoy that relaxing hobby with friends.

When I offered my services to JimVKrieg a few years ago to be an assistant custodian in the CS community, I was merely looking to be a part of the club that could dedicate time and energy in keeping things happening here. Little did I foresee advancing into a position I now hold.
So.. Why does it seem I'm a bit protective of things when I moderate or make a decision for the Club? There's a few reasons, but the main ones are the important ones and might possibly shed light on my "attitude" for some of you.

Our club exists only because of the efforts of these members who dip into the pockets each year to provide funds for the advertisement free server we occupy. It exists only because of the efforts of a few dedicated volunteers who give their time in keeping things working and updated. With out a desire or need for attention or thanks, these few continue to deliver to you, the gamers, a decent ladder system for scoring your wins, a healthy opponent base of good people, and a vibrant forums area for all sorts of games and interests.

When you take a look at the internals of our club and ponder the decisions made, you should try and look at the work being done behind the quick and easy drop down menus of our game reporting system and our scenario information databases before you pass judgment of one's actions.

Without the help of Raz Atoth, our current webmaster, there would be no Blitz here, without Mark Higgins, our Treasurer, there would be no Blitz here, Without the very few active members of the staff that remain here and put their time in, there would be no Blitz here. The lifeline of our Club is fragile and it lies in the hands of a very few members.

This taken in point, I tend to become protective of any scent of a slight dig at the efforts or Staff of the club in public. These people do it for you and they deserve more than a slight jab or ridicule for the sake of a laugh. Without these effort you wouldn't have anything here, certainly not a laughing matter to those who care. If you got issues and problems, send an email, We'll talk it over without distractions and rubberneckers.

I see a few folks who feel discomfort with many of my actions here, past and present. This is because I personally feel our club is above and beyond the whiners and wankers who frequent the Internet looking to spread dissent and disruption. I've been given the privilege, a duty so to say, to preserve the quality of our club and I take pride in being a part of this Club, and feel the standards here are the bar on which other clubs struggle to achieve. Our members are supportive and positive in many perspectives, and to subject them to anything less, is failure. The Staff here is devoted to preventing naysayers and disruptive types from finding a home here. We'd much rather keep our club small and full of quality.

I have characterized some members in the past and present as disruptive, pointing out these issues sometimes in a not so great manner, and ultimately even banned some of them from the club. Unfortunately that is the decision making process that I know many of you despise and probably fight to overthrow in secret meetings. :)
But without rules and punishment, you have anarchy and thus you have nothing here worth coming back for. Many of us don't like the rules, some of us hate those who deal with enforcing them, perhaps because, in their minds this is a free site, but in fact, it is not, it is privately owned and the owners allow you to be a part of this, as long as you obey their rules. I think that is the hardest part to accept. Other reasons are out there and I'm sure some of them are because of my style in handling these matters.

I've been a real prick before and have in my opinion mellowed to a great degree in dealing with forum issues lately. Some things still bring out the anger in me and while I sometimes ponder the way I handled it later on, it's a bit hard to reiterate in a manner that serves justice sometimes.
I don't hate any of you, I may hate your actions and the manners you use here, but I don't hate any of you. Recently I've tried to voice a restrained and non biased opinion in these situations. This is the hardest challenge I've taken on tho, sometimes things slip thru the mortar when it becomes repetitive.
McIvan has his hands full keeping my paws out of the cookie jar, while trying to let you lads have a bit of fun. I'm not against fun, but I am opposed to some types of it.
Spamming up threads, slights and stabs.. all fun to some, but disruptive and lacking of class to others. Surely we can have fun without the need to stoop so low. Is it to much to ask for that members conduct themselves within those limits?
I want the best for us all here, I am simply protective and devoted to the quality of show, we are better, why not prove it everyday?

So the next time you see me swinging the mace, keep in mind, I've got a lot vested here and stand to lose a lot more than just a place to record my games at, if it closes down or turns to a poopyhole full of turds, so I'm swinging for the Club's survival, not just because I can swing.