Mortimer wrote on 03/16/13 at 01:56:35:
Even more shocking was the way TMA turned on ESP/David Jaffe, just because most people here didn't like the new Twisted Metal. It might be surprising, but finishing 2.0 was not supposed to facilitate being disrespectful jackasses to ESP on Totally Twisted, or myself on Brawl on the Wall. This is a Twisted Metal fansite, first and foremost. We're supposed to be fans, and respect for the creators of REAL Twisted Metal, and TMA, should be paramount. They are not 989 Studios; comparing TMX to TM3/4 is just unacceptable and these people clearly are taking that statement too lightly, and never understood that era. For this behaviour we may never be in any special thanks ever again; which is gutting. A lot of people should have been suspended or even banned, but due to their friendships with certain admins and cliques, and the general lawlessness around here, nothing happened. I feel TMA (even in this temporary state) has strayed too far away from our roots. A lot of what has been said around here over the last year might be considered 'free speech', but at TMA, I think it's pure blasphemy. This community needs to return to having the upmost respect for the developers/designers of TM's we love (Dave/ESP/Incog), for TMA, and ourselves. It's one thing to be disappointed in the new TM and express your issues, but it's quite another to treat Dave/ESP with such disdain and fallen grace, that he no longer thinks of us in the same positive light he once did anymore. The minority of people around here that liked the new TM were made to feel like outcasts, because we didn't agree with the veterans (a lot of new fans even driven away because this place was unwelcoming to them). TMA's long held reputation went down the drain in the process, and for what? Apologies all around wouldn't hurt.
Your post just really really rubs me the wrong way. Love ya to death but good god that was one of the worst posts I have ever read on this website.
Where to begin?
This series of events with ESP/Jaffe and disrespect.... is completely the opposite of what really happened.
No one was disrespectful jackasses; at least not TMA regulars (random weirdos anyone?). This website used to stand for intelligent discussion, and we prided ourselves on that (awards anyone?). How in the hell is dissecting gameplay and making comparisons being disrespectful? Being disrespectful would be cussing a storm or wishing death upon a dev (like Truth said with Diablo3). Breaking down how and WHY design decisions created an otherwise unpleasant experience is not that, not even close.
If anything the people who voiced problems with the games and discussed it in an intelligent manner were blacklisted and slandered to high hell.
Take for example TMHO and its launch: No one liked TMHO. Fact. We discussed why it sucked in very poignant manners (eg: gameplay). No one had a panic attack there did we? No. And no one was disrespecting ESP at that time by laying out why it was a bare bones gameplay experience. How was this new game any different? Oh right, because there was a witch hunt on anyone who had a problem with the new game made out by a few members.
We are fans of Twisted Metal for a reason, not blind fan-boys. There is nothing wrong with criticism. Just because someone is ignorant as fuck about what we are talking about and screaming that we are being disrespectful, does NOT make it so.
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Second, its clear to me this website will never recover. It is dead. And its too little too late to make changes. But i dont really see any changes, seeing as the bias and tone of your post make it quite clear who and what you are talking about. And the idea that we should fall in line like blind fanboys doesn't sit well with me and doesn't make a lick of sense either.
You want to scold a certain "clique" of people for their terrible behavior while you are absent...? Yet you have let Blair back at the website time and time again, and Hellbent... running around like an unchained hound who never followed the rules and helped DESTROY THIS WEBSITE FOR YEARS gets no mention whatsoever? And you dont read the website, so you are taking some seriously bias morons at their word at what others are doing.
You routinely knew Hellbent was wrong on almost every occasion, you knew he was destroying the website... and instead of diffuse the situation and tell him he was wrong (hell you are the only one he listens to), you DID NOTHING. I respect you so I never posted our conversations or said a single word you say (or tell a soul).
This happened on many many occasions, and again... NOTHING.
You could have prevented wars and stopped the hemorrhaging of this community years ago, but did NOTHING. Now suddenly you care? This is far far far too late my friend.
I simply dont care to be a part of a community that turns on its own members, will uphold lies and fraudulent claims, and has clear bias issues when it comes to laying down the law. I have technically left the website ages ago and looked for greener pastures to discuss video games without getting into battles and found some nice substitutes.
But really... How many people have to leave before the obvious problems becomes clear? I guess mods/admins were afraid Hellbent would slit his wrists if he was ever banned? So an entire community has to accommodate one problem poster? And at the expense of the community itself?!
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Whatever.
This entire post was really disjointed but it is from the heart and honest (as I always am when I post).
Mort - I respect you and consider you a friend, I really do, and have stood up for you time and time again. Know that i have no ill will towards you, still think of you in good light, and im being honest as a friend.
I understand that you want to put a muzzle on the community now of all times but
because you have picked and chosen your battles for years, its cost TMA its soul; the people. Me. I can't just keep taking this abuse and watching the site crumble. Its not worth it. I am ten years older, have a career ahead of me, and don't have time to educate (babysit) and fight ignorance any longer.
I wish you the best with TMA 2.0, I was never one to care about it too much and didnt mind posting here.
But again, I will not be a part of it, as I am pretty sure many others wont. I want no part in a website that harbors disgusting human beings and people that are toxic to any form of discussion such as Hellbent.
To everyone else, ggs. Will keep in touch in other avenues.
My original register date was Feb 2003, so I guess its fitting I leave after a ten year stay.
EDIT: Means I will still pop in to glance from time to time, but my involvement with the site is pretty much over completely.