Protest

Published on March 4, 2007 By Bushman In WinCustomize Talk

I've been a subscriber to WC since damn near the beginning (I've only been skinning for about 2.5 years) but after learning about yesterdays tragic loss of 3 skinners from this site and the way things were handled I've decided to not re-new my WC subscribtion any more and I will no longer support WC by adding any more skins. I am apalled at how Brad and others treated the skinners because of their beliefs. Now before anybody tries to make more of this than what I am saying,let me say it so it is very clear. I am not threating anybody with anything, I am just stating my intentions and reasons. I'm not saying if you don't do this I'll do that. I'm not making any requests, no demands, favors, nothing, at this point there is nothing that will change things. Brads actions/words and the actions/words of all those who followed his lead, plus I finally understand the rankings (Master, Journeyman et.), (here I thought they were given because of the work an indivdual did, now I understand that's only a small part of it),are my reasons.

Now if someone feels the need to bash me for my decision, save it, it just brings out the child in ya. I'm not asking to have my skins removed unless someone feels the need to do that, I can't stop you. I just ren-newed my subscribtion in Jan for the next 2 years so I expect all privileges my WC subscribtion allows, so don't go messing with me in that area or it will get legal (no threat, just a fact).

I didn't write this to argue with anybody about who is right or wrong. All I'm doing is expressing my decisions and why. This place has changed some for the good, some for the bad and unfortunately recently there's been more bad. This is a great website and it's helped many people to become great artists and it has been a pioneer in skinning so there's still hope that things will change around but there's a lot of work to be done.

Comments (Page 2)

Bebi Bulma

on Mar 04, 2007

Maybe it's just me, but this seems to be the very thing Brad was trying to put a halt to in the first place. People trying to impose their will on others by some sort of protest, demonstration, threat, etc and then it becomes other members trying to placate that individual from leaving, withdrawing, etc. Should be interesting to see the big man's response.

Bichur

on Mar 04, 2007

Quentin94

on Mar 04, 2007

Murex

on Mar 04, 2007

Bushman

I Don't like the way Cindi and Troy were treated either. But This post and others like it won't help them. It just gives the ones that where behind Brads decision a chance to rehash every thing all over again. Not uploading work to WC won't make a difference to any one here Except your friends. There will always be some one new to take your place. It won't change a thing. I wish I knew what would. One person Can't change any thing. Never could never will. This just enforces what has been said by many Don't take it public. If you feel that strongly about the way they were treated Make a petition and have members sign it and turn it in to the administrators and then post the petition. Or maybe some one has a better idea . But This way will not do any thing...

Cyberworld

on Mar 04, 2007

Dear Bushman,

I'm sorry Cindi and Troy were kicked out of the site the worse way possible, but that comes with the site. Administration has the power, not the users, i guess that's why we are called to be end-users. As in most businesses losing a customer or two is not a problem. And since this is not your own business there is no absolute way to change things. I understand your feelings, but leaving is not that grave for anyone here. Silencing a matter is what is politically correct/desirable and in the end the goal for most site admins. The less headaches you create the better you get treated. And as you may see a large audience with popcorn has come to this theatrical scene, cause that is what really this is for most people, no more than an act. You feed the crowd, the crowd satiates and in a while the next best act draws the attention. It's not a matter of moral or ethics, the site does not work with those, as the basic fuel for it is the current income. It's just plain business. Don't go thinking too far, reality is much colder than you think. It's not the Age of Heroes, it's the Age of Business Men.

Yours with respect,
Cyberworld

Quentin94

on Mar 04, 2007

It's not the Age of Heroes, it's the Age of Business Men.

and without sarcasms it's soo bad!

NightTrainthedark

on Mar 04, 2007

You made your point.

(In a sincere tone) Now what?

PoSmedley

on Mar 04, 2007

I say we all break out our throbbers and have at it!

WebGizmos

on Mar 04, 2007

after learning about yesterdays tragic loss of 3 skinners from this site and the way things were handled I've decided to not re-new my WC subscribtion any more and I will no longer support WC by adding any more skins. I am appalled at how Brad and others treated the skinners because of their beliefs. Now before anybody tries to make more of this than what I am saying, let me say it so it is very clear. I am not threating anybody with anything, I am just stating my intentions and reasons. I'm not saying if you don't do this I'll do that. I'm not making any requests, no demands, favors, nothing, at this point there is nothing that will change things.

Where's the threat in this statement? Seems pretty clear to me that he's not asking or demanding anything...he's already made a decision (in protest) based on his feeling about how things were handled. As far as why he posted this here...he's been here quite a few years and I'm sure he has some fans/followers of his works...so it would seem he's also letting people know why he won't be uploading anything further...period...so just respect his decision. Why is that so hard? I don't like to see anyone leave either...but bashing him for his decision is not the way to go. I don't see that he was trying to start anything or cause any conflict...he's leaving because it was already started/caused elsewhere. I read his statement...understood it for what it was and that was that.

I hear everyone saying speak your mind...but it seems that when you do everyone starts ganging up on you and...

"tries to make more of this than what I am saying,"

He said very clearly....

"I am not threating anybody with anything, I am just stating my intentions and reasons. I'm not saying if you don't do this I'll do that. I'm not making any requests, no demands, favors, nothing"

What part of that was unclear?

SirSmiley

on Mar 04, 2007

It's not a matter of moral or ethics, the site does not work with those, as the basic fuel for it is the current income. It's just plain business. Don't go thinking too far, reality is much colder than you think. It's not the Age of Heroes, it's the Age of Business Men.

again who's morals? who's ethics? Also, the last I heard this site wasn't exactly making money let alone breaking-even. From a pure cold business perspective after five years if a business isn't supporting itself that's usually the end of it. If the bottom line was the sole-functioning of this site then only paid customers/members would be aloud to post, participate, etc.

WebGizmos

on Mar 04, 2007

I just ren-newed my subscription in Jan for the next 2 years so I expect all privileges my WC subscription allows, so don't go messing with me in that area or it will get legal (no threat, just a fact).

I suppose this could be viewed as a threat which could have been expressed or handled differently. But I suspect this may be handled with a refund because if how is was stated.

What a tangled web we weave.

If there is one thing I've learned over the years here it is this...speak your mind...but choose your words very carefully.

SirSmiley

on Mar 04, 2007

expect all privileges my WC subscribtion allows, so don't go messing with me in that area or it will get legal (no threat, just a fact).

I missed construed this previously and for that you have my profound apologies. Don't know why I even thought this was directed towards the community itself.

Can someone please explain to me exactly what Brad or Boopish did that is so wrong? They both brought up valid concerns & others seemed to be the ones who ran in an asinine way with it.

WebGizmos

on Mar 04, 2007

Basically Sir Smiley...the whole thing should have been handled via email. Making something like this public just brings out the ugly in everyone.

Fairyy~

on Mar 04, 2007

Bebi: This whole mess is turning into such a joke, honestly.

And by the way, the right to free speech and the first amendment can't exactly be enforced here, it's a privately owned site and as you've noticed, Brad can choose how and when to enforce it at his own discretion.

At any rate, hasta la vista.

Bebi: Should be interesting to see the big man's response.

And I'm sure you will check the forum every 5 minutes to see if and when Brad shows up - your thriving on all of this mayhem while some of us cringe at the thought of even looking at the forum anymore.

None of this is a joke what so ever. Its causing a strain on a lot of people that are divided on this issue.

Bebi Bulma

on Mar 04, 2007

Exactly, that's my point. Everyone seems to be making such a huge deal out of something that would have much better have been dealt with through email, as WebGizmos just pointed out. If it had been dealt with through email, none of this mess would likely have happened and we all wouldn't be here going at each other's throats over who was right, who was wrong, who has the right to say whose beliefs should take precedence over other's, and so on.

Someone just mentioned in the original thread: "What you want is absolutely fair, as long as we follow YOUR beliefs." That pretty much sums it up for me. Can only please some of the people some of the time. There will always be someone who is offended by something. It's when threats start getting made "do as I say and what I want or I'll do this and that" is when it gets stupidly ridiculous.

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