The Fall of TWE, the Phoenix Principle, and The Rules of the Internet. · 5:05am Dec 2nd, 2012
Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.
Long story short, Site Admin and general bad ass knighty announced he swung the powerful banhammer/Mjolnir on the Train Wreck Explorers, a group of reviewers and bad fic readers. Apparently, from what I could piece together venturing through mass posts/civil war that ensued, it seems that a few folks got a bit too snarky/asshatty for their own good and the group admin banhammer/button wasn't working appropriately. As a result of the failure of crowd control, knighty did what he thought was the right thing for the site and pushed the big red button. No members were banned, but the group is no more. At least in the incarnation as folks knew it. There was much rejoicing and butt hurt as a result. In sorting/trolling through it all, I was starkly reminded of a principle called the Rules of the Internet.
After the initial calm, the torrent began in earnest. Some 480+ posts later, I was starkly reminded of Rules 8, 9, 11, 14, 17, 19, 25, 26, 31, 34, 35, and 42. Those were just from posts I could recall. Every sort of conceivable argument, insult, and otherwise meaningless posts erupted. There was even serious discussions of sexual violence and pedophilia. I'm certain a few fimfic members in good standing rage quit while others stood up and said "Hell Yeah!" In short, I'm reminded on why I love the Internet so much.
To the members of TWE, please relax. As a member myself, I am sad to see it go. But sometimes the only way to save a thing to point both barrels at it and pull the trigger. There will be other groups and I'm sure someone will resurrect it. The Internet and indeed life is nothing if not cyclical. Will such groups return to their "golden age"? Yes. It's inevitable. While it may or may not be on this site, such things always crop up. As a junkie who has endured every conceivable flame/civil war and banning, take my words for what they are: the truth. Such things always rise from the ashes. There are other groups dedicated to helping new writers with critiques, so I would encourage you to start there.
To those rejoicing, please remember that while the group itself was C4'ed, the asshats that drove it over the edge remain. It hardly solved the problem. Instead of masking in the guise of a "TWE Officially Approved Reviewer" or whatever, they will have no mask. Deal with them as you see fit. Just remember Rule 12 and use your tools appropriately.
Long story short, my friends, stay cool and stay proud of who you are. Things that may seem epic now really aren't in the long run.
- End Blog.
ONWARD!
First Rule of fimfiction.net: You don't talk about knighty
Second Rule of fimfiction.net: You DONT talk about knighty
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We are Bronies.
Bronies are Legion.
Pfft... I wonder if we should actually locate some of these individuals and slaughter both them and their families?
Inferior races shouldn't be allowed to exist, wouldn't you say, no?
deviantart.com/download/102896949/Heil_Hitler_by_Aneesan.png
Quite effective indeed....
Personally? I support TWE being Rain-nuked. ...But it's not the first group I'd have gone after.
Honestly? I'd much rather see This Group get bombed into extinction. Obvious troll and bully tactics, inconsistent standards, and I'm pretty sure some of their actions are blatantly against the rules.
...
From what I've heard, this group makes TWE look fairly polished, don't it?
I have to agree with Raptor- the existence of TWE made me uncomfortable. I used to spend a fair bit of time on a few -chans, and I loved the LACK of meanness I've found here.
Honest and constructive review and critique is one thing, but the name and tone of TWE just invited cruelty. I hope the more useful members will switch to someplace like Author Support or School for New Writers (which had sort of been eclipsed by the more outrageous nature of TWE) and offer some help to people who are asking for it.
As for bad fics from authors that don't care... they should be ignored. I dislike the clogging of the site just as much as anyone, but it really rots the basic nature of the fandom to allow or encourage stuff on the level of TWE.
I only wish Knighty had chucked some of the worst offenders as well.