Site Post » How being a mod works and why certain actions need to be taken. · 10:15pm Jan 8th, 2013
You sometimes have to do shit that is not POPULAR, children, but it happens to be the right thing to do.
How many fanfics have been failed for NOT having anything to do besides names and such to FIM? Hundreds.
Should we allow a fic to stay because of an oversight if it is clearly breaking the rules? NO. Because, then what is the deal with all the fics that have been failed for those reasons? Is it fair to those authors that put just as much work into it to have their stories failed? No, it isn't.
Take a look at the rules that are even listed above the submit button, and specifically the bold ones:
Don't Post
Things that obviously aren't stories: lists, polls, previews, challenges, author notes, chatlogs, etc.
MST3K style fics: for example, comments insterted in between the lines of a copy/pasted story (example)
Stories that are not related in any way to the Friendship is Magic universe. Your story must be related to the universe at the time of submission, otherwise it will be rejected.
Stories in chat or script format. This includes stories in which characters speaking is indicated similar to this: "TWILIGHT: I sure do love books!"
Stories that you did not write.
The same story twice.
Rewrites of an old story posted as a new story. You are free to edit your existing story, but you may not post it as a new submission.
Multiple chapters of stories as separate stories.
Non-English stories.
"Manuals" or "User Guides." (example)
Stories that are clearly written as an in-joke between a group of people with little relevance to those outside the group, colloquially known as "circle-jerking."
Meta stories, defined broadly as any story that is about the site or its users. This rule is primarily up to moderator discretion. (example)
Greentext stories. It doesn't matter if the text is green or if you've omitted the greater than symbol, if it's in the general format it is not allowed.
Stories with barely any punctuation. We don't judge stories on their content, but stories without a basic level of grammar will be failed
Stories that plaigarise other storiesSome general rules
Tag your story with the correct Categories! There are general descriptions of each Category in the FAQ.
Cover images must be safe for work viewing.
Make sure that your story has the correct content rating.
Stories must be at least 1000 words before submitting them to the site. Author's notes, lyrics, and other padding DO NOT count towards this minimum!
If you aren't sure about something, ask a moderator!
Make sure your story has both a short and long description.
We reserve any right to decide what goes up. A story may be failed even if it doesn't explicitly fail any of the rules listed above it we deem it shouldn't be on the site.
Now, this is the deal. Neither of those two stories should have been published. And that's our fault.
However, fixing this mistake is also our duty.
Yes, I pulled the trigger.
No, I did not simply delete the story.
No, I did not simply revoke it and let the author wonder why we did this.
I wrote the author the PM below:
IF you bother to read, you will notice that this wasn't a random decision. We talked about this and I was fully aware of the shitstorm that was to follow because of this decision.
We know that some of you love Human-Pony stories. And that's fine, but just like ALL the other stories in the site have to follow certain guidelines, so do these. And before you mention it, the "Alternate Universe" category tag is NOT an excuse to do what you want. The fact that the characters are human is already making it an Alternate universe. If you "Alt it" more, what remains?
So, no, human-pony stories are not banned, nor will they all be removed or anything like that. In fact, if Azurini removes the password from the stories, they should still be accessible and even updated for all of you that read them.
However, his two stories cannot remain published. (<--Edited for clarification)
The rules are there for a reason and they have to be respected, regardless of the quality or popularity of the story.
I know I cannot ask all of you to understand this, because... well. Let's not get into it.
But there it is.
Two notes:
1: The author was in agreement from the beginning.
2: For those of you that saw what I did here with GS. That was stupid and petty. And not what someone in my position should ever do.
...Just because it's right, doesn't mean I have to like it...
...Just because it's right, doesn't mean I have to like it...
...Just because it's right, doesn't mean I have to like it...
Sure I'm sorta pissed that this happened, but I guess it had to be done.
As someone who read and enjoyed the story, I entirely understand this decision. I wish it hadn't happened, but... even while reading it, I always sort of wondered how it got accepted, and always just assumed it was around since before that rule came out.
Actually, if the original was around since before that rule came out, isn't the typical ruling to allow the story to stay? I seem to remember that being the case with a few other rules, but I don't honestly know.
You, ahh.. don't say what stories WD...
I honestly have no idea what story you're talking about with this post, but sadly, being in charge means taking the unpopular route at times.
Oh, and I saw the message you posted on a certain someone's user page. Nice.
Yep, I'm definitely missing something here. If anyone feels like explaining... well, you can PM me, since WD clearly doesn't want to get into it.
Do I even want to know what this is all about?
Never really read the story, but I applaud you for not only following your own rules, but giving valid reasons for your actions for everyone to see and criticize. This is why Wanderer D remains best mod.
Good little bit of clarification, and some extra useful tidbits.
690858
Red Thrush Private School and its sequel Getting You Home were high school dramas with the ponies as humans and no mention of ponies anywhere.
I'm so lost as to what happened. Well, not that lost. I get that WandererD did his job, removed a story, and this caused (or is causing) ye olden timey shit storm. What I don't get is which story was pulled. Mostly as I've been living in a hole while I write. So, I'm just going to jump up down a few times going 'I'm alive, look at me' followed by 'What the smeg just happened?' complete with a (badly imitated) british accent on the later.
Edit: nevermind, seems my question was answered while I was typing. Huzza!
Well said, for the most part. My only issue has already been pointed out on that certain someone's page. But that's an easy to fix issue, so, well said.
Cheers.
... Well, okay then!
I can deal with it, since the logic is air-tight. Saddening, but manageable.
690890
Poultron is the mod this site needs, but not the one it deserves right now.
Ah'm completely unaffected by this in any sense that entails me ta' express mah opinion in any way. Active moderation is acceptable moderation, afta' all.
I see, wish mods didn't have to make tough decisions...
I respect you for doing your job, even if the two stories that got removed were my favorites.
For all I know they could have been your favorite stories as well.
In all honesty if I was a mod, I would have done the same.
I guess what you gotta do, you gotta do.
I will still keep on respecting you even after you broke my heart (by that I mean the story).
Wanderer D. Have you ever heard of a democratic system? I'm sure this site could use one. Just saying.
i couldnt give a rats ass if i tried at this momment i suggest u fix things or imma have yalls asses on this
cdn.derpiboo.ru/media/BAhbB1sHOgZmSSJkMjAxMy8wMS8wNS8wM18yMl81NF82XzIwMjg4Ml9fVU5PUFRfX3NhZmVfZmx1dHRlcnNoeV9pbWFnZV9tYWNyb19jYXB0aW9uX3JlYWN0aW9uX2ltYWdlLnBuZy5wbmcGOgZFVFsIOgZwOgp0aHVtYkkiDDI1MHgyNTAGOwZU/202882__safe_fluttershy_image-macro_caption_reaction-image.png.png
Personally, I'm on your side, Wander D. Rules are rules and you didn't take the stories down purely on your own, in my eyes everything you did was perfectly justifiable, even though I know people are going to completely flip their sh*t about this
I have to believe that (edit: GS, Name rescinded) deserves that level of verbal abuse. Hopefully. Yes?
690871
Feeeeh, probably not. The stories in question were definitely dubious, but also definitely enjoyable-- they were something of a guilty pleasure for me. So just expect people to whine and then get over it and don't worry yourself with the details.
690916
Welcome to the world of Wanderer D blogs....
690887 Well bollocks... Now I have two stories that I never got to read, and can never unfavourite (yes, I use favourites as a read later).
Here that WD? I'm angry at you for one reason! Because now I have a much higher number in my favourites, and I will never be able to get rid of them, because they are unlisted! GRR ARG!
I guess kudos on doing your job though.
690907
cdn.derpiboo.ru/media/BAhbB1sHOgZmSSIsMjAxMi8xMS8yMy8xNV8xM18yNV85MzVfMTYwNjU5X19VTk9QVF9fBjoGRVRbCDoGcDoKdGh1bWJJIgwyNTB4MjUwBjsGVA/160659__safe_image-macro_gilda_reaction-image_griffon-the-brush-off.png.PNG
I have no idea what this is about. Also, by publicly shaming Glistening_Spark for being a whiny little bitch, you're really no better than them.
To be honest, the existence of those stories always confuzzled me. They clearly have nothing to do with FiM, and whilst they might be great stories (being rather popular, I imagine they are), they are not the sort of stories this site was designed for.
Besides, the Internet is a big place. Plenty of other places for these stories to go to.
I have no idea what's being talked about, so here's a picture of a bunny.
2.bp.blogspot.com/__JvAutO48nU/S9riRRKkwlI/AAAAAAAABKY/diw2Bfw1UGw/s1600/grumpy+bunny.jpg
690938
'Publicly shaming'?
It's a comment. //dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/misc_Lyra_dealwithit.png
Okay, what did I miss.
I normally absorb this shit and am wondering where I was when this happened.
Does anyone mind giving me a summary?
Wait what happened? I don't read humanized fics, so I have no idea what is going on.
690912
The problem with that is the most popular option wins, which might not be the best option. If you've ever seen anyone complaining about the contents of the featured box, you already understand.
690912 I'm sure he's heard of one. I would like to point out that not a single serious site on the internet follows that (especially ones that have a set of rules already in place.
690853 If the first one was out before the rule was in place, then this is a valid point. Otherwise... yeah... probably should be taken down.
Oh, and I don't even need to check to know that Knightly, Poultron, and now WD pages are flooded with hate now.
I remain confused. I haven't the slightest clue what WD is speaking of, but I suppose it must have been quite the event... on whatever, possibly dark and secluded, corner of the site it was on.
So be it.
Haven't seen the stories, but I think it is pretty obvious if they don't have a connection with FIM it shouldn't be on FIMFiction.
In the bold it said at the time of submission...
Red Thrush was submitted in August...
Except in very extreme circumstances, yes, the rules should be followed, and, when a rule is broken, actions should be taken by moderators. The author can get pissy about it all he wants, it's his own damn fault he didn't read the rules.
690974 The rule was there much earlier than August.
690912 No. The rules are there to prevent this from happening and the only ones that need interpret the rules are the admins and moderators, not the users.
Good on you, Wandy.
690982
Hahahahahaha.
690928 You could just mark all as read
690982
AU fics still need to be relevant to ponies -- Red Thrush was not. You could swap the pony names out for non-pony names and it would be the same exact story. It wasn't pony-related in the least, and it deserved its fate.
These comments reek of people who overestimate their pull. :3
691023 Problem is though, is that I have about 50 other stories I'm in the middle of reading or have updated, and I just haven't gotten to them yet. Oh well, I think I have a work around.
I can understand you can't go too far outside of the fanfiction line, otherwise you'd just be better off writing original fiction, but it feels like there are dozens of anthro stories that go outside of the lines even farther than Red Thrush did. It really makes me feel like that if this had just a few things different, this fic would never have even came under the admin's sights.
I dunno. Maybe I'm just a bit salty about the only popular humanized fic that I could think of biting the dust--it's a genre that I feel deserves more love.
...
Wat
Wanderer_D
What in Chrysalis's name happened?
What is this about?
Agreed.
690982
Have you ever heard of a concept known as formatting.
Because, quite clearly, you haven't.
WALLS OF TEXT SUCK
Okay, by that logic, there's a number of stories I could put here having the exact same problem. Why aren't they gone?
What is with all the hate people? The mods made a choice based on the rules. iambrony.steeph.tp-radio.de/mlp/gif/sunglassesdash1_400.gif?1318695045
Let it drop...
691037 there was once a time where I had 100 unread chapters