Nate, I think Kurt is talking about not being able to see a variety of figures at times when members were overposting( Guilty ...my first day ) 25th style figs. The jump to 25th style collectors posting here probably seemed abrupt and overpowering given the way Joe collectors amass armies and then want to photograph them I love seeing you back here Hammer, because you are proprietary about your site, but there have been times when moderators weren't having things moved to "collections" when they should be and the effect can be a few pages of shots without diversity and without the style and planning needed to be in "photos", so I can see how the o-ring fans might have felt a little left out. I've always felt that more members would visit the Collections section if you HAD to post that style shot there and subsequently, the more planned shots would look more appealing when you glance at the page. I know collecting goes in phases for Joe lovers so maybe some of the o-ringers out there will start shooting again and vary the content here.

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Oh, it's all right. I'm sure that we can handle this situation maturely, just like the responsible adults that we are. Isn't that right, Mr... Poopy Pants?

In theory it works, but then again, so does communism ;-) hehehe

Sorry I'm piping in on the topic so late in the game.

I'll just say this outright. The MSN crew came about simply from people who use msn msgr. Anyone can join. Some of us wanted to chat in real time as opposed to, I dunno, thru comments and PMs. If we all had yahoo, we'd use that, y'know? I've invited many people but sometimes, they just don't have the right system. Does that constitute a clique because some of us chat on msn? Probably but we're open to anyone. If JD had a chat, we could all chat there, right?


The elitist side of things... I can understand how that can be seen. It's simply when a new comer comes in and see that a group is tightly knit and buddies and etc, one feels like an outsider very quickly. When I came in, Violentfix, General Hawk, LeoTDragon, Luke Ellison and several others were "the old guard". They were the vets and with the way Nate handles this site (no offense, Nate), they laid down the rules. When guys like me, Lord Raven, ToneGuns (the original, not the goodfed up account version), Mobius, Frk525, CodeRedShockwave and many others, we followed the old folks lead. And many of us tried to uphold that. (notice the oft confused Dioramas vs Photos debate? lol)

If I'm considered "Elistist", that's up to you guys. But I give comments and help to anyone; old or new. Elitist to me were the ones who wouldn't give you the time of day. They won't answer your PMs. They won't comment and it's like Prince Adam said (iirc), "they only chill with each other".

Self-righteous as a mod here? I was trying to uphold the rules the best I could. Did my banning of certain people create an uproar? Yes it did. But according to the rules, I did give reprimands (or write-ups) before there was a banning (unless of course, it fell under the "1-way ticket" rules). I was only doing the job that I was asked to do.

The picture cap. Sure, if I weren't mod, it would never happen. That cap was brought forth by me because of many complaints. There were past members who would literally flood the site with upwards of 50 pics at a atime. A lot of the "old guard" left partially because they got tired of their stuff being bumped so quickly. While I posed a posting cap, it was up to the community here to decide how many pictures would make the cap. People had all sorts of ideas and the posse here voted on it. IIRC, it started at 6 then 4 then 3 where it's at now. If someone feels it needs to be changed, feel free to make a post and gather support.

The Flickr vs JD thing. That's... uh... How do I explain it? There are some of us who simply do not believe in posting the same picture on various sites. That's how I saw it at least. Personally, I'm not a flickr guy. And there have been many times where it's like, "Dude, check out this picture so-and-so did on flickr..." Then I'd usually say, "*sigh* Ok..." And then I'd end up seeing the picture on JD and Flickr. I'd rather just see it on the JD. I've noticed that there's a division between the Flickr and JD but I just figured, "to each his own".

The NFO/OWN thing... Did it really turn into funky hatred? Whoa. It was meant to be an exercise of which side could come up with the best pictures. Errrrr, I think that was why. Sure wasn't to make enemies. We just wanted to see some good pictures, in which we did!

People tend to use what is the latest. The Modern Age taking over? Only cuz it was new. But with all things, the old tends to come back. Shoot, I got pics of Razor Troopers that I did as of late (beating up on MA Gung Ho). I even have those DTC Blueshirts in the latest diostory and you'll see them again in the upcoming story. The figures Hasbro makes are tools for me to use. I use what is easiest and best (for me).

uh, what else were we talking about?

I'll roll back the clock to 2007-2008

-Scale, scale and scale. There was no need for the "just enough to make me mad" scale change. I'm still not sure why they did it. Was it the 1:18 "let's pretend this is an adult scale-based hobby"? Was it to appease Wal-Mart, was it to look more substantial on the toy aisle? Was so fans would fell they had to buy every character again? Was it just not giving a $#^*?

-Early releases were awkward looking and could not do things a figure from 1983 could do (bend their arms in at a right angle, sit down). Recent figures have gotten better, but there was no reason to be that flawed from day 1. THEY HAD ALREADY MADE THOSE STYLE ELBOW JOINT ON "NEW SCULPT", and they fuctioned well. So why can't Duke pose better? The diaper crotch was inexcusable. Hasbro response was almost like "we never intended to make these a series of playable toys". And ball socket heads that had little to no actual ball joint movement.

Lesser reasons:

-selling out to the smaller foot peg of modern Star Wars. I like Star Wars, but ^#% Star Wars footpeg size.

-After the spotty era of "new sculpts", I was tired of starting over in a new format. And i didn't even join the Sigma Six bandwagon like some others. I only get 3 3/4" these days, and even then I'm picky.

The lack of the o-ring itself was never a big factor for me, other than concern that there's no real way to tighten loose hip joints and customizing became harder (I really don't customize, anyway.)

I've given "Modern" era a few chances to win me over. Most of the 25th releases I got failed to do so. Some newer stuff I've accquired, marked down ROC figures, has been better made than early 25th releases. I'll still never like the scale change, and hope they go back to true 3 3/4" someday (if only to hear "modern" fans complain...see, what bitterness this hobby creates? )

Yeah, I thought it was fun, too. i thought it would be a way for us to express our love of O-ring or 25th without getting adversarial about it. Kind of like how competing in the Olympics helps Nations from competing on the battlefield.

the sad part is, it did make people feel like they had to take sides.

I joined the team of "whichever looks and works best in my dios". The name of the team is JoeDios.com.

You are ALL welcome to join my team!

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Read Hammerfel's Dio Story, "Disciple" here

• My Want List - Help me complete my Dios!

Very well said. I totally agree.

With any new toy line from Hasbro, expect a HUGE influx of new members with varying degrees of talent. If there's too much of what you don't like to see, help stem the tide by posting your own! Outrider did that to great effect.

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Read Hammerfel's Dio Story, "Disciple" here

• My Want List - Help me complete my Dios!

me? old guard? i kinda have to lol at that. (probably was the youngest guy here for a long time) so when people say "old" about me i chuckle a bit. JD was my first real attempt at the whole "internet forum" and i started of taking absolutely horrid shots. but people like Sonne, Ender, and yes, Outrider gave me alot of tips, and it felt good when they'd praise my pictures. JD has always been and always will be the joe sight for me. i may not be that much into the hobby anymore (funds and other things in my life, plus Legos. legos are addictive) but i still buy a figure here and there, as well as playing with them from time to time. only recently have we gotten a new camera, and i still need to get used to it before i go taking pictures.

as for the "cliques" thing, i noticed it slightly, but i couldn't tell who was in what or why it started, so i stayed out. i don't trade, don't collect much, most of my figures are used and abused because i play with them, and things get lost. but the people i meet here are always family to me (and that was some darn good sushi you pointed out to me and the family back in Florida Vader, i'll have to stop there again maybe.)

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Wow, what they say is true-if you miss a minute, you miss a lot

I've been sans home computer for almost 2 weeks now and have just started to head to the library to check my humongo email pile up. Cue another

I check all the JOE sites and shoot off emails to respond to those who've said, 'Where'd you go?!?'. Then I head over here and I'm barraged with 'hate speak' from (now former) members who have once again percieved me as 'the b*tch'-good thing I'm used to that in the community, so I pay it no mind, sorry to disappoint

Its a real shame that people can't just 'leave it at the door' and look at this site for what it is-a place to share pictures about plastic army men. I was invited here 4 years ago by Ender098 and tepidly stepped in because at that time I was the ONLY girl on site (wait, am I still?) But the 'old guard' or 'elitist' or whatever they're being called, were very compassionate and encouraging. And I returned the favor. Across the entire JOE community I'm known as an unofficial 'Welcome Wagon' because I always make a point of welcoming 'n00bs'. Why? Because I was there once and I know how it feels.
About a year into my membership here, Sonneilon came to me privately and asked me to do him a solid since he was dealing with some heavy personal stuff. I agreed and spoke with both him and Hammerfel extensively about 'how' they wanted things to run, and I complied with their suggestions.

Things were going very smoothly for a long while, until some 'intranet webz' crap inevitably made its way to the site. I attempted to steer the ship as best I could, but I was alone at the wheel-even finding many of the 'Old Guard'-who had once expressed camraderie and friendship-turning their backs on me. Some did reach out, albeit in an extremely private 'I don't want to let anyone know I'm on your side' way, but on a whole, no one stood with me. When things got too out of hand, I was run off the site and talked about behind my back and made fun of for all kinds of stuff.

But still, I didn't let it bother me-hey, I know that not everybody is going to be my best buddy, and I'm cool with that. THIS isn't my life, my life is. This is just a hobby.

So I left. And then a whole new set of drama reared up (all that '2 camps' stuff some of you have posted on). But one by one, people here who I never held a grudge against, contacted me and apologized for whatever had happened in the past. And I accepted that apology wholeheartedly.
Sonneilon asked me to come back and start posting pictures again. He (and I suspect others) enjoyed my stuff, so myself and Flint discussed it and said that we'd be happy to share our hobby again with the members of this site and anybody that stopped by. Unfortunately for us, 'real life' is a lot more of a draw than snapping pictures at the moment (something I know that many of you are painfully aware of), so we aren't as able to fill up our gallery as before.
That also meant that we couldn't comment as frequently as we used to. Believe me, that part is aggravating-I used to spend a good hour scrolling through and commenting on people's pics.

As for the rating system, I was opposed to it right from the start when people started getting upset with low ratings. While I was a MOD I tried to get it turned off-to no avail. But now that its gone, I don't miss it honestly. As was said earlier, it wasn't being used properly-it was a way for people to seek acceptance. I next to never used the system, maybe for a couple of Craig's shots or when there was a particularly *bad* shot...and all those were backed up with comments on my reasoning for the rating.

The 'Collection' section I will speak up and take full credit for. I created the section for just the reason its named. But I couldn't find a way to put it in the top bar along with the rest. But I did sticky it as a note and left links to encourage people to post properly in there. And while I still had the ability, I would move photos there when they were placed wrong, along with a PM to explain to the poster about the move.

I've heard that there is a new brand of slander going around about myself and others, and to that I can only say, 'I'll pray for you' because to carry that type of venom against people over toys, well, that's just a sad commentary on a confused, bitter person's soul. But I won't stoop to the level of going 'this for that'. I've got way more important things to do in life. If they feel vindicated by attempting to knock me down, that's their demon to battle-I can't help them with that.

I don't come to this site (or any other JOE site) to delve into petty tit-for-tat sandbox brawls. I come to communicate with others all over the world who are interested in the same hobby I am. If 'G.I. Joe' has taught us anything, its that we are supposed to embrace our teammates and always have their back. Sargent Slaughter said, "We all go home, or nobody goes home." That's the way I feel about anybody I've ever discussed this hobby with, and that's how I'll always feel.

But that's just me, and I'm the only one I'm qualified to speak for.

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Non illigitamus carborundum~Vos mos non effrego mihi

Coming soon: 'JoeSpecialOps'

I'm pretty pissed off. I don't want people slandering Scarlett. I also pmed Falcon Chile and he is going to stop posting pictures. When he comes back, if he comes back is undetermined. I also supported FF during his recent banning. I did not expect he would act like a jackass and post people's pictures without their permission. I also did not care for his attacks on Sonneilon. His banning was not racial it was because of a photo that was x rated and not meant for this site. The business between Scarlett and myself is done and finished. If people are using that to hurt her well all I can say is that I don't need people doing that. i can fight my own battles and the war is over so give her some respect! As for Falcon; this site has probably lost one of the best posters of all. Gee , I wonder why?