I decided to make this statement a separate thread rather than disrupt the Romance and Relationships thread any further. Furthermore, athough the following is mostly in response to the discussion on that thread, its substance pertains to many other instances.
First, let me reiterate Robert’s comment on R&R: “The Administrators strongly discourage discussion of MBers’ off-the-blog contacts on other websites or by text messaging, e-mail, Twitter, or other electronic media. As far as we are concerned, MuseBlog is the Internet. Please curb your speculation and help us to maintain our Musocentric delusion.”
More than a dozen mentions of Facebook appeared after Robert said this.
We realize it’s easy to get carried away in the excitement of the moment and the natural desire to know more about each other, but please consider that it is, above all, discourteous to keep trying to sneak end runs around our very few rules, especially once the request has been made to cease and desist.
Maybe each individual mention didn’t quite cross the line into breaking the letter of the rules, but since you had been asked to stop, the cumulative repetition demonstrated disregard for their spirit, even if unintentionally.
It is discourteous in particular because this conversation occurred during our work hours, when we’re required to devote most of our attention to our paid jobs (much as we might prefer to spend our time otherwise). Most of the time moderating actually lightens the day. We enjoy hearing your observations, whimsy, and wit, and we can actually tolerate more of the outright silliness than some of you seem to. Silliness can be a great antidote to some workday concerns.
However, when MBers start slipping in references to offline communications, location information, and so forth, we have to stop and figure out whether and what to zap, snip, or allow. If we’re uncertain, that means consulting with other GAPAs, which takes even more time and distracts us from what we need to be doing. Today, that fell almost entirely on Robert, as I couldn’t get online for more than a few minutes most of the day, and Rosanne couldn’t get on the blog at all.
We know that a simple comment here or there about whether one is on FB or has a blog or whoever’s email seems harmless in itself — and it probably is — but we cannot dismiss the risk. As we said on the Kokonvention thread: we’re paranoid so you don’t have to be. It is our responsibility to keep MuseBlog as safe as it reasonably can be. But it is more than mere responsibility to us — we care about you and would feel unspeakably awful if something bad happened to anyone because of the blog.
We really don’t want to spend a lot of time thinking about rules. We’d much rather relax and enjoy your company and devote our creative energies to figuring out how to make MuseBlog better.
I don’t know anything specific I’ve said that was against the rules, but I’m sure I have done so. Henceforth there shall be a twenty-four hour period in which I give the poor GAPAs a break.
*disappears into the Woven Beyond*
This isn’t directed at any individual, Piggy. There’s just been something of a wave of pushing the rules lately. It tends to take on a life of its own after awhile.
The best break you can give us is just hanging around here and being yourself.
I can’t be myself when I feel inexplicably guilty, but perhaps I could try. Erm… eh? Enh.
Well, that’s a start.
Gah, trying to be clever is torturous. Wait, you like torture, right? Perfect!
Just like I’m not myself because I’m depressed because things have been going badly lately. We’ll try together, eh? A random fact about me: I don’t consider people my friends untill I have asked them “would you like to be friends?” and they have said yes. Piggy, have I asked you to be friends yet? I’ve been thinking about it for a while, but can’t remember if I actually did it.
Sure, I’ll be your friend. S.Q., would you like to be friends with us as well?
“We’ll try together.” I like that. That’s what I’m really thinking about. For GAPAs, too.
oh! Lady B and Robert, will you be my friends please?
It’s kinda my motto. “We’ll try together” is my oft-used saying of encouragement, and I’m glad you like it! We can all try together, and if we help each other try, then it’ll be easier, right?
Certainly, fireandhemlock. I’m happy to be properly introduced, as it were. And you’re absolutely right that helping each other try makes things a lot easier.
Thank you!!!
I’m so very sorry, GAPAs!
*feels guilty*
Have I done anything? *sobs* If so, I really didn’t mean to!
*guilty as well* Many apologies, GAPAs.
Y’know, I think this calls for an impromptu GAPA Appreciation / Apology Day.
I concur. GAPAs do not get nearly the appreciation they deserve on a day-to-day basis.
Agreed. Definitely.
Definitely. *appreciates GAPAs*
████ ████ ████ ████ (appreciation pies and choklit bars)
I’m sorry, GAPAs. -hangs head in shame- I don’t think I’ve been doing any of this lately, but I certainly have in the past.
-gives chocolate-
Chocolate is always good…*eats appreciatively*
I really don’t want anyone to feel bad. As I said, sometimes the situation takes on a life of its own. We know you guys mean well, and just want to know about each other. Believe me, I understand completely how difficult it is to find kindred spirits. I feel so lucky to be a GAPA, to spend time every day with people from my home planet, to wander about in the woven beyond. But our world exists within the real world, too, so we have to have some safeguards.
No, no. You set specific rules, reminded us numerous times, and we blatantly ignored you. We did this unto ourselves. We know we did something wrong, and that’s why we feel bad. *presents apology and appreciation chocolate*
*conciliatory squid munchies for all*
well that is..munchies for squids, not munchies of squids. hm.
I’m glad this was posted. I know that especially on the hot topics thread I am guilty of referencing other places over much. Hopefully we can all remember the rules and continue to float amorphously in peace
Mmm. Squid munchies go very well with chocolate, by the by.
Wait, that’s it! That can be MuseBlog International’s debut product! Chocolate-dipped squid munchies!
That should be an easy sell.
“For that little touch of squid in all of us.”
“They’re squidelicious!”
Good one.
oh, I love it! Let’s do it! “It’s taste is as varied as the mood of the ocean”. How’s that one?
Very nice.
Haha! Good night, all. Lady B, I sent you an email, btw. Just so you knew…………
*noms squid munchies*
I usually try to not give stuff away, but I’ll pay extra attention now. I know it’s hard for you all to keep stuff running smoothly, especially lately.
Are they, perhaps… Space Squid Muchies?
Cannibalism? Never. We’re not grasshoppers.
I think he meant as munchies for space squid — analogous to cat treats.
Well, unless Jadestone enjoys cat treats, I don’t think so. But then again, she could be a space squid herself. Eh, I’m confused now. I say that one snack company should sue the other for name infringement. We can’t have two different products called Squid Munchies.
Jadestone is the original Giant Space Squid. I just meant cat treats are FOR cats, not made from cats. Same for squid munchies.
Okay, I thought she was, but I couldn’t remember whether that was from real life or insanity. And how do we know squid munchies aren’t made from squid? For that matter, how do we know cat treats aren’t made from cats?
Well, if they were made from cats, then other cats wouldn’t eat them, would they? Would you eat man soup?
If it was cooked right!
*backs away quickly*
Um, Mr Moon, are you a CANNIBAL!?
If I was starving, or the all the other food was crap, yeah, I’d eat a person.
Sorry GAPAs. I’ve been snipped in the past few days and then I went and announced my new online activities. I actually thought very hard about how I could be myself on it and NOT give away the fact that I was Midnight Fiddler. I hid personal information, etc. to the best of my ability, so if anyone does make the connection they won’t know anything more (considerably less, actually) than I’ve already put on the ‘blog here.
*gives choklit*
I’ll try harder not to mention off blog activities that are questionable.
Thanks for all you do, I hope you know how much I appreciate all the time, effort and care you put into this. I don’t thank you enough, I shall henceforth resolve to make more of a deal about how completely awesome you all are. *hugs and smears love all over thread* I’ll stop now. No, I’m not buttering you up, I’m being completely honest.
Oh, it’s quite all right even if you are buttering us up.
*gives butter to GAPAs as apology*
SFTDP
ok, I’m going to get some sleep now, talk to y’all in the morning!
11.1~ Rebecca my dear, why are you awake? It’s 12:30. I have an excuse, I just got back form dinner, but you? You’re up moderating posts. Buttering-up posts, none the less! Go sleep! Rest! Forget the musers who will impatiently complain about slow moderation! They need to realize just how much we really do depend on you….myself as well.
*nods meekly* Yes, I meant to be out a few hours ago, actually. Just trying to finish up a couple of things….
It always seems to turn out that way, doesn’t it?
13.1~ I know the feeling. Goodnight….er, morning….
*apologizes* I’ll try to pay more attention in future.
Thank you. I’ll try to be more careful too.
6.1 – I can’t have chocolate! Too many digestive issues.
Fortunately, virtual chocolate is free of such problems (and calories).
I have only been snipped once for mentioning that I was coming down from Wild Rose on some date, but I already have now, and I do not live there since it’s in WI. Anyway, yeah. I think that people should just stop doing that, but who am I to say?
Erm, I don’t think the point of this thread is to list off all the things which had to be snipped.
I’m so sorry! *hands appreciation choklit* I would assume that the whole HTML thread thing was borderline too, right? And the email thing on the Kokon thread? I’ll try not to mention email or suchlike here again.
I had thought earlier that the GAPAs were oversnipping a bit, but I realize now that they were frantically trying to protect the blog from the surge of hints. I promise not to get mad at you again, GAPAs!
So, can we all start over?
Thanks for understanding, RoseQuartz. *Kokopelli handshake* We truly don’t enjoy snipping (well, maybe on very rare occasions…
).
We really don’t. Snipping is work.
Sorry, GAPAs. *shifts uncomfortably* I read this JUST after mentioning Facebook on the R&R thread. Wow. Bad timing.
Want some cherry crisp? We went over to my grandmother’s house and picked a lot of cherries. You can also have some dried cherries if you wish, though I wouldn’t recommend it, as they have the texture and consistency of potato chips.
Why is it that food seems to be the universal bridge over all MB or real-world conflict or sad things?
Because it tastes good, perhaps?
I also just noticed this. Sorry for the next post on the Romance thread… Although I don’t think it’s breaking any rules.
I’m so sorry GAPA’s!! As you pointed out, we even continued to break the rules AFTER we had been warned to stop, and now I feel very bad about it. *bows and gives GAPAs choklit* Piggy (and others) are completely correct. You guys do so much work to make the blog fun and enjoyable for everyone, and yet we continue to break rules and complain about the smallest things. You guys just don’t get enough credit for all that you do. Thank you!! I’ll definitely be more careful about sticking with our guidelines in the future.
I feel so…so… awful! So guilty! How could I have done this! I’m so, SO sorry, GAPAs! You do so much and don’t get recognition for it, and we keep crossing you and making your work harder! I’ll never forgive myself. I’m sorry for whatever I did!!!!
*gives GAPAs 9,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000…. (to infinity) kilograms of virtual dark chocolate*
Half of it is coconut crusted!
Half of it is plain, delicious milk!
Half of it is whatever you want!
I missed this whole debacle due to being in LA for four days. However, I would like to express my approval of Lady Bunniful’s use of the word “opines.” It is a good word, and does not get used as often as it deserves.
*bows* I also have a fondness for titles like “The Lady Regrets” or “The Lady Vanishes.”
The Lady Vanishes-I like it.
I hope I have not done anything offensive. I try to abide by blog rules.
I feel that this thread is relevant for everyone to read or reread, including myself. Thin nicknames like “VoldyNet” are blatant affronts to the rules that the GAPAs have set up to keep us safe. I think we all need to shape up and stop causing the GAPAs unnecessary stress.
Yes, and squid munchies are a great idea.