And The Worm Turns...

Well, the mods and bubbles entertaining us with this wanktastic entry were already assuming to be Fishbiscuited, so who am I to refuse? After all, your entertainment is always first and foremost on my mind, dear Fishies. And with such delicious entries to draw from...what's a girl to do?

This little encounter begins here, in lulinha-k’s LJ. Good ol’ Hallie, Fuse mod extraordinaire, unable to NOT do her job, admonishes Mysticxf for assuming a fellow Jater was banned because of her shipper status and trying to post what she thought was an “illegal download”.






Halfreak's opening shot across the bow:

Posted by: hallie (halfrek2)
Posted at: September 27th, 2007 12:38 am (UTC)

“you all really need to step down off of your shipper soap boxes. stop assuming things happen just b/c of your shipping preferences.”

Carrielynne rushes to defend her buddy and tell it like it is:

Posted by: Carrie (carrielynne2323)
Posted at: September 27th, 2007 03:20 am (UTC)

“Not ALL shippers have soapboxes, Halfrek. Especially not Mystic. These are our own LJ's - if we want to vent, we'll vent. This isn't the 'Fuse. You don't need to mod us here.

You know I seem to remember seeing you on someone else's LJ saying you like poking us on the 'Fuse to get us all worked up. I think you'd find people would respect you guys a lot more if you'd quit acting like your better than everyone because you moderate a message board.”

Hmm, so two things are jumping out at me here:

Rule Número Uno: A Jater with a LiveJournal can VENT if they want to. Vent if they want to. Vent if they want to...You would vent too if - Got that? That's what private LJ's and GJ's and blogs and shit are for, mmkay? Just like my own journal, no?

Rule Número Dos: Halfreak is poking someone? Seriously? NEVER! Let’s return to investigate that in a bit, since Halfrek is so willing to clear this up for us.

Carrielynne continues to reinforce her opinion on the right to free speech, you go girl:

“Can we at least have our LJ's to express our feelings in peace? You don't have jurisdiction here. Its bad enough we get stalked by the birds in fishbiscuitland (who most of us have defended you AND the 'Fuse against), but do we have to answer for our own thoughts outside of the 'Fuse? Seriously?”

Just in case you didn’t get the message first time, you know. Personal LJ = FREE SPEECH (within the site rules, of course). Maybe I should employ Carrie to get that message across in Bubbleland, since people don't seem to like me taking advantage of this novel concept. Of course one thing this gal forgets is that the right to free expression is a two way street, it goes both ways kiddies. At any time that you want to put down your personal views publicly and claim your right, you are also going to be subject to the right of others to disagree with you and express their own opinions right back at ya. It's called a free exchange of ideas, but sometimes it can get a little messy, blood can be drawn and sensitive feelings hurt. But as long as you know what 'free for all' means...and make liberal use of the delete entry button for those trolls and spambots, it's all good.


Just to make things even more interesting, in rides Maja perched on her high horse:

Posted by: Majandra (maja_carlisle)
Posted at: September 27th, 2007 11:15 am (UTC)

“It's quite easy: You don't want to be treated differently, then don't ACT like you are! Luka has a technical problem with her browser that has NOTHING to do with the Fuselage OR being a shipper but of course the first thing assumed is: She was banned because she's a shipper and the mods hate shippers.

Can you get that out of your heads that everything that happens to you, happens because you are shippers? Not maybe because you broke general site rules or netiquette or - in Luka's case - because of your own technical problems?

Just get off of that martyr trip...”

Hostile much, you think? If this is the way she speaks to a fellow Jater, then just think of the outcome if a Skater had made the same comments? Nah, actually don’t imagine that – because you’re ungrateful 'martyrs' too! Forget about justice and fairness, off you all go to shut the frack up instead!

Mysticxf obviously isn’t a Bubblehead buddy of Majandra’s these days either:


Posted by: mysticxf (mysticxf)
Posted at: September 27th, 2007 11:34 am (UTC)

“*I* know you're just trying to keep order, but that's there. We respect you on the FUSELAGE. On LJ? We still respect you, but we have our opinions and I'm sorry if they hurt a little, but they're OUR opinions. We're not on some martyr trip and we're not on any soap box, we're just giving our opinions.”

Maybe Maja gets the message this time?

Posted by: Majandra (maja_carlisle)
Posted at: September 27th, 2007 12:48 pm (UTC)

“I just don't think you are able to see things like they are because you are so wrapped up in your self-pity.

Maybe if you could take a step back and see things in an objective way, you'd be able to see things clearly?

And what EXACTLY is arrogant about us asking you to investigate things first before jumping to the (wrong) conclusions before spreading lies and putting the blame on people not even involved?

But of course, blaming others is SO MUCH easier and much more fun than finding fault with yourself, right?”

Nope, doesn’t look like it. I’m starting to feel sorry for Mystic. Especially since she knows I’m around with the pooper-scooper:


Posted by: mysticxf (mysticxf)
Posted at: September 27th, 2007 03:45 pm (UTC)

“Luka, I'm sorry about bringing this on your LJ as I'm sure it will now be quoted and mocked in Skater territory.”

Maja just has to get in the last word though, who cares if it's messing up Luka's day?:


Posted by: Majandra (maja_carlisle)
Posted at: September 27th, 2007 12:39 pm (UTC)

“Q.E.D. Hope you feel content in your self-pity.”

Yikes. Maja knows how to say STFU in Latin. Burrrn. This case looks like it’s getting rested yet again though, reinventing itself into a 'I know you are but what am I' competition. Peewee would have been so proud:


Posted by: mysticxf (mysticxf)
Posted at: September 27th, 2007 02:29 pm (UTC)

“So you disagree, therefore I am wrong. Mod Logic is cool. Q.E.D. yourself.”

One last time I promise…

Posted by: Majandra (maja_carlisle)
Posted at: September 27th, 2007 02:44 pm (UTC)

“No QUED means you just proved me right. Thank you!”

This war of abbreviated latin phrases (though why they didn't throw in a C.Q.F.D or W.Z.B.W to shake things up I'll never know) transforms into a martyrish Mystic-mini rant and can be read at your own leisure via the link above.

As Mystic understands it, the problem comes down to being labeled a shipper. Stupidity and self-pity resulting in dismissal, accusations hurled at her because she’s a shipper, with mods to blame for that along with some other shippers…hmm, wonder who that could be? More passive aggression and finger pointing. Blame kinda goes with the territory in fishy waters though, so keep on pointing, hon. The thing that amuses me reading this rant is that Mystic honestly believes the Fuse mods were pandering to the Skaters! Biased against the poor defenseless Jaters. The thing is, the mods only started getting tough on the Couchers when they'd driven off most of the Skater fans with their mod-editing and arbitrary rule violations and condescending STFU attitude. They ran out of people to hit with the big stick and so finally turned their jaundiced moddish eye on the Jaters who'd been getting off scot free for the longest time. How does it feel when the lash is on the other back, hmm? Now you get what I was ranting about back in November. But of course it's only unfair when it's not being directed at the unruly Skate fans...riiiiiight.

Meanie Martial Majandra, a shipper don’t forget, a Jater no less, just in case your memory fails you…ends with an abundantly clear message to “think again”. Sounds like the way to go Maja…


Back to our favorite Fusemod, who finally chimes in:

Posted by: hallie (halfrek2)
Posted at: September 27th, 2007 04:06 pm

“i would like it very much if you would direct me to that post that i supposedly made about "poking us on the Fuse to get us all worked up". i think that perhaps you have me confused with one of the posters on the Fish site. i do not, have not, will not "poke" people to get them riled up.”

Got that Fishbitches? We've got your number! Everything rotten in Lost fandom is your fault.

Carrie graciously obliges Halfreak's request and comes up with the following (and let me just point out that Carrie obviously is not up with the play or she would remember the Skate Avatar debacle and other instances where it's clear that Jaters have merrily been hanging on the OutKaSt and VIP threads with report button happy fingers - I'll cut her some slack though because she does make a very good point about a select few mods):


Posted by: Carrie (carrielynne2323)
Posted at: September 28th, 2007 01:34 am (UTC)

“You know Halfrek - I really appreciate your response and that you were able to remain calm without insulting me completely. I've never gotten in trouble on the 'Fuse - I don't act like I'm "different" than everyone else - I know how to conduct myself there but because I'm one of these people who DOES know how to abide by the rules - I can tell you that a select few of the mods have ruined what is supposed to be a fun and pleasant experience for me and a TON of Lost fans. I would LOVE to have the good ole days back where I could go into the Dimples thread (because while Jack is my favorite character, I do like Sawyer)and I wouldn't see a MOD bashing Jack and then accusing someone else of not reading the FAQ when they are doing the same thing on another thread... I would give anything to not have 5 skaters at a time lurking on the Jater Couch waiting to pounce and report anything we say or carry it back to their fishland so they can tear it apart and ridicule it from top to bottom. I haven't set foot in the OutKast thread since December last year when I went in to wish them all a Merry Christmas. THAT is what I want the fandom to be like... not like this:
http://txvoodoo.livejournal.com/696519.html

You said you wanted a link to where you said what you did... so there it is...”

And the damning evidence that puts HalfAssed at the crime scene, standing over the corpse with the proverbial smoking gun:

halfrek2
2007-05-17 05:35 pm UTC (link)

“thank you.

*bwahaha* yeah i like your scenario but i fear that the shippers would read into that. it would probably be something about her being hurt by his liason with that other, theorefore she HAD to say that. it is a wild convoluted way that shippers seem to view things even when they are shown a clear scene.

i am thankful that this is not my first experience with shippers or i would be totally jumping into the fray as one of those rabid ones determined to set them straight. at the moment, i just like to *poke* them a bit to rile them up...not in a mod capacity of course. *eg*”

Faced with this irrefutable proof of her nasty shipper agenda, her lame-ass defense is:


Posted by: hallie (halfrek2)
Posted at: September 30th, 2007 01:40 am (UTC)

“okay, i have thoroughly researched this. i "think" i know what may have prompted that comment and it had nothing to do with the Jaters. however, after all the research, i cannot find one instance where i actually did "poke" someone or try to "rile" up anyone over that promo. i actually didn't post in either ship thread for over two weeks after that comment and when i did it wasn't about the promo or what happened in the finale. i also didn't rant about it on LJ either. :/ i do apologize for how really bad that looked but hope you can see my record for what it is. guess it doesn't matter in the big scheme. just wanted to try to answer your query. cheers.

"it had nothing to do with Jaters", which means what, Halfrek? That you were only targeting one SPECIFIC group of shippers instead? Which makes it okay? Trying to rile them up on purpose, fanning the outrage and resentment? But hey, mods are supposed to be unbiased and fair, right? They are not supposed to blatantly attack one section of fandom over another and cause friction where perhaps there might have been none. Do you not call yourself a Skater? You admitted you deliberately 'poke' your own shipmates at the Fuse and expect everyone to just let that rest and not expose your comment as being proof that you are most definitely part of the problem? And Maja, ouch, take a chill pill - turning on a fellow Jater like that, that was embarrassing to read.

Maybe someone should be sending these comments off to the higher ups at the Fuse, or even higher than that. I've been saying all along that the Fuse moderators really need to seriously look at how patronizing, hypocritical and damaging their actions have been towards both shipper fandoms on their site, and it's interesting to see some Jaters are finally starting to agree with me.

Q.E.D.


Read more...

I Visit the Cesspool, So You Don't Have To...

I would like to present to you Exhibit A, a perfectly innocuous post by our own lostvfan on the Outkasts thread of the allegedly "official" Lost board, i.e. The Fuselage:

There has been a lot of speculation about the meaning of Jack's 'because I love you' in the finale. IMO it was not meant romantically but more along the lines of 'I'm sticking up for Sawyer because I care about you and I can see you are hurt.' I have never seen Jack has being 'in love' with Kate. His actions are not those of a man in love.

I think what initially drew Jack to Kate was the ‘hero’ reflection of himself he saw in her eyes. It was more about his ego than about her. Of course his ego was also stroked by having the pretty fugitive’s attention and once Sawyer was in the picture, it became a bit of a contest.

Look at most of his interactions with her. When he demanded to know the significance of the toy plane, he upset her so much she cried – he walked away having no interest in comforting her. When she was taken prisoner during THP, he resented trading her for the guns and turned his back on her when she tried to apologize. When Libby and Ana died, did Jack even notice Kate’s sorrowful reaction? At the glass wall when she cried and begged for Sawyer’s life, he shut her off with ‘we’re done here’. Hell, even in the walkie scene, when he got what he wanted from her, he turned his unit abruptly off.

When she comes to rescue him, he berates her and can’t even find it in his heart to say thank you or acknowledge that she put her life at risk because she felt she ‘owed him that’. In the handcuff scene, he turns the chair around, blocking her access to him, almost preventing her from getting closer than he is comfortable with. She cries and begs and he never softens. He has made the deal he once accused her of making ('What did they offer you?') and makes no apology for it. Hell he is even taking another woman with him, one he has known for only a week. Kate has been throwing Jack’s ‘live together, die alone’ philosophy in Sawyer’s face, now Jack is leaving the Losties and going home and she says nothing. The last bone he throws her is his promise to come back for her and at least the look on her face does indicate some disappointment with her tarnished ‘hero’.

No, I don’t believe Jack ever been 'in love' with Kate. He has enjoyed her attention, ignored her when she didn’t measure up, never responded to her lame attempts to flirt with him and in general treated her like a bothersome little sister he sometimes allows to tag along. If he was in love with her, he never would have been even been tempted to leave her behind. That is not an option for a man in love; we have seen that a man in love would trade his life for hers.

Kate’s rose colored glasses are getting pretty fogged up. When she finally takes them off, maybe she will see the real Jack and discover what Juliet seems to already know. That Jack is as flawed and human as anyone else on the Island and less self aware of this than almost anyone else. That, in many ways, makes him very dangerous.

Any thoughts and what do you think Kate's take was on Jack's declaration?

Now this post was deemed so offensive that, within minutes, it was disappeared into the gulag, along with all the posts that responded to it. The intrepid lostvfan,probably thinking it was a board glitch that such an innocent and respectful post was so summarily deleted, reposted. And this time, it took but seconds for the NaziMods to swoop in and disappear it yet again.

The kindly, helpful NaziMods explained. First one, the brilliant Majandra:

You (obviously) still haven't understood the difference between discussion another character (as in Jaters discussing Sawyer as far as it concerns Jate or Skaters discussing Jack as fas as it concerns Skate) and bashing the members of the opposing ship and you think yet ANOTHER post by a mod explaining the difference will help?And you (obviously) also think that reposting something that was previously deleted, will make us changes our minds?Well, whatever you're trying to accomplish here, let me tell you one thing: It is not working.

To which we say: Durrr? Mocking of other fans? Can this mod even read?

Then the second Stooge, Carency:

If you are reading the Jater Couch as closely as you claim to be, you would have noted that a moderator stepped in to curb that line of conversation recently (and many times before, as has happened here as well), no imagination required. Thus, such off-topic conversations are not "acceptable there", nor are they acceptable here, so I am not sure why you were expecting the privilege of continuing a similarly off-topic discussion. However, unlike the poster triggering the warning there, you are not a new poster. We know that you know quite well that such discussions are not what the ship threads are for, and there was no reason for us to think that the reason for removal of those posts was in any way a surprise to you, or that you do not know that it is not okay to repost what a moderator has deleted.

Then the third (man, they were ON this thing like white on rice, weren't they?):

Of course you can't imagine why those posts were deleted because you clearly are not grasping what both Majandra and Carencey explained to you. You do not make the rules, neither do you decide what posts do and do not break the rules. Other moderators, not just me, have tried to explain this to you and yet you keep insisting they are wrong. Trying ...Good. If we are ever unsure as to what is real character bashing I am sure that the moderators would love to have your help. I don't recall anyone implying that your post was character bashing...actually is it so important for others to know what was in your deleted post? Let me help with this. Your post was off topic for this thread...Jate can be discussed if you do so in the context of Skate. When you discuss only Jate then it becomes off topic. This is the Skate thread and should be mostly Skate. Taking a Jate scene and discussing it in relation to Skate is fine. Dissecting a Jate scene without Skate context is not allowed. And before you all decide to try this by going on about Jate and then adding one line that mentions Skate, don't even go there as it would be deleted for being off topic...Losttvfan, there is no further need to protest 'removals without explanation' in this thread and claim that as your excuse for reposting material removed by a moderator. The posters of this thread are likely not as aware as Karri and the mods are that you do know the policies on this issue, so as always, you are welcome to take it up with Karri, but the discussion here is over.

P.S. That was the abridged work of the eloquent Halfrek if you couldn't guess.

Now we all need frequent re-education sessions from these Big Brother clones, so let's trot on over to our neighbor, the Jater Couch, otherwise known as The Land of The Holier Than Thou, and see how things are done over there. We'll choose a few posts at random, just a sampllng, just a slice of the Jate Cake, if you will:

Now, remember, I'm quoting only posts here that are STILL STANDING on the Couch. They weren't instantly deleted. They weren't deleted at all.
And for the record, I do not expect anyone to read any of this drivel, so I'm going to save some space and shrink it down a bit because - face it - none of us needs to have our brains turned to mashed potatoes. But to be helpful, please note that the words Sawyer, Skate and Skex are all bolded to show how frequently our good little shipper friends manage to bring him up on a thread where he is in no way shape or form supposed to be the topic:


Forever_Erica

Okay, this idiot that you were talking to is obviously a surfacy thinker, those kinds of people see the world as it is and asks zero questions. None, they just accept what's happened and move on. I, for one, am a very complex thinker..

Whiter Rabbit

However, I think you're being much too generous toward Sawyer and his part in the 'square' . I've always believed that Sawyer's primary concern in his relationship with Kate was whatever was best for Sawyer at that particular moment, so I don't think that Kate really owes Sawyer much consideration in ending their ... 'understanding' . It would be best for everyone concerned if she made it clear to Sawyer, quickly and cleanly, that things were over between them.

DocLover

But Sawyer is someone the fans liked, and people thought he was hot and sexy - so why not create some "circumstance" where Sawyer and Kate can "heat things up", without showing an actual real choice having been made on Kate's part? (So as to keep the Jack/Kate love alive). So that's what the mini-arc was for, and we all saw how well that went over. It failed miserably. Sure, it made people love Sawyer more - but Kate's credibility with the fans kind of went downhill after that.

WhiterRabbit (again)

Sorry Gheal, but I can't really agree with that. I will always believe that Skex was a terrible mistake on the writers part, one that did major damage to Kate's character. While I could see the value in exploring why Kate might be more comfortable in interacting with a man like Sawyer (because he was the type of man she was used to dealing with, as apposed to Jack), using Skex to bring that about was just about the worst decision the writers could have made.

Forever_Erica (again)

I think that it’s a GREAT thing that Kate explored Sawyer before Jack. I completely agree with this. When Skex#1 happened, obviously Kate was afraid for Sawyer, but then again she was afraid PERIOD (considering the fact that she kissed Sawyer, he asked her why she did it, she said “I don’t know”, lowered her head, mumbling, then Sawyer raises her head to look at him and in the most frightened and scared tone Kate says “I don’t know…” FOR THE SECOND TIME). I think that with Skate, Kate was scratching an itch so to speak. Skex #1 she was afraid and lost, but that was about it. Skex#2 and Skex#3 were all about Jack, all about him. She saw him with Juliet and then ran to Sawyer (“shut up and don’t talk”…wow, how romantic). Kate and Jack still aren’t speaking and so she goes to Sawyer again (“I can’t sleep if I’m not in my own tent”…PUH-lease!).
Kate’s relationship with Jack was established from the very beginning (I heard from a Jater friend of mine that the Pilot was 50% Jate dialogue!) and it established the incredible dynamic between the two characters and her relationship with Sawyer was rocky, at best, from the start. Skate being addressed in season three was a blessing in disguise. It hurts to see Kate and Sawyer kissing and what-not, but we all know why she’s doing it, it’s so painstakingly obvious why. Being with Sawyer in that romantic way was a mistake and Kate knows that. Skex #1, 2 and 3 were disasters and they all consisted of Kate using Sawyer and Sawyer being open to being used.
Skate has completely lost steam and it can’t last. Skate is nearing the end. Kate knows that and Sawyer knows that, look at the way they treat each other in the s3 Finale. And Jack’s ILY…OMG…Skate will NEVER survive that. Now, the prospect of Kate being pregnant is absolutely ridiculous. We already have a pregnant Sun and Claire was pregnant for most of season one; there’s no way that Kate being pregnant is in the best interest of the show. No way. And it’s not her destiny to be pregnant with Sawyer’s kid. Season three made it completely obvious beyond belief that Kate never loved Sawyer in that way and that she's in love with Jack.

DocLover (again)

have to agree with you on this one White Rabbit. Sawyer is out for Sawyer. He KNOWS that Kate loves Jack, he KNOWS he's being used and he's okay with that.....why?? Because he gets to knock off some island booty. Kate told Sawyer from the beginning that she only said she loved him so they would stop beating the ever-lovin' out of him, and that hasn't changed. She didn't just fall in love with him a day later. She's had plenty of opportunity, and she's been asked by Sawyer "point blank" - yet she can't and won't say she loves him.
I don't think Kate "owes" Sawyer anything. She wanted to go back for Jack and Sawyer was, as usual, ALL ABOUT HIMSELF and crying like a little girl over his "stash". He doesn't care about anyone, I mean really care - unless he's being threatened with banishment, and then he pretends to be nice. Which we all saw was a total struggle for him. And as far as Sawyer as their leader........God help them if that happens.
I was just informed that LOST did not lose 5 million viewers after the mini-arc. I was provided all sorts of numbers to go with this information. (although to go from about 17 million viewers during the mini-arc to about 12 million, give or take, AFTER the mini-arc, seems pretty close to 5 million to me) Unless there's some new math I'm not familiar with But whatever. Also, every article I read after the mini-arc was reported that LOST lost 5 million viewers after the mini-arc. I don't care if I got the numbers wrong. They lost viewers, and it was because of the mini-arc and EVERYTHING involved in it, and yes, that includes the Skex. I know that stings some people too, but it certainly wasn't Jate that chased them away, as they were not in the mini-arc, except for the few true moments they shared. So be careful what you write here - you'll be corrected if you're wrong!

Forever_Erica (yes, again)

SKEX was the naill in the coffin for most viewers. Yes, other factors played into it, but come on! Skex had as much to do with LOST losing all those viewers as anything else and you can throw all the stats and numbers at me that you can find, it doesn't prove that Skex wasn't the cause (and the LACK of Jate didn't help with the ratings either). "I Do" was the worst episode of the arc IMHO and I really think that people were just appalled by it altogether and basically said, "LOST isn't worth the headache anymore."
I, for one, am a LOYAL fan of the show from the VERY beginning (the Pilot), who watched the 'dreaded arc' and even I wanted to give up on LOST (but my love for Jack and Jate wouldn't let me ). I stuck through it and Skex really did nothing for me. Nothing. It was a utter disaster. Jate grew and evolved from Skex and Skate if anything.

And for good measure, our resident Krystal ball reader:

This is one persons opinion though. That person couldn't possibly know why 4 million people stopped watching the show, so to say it's based solely on a later time slot and not the quality of the story telling is inaccurate. Everyone I've spoken to IN PERSON lol says to the contrary. They didn't like the mini-arc because of the story and they also felt that the quality of the show wasn't up to par. When I've asked a few of my regular customers why they have stopped watching the show, they tell me the exact same things. Only one person told me that the length of the hiatus was what drove her away and when I brought up the fact that Lost goes on "hiatus" every summer, she responded with, "that's true, maybe I was just fed up with the stories."

Trust me, I'm talking the tip of the iceberg here. I could easily have gone on five times longer.

Now to summarize:
1. Most of these posts were written not by newbies, like the egomaniacal devout Christian Forever_Erica, but by old timers who "know the rules" (as if anyone knows the fucking rules of the Fuse).
2. None of them discuss Jate.
3. All of them discuss Skate in detail, slamming it incessantly.
4. Most of them BASH Sawyer incessantly.
5. Some of them, especially those of the egomaniacal devout Christian Forever_Erica also slam other posters.
6. NONE OF THEM WAS DELETED.

There was a really harsh warning given (yup, just one) from the always fair Halfrek:

so i see that you have some new Jaters. that is great, however it is evident that these new posters did not read the rules or something. you regular Jaters should be setting an example and not encouraging such behaviour. tsk tsk!
reminders:
this is the Jater couch, not the call people names (idiot) , bash other ships or generally discuss everything except for Jate.
discussing illegal behaviour (downloading) is against the rules.
you all may want to review these rules again before the mods come through with a heavy hand and just remove the entire conversation. thank you.

Wow! She told them, didn't she? She didn't even have the energy to push down her Caps key on the computer. I wonder - if they're really, really bad will she send them all to bed without any Jate Cake?

The Fuse is a Dead Zone.

Literally. It's like a big old mildewed, decrepit, condemned building. The only inhabitants left gnawing on the rotten cheese left under the seat cushions are the bloated rats having a party because they've finally become homeowners! When was the last time anyone read an intelligent post at the Fuse, or witnessed a vibrant debate?

It's getting to the point the only conversations that will happen there will all go something like this.

Forever Erica: Aren't I great the way I see the truth ?

DocLover: Yes, F-E you are really great. And Jate is fate, right?

Forever Erica: PUHLEEEZE, Jate is so fate it's not funny. And Sawyer needs to die by having his balls torn off by rabid animals, right?

DocLover: That's too good for him the most vile piece of human scum that ever ruined my life! I NEED to see him DEAD! NOW!

Krystal: Just so you both know, everyone on Earth agrees with you.

Forever Erica + DocLover in unison: Oh, we know. :bob heads:

Whiter Rabbit: Oh my, these brilliant and scintillating discussions have put me in the mood to bastardize some great work of literature. Should I mutilate a great poem or a great speech? I know! I'll find some lines of sacred scripture from the Bible and deface it with JATE!

DocLover: Oh, Whiter Rabbit! You are making me hot! Can I have your babies? :grin:

Whiter Rabbit: No, I don't believe in sex, you hussy. Don't you read my posts?

Forever Erica: Of course not Whiter Rabbit. Jaters are too good for that! We're the GOOD GUYS! We only believe in JEX!


Listen, we all know the Fuse is irrelevant. It's a cesspool frequented by the dregs of the fandom, people who actually like having their diapers changed and their bottoms spanked by emotionally unstable mods. The only problem with it is that it continues to carry the cachet of being "Official". It really is emblematic of how intellectually degenerate so much of the online Lost fandom seems to be that they allow a shithole like this to represent them in any way, shape or form. Think about it. You've all had discussions about Lost with friends and family. Have you ever had a conversation as inane and stupid as the ones that are carried on there? Or one as polluted and mean spirited as the ones that are driven by the sanctimonious fans of the "good" guy?

I know no one posts there any more. And I sure don't encourage anyone to give them the satisfaction. But we do need to keep an eye on it and keep letting them know we understand what hypocrites they are. And how lousy it is that they stole the Fuselage from the Lost fans and turned it into such an embarrassment to this fandom and to our show.

So, never fear, we're staying on it. As long as that word "Official" stays in the title. The minute that comes down, and only then, we'll be very, very happy to leave them alone to wallow in their stink.

Read more...

Smells Fishy to Me

As you all know, I call myself **mod edit**-biscuit, and my journal **mod edit**-biscuitland is open to all who want to post here, some taking the name **mod edit** bitch with pride. It's come to my attention that the word **mod edit** has recently been bandied about in certain forums. And for some unknown reason sparked a bout of mod retaliation. Pretty darn amusing. I mean don't these mods have better things to do with their time? Apparently you can't type **mod edit** anymore, or **mod edit**-biscuit. It's become heretical. Even trying to be passive aggressive and type how much you hate **mod edit** and how it doesn't taste good or how **mod edit** stinks, or you dislike going **mod edit**-ing brings out the swinging axes of censorship. But rejoice my friends and foes, you can always use cod, or haddock or even the humble sardine if you must mention me in sekrit code. It's rather flattering that I have become She Who Must Not Be Named in certain circles.

Oh, and for your information. **mod edit** is brain food. Read more...

More Insanity from the Fuse Padded Rooms

Posting this for all and sundry to see. Leah Kate's collection of skate mentions in reviews and recaps for the finale. Why? Because the Fuse Nazi's struck again, and nothing gets my hackles up faster than those morons trying to gag the Pro-Skate, Pro-Sawyer community.

I know their justification for their discrimination is now that I brought their wrath onto the Skater community. For that I apologize. It was not my intention to get other Skate fans in trouble (unless they wanted to be). But, my fellow geese, there comes a time when you have to tell the bullies who kick you around that enough's enough. Which came first the chicken or the egg? Someone had to speak out and stand up for the right for Skaters to get their message across to other readers and to the VIP's. They hide behind their arbitrary and constantly changing rules, but the bottom line is, it's their playground, their sandbox. That's why I made one of my own. And everyone's invited. Make your own sandcastles. No one's going to stomp on them here, or if they do, you can kick 'em right back.

In the name of political correctness and board etiquette the Fuselage mods have turned the place into a quagmire where fans are discriminated against by ship and character preference. And apparently, by their own admission, for the petty reason that a poster on a different site altogether on the internet pointed out the absurdity of their conduct and rationalizations. Blanket discrimination. What a great, uplifting role model for the rest of Lost fandom to follow.



I wish I had spoilers to bring, but alas... no. Just for the hell of it, though, I thought I'd post this long compilation of a bunch of different media/blog reviews of the finale. It's nice to see what non-shippers and average viewers think about the romance stuff on the show sometimes. Some of these interpretations are pretty pro-Skate. (And I only copied and pasted the ship-related and Kate and/or Sawyer stuff, that's why it'll seem choppy. To see the complete reviews, just follow the links. )

My favorite one is the reviewer who wants Kate to choose between Sawyer's "sausage" and Jack's "jalapeno." No comment necessary.

Quote:
As the group continues the hike to the radio tower Kate stops with Sawyer and asks him what happened. Sawyer has been a bit un-Sawyer like lately, even referring to Freckles as Kate. Clearly killing Locke’s father is taking it’s toll on James Ford, and when Kate says she wants to go back to check why there were only two explosions he tells her he doesn’t want to go. Back with the group Sawyer tells Jack he’s going back. Kate has the same question everyone else did…why now when you just said you didn’t want to go back? He tells her he didn’t want to go with her. Jack doesn’t think it’s a good idea to go back unarmed, but Juliet steps up and says she knows of a weapon cache nearby. Jack let’s Sawyer and Juliet leave, but not before Juliet kisses him. Maybe it was just me, but I didn’t notice Jack enjoying it all that much.

As Juliet leads Sawyer back to the beach they exchange quips. Nice to know that the Sawyer we know and love is still around, but it appears to be more clearly a façade than ever before. Juliet reveals that there is no weapon cache. Hurley then shows up to offer his help. He says that he simply wants to help. Sawyer looks at him and says, “Look at you Hugo…do you want to get us killed?” Hurley’s looked heartbreakingly devestated as he turned around and headed back. James Ford might have treated his friend like a jerk, but it truly appears he doesn’t want to risk anyone else getting hurt. He’s protecting him.

http://www.cinemablend.com/television/TV-Recap-Lost-Season-Finale-Through-The-Looking-Glass-4384.html

Quote:
Sawyer gets his hero on a bit when he decides to turn back for Sayid and co. When he tells Kate that he doesn't want her along, she's the only person who doesn't realize he's just saying that to protect her. He does take the even-more-smug-than-usual Juliet, and even poor faithful Hurley. And surprise, it ends up being Hurley who saves the day, running down one of the Other bad guys with that old Dharma VW Bus. They get the upper hand on the Others and manage to rescue the obviously-not-dead guys.

Lost in 60 Seconds:
Jack finally fesses up and tells Kate that he loves her. The surprise here is that he does it in a simple, touching, and remarkably unwhiny way. On the other hand, Jack also kisses Juliet, in front of Kate. What is up with you, guy?

http://blog.meevee.com/my_weblog/2007/05/lost_this_space.html

Quote:
"We made a mistake," glum Jack told a supermodel-looking Kate, who was almost unrecognizable with all that make-up she had packed on. "We were not supposed to leave!"

So, after trying so hard to get off the freaky island, Jack wants to go back.
But why?

Does he miss the jungle? Hurley's stench? Sawyer's stubble? And who was in the coffin? And was that really Walt Locke saw? Was Ben's prediction of doom and gloom correct? Why doesn't The One-Eyed French Guy ever die? Did Kate have a massive injection of collagen in her lips?

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/thompson/entries/2007/05/losts_finale_ba.html

Quote:
When the castaways realized something had gone wrong at the beach, Kate wanted to go back, and wanted Sawyer to go with her. The shaggy con man — sleepwalking through life since killing Anthony Cooper in ''The Brig'' — seemed not to care. But like the latter-day Han Solo that he is, Sawyer roused himself to reluctant valor, though he refused to take his Princess Leia with him. Jack later had to spell it out for her: ''He only wanted to protect you.'' Then, the whopper: ''I love you,'' the doc told Kate. Though she didn't say it, Kate's eyes finished the implied Empire Strikes Back homage: I know, they said. It hit me like Cupid's arrow: All these weeks of Jack cozying up to Juliet may have been a ruse, perhaps an attempt to draw info out of the former Other. Clearly, next season will focus on the Jack-Kate-Juliet-Sawyer quadrangle.

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20040061_2,00.html

Quote:
Is the "he" referenced at Kate's home Sawyer? Or is Sawyer the guy in the coffin?

Me? I think it's Sawyer at home and Ben in the coffin. Ben's short, the casket was small, and nobody in the States knows him, which would explain the empty funeral.

I could be very wrong. But unanswered big questions are part of the show's intrigue. There was no cliffhanger this season. Cliffhangers are little and cheap and uninventive.

Instead, Lost provided a comfortable closer tinged with an ominous tone struck by Ben's insistence that the crash survivors had brought on an unthinkable terror by contacting outside forces.
Satisfying and mysterious.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/entertainment/4833839.html

Quote:
CUT TO the Losties walking up the hill. Sawyer announces he plans on returning to the beach. Jack says no but Sawyer isn’t asking for permission. Kate gets upset because she had just fought with Sawyer. She wanted to go back but he refused. He also made a reference to the fact that he would not be a “proud papa” if Kate ends up pregnant. Therefore, Kate and Sawyer are really on the outs. So sad because I really like them rolling in the hay together. It made things really interesting. The plan seems stupid to Jack: 1 man, no guns and 3 friends held hostage. This is a recipe for disaster. Too bad for Jack, his girlfriend Juliet comes forward saying she knows where Sawyer can get guns. She will lead him back to the camp, stopping to get guns along the way. Juliet and Jack kiss goodbye passionately. Kate watches full of jealousy. KATE STOP! Sawyer and you are meant to be. Stop fighting destiny. Criminal on criminal action is where its at. Duh.

On the hike, Jack tells Kate that Sawyer is just trying to protect her by being mean. He didn’t mean to leave her or say those rude things. Kate wants to know how Jack could possibly know that…it’s because that’s why Jack told her not to come back for him. Kate tells Jack that Sawyer would never defend Jack to her. Jack responds, “Because I love you.” Paternal love? Brother/sister love? Who knows, his expression is as vague as the look he gives her. People must be taking crazy pills. There is too much going on for these heartfelt emotions to get in the way. BEN IS ABOUT TO STOP YOU PEOPLE!!! AHHHH.

--------------

He hopes that Kate went to the funeral of BLANK - - why blank? Because they never tell us who. Stingy Lost Writers. Apparently, the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 got a golden pass to travel as much as they want. Jack goes because he wants to die. He declares, “We made a mistake.” Kate says she has to go and “he’s” going to be wondering where she is. Who’s he? Sawyer I hope. At first, I thought it would be Sawyer’s funeral. But I want Sawyer to live a fulfilled life since he had such a horrible childhood.

http://tvcocktail.ivillage.com/entertainment/2007/05/lost_recap_through_the_looking.html

Quote:
But just what are we seeing?
Here are a few possibilities.

1 - It's a true flash forward of what will happen when the survivors are rescued. Kate will wind up with a mystery guy (likely Sawyer), and Jack will be stuck in a hellish existence regretting his rescue.

2 - It's a what-if scenario. Perhaps next season will feature flash forwards of dire consequences for the survivors if they continue on their path toward this particular rescue scenario, Desmond has shown that the future can be changed, but how much is unchangeable. Will the survivors ever have real happiness after rescue?

3 - A big problem with Jack's "flashbacks" is that he tells one doctor to call his father. Yet, Jack's dad died before Jack ever crashed on the island. So if this is truly a "what happened after", then his father should be dead. Perhaps Jack is drunk and forgetful, demonstrating how horrible his life has become. Maybe it's a parallel universe. Who knows?

Either way, Lost has shown the ugly truth to its viewers. We don't want the survivors to be rescued.

Lost is about family. The survivors are an unconventional family. No one is truly alone. Everything that's happened has depended on one member helping another. A rescue would break up that family.

Let's face it. We're a part of that family. So rescue may be the carrot on the stick, but we're not ready to quit whipping the horse just yet.

http://blogs.tuscaloosanews.com/default.asp?item=608400

Quote:
Apparently, everyone gets off the island. We know this because the show’s usual flashback was a FLASH FORWARD!!!! We saw Jack, in full beard form, breaking down after some major event forced him to think about jumping off a bridge. Apparently, someone died, someone he didn’t really like. And then, when all seemed lost (ha ha), he called someone on the phone and asked the person to meet him at the airport. A fancy car pulled up behind Jack’s Jeep, and Kate got out! At first, I thought the two knew each other before the crash, but we quickly found out that this was a post-crash meeting, when Kate cleaned up wonderfully and was married to someone we probably know. Jack wanted to go back to the island because he hasn’t lived much of a life since. We’re left with him at the airport wishing he could go back.

And now, back to the present. Lots of double twists and turns. It was thought that Sayid, Bernard and Jin were shot dead. But the Others shot bullets into the sand instead. Then Hurley came to the rescue in the VW bus, running over one of the Others. Then Sayid snapped another’s neck and Sawyer shot Tom Friendly. That one got a cheer out of me. That one was richly deserved. Tom started this whole business when he stole Walt from the raft.

http://regulus2.azstarnet.com/blogs/remotecontrolled/4064/lost----the-season-finale-to-end-em-all

Quote:
Also, who died? In the "flashbacks", Jack went to a funeral home for someone's viewing, but they never revealed who it was. Might it have been Locke? I thought it might have been Sawyer, but then Kate said that she had to get back to "him". I would assume that if Kate isn't with Jack when they leave the island, she is probably with Sawyer.
Now the speculation begins.
What will happen next season?

http://blog.pennlive.com/cyberscribble/2007/05/stepping_through_the_looking_g.html


Quote:
4) Has Sawyer’s experience killing Locke’s father and the man responsible for his mother’s death turned him into a killer? Sawyer killed off Tom in last night’s finale without flinching leaving Juliet and Hurley a bit blown away. (no pun intended) And even Kate commented on Sawyer’s withdrawn behavior post-Locke episode. Will this have a long-term effect on the former con with a heart of gold? Has the island transformed him into a killer with a heart of stone?

6) Jack/Sawyer/Juliet/Kate Love Quadrangle: Jack has always loved Kate (he tells her so in the season finale), but she clearly loves Sawyer. In the future episodes, he is not with Kate, but hung up on her in some capacity, even if it is just the island connection. We don’t know about Sawyer and Juliet, but Kate alludes to a “he” waiting for her in the future sequences so perhaps she ended up with Sawyer. I don’t think Jack and Juliet ended up together. Maybe Juliet died, but since he didn’t really love her I guess it’s a non-issue.

http://bostonnow.com/community/blogs/amaldo/2007/05/24/a-lost-season-finale-of-lockeness-proportions-secrets-revealed-analyzed/

Quote:
I only really appreciated the flash-forward at the end, when zonked-out bearded bum Jack met up with Kate, who looked like she sprinted directly from the rescue vessel to a Kiehl's counter. Otherwise the main things that it showed me was...
a) regardless of whether Jack's all sweaty and angry on an island, or hairy and stumbly on OxyContin, he's getting really hard to stomach; and
b) something went terribly wrong.
Also, guys? If you find yourself on a long trek with two handsome gals you're interested in, don't kiss one on the mouth and then tell the other you love her. It's not going to help your case.

--------------

--Sawyer murdering Tom in cold blood made my arm hairs stand on end but...man, the guy really had it coming.

--OK, I have to admit: Juliet and Ben went from being the worst part of this season to one of the best reasons to watch. Without question they're a main reason that I'm staying in this loveless marriage. The other is the hope that I'll see more Bernard and more Rose, who filled my heart with joy by lipping off to Jack. Somebody needed to. Damn.

http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/tv/archives/115820.asp

Quote:
On the subject of sexuality, when is the whole Jack-Kate-Sawyer triangle going to culminate in some kind of definitive relationship? There’s been plenty of to-ing and fro-ing from the disturbed temptress Kate, especially now that Juliet has arrived on the scene to absorb much of Jack’s energies. Sort it out Kate goddammit – either go for the Sawyer sausage or the Jack jalapeño – and stop trying to nibble away at both! Still, at least Claire isn’t after Jack as well. That would be fairly incestuous (and undeniably entertaining) given that they’re actually half brother and sister – but neither of them know it yet.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/a58199/cult-spy-the-unsolved-lost-mysteries.html


Quote:
And to whom is Kate married? It's not Jack; maybe it's Sawyer, but knowing this show, it could be the unlucky lottery winner Hurley for all we know.

http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070525/MCTV/705250371/1004/LIFE

Quote:
The last two hours of "Lost" also kicked butt and palpitated the heart. Walt, whose growth spurt since he was last seen on the island has given him the proportions of the late Mr. Eko, talked Locke out of the grisly mass grave and back into action. Sawyer proved he could be the hero we always knew was just beneath his bad-boy surface. For the second week in a row, Charlie reduced The Insider to tears with his leave-taking (and the preparations). Get Dominic Monaghan an Emmy nomination. So satisfying was it when Jack gave Ben the long-overdue beat-down that The Insider dispensed with a second antidepressant in three days. The question(s) left by finale flash-forwards focused on Jack are tantalizing and bittersweet and exactly what true "Lost" fans savor. Now that Jack has told Kate he loves her (on the island) and been rebuffed by Kate (in the flash-forward), the romantic triangle has been re-established. But if it's Sawyer in that flash-forward casket, The Insider fears she will be doubling the antidepressants at some point in the future.

http://www.tvweek.com/article.cms?articleId=32010


Quote:
SAY WHAT? Among the evening's more confounding announcements: Juliet telling Sawyer that The Others were building a runway; Mikhail saying to Bonnie and Greta, "I thought you were on assignment in Canada!"; Jack talking to the doctor about his father as if Christian is still alive; and pretty much the entire closing conversation between Jack and Kate. (When she said "he" was waiting for her, did she mean Sawyer? It certainly sounded as if it was someone Jack knows.)

http://www.northjersey.com

Quote:
THE GAME CHANGES: And, yes, the moment that changed everything: the person Jack’s been calling all episode shows up and it’s … Kate. What? I’ll admit that for a second I was angry, thinking, “They knew each other before they got on the island? That’s nonsense. This is bull—“ and then I realized what we all realized. This wasn’t a flashback but a flash forward. Kate and Jack get off the island, Kate’s with some “he” now, and Jack is utterly miserable. Oh, and there was a funeral for somebody (Locke? Michael? Ben??) and only Jack attended.

http://television.gearlive.com/tvenvy/article/q207-lost-through-the-looking-glass-davids-top-moments/

Mod deletion reason given: Infringement of 3rd party copyright. Even though no article was reprinted in its entirety, only snippets of published reviews were posted with a link to the full review provided. So...what gives?



Addendum: One of Halfreak's comments gave me a chuckle, Hi-larious - "i don't agree with the Jaters but i dont need to demean them b/c of their beliefs any more than i would demean another religion."

Jate is a religion now? Talk about being whacked out and suped up on happy juice. Seriously, that trivializes all other actual bonafide religions out there. WTF? Do we have Fundamentalist vs Pentecostal vs Evangelical denominations now? Tell me, are you an Orthodox Bubblehead or Heterodox? Shipping two fictional TV characters is NOT a frakking religious or spiritual experience, thank you very much. Although the Bubbleheads do seem to display cult-like fanatical tendencies.

And you wonder why people continue to point and laugh at such ridiculous comments. Read more...

Another Skate Post Lost

Although technically this was a Kate post, I still wanna honor it for being cruelly cut down by the Mod Squad before Gregg had a chance to peruse it. R.I.P little post that tried...

"Dear Gregg,
I am a Lurker in most of the Lost forums around the place and at the moment there seems to be one very dominant topic on the top of every bodies posts. What’s happening to Kate?
Back in season 1 she was this strong, amazing character who stood up for herself and had her own opinion, but there has been a definite decline in her strength. From that episode she morphed and slowly became the insecure, feeble, fickle character we see before us now. She seems desperate for Jack’s approval and acceptance even though he hasn’t really treated her very well, even leaving her prisoner to get himself home. Reading different peoples opinion lead me to try and pinpoint the moment this conversion began and I think it started when he reprimanded her for going against his word in The Hunting Party, since then she has become childlike whenever around Jack. Don’t get me wrong I still love her and I still think she is incredible when she is with Sayid or Locke or Hurley or Sun or anyone except when she is with Jack (and vice versa), when with him she looses that and becomes someone different entirely, its as if her strength crumbles in front of him leaving her vulnerable, belittled and unable to string two words together on her own opinion.
So my question is this for a reason? Is she meant to be coming across like this? Do Damon and Carlton have a direction for Kate? (I don’t want a spoiler a simple yes or no. So my post doesn’t get deleted.)
I’m so worried and sad for Kate’s character.
Thanks Gregg!"

Read more...

Another Skate Post Bites the Dust

Keep them PM's coming gals. The fish never sleeps. Read 'em and weep. Another post hacked to pieces with the excuse it was breaking some rule. But see for yourself what was cut out and YOU decide if it was fair enough. Poor Gregg, you are being fed a sadly sanitized version of what people really think of the show.

"Hi Gregg,

I guess I'm one of those easy to please fans of the show who really liked the send off given to Nikki and Paulo. It was a fun episode with a slightly creepy mystery undertone. Loved the CSI team of Hurley, Jin and Sawyer trying not to "mess up the crime scene". **MOD edited** (Interesting though that people were quick to suspect Sawyer again. I guess he's still reaping a bit of the Island cosmic payback for his past actions. He sure deserved that slap from Sun though.)

Let me just say that I've been enjoying the development of Sawyer's character independent of his romance with Kate. **MOD edited**(I saw some real (if small) progess in this last episode and it's heartened me to think that Sawyer might be developing more ties on the island and realising that he can't be a social outcast forever.)

I can't wait for Kate to come back into the mix though, since I really enjoy their chemistry and interaction. **MOD edited** (I'm hoping that she will see some of the changes he's made on his own.) I'm also keen to see Jack and Sawyer interact again after so much has happened. I miss their rival brothers dynamic a great deal too.

**MOD edited**(I'm still waiting for someone to acknowledge and appreciate some of Sawyer's sacrifices and bravery from the mini arc though (since Jack's has been) - you hinted that something like that was coming up. I guess I need to keep waiting and watching for it.)

My only disappointment in recent storylines has been Kate's seeming bland acceptance of Jack abandoning her (and Sayid) as a prisoner to the Others**MOD edited**.(when we know she greatly fears captivity and after the trauma she's been through at their hands. Also that she seemed to accept Jack's claim it was her fault that he trusted the Others. Am I supposed to believe she would not feel a tiny bit betrayed by his actions? It did not sit well with me at all.)

However, I will endeavour to trust that the writers know where they are going with this.

Locke the Grey is back after all, and that leaves me a happy camper for sure with this season's arc!!

P.S. I hope you had a great time at the Fuselage shinding."

HALFREK'S REASONS FOR THE MOD EDITS: Shipper stuff.

That was too shippery, Halfrek? Shipper stuff my frakking ass.

Read more...

The Empire Strikes Back

However would the world keep spinning, were it not populated with a sufficient number of demigods to keep the rabble in order? Who knows what might happen? Things might break out in free expression. Right here in the U. S. of A.! We can’t have that ladies and gentlemen. Some things must be avoided at all costs. Lucky for us, there is a diligent group of dedicated Stormtroopers prepared to do battle on our behalf over on The Fuselage.

It seems that an evil society of rebels who call themselves Skaters are attempting to subvert the tranquility of the threads of The Fuselage by (OMG, I’m not sure I can say it) actually declaring their admiration and allegiance for (can you believe it?!) someone OTHER than Jack and Jate!

I know, I know, it’s shocking, but I assure you, it’s true. These arrogant upstarts not only pledge their support to Skate and that most vile of villains, Sawyer, but they have actually had the audacity to take their treasonous prattle to holy of holies! The sanctified VIP threads!

I bring you the following examples, directly from the front lines of this ugly battlefront. See for yourselves how you are protected by the valiant efforts of Empress Karri Palpatine, Darth Halfrek and her loyal Stormtrooper forces.

New regulations have been put in place and enforced recently in the VIP section, and it is up to every truly loyal citizen of the Fuse to refrain from overstepping these arbitrary and yet abso-frakking-lutely necessary additions (if you don't have a clue what these new restrictions are, shame on you). 'Character Advocacy' and 'Poster Speculations' gag rules have been especially effective in silencing the evil rebel scum from getting their message heard.

Here is an example of a nicely sanitized entry, unfortunately it had to be removed because it was inciting discord. Apparently the original poster asked why their post was hacked to pieces and was told not to pursue their heinous character agenda:

Can’t link to it, it was removed after massive edits --

Outlawsinlove:

Gregg,
I have a question. In the past posts you have mentioned that Sawyers good deeds will be acknowledged (or atleast come to play in some way). I truly hope this happens,**MOD edited to remove request for spoiler info. no Gregg cannot answer this for you**

** MOD edited to remove character advocacy comments**

**MOD edited to remove another request for spoilers**. I'm sorry, but im sick of Jack being the hero all the time. **MOD edited to remove character advocacy posts and other character bashing** Kate needs to open her eyes and see what Sawyer has sacrificed for her. Its not just Jack who does the sacrificing. Will this really be addressed? **MOD edited to remove request for spoilers**

I never wrote to you before , Gregg. It would thrill me if I could hear from you. Would love to hear your thoughts on this subject.
************************************************************

Another rebel scum post:

From blondee
http://thefuselage.com/Threaded/showthread.php?t=71522
Hey Gregg so you write the recaps for the ABC site, I have a beef with the SIASL one because you have somehow stated as fact that Sawyer was right about Kate sleeping with him because he was going to die, I get that to an extent because of their situation being as it was she may have thought it was a now or never situation!

However it can also be taken that you were impling that this was the ONLY reason she did it & I respectfully have to disagree because from how hurt Kate looked when Sawyer accused her of this **MOD edited to remove poster speculations**-- it shows that there were real genuine feelings behind the whole situation & I don't think we should be lead to believe otherwise because an argument can be made that it happened faster than it may have had they not been in this situation but I don't think Kate's feelings for Sawyer should be in question in this whole scenario!--

Thanks for your time Gregg!
Hope that was not to harsh!
These are but two recent examples. More posts have been edited to death and even deleted completely (some of which have been referenced on my journal).

It has been brought to my attention from several sources, that there have been some posts which have curiously slipped through the policing process, completely unedited or unmodified in any way. I would be remiss if I didn't bring these to the attention of those in charge so that they too can be summarily hacked to pieces and/or deleted. Strange that they haven't been already, but then again they support Jack and Jate, so I guess they got a Galactic Empire free-pass -- warning may be long-winded (despite some entries being edited down for brevity), scroll down if your attention span is that of a Gungan's:

******************************************************************

http://www.thefuselage.com/Threaded/showthread.php?t=64183

Angry Disappointed...
Not exactly the cliffhanger I was expecting...loved Pickett though. This was really disappointing and frankly after two years, I expected better. Kate's character has been prostituted this season. Pity sex with Sawyer for ratings? Ewwww. The writers have beaten down the characters so much this season and seperated them for so long, that the fans feel beaten down as well and the ratings have dropped this season. It is obvious to me that the writers chose to punch the Jaters in the gut with this episode. I don't know how you can expect your fanbase to return months later after this episode. I don't know that I feel like taking it much longer...don't know that I'll still be "lost" in February. Guess I can just watch the good old days from Season One (and even most of Season Two) when the writing was better and the character development made sense.

Very disappointed, but only one of many...


FB Reasons: Character bashing. Writer bashing. Ship Advocacy.

****************************************************************************

http://thefuselage.com/Threaded/showthread.php?t=70321

He does seem to have a creepy, kind of stalking thing going on with the women in his life, but I suppose if they didn't always deceive him he wouldn't have to resort to such obsessive behavior.

Why do the writers continue to make Kate look like a dingy, flighty, basket-case of a woman? What kind of woman stands there and listens to a comment like that and doesn't respond one way or another? If Sawyer's accusation weren't true a woman with some self-respect, not to mention some sense would've immediately been up in his face letting him know just how far off the mark he was and if it were true she would've shown some class or dignity and offered up an explanation or an apology, but not our Kate, she stands there like and some clueless, timid, helpless woman and says nothing.

Why? Oh, and while she should've punched him for sending away their best chance at locating the Other's and Jack in a timely manner, she also should've thanked him for offering her a way out if that's what she wants. Sawyer finally does something that could be considered somewhat noble by letting go of the woman he loves if that's what she wants and the woman stands there looking dumbfounded.
Are the writers ever going to allow Kate to grow up and take responsibility for the things she does?

FB Reasons: Incredible level of character bashing....which at least Gregg took note of, even if the mods were too stupid to notice. Character Advocacy. Not to mention the part that excused and therefore advocated stalking and violence against women.

********************************************************************************

From jate4evr

I know we can sometimes seem frustrated (sorry about the trouble you've been given about your ABC synopsis! Personally, as a Jack/Kate fan, I didn't mind it at all)

I also loved the Jack/Kate scene in Not In Portland. I don't know if it's the fact that Evangelline and Matthew are just such amazing actors, or because the storyline between Kate and Jack is so compelling (probably both!), but I'm just so drawn to those two characters and their relationship together. Without sounding TOO shippery, I have to say I am a huge fan of theirs, and had been (before Not in Portland) pretty bummed that the episodes had them seeing each other very little (and that Kate and Sawyer got it on.... ), but after this episode, my faith in the two of them as a couple was totally restored - it was clear to me from their "walkie-talkie counting to 5" scene that those two are just meant to be... sure hope their relationship will continue to grow and surprise us down the line.

FB Reasons: Both ship advocacy and ship bashing.

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http://www.thefuselage.com/Threaded/showthread.php?t=64617


Why Now?
In regards to the Kate/Sawyer situation, I have to ask, why now? ... Even in season three, Kate spent most of her time rolling her eyes at Sawyer and rebuffing his advances, so I’m completely confused at her decision to just have sex with him in a cage in broad daylight, no less. I’m just wondering if there is something else that I should have picked up on in regards to Kate’s feelings about Sawyer. Personally, I think Kate made a major mistake in a very traumatic situation, and it’s going to take a very long time for me to ever look at her character in a positive light again. I just feel like this triangle resolution could have played out in a way that didn’t destroy her character to this extent, and I felt like it was completely unnecessary for Jack to have to see it. I didn’t think I could feel any worse for him after his flashbacks this season, but this has topped that.

...Jack and Kate’s story had an innocence that is severely lacking on tv right now (with the exception of The Office’s Jim and Pam), and it’s sad to see that disappear with one scene.
FB Reasons: Character bashing, Character Advocacy, Ship Advocacy.

**********************************************************************************
http://www.thefuselage.com/Threaded/showthread.php?t=64313

About Jack...
About last night episode, I don't understand it & wish that if this was the way the writers wanted to go they had either started it sooner (meaning last season) or not given us so much Jate growth last season, at this point its ask too much from an already overwhelmed fan base to still want Kate with Jack after what happened, it will never be the same again, so even with the finale, the triangle did end to most of us, after the pain and hurt the lastest episodes caused its not worth it anymore.

It seems everytime the writers creat a romance for Jack later on they sacrifice it for another history. That is alienating us Jack fans and is making he look like pathetic in the general fans eyes ,and he is supposed to be the hero, the leader, a character to admire, not to find "pathetic". And I hate seeing Jack in pain. It seems like he is always being hurt by those he loves. I hate this, Jack dont deserves this. So will Jack finally get some real, honest love ? - instead of emotional games and one that WONT sleep with Sawyer?

FB Reasons: Ship Advocacy, Character Advocacy, Asking for spoilers.

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http://www.thefuselage.com/Threaded/showthread.php?p=1359189#post1359189

Ouch. I get it. At least I think I do. She made her choice & as tptb have forewarned us it's definitive & real. But I just wonder if it was necessary to pour an extra amount of salt into the wounds of those who were hoping for Jack & Kate? I may not agree with her choice or frankly understand it, but I accept it. I just wish that it didn't have to come at such a brutal expense.

I am trying to enjoy the show as a whole now rather than being so heavily invested in the relationship between Jack & Kate.

Perhaps that will become easier once we get back to the main land. I had hoped that my feelings towards Kate choosing Sawyer would have healed by this point, but they haven't. I don't really understand it even though I know and appreciate that there is a large fan base out there for them.

There was something so beautiful about these two characters that has been somewhat tarnished for me. But there are so many fans here that again what I see and feel is often exact opposite of so many others.

I do hope that even though she made her choice, the relationship, the bond that Jack & Kate shared from the very first moment they met, will at least be kept alive in some small fashion. It would be such a waste of great chemistry and terrific story telling. I would truly miss it if it were gone forever.

FB Reasons: Ship advocacy and bashing.

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http://thefuselage.com/Threaded/showthread.php?t=71202

I know I'm probably talking about little things that just some people may notice,but I think that if you look hard enough,you can totally see how much Jack influences Kate.How much those two are into each other (how to forget the amazing scene through the glass..?)

I think it's proof of the inexplicable and irrational 'thing' that K&J have between them.It's not just a matter of 'love'.I belive that what Kate has with Jack,is something bigger than love.Something deeper than attraction,care,or passion.They've been able to change each other.And,as the beautiful walkie talkie scene in NIP showed so amazingly,if Jack has in some way fixed and saved Kate,I belive now it's HER turn to save him.Kate is not the same girl who crashed on the island anymore. It's been great so far,to see her fighting her demons. Obviously her redemption is not complete yet,but she'll get there. Loving Kate,I can't help but liking the healthy effect,that Jack has on her. And being a Jater,I obviously loved how determined Kate was to bring Jack back.She didn't waste a second.She changed her clothes and she headed off into the jungle.No matter if she has something going on with Sawyer,if she's exhausted,or happy to be 'home'.Her mind is just on one thing.Her priority is going back,to Jack.It's like a suicide mission,but she doesn't seem to care.She's not even scared to face the Others again.Probably 'cause the idea of not saving Jack, scares her a lot more.

WOW..this is becoming a pretty long post! Did I have a point? yep,my point was that even though Jack&Kate are separated since..(the beginning of times..? )and Jaters should receive an Oscar for the patience it's beautiful to see how much these two characters are the same,at heart. it's good to see how much Jack is able to effect Kate,how much fire he's able to bring out of her even when he's not (physically) with her,and how much she's been able to change herself THROUGH him.And once more,It's good to see KATE back,it's good to see how Jack-ish (or should I say Kat-ish? )she is lately! I can't wait for her rescue mission to succeed. God only knows how much Jack deserves to see that Kate has not abandoned him.

As always,thanks for your time Gregg! Thinking about it, I guess you could even steal to the Jaters their 'Oscar for Patience' You gotta have plenty of it to answer to all our posts!
FB Reasons: Massive amounts of Ship Advocacy, Poster speculation up the wazoo.

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http://thefuselage.com/Threaded/showthread.php?t=71306

I'm Sulking -- But I'll Get Over It

Plus, it seemed weird to be back on "our" island with no Jack.

A question, though: why did Locke and Sayid tell Kate that she was right when she said they hadn't been motivated to look for Jack? (They told her she was wrong about them not knowing where to look.) Wasn't it Locke who, just a few, short episodes ago, made a speech about organizing a search party to look for all three kidnapped Losties? Why the sudden apathy in regard to Jack's whereabouts and safety?

Stupid Locke.

Also, when can I look forward to Paulo and Nikki being killed?
FB Reasons: Character Advocacy, Character bashing, Asking for Spoilers.

****************************************************************************

These are just a tiny sample of the kind of posts which have been allowed to stand with no Mod intervention in the VIP section. It seems to me that the process of determining what is acceptable and what is not is far more arbitrary and SUBJECTIVE than the Stormtroopers would have us believe.

A Lone Voice in the Wilderness:

Well respected Lost citizen Leah Kate was concerned about these new regulations, and apparent bias and wrote a very eloquent letter to the Fuselate Senate:

http://thefuselage.com/Threaded/showthread.php?t=72102

I'll admit, I don't post here at the Fuse very often, because I don't find it to be a very open atmosphere for discussion. I do, however, enjoy reading the posts to Gregg Nations and his responses to them, since he's the only VIP who regularly interacts with viewers here. This morning, I read a post asking about the possibility of Sawyer being recognized for his heroic actions, and complaining about how Jack seems to receive all Kate's admiration while Sawyer's sacrifices go unnoticed.

Later, I saw that this post had been mod edited to a bare fraction of the original, with only a few sporadic sentences left in place. Some of the reasons are the common ones - edited for asking about spoilers (though it seems that Gregg Nations is a big boy and could probably decide for himself whether he wants to reply to such questions, without needing to be protected from them); edited for character "bashing" (though I don't recall any bashing in the post, and it seems odd that this rule applies to Jack, but not to, say, Kate when she's labeled a prostitute, in a post that was allowed to remain as it was).

The one that made me pause in surprise, though, was one I don't recall seeing before: mod edited for "character advocacy." What exactly does this mean? I'm familiar with the long-standing rule about not advocating relationships (another issue of some curious double-standards in enforcement), but character advocacy? The reason most people watch the show and become invested in it is because of the characters. Are we now forbidden to express our support and enjoyment of our favorites for fear of "advocating" them? On a website that was specifically designed for the purpose of providing a viewer pipeline to the creators of those characters, no less? And it's also strange how the advocacy ofJack never seems to be much of a problem for the mods. I've seen posts from supporters actually asking for more of "The Jack Show" left untouched. So how is that not considered advocacy, yet a post supporting storylines where Sawyer's deeds are recognized is?

I'm aware that the mods retain the right to do just about whatever they want in terms of editing, and are not required to offer any justification for their actions. But I still wanted to at least express how saddened I and many others are at the fact that on this site, one of the only sites of its nature that I'm aware of, our honest and forthright opinions, criticisms, and concerns about Lost are edited in such a seemingly arbitrary manner to be turned into shiny happy propagandistic blather.

My brother was browsing through my web bookmarks a few days ago, and when he came across the Fuselage he read the description and said, "Wow, you actually get to talk to the people who make the show and tell them what you think? That's so cool!" My only response was, "You would think so, wouldn't you?"

Darth Halfrek's reply:

Thank you for pointing out the post was over edited, it should have been removed as we usually do with any post that is mostly asking for spoilers. That oversight has been corrected. As for the Kate comment, when you see something like that, shouldn't you do your part and report it so that it can be corrected? The moderators of this site can't be everywhere and rely on posters to report things that need removal or editing. If you see something like that, then it should be reported.
It is true, that one would think that you could interact with the VIPs and tell them what you think about the show. However, that only happens if they follow the very clear rules. It is the posters that continually push the limits, slam the moderators and generally trash the site that complain the most about the way things are done here. The site rules are very simple. They have been newly revised in the last 3 months to address a few things like character and TPTB bashing.

Again, let me state, the rules for posting in the VIP section:
don't ask for spoilers.
no shipper info requests or attempts to sway the VIPs to pick one ship over another
Lobbying a VIP to change the direction of the story to suite your idea of a character. You may express your appreciation of a character but not tell the VIPs how the character and show should be. (That is character advocacy).
I think that about covers all of your comments.

It is true, that one would think that you could interact with the VIPs and tell them what you think about the show. However, that only happens if they follow the very clear rules. It is the posters that continually push the limits, slam the moderators and generally trash the site that complain the most about the way things are done here. The site rules are very simple. They have been newly revised in the last 3 months to address a few things like character and TPTB bashing.


I would like to point again to the examples I gave above which clearly contravene the rules as listed by Darth Halfrek. Darth Halfrek's response of 'report it if you have an issue' seems reasonable at first glance. And yet who can forget the massive public spewing of vitriol which resulted after someone presumably did try to report some posts which they felt broke the rules:

http://thefuselage.com/Threaded/showpost.php?p=1360038&postcount=198

all right, i have just about had enough with this shipper war and rudeness when reporting posts that the SKATERS seem to think are over the line.

so i bring you a case study. pay attention class.

show me where in this post where there are vile insults?

Quote:
In regards to the Kate/Sawyer situation, I have to ask, why now? For me, there was a window of opportunity during season two where a relationship or hookup of sorts between them would have been acceptable and believable to almost everyone. I really expected it after Sawyer got back from the raft, but things changed after “The Long Con”. Kate and Jack grew closer, and Kate showed little interest in Sawyer through the rest of the season. Even in season three, Kate spent most of her time rolling her eyes at Sawyer and rebuffing his advances, so I’m completely confused at her decision to just have sex with him in a cage in broad daylight, no less. I’m just wondering if there is something else that I should have picked up on in regards to Kate’s feelings about Sawyer. Personally, I think Kate made a major mistake in a very traumatic situation, and it’s going to take a very long time for me to ever look at her character in a positive light again. I just feel like this triangle resolution could have played out in a way that didn’t destroy her character to this extent, and I felt like it was completely unnecessary for Jack to have to see it. I didn’t think I could feel any worse for him after his flashbacks this season, but this has topped that.


what? no vile insults? wow! maybe that is why it was left?

please note the following in regards to the above post:

* lack of insults for the opposite ship
* lack of persuading comments to sway the VIP to their ship
* lack of rude comments directed towards TPTB


still not sure why was it left and not edited? for a few reasons above that are quite clear really when you stop seeing it as OMG shipper post and see the post as a post.

* the post was completely accepting of what happened in the show.
* they just didnt happen to like the events


nowhere in there did that post go against the RULES for posting shipper posts to the VIPs.

perhaps the poster that reported that post NEEDS to read the Rules again? or at least take off the glasses that they are wearing so that they can see things without the spin that they seem to read everything on this board with.

shipper posting rules for the VIP section:

* we have no problems with any group saying that they are disappointed in a storyline.
* there is to be NO lobbying the VIPs to change the story line in their favor or whatever.
* it is not okay to be whining about lack of your favorite ship/character on screen.
* it is okay if they want to say that they are happy with the way things are going
* the poster should not ask for spoilers. that includes seeking any info about the future of a person/ship/storyline.
* they may not make rude comments about any other ship or storyline.
* it is NOT okay to start with the conspiracy theory posts about the ships/characters and why it doesnt "work" for them personally. doesnt matter if it is about their favorites or other less favorite character/ship.
* it is NOT okay to be reporting every post that mentioned Kate (or any other woman) and some man in the same post that is not the pairing of their choice. ie: Kate/Sawyer, Kate/Jack, Jack/Juliet. (these have been the most troublesome pairings lately)
* it is not okay to be gloating over a storyline at the expense of another group/ship/character.


now onto why MOST of the Skater posts seem to be edited or removed.

well that is easy b/c MOST of them insult the other ship, insult the shippers, insult TPTB, insult the storyline. most of the time the posts are rude and derogatory. if the Skaters would take time to compose a letter that wasnt "in your face" to the VIPs then it would be left...unless it broke any of the points listed.

in conclusion, to the person that reported this post:

the comments in your RP were totally uncalled for. (they will be forwarded to Karri for review in addition to your rude accusatory PM to me.) if you READ the rules again and actually READ the posts you would then see why they were left. it has nothing to do with a bias for Jate and against Skate, it has to do with them actually following the rules, being respectful towards the VIPs, and not rude towards others. something that the posters in this ship could certainly stand to learn.

you can whine all you want to about the imagined bias but most of the time it is a group effort and not one that i do alone. maybe you should take that into consideration before you decide to accuse this mod of being biased or unfair.

Rumor has it that the poster who dared to speak up, and who sparked this particular rant was BANNED for life. Note the condescending tone, the confrontational and totally rude way the 'lesson' was laid down.

They encourage reporting and then penalize those who do? Is it any wonder that Skate citizens are reluctant to come forward and report anything at all?

Final Thoughts:

My fellow Lost citizens, you may have by now realized that I too am one of those cursed rebels who will not sit down, shut up and accept being kicked in the teeth again and again. While I have never had an account on the Fuselage, I do read the threads there, and have many friends who post regularly and who keep me updated on the state of the Empire. I am now getting daily PM's from people who are turning to me to comment on what is happening, simply because I abhor censorship and believe in the right for people to air their opinions, no matter how unpalatable or non-party line they are and they feel frustrated, upset and discriminated against without any recourse to protest or ask why.

I can only conclude that a more sinister purpose is at work here. That of Fuselage Ship cleansing. That's right, these erstwhile rebels are being systematically made to feel unwelcome, to feel like they have no voice at all with which to express their equally valid opinions and ideas. They are being muzzled, simply because they support a lead character and different ship than the other side. You have seen the evidence of bias, hypocrisy and bullying tactics yourselves.

These so-called guardians seem to have more regard for their own feelings of self-importance and righteousness than the ORIGINAL purpose of the board, which is to give ALL fans a place to discuss their feelings and opinions openly about the show and with the VIPs. They are actively driving Sawyer and Skate fans away from their board, and one can only assume it is a deliberate, calculated and intentional act.

Are not all Lost citizens to be treated as equals? I have seen the Empire bend and contort themselves silly to cater to the Non-spoiler folks, or the whining Jaters who take offense at the mere mention that Skate is canon and yet....where is the attempt to make Skaters feel at home, to listen to their concerns or at least to let them have good old positive fun (Avi debacle comes to mind)? You may think it is only I who is aware of this glaring imbalance. I have written about it before. But more and more 'rebels' are seeing the light, recognizing the Fuselage for the nasty, biased place that it is and are speaking out on other forums where they are not treated like misguided insurgents. The truth is spreading. The Fuselage is a joke and the sooner it cleanses itself of its vindictive attitude towards certain sections of fandom, the sooner it will regain some credibility as a haven for ALL devoted Lost fans.

If any of you loyal citizens are truly dissatisfied with the service of these 'hosts', and 'facilitators'. If you feel victimized or discriminated against and despair that you no longer have a voice with which to address your complaints at the Fuselage itself, then I urge you not to remain silent. Speak out against unfair treatment. Let other people know what goes on. Register your protest where it might actually be heard and acknowledged for once:

J.J. Abrams
c/o Bad Robot Television
500 South Buena Vista Street
Building 23, Suite 26
Burbank, CA 91521

Snail mail too slow? How about this ...
fax: 818-560-6325 Read more...

The Saga Continues

Apparently issue was made of some honorary members of the OutKaSt list. Namely Damon's Mother, and Benjamin Linus. Both of whom had expressed Skate support and yet were quite obviously only fun, tongue and cheek additions to the list. Well, since they weren't active posters, a public notice was plastered over the OutKaSt's thread about it by none other than Darth Halfrek. (To be fair, there was a similar if less 'laying down the law' comment on the Couch to veto the addition of Tim Goodman to their list.)

http://www.thefuselage.org/Threaded/showpost.php?p=1424062&postcount=769

lisagwilkins, i was looking over your membership list. it appears that you have some members that have never posted in this ship thread or previous threads. as i stated HERE this is not really how ship rosters should have new members added. in theory then each ship could add whomever they wished ad naseum by adding anyone, everyone and their brother to the list just b/c they like *insert ship name here*. that is not really fair or feasible. i also think that if any other ship did start doing that, that you all would have serious problems/complaints about such a practice. thank you.

To which Lisagwilkins responded with the following:

http://www.thefuselage.org/Threaded/showpost.php?p=1424084&postcount=770

***mod edit

I have been administrator of this thread only since October 17, 2006. All membership numbers before member #216 are out of my control.

Benjamin Linus and Damon Lindeloff's mother were specifically given "honorary memberships" which is clearly stated on the membership list. These were done specifically in response to Ben's comments in Every Man For Himself, and Damon's comments about his mother's preferences on the show, AND in the spirit of good, clean fun. Obviously, by being given "honorary memberships" it's perfectly clear that these two people would not be expected to actually post on the thread.

However, if you are displeased with their presence, please let me know and I will remove them from the membership list.


Note the mod edit. Apparently what was taken out was a request to have been contacted about this via PM rather than clogging up the thread. Then her post was completely deleted, to which she responded with this:

Since my previous reply has been removed, how would you like me to address these issues?

Then Carency stepped in with:

http://www.thefuselage.org/Threaded/showpost.php?p=1424155&postcount=772

The explanation portion of your previous post has been restored.

Per the previous request, the names should be removed. It should be apparent from halfrek's previous post that this is an issue of keeping things fair between ships -- we cannot allow it for one group and not the other, and the lists really shouldn't be a competition for endorsements. The request was directed to you as the current thread administrator, not as an admonishment.

And yet the admonishment still came. She was given infraction points for being disrespectful to the mods and telling them how to do their jobs. Damned rebel upstart for rocking the boat. Can you imagine Banshee ever being treated this way?

Quite frankly, I think any rutting ship or group should be allowed silly honorary memberships. It's all in good fun, right? Or was supposed to be. Competition for endorsements? That's taking things a little seriously ain't it?

But that's not all, Lost citizens...

Another OutKaSt member was reprimanded for breaking the rules recently. LostTVfan posted a link to a blog site where Sawyer's popularity and the results of a character poll were discussed. She wanted to share this with her fellow posters as it's always great to read positive press.

There is the link which was originally posted:

http://www.lostblog.net/lost/tv/show/its-good-to-be-sawyer

Her link was edited out, the reason being : Advertising.

So LostTVfan wrote out the entire text for her fellow posters to see, since the site she'd linked to was a no-no for some reason.

She was mod edited again, reason: removing material under third party copyright.

At this point she was informed she'd been slapped with significant amount of infraction points, presumably for defying their dictate. As usual there was no warning, no gentle slap on the wrist, just points.

Now, upon investigation there IS a rule about copying out whole articles or song lyrics (understandably the Fuselage does not wish to be sued for breach of copyright). And so, LostTVfan took it upon herself to get full permission from the author to resolve the issue. The fruits of her labors can be seen here:

http://www.thefuselage.com/Threaded/showpost.php?p=1426277&postcount=788

Hopefully that will be the end of it. A hullabaloo over a link to a frakking article about Sawyer and his blasphemous popularity.

Can someone please tell me, though, just how the first link was even 'advertising'? The Fuselage rules are stated as follows:

"No SPAM
Do not place ANY advertisements on the forums. This will be considered SPAM and could result in you account being banned. We generally class advertisements or spam as a website with which the person has a personal interest in, or is not a relevant topic of discussion. Also, in consideration of respect for this community and its membership, we will not allow links to other not for profit web sites except within a member's profile or as a small, unobtrusive link in the signature or in our links section. For profit links are expressly prohibited and will be removed and the user possibly banned. If you have a for profit site that you would like to advertise, please contact the administration for advertising rates. The harvesting of poster emails or screen names for the express use in spam, junk mail, pyramid schemes, or other unsolicited emails is prohibited. "

Hmmm, I have seen many a link made to articles and blogs about the Lost characters, the actors, the show, the writers, polls and so on. In various threads all over the Fuselage.

Why was this particular example singled out for such punitive action? Was it originally reported by some poster disgruntled by the pro Sawyer content of the linked article or were the Mods just looking for an excuse to lay the smack down on this unsuspecting Skate poster?

Does this mean that all links to Lost-related media sites and blogs are now classified as 'advertising'? Better watch out kiddies, the Stroomtroopers are out in force, determined to make your day frustrating and decidedly lacking in any kind of fun whatsoever.

Oh, and an interesting sidenote to all of this is the mysterious temporary turning off of the Voting function in the VIP sections. Gregg Nations had asked his fans to vote on the threads so that he would answer those with 3 stars or above since he was a busy man and strapped for time. As was expected the Jaters in particular were very free in voting five stars for any pro-Jack or Jate posts, and voting one stars to lower the pro-Sawyer/Skate posts. Understandably some Skaters noticed this and responded in kind. Juvenile, yes, it was. So was the voting turned off because of these actions? They say it was a glitch and is now back and running. Who knows. But yeah, it's a pity people stoop to such tactics. On both sides. Read more...