Session Start: Fri Feb 18 23:08:48 2000
Session Ident: Mitai ([email protected])
<Mitai> Okay, was the name of this room VOTED on?
<Mitai> Because you have people in near tears in others.

[Over a damned IRC channel name? Jesus, folks, grow up and get over yourselves. What a bunch of dumbass bullshit.]

<`Smoot> Why near tears, if I may?
<Mitai> Hurt that you named the new channel 'not-plotting.'
<Mitai> Instead of something pertaining to the topic of your channel.
* `Smoot shakes his head. I just got done talking to Ali about all this. This is NOT a slam on plotting.
<Mitai> If it's 'not-plotting' then it's what?  All chat, no story-work?
<Mitai> Explain this to me, if it isn't a slam on #plotting.
<`Smoot> Let me drag up what I said before. One moment, please...
<`Smoot> Phry, Samy, and I all agreed on the name, for one.
<`Smoot> * `Smoot shrugs. We made the chan about three weeks ago. It's not a shot. Ever heard the term "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery"?
<`Smoot> <`Smoot> #plotting, whether everyone wants to admit it or not, does what it's intended to do quite well, I've been told. We're emulating that as best we can. We wanted a writing-only channel on IRC, and not everyone can get into #plotting. So we made #not-plotting.
<Mitai> How can you hold that arguement?
<`Smoot> Why shouldn't I be able to?
<Mitai> We made a channel that's VERY centered on writing . . . and we named it "not-plotting."
<Mitai> You might as well have named it "Anti-writing," for all the sense that makes.

[Did you completely miss the point? I mean, did even the trails of the Point Comet elude you? Are you stupid or something? Everyone else got it...]

<`Smoot> I just explained why. We're along the same lines as #plotting, but we're not invite only, so the other writers, the newer ones, can improve so they can be as accepted as the rest of us are.
<Mitai> Exactly.  So naming it 'not-plotting' is a slam on the invite-only room.
<Mitai> AND by the topic no one would EVER GUESS that was what it was for.

[I think everyone got the point pretty easily, actually. Otherwise, no one would've been messaging me.]

<Mitai> Logically, this makes no sense, except to point out, whether spitefully or not, we're brand B, NOT brand A.

[...what?]

<`Smoot> I talked to Ali extensively on this. Has she said anything?
<Mitai> Nup.  Other than she spent an hour wasting her breath talking to a wall when she could have been writing and she's almost angry and hurt enough to cry - or kill things. =)

["And just so you know I'm actually NOT angry, I'll add this little smiley face afterwards. Don't I look all cheery now?" =)   Sheesh. ]

<Mitai> Do you understand my POV, here?
<Mitai> I see your point, but it makes no logical sense.
<Mitai> I understand the room isn't invite - only.  So why not name it #plottingspam?
<Mitai> Or any variation not including a negative?  Don't tell people what it's not; tell them what it is.
<`Smoot> Look, simply, we're not plotting. This is neither a slam or anything else. We're a room LIKE the general consensus of what plotting is, but we're not invite-only, which MIGHT get some pressure off you.
<Mitai> So you're not-plotting.  But you plot.
* Mitai BLINKS. Can you see the inherent contradiction here, or AM I speaking to a wall?
<Mitai> Either accept that it IS, in some way, a slam or a way to express your discontent with plotting, or change the name.

[Um, no? How about I explain, and you listen?]

<`Smoot> I feel exactly the same way, to be honest. Let me reword.
<Mitai> Either way will make me happy and people less upset.

[You act as if I really give a rat's smelly ass what you think.]

<`Smoot> Look, simply, we're not #plotting. This is neither a slam or anything else. We're a room LIKE the general consensus of what #plotting is, but we're not invite-only, which MIGHT get some pressure off you.
* Mitai blinks. Not worried about pressure. We accept all asks for invite equally, and vote, and then decide.

[Sooo... what are you? A channel for KJ and the others to talk, or *gasp* a writing channel?]

<Mitai> So you call yourselves not-plotting. I UNDERSTAND that.  But that's a very narrow way to look at what you've called this room.
* `Smoot shrugs. The real goal, believe it or not, wasn't to enrage everyone. It was to set up an alternative to #plotting, one that wasn't deader than a 120-year-old Spanish whore like #spam! was.
<Mitai> You want to make people happy, and you've created a channel that works.  And I'm happy for you! (and you were voted not accepted by the room, btw, I did ask.)  But what you've NAMED it looks like a slam, from EVERY direction but the one you're keeping.

[Of course I wasn't accepted. I've already explained why.]

<Mitai> I understand that, Smoot.  But your NAME certainly doesn't give that impression.
* `Smoot nods. Well, if I may, it's a name. Can we please share what the point of my chan's name is with everyone, so I don't get ridden out on a rail?
* Mitai can see this isn't going to work too well, then . . . =| You have a lot of people upset about it, but it IS just a name. But they aren't going to be happy about it until you change it, even if you EXPLAIN why you named it (and they'll shoot the same holes I did) and you don't want to have to go to the silly-assed trouble of reregistering the bloody thing with a new name.
* `Smoot nods. I'd really like for everyone to understand that I'm not bashing their precious channel, which they've defended admirably. But Samy, Phrykyh, and I set this thing up to be an alternative for all those, like me, and Jim Smith, and Hex, and Phry, who aren't in #plotting and therefore can't get that help. It's a play on words. I'd rather not change it. It's not an insult.
<Mitai> Yes, but it's only not an insult if you look at it YOUR way.  Which most people aren't going to be willing to do. =\

[I've noticed this fact. No one ever seems to understand the reasons behind anything I do. Like something for the common good.]

* `Smoot sighs. How can I say this without sounding perfectly heartless?
<`Smoot> I'm sorry, but deal? It's not an insult, so don't look at it like one?
<Mitai> And I could respond with, just change it?  It's obviously a slam except to you in your deluded little mind, get over not being in plotting.

[Oooh. Sneaky. Insult me, hypothetically. I should remember that one.]

<Mitai> But we're adults.  And there must be a solution that will make both parties happy.
<`Smoot> Right. For the record, I'd like to add that I only wanted to be in #plotting for the writing help. I've that now, so I don't very well need #plotting that badly anymore.

[And I strongly dislike the whole bureaucracy and whininess of the whole ordeal, but that's not kosher to say to someone's face. Saying it in a rant on my webpage might not be too kosher either, but it's not behind their backs... they can come read.]

<`Smoot> Solution-wise, now that's iffy.
<Mitai> I'm aware of that.
<`Smoot> Suggestions are welcomed. I'm tapped from having to defend myself.
<Mitai> I know.  And I'm trying not to be a whiner and FIND a solution, while I'm at it . . . the only obvious one, to me, is your changing the name. =)  Which is a pain for you and something I'm pretty sure you don't really want to do; furthermore, you'll be of the opinion that the #plotting crew is even more elitist than you thought, and forced the change.
<Mitai> Whereas the obvious solution for you is to make us fuckin' shut up and accept, for once, something that we didn't like.

[She CAN be taught!]

<Mitai> You can see where neither is acceptable to the other. =)
<`Smoot> Now, I've heard how much of a bastard I'm being portrayed as. First of all, I think I'd like a chance to defend myself. Second of all, if I post an explanation, a -polite-, -calm- explanation, can that help?
* Mitai doesn't think so, unfortunately. IRC is NOT the place to find rational people, in case you didn't notice? =)
<Mitai> First off, I know you're not being a bastard,.
<Mitai> You really don't see it as a slam, and can't figure out why we're insisting that it is.
<Mitai> But explaining leaves you open to the logical contradictions I made about the name, and then there WOULD be a field day on the board.
<Mitai> And jumping into #plottingchat right now would be a BAD idea.  We have A voice saying, "Look, it's not the end of the world if he takes his shot."
<`Smoot> I can see why. But I'd still like to explain why no one has to get their panties up in a bunch.
<`Smoot> Who's this brave soul?
<Mitai> Kael. =)
<Mitai> Here, Staff is in there too, and he does NOT wear panties. =)
<`Smoot> Who's kael...?
<`Smoot> Oh. If Staff has any complaints, Phrykyh's here.

[Phrykyh's our sacrificial lamb. Actually, he and Falstaff have a better rapport than Staff and I do.]

<Mitai> KJ's roommate.
<Mitai> Staff is just saying let's roll over and accept, as well.
<Mitai> If I were you, I wouldn't say ANYTHING else about it and maybe it'll go away.  Everyone's exhausted over the #subcafe thing.
* `Smoot nods. Give Kael my thanks, privately, and I really appreciate someone telling others that I'm not an ass.
<`Smoot> And thank you, by the way, for not blatantly telling me I'm a horrible, horrible person.
<Mitai> You aren't. =)
<Mitai> I completely understand why you've done this and that you meant little if no insult by it.
<`Smoot> I didn't mean any insult. It's a play on words.
<Mitai> Yes, but an insulting one, if you're one of the #plotting crew. =)
<Mitai> And if you're not . . .then you'll take sides, just to be in the arguement. =)
* Mitai sighs, and hugs. I say let it blow over?
<Mitai> It just might . . .
* `Smoot nods. Hopefully this means the 3 Vs. The World fight is over...
<Mitai> Hopefully it won't ever take place. =)
* `Smoot shakes his head. I think it did tonight...
<Mitai> If it gets brought up on the DOB or #behindthescenes, I'll do my best to diffuse, but otherwise . . . ?
* `Smoot nods. I'll stay out of it.
<Mitai> Of course.  When I /msged you Ali was REALLY upset and about to break things and I was about to come over here and kill you. =)
<`Smoot> I've had to deal with a very angry Lynxie and Ali too, and I've been as polite as is humanly possible for me.
<Mitai> And yet, you're still alive, and I don't think you're an ass.  See? =)  It paid off.

[But...but... all the insults? What the HELL?]

* `Smoot nods.
<`Smoot> and sighs. Sheesh.
<`Smoot> Anyway, thanks... heh... I think i can give Raven a run for his money as Subreality's Dark Horse now...

[Raven has a tendency to piss people off for little reason too. We live in a touchy society.]

<Mitai> Nah, Alec posted to the #subcafe thread. =)  You're fine.
* `Smoot grins. Thanks for being the reasonable one. You made this a lot less than I was afraid it was going to turn into.
* Mitai blinks? Oh, see, I have that reputation for being a mindless little bitch . . . about the fifth time it turned around and bit me I figured out I ought to learn what was going on before I ran with my righteous concepts . . . =
<Mitai> )
* Mitai pats Smoot. Go to bed, if you're tired, and let's just see what happens, okay?
* `Smoot nods. I didn't think you were going to be a bitch, no. I was worried about Lynxie.
<Mitai> Lynxie will calm herself eventually
<`Smoot> Is the torch-wielding mob still forming in #plottingchat?
<Mitai> What?
<Mitai> What are you TALKING about? =)
<Mitai> Over you?  No, we're all getting tired of the complaining.
* `Smoot grins. Oh, nothing... just a rumor that I could kiss Pebb's ass...
<`Smoot> Ah. Good. I can put the razor wire away again.
<Mitai> Yes.  And the gas and plasma grenades.  Now we have Matt to bitch at, in the privacy of our own room. =)
* `Smoot grins. Anyway, we'd be happy for you to stop by every now and then in our chan, now that you've seen it's not the work of the devil, and see what we're about.

[They never came by.]

* Mitai figured it wasn't the work of the devil. =)
<`Smoot> Awesome. Again, thanks for being polite, especially.
<Mitai> I knew you'd use it for the stated purpose, but the name . . . eigh, the name . . . ::headshake::  Anyway, don't let me bother you  further tonight.  I think you DESERVE a few minutes off . .. =)
* `Smoot nods. Sheesh, I'm going to sleep for a month... I think I aged three years...
* Mitai laughs! =)
<Mitai> Dream well, then, and let's hope the trenches won't be necessary?
<Mitai> But hang onto the Panzers, there's always Matt Nute . .. =)
* `Smoot nods. If they end up being, you can be messenger. We won't shoot you. Well, much, anyway. :)
* Mitai laughs! I appreciate that. =)
<Mitai> Goodnight, Smoot. =)
<`Smoot> G'night, Mitai.
Session Close: Sat Feb 19 00:10:16 2000

[Oi.... this one went... well, it went. I've barely spoken to Mitai since, I've carved my niche in Subreality history...]

[Now, possibly the worst. Lynxie.]