Over the past few weeks, I've been debating whether or not to post this thread. For a while, I thought Sinful's thread titled "Don't Destroy This Place" would be enough... but apparently it's not. Just a warning- this will be a bit of a rant, and a plea for mercy from the relentless YouTube kiddies plaguing this site.
Recently, I've been noticing more and more negativity on these forums. It seems to me like the snowball effect- new members see older members doing it, they think it'll make them look "cool" and "rebellious", so they take on the mean attitude, as well. It needs to be stopped.
The thing that really pushed me over the edge was all this "controversy" over "Death to the Double Undercut". I was appalled by what people were saying about theory11, DttDU, and Joel himself. I seriously almost clicked the big red "X" and left this place for good.
I guess I just don't get some people around here. The point of these forums is to discuss magic, help others, learn... all the good stuff. Instead, it has become a place where all the kids that "tipe lyke dis" go because they "wnt to lrn da nxt bezt tryck" and all that crap.
Magic, at its core- is an artform. However, in recent months, at least on here- it hasn't been shared with fellow artists as one. As an art, magic deserves respect. That means typing like you have at least some comprehension of the English language and how it works, being respectful towards others... all that stuff.
Anyways- back to DttDU. Even I have to admit- it wasn't the best 1on1 ever released- it was simple, maybe a little obvious to some of us magicians/flourishers, but does that take away from its value? If anything, it adds to it. Simple, to me, is always better. That means less practice time, better presentation, if it's magic, etc.
The price, also was a little high, but JB showed theory11's true colors, in a good way, and fixed that.
But beyond that- I was just... amazed at some of the members here. Amazed at how they come to this community, supposedly having some interest in art, and so therefore probably a little respect for it, as well, but think because they're just a username on a website, that they can get away with "eating Joel alive", so to speak.
Joel is a professional magician, a theory11 artist, and an all-around good guy- he doesn't deserve some of the crap he gets around here. And on that note, Bayme or theory11 itself doesn't deserve any of it, either.
I guess the point I'm trying to get across is- grow up! Show some respect for our art- both in the way you type, and the way you treat people. It may just be the internet, and you may not care if you upset people, because it is the internet, but think about the image you're portraying towards the new people in magic.
I have a lot of other subjects I would love to talk about, but I feel this post is long enough as it is. I doubt it will help, but the forums need a change in a big way- and I for one want to be one of the people that help start this change. It pains me to see the quality of these forums on such a downhill slide. They used to be a good place to come- but now it seems like they have brown eyes (full of crap, FYI).
And that's not directed towards any of the better members here (Sinful comes to mind, as well as people like Steerpike, DevinHenderson, Shodan, Medifro, Morgician, etc.)... just the people asking what the should get next. God forbid THEY decide what they want.
Anyways, I'll get off my soap box now.
Recently, I've been noticing more and more negativity on these forums. It seems to me like the snowball effect- new members see older members doing it, they think it'll make them look "cool" and "rebellious", so they take on the mean attitude, as well. It needs to be stopped.
The thing that really pushed me over the edge was all this "controversy" over "Death to the Double Undercut". I was appalled by what people were saying about theory11, DttDU, and Joel himself. I seriously almost clicked the big red "X" and left this place for good.
I guess I just don't get some people around here. The point of these forums is to discuss magic, help others, learn... all the good stuff. Instead, it has become a place where all the kids that "tipe lyke dis" go because they "wnt to lrn da nxt bezt tryck" and all that crap.
Magic, at its core- is an artform. However, in recent months, at least on here- it hasn't been shared with fellow artists as one. As an art, magic deserves respect. That means typing like you have at least some comprehension of the English language and how it works, being respectful towards others... all that stuff.
Anyways- back to DttDU. Even I have to admit- it wasn't the best 1on1 ever released- it was simple, maybe a little obvious to some of us magicians/flourishers, but does that take away from its value? If anything, it adds to it. Simple, to me, is always better. That means less practice time, better presentation, if it's magic, etc.
The price, also was a little high, but JB showed theory11's true colors, in a good way, and fixed that.
But beyond that- I was just... amazed at some of the members here. Amazed at how they come to this community, supposedly having some interest in art, and so therefore probably a little respect for it, as well, but think because they're just a username on a website, that they can get away with "eating Joel alive", so to speak.
Joel is a professional magician, a theory11 artist, and an all-around good guy- he doesn't deserve some of the crap he gets around here. And on that note, Bayme or theory11 itself doesn't deserve any of it, either.
I guess the point I'm trying to get across is- grow up! Show some respect for our art- both in the way you type, and the way you treat people. It may just be the internet, and you may not care if you upset people, because it is the internet, but think about the image you're portraying towards the new people in magic.
I have a lot of other subjects I would love to talk about, but I feel this post is long enough as it is. I doubt it will help, but the forums need a change in a big way- and I for one want to be one of the people that help start this change. It pains me to see the quality of these forums on such a downhill slide. They used to be a good place to come- but now it seems like they have brown eyes (full of crap, FYI).
And that's not directed towards any of the better members here (Sinful comes to mind, as well as people like Steerpike, DevinHenderson, Shodan, Medifro, Morgician, etc.)... just the people asking what the should get next. God forbid THEY decide what they want.
Anyways, I'll get off my soap box now.