I’m almost finished.
I’m not talking about Wagons Ho this time.
I’m talking about my irc channel #GameDevelopers on starchat. I’m thinking of turning the channel over to someone else so I don’t have to deal with it anymore. See I have some rules, one of which is to keep the chat down to a G-rating. (For those not used to the U.S. moving rating system, it generally means General admittance or General audience. In other words all ages.) Granted most of us that are in there are adults. Granted sometimes people slip up because they talk how they talk. My ears (or eyes in this case) may not burn if someone says the F-word in channel but I’m trying to run a clean channel that anyone can come into without being offended (too much).
This post isn’t really about swearing though. In fact I try to be lenient when I can, and not to make a big deal. But it’s really frustrating when you’re trying to do what you think is right and people kind of throw it in your face. There was a small thing during chat today, where someone was responding to something in what seemed like an angry way, although I think he was being sarcastic. He said some things that were, shall we say, less than nice. I admonished said individual in an off hand way. Now it wasn’t a big deal at all. We’re all adults, he was either venting or was just jesting, and it doesn’t bother me that much when someone slips up every now and again.
What really bothered me was the fact that some people in the channel felt like making fun of the fact that I’m trying to keep it clean. Also the fact that some people seem to think certain language is not a big deal and that they can just say it if they want, and like I shouldn’t be bothered because they don’t think it’s a big deal. Excuse me for pushing my morals on you. When in fact I started the channel to get away from other channels that had become obscene. I never force anyone to my rules, heck, sometimes I don’t even direct them to the rules. I just hope that they’re mature enough to keep the conversation mature. Lest you forget, this post, again, is not about foul language.
It’s about respect. It bothers me that people don’t respect me enough to either keep to the rules, or at the very least, make it out to not be a big deal instead of laughing at me or challenging me. I’m not going to go around and tell people they must respect me, as if I’m anything special or whatever. I’m talking about the respect of friends and colleagues. The kind that like you well enough to say “Hey, even though I don’t agree with your morals, I like you enough to be respectful when I’m talking to you or around you.”
I don’t force anyone to come into the channel. I don’t force anyone to stay on topic. I try to be nice to anyone who wants to chat. It’s a free planet, you don’t have to come in and you don’t have to talk to me. You can choose to disobey the rules or not. I also don’t have to stand to ridicule. It’s hard enough to try (note I said try) to be morally responsible person in an irresponsible world when people don’t take you seriously. I’m a sinner like everyone, but I do try to keep a semblance of morality.
Because of that I’m probably going to end up transferring the channel to someone else. Then you can talk how you please, and even make fun of me if you want because then it’s not my channel anymore it’s someone else’s. In that case if I don’t like it I can stop coming in.
I would like to apologize. I’m sorry if I seem like a jerk to everybody just because I prefer not to see the F-word plastered on my screen. I’m sorry I was trying to make a small little corner of cyberspace enjoyable for people to chat in. I’m sorry I was trying to help people in developing their own projects or to help them if they didn’t know what to do. (Even if I don’t really know what I’m doing myself, I at least try to be courteous. If someone asks a question I never curtly tell them to google it. If someone is a newbie, I don’t try to ridicule the mmorpg they want to make. Or if someone is stuck somewhere and they want some ideas to spark something I’m always there to try my best — but I’m now sorry for doing all of that, too).
If you think I’m making a big deal out of nothing, I probably am. I’m not usually emotional, at least I don’t think I am (if I am too emotional most of the time let me know and I’ll try to curb it). I didn’t want this blog to be a dumpsite for my opinions, or my political, or religious views. The blog is for my progress, it’s to help me document my progress on various projects. It’s not even for people to necessarily read. (That is, it’s freely readable, but I don’t go around trying to blow my own horn). But this is the way I feel.
In short if I can’t handle people acting adversely towards me, I probably shouldn’t be running an irc channel.
Keith