On Fights and Men

by Cobalt Gyzmo (Miss Maple) in flight.

My chance to put what I think about fights on here! Everybody has put in their suggestions about how to solve this problem, so now I will. My highly opinionated opinion is this: if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.

Generally, we think of this as a way to keep people from saying bad things and to keep tones down. But I say it is a deadly weapon that can be used to combat fighting on kidpub and give everybody a fair say.

There are certain people on kidpub who I believe don't truly understand the kidpub spirit. I think that's the cause for fights. For example, when a well-established family invites a new member (i.e: step parents) there will probably be fighting and arguing as everybody gets adjusted. I'm not pretenending to understand how people feel in a situation like that, just theorizing, so if I'm wrong, please correct me. I'm also not against newbies, being one myself. But I think some people just don't understand the true spirit of kidpub, some people just aren't kidpubbians, no matter how hard they try,  so when they try to use it, they don't understand how we work. That can cause problems when people try to correct them.

Often, these people blatently refuse to accept kidpub standards, and that's what leads to fights. This is where helping and constructive critism escalates to yelling and bullying. This is what needs to stop.

Our site is for people to enjoy. No matter how hard it is for someone to enjoy it, they shouldn't be refused membership. We've tried to help these people, but I myself have given up on them. I'd like to say they are Annoying, Lying, Irritating, Snotty, Obnoxious Nuisances, but that's not right. They're just different, like there are cats and dogs. The two can live in the same house, but they will never understand eachother.

There are some people who we just can't help. Maybe they just aren't destined to be writers. I don't know. But we can still live with them. There are steps we can take to settle the dust, heal wounds, and learn to share this website peacefully. Maybe we won't make them true kidpubbians. But we can help them enjoy the site. Start by giving them what they want. If you need to, give them the comments they like. Encourage them, refrain form using CC (constructive criticism). Save your CC for true kidpubbians. If you have to, ignore them.

But then, there will always be "Special Circumstances", cases where it is impossible to live with someone. Allthough it's a little extreme, I have a solution that might work. Ever read Brisingr, from the Inheritance Cycle? Well, my solution is inspired by something that happened in that book. Below is a summary of that event.

Warning: If you have not read, plan on reading, or are currently reading Eragon and/or Brisingr, please be advised that the following summary is a "spoiler" and may ruin certain plot elements of the books. By reading the following, you understand the possible concequences of reading and agree not to hold the author liable.

In Brisingr, the dwarves were electing a dwarf king. The main character, Eragon, who is human but is also an honorary dwarf, wants his buddy (it's Orik, I think) to be elected. However, one dwarf hates Eragon and knows if Orik is elected, Eragon will be powerful among the dwarves. A strange group of dwarves start attacking Eragon. Later, evidence is found that prooves that the dwarf who hates Eragon planned the attacks. A council of dwarves agrees he must be punished, but don't want to kill him. Instead, it is suggested that they banish him and pretend he doesn't exist. They agree on exiling him. The dwarf complains loudly and pretty much bad-mouthes everyone, but they completely ignore him. Orik is elected king shortly afterward, and it ends somewhat happily ever after. In short, the mean dwarf pretty much doesn't exist.

This is the solution I suggest. Just pretend these "special circumstances" don't exist. Don't give them the benefit of starting or ending fights. Don't give them the benefit of posting polls. Don't give them the benefit of having us at all. They are taking us for granted, ignoring our suggestions, and are not thankful for all kidpub has to offer. If they don't appreciate this resource, don't give them it. Pretend the Annoying, Lying, Irritating, Snotty, Obnoxious Nuisance doesn't exist.

I wasn't gentle with this. I did not censor it. I did not hold much back. I'm sorry for insulting anyone, opening an old wound, or starting more fights. But sometimes, you need to reopen a healed wound if you want to stitch it shut.

(P.S: I will not post on this thread, so don't expect me to answer anything.)

That is my highly opinionated opinion. I'm throwing it out there for everyone. Take it as you will.