Hatrack River Writers Workshop: Why I refuse to let Hatrack die

This is topic Why I refuse to let Hatrack die in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by DeepDreamer (Member # 5337) on :

The Survivor-clone has disappeared for now. I refuse to be intimidated by that kind of behavior here. It's not what we are here.

This place has meant a lot to me as a young writer, just starting out, just figuring out what I want to write, and why. Just figuring out what works, and what doesn't, and why. It's been instrumental in me finding friends who share the same goals as I do: to write to the best of my ability. To write something other people will want to read, and will enjoy reading.

This place is more than a forum to me. It is almost hallowed ground to me. It's the place I come to recharge my writing muscles. It's the place I get upgrades for my Hatrack Utility Belt, and find the attachments to the HUB that have gone missing. It's where I remember why I write: Because I am a writer. I take myself and my writing seriously. Too seriously, sometimes. I get ahead of myself, I get lost in the words and worlds I've made. Here I find and rediscover myself as a writer. I read what other writers are talking about. I learn from what they discuss. I look at the Hatrackers In Print and think, "One of these days, I'll be there."

And I guess that's all I have to say.

Posted by kings_falcon (Member # 3261) on :

Take comfort in the fact that Hatrack will survive whatever stupidity occassionally crops its head up on the boards. A while (6 mo or so ago) we had someone here who thought hurling racial based insults at a long time member was "funny." Needless to say Kathleen killed and removed that thread, that long time member left the Board for a while (I'm glad to say she's back) and the voice of stupidity left. Because we are an open forum, occassionally we are going to have to deal with people who are more concerned about ego and being the "top dog" than what we do here.

There is no place else like Hatrack on the web that I've been able to find. The writers here are pretty awesome. The core of what we do - help writers hone thier skills, critique the first 13 and occassionally more on a private request, and act as a resource - can't be harmed by any member acting childish.

You just have to ignore the posts of the people who are going to abuse the forum. That's not to say people can't disagree but, civility is the point. Honest disagreement is fine. Devil's Advocating or being intentionally inflamatory isn't.

My rule of thumb - if I give an honest crit/ opinion/ whatever and all I get back is a rant, I generally won't bother to comment on that member's work/ posts again. Life is too short.

I'm here and I plan to be here for many many more years.

Posted by Lynda (Member # 3574) on :

There will always be idjits spamming message boards no matter what kind of safeguards are put in place (unless the message board is invitation-only, I suppose). This clown isn't going to damage Hatrack. I'll bet the powers-that-be would like to know how this little brat managed to hack into Survivor's screen name, though. It will be interesting to see Survivor's reaction. Don't worry about Hatrack, though. It will be here as long as Uncle Orson wants it to be, I suspect. I wish Kathleen didn't have to waste her time "policing" such stupidity on the board, but I'm glad she does so. (Thanks, Kathleen!)

Lynda

Posted by xardoz (Member # 4528) on :

They didn't hack his name, actually.

From Kathleen:

My apologies.

[This message has been edited by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (edited January 24, 2007).]

Posted by Survivor (Member # 213) on :

You guys should see some of the stuff that goes on "over there", on the regular forum.

Or, perhaps you shouldn't, because it's a real bad place. KDW actually suspected [the perpetrator] from the very beginning, which makes me think that she recognized him from somewhere.

From Kathleen:

Again, my apologies.

[This message has been edited by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (edited January 24, 2007).]

Posted by franc li (Member # 3850) on :

It's not like anyone hasn't pnwed the board before. We get a lot more than we pay for either way.

Posted by GalaxyGal (Member # 4755) on :

I'm an old person, but a new writer. Wait, scratch that--I've been writing a long time, but have only just began to take my writing seriously.

I have found a lot of helpful advice alongside the drivel, so as long as that is so, I think this place continue to attract sincere writers.

Anyway, IMO, the best way to respond to an idiot seeking attention is to not respond at all. Hopefully, if we refuse to be drawn into silly discussions with them, they'll get bored and go away.

Posted by Pyre Dynasty (Member # 1947) on :

You know it's odd how much energy this person is expending just to anger us. The Hatrack will live on!

Posted by rjzeller (Member # 1906) on :

Geeze...I go away for a week or so and look at the place! What a mess.

I see the cleanup has already begun, but why do such pinheads have to behave like this? Is life for some so shallow that they take great pleasure in petty annoyances? Sheesh....

Posted by Survivor (Member # 213) on :

Considering who it probably is, this attack was almost nothing. I'm almost insulted by the lack of effort, since he's put so much more into his other trolling activities. Of course, he's achieved a lot more success there too...I guess maybe he figured out that kind of thing wouldn't work on this side.

Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :

Thanks for your support during all of this, people.

I am going to edit the posts that explain how this was done.

I hope you all don't mind. I really don't want to give trolls any more ideas than they already come up with on their own.

[This message has been edited by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (edited January 25, 2007).]

Posted by Spaceman (Member # 9240) on :

Good point.

Posted by Survivor (Member # 213) on :

But now my post is the one right above hers

Note from Kathleen:

Okay, I'll remove that part of my post. (And people will wonder what this is all about )

[This message has been edited by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (edited January 25, 2007).]

Posted by Zero (Member # 3619) on :

Kathleen, I just want to say on behalf of all of Hatrack,

THANK YOU FOR DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB

I was part of the young writers forum when it trolled itself to death. I don't want that to happen here. Thanks for keeping things clean and organized.

That aside, I think I know who did this. Unfortunately my entire university is now banned.

But fortunately that's not the only ISP I have access to. Here's a gold star.

[This message has been edited by Zero (edited January 25, 2007).]

Posted by Zero (Member # 3619) on :

The only thing I still don't understand is why Statesman would make a martyr out of Survivor?

I am being presumptious though. I don't actually know it was Satesman, I am just guessing basing on the lack of George Wythe posts in the last day or so. And on the fact that I know who he is, at least I think so, and he did not graduate from George Wythe college. Which incidentally is NOT an accredited institution. (I read their webpage, which... well, let's just say I would never go there)

[This message has been edited by Zero (edited January 25, 2007).]

Posted by Leigh (Member # 2901) on :

Whoever it was is just an idiot, trying to prove to everyone that he/she was cool by trolling. I see it plenty on other forums and boards and they always get "flamed" to hell.

Zero, I feel I can answer your question about a Survivor martyr. Our Survivor kept contradicting Statesman on several things and Survivor, being a very much learned man that he is, knows a great deal about a lot of subjects, which actually astounds me. This could've prompted whoever it was to simply get angry and try and be what I like to call, a "hero" who ends up flat on his backside looking into the sky.

Now, whoever did the trolling revealed that they have a really low immature level. I'll admit, I'm immature but I know when to pull my finger out, figuratively speaking, and act mature, but the troller doesn't.

Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :

Well, I'm still grateful for the cleanup...

[edited to clear up a screwup in my italicism...]

[This message has been edited by Robert Nowall (edited January 25, 2007).]

Posted by xardoz (Member # 4528) on :

Zero - All of Statesman's posts and all the threads he started are gone, so the person behind that username had to be one (if not all) of the trolls.

Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :

quote:
Unfortunately my entire university is now banned.

Zero, would you please email me and tell me which university that is? Maybe we can contact them about the problem and not have to ban the whole university.

Edited to add:

Never mind. I see that you have answered my question elsewhere.

Wow. That's ironic.

[This message has been edited by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (edited January 25, 2007).]