Where is everyone?- Page 4

[LxGstv]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 5:28pm

Elfuhbuh said: "There's a difference between "constructive criticism" and just plain being nasty for the sake of it. I wasn't online here last night, but I saw some of the screenshotted posts on Twitter and had a sort of "disappointed, but not surprised" feeling, considering how this board is at times. I don't agree with deleting entire threads, but I am glad that the mods are taking action to make this place a friendlier atmosphere for theatre fans to discuss topics in, because I know quite a few people who avoid becoming active here due to how abrasive and rude they've seen some of the regular posters be. "

The problem for me is that they are selectively taking action. And the reasons behind such actions being taken.

Cynthia Erivo also had problems with the message boards, but it all got resolved without the drama of last night. 

[\_(•_•)_/]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 5:33pm

Please don’t delete this as I’m talking about something serious,

I think it’s important to note, that those tweets were taken out of context. Catsbroadwayfan, was talking about the other leading lady’s attendance not Patti’s and she used it against her.

Another poster, (who I won’t mention by name) shared how having high anexity in a theatre role almost pushed him to suicide (and he almost had a successful attempt) and was warning Patti about pushing yourself and if a role is really worth it. But patti left out the suicide part and displayed what was shown.

Theres two sides to every story. It’s important to note that.

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 5:36pm

True, but I'm hoping this whole lockdown/announcement means that they're going to be less selective with their action moving forward. I don't like how many times I've seen people here post straight, ruthless nastiness and then hide behind the phrase, "It's just constructive criticism, sweetie! If they can't handle it, then they need to pursue a different career!" I get that Broadway is a cutthroat business, but that just isn't an excuse to make personal, nonconstructive attacks because you have some weird vendetta against a certain actor, and I don't think it's fair at all to suggest that Broadway actors avoid this place because it's a given that they'll at some point have people passing around vitriol behind their backs.

[\_(•_•)_/]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 5:38pm

I agree on the fact that there is tons of negativity on these boards, and this will help lower them.

But regarding Patti’s tweet. It was entirely out of context and I feel bad that the poster who shared a very personal story with us, is centered as this “mean spirited man” when in reality it was to warn Patti that sometimes a role isnt worth it.

[Moderator]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 5:44pm

\_ ( •_• ) _/ is correct that taking specific posts out of context does change how they are read, but please keep in mind that it goes both ways. Despite what everyone thinks that they know about this (or any) situation, I can assure you that there are substantial pieces of information that you don't know; and that goes for us here at BWW (that's why we are still trying to come up with, and finalize, a game plan going forward). 

So, while I don't disagree with the post about there being important context taken out of individual screenshots, the entire situation also has a major impact on the situation, and the accumulation of the incessant posts on the matter contributed to how everything went down last night. 

Clearly not the finest hour of the BWW boards, but because of the complete picture that we saw, it was something that we felt had to be done. I know that there are some people who are angry, and will never get over that, and we respect that. There are some that are confused and just want answers, and there are others that wish we would be even more aggressive in moderation.

While I obviously can't promise that everyone will be happy when all is said and done, we are honestly doing our best, and we appreciate the good faith contributions that people have made in this thread to help us along the way. 

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 5:45pm

Whoops! Sorry, \_(•_•)_/, I actually didn't see your comment before I hit send on my last reply.

It's not just the posters you mentioned, though. I saw some nasty things from other posters, too. I wasn't here last night, so I can't speak for those being taken out of context, but my statement still stands for the others.

[\_(•_•)_/]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 5:47pm

You’re good! And understandable mod. I was on here for a little bit last night

[LxGstv]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 6:12pm

Ok, for sake of transparency then, would someone from staff please provide everyone here with a summary of what exactly happened last night?

The mod said it was not the finest hours in the message boards and that some people were confused.

I think a lot of people are still confused, I got a PM asking about what happened last night.

So would it be possible for someone to sum it up? Not asking for secrets or specifics or details, but a quick run through of what took place. Or is that something that will be addressed with the upcoming changes to the website?

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 6:16pm

Believe me, you’re lucky you missed it. It is not worth relitigating which is what would occur if specifics were brought up. We do not need a repeat of last night.

[Moderator]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 6:25pm

LxGstv, I appreciate your interest in getting as much info as possible, but I think for the time being, we are going to let the posts that we've made in this and other threads speak for themselves. I think that (while perhaps a bit more indirectly than some would like) we have addressed most of what went down from our perspective. 

If we find that in the future more clarification is necessary, we will absolutely do that. If you have specific questions, again, you can either email moderator[at]broadwayworld[dot]com or ask here, and we will do our best to answer. 

[Scarlet Leigh]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 6:32pm

natashalost said: "I feel very conflicted about this event. I didn't agree with most of what users were posting that was anti-Patti. However, there is a difference between being nasty and giving constructive criticism."

This is the main thing that I am still left puzzled about from last night. While I did not participate last night in any of it, I certainly watched and while there were few things that might have been deemed out of line, MOST of what I was seeing from the muted members was NOT out of line and yet it was deleted and people were punished for it.

Much of what I was seeing was them attempting to ask questions and make sense of the situation and get some kind of clarification on the rules and what could and could not be talked about. The mod clarified. They started to talk about what the mod told them was okay by the rules. Then some discussion that I thought was actually very thoughtful and had NOTHING to do with talking negatively directly about a performer but a personal story from a muted member that opened up some general talk on the topic of health (again, nothing directly addressing the performer in question). 

Yet all that was deleted and they were all muted because of it? It seemed uncalled especially after the mod said basically "A, B, and C is not okay but X and Y are" and then punished them for talking about X and Y. It came off as mod staff was being overzealous and couldn't decide who was out of line and who wasn't so they just muted everyone that was in the conversation. 

Was some of it out of line? Yes. But certainly not all of it. I appreciate the work that the mod staff does and I also appreciate that they are trying to make this a better place for all but some kind of clarity on rules and consistency on how staff should handle situations and handle difficult moments would be a great asset to the board.

 

[vanbrig]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 6:45pm

I think the issue that I take with all of this is that it seems like we’re all being punished for the actions of a few, because one person thinks we should be. I have no idea what went down yesterday, and neither do a large amount of posters. Yet today, we find that a bunch of threads we value have been deleted, we can’t send PMs without essentially “showing ID,” and there’s a weird “He Who Must Not Be Named” situation going on. I feel like I’ve always been fairly courteous and respectful on here (to my knowledge, I’ve never had a post deleted), as have the majority of posters I’ve seen. But honestly, today is making me feel like this site cares more about specific Broadway actors than it does the people who actually use their site. It’s almost like we’ve all been put in timeout at the kiddy table.

I get that it’s a tough situation for BWW, I really do. But it’s pretty frustrating to have this message conveyed to us, one that can essentially be summarized as “We’re watching you now; don’t you dare say anything that might upset people more important than you, you wicked, degenerate posters.” Especially those of us that haven’t done anything wrong.

Maybe I’m overreacting, but that’s just the feeling I’m getting right now.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 6:46pm

You're far from alone. I know it's their site, their rules, but oh boy, communication is also good.

[LuPita2]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 6:50pm

It seems like they want this to be a website about theater in a positive light only.  Anything negative said about anyone will be deleted and any super insulting things about the shows will also be erased away. "Positive Vibes Only" on Broadway World.  Hmm.....

[JSquared2]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 7:05pm

LuPita2 said: "It seems like they want this to be a website about theater in a positive light only. Anything negative said about anyone will be deleted and any super insulting things about the shows will also be erased away."Positive Vibes Only"on Broadway World. Hmm....."

 

Nothing to fear, dear one. We’ll always have our drama queens to blow things completely out of proportion. 

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 7:16pm

LuPita2 said: "It seems like they want this to be a website about theater in a positive light only. Anything negative said about anyone will be deleted and any super insulting things about the shows will also be erased away."Positive Vibes Only"on Broadway World. Hmm....."

 

A  ridiculous statement on its face. I was here for last night’s “event” and read the posts. It was, for the most part, a very dark moment for this forum and shameful the way that some behaved. Sure, there were stories of bravery and enlightenment, but it went too far and over the top with how it quickly exploded out of control. I have no fear of posting, and will continue to put my thoughts out there on the shows I see, as I see them. There’s a way to be polite and kind without coming off as entitled, demanding, and arrogant. Which is what happened. 

 

[Huss417]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 7:20pm

This all took place while I was binge watching the second season of The Wonderful Mrs Maisel. I haven't witness a good meltdown on here in eons. :)

[LuPita2]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 7:48pm

A ridiculous statement on its face.I was here for last night’s “event” and read the posts. It was, for the most part, a very dark moment for this forum and shameful the way that some behaved. Sure, there were stories of bravery and enlightenment, but it went too far and over the top with how it quickly exploded out of control. I have no fear of posting, and will continue to put my thoughts out there on the shows I see, as I see them.There’s a way to be polite and kind without coming off asentitled,demanding, and arrogant.Which is what happened."

I guess you have issues reading.  Read my last sentence.  It says "Hmmmmm" as in "how ridiculous".  

 

[LuPita2]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 7:50pm

Nothing to fear, dear one. We’ll alwayshave our drama queensto blow things completelyout of proportion"

Dear? No thanks. Is that why you never answered my question in the "roles being more demanding thread"?  

 

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 8:05pm

LuPita2 said: "I guess you have issues reading. Read my last sentence. It says "Hmmmmm" as in "how ridiculous".

No issues with reading, just that the supposed sarcasm of your “Hmmmm” came off more like “Hmmm, what’s this place coming to a dictatorship?”

My apologies. :)

 

[PattyO'Furniture]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 10:02pm

You know, b/c I read a few posts yesterday afternoon, I was thinking last night about how much life has changed.  

When I was in college in 2003, from Nowhere, Mississippi, I somehow uncovered BWW- I have no problem saying it was divine intervention for me.  

And so I joined in 2003, only to have to re-join once my college email address expired.  And I just sat back and watched and "listened" to all these insiders and old-timers dish the scoop, and I learned a lot.  I learned what a standby was and who Deena Jones is.  I learned about wig lace and pin curls and that Carol Channing is black.  I found out what a sit-down production was and that pre-recorded tracks were included in POTO.  I learned the definition of an 11 o'clock number, that Kristin Chenoweth wore a wig in her Tony acceptance speech, and how to pronounce "entr'acte" and "D'amboise".  And I learned that stereotypes are just observations that people have grown tired of.  I'd roll my eyes occasionally but would easily parse out the learning material and move on.

And here I am, fifteen years later, still in Mississippi, still checking the boards daily.  There are some posters who have and continue to make me laugh, kiki-ing w/ myself out loud right then and there.  There are those whose screen names make me cringe at their sight, time and time and TIME again- I will not even check a thread if it has more than 20 posts...usually.  There are still a few old-timers around who tell it like it used to be, especially this past year - how delightful.  And I don't often post.  

But I do often roll my eyes at so many posts and what they say and the way people say them.  And I think, Good Lord, this person is like a child!  And then I have to stop myself to realize that, yes...they really might be!  

There are LITERAL children here who have accounts and who post, and it's sort of taken me a while to catch up to that fact.  That did not happen in 2003!  I have often thought, The Hallowed Halls of my alma mater have become polluted with ill-conceived opinions delivered with the poorest of grammar, usage, mechanics, and spelling by TERRIBLE people!  It's easy to think the worst of people- believe me.  But you can also change your mind.  Maybe "the worst" is just "the 'now' in a very early existence".  Maybe the "decline of humanity" is an unrestrained emotional outburst of a person who may not be independently allowed to get his or her ears pierced at Clair's Boutiques.  

It's funny to me - that just never used to be a consideration for me here.  I know kids have internet - I am a former HS teacher, but I guess it just took me a while to realize that the internet, for better or for worse, for young and for old, sometimes and somehow equalizes us all in a way that other parts of life don't.  

This latest incident really won't affect my usage - as I said I rarely post.  But it does fascinate me how life has changed and how I see those changes coming about.  

I will still be checking in everyday as I have for the past 15 years.  I'll still cringe.  I'll still roll my eyes at the same one-note posters.  And I'll still enjoy those posters who have me snapping out and kiki-ing in my hoop skirt like I'm Joan Crawford taking over Tara.  

But I do think it will be helpful for me to keep in mind that what keeps us anonymous and separate is the thing that really brought us together to begin with.  

[littlemouse921]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 10:18pm

PattyO'Furniture, I think that was one of the most eloquently said things in a long time here and it speaks perfectly to what those of us on the sidelines enjoy about this site.

It's been an interesting time following along with everything, and I do hope it all works out in the end so that the longtime posters can come back and so that we as a BWW community don't lose any support that we have left.

[Broadway Joe]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 10:18pm

PattyO'Furniture said: "There are those whose screen names make me cringe at their sight, time and time and TIMEagain- I will not even check a thread if it has more than 20 posts"

Just an fyi if you don't already know but you can just block those people on here and not have to worry about it. 

[MaddieBB12]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 10:36pm

PattyO'Furniture's post really struck a cord with me. I haven't been here quite as long, but I have very similar feelings.

I am an extremely positive person. I'm happy when the people around me are happy! I want to put good into the world- now and always.

I love coming on here. I love being "in the know" and really feeling like I am part of the community, and for the most part, I always do!

But I did watch what happened last night, and it made me thing of something.

A few years ago, when I was younger and newer, I made an exasperated, exaggerated comment on a thread. Maybe some of you remember that. Just one comment where I had an overzealous reaction to really great, positive news! And then, for the rest of the thread, I was mocked and personally attacked.The original topic of the thread was completely disregarded and the entire thread became about my comment. And an entirely separate thread was created where the same poster who started the mocking and the attack CONTINUED to do so. What did I do? I held my head high, I didn't answer to any of them, and I stayed here and enjoyed the good conversations. I'm very glad I did because the good has since outweighed the bad.

But guess what? When I searched for those two threads- the original and the second created just to be mean - I found them. Both of them are still up. Both hurt just as much when I reread them as they did all those years ago. Those things really did violate the guidelines, and yet...

I'm not angry, I'm not mad. I'm just sad.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 10:42pm

MaddieBB12, I’m glad you’re still here! I’ve been on the receiving end of that behavior before and I have to say I didn’t always take the high road. I even almost left once, requesting the moderators delete my account, but I’m glad that didn’t happen. Some of those bullies have since been removed by the moderators and my skin is tougher now.