My feelings, and all mine.

[Una]

I know the whole situation has exploded beyond "some people got k-lined" and to be honest I don't know why. I've heard a few things, but that's not the same as being involved.

Regardless of all that, Rance is completely right, emotions are running high and feelings have been hurt. Not everyone can swallow their pride and everyone can't be expected to, either. I hope things get sorted out in a way that everyone can be happy with, and short of that at least in a way that people can accept.

Hugs for everyone!

[Hope]

A broken heart. This is what I have right now. The past couple of nights have been spent quite literally in tears. I have been at a lack for words but I think I have finally found them and I think that it is time that I speak where everyone may witness my feelings on this matter.

As I have already told some of you, I feel guilty about this entire matter as I was the original kline. I still believe that the punishment did not fit the crime. Nor do I believe that the punishment fit the crime for the two wonderful friends who had the courage to stand up for me and thus becoming klined themselves. No, Angie, I have not forgotten either how you in your very angelic way stepped in as a voice when those of us had none.

Despite this, I feel that a lot of reason and logic has been lost in a mass generalization. I will not point fingers. I refuse to point fingers. I see no right side and no wrong side, just a lot of very upset, hurt, and confused individuals that are at a loss as to what they should do and what should be expected of others.

I see this and I cry. I cry because I love you all. Even those that I have been at odds with in the past ... and I do know that not everyone has seen eye to eye with me in the past. The world continues to turn though, the sun to rise, and the rain to fall ... and my love to still grow for all of the wonderful players that I have been given the chance to know. No. Not players. Just people. Individuals who are all wonderful and brilliant in their own ways. I would like to think that many share this feeling with me.

Even as I write this now I am crying, and at work no less.

I grew up within a broken family, something that only a small number of you know. That is why family means so much to me, why family is more than just blood ties. That is why it hurts so much to see this happen to our family because that is what you have all become to me. Family.

I know that some of you are already likely scanning this, seeing it as pointless rambling perhaps but I wanted to say -everything- that has been upon my very heavy heart as of late. So please. Bear with me. Please, read all of these words because I am praying that something strikes a cord within each and every heart that belongs to the eyes that pass over these words.

Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind -or forgotten. This has been my mantra through all of this. Corny as it may seem coming from a Disney movie but it fits this situation. This, by the way, is a movie I have been watching a lot of as of late as it is what I watch when I am depressed. This situation has -greatly- depressed me in such a way that I am amazed.

I am not the only one that has been preaching of family through this but I am afraid that I will have to point out one horrible truth. We have not been acting like a family these past few days. Can we honestly call ourselves a family if we allow something like this to tear us apart? This is the time when we need to stand stronger together, talk and work out our problems.

No. We need to do more than just talk, we need to listen. I feel that this is the problem right now. Everyone wants to be heard and it is within everyones right to have a voice but so many are screaming over everyone else that we have forgotten to listen or simply can not over the sheer volume of voices in their outrage.

We need to listen. We need to sit down as a family and talk. Calmly. Without insult. Without pointing fingers. Without accusing. This is what needs to happen in order to compromise, to find a solution that would make everyone happy. Call me an optimist but I still think that this is possible but only if we -listen- and if we are willing to bend. To give and take equally.

There is so much anger right now. So much that I can barely stay within any of the bd channels, starchat and darkmyst alike.

That is why I am in the gray right now. That is why I refuse to pick a side of this argument. I can not pick a side because there is simply too much divided loyalties with friends on one side and friends on the other. I can see and understand where everyone is coming from. There is just this -huge- massive gap of miscommunication or complete lack there of.

I hate having two server windows open. I hate the idea that half of my characters would end up on one server and half on the other just so that I may keep playing with those that they are so firmly tied to, to play and laugh and have fun with my friends.

I don't want to leave the Broken Dagger but I don't want to divide myself between two servers. I don't want to be on one and not the other. A server is just a location, just like a house is .. simply a building. Walls do not make a home, just as a server does not. It is the people within the building, upon the server, within the channel that makes it home. I have come to the point where I simply do not care what server I play upon just as long as I have -all- of my friends there.

I can not be a part of another broken home. My heart simply will not survive it. This is not so far gone that it can not be fixed. Let us fix this TOGETHER. Let us sit down and talk, discuss, listen .. and love one another like family should. No more finger pointing, no more blame. A compromise can be found but we must all be willing to give and not just take.

Please. I am -begging-. Is this really worth placing so many friendships in jeopardy?

I love you all, even despite how all of this is breaking my heart.

[Tebrin]

It would seem some people are so determined to feel they are making a point that they are forgetting the people they hurt and leave behind in the process. For some reason, the server they log onto is more important than the people they interact with.

Go figure. I'm done with this topic.

[Una]

For some reason, the server they log onto is more important than the people they interact with.

That's an excellent point and it goes both ways. Again, here's hoping people work things out.

[LightForce]

Dear friends,

I've been a member of the BD family for a mere year and four months, and in that short time, I have come to know, love, and respect so many of you. You are all fantastic people, and it pains me greatly to know that there is so much turmoil within our group. I don't feel as though I have a whole lot to add to the discussion, but I would like to say the following.

In this time, when emotions are running high, when tempers are short, and so much is at stake, I firmly believe that everyone has a responsibilty to act and speak with patience and respect, and to keep the best interests of the group in mind. Above your personal desires, above your personal pride or your hurt feelings, above everything else, please remember this. If we all do, I'm confident that we can get through this and be stronger than we were before.

That's all I have to say, at least for now. Thanks for reading, and my best wishes to all of you.

~~Brian

[Tolleson]

I've been a member of BD since mid 2003 and only of the forums since 2004, of which I am rarely able to read for times sake, which makes me new and unaware. I've only recently caught up with the turmoil and seen the evidence provided rather than rumor. So it is difficult for me to do much more than listen, especially because I only know one side. I have never really been one to voice my opinion and say what it right and what is wrong. But when it all comes down to it there are the people we love, our friends, no matter how long or how briefly we've known one another we're all here with a common goal to share our passions in a past time we've all grown to love.

That said, its upsetting to see how much this is tearing us apart, but it is important to consider that. Consider how much it affects an entire community when one person is removed. This is surely a testiment to how close we have all become.

Undoubtly, despite our opposing views a consensus should be reached so that we can maintain this family and retain the wonderful players, people and friends that have come together and gathered here. I have never played with better players or become closer friends with any other group online, you are all friends I treasure, no matter what happens or where we go.

Much love dear, don't cry <3

[Rattrap]

I'm going to be a little on the mixed side. I had this all written out prefectly in my head while I spent a few hours painting my mom's house today, but of course most of that is lost once I actually get to the computer. The core of it is, however, still with me.

First things first, I support the folks looking to keep us together. I support the folks that are leaving - but I do not support how they are leaving.

The way I see it: ultimately, you have a choice between a litte of your pride and the Broken Dagger. In a perfect world - the one we had not more than a week ago, even - you could have both. But the way things are going, that isn't going to be the case.

So you're going to have to choose. For those of you that already have, I just want to say that I certainly don't blame you. I'm not disappointed or anything. But if you aren't choosing the Broken Dagger, you need to make that choice wholly. And understand that it is your choice. Not ours, not everyone else's. There's a lot of folk that just want to get on with playing. Hell, I just want to get on with playing. Don't get me wrong - I want to get on with playing with all of you...

...but if you've decided to leave, I respect that choice and wish you luck wherever you go. If you ever change your mind or just want to visit, we'll be here.

[Vanidor]

So.

I'm just going to say this once, and once only.

If you want to go, and start your own thing. Go and do it.

I, for one, will -not- be moving to -any- other server.

And if, for some fucked up reason, there happens to be an agreement that it will happen.

Then bye. I'll spend more time playing World of Warcraft.

And, if there's a problem with that... Then too fucking bad, this is stupid, as is arguing over it.

-Boyd

[Carnath-Emory]

I wished to say simply this:

Not a single post in this thread has been in any way censored. I know of no attempt by any op to halt discussion between players regarding recent matters. -- or any matters. We do not police messages; we never have, and we never will. If you feel that there is information that you have not been given, do consider simply asking its source directly. No ops are making any effort to hinder such communication -- or any communication at all.

There is one exception to this: we do not permit the posting of logs that have occured outside a public channel, unless every party quoted in the log has given permission for it to be reproduced here. We never have. We never will. This is simply to protect the privacy of our players.

If you feel that you require, deserve, or simply wish access to any such logs, I suggest you message a person holding a copy, to request it. We do not condone this; neither do we restrict it. As I said, we do not police messages.

In closing, do remember that there exist very, very few stories with only two sides; it is seldom accurate to think that a situation can truly be narrowed down to Us and Them, when more than two people are involved. If you wish to understand an entire situation, if you wish to see every side of it, then it is my personal suggestion that you speak with as many of the people involved in it as you can.

[Pipkin]

I read this, and I find myself mildly annoyed and disgusted that the fact that a few people getting k-lined has suddenly turned into a channel splitting, and people raging over it.

This internet drama is getting old. So. Very. Old.

Yes, I love Pauline, and I understand her reasoning for not wanting to apologize. But what I do not understand is why everyone is getting so very huffy over it.

C'mon, people. You have to realize that in the end, this is just a game. These people are your friends, and you come here to have fun. Do not let things get so out of hand so easily, because then it stops being fun..for EVERYONE.

I don't want my favorite place to roleplay to go down the drain because people cannot stop bickering.

[Dhugal]

I wasn't going to comment on this because my viewpoint
on the actual events is a bit colored by my own situation vis
a vis Starchat. Some of you already know about that.

But I will say this. Channel breaks are painful. Please, before
you post or say something to someone whose position you
disagree with, take a moment to get control of your emotions
and respect each other's viewpoints.

Whatever the outcome of the discussion, try to stay
together or part as friends.It helps eliminate the regrets
you might have later.

[Hope]

I am going to suggest just a small amount of patience before anyone else adds to this thread. Just trust me on this.

[ShadowRose]

Dhugal, you need to come back and play with us because you rock! DO IT.