Dear MMF members.

It is with some reluctance I step forward to write this but Freddy and I agree it has to be done.  I sincerely hope that no one will misinterpret this post.

First let me say that I wanted the Headline to be "The silence of the forum and discussions of the quality of custom mansions".  It has happened before that the MMF has gone silent or almost so after Freddy or I have had to interfere with discussions that have led to members accusing each other of inappropirate behaviour against other members.

Next, I will quote Freddy in his post where he explains why he locked aquaMat's topic about the quality of beta testing in the custom mansion Veronica's ladders (which is a good mansion but might have had a more thorough testing):

"1° none of our MMF-members is trying to harass mansion builders or beta-testers in any way;
2° none of the mansion builders and beta-testers can't handdle the reports of mistakes."

These two points are very important to all of us.  We MUST be able to discuss the quality of custom mansions WITHOUT being accused of "picking on", "harassing" (or whatever) the beta testers or the CM builders.  Only that way are we able to keep up the quality of the custom mansions, which we all want to have at as high standard as possible.  When I said "which is a good mansion but might have had a more thorough testing" above I did not intend any pun at the tester or the builder.  I do not even know who tested the mansion (and usually I don't know which member(s) is/are testing each mansion).  I was just agreeing with aquaMat on his subject.  I do have the right to have an opinion on this matter and so does everyone else.  In fact I welcome (and expect) critics on my own building and testing abilities, which I regard as efforts to make me a better builder/tester.

I have sometimes seen members posting that MM "is just a game" and that's why we shouldn't be too concerned about the CM's regarding JS, HJS and cd's.  I agree that it is "just a game" but that does not mean that we should accept flaws in the CM's.  In fact I know that some members give up on playing some CM's, not because of the difficulty but because of too numerous flaws in the CM's.  Again this is not said to discourage any builder or tester.  On the contrary I want do encourage both builders and testers (including myself) to become even better in making and testing CM's to the benefit of us all.

While this debate Freddy locked (and another one not locked - yet) was going on I received a few PM's and e-mails from members that were truly concerned about our forum and how to stop this attitude that critisizing the CM's is the same as bullying the testers or builders.  I don't have a patent solution for that.  I can only repeat what Freddy said:

"1° none of our MMF-members is trying to harass mansion builders or beta-testers in any way;
2° none of the mansion builders and beta-testers can't handdle the reports of mistakes."

... and ask members to reread the rules of posting by Vern.

I do sincerely hope that this will come to a stop now and that we can all participate in discussions about the quality of custom mansions without being accused of inappropriate behaviour.

Well said Brel

Your comment on reading the rules /guidelines identifies where the core of the problem is . I know I have read every advice guideline written and know this is the key to understanding what this site is about.
You put it very well when you mentioned some remarks made identified the premise of "only a game". I know I take my playing very seriously and like to identify where my skill is lacking or where a fault prevents continuity.
This is a really good site and I am glad you have spoken out about the last few weeks posts.
Regards to everyone
Bo Peep

If I may be able to add a bit to what Brell said...

We're just lots of fans on the game's forums trying to have as much fun as we can with what we can create with the game Vern and his crew made.

:)

These are real people on the forums, and we have real feelings.

No negativity and all that jazz is needed. We want to have fun.

Thanks Brell and Freddy, for reminding us all what it is to be a forum family, and help MM maintain the high standard of quality it is known and valued for.  

Fun, like Wingy says, is why we are all part of this, and having just returned from my own very fun vacation at a Guest Ranch, horse-back riding 6 hours a day, I am ready for more fun with Jack !   ;D

Take care all !

SandyBean [smiley=2vrolijk_08.gif]

PS:  Wingy; I love your new Avatar, very refined ! ;)

Very well said Wingy!  ;D

Thanks again to Brell and Freddy for all the hard work you do.