I talk to Raina everyday in RL, so I remember the chain of events on our end.
The Catskills RP Ring was having severe ISP problems which led to severe technical difficulties. Our efforts to fix these issues were hampered as some aspects were out of our control as neither of us were the owner of them. Raina spent literally hours and hours with the ISP technical while trying to get permission from the owner to move the forums to a more stable host. The owner granted permission and forums were moved to a more stable and reliable server. Forums were brought back up, and we saw a few folks posting. Posting abruptly ceased.
We never received any ICQs or messages concerning any issues with the forums and later discovered by pure happenstance (via a thread on this exact forum), that the rp community were using new forums. It came as a complete surprise to both of us. After a long discussion, we decided that we would keep the forums up to allow anyone who wanted to copy their fiction, information, etc. Raina has remained faithful in keeping the software updated and we both have kept an eye on them for the last four months to make sure that no spam-bot posts went unchecked.
Now, obviously there are still some technical issues with the forums due to it's shift of location. Since neither of us rp'd regularly on Catskills and thus did not use the forums ourselves for posting, we were unaware. The way we see it, the rp community need to get with each other and make some decisions. *smiles*
Which forum would the rp community like to use from this point on? If it the 'new' one, than we can keep the rp ring up for a length of time to allow you all time to get all your guild information and stories successfully copied over. That length of time is really dependent on your needs to do it. Personally, although Raina might be willing to keep them up indefinitely, I feel as a courtesy to her that she not have to spend future time to keep the software updated if they will not be used regularly, -plus- the added fact that it gives the illusion of a divided community and in Catskills aging rp community, this would not do anything to help it.
If the community as a whole would like to use their 'old stomping grounds' again, we ask that everyone in it help us out with what would need to be done in order to encourage a fresh start for -all- it's members... an yes, even those who've "bumped heads" with staff previously. You as a community will need to be willing to band together as a whole to decide any changes to the forum layout and new moderators from the community.
The decision is in your hands and needs to be decided upon in the best interests of -all- of you as a community. Over the years, I have seen petty differences and impatience fracture you all in separate directions. As a whole and for the good of the rp on this shard you all must pull together, set aside your minor differences and become a united and proactive front to revitalize it. It will mean not always being "right" and being willing to compromise, but I know with the heart and soul I have seen in many of you over the years that you can indeed make it happen.
So talk it over and decide how you all would like to move forward. As always Raina and I will be there to give our suggestions and ideas, but ultimately -each- of you will be the ones that have to raise up this community and refuse to let it go quietly into the night.
~ Thank you.
Alira Drakrul
