Fine. Then why discuss it? It just gives people a chance to do just that ... I really do know something about what's newsworthy.
I was just responding to another post, actually in somewhat in your defense that "yes it doesn't have news but if it needs to be moved it will be so don't worry about it."
Are you suggesting that every thread here is 'reporting' news rather than discussing it?
And, sure, I realize that the folks here largely all congregate on 2-3 boards and often they stay on them and don't ever pop into other places. This IS where real news and issues are discussed. I don't get paid for the hits, so I'd venture to say it's best for the site if more eyes are reading. I have watched more than one online forum (both Disney and completely different) wither and die.
I think a majority of the post are started here with the intent of sharing new information. Yours obviously wasn't. However, I don't want to get bogged down in semantics that really aren't even my jurisdiction when we may be on the verge of a strained respectable relationship.
Have you ever gotten death threats because of things you've written on Disney fan forums? Have you ever had vile hate-filled messages sent to your email because of things you've written on Disney fan forums? have you had your personal information used by social media whores to try and gain more favor from Disney? Have you had folks accuse you of online stalking because you simply responded to posts on Disney fan forums? Have you had family members get stalked by phone because of things you've written?
Well, that's just a bit of my world. So, yeah, I am paranoid. I admit that.
And have I ever committed or insinuated that I would commit any of those act against you or another board member?
This is a fun distraction for me. It's a TV show I can participate in. Nothing more. If I get frustrated with anyone around here, including you, it's the same level of frustration I get when something on Battlestar Galatica didn't go the way I thought it would years ago.
I don't want to go back and forth on this point. I don't see how you can scientifically prove anything ... and moreso why you would want to.
Because you have to be accountable for what you say and be able to back it up. Surely you should know that. You said something that I disproved with minimal effort. I know you think your reputation is secure, but I don't think you understand how foolish you come across sometimes. I think you want to make your point so bad that you lose sight that the supporting argument is just as important.
However, I will save comments on posting style in general for later as it is a general comment not centered on you and I don't want this to turn into a "you don't like the way I say things thread". Again we are on the precipice of an actual discussion. I don't want to derail it by over hashed commentary on your specific posting style.
We both know my overriding point was that WDW's alleged fans are one of the biggest reasons for the resort's stagnation ... and without name-dropping, I was told WDI views the situation largely the same way by a very well-known Imagineer last year. So ... let's say I am 100% wrong and no one was talking about the fountains of Storybook Circus today, it still doesn't change the fact that fans in Anaheim help ensure the Disney Legacy continues while fans of WDW largely ensure that the Legacy becomes one of a cheaper, yeah ... here it comes ... Walmarted product.
I think that's beside the point as we can address the issue with the WDW fan base without comparing them to Anaheim.
Then let's have that discussion ... right now (well not now, maybe over the weekend). I don't believe the polarization as you term it is behind the issues, but it doesn't help. But you have people who are entrenched in their views.
Since this is the meat of the discussion, I'm going to take this piece by piece. I think polarization as I described it isn't fully behind the issue. I think the impact of one side or the other is a matter of opinion and truly is not quantifiable. The entrenchment of their views is the main issue and that does go for both sides.
And some of us do know a bit more about what is happening than others. Disney is using the social media whores to shout down people that you'd likely say are too critical, folks like myself and others here.
That may be and is to a certain extent, but let me offer a counter point. If you know your influence (not yours particularly, but your like minded opinion) is getting crowded out of view, why are you seemingly content to sit here and be less than proactive about it? I don't mean that in an antagonizing way. It is an honest question.
If you don't think they've become so important to Disney, I'd say you simply are mistaken. They have had a huge presence in Anaheim this week. And Disney firmly believes they are the place to get its message out. The company pays some big bucks to top 'social media consultants' and tells them things that will make sure the big checks keep coming. That isn't telling Disney to focus on print outlets or broadcasters ... it's telling them that mommy bloggers are more important than the Washington Post or CBS.
I think the US in general is very jaded towards established media right now. I would be interested to see what the market penetration is for the vast number of bloggers that seem to be under Disney's wing. I don't want to get distracted on this point though.
Now, I'm going to make some comments about the type of communication being used. I'm prefacing this in the context of addressing grievances as a whole, not a person, to TWDC. I don't want this to turn into another referendum on your particular style of posting, although that is going to factor into it.
Obviously you are well connected and you at least garner a passing glance from the suits at Disney. Due to this you apparently embellish your style with flair that some (including myself) consider off putting. While that is fine with you because you seem to be secure in the level of respect you can maintain within the halls of Burbank, I think the net effect on what you are trying to accomplish is negative. Like it or not your tone permeates the (only as a descriptive term) D&G crowd.
I think that tone is a detriment not to courting TWDC (that ship has long sailed), but in reaching out to the core crowd that needs to be converted to make any sort of measurable gain. There are plenty of moderates here that don't speak up because of the tone of the D&G crowd is fairly irrational, even though they may agree with the basic points. As I said early, constructive inroads against the Pixie Dusters (again, only a descriptive term and referring mainly to bloggers) is the way to go in my opinion, not confrontation.
There is enough wrong at WDW that points can be made without catchphrases, name calling, and pigeonholing. There are also plenty of airtight arguments (Yeti, Splash) to be made that grasping for reason to be offended (HM queue, Dumbo Next-Gen Line) isn't necessary. The shotgun approach the D&G crowd takes against the Pixie Dusters is only to the benefit of the latter group. The Pixie Dusters are getting concise talking points directly from Disney. The D&G are just word vomiting on the internet.
Until the D&G crowd can reign it in, use indisputable facts, moderate, consolidate, and propagate their message the bloggers are going to "win".
That's all for me tonight. It's probably a little jumbled. I do look forward to your response.
