Bracing Debate

[Kezaa (retired)]

Okay, this is it.

I look around here, and I frankly wonder if I'm losing brain cells for staying here. We're butting heads here. And for what? There's so many issues flying in every direction that it is making my head spin.

So out with it. Whatever is eating people up, let it all out right here. There is obviously so many deep running issues at hand in the minds of people that this thread might not even be enough to take it all on. And uh, let's keep the issues limited to what people think is wrong with MH, thank you.

Its time to grab this problem by the balls, cuz guess what? I grow sick of everything that is going wrong with this place. And I'm leaving. I do not plan on on staying here any longer if this thread is disregarded and/or it does not solve anything. I want to help this site. Dear god, I wish I could save this place. But it pains Jesika to be here. I can tell that WR and Lisa are just plain miserable when they come here. This is not a place for escape anymore to them because it somehow lost its meaning long ago.

So I ask you: What is the cause of all this? Are there varying factors? Please give me your input, people. I cannot resolve this without you. And MH sure as hell cannot get over this if you guys are unwilling to save it.

[Cole - retired]

*sighs* I have been trying my hardest to stay out of these types of discussions, no matter how much I may disagree with something someone has said. I just don't think that anything I could contribute would help, in fact, I think that pretty much anything I say wouldn't matter a lick - or would just piss someone off and incite them to argue with me.

But because it's you, Kez? I'll put down my two cents worth. However, this will be the last thread in which I will express my thoughts on the matter.

Whether or not anyone believes it, my decision to leave is not solely based on the fact that Jen is going. Yes, I will admit that it has import and was the straw that broke the camel's back for me, but I had been contemplating such a course of action for quite a while.

Now for why, as best as I can explain it and as much as I can say without offending anyone: I'm not happy here any longer. This was no person's specific fault, and never let it be said that I am not grateful to Rose and Claire for the wonderful time that I have had here - I very much am. I understand that things change and that nothing is forever, but MH has deviated so far from what it was when I joined that, yes, I am unhappy here.

When I first registered, I lived here. I slept here, ate here, saw the castle in my dreams. First and foremost, I joined to improve my writing skills because I am going to be an author one day. My aspiration is to be on the Bestseller's list someday, and I wanted something fun and challenging to do to help me on my way. Meeting people and making friends was second - I will admit to that. Not that I don't truly love the friends I've made here; I do and I always will... but this is what I have to do.

A year ago, there were plots - gigantic plots that everyone threw their all into, that everyone could get involved in. Everyone followed the rules set by the Headmistresses, everyone acheived their status by hard work and driving desire - not because of who they knew or because they were pitied. I sought out good threads and learned how to role-play, took suggestions to improve my style and writing, spell checked and grammar checked every post manually and with the aid of my computer. It was work, in a way, but it was great fun and always rewarding. The Muggle World was secondary - vital to the site but NOT the most important board.

Now it's the board with the most posts and views, and though there are over 500 people here, the rules and guidelines that Rose worked so hard on have barely been viewed 150 times each. Even when multiples have been factored in, it still doesn't add up. Why do I think that is? The role-playing has become secondary to who is friends with who, who is dating who, which among the population has the most far-flung, preposterous power without having to work at it at all. Equal rights for all is perfectly fine, but being granted power and status when showing minimal or no effort at all quite frankly makes no sense to me.

I've come to believe that we will always find someone out there who is better than us at something and that we will also find things we are better at than others. I am a writer - it is not only what I do for fun, it is my life. Yes, I will proudly stand up and say that I have talent, and yes, I will say that I am more skilled than others. Is that wrong? Does that make me an 'elitist b******' (or b****, as the case may be)? I'm sorry, but I don't think so, and I don't think it's wrong to expect to be recognized when I pour my entire soul into making my writing the best I can possibly make it.

For that matter, there are people here with divinely visual artistic talents that 'I' could never accomplish in my life! I can barely color inside the lines, much less create the masterpieces they do. Does that mean that they are a better person than me? Of COURSE not! Does it mean they are a better artist than I? Of COURSE it does! Do they not deserve to be complemented, recognized, and rewarded for their talents?

They do.

I can admit when I suck at something; it's as simple as that. Writing, however, is not one of those things... and I can no longer grow here. I have tried, I have exhausted every effort that I can personally think of to restore MH by myself and with others, and I invariably get shot down, or worse, insulted and called names. I can't do it anymore, and I'm sorry. To anyone I've offended, or hurt - I never meant to do such a thing, and I certainly don't mean to offend or hurt anyone by leaving, but this is what I feel I must do. It truly pains me to see the number of OOC posts (even in places where there should be none), to see the average length of a post dwindle to a couple of haphazard paragraphs which take less than five minutes to write and into which go little or no thought, to see manifestations of laziness in which it seems that attention to correct spelling, grammar and punctuation has been completely lax.

So yes... I suppose this has been a confession of sorts, but what I think is wrong here should be evident throughout. Though I've made my decision, it still kills me to leave - in a couple of weeks, it would have been my one-year anniversary at MH. This was my home, in my heart it was, but I don't feel as if there is a place here for me anymore. Especially after Hurricane Ivan and the destruction of homes and lives in my beautiful town, I have had to re-evaluate what is important to me and what I should sweat for, what I should live for. MH is no longer it, and I am sincerely sorry that it has come to be so.

Once again, thank you, Rose and Claire. I wish you both nothing but the best - in fact, that's what I wish to all of you here, whether leaving or staying. I will never forget what Magic Horizons meant to me, or the doors it has opened for me.

Borrowing an idea from Jake - a few lyrics of 'Something Beautiful' by Cauterize sums it up pretty well:

Faded,
away like the color
in a blue sky
at the end of the day
night falls,
and the search begins
for something
something better than this

Scream or a cry
the truth or a lie
I'm not sure they will save us this time
I don't wanna be around
when it all comes down
to watch something beautiful die

To anyone who has had the patience to slog through all of that, thank you.

~Heather J. Morris, AKA Nicholas Keningston & Branwen Elensar

[Kalista(Retired)]

Elegantly stated Cole. I appreciate your taking the time to tell us all how you feel and though I have never had the pleasure to role play with you, I will miss the opportunity as I, like you, have learned a lot about role playing here at MH. However, I have also come to see that too much emphasis is indeed put on their abilities to be able to write such beautiful things as Mich and you can produce.

I try, I struggle at it from time to time, my posts not always what I want them to be, however, I personally think that the fun is what is most important, in the end.

Call me a b**** for saying this but, even those who do not, know how to write can learn to do so, in their own way, sure, perhaps not as good as the two of you, but still, they deserve the same chance you had. I admit, there are those who don’t even try, but I have seen improvements in some as well. With that said, I thank you once again for clearly stating your position on the whole matter.


I will miss your posts, and the ones of the most talented Mich, as I have learned a lot form reading them. I thank you too, for that chance and hope that you have a good life and a great time where it is that you go, I am sure, you will.

Luvs-n-stuff
Kalista aka Kiara aka Kerri

[Kezaa (retired)]

Excellant, Heather, that was very well put.

Now who else wants to add their piece? C'mon......

I imagine there ought to be a line of people with complaints of what they think is wrong, or at least with some things wieghing on their hearts and minds. Don't worry about hurting anyone's feelings in this thread. This is just to let out all your aggressions of whatever wrong doings this site has brought us, whether through the people or may it be more personal than that.

[Kalista(Retired)]

Kezaa, where is it that you stand in all of this? I see you ask the rest of us, our opinions, but you do not state yours, do you have one? I love it here ar MH, and I really am just sick and tired of all the b**** sessions that go on around,. Perhaps I should just stay out of the Muggle section then I could have some more fun? Awe yes, I do believe that is the point of the problem.

I hope that I do not come across as to pushy as I know I have not been around for the whole thing, yet, I wonder, who is it that really matters here? I would think that it would be each and every member of the site, be it the worst R/per or the best. Does it really matter who gets hurt? No, I think not, we are all the same, and we are all hurting from some f the things said, although, so far as I know, nothing bad has been said about me, as of yet, it still pains me to see people complaining about the abilities of others when at one point and time, we all had our silly post problems, I know I sure did, and I am not ashamed to say so. Man, my list goes on and on, I guess what I am really trying to say, is why worry about what others say about you and why say nasty things to those who do not know better? Does it make one feel better to do so? It doesn’t me. It makes me sad and perhaps, a little sick.

Geeze, there I go again, sorry, I will let others post now.

[Branwen - retired]

Thank you, Kez, for the opportunity. I've been holding onto that for quite a while now, and it was a great relief to let it out. I hope more people take you up on your offer; I really do.

Kalista, thank you for your comments as well. I honestly appreciate them, and I see where you're coming from. However, I would like to point out that I never said we all don't deserve the same opportunities - everyone deserves a chance to enjoy the magic of this place, no matter who they are or what their abilities. What upsets me is when people expect to be handed everything on a silver platter simply for clicking the register button. Maybe that's just me, though, I don't know anymore.

As for missing out on the opportunity to role-play with me? Not a chance, hon. I've been watching you for quite a while, and you have improved in monumental ways since you joined. I'd be delighted to have the pleasure of RPing with you. *nods*

So, yes, I think Kez has had a great idea, here. It'd be wonderful for us to sit down and have an honest, civilized voicing of our concerns, whether we're going or staying. Perhaps in the effort, solutions to problems will become more clear... and if they don't? Well, at least we might all feel a little better. I know I do.

[Mable]

Yes, Kezaa, great idea. I already posted my feelings toward this, here, in the Student Council. Simply read the 2nd page of Hello all and you will see what I think. There it is...in black and white for all to see. The heart of the problem and a solution to it.

Good Day.

[Kezaa (retired)]

Yes Mable, I read all about it. ^^

Kalista, I guess it would be fair if the ring mister behind this whole discussion should point out my platform.

There's not a whole lot to it, really. At least as far as my issues go. I suppose it started with the whole Zeion issue. No, actually it went even further than that. When this site was moved, I think that's when problems really began to arise.

I had no problem with it. I was perfectly willing to start a clean slate, but at the same time, continue to develop my chara as if nothing had happened. From what I could see though, it seemed that a lot of people lost their drive to RP as much as they did on the previous site and they mainly came here to goof off. Since that's sort of a hazy subject though, I won't get into it that much.

The topic of Zeion is what really seemed to set the arguements up for everyone and bring out feelings that no one else even knew existed before. It seemed that just when peopel got back in the swing of RPing again, they went and made such a big unneccisary fuss over him.

I do not know, I guess my point was that I cannot stand to see all this conflict at this site, when I'm not even sure of all the factors that are involved. People probably aren't responding to this thread because they feel that the reasons for why this site is falling to pieces are reasons that my not be any of my business, or anyone else's. I suppose this thread was, overall, pretty pointless. -_-

EDIT: I've had a change of heart of leaving here (again). I just saw a particularly disturbing post at the lake, and it nausiates me to think that someone could RP in such a twisted and painfully base manner. WR, or Claire, if you would, assign me the role of Head Boy again as soon as I get my life back. I could at least get by, with cleaning up trash.

*Sighs lamentedly* Everyone else, do whatever you like with this thread. I'm done trying to fix problems that won't even allow themselves to be fixed.

[Wilting Rose]

Sorry, guys. This is what we're trying to move away from - but I know what you were trying to do, Logan, and I thank you. All of you, who have been trying to help. Your words do not go unnoticed.