Welcome to Gaia! ::

Not to assume, but if the part about the guest coloring was referring to me, I would like to state that I did not color any lions for myself, nor did i make any kind of profit.

Quite honestly I don't like coming to the shop a lot of the time because quite frankly the "oldbies" don't make it very welcoming, so what if a person is new just because they slip up here and there doesn't make them a n00b worth no respect. I'm not pointing fingers nor trying to generalize but looking back since I joined I have been welcomed with open arms by those also newer to the shop whether it be by half a year or two days. Whereas I've watched Older members snarl, post sarcastic or cryptic comments, If you don't like someone or have something to say then Please take it to PM's. Everyone likes a good argument every now and again and hey you may both come out laughing at the end, or hating each other but if you're already posting like that what change is that, agree to disagree find a common ground move on. And yes I know I've posted some sarcastic comments in my time but in all honesty I think the people deserved it, had they made a mature response or send the person that had a problem with a message then maybe I'd not of acted so out of character.

I've had to fight for some of the others regulars respect or even partial friendship so they'd talk to me or even consider Roleplaying with me. We're all people sitting behind the computers and people need to realise that, If we typo a few times big woop, half the time I get told I've typo'd when I'm just spelling things how we do where I live in My country where the English language derived from.

As for the Owner business I honestly don't know I've placed complaints and had nothing come of it but a sort of shrug and fair on her its her shop but it would be nice to have something happen when something get out of hand enough for multiple people to feel the need to complain about a single thing or person. Lots of misunderstands come from the fact that you can't see when someones being sarcastic but from the other side if your posting something think before you press submit, could it be taken the wrong way, are you likely to offend someone? Even if their lurking...

I say this all openly and out front on my own account because I'm not scared and I'm not ashamed, Do you have a problem with me? Feel like arguing anything I've stated, do please PM me I don't bite well.. not in a painful way xD I can be serious and I do have a Real life as we all do but I'm more than happy to talk to anyone even if you think I hate you, we've argued whatever.

So this is me opening up to confront me on any tension I might 'cause, perhaps I'm not too PG 13 and you don't like that? Or I've made a comment you don't agree on... maybe I was the one who made a sarcastic comment, Do I make you feel uncomfortable, want to RP but too shy to ask? c'mon lets talk it out and make Pride lands a better place one user at a time and Maybe just Maybe, even us regulars can help this unravel.

Like Ripple has stated, this is me posting on my real account because I'm not ashamed of throwing my feelings out there. I think this thread supports a good purpose, despite the fact that I disagree with some of the things written in the first post, but we'll cover that later.

Before I start, I would like to state that most everything I say is more of a generalization. I'm not going to point fingers at anyone, just talk about what I have seen in the time I've been here.

First off, I must agree with the fact mentioned about the older members. Like any breedable shop, regulars are a close-knit group of people that are normally hard to break and usually unwelcoming. Though a lot of the members in Pride Lands do a good job in welcoming newcomers, a lot of them do not. Some of the elitism that goes on in here, for example "being one of the first people in Pride Lands," is just pathetic. Okay, so you were here from the beginning. Would you like an award? Acknowledgment (like you don't get enough already)? People kissing your a**? Get of your high horses and understand that this is the internet. Hiding behind an avatar and boasting about your seniority isn't going to make people respect you.

Now, my biggest concern for the people of Pride Lands is the maturity level. And no, I'm not talking about the kids in here who are 13/14 years of age - they are the mature ones. I'm really starting to wonder about some of the people who claim they are in their early 20's, it's getting extremely hard to believe. Coming in to post that stupid glaring emoticon, rolling of the eyes, and even saying things such as "HA HA!" when another regular doesn't post in time for a certain event. What are we, 5? "HA HA HA HA HA! I'M GOING TO LAUGH AT YOU NOW BECAUSE I THINK YOU'RE ANNOYING AND YOU DIDN'T GET WHAT YOU WANTED WHICH MAKES ME HAPPY! LAWLS!" Seriously.

Learning to ignore people: If you don't like someone, just simply stop talking to them or paying attention to them. Unless they are physically or emotionally harming you in any sort of way, shut them out. A great example would be the other night, where a few people and some trolls (or pussies) lashed out at a certain member for bringing some "annoying" entertainment into the thread. This was completely unnecessary. And what really cracked me up was when people started posting on mule accounts because they didn't have the balls to post on their main (it was obvious too, one of them knew that certain member like they've been here for a while). There was no need to turn the situation into a catastrophe. A simple PM explaining to the certain member why you didn't like what was going on would have been the proper way to handle it, but it's apparent that people just love the thrill of putting someone down. Remember Bambi? "If you can't say anything nice, don't say it at all!"

There was also a time (and it still exists) where people had some problems with the things others were interested in. For example, myself and my love for the video game, Halo 3 (and company). I'm sorry, but it's pretty sad to see people get all worked up over other people having a conversation about something they don't like. Unfortunately, not everyone likes Final Fantasy, or Nintendo, emo/goth/darkness, or the study of being a b***h, but it doesn't mean one has to throw a fit over it.

Private messages: use them! It's this really cool feature that allows you to send a message to a certain person without anyone else having to see! Isn't that amazing? Seeing as how a lot of people in Pride Lands cannot grasp this concept, I'll explain why it works well during dramatic events. See, when something comes up where you might feel threatened, annoyed, or offended, it's much nicer to Private message the person who you have an issue with rather than bashing them in the main thread. In private messaging the person, argumentative situations can easily be resolved between the both of you without either party's "buddies" cheering on the sidelines. It also makes you look like a big-girl because you chose not to embarrass the offender in front of the entire thread.

Assuming: Makes you look like an a**. Oh how I just love the ignorance of some people when they assume and more so when they think they are right about the assuming. "SOMEONE IN PRIDE LANDS IS DOING A BRIBE BECAUSE THEY SOLD A LION THROUGH PMS! LAWLS! I'M TELLIN' THE WHOLE THREAD NAO!" Yeah, no. Get the facts straight before you put yourself on a pedestal because you've "caught the criminal" even though you were the main offender at one point. ****To clarify this situation even more so than I already have, the price of the lion I sold to a certain person was determine by the person themselves and I wasn't allowed to give it away because it was a rare (otherwise I would have). The funds I got from the lion (Dark Halo) has been given to the mule and in turn, I bought tickets for anyone who was posting in the thread. My intentional plan was to give the funds to all the colorists who helped out in the event (NOT including myself), but because of arrogant people, that will no longer happen.

Myself: I know I have been involved in my fair share of drama and I know I'm no where in the right when it comes to following some of the rules. I've probably been involved in a few (or all) of those points made in the time I've been here. Normally, I only lash out at those who have assumed incorrectly, or made unnecessary comments involving myself and/or a friend of mine. However, there have been times where I feel like I need to throw in my two-sense and defend someone. The maturity level on my behalf isn't always perfect either. Most of the time, I do it out of silliness, but I'm sure a lot of you remember what I was like when I fist came into Pride Lands *cough*Sky*cough* But we can look back on it now and just laugh.

It's obvious that I love most of you guys too much to just up and leave this place or else I wouldn't be able to say I've been here for three years. Everyone makes mistakes, no one is perfect (despite what some people believe...), but we try hard to work it out in the end. This isn't the case for everyone though, which results in the huge rant I just spent an hour typing.

If anyone has something they would like to say to me directly, please use the amazing private message feature and talk to me through that.

Yeah..

I will just say one thing within the thread less a response is called for. I know that I have played many a role in some of the tensions that have been going on in the thread. We all know this. After all my first entrance in the thread was during a big argument going on and I really didn't help with the way I carried on. For that I am sorry. I mean at the time I joined I was 18...19 even. I should have known better and acted like the mature adult I was so supposed to be. I also apologize for the incidents I've played a role in in between then and now. I'd like to think I've calmed down a lot since then. I mean I'm 21. I'm too old to be getting into fights for something so trivial, however I will not promise that I won't be involved in such actions again because I know how I can be. That's just the a** in me, we all have our days. Any...let me stop rambling.

First Post:
My opinions on the first post, just about everything that has been said I can honestly say that I agree with it BUT before anyone thinks ill of me just think of it from how I am seeing things. Yes there has been a lot of drama and yeah it was dealt with when it occurred but can any of you say that the participants or the causes of said drama really learned their lessons? I'd say no. Offenders would do the same crap all over again because they felt they couldn't be touched. We do have to blame that on the rules not being enforced like they should. Even when we had a punisher around, they were unable to do much because in the end they truly had no authority. All they could do was make futile attempts to mediate the issues. So you can see why many would think that the owner has no back-bone when it comes to getting things done or appear as if they don't care, do nothing for the shop and cannot make proper decisions and gold hungry. I also think what makes people think this is the fact that the shop owner is hardly around at all. This may be false and I'll gladly admit if I am wrong but even I find it rare that they are around.

Now as far as the colorist issue is concerned, I do say you have plenty of colorists but knowing that fact I have still PMed the shop owner requesting to become part of the staff for that very reason. The fact of them being active or not isn't what made me apply it was the me wanting to be able to contribute so they could at least be able to take a break on things and catch up on growths or what have you a not forget anything. I know how stressful it must be to have people ask you, even if they are polite about it, "Do you know when you'll be able to grow *insert name here*?" So I opted to be strictly a breeder for that cause. It would give the staff some time to just relax ya know.

Now, this is something I don't agree with. I honestly don't like how staff members are pitting against staff members. No, I'm not going to name drop but honestly I find it sad and shameful that you {*Note: Not saying this who made the post. When I say you I mean all staff members involved.) of all people are acting like this. Especially so much to the point where it has become noticeable to the regulars. How can you expect others to follow your laws if you can't even band together and resolve your own issues so that their is some sort of peace?


Fourth Post

I agree whole heartedly with this. Now I don't think I've done this because I do try to welcome anyone new but if I have appeared harsh to anyone new I am seriously sorry. It was not my intension. You've no idea how much I'd like PL to grow. We really do need new blood to thrive. However, to the oldies that do act like this, I have two words for them. STOP IT. If you can't even respect a new comer, who is bound to make mistakes because they are just getting into the flow of things, then how can you expect the management of the shop we have come to love to even be remotely satisfactory? You can't. The Elitism has to stop and it needs to stop now. I've found myself avoiding PL because of this very reason. Also, stop acting like your superior to everyone because your not. Your no better than me or the newbies and the same goes for them. The cryptic messages have also got to stop. I can see why a lot of newbies get sarcastic with the oldies. Many of you provoke it then have the nerve to catch a case. Stop.


Sixth Post

Though I can't say that I've seen that on the front page of the main thread, I have to say that all in all this post needs to be read completely. The whole learning to ignore people bit...well it doesn't hurt to try but I'd have to say that its better to just be cordial. Even ignoring people can be rude and provoke issues so yeah being pleasant is the best approach.

Seventh Post

Again, STOP IT. Finger pointing isn't going to help anything at this point. How can someone who barely gets online have any involvement in this thread? Doodle bug has much on her hands and I can vouch for her. Even when she is on the net, most of the time it's through her phone and thats dealing with MSN. When she does get on Gaia now a days its for maybe ten minutes at most before she has to leave again. So please leave her out of this. Whoever is approaching her, just back off. It's not really important who made the first post. Whats important is getting all of this resolved.





Now that you see I am not afraid either to speak my mind using my own account, feel free to PM me if you have any issues with what I said. I don't care how you approach me. You can be calm and civilized or an all out jack a** because either way nothing that you will say will change my mind and I'm sure the same goes for you. But as long as we can come to a point where we can look and speak to each other and have a grounds of understanding thats all that matters.

I'm sure I'll post more later. But right now I'm just pissed.

Right now I just think everyone needs to get off their ******** soap boxes. Grow some ******** humility and omg dare I say be humble for a change?

Heaven forbid anyone be nice to anyone else!

Heaven forbid someone tries NOT to annoy someone else?

Heaven forbid people USE THEIR ******** BRAINS and stop being mindless sheep marching to the slaughter.

Be nice to the newcomers, yes we do need them. But encourage them to read the rules. Perhaps before allowing them to gain full ownership of their first lion they have to answer some question or post something hidden (meaning not bolded or a separate color) to show they've read the rules?

s**t it should really be before they speak, but this is being reasonable.

People are not hiding behind their mules, being pussies or trolls, they're trying to keep the ******** peace. Because some people realize that attacking one person that needs to hear that they're doing wrong may jeopardize something rather important to them.

Oh and by the way...



This is what I said in the thread after Rhea was posting the pictures. Taking the piss out of someone means giving them a hard time. It's not an English phrase so maybe it was misconstrued. I wasn't bullying, it got the thread talking! She was the only one talking during said picture posts for like 3 pages! Ariya started jumping on her hardcore, I was giving her a ras. If I really had that big of a problem with Rhea would I proudly own 2 lions by her? Use your head.

Everyone, please do not be bothering Doodle for this. If it would make you all comfortable, I will make it known who I am. I merely post this through the mule because I feel this is important to keep this as 'official' as possible since it effects so much of the shop.

It was merely a suggestion on what could be done. I see where you are coming from, Jezabelle. Perhaps we could also discuss, in this thread, how we may build from the idea and make it more likable and neutral.

Rhea: I honestly did not mean to assume. I was taking my personal experience into account without thinking of what your situation may have been. I apologize for jumping to conclusions; it was not my conscious intention to do so.

Whisper, I know what I said about the owner seems harsh, but those are my honest opinions as well as some other people's about the owner. I have been with the shop even before it was a shop - I watched it grow from the lineart auction into a shop and all I see now is that it is falling. Falling due to many flaws. I do not mean to say you are wrong, I merely want to let you know this is what I have noticed from the very beginning.