An Open Letter:

[beaut666]

..so lately I have been working, hanging out with the wife, and I also volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters, so time is valuable. Sometimes I come home, eat, grab a beer and chill for a few hours. Sometimes I come home and play all night. But for the most part, it's been hard to log in for a usual 3-5 session.
Last night I got a little brave since the chatter in Uni was going wacky and suggested to a player that he can listen to the podcast. It was a bit of advertising, too, so sorry for that. A player informed me that I might be losing more listeners than gaining them by highlighting a player such as Sunce on my show. To his/her credit, they was just informing me about an opinion they have heard, and were not trying to grief me at all..and I appreciate it.
I am not going to get into too many details, but I'll tell you a short story.
When I first started playing, (well, the third time..I had tried twice before with not much luck) I met a KILLER guild named Ballistic Mystix. They invited me in, and treated me very nicely. They, for the longest time, were the number one guild in my book. (Now I know that there are many great guilds like thiers ) One time I made a post or mentioned something on my show about being neutral and I recieved something like 8-10 Im's and email's about how that was not true in the least, that I was INDEED in a Karavan guild, and a few even suggested that I lied. So, even though I didn't want to, I quit BM and went at it solo. I am still solo, even my new guild just has one player in it and will stay that way. I made the guild so that it looks like I have the title "Atys Reporter".
So I found out very quickly that the whole faction conflict was nasty business. So, here's to ANY player that might have listened to my show and judged me based on who I have featured, or talked to. Or to that player that has decided to stop listening without ever telling me why, or at least without trying to send me a simple email:
I maintain a VERY open policy on the show. It is, and always has been, an unedited ('cept for time, blank air and all that technical stuff) forum for ANYONE to send in a segment. If you do not like the opinions on the show, why wont you IM me, or record a simple 3 minute rant and send it to me? Email me? /tell in game? If you have stopped listening or ever thought less of me because I have featured a guy you think is a jerk, or because he is on the other side of a factional conflict, then all I have to say is you can kiss MY PALE TRYKER BEHIND. Sunce is a good pvp'er, and I ask his opinions on it all the time. I also ask Beren to make me things, and he is the sweetest guy, and then turned around and two players told me he was a spy and was a jerk and blah blah. If I am mistaken about someones character, or at least if you think so, then why send me a hateful email or im? Why not just send a well written, thought out list of reasons? I might be convinced. But why does it bother you so? Why wont you contribute yourself?
If you stopped listening because
1) The show sucks
2) you dont have time
3) or you just dont like it. Not yer thing..
Then I am not addressing you, and I still love you. Whoever you be.
But to any of those that think I might be sympathizing or siding with one group or another simply because I TALK TO EVERYONE than again, you know what to do. I want NO PART of the factional conflict. I don't like it, but I respect it as a game mechanic. Leave me out of it. I didnt come to Atys to get reminded of Holy Wars in real life.
Beau

[tr808]

I hate to admit it but i never listened to one of ur podcasts tho i greatly respect the effort u spend on them, not only for the time making them but also for the effort in advertising them on other sites! Dont let a few jerks ruin ur and others fun, after all they should realise an reporter is usually someone who listens and reports both sides of a story

Yay for Beau!


On a side note: a couple of allineas make it an easier read

[sprite]

I had a feeling that was why you left BM Beau, and I'm very saddened to hear that its true - being "forced" to quit a guild you like is never a very nice thing and shouldn't happen to anyone, least of all someone like you

I must admit to skipping over Sunce's segment in the last podcast, but thats purely because his accent annoys me (sorry Sunce ), and I'm still planning on listening to all the new ones you make

Personally I think I'd like to see (hear?) more from you/acridiel in the podcasts and have more, shorter, segments from other people in it - a bigger variety is always good and might help break up the length of the podcast a bit

[mugendo]

Maybe this should be a PM reply......but, I can't be bothered to hit more than the reply to post button.

Got your seatbelt on Beau ?...here we go.........

There is a lot of controversy over what constitutes reporting, opinion, speculation, manipulation, ..is the podcast reporting events ?, is it to entertain ?, is it directing opinion ?, is it creating divisions ?, is it constructive advice ?.

Well....."it's only a podcast" I hear you say", "It's my contribution to the game" I can envisage you shouting.
Well Beau, it is all of the above........both attack and defence.
"The pen is mightier than the sword" is a historical reality you must accept when you enter the political arena of 'neutral speaker'.
Much to the chargin of many a pacifist, the audience you address are the ones who act on your words.....and whose actions you are ultimately responsible for.

The voice of oppresion arrives in many guises, and not all come from the mighty governments, some arrive in small whispers from the shadows....so I can understand your frustration and anger at your efforts being critisized, but not your surprise.

Freedom of speech is always going to be an ongoing struggle.......for those who speak it, and for those who subdue it.

Besides......I just quietly forward past the sections of the podcast I am not interested in.

[cloudy97]

I enjoyed Sunce's part!

I think you're doing a good job for the community with your podcasts. And you can remain neutral in a factioned guild, it's all up to you. Follow your heart!

[beaut666]

Well thank you all for your responses, and thanks for letting me rant. I'm a very sensitive Tryker!
Now, to bed. Work in three hours haha.
Beau

[riveit]

Nice postcasts Beau! Keep up the good work! I just listened to #17, but the link for #18 isn't working for me.

[blyth]

Beau,
I've listened to em all and enjoyed them all to varying degrees. Who you have on is of no mind to me as long as they're either educational or entertaining. Since I'm a journeyer to Arispotle I haven't had time to make enemies and hope to keep it that way except, of course, for the game play in OP battles. I'm looking forward to Sunce's next treatise on melee PvP though I doubt he's going to give away all his secrets Edit - Yes I'll fix the signature one day.

[barny01]

First of all I want to let you know what a good job you are doing. I listen to every podcast....or rather I've listened to everyone so far.

Second, I don't understand why some people (you know who you are :P) attack you for hosting some people on your show. Yes, I admit SunCe can be difficult at times and there are probably better PvPers out there who could've been on the show instead. You as a listener have the choice not to listen at his part....you can just fast forward and have it over with. There is no need to trash Beau.

Don't listen to them Beau...most of us think you are doing a great job. Keep it up mate.

/Chitara

[killgore]

Your doing a good job Beau. I try to listen to them all but time is a commodity in short supply.BM was sorry to lose you over opinions of others.Continue to fight the good fight.-Kil