Hello everyone! Yup, I am back for a visit and I thought I would speak up and say hello. Thank you to everyone for all the emails in game and out of game. It really makes me feel sad that I left but it also makes me feel humble in that so many of you followed my blog over the years.
Do remember what I said in my last post, I would come back for visits. For those in my alliance, they have seen more of me over the past few days and those of you who have fallen prey to my guns in game, feel free to add to your bio, “Killed on a Wandering Druid Visit”. Perhaps I should come back and conduct a campaign to have replace the bunnies with that little bit of text, hmm…
Now I’ve received a number of requests for comments concerning the recent CSM meeting minutes and the apparent response from CCP or mainly their lack of useful response as the players see it. I am sorry, but I am not going into a discussion on this topic. Mynxee, Teadaze and the EVE forums have plenty of commentary on this topic and as I said on my personal blog, I have nothing good to say about CCP on this and thus I will not comment. So there is no confusion however, I do agree with the valid opinions voiced by the player base on CCP’s failures as of late, I do hope they will listen to their stakeholders and that’s all I will say on this matter. CCP, please give me something positive to say, you have such great potential and we are eager to love you!
More controversy? Sure, why not. Some of you were smart enough to link the name listed in the Creative Commons license for this blog with a Twitter account that made some comments concerning CK’s recent blog banter topic. Yes, it was me calling out CK’s lameness when I agreed with Casiella’s Twitter update. In a rare occurrence, I actually received the writing topic email directly from him CK than by a third party and I was yet underwhelmed and unsurprised with the lameness and obvious uber fanboi attitude of this man yet again. He really does redefine how much of a marketing ‘tool’ he really is.
If you don’t see how he seems to always try to steer public opinion in CCP’s favor when things are looking bad for CCP, you have my pity. You play EVE Online, you are all smarter than that.
I kept quiet for three years so that this community could grow and grown it has. It’s stronger than ever and he insults intelligence of all of you when he tries to control what you write about. You are all better writers than he will ever be, don’t cheapen yourself by becoming the unpaid positive marketing tools of CCP. Speak your mind but don’t blindly follow him because you want web traffic to your blog. Stand on your own merits, you will be surprised how well you do and you will realize that you don’t need him.
Don’t think so? Well, tell me, how is Hulkageddon III doing? Very well from the lastl time I checked. How’s EVEBloggers.com doing? Also, very well. What about Mandrils OPML work? Again, outstandingly well. Tweetfleet? Twittering away beautifully.
So, you don’t agree with me here? That’s fine. I don’t mind one bit. Go ahead, speak your mind on this one, but don’t respond because you are Mindless CK minion. Think about why this angers you. Is it because someone is speaking poorly about another or is it because you want to defend the person who helps you get web traffic to your blog by directing your writing topics. Be sure that you really understand your reasons for responding.
July 16th, 2010 at 11:38 am
I thought better of you Ga’len, I really did.
I take part in the banters, not to get hits and not because I’m a ‘mindless CK minion’ as you put it. I do it because they are good for the the community. The attitude displayed in this post is decidedly not godd for the community. It is divisive and poisonous (no matter who it is directed against).
Unless it has escaped your notice (and it seems to have escaped CCP’s as well). Every EVE blogger is a CCP marketing tool. What we do is done because we love the game that CCP have made, if we’re critical its with good reason, and if we’re heaping praise on CCP then you can bet that we do not do so blindly. We play the game and we write about it, this generates publicity for EVE and CCP that they get for free. We don’t do it for money, neither do we do it for the hits, we do it because we love this flawed beauty of a game and want to share that with the world.
There are many people who deserve som credit for building the EVE blogging community into what it is today. You are one, CK is another, and there are many more. You have deliberately removed yourself from it and that’s your decision, but don’t expect to get an easy ride when you come back and bad-mouth one of the others who helped get us (the eve community) to where it is now.
Without CK, yourself and the others we would not have the award winning community that is the EVE blogosphere. For that I thank you, but this kind of attack is not welcome or, as far as I can see, warranted. Even from one such as yourself. Rest assured I would be saying exactly the same thing to CK were he to post similarly.
This post is beneath you and makes you sound like a petulant child, who at some point hasn’t got what they wanted and is still holding a grudge.
Ga'len Reply:
July 16th, 2010 at 12:01 pm
Am I a petulant child or someone who is no longer drinking the cool aid? I would have to say the latter on this one.
You might want to rethink your statement about all of us doing this for free. Last time I checked both you and I didn’t have ads on our blogs as per the terms of service from CCP for fan sites. There are others who are in violation of those terms. I don’t have to name anyone, I think you can figure it out.
As for a grudge, no, I don’t have one. I just am tired of seeing blogging communities loose their collective reason by allowing their opinions to be so easily swayed by a few people who impose their control upon them.
July 16th, 2010 at 12:19 pm
I have ads on my blog as well in case you hadn’t noticed. and I would be very surprised indeed if any of the EVE blogs actually made any kind of profit from the ads they show, I know I certainly don’t. You might also note that the majority of EVE blogs are not even listed on CCP’s website as fansites.
I would also like you to cite examples of where CK has ‘imposed’ an opinion on anyone. The subjects for many of the blog banters are submitted by participants and whether you participate or not is entirely optional, and you can agree or disagree with the premise presented. People are free to write whatever they like on their blogs, and equally, others are free to disagree on theirs.
I really can’t figure out what your problem is. People are sheep, always will be. If they are swayed by one person’s opinion or voice, then that is their own fault, not anyone elses. Why specifically go after CK for this? It happens all over the place, over things far more important than a computer game. If people can’t look at what they read on the internet with a little application fo critical thought then, again, thats their fault. Point out their idiocy by all means, but don’t attack someone for voicing their opinion, its not their fault that other people can’t be bothered to think for themselves.
Ga'len Reply:
July 16th, 2010 at 12:33 pm
I guess I missed the ads on your site. Hmm..so, how many of the fan sites listed in CCP’s fan site page are in violation of the TOS? I wonder… Why would I care? Because CCP told me to take my ads down even though I was NOT on their fan site listing. Seems that being listed did not apply a few years ago, has that changed?
Unfortunately it is people’s faults for not thinking for themselves. That’s what my problem is. People are not holding themselves accountable to their own ideals. As for attacking as I have done, well, to be honest, it’s more of an opinion. My opinion of someone’s idiocy.
mandrill Reply:
July 16th, 2010 at 12:55 pm
If you were not listed on their fan site, then surely they had no jurisdiction over any ads you displayed. An overzealous legal team maybe?
Ga'len Reply:
July 16th, 2010 at 1:02 pm
That’s what I thought, but go read the TOS for making an eve related site. It’s interesting.
July 16th, 2010 at 12:20 pm
I have to admit I’m a stats whore I like seeing that little graph go up, the blog banters help that but i started my blog because I enjoy the game and I wanted to write about my experiences. End of the day I guess I write for myself, people reading it is just a side effect that I enjoy. Whether I carry on with blog banters only time will tell I guess as long as I enjoy blogging that’s all I care about. Never been called a “tool” before
Always enjoyed reading your blog in the past.
Ga'len Reply:
July 16th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
I believe I called you a minion, I called someone else the tool.
Thanx for reading.
July 16th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
I’m inclined to agree with Mandrill here Ga’len.
I don’t follow or understand your reasons for the personal attack. Did CCPs request to have your ads taken down create a little bitterness? I hope not. If you think it a personal attack on you due to your other opinions I would think that you were better than that. Tinfoil hats are not something you usually take a liking to.
As Mandrill said, there are many who have come together to create a great community. You are definitely among them as is CK. You certainly have every right to express your opinion but by lowering yourself to calling someone names you cheapen and water down your opinions. It would be as wrong to call you a petulant child as it would be for you to call CK a “tool” or anything else for that matter. It has nothing to do with drinking the coolaid it has to do with respect. People believe what they want to believe and follow whom they want to follow.
I read your blog because I enjoy your stories and having spoken to you in game, I enjoy you as a person and respect your views. While I have not flown with CK but based on what I have seen he has given much of himself to the community and deserves a certain amount of respect.
Speak your opinions, they are valued and listened to, but don’t debase others (and in turn yourself) in an attempt to lift yourself up and make your opinion seem more valuable. This is beneath you.
I do have a blog and couldn’t care less if someone reads it. I haven’t updated it in a while (I do have 3 stories in the works) but it was never about driving traffic or the pretty graphs, it was about the pleasure I got out of writing. Nothing else. I respect CK for the work that he has done (and continues to do) and while you may not respect his opinions or his work, calling him names (or anyone else for that matter) is very much uncalled for.
Ga'len Reply:
July 16th, 2010 at 4:06 pm
Thorvik, I respect your opinion my friend. I am simply disgusted by his conceit that the community revolves around him. It’s an insult to all of us and I just can’t stand false people.
Mandril, now that we have chatted, would you like to share what you learned with Thorvik? He may find it enlightening.
Thorvik Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 3:44 pm
I think you misunderstood part of my message. I don’t disagree with you as you may/may not be right. It’s your opinion and have as much right to it as anyone out there. In fact, I respect you for that. It’s just the cheapening/watering down of your argument by calling him, and others , minions,tools,idiots etc…
There are many ways of making a point without resorting to name calling. In a war of words, it gives them more ammo and it gives your target the opportunity to take the high road and say that you are just ranting and have nothing of consequence to say.
Express away. Do so with great bluster, but keep it civil and you will gain a greater following than you would by lowering your standards. Your writing is good, keep it that way.
Ga'len Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 6:01 pm
I must admit, I did go a bit over the line with the name calling mate and for that I am sorry. I hit my limit of bullish$t and snapped.
Again, I am sorry for the harsh language.
July 16th, 2010 at 10:10 pm
I agree with Galen here.. Long have i seen this unwhorthy “blogfather” ruling the community without adding anything of his own.
I am always saddened when great writers grovel before this ruler of the webtraffic.
July 16th, 2010 at 10:45 pm
Seems to me that Ga’len is doing exactly what you guys say you are doing; writing a blog expressing his own personal feelings, and he doesn’t care if people read it or agree with him…
July 17th, 2010 at 6:46 am
Hey all,
Just a quick note that when I started my blog I tried to get myself added to as many EvE related traffic sites as I could and I do not regret this.
I write my blog for 2 reasons. The first is that I enjoy writing and the CK Blog Banters are fun to be a part of. This is not because they bring extra traffic but because I enjoy debating a certain aspect of EvE online along with a number of other people and there blogs.
The second reason I started this blog was as a recruitment tool for The Guristas Association.
I have always enjoyed your Blog Ga’len, even if i don’t always agree with some of the stuff you post.
There are some people that I see as the Core of the Blogging community, yourself and CK included, and when one attacks the other it can cause problems. Luckily most of the people in the EvE universe are old enough to rise above things being said in blogs and it won’t have a detrimental effect.
Fly Dangerous o/
Mail
Ga'len Reply:
July 17th, 2010 at 11:07 am
It truly saddens me that many of you don’t see how you are being used by CCP. Has no one figured out yet that CK uses your desires for web traffic to get you to write posts in CCP’s favor? Ever wonder why CK runs a contest to have posts about how grate eve is when there is a lot of bad press on Scrap Heap and the EVE forums?
Come on people, you are all much smarter an this. Let’s have a return to integrity in blogging again!
Mark726 Reply:
July 17th, 2010 at 7:39 pm
“Integrity in blogging” seems a bit of a contradiction in terms, but that’s another matter entirely.
As a blogger who doesn’t participate in the banters, I would like to think I have a bit of an outside perspective on these things. And it seems to me that even if CK is using the banters as a marketing tool (which I think is at least debatable), he’s by no means forcing people to join in. And these blogs that are supposedly being used to create “good press” for CCP will as often as not turn around and have their next entry be something about how the game is pissing them off in some way, ESPECIALLY lately. Just because we’re upset with how CCP has been doing something doesn’t mean that EVERY SINGLE ENTRY has to be some kind of martyred struggle for EVE’s soul. If we didn’t like at least parts of the game, we would never write about it in the first place. We shouldn’t have to feel guilty about saying something good about a game we love.
Look at the blogs even in the Blog Pack now, half of them are filled with links to the forums or (more rarely) to SHC. It’s not like these are being kept quiet by anyone. The tweetfleet too is abuzz with daily links to either forum responses or other links.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed your blog in the past, Galen, and I agree with some of what you have to say here, but I think you’re going a bit far with these accusations. The EVE Blogging community would survive quite well if the Blog Pack was swallowed up tomorrow. As you yourself said, both EVE Bloggers and the Tweetfleet are getting along fine. I’m afraid I don’t really see where your anger is coming from on this.
For that matter, I’m not really even sure why you’re upset with this month’s banter topic. If it’s the one that I received (someone who does the banters forwarded it on to me), it outright says that something CCP developed could be a scam. How on earth is that good press for CCP?
Then again, seeing as how my blog doesn’t really criticize CCP in anyway (since it’s meant as a resource, on ingame content only rather than an actual blog), you may just say that I’m another one of those mindless marketing tools for CCP as well :-/ I blog about what I do because I enjoy it and I feel like it’s something that hasn’t been done before. I speak up on the Tweetfleet, and I’m confident that there are others in far better positions than I to say what I think needs to be said.
Ga'len Reply:
July 17th, 2010 at 11:28 pm
My issue is not with the topic of the banter, it’s with his bloody contests and I will explain why.
As you pointed out, there is a lot of bad press for CCP right now. The last time it was this bad, how many contests did CK run, asking people to write about how great EVE Online is? More than a few, right?
It seemed strange that amidst all this negative press that a, for lack of better language, marketing blitz, took effect. I asked CK back then if he was running all these contests on his own or if CCP had approached him and asked him to run these contests.
Seemed like a decent question to ask given the timing. The problem? He refused to answer.
So my question still stands. Will CK be starting out with a banter to get people writing and then attempt as last time to direct the writing topics? What is the nature of the relationship between CCP and CK? And of course, why is it that despite CCP’s policies for fan websites, he is continued to be allowed to run ads for things other than EVE Online?
Now, as for integrity in blogging, drop me a line. I think it would be a good discussion to have.
July 21st, 2010 at 12:59 am
[...] EVE blogging, but he primarily promotes himself. That sort of thing leads to my friend Ga’len calling him out. (Ga’len, I agree with much of what you write, but I respectfully suggest that doing so in [...]
July 21st, 2010 at 1:30 am
Mebe CK is a CCP minion who is plotting to take over the universe?
Idk but from an outsiders perspective what’s bad about lending CCP a hand when the whole eve community is emo-raging at them? I think it’s funny how people overlook the good things like AT8 and instead focus on the negatives. Talk about looking at the glass half empty.
There is no way for everyone to be happy and yes it does seem like CCP is ignoring the major issue *cough* lag *cough* and yes it makes me angry that we can’t enjoy the game we all love becuase of black screens and super lag.
Ga'len Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 5:10 am
There is nothing wrong with lending CCP a hand as you point out. The issue lay with this, was that assistance something that you wanted to do or was it prompted by a request from CCP with an offer of increased we traffic to your blog if you ran a contest on their behalf?
If you were running all these contests and you were providing the prizes that you purchased with your own money, that would speak volumes of how much you love the game.
Running a contest where the company asks you to do it, provides you with the prizes and you don’t disclose that you were asked by that company to run the contests looks questionable. Disclosing that the prizes were donated by said company is one thing, not disclosing that they asked you to run that com test, that’s just morally and ethically wrong.
In the USa, bloggers have a law that they have to disclose such relationships in the blog post. CK lives in Canada, where there is no law of that kind yet.
July 21st, 2010 at 3:17 am
For the dumb ones among us – or those who don’t pay attention to the banter blogs – could you maybe give a brief history of these attempts to manipulate public opinion, along with whatever trouble CCP was in at the time?
Ga'len Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 5:11 am
It would be better for you to read everything posted on the EVE forums along with the rest of the blogging community. Read and draw your own conclusions.
July 21st, 2010 at 5:45 am
Hi Ga’len. You raise some interesting points…some of which I have picked up on myself too. If I might put on my new hat, all shiny and metallic and reply?
My site is ad free and basically always has been, however I have been wondering how other sites seem to bypass this rule. As far as I know, if you do not have ads for isk sellers/related sites you are ok? Funnily enough, when I first started the site a couple of years ago I was “investigated” twice by CCP as someone kept on reporting I had isk selling ads when I didn’t. So twice I was de-listed.
As for prizes, well. There is an option to get prizes for community fan site competitions available to all apparently.I have requested on no less than three occasions for news on availability of prizes for competitions I ran on my site from CCP but never received one single response. Again, a little unfair I think but I ran them anyway with my own money.
Looking around, I see a lot of blogs that seem to offer the same links to the same blogs, it seems there are circles within circles… in any case one day I might be allowed in one and share the linky goodness! Or maybe one day someone will start running indie blog banters?
Regardless, the last blog banter was to me a little biased in its presentation but I just write what I see and how I see it. I don’t shy away from being critical of CCP or anyone else but I do like to try and see if there are positive solutions (whether they are right/wrong) and to me, that’s what blogging is about.
July 21st, 2010 at 12:56 pm
To be honest I participate in the Banters when it’s a nice subject and so I have something fun to write. I don’t really care about the traffic much.
CK is a bit too fanboyish yes. Just look at what he twittered about Incarna, and nothing on the recent devblog and it’s (now 47 page) reponse by the community.
July 22nd, 2010 at 11:33 am
Hey Ga’len, good to see you.
I always enjoy good debates. Some say I’m a master debater. I mean, I run contests for CCP, I promote myself a lot on my blog, my CDs, my artwork, Capsuleer, etc, etc. I guess really I’m just curious where I would fall in your categorization of things.
Don’t get me wrong, I recently sent a message to CK pleading with him to actually write a post of his own instead of linking to everything under the sun, and he agreed he needs to do more of that. I’ve disagreed with CK on things, without remorse. I’ve disagreed with CCP on things, without remorse; and yet I work with both those entities freely as well.
Maybe I’m also curious as to where your bitterness is coming from. I understand harsh, and you’ve talked about this already, but man, tell us how you really feel, don’t hold back.
Roc Wieler recently posted..Blowjobs … really
Ga'len Reply:
July 22nd, 2010 at 12:16 pm
There is a difference between what you are doing and what CK appears to be doing. Self promotion of your own products and your blog is something that one would expect you to do. There is no question as to why you are doing that promotion and you have been clear on that very point.
It’s why I still have an ad on this blog for Capsuleer. It’s why I hold you in high regard.
I had, some time ago and at the suggestion of many people in our community, submitted by blog to be listed on CCP’s fan site listing, mainly for the OPML download that I was maintaining.
I was told at the time at having ads on your blog that generated revenue, such as google adsense ads, was in violation of the published fan site listing criteria and that if I wanted to be listed, I had to take the ads down.
So, I took them down and resubmitted. I was denied again as my blog was ‘a personal blog’.
But then I asked why my personal blog was dismissed when CK’s blog was not. I pointed out that both sites were personal blogs and I also pointed out that CK still had ads not related to EVE on his site.
I was told that his site was not only a blog because he had guides on his site.
No worries, CCP did not see the value in the OPML work I was doing and after all, its their fan site list, they should decide what goes on it. Furthermore, many people in the community knew of the OPML download, so not being listed was not a big deal.
The thing that really concerned me was back during all the bad press due to the problems with the Dominion expansion. Many people, myself included, were actively voicing our concerns and at times, laying forth mounds of drivel.
That’s when we saw CK return on the scene and thus a large number of contests with prizes from CCP run by CK. I asked CK how I could run a contest too. I asked him if he had approached CCP or if they had come to him.
I never got a response from him despite multiple emails asking that question and multiple email exchanges with him concerning other items, including the blog pack changes he was looking to do as well as his need to update his own blogroll, I wasn’t going to do all the leg work for him again.
I would not say I am bitter, more of tired and disappointed in apparent double standards concerning fan sites, CCP and CK.
Does this answer your question?
Roc Wieler Reply:
July 22nd, 2010 at 9:59 pm
Thanks for taking the time to answer. It really shed light on things for me. I hate getting caught up in heresay, second information and the like.
I also understand and have shared your frustrations with CCP at times. They sometimes seem to take forever to move on anything.
Then, on the other hand, sometimes they just up and do something random. For example, I’ve been waiting since Fanfest on something very very important. Still haven’t heard conclusively from CCP. And yet, out of the blue, completely unrelated, I was contacted a few months back, CCP wondering if I’d be interested in doing a contest on my blog to help promote Tyrannis.
I like contests. I like giving stuff to people, so I said sure.
I know CK was running a Tyrannis contest, as were a few others. Was it favourtism? Well, I honestly can’t answer that. Was it popular blogs? I doubt it was just that either, as your blog is very popular amongst the EVE community.
Do I have a point? Yes.
In my personal experience, I haven’t seen favourtism from CCP. If anything, I see no movement at all from CCP on most things. They are a giant behemoth and that leaves them as a slow moving creature sometimes.
What does concern me is the effect this has had on you, as I do hold you in high regard as well. I hope it is something you can put aside, and continue the game and community we both work hard towards making better.
Roc Wieler recently posted..Blowjobs … really
Ga'len Reply:
July 22nd, 2010 at 10:05 pm
The effect is that of trust. It was a simple question, was CCP asking you to run the contests. You disclosed that fact. CK still refuses to do so. It may seem petty, but the motivation for doing a marketing blitz goes towards one’s creditability.
Yes, I can get past this and yes, I look forward to working with you in the future. It escapes me now as to the exact URL, but I believe Mandril has a united blog project he is working on. Do you think that would be something you would be interested in?
July 22nd, 2010 at 1:47 pm
Galen,
I think that a lot of us older members of the blogging community have thought what you say here from time to time. I will not lie and say that I have not.
I am a US blogger and have run a few different contests over the years that had CCP sponsored prizes. I even had the pleasure of interviewing CCP Greyscale on Titan Weekly back when I produced that podcast. I would say that I am one of the lucky bloggers that has a contact within CCP, which makes getting these things done sooo much easier. The phrase “Its about WHO you know, not what you know.” applies here.
I think that you may be reading into the CCP/CK dealing a little too far. Here is my reasoning. CK is the top dog, the big cheese of the eve blog community. Wether by merit or by luck, that is the case. He getting the most CCP sponsored contests is no different from Coke sponsoring the superbowl and not sponsoring the county fair. Its just a matter of perception, his blog is perceived to be the biggest of the Eve Blogs, and so CCP will always favor him.
It comes down to exposure, they simply get the most exposure by having contests he runs sponsored by him. Now is there arrangement shady, maybe. Id like to think not, but I wouldnt rule it out. Im sure he goes to them, more if not as often as they probably go to him.
I have alot more to say, but ill just write my own post, I dont feel like putting a whole post here in your comments area.
Ga'len Reply:
July 22nd, 2010 at 1:58 pm
Please do link back to your post when you have it ready, I’d like to have it referenced here as well.
Anmith Reply:
July 22nd, 2010 at 9:31 pm
Finished my post… http://bit.ly/d8VLJ9
Ga'len Reply:
July 22nd, 2010 at 10:06 pm
And a good read it is too. Btw, my tinfoil hat is made from recycled metals.
July 23rd, 2010 at 8:58 am
I keep feeling like I’m behind on things, first the whole CSM/CCP thing and now this, I have no idea really what is going on. Which is really how I like it. I know that I read and respect everyone on and in these various posts, they are all my fellow bloggers. I also know that I can’t help but feel some of this should have stayed private, I don’t think it is helping much that it didn’t. But I also believe in airing issues and getting them worked out, does help sometimes.
My hope is that. Somehow good comes from all of this and we can get back to writing about this crazy pixel game.
Rixx Javix recently posted..Full Disclosure
July 25th, 2010 at 5:39 am
Ga’len is it perhaps possible that CK is indeed a fanboy and is still really positive about CCP, I still think CCP is still improving when it comes to the CSM too.
And even if CK has some kind of “deal” with CCP so what, it’s beneficial for all of us, more people coming to EVE, promotion for the blogging community and alike.
Now onto writing my own post about this, I guess…
Xeross recently posted..Blog Banter 19 Sort of
July 26th, 2010 at 4:46 am
[...] that I have much to say about the community drama or the 18-month wait debacle, but atleast this looks [...]