#end of mod notes

[agent8s-ask-blog]

//Mod Note: Welcome to Splatoon Ask Blogs ! We’ve got:

Sanitized Agent 4

Sanitized Marie

Agent 4 cult

Soup anon (we love soup)

Traumatized 8

A Captain that’s typically just boiled down to being mean by the anons

The wonderful TarTar revive that ended in Agent 4 drinking LEAN

The better Callie

And probably some yuri

\\

[sonysakura]

🚫 My Sonic Big Bang 2024 Experience

...Or how a few months of my life were severely negatively impacted by someone else's bad management. See for yourself.

Proof of the rule they're speaking about being actively hidden from the participants to this day: FAQ – archived link, screenshot with "Who can participate?" on top, screenshot with "explicit" word search, screenshot with "nsfw" word search; Master Guide – screenshot with "explicit" word search, screenshot with "nsfw" word search; server rules – long screenshots of General Server Rules and StH Big Bang Specific Rules: Mar 12 and Jul 01, screenshots of Strike Policy: Mar 12 and Jul 01, long screenshot of General Guidelines, long screenshot of Collaboration Thread Guidelines.

I feel like this is extremely unfair 😭 One moment I was participating in the event I dreamed about for years, and the next moment I'm thrown out into the cold when I did nothing wrong. I need to get it off my chest...

Below, more about my experience with the event, though it ended up a little vent-y, a detailed (and verified!) record of what exactly happened in private thread #48, the aftermath and some fun facts I discovered or want to share:

First things first! Yep, I signed up for Sonic BB as a Writer back in January. I didn't talk about it outside of my server 'cause I wanted it to be a surprise – when I roll out a lo-o-ong illustrated fic without a warning. I'll admit, I always wanted to participate in a Big Bang for this fandom, it was a dream of sorts. And still, before sending my form in, I carefully read all of the Master Guide and the FAQ both. Seeing as how for my neurodivergent brain the rules and regulations are important, that's what I usually do for events, and this one wasn't an exception. Confident that I understand what the event would require of me, I signed up.

First month of the event went well. My questions were answered (even though I wondered why some of the things I asked couldn't have been in the Master Guide from the beginning), I wrote my fic summary and submitted it without many problems, etc. There was a small hiccup at the very beginning of March when I noticed how strict the management seemed to be (no changes or adjustments allowed), and my anxiety got the best of me, so I asked the mods if there's a plan in case a collab team doesn't work out: screenshot of my message in #writers-info-and-questions, pulled from my Discord data; screenshot of my detailed explanation in DMs; screenshot of Mod Joy's reply. Here are the most important quotes from his reply:

I understand wanting to plan for the worst case scenarios, but I would caution you not to freak yourself out over what all could go wrong! There are some absolutely lovely artists in this event who are excited to work with the writers. Odds are, things will go off without a hitch.

We are highly encouraging that no one drops out after the assignments, especially writers, unless due to extenuating circumstances.

We want to make everything as fun and stress-free for everyone. Know that we will be around to moderate threads and dissolve any tensions that arise,..

In short, I was placated with reassurances of careful moderation, not dropping writers and ✨positivity✨. I decided to stay and challenge myself since originally BB is meant to be a challenge and all...

For those of you who haven't participated: the way it is supposed to go is that writers submit short summaries of their stories, these summaries are stripped of the writers' names and given to artists to pick through. The artists then have to list their Top 10 stories to illustrate during the claims period. After the claims, private collab threads are made for each writer and their artists with a couple of mods. So no one else could see what happens in these threads.

Now flashforward to March 11th and the threads being created. Obviously I don't have screenshots of that due to being kicked off the server without any warning and before any chance of communication, unable to delete my personal information or save anything that might be used against me which was a case of poor management at best and a deliberate move at worst, so I'm retelling as faithfully as possible. It also has been verified by [artist 1] and according to them, this is exactly what happened.

My fic was in the 4-8k range, and I got two artists. I was asleep when the thread opened, and they talked about how excited they are for my fic before I came in. Both of them are 18, young but adults. I’ll call them [artist 1] (they're cool), and the other one is [artist 2]. Both artists seemed to talk to me normally.

Oh, I have to point out that there were hmm, Mods Chaz, Joy, Summers and Frostios in my thread. I think only four of them, but I know for sure Mod Summers was reading our conversation at least in the beginning because I noticed my fic's Warnings saying "None" (the original summary I submitted had Warnings: Discussion of Homophobia, Slight Internalised Homophobia), and I pointed out that there are warnings, though I don't know if they were lost just now or weren't in the sheet available to the Artists either, and whether they were actually lost or mods didn't consider it a big enough warning to keep... I still don't know. Mod Summers just silently pinned my message.

I mentioned how I'm in one of the Asian timezones geographically, so I might be awake or asleep at unconventional times, and they told me their timezones (I didn't ask!), so I figured I can make a timebuddy chart for easy tracking what time it is for everyone. Made one, sent the link to the thread, Mod Summers asked me if I want it pinned, too, and then a couple of hours later (I think?) [artist 1] came and said it's very helpful. This is my evidence for at least Mod Summers probably reading the conversation that followed but also maybe not. I think all of the mods were online or at least visually online when it was happening.

This is where I reveal that the entire conversation happened in like... one afternoon 🥲 Roughly 7 pm to 2 am for me.

Back to the conversation itself. There were a few questions I had so I started with them, basically 1) if they've read my fics before (explained that I'm asking so I know whether I need to tell them about my writing style and Sonadow dynamics I write); 2) do they want me to send in scenes as I write them or they want a full draft; 3) if they have any immediate questions for me. Question 1) is what we need. Both of them said they've never read my stuff before, and that they don't have any questions now but they want art to be as close to text as possible, so they will ask in the future. This is how it went down after (as per my memory, artist rendition I guess):

[artist 1]: I haven't read your fics but I'd like to! Your Ao3 is the same as your handle? [no link]

Me: It isn't a requirement, you don't have to! But that's right. I have to warn you though that I usually rate my Ao3 profile as 18+ when I link it, though 33/36 of my Sonic fics are rated G and T, and I feel like a warning is in order anyway so people don't accidentally stumble upon something they don't want to see and know what to avoid/filter out. [I didn't post any links or encouraged the artists to read my profile, just made a warning to be cautious]

We go into discussion of how long I have been writing, [artist 1] shows no problems with knowing my Ao3 has 3 Mature fics, I describe what series my fic will be for [the series is completely SFW, and even then I didn't post the link to it] and go into details of how I write Sonadow dynamics in my fics without mentioning the NSFW ones obviously, we speak about Question 2).

[artist 2]: [replying to my warning about my Ao3] ooohh so you write gore sometimes?

Me: Nah, I don't actually, I'm pretty uncomfortable with it tbh, so no, I don't. Some blood and a quick description of Maria's dead body is the most I have ever done 😅 All the angst I make characters go through is emotional rather than physical!

[artist 2]: oh I shouldn't have assumed, sorry. It's just the first thing my mind went to

Me: It's okay! I've been a medical student at some point and I think I've just had enough of that - one of the main reasons I'm not a doctor but a linguist.

[artist 1] gets excited about this for some reason, and we chat about it for a moment.

Normal conversation continues like...

Me: Okay, where were we

[artist 2]: i wasn't paying attention errr

Me: Me neither! But it's Question 3)

I go into saying how them wanting to draw as close to the text is 💯 what I wanted to hear because for me my texts are an extension of my soul, I'm fragile about them, and I'd prefer the art to be exactly according to it blah-blah-blah, I describe my thoughts about a plan of work for us and how I'm going to share pieces of my fic according to their respective wishes.

[artist 1]: Sounds great!

[artist 2]: yeah, sounds good

[artist 1] says something else which I just react with an emoji to, and I start getting ready for sleep because it's almost 2 am, and I have to get up at 6 am.

Nothing else was said in the thread. That's it.

I got to bed and as most people nowadays I check my phone one last time. I see [artist 2] requesting a mod they can DM to, but I don't think much of it…

So 6 am. I wake up and again, as most people nowadays, I check my phone. I went to sleep in a good mood, seemingly in good relations with my artists, excited for the collab and having a solid plan everyone agreed to, so I eagerly open Discord to see if they wrote anything new in the thread. I see no Sonic Big Bang 2024 server.

I will not go into too much detail about my state, but I have an extremely acute reaction to stress very similar to a panic attack that lasts for hours. So with shaking fingers I open my DMs to see the message from that first screenshot I started my post with. The following exchange with me learning about the hidden rule happens the next day. Unfortunately, before that I still have to go to work for a full day in that very same mental state, oof. Plus I have no breaks on Tuesday... I go back and forth all day with my friends about how shitty this situation is, and one of them asks me how [artist 1] reacted. I say that I don't know, but they still follow me on Tumblr so I go and message them, and from what they tell me, it sounds like a mod pretended to them that I was removed because of an existing rule that's stated somewhere. They didn't argue with that, and that's understandable of course.

At home, I notice one of the event mods blocked me.

It is difficult to explain what's happening in my mind without going into details of what my [disorders] are, but things that are unfair, things that are injustice put my brain in a loop until all wrongs are righted. I'm ranting about it to friends, and I think about it day and night. On March 14th I vent about it in the tags of a related reblog, and this is the only instance of me talking about StH BB on my blog. Next morning I'm blocked by the event blog and over the next 2 weeks – by two more mods, while another mod speaks to me passively-aggressively in a shared Discord server. Then I'm shown a screenshot where one of the mods claims I offered my Ao3 to my artists (I didn't) and implies everyone who writes NSFW is dangerous. And then I receive a hate ask about the event, calling me "creepy"... All this time, my brain is still stuck in a loop, and let me tell you – it's not fun. It doesn't help that my first reaction to everything that makes me feel bad is always to assume I'm at fault for everything, and seeing how hostile people are to me, I'm drowning in self-blame. Without going into any more detail, it takes me 2 months and a lot of help to somewhat recover, so I finally send my reply to Headmod Chaz and receive one back:

If you got to this part, you know that half of Headmod Chaz's reply is simply untrue since there were no "multiple instances", and in any case I was never asked to keep quiet about my ban (and why should I?). I sent another reply a month later expressing my confusion and wondering when the messages will be removed (only my intro was removed). As of today, that reply is still ignored, and the messages aren't removed 🤷

And this is the entirety of my Sonic Big Bang 2024 experience. Now for some Q&A:

Why did you wait so long to make this post? I didn't want to put any participants under fire, particularly my friends because I'll admit, the mods seem like petty people. And also I was worried about throwing shade on other participants (people associating their works with this) or spoiling the event for people who were genuinely having fun with it. Thus, I waited until it was over!

Is this a callout post? According to definition as "public criticism or asking someone to explain their actions", I think it is – in terms of calling out bad management. It is definitely not a call for harassment. There is a reason I censored some names and left vague who reported me, blocked me, was hostile to me or spread rumours about me. Please don't bother anyone, and if the mods decide to engage with this, they can post their own statement.

Aside from the above reasons, why make a post at all? Two reasons: a personal one and an altruistic one. Firstly, I hope to get closure this way since I still feel like I was unjustly thrown away when I was just being a dutiful person. Secondly, while Headmod Chaz said they will be transparent about this rule next time they run an event, as you can see they fully ignored my suggestion of doing it now, and in general keeping a rule hidden to such an extent where you lie in your FAQ is pretty shady... I don't trust them not to do it again next year.

Is it okay to reblog the post/reply to it, what about sending an ask or a PM? I turned off the reblogs, but you can still reply or PM or send a non-anonymous ask (anonymous asks will be deleted because I want to be able to answer privately). If you decide to be negative or call me names, however, be prepared to be blocked by IP or username.

Finally, fun facts as promised 🔥

There are other participants out there who have had negative experiences with BB or were made uncomfortable by the way it was managed, but I'm not going to speak for them;

There was this whole thing with hypocrisy and possible favouritism;

Despite the mods insisting on ME being quiet about my ban, it's now known that they shared information about it outside the mod group;

Out of 6 mods: 5 have me blocked, 2 were passive-aggressive with 1 of them going as far as verbally lash out at me in DMs, and only 1 mod gave me a somewhat human apology before blocking me (not pictured in screenshots);

I saw 3 NSFW writers and at least 2 NSFW artists participating in BB just by scrolling through my dash, without seeking them out, and this is not counting people I noticed in the server prior to me being banned;

Some people are posting Mature and Explicit extras and sequels/prequels to their BB stories already;

The artist who reported me seems to have dropped out anyway;

There's a joke reason why I'm making a post, too: I have to earn being blocked from the event blog since they said they did it because of multiple instances of me talking about my removal;

For this post (and because one of their staff members is a former Big Bang mod), I was forever banned from participating in Chaos Quill Collection projects;

I'm actually grace and most of the time write my characters as aspec, and I'm exploring what sexuality and intimacy mean for me through writing, so this situation felt a little... like gatekeeping;

My fic was #48 under the title Chao Care 101, and I want you to give me a high five if you had it among your top choices 🖐

Originally, I wasn't going to complete my BB fic because it made me feel bad, but now I've decided I want to reclaim it, so I'm writing it now. Almost 8k words at the moment. It will be published. And it will be illustrated;

Meanwhile, what good came out of this disaster is Sonic Supernova 2025, and I recommend you all to keep an eye out for this inclusive Big Bang-like event 🌟

[fykamatani]

happy pride month everyone ♡ treat yourselves by reading yuhki kamatani's incredible line of work. they are an extremely talented lgbt+ mangaka who's series focus on community, connection, identity, queerness, and grief: → read "our dreams at dusk" (additional link to support to localized version) → read "nabari no ou" (currently no accessible ways of supporting localization) → read "hiraeth: the end of the journey" (additional link to support to localized version) → read "shonen note" (additional link to support to localized version) → read "busshi no busshin" (currently no official localization)

enjoy!

[kingofsparta]

DAY 2

I’m not doing well. I’ve threw up all morning and I don’t feel like typing much today for posts. It’s taking forever to just type this one out, I hurt so badly.

I don’t believe I’ll be around for Sunday…

Also, @sonofthegreat, I’m hungry 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[character-tarot]

The Eight of Cups represents leaving, walking away, disillusionment, self-discovery, emotional strength, and seeking the truth. Reversed, it indicates fear of moving on, stagnation, accepting a bad lot, fake happiness, and a refusal to grow.

Propaganda- "ok SO! Anthy starts the series accepting her lot in life, basically staying in a situation that makes her miserable and refusing to leave her brother despite everything he puts her and everyone else through. Utena keeps asking Anthy what she wants and trying to encourage her to express some autonomy, and it's through the support and love of someone who isn't interested in what she is but who she is that she's able to grow and become more. At the end of the series she's fully in the upright position, leaving her brother and the academy behind to find Utena and make her own way in the world, as scary as it might be."

[mcytegg]

i fear my biggest weakness is having big ideas but also having adhd that nerfs me

[agent8s-ask-blog]

//I keep coming back to 32 notifs and 31 of them being the same person\\

[is-hinata-good-today]

September 21st. The sun is beginning to dip behind the horizon. Across the Earth, thousands wait in suspense. Will Hajime Hinata be good today? (this isn’t meant to make you feel bad abt not updating or anything— just wanted to make a joke! ^^)

when all hope seems lost, just over the horizon, a sliver of sunlight perseveres - a lo and behold, there’s hinata, the most wonderful he’s ever been, and not a second too late!! hinata is perfect for yet another day!!!

[bmpmp3]

now im learning. phoneme editing for english is fun as FUCK in sv2

[a-silly-poll-side-blog-yay]

i submitted a poll this morning , why did it post so fast ?

because mod is amazing

because mod is incredible

because mod is chronically online

results

[laikaspotlight]

"Into The Wild"

[An article from Empire Magazine]

FROM THE MOMENT Travis Knight first glimpsed an unfinished draft of Colin Meloy’s novel Wildwood 13 years ago, he knew it was a story he and his team at LAIKA had to tell.

Set in, as Knight describes it, “an American Narnia” hidden among the woodlands of his native Portland, Oregon, the book- a coming-of-age fantasy epic with illustrations by Meloy’s wife, Carson Ellis - reminded him of stories his mother read to him as a boy. “It had magic, it had wonder, it had danger, and drew breath from the same air as Tolkien and Baum and Dahl,” the Kubo And The Two Strings filmmaker tells Empire “But it also had this contemporary edge I’d never really seen before. I just fell in love with it.” That love has driven LAIKA’s decade-long journey to bring Wildwood’s forested fantasia to the big screen “A huge part of the reason it’s taken us so long to bring this to life cinematically is that it’s incredibly ambitious,” explains Knight. “There’s all these elements that are really challenging to do in stop-motion.” Teasing colossal battles and audacious aerial dogfights involving anthropomorphic birds and coyotes (“It’s bananas!”), the director- who views LAIKA’s latest as the culmination of everything his studio’s learned since 2009’s Coraline- describes Wildwood as “the hardest thing we have ever done”.

But LAIKA isn’t just pushing the stop-motion envelope with spectacle. Knight, his animators and voice cast (Carey Mulligan! Mahershala Ali! Tom Waits!) took a granular approach to capturing the emotion of Meloy’s tragedy-infused tale. Cue experiments with 3D printing, animators filming themselves to study human expressions and movement, and a focus on Shayan Asgharnia nuanced performances from the actors. “These little assemblages of steel and silicon look like real people with real hopes and dreams,” says Knight. “It’s something that doesn’t always get attention, because it’s not all whizz-bang… but emotionally it is.” Central to the story is 13-year-old Prue McKeel (Peyton Elizabeth Lee), who’s drawn to the titular wilderness alongside D&Dloving classmate Curtis (Jacob Tremblay) after a murder of crows abduct her baby brother. “Prue’s one of those great young-adult protagonists we meet on the bittersweet precipice of crossing the Rubicon from childhood to adulthood,” says Knight of Wildwood’s headstrong hero. For him, Prue is as much a reflection of his own Beaver state upbringing as a spiritual sibling to her magical-realm-traversing antecedent, Coraline. “She’s a very Portland kid,” states the proud Oregonian, relating how Prue’s adventurous disposition reminds him of his younger self and the kids he grew up with. Among the myriad woodland creatures Prue meets on her journey to save her brother and unravel Wildwood’s mysteries is “mentor figure” the General. The majestic eagle is one of LAIKA’s biggest, most complex creations yet. “She’s a miracle of craftsmanship and engineering,” says Knight, who’s animators closely studied the “shapeshifting anatomy” of birds in order to pull off a high-octane sequence in which The General and Prue take flight. Where that flight takes them, Knight can’t say, but their meeting has a “transformative” effect on both parties. And as Knight prepares to finally release Wildwood into the world next year- precocious Portlanders, avians and all- it’s clear to him the long road has served LAIKA well.

“We’ve had to build up the creative tools, the technology and our storytelling muscles to do this book justice,” says the director. “What I love about this team is how they’re always swimming forward, never content to rest on what’s come before.” LAIKA’s new era of filmmaking has taken flight.

[agent8s-ask-blog]

Captain takes a step back and aims at TarTar instead, though they grab a splat bomb in the hopes of fending off Four long enough to re-rid the earth of that thing.

tell eight because that is 100% tartar

Oof. Yeah. Hey, @agent8s-ask-blog, this, uh, Mr. T guy was talkin' to me about a deal and I kinda need advice?

[anonymous-polling]

is it rude to reblog a poll that has already ended?

- yes, to op

- yes, to people who see your reblog

- yes, to both op and viewers

- no

- other/no opinion/results

[theendaftertheend]

if you have any questions or any comments... i'll hear them out. i don't think this will work, but it's worth a shot.

transcript: ...hello it's been one week since the... incident um... my therapist said i should start logging uh... my progress

[agent8s-ask-blog]

Side order isn't cannon, it's only if side order won. And they didn't, so I don't think this agent 8 should experience side order.

//My ask blog isn’t 100% canon compliant and it’s ran purely off my own interest .\\

[songs-of-future-past]

Goodbye, for now.

To all who receive this, I'm sorry. When I began investigations with the Drifter and our late friend Eris Morn, I had no way of knowing it would end like this. Oryx returned in some regard. The Dreadnaught, breathing again. The Deep- or rather what lurks inside it- reaching out and speaking in ink and tar. Perhaps intentionally setting foot into that echo chamber is a poor choice, but sometimes such things are necessary. I suppose doing something reckless for the sake of research is one of the most cliché things a warlock can do, but I digress. This letter is not to be a long-winded explanation of the why's and how's of what I'm doing. This is to prepare for the potential fallout of this decision of mine.

To my friends in green and gold, respectively. Shin and Germaine. You've had your differences in the past, but you two better than any I know are aware of the risk, and are willing to do what is necessary. If it comes to, gather a team and do not hesitate. I would return to the Light at the hands of none other than one of you two.

To Deputy Commander Sloan and Ahsa: I thank you for your guidance. If I return, it will be by your teachings. If I do not, know that it is in no way a failure on your part. It is by you that I have walked this path as far as I have. Thank you for that.

To the Vanguard, there is much to say and few words to say it in. We've had our differences, but I am proud to have fought at your side over these past years. Commander Zavala: your ability to stand tall in the face of everything thrown our way has been an inspiration. Rest easy. Ikora: despite our past arguments, I am proud to have called you a mentor. There was much I could not have made it past without your guidance. Crow: You have far, far exceeded my expectations over the years. Do not forget your past, but rise above it knowing that you have become so much more.

To Saint-14 and Osiris, two of the greatest men I have ever known. Now more than ever, I hope that you find your peace. I have learned as much from you both as Saint claims to have learned from me. Live beyond what you mean to others, and live for each other. You have found a finer thing than any amount of silver or glimmer. I know few others who can treasure it like the pair of you.

To Lord Shaxx and Valus Forge. I'm sure you both hate to see one another mentioned in the same sentence, so I hope this letter reaches you both with leagues between you two. If it doesn't, please do not tear the Tower apart arguing, but know that I hold you both in equally high regards. While Ikora taught me what I know about the light, you two taught me what it means to be a guardian. Even when I strayed to uncharted territory, your teachings kept me from following the unworn path into corruption. If I do return free of black fire, it will be in part by the memory of what I learned from you just as much as the resolve learned from Deputy Commander Sloan.

To Banshee-44, Ana, and Elsie (and Archie), I cannot imagine my journey without any of you. You are all a credit to the Tower any guardian would be proud to call friend.

To Failsafe, I cannot thank you enough for what you've done for us. I know you said that wanting to help is part of your programming, but in my opinion you have gone above and beyond. I cannot thank you enough for keeping an eye on the little rabbit while I have been unavailable. I don't think it would've bounced back like it has without you.

To Empress Caiatl and Misraakskell, I (and many others) value our alliance far more than words can express. There are few leaders I would bend a knee for, and I would do so for you both with pride. And to Eido, Variks, and Nimbus, your aid and council is just as valued. I know we Guardians can be a difficult lot to handle, and you five have all done so with a level of skill I can only hope to emulate.

To Luzaku and Fynch, my words are simple. You are brave to stand against not just your brood but your entire species. Walk in the Sky.

To RZ-3 and Gerda-3, I have known you for a short period, but I appreciate your presence all the same. These past weeks have been difficult, and even if it can be difficult for me to fully express, I truly did enjoy those times spent in your company.

To Elyan, you are braver than you know. I know how tempting it can be to walk dangerous paths when you're scared and confused, but I trust that you have the strength to remain on the straight and narrow. Your journey is just beginning. Listen to Crow and keep working with Sloan. It's hard, I know, but you'll get there.

And finally, to my candle in the dark. Ellis. When we first met, it was in a time where I was struggling to find a reason to continue fighting. And like a lighthouse in a storm, I found you. If the worst happens, I regret only breaking the promise I made to you. You reminded me of how important it is to be with others, and as I walk into the dark alone, my last thoughts will be of you.

Ad memoriam, to all those we have lost. The Speaker. Cayde. Amanda. Rasputin. Eris. Sagira. Targe. May you all rest in peace knowing that those you have touched have all been bettered by your presence. You will never be forgotten.

I thank all of you for your time, patience, and presence in this second life of mine. If I am lost, I couldn't be leaving the Sol system in better hands. If I return, these words ring no less true. I am proud to call every one of you a friend, and I thank you for your time and your company.

~ Nocturne Minsk