From: john@stat.tamu.edu (John S. Price)
Newsgroups: rec.games.mud.misc
Subject: Re: worf.tamu.edu 2000 is open to non-texans?
Date: 5 Jan 1993 03:20:37 GMT
Organization: Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
NNTP-Posting-Host: stat.tamu.edu

I just noticed this wasn't added to my previous post:
>> but unfortunately Raistlin decided to be offended for reasons I have yet to
>> fathom.  So he followed me around on the game, harassed and imprisoned me,
>> and then banished me.  Nice mud they have there, huh?)
>

This is simply not true.  I very rarely "follow" anyone around.  And, it
was you who was harassing me, which is why you were imprisoned.  Standard
procedure for harassment of any player or wizard.

>>And if you're an admin, it's your JOB to care about it and fix it.  What else
>>do you exist for?

This is simply not true.  I dont' recall being hired to my position as one
of the administrators of Darker Realms.  Actually, I quite clearly recall 
putting the mud up myself, on my own time.  And, I quite clearly recall putting
my own personal time into running it.  However, I am in no way obliged to 
"fix" the mud.  I *do* care about the well-being of the mud, but, your 
suggestion, even though a good idea, was not something I felt was necessary
on Darker Realms.  And, if I don't see that it's "broken", I'm not going to
"fix" it. 

>
>>I think Raistlin has forgotten the fact that without players, muds
>>are *nothing*.

Quite the contrary.  However, I don't feel that I have to bow to every players
feet just to get them to play, or worship every idea they might have simply 
because they are player on the mud I administrate.

>>All muds are made for the players' convenience and amusement.
>

This is simply ludicrous.  Muds are not "for" anyone other than the person
who runs it.   Until I start getting paid for running a mud, the mud I
run is nobodys' but the administrators.  We do, however, have the attitude
that the mud should be fun for players to play.  However, this does not in
any way make us obliged to run the mud, make it convenient for the players,
amuse the players, or in any way HAVE players on the mud.  Players play muds
if they think it's fun; we try to make the mud fun to play for players.  
I am in no way obliged to you or anyone else to do this, however.  We can do,
if we so choose, anything and everythign we want to on Darker Realms.  If
we're being stupid, then everyone will stop playing, and Darker Realms would
die.  However, if our decisions and actions are kosher with the most everyone
on the game, then Darker Realms continues to live.  Our intention is to run
a game that is "most fun for the most number of people"; this has always been
our goal, and somewhat of our "motto", ever since we began.  You, and whoever
else responded to this thread obviously aren't in that "most" group.  If
this goal is unatainable, or not a correct goal for a mud, then the mud will
die.  However, after being up for 2 1/2 years, having 3 months of network
outage and coming back and getting over 1000 players back in the first month, 
I believe that, for the most part, our policies and decisions are for the
betterment of the mud.  Your disagreement with our policies, decisions, and
actions is just that: A DISAGREEMENT.  Don't play.  Why play a mud you don't
like?  But don't badmouth and be a general ass simply because you don't like
a mud, or got into an argument with one of the administrators.

Muds are not a players right, and administrators are in no way obliged
to do or give ANYTHING for or to a player.  If you feel otherwise,
then you're gravely mistaken.  Muds are not the property of the
players.  It is not a player's RIGHT to play ANY mud in the world, it
is their privilege.  Also, players have NO rights WHAT SO EVER on ANY
mud, other than those given to them by the rules and laws of the game.
Sadly, players tend to forget this, and scream and holler and post to
NetNews when they feel they have been "wronged" for being banished for
breaking the rules of the game, or getting into an argument with, in
their opinion, a "rude" administrator.

If you feel muds are a "right", you should really seek other forms of
amusement.  You take muds far far too seriously.

(of course, the entire above discussion is targeted towards public muds.
 if someone is paying the administration of a mud for their time on the
 mud, then this argument is somewhat invalid, if that players "service" 
 is not what was promised, and is the fault of the administration.)

>> DR is on its way to taking a long walk off a short dock.


If this is the case, then this is the case.  But, as stated earlier,
it doesn't appear to be anywhere close to the case since, as I stated
earlier, we're still around, with the same policies, same administrators,
and same rules as we've always had.  If players didn't like the mud they
wouldn't play.  

But they do.

+--------------------+- But on eliminating every other reason -------------+
| John Price         |    For our sad demise                               |
| john@stat.tamu.edu |      They logged the only explaination left         |
+--------------------+-------- This species has amused itself to death ----+
Newsgroups: rec.games.mud.misc,rec.games.mud.tiny