Data Sphere

Well, the guys on the official forum deleted the thread discussing the latest podcast episode in which Romeo launches on an extended, rather juvenile, extremely offensive rant against his critics, calling several out by name. Efforts to save the podcast from its own main host are underway.

Here, in the free, objective and non-commercial Datasphere of Arachne, can we discuss it in sane and moderated terms?

Go.

R.

I think that nothing good is going to come of it, personally. Even if the podcast continues, how can people feel like giving any sort of critique and ideas for improvement when the owner has been shown to fly off the handle and rant into the mike/type up nasty posts to people as a response?

It could have been solved with a simple "Hey, we may get things wrong, but we've never claimed to be rules gurus in the first pleace" like they started the rant with. Getting vitriolic and aggressive is only ever going to make things worse (if only I could remember that myself!), I'd have even said "why not record a rules segment for the show and submit it to us" (money where mouth is?).

Thanks, Pierzasty.

I was very disappointed by Romeo's rant. It displayed a degree of immaturity I would have hoped was beneath him, and I would have hoped for his co-hosts to have shown more moral courage to persuade him to remove it from the recording, perhaps in a humorous and self-deprecating fashion that would have been a more effective way to riposte at his critics. Instead, he effectively handed them a loaded gun (appropriate, given Romeo's avowed status as a traditional American gun-nut).

The O-12 podcast has, so far, been an excellent endeavour and their enthusiasm for the game and relationship with CB has been nothing but a boon for the community. So I really hope that Romeo can stand up and apologize for the rant, move on and everyone let bygones be bygones.

Kitsune's suggestions are really good. It would be an olive branch to the community to invite people to send in their own tactical analyses and rules focus segments.

R.

As far as I'm concerned, Romeo has gone beyond apologizing. The podcast rant is one thing, but harassing people through PMs and threatening to rough them up is another. I'm glad he's gone.

Did he? Ooh. I detect the effects of rye liquor.

R.

He did, and people posted them for all to see. I'll only say that if I received something like this in the mail, I'd take it to the police.

At first I was like..."Ah it's a cute little rant....people being mean... and this guy fighting back...ah funny"
But then you read what was said to set it off. WAY OVER THE TOP REACTION on Romeo's side!
THEN I find out that he was actually threatening people!
And he goes all over the country?!?! Now I didn't get to see the last 4 pages of that thread but I have heard through a few forum buds that it was totally over the top and Romeo took it to a new level, one that was too much for anyone.

Now?

If Romeo is gone I might still listen. I like Kip. And Tom seems okay.

I think that the boss of four companies is an "Alpha male" personality and that he was challenged. He a responded like a bully, and should be severely chastised for his actions. Will people like that ever learn? I hope so but I don't want to generalize about people I don't know either.

One way or the other stupid is a very nice word for this whole event.

Pierzasty wrote:He did, and people posted them for all to see. I'll only say that if I received something like this in the mail, I'd take it to the police.

Yep, I've seen one of PMs as well and it was really nasty. Toy soliders, people, toy soldiers!

Even if they do continue with the podcast I doubt I'll be listening. They did do good work, but they went a step too far by threatening people in this manner.

Yep, "stupid" is the best word for it. Especially if you are the head of four companies that are reliant on people buying from them..............

Barring some "humor" (like the overplayed HMG clip) and the rule mistakes, the O-12 podcast was a decent painting noise. If they do continue without Romeo I may give them a chance.

Crushar: Romeo's not an alpha male. An alpha male gets people to follow without threats. He's just a bully with fake strength.

Crushar: He's just a bully with fake strength.

I think you got that right brother!

I'm sorry I've never listened to O-12. What 4 companies does he manage?

Battlefoam is the main one. He also has a bricks and mortar store and a separate business making gun cases. I think Battlefoam UK is a separate entity, too.

R.

Oh, ok thanks.

I did not get to read the big quarrel thread before it got deleted, but Romeo certainly did not behave in a mature fashion, but I have to admit I feel the first - and many of the subsequent - stones were thrown by the community. A reality check might be in order. The D6G did a little piece on the controvercy in their subsequent episode, which many of the people who feel offended might do good listening to.

To put it short, nerdraging over someone doing a free podcast is counterproductive. O-12 will continue, and this is a good thing. While I personally find FO to be more informative, it can also be rather dry and boring sometimes, whereas Romeo's crew are good at bringing enthusiasm over in their show. So what if he doesn't get the details right? People will read the rules and background themselves when they get into the game, something O-12 will probably be better at than FO, to be honest. Don't kick the gift horse in the mouth.

I wasn't offended by the rant, I just thought it was moronic. Sending nasty threats to people via PM even more so.

Oh, it certainly was moronic. Everybody involved in that whole train wreck on either side who were not trying to calm things down were, in my opinion, morons. It did absolutely no good and a lot of harm.

When is the next episode of O-12 out? I highly doubt I'll have a listen to it, but it'll be interesting to know if they address the issue or try to brush it off.

I should hope they simply let it go. It would be best for O-12 and for the community. There are two active Infinity podcasts and only one has good recruitment potential...and that is O-12. It is a bit like Guts & Gears. They certainly aren't very accurate and they very uncritical of WM/H, and I much prefer listening to other WM/H podcasts (such as the Muse on Minis network ones) but they are the podcast that draws the most people into the system.

This is not because I think Romeo did not make a fool of himself in the car crash that followed the initial backlash, nor because I think the people who participated in the initial hostility toward O-12 were worse than him. As noted above my respect for both sides of the quarrel have lowered, because of the way both sides handled it. But getting even more bogged down in that spat - because I can't see an apology coming from everyone, the way people behaved - will do no good and a lot of harm.

I guess the BattleFoam crew wasn't used to that level of criticism.
I mean, ok, they make bags... you know... bags... I suppose they do not have a forum where people discuss passionately about bags. I cannot imagine someone writing about rules or fluff about... bags.

But they were trying to become the official INFINITY podcast, and that involves criticism.
They were not prepared. Romeo lost his mind.

I personally think they did a lot of damage in many ways. So I would disband for a few months and relaunch under a new moniker, with Romeo taking a silent role behind the scenes. Re-build, re-launch.

There is some good stuff with 0-12, but that whole episode and the fallout was extremely ugly. For many you can't just sweep that under the table and carry on. Forgive yes, forgetting is a different matter. Official status? Totally out of the question now IMO, but would hate to see them go.

I unfortunately missed all this nonsense as i have been away, but from what I heard, Romeos behaviour was very disgraceful, whether he was baited or not...

Threats of violence, whether thinly veiled insinuations or blatant direct threats are all very serious in my book, and should not be swept under the rug as what appears to have happened. Frankly It should have been reported to the authorities for them to prosecute as necessary.

At the absolute very least, he severely breached forum rules, and should have been permanently banned from them, and I would argue that CB should have cut ties with him also... Had it been any other forum member they would have been banned on the spot, but i can appreciate the position CB are in... I know at least one other person on the forums was banned for less however, so it doesnt really set a good example...

If i have heard wrong then im more than happy to be corrected...

Well, episode 10 is up, and with a Romeo apology I hear. I'm not a fan, even before the rant, but Infinity coverage is a positive thing. Forward Observer is more to my taste, but I know a lot of folks enjoy 0-12.

I don't know if I'll listen to them anymore. I've been ambivalent about them for quite some time (HMG, other juvenile humor) and this whole affair left a nasty aftertaste. I think I'll find another painting noise.

Also:

Scarecrow wrote:I know at least one other person on the forums was banned for less however, so it doesn't really set a good example...

You're right, he's being granted a privileged status and he probably knows it

I've seen plenty of bosses that were their own worst enemies. If Romeo had been my employee, his actions would have been grounds for severe disciplinary action. With those threatening PMs... immediate dismissal. I would not have such a person associated with my products. He's quite lucky he runs his own companies.

Scarecrow wrote:I unfortunately missed all this nonsense as i have been away, but from what I heard, Romeos behaviour was very disgraceful, whether he was baited or not...

I'm not sure unfortunate is the right word. I'm glad to have not known anything about this until yesterday. Seems like a massive smelly mess that there is no good side to.

Howdy. So my recongnize my name from one of the people that was defending Romeo and O-12 a lot during the post on the rant. Not hear to start all that over again. Mainly just want to say give O-12 one more listen the new episode does address what happened. See what you think of the episode and if you dont go back you dont go back ya know.

And about the "Threat" i saw it. As much as it would have been a threat from me i know people who would have said that meaning just to talk not violence at all. Dont jump to the conclusion that he ment to hurt someone just because we would have by saying that.

Pylgrim wrote:And about the "Threat" i saw it. As much as it would have been a threat from me i know people who would have said that meaning just to talk not violence at all. Dont jump to the conclusion that he ment to hurt someone just because we would have by saying that.

Your point is duly noted but I read the threat as well and it was pretty clear what the intention was. I could understand if what was written was not so extreme but it was pretty darn extreme.

That being said I think people will watch the new episode to see what is said. It is in the past so hopefully we can keep it there.

Here's hoping that in the future, we'll all look back on this ugly situation and simultaneously release an awkward sigh.