Ok, so you mentioned some inaccuracies that had been spread around last time, that prevented you from asking for help? To do with the main page

Oh yes. Basically, like I said, we downloaded the whole site, as-is, from the FTP. We were under the impression that the script we’d been using was part of the site, and had been given to us. Then when we asked for help getting it compatible, there was a bit of a blowout about us “using it without permission”, and stealing it, and all sorts of other shit. Sadly, this got spread around, and there really wasn’t any way for us to get out the truth of what actually happened. Basically that being, we were trying to use it WITH permission, which we had had for about a year at that point. THEN when we asked about getting it tweaked, permission was revoked. At which point we stopped using it without any sort of delay or argument.


So Xavier made you stop using the script?

Well, sort of. Phoebus told Jim he no longer had permission to use it, and then once Jim told me, I disconnected it. Jim never really dealt with the technical stuff, so he didn’t know how, otherwise he’d have done it that second.

I see. Actually this ties onto something honey mentioned in the last post. Something about the fight between Jim and Xavier having something to do with internet relationships?

It probably did. I know Jim was involved in a long distance relationship at the time, and basically trying like hell to get over here. Which he’s since succeeded in.

Ah yes. I suppose Xavier wasnt a fan of them? Also since theres been a couple of these at the nation how about we do an overview of them. Theres even been a marriage!

He originally wasn’t, but then changed his mind and decided they were okay. There’s been a few, and I guess we can do an overview. My general feeling is that there’s no reason not to if you like the person. It’s EASIER to get something going with someone closer, that’s just an obvious fact. But if the Internet brings people together and you like someone somewhere else, who cares?

I wasnt explicitly saying that its a bad thing, although i think i ribbed you when you were involved in one. Who was that with again

An old Phorum member that we don’t mention anymore. Sort of like a Beetlejuice thing. At least, it’s worked that way in the past.

Ah i see, someone from the tory right

Yeah. It was a long time ago, and back then everyone was from the Tory.

Ok talking about internet relationships, i dont know if you know enough about this one to answer the question, but i figure it will be interesting to people who havn’t been exposed to them – do you know how milo and feather progressed from it to getting hitched?

You know, I actually don’t in any great detail. I’m pretty sure that started on the old 7th Level forums, and then made it’s way onto ours. Jim used to write for 7th Level, so he brought a bunch of people from the Phorums there, and a bunch of people from there to the Phorums, and Milo and Feather were part of the latter. They’re both awesome on the Phorums, but I haven’t really gotten to know them on a personal level, like on IM and shit, so sadly I don’t know alot of the story of how they got together.

Oh well, maybe they can shed some light on that in the comments if some readers are interested. Ok so now the nation is seperate from monticello, were you and Jim still in charge or had Jim left by then?

Jim stayed on for around a year as Admin of the post-Monticello Nation. And Dan was also brought up to Admin awhile before the split, so it was the three of us running things on the Phorums side, and Whatever and Jim doing so on the PW side

And the main page was still mostly Jim?

Yes. It had opened up a little bit, especially when the plan to do the blog thing was formed. I even started writing every now and then myself. But it was still primarily Jim.

When did the blog format start? That would have been a bit later wouldnt it

Oh yes. Jim had the idea after he’d joined up with a huge gaming site, Destructoid.com, which he still writes for today. Basically, it’s what they do, and with the increasing lack of time he was having getting long-form articles out, he decided to take that format, apply it to the Nation, and open things up for short-form, as well as an expanded staff.

Who were the guys you brought in when you changed formats?

Al Creed, and Zoomeister for the Nation side, and then Gun Sage and PatMan for PW, which we at that time decided to just incorporate into the main Nation content.

So basically after Jim left you and Dan were left in charge?

Exactly. Jim still stayed around to write as long as he had time to. But because he’s so fucking good at things, his role at Destructoid kept growing.

Jims an interesting story for someone that wants to know how to make a living on the internet. Do you want to do a quick pass on how that happened for him?

After a shitload of writing at a shitload of places, he started focusing on the gaming stuff. He shopped it around to places like IGN and a few others, and eventually found a home at Destructoid. He developed notoriety as a writer, and sort of moved his way up the editorial ranks.

There you go folks, hard work and networking. The internet is the same as everywhere else. Ok is there any other history or behind the scenes things you want to cover before we move on?

I think that pretty much gets us to present, aside from the relaunching of PW as a subsite of the Nation, and the old Luigi subsite as well.

Ah yes, what sparked the remergence of those sites?

For the Luigi one, it was basically a nostalgic kick I’m on, as well as convincing myself that I can do the character properly. Same thing that’s caused the bringing back of the BCCL, and a couple of other things that should be coming out in the future. For PW, it was a matter of seeing that we have enough reviews/entertainment content to support a separate site, and an idea I’d had for around six months or so to separate it out.

Do you think seperating the sites might leave the nation a bit sparse in updates?

I was worried about it when I first came up with the idea. But it was only after seeing that there were enough updates to split it out and have enough of both types, that I decided to do it. So basically, if we keep up with the current level of output, no.

Ok how about we do a review of the staff. Ill go through everyone in order according to the staff page. First is Dan

Hahahaha, you cunt. You’re really going to make me do this?

Totally

Fair enough. Dan’s been way more vocal on Station Nation the past few episodes where it’s just been him and Bruce. He’s always been funny on it, but now we’re getting more of that funny, which is awesome. The increase to doing it every week is a huge commitment, especially since he does the editing, so even after the recording is done, he isn’t. As for written content, it’s always awesome when he does it. I can see why he’s been doing it less, given the increase in how much he has to do with SN. But any time he does feel like writing, I’m always up for reading it.

Yeah i agree. People bitch that he doesnt write but doing SN and editing it would take a lot of time i imagine, expecially since i cant even be bothered listening to it

Ha, yeah. The actual doing of it is a two hour session. I don’t spend two hours on writing in a week. And then there’s the editing, which is probably at least an equal amount of time.

Yeah thats a fair whack. Ok whos next, Bruce

Amazing dedication, and during the summer, his constant output was the biggest part of the surge in traffic we received. Between that and bringing in new blood, he’s been probably my single greatest ally in growing this site. His writing has always been good, but it’s still improved a lot from when he started. Also, same thing I said about Dan applies to him in terms of the recording portion of Station Nation.

Does that mean hes going to be the new co-admin after you give Dan the chop?

Ha, not sure Dan and I are up for giving each other the chop going either way. But as for bringing Bruce in for a third Admin spot, time will tell on that one.

Ok – Trudes

Well, she brings age to the table, that’s for sure. But in all seriousness, she’s one of the best writers we have on staff, and THE best of the newer blood. She’s also been contributing on the PW side to help me get that ball rolling, so major props for that.

So are you saying u hired her as a helping the old sort of thing? And what do you think about most of her articles being sex based

We did a talent search at the local nursing home. She won. It’s her niche, and people seem to be interested in the topic, so I’m all for it. The other thing is, she doesn’t stay too strictly bound to it, so she’s proven she can do more when the mood strikes her.

……………………………………………………
In the next part we go through the rest of the staff, with me trying to flame everyone and JCC carrying the flame extinguisher. See you then!

Category: Ano's Public Probe | // 7 Comments »