Coffee & Cigarettes with Parallaxis

[Caitriona]

....with MissManners

by Parallaxis

Para: Let’s just get right into it, how did you end up owning Troll Kingdom?

missmanners: I bought my way in when it was still an ezboard, then more or less stole it from Red Whacker when he was busy with RL by taking advantage of moving hosting and things like that.

Para: You’ve stated many times that you were banned from Trekbbs because you had two usernames that were inactive and you didn’t use. But isn’t the truth that you were registering usernames for other people to troll with?

missmanners: I think I registered a total of 6 or 7 usernames and only 3 went through. That was before I was banned. Other people were very generous with usernames though and I wont deny sharing some of them with others.

Para: What was the most shocking attack at Trekbbs that you were involved in or knew about ahead of time?

missmanners: Some secrets will go with me to the grave.

Para: C'mon, its time to expose the truth!

missmanners: Hypothetically and ONLY hypothetically.... what if telling the truth would kill any chances of ever getting BR info again? I'm not saying it would or wouldn't.

And by attacks are you referring to porn spam, hacking accounts or just trolling?

Para: Yes! Yes! and Yes!missmanners: The thing is, one thing everyone has always known about me is they can trust me with their secrets. Now that might seem a little dramatic, but I think keeping secrets is important for TK's owner.

I honestly don't remember that much about the porn spamming. I do remember when a mod's password would be "discovered" and I remember several trolling exploits involving duals. I'll expand on the trolling part more for you.

Para: OK.

missmanners: I was .... in on quite a few regular trolling exploits with duals. Most troll plotting took place in the chatroom (something I hope to resurrect) and Che could burn a dual faster than anyone. But he was a super troll in that he knew just what to say when and could get everyone wound up.

One of my all time favorite evenings in the chatroom was setting Skinofevil up as la_avispa, a nice Christian lady who was into online dating.

There was a lot of chatroom to chatroom action then too. People were constantly getting banned from Terran, EFCL. ... Interesting times.

Para: Have you ever thought about not paying the TK bill and just letting the site go dead?

missmanners: Not as long as it amuses me. And it still amuses me.

Para: Just who was this Qskater person? Your supposed family? Why doesn’t she post here anymore? Isn’t it true you just made her up?

missmanners: Oh she's real. Several online people have seen photos of her and I together. A few have talked to her on the phone and at least 2 have met her. She never did post at anything but the ezboard. She spent a lot of time with me right after the late mister died and I think posting on the boards was her way of humoring me. It never interested her much.

Para: Supposedly you were adopted at an early age. What was that like, how did it influence your life?

missmanners: I was actually in a couple of foster homes before I was adopted. I just wrote something about this elsewhere....never really being connected to a family. One thing that has always bothered me is not looking like anyone else I know. But maybe thats not such a bad thing.

Para: There has been talk about you may or may not have a criminal past, that you may or may not have an abusive ex, or that you may or may not have a long history with guns. Settle the rumors right now. What are the details here?

missmanners: The late mister was involved with a lot of shady dealings. He was into bookmaking, buying and selling firearms without being licensed, food stamp trafficking, and some union stuff. He was being investigated at the time of his death. I have no criminal record. And yes you could say he was abusive, I still have the scar under my chin where he tried to cut my throat.

Para: "The Mister" stuff is really creepin me out. So who is this person who won the heart of the famous MissManners?

missmanners: He was someone I got involved with when I was young and dumb and a college student. He was a lot older than me, 25 years older. And it's better I don't mention his name.

Para: This is a little touchy of a subject but since it was brought up I do feel like I have to ask. Not to put to fine a point on it but Just how did your late husband pass away?

missmanners: First of all we were never legally married. Partly to protect assets he gave me and party because he had 5 ex-wives (and wasn't sure he was ever divorced from the last). He was a substance abuser with liver disease that was complicated by cancer the last few months of his life.

That part is something I don't usually talk about because I dot like people to think I'm creating drama or soliciting sympathy. He bled to death in ICU over 7 days. And one of the days I was sitting in the family room waiting, was 9/11/2001. The whole week was a nightmare.

Any other questions?

Para: Um, moving back to TK issues, Has anyone from any other BBS contacted you to provide them with information about a TK poster? Have you ever obliged them? If someone were to harm Trekbbs would you provide T'Bonz with all the information you could about the suspect?

missmanners: Yes, a few have. I've lied to some, told others not to ask again. And I believe Mike Wong from SD.NET threatened a lawsuit demanding the IPs of the people who claimed to have hacked his board. I don't respond well to threats.

As to someone harming Trekbbs. What kind of harm can you do to a message board? That's what backups are for.

Para: What is the one online activity you are most ashamed of doing?

missmanners: Para dear, ladies do NOT kiss and tell. Every experience has either been a learning experience or a memory I can look back on fondly when I'm 80. I have no regrets.

Para: If you could reveal one thing that would shock the hell out of everyone about yourself what would it be?

missmanners: Lets just say I can't reveal that. OK?

Now then dear.... let me buy you dinner.

[Caitriona]

.......with Sardonica

by Parallaxis

The "Coffee and Cigarettes" series continues with an interview of Sardonica. Never one of the 'usual troll suspects', Sardy brought his own unique POV to TK as an Admin. Parallaxis dives right in and asks the hard questions.

Para: How would you describe your writing career at this point? Failed, aspiring, successful? Any upcoming projects you’d like to plug?

Sardy: I’d just like to toss out there that as much as I love the title of the interview (very Noir…) I don’t smoke and I don’t drink coffee…

I feel blessed to be able to say this—after 18+ years of dedicated writing, submitting, re-rewriting and rejection— I think I can honestly say that I’m successful at this point. I’m the writer, co-creator and associate producer of an upcoming network television series debuting in October on TLC (The Learning Channel). I’m not at liberty to discuss the details yet—but as soon as the network makes an official announcement, I’ll announce it on TK.

I’m the Head of Development for a TV Production company and have been involved with shows for MSNBC, Spike! TV, Bravo, CNBC, Discovery Channel, and am currently developing shows for Scifi and other major cable networks. Two of my screenplays and one of my novels have been optioned by relatively well-known production companies/publishers. And, perhaps most importantly, this professional success has afforded me the opportunity to finally and realistically pursue and produce several non-commercial independent projects that are very close to my heart (for example I can now afford the rights to option and adapt a favorite novel for the screen and recruit two well-known musicians to do the score/soundtrack).

I’ve always measured success not by $$$ or acclaim, but by being able to support my family and pursue projects that I care about, while making a living at something that I love. In that respect, I would say that in the past year or so I’ve been lucky enough to consider myself successful. Not that it isn’t hard work (my absence from TK should attest to that)—lots of 24/7 hours, weekend shoots, not enough time with my family (we’re taking several weeks to travel together once this first season of the show wraps in October)—but it’s good work if you can get it.

Para: What’s the project you’re most proud to have been involved with? What do you feel represents your best writing to date ? worst writing to date?

Sardy: The two things I’m the most proud of are actually “The NUKE Brothers” movie/comic book (this best represents my views of family and the world, as well as my sense of subtle humor and fringe science fiction) and a very long unpublished/unfinished epic novel called “Incident At Sardonica: A Love Story” which is closing in on 1,500 pgs (650,000 words) and which I’ve been working on for nearly 12 years now—I usually take a project from concept to completion within a year or two, so to spend 12 on something of such scope is really, really enjoyable.

I’m also quite proud of “The Flying Saucer Gazette. www.erols.com/sardonica I greatly miss this sort of writing—journalistic gonzo reporting for a monthly fringe gossip rag… Not a day goes by that I don’t consider somehow trying to revisit it. Besides which, FSG is the single publication that opened doors and set me on the road to any success that I might otherwise be able to boast of now.

My worst writing to date? God, there’s too much to count! Most of my longer posts on TK come to mind… There’s a story called “Playgrounds” floating around out there, and another called “Professor Tumkin”… both make me cringe upon every re-read.

Para: Turning to online life, What trolling activity are you most pleased to have been involved with?

Sardy: Hm. “Involved” is such a tricky term. I guess I’m proud of my work with “MISTER CAPPS”, and I greatly enjoyed checkmating Christian and Lisa into perma-banning me during the ‘great permabans’ of old.

There’ve been a few trolls that I’ve enjoyed over the years—many “alongside” Skin, and many that I really shouldn’t speak too much about. I’ll just say that you might be really surprised if you knew a few of my duals. Oh wait… I DON’T HAVE any duals. Never mind.

Para: Ironically, do you feel it was your own unlimited freedom of speech policy that slipped TK down a road towards mindless spam ? Looking back, do you think that policy should have been amended more to filter certain garbage?

Sardy: No, I still stand 100% behind the absolute freedom of speech policy. The only amendments that I could in good conscience stomach are the ones that we set in place: nothing illegal, no personal info (credit cards, tel. numbers, addresses, etc.)

Para: Do you think the creation of the minefield was a mistake? Why not simply of deleted those original booby trapped threads ? Why save them? Are you happy with what the minefield has become?

Sardy: No, I think the Minefield is a GREAT idea, as is the Day Care Center. Sure, you could argue for the deletion of the ‘booby trapped’ threads—that’s a very minor issue in my mind. As for the greater use of it being a repository for spam, and a temporary holding place for spammers, I think that it’s a concept that is nearly flawless. The problem comes in the application of that concept: On a board dedicated to free speech, it’s very hard to have a group of admins who are trustworthy enough not to abuse their powers and yet willing to watchdog and baby-sit the board, ever on the lookout for spammers. This is where TK falls a little short. I don’t have time to police the board and clean up spam—neither do MM, Cait, or any of the rest… it’s a tough call, but when it comes to the line between too much spam vs. too much regulation, I’d prefer to err on the side of spam. Every time.

Para: Tell us about Mr Capps.

Sardy: His CAPS LOCK seems to be stuck.

Para: Did you feel personally betrayed by Robl’s decision to move over to Trekbbs?

Sardy: Not so much betrayed by his decision to move to Trekbbs. But I do feel betrayed by the fact that he quite obviously used us and played us while he was at TK—that his plan all along was to get himself into TBBS. I don’t mind saying it now—he pulled the wool over all of our eyes. The night(s) that it all went down, I can tell you—there was much frustration among me and Red Whacker. We never saw it coming.

Now you can say that it was a brilliant troll on RobL’s part. I won’t argue. But it didn’t feel like a troll—it felt like being backstabbed and betrayed by someone whom you thought was a friend.

Para: Skinofevil – brilliant troll or TK created hype?

Sardy: Brilliant troll. Shame on you for even asking.

Para: What trolling activity truly just shocked you?

Sardy: Well, when the FBI showed up, THAT was pretty shocking… But most of the new “so-called” trolls—I won’t name any names—but the ones who think that trolling is calling T’Bonz every filthy name in the book, or who constantly threaten to “troll the trolls” or start secret clubs and knock-off boards… you know the types. I find them anything BUT shocking.

Para: If you could reveal one TK secret that would just floor everyone what would it be?

Sardy: Skin and I are one in the same.

[RommieSG]

I can only imagine what your's will be like, Cait. ;)

[Caitriona]

.......with T'Bonz

by Parallaxis

The "Coffee and Cigarettes" series continues with an interview of T'Bonz. Always controversial, never boring, T'Bonz is reputed to actually run every BBS on the Internet.

Para: A lot has happened in your TrekBBS career. How do you feel you've changed over the years? Do you think you've become more lenient or have you developed more of a religious belief in rigid discipline?

T'Bonz: I’ve become more lenient over time. However, I have also become more cynical and less trusting, a legacy of my online experience.

Para: One of the earliest “scandals” I remember involving you during the Pre-TK days was the uproar over the posting of several Maxim pictures in the Enterprise forum (or was it called Future of Trek then? I forget). Anyway you seemed to go out of your way to make the point that the pictures were pornographic and had no place on TrekBBS. You were very persistent. Now, years later, do you feel you overreacted or do you still feel Maxim pictures have no place on TrekBBS?

T'Bonz: At the time, we had no rules or idea on which to go when it came to stuff like Maxim. Theoretically, we were supposed to be PG-13. It was my contention then and is now that Maxim type photos (airbrushed and all) are soft porn and thus not appropriate for the board. The ENT mods put their heads together and then went to C for advice. It was decided that links to Maxim were acceptable, but as links, not inline photos.

Did I overreact? Probably. I don’t like the objectification of women. I am probably in the minority here.

Para: Sorry if this question gets too personal. But after one of the first BR leaks it was discovered that in the BR thread discussing your outrage over the Maxim pictures you listed your own child molestation as a reason why you were upset over the blatant exploitation of women that the Maxim pictures represented. Looking back at it now do you think you were still trying to deal with this issue in your real life? Also you're famous for your tagline of “never say anything in the BR you don’t want everyone else to read”, did that little piece of advice come about because of this incident? Did you feel violated at having such a personal detail thrown out there like that? Did this color your attitudes toward TK?

T'Bonz: If you were sorry, you wouldn’t ask. But I don’t like exploitation of women. If you know anything about sexual abuse, you would understand that “dealing with it” is a lifelong process. I hadn’t just started “dealing with it” then and I will continue dealing with it until I die and no doubt again from the minute several trolls read this interview and use it against me. I have come to peace with the past and can discuss it openly and I have when it has come up in discussion. (That doesn’t mean I will discuss it at TK if I feel people are using it as a trolling method.)

My “never say anything in the BR that you don’t want to get out” doesn’t come from that. I didn’t feel violated by having that posted, as the abuse that happened was not my fault, nor is it a dirty and shameful secret to be hidden.

The “never say anything” came from the Slipstream debacle. It’s also why I come down real hard on people talking smack in the BR. I do realize that it’s human nature to bitch and moan about others (and I’m as human as anyone), but I think it’s a bad idea to do it behind closed doors in a group. What happened on Slipstream merely confirmed that it was a very bad idea to gossip in the BR.

Having that detail released didn’t color my perceptions of TK. It had zero influence on how I feel/felt about TK.

Para: Speaking of the BR, before you took over Lisa’s job you were quite clear that the BR was ineffective and the most private and telling conversations took place over chat, which was much more secure. Why haven’t you disbanded the BR? Have you ever thought about pulling a Wordforge and releasing the old BR threads a couple of times a year?

T'Bonz: Because some decisions need to be made both as a group and quickly and trying to contact everyone individually over ICQ/MSN/whatever would be time-consuming. Plus – it’s valuable at times to bounce ideas off of a group as opposed to an individual, there is a different dynamic there.

Yes, I have considered it, more than once. Who would want to hack it if it’s freely available? I thought more of making it read only as opposed to WF’s way of releasing after the fact. But what works against me doing this is that there are times that things need to be private. When mods are telling us that there are duals or someone might be a dual, it’s not very smart to be tipping someone who is using a dual that we have figured it out. Because many duals are there to make trouble and it’s rather stupid to make it easier for them.

Plus other decisions need to be told to us ahead of the posters at times, or we need to make decisions about things that are better hashed out privately.

So pretty much, although I am in favor of an open BR, it would in some ways work against us to do so. Which means that I have mixed emotions about the BR.

Para: There used to be quite a few famous stories floating around about T'Bonz posting or chatting drunk. Any truth to those? Do you feel you have a problem with alcohol? Have you ever battled a problem with addiction?

T'Bonz: LOL. I have come on a few times after a few, especially a few years ago. Lots of us did. It was a bunch of silliness and everyone enjoyed the show (whether one was the “drunkee” or the audience.) However, in my case, when I do drink, I tend to pretty much say exactly what is on my mind with zero diplomacy (or common sense that tells me to shut up) and it got me into trouble on the BBS a few times.

I learned after the last warning to never come on if I’ve been drinking. Given that I have a drink perhaps once or twice a month, it’s easy to avoid that. Plus – the crowd with whom I hung with online is long gone now, so there’s no fun in coming online after a drink anymore like there used to be. I still smile when I see others online having fun.

No problems with alcoholism or addiction (chocolate doesn’t count.) If you told me I could never have a drink again, it would be no big deal. If you told me I couldn’t have chocolate again, I’d have to kill you.

Para: I’ve been requested to ask you why in all seriousness you threatened to stab Skinofevil with a large butcher knife? Along those lines is there any Troll out there who you just absolutely hated? Any troll you secretly loved?

T'Bonz: To my knowledge, I NEVER threatened to stab Skinofevil with a large butcher knife. While I don’t like his rape schtick (as a female, I don’t find rape amusing, not even in jest and no I was never raped), other than that, he was an OK guy..as much as one is OK when they think it’s OK to joke about rape. To me, that is a bit creepy.

Hated? I find it hard to even summon a strong dislike. Occasionally I’ll dislike a poster, but I’ll keep that to myself. Most have no idea I don’t like them. I find a few creepy from TK, but I don’t hate or even dislike them. Hate is a very strong emotion. As for those at TK who are pesky trolls, about the most I can come up with is annoyance with a few of them. For the most part, I like the vast majority of the TKers.

Never loved/crushed on any of the trolls. You have to remember, I’m much older than many around here, so crushing on someone would be a bit creepy, many of you are the age of my kids. Plus – I have a perfectly good man at home. I’ve never understood “Internet romance” anyhow, I find it difficult to believe that it exists. How can you fall in love/infatuation with someone who you’ve never met?

Para: Quick, one word, best TrekBBS Admin to date.

T'Bonz: DEA & Lizardlaugh.

Para: Worst TrekBBS Admin to date?

T'Bonz: No comment.

Para: So what did ever happen to Lisa? Specifically.

T'Bonz: She began to drift away. I don’t know precisely why although after running the BBS for a while, I understand why one might burn out. I have conflicting stories that she resigned formally and that she just bailed. I’ve talked to both involved. But the truth of the matter is that she wanted out. She was not forced out. I know that from speaking to her directly. I wish her the best. It’s not easy to run the BBS and she did it for two years.

Para: Was it ever stated that if Lisa came back, you would have to step down? Also right before she left, Chris made a whole deal about how Lisa was stepping up to be included in the financial side of TrekBBS. With her departure and you taking over her duties was that deal extended to you as well?

T'Bonz: No. There was no mention of “if she returns”. No conditions. As to her financial involvement (if any), I have zero idea as to her involvement in that, so the answer would be no, whatever was between them was between them.

Para: TrekBBS is famous for the brief period of time when it (according to Christian) needed membership based donations to survive. However, even with Ad payoffs continuing to decline, TrekBBS has never again asked for donations yet somehow continues to operate. How is this possible? Has TrekBBS traffic dropped that much? Has Christian expressed any disinterest in continuing a BBS if it eats out of his pocket?

T'Bonz: I don’t know. I have never felt that it is/was my place to know how C finances the place. It is none of my business. I don’t know if he makes enough or digs into his pocket. That is his concern, not mine. I can’t answer the last question as we’ve never discussed that. It is my opinion that as long as it continues to be a positive experience for him, it will stay open. But that is speculation on my part.

Para: How much actual day to day contact do you have with Christian? How much interest does he have in the daily going on's of TrekBBS?

T'Bonz: It varies. I know when he’s apt to be on, he knows when I’m apt to be on. I consult with him on some things for advice, on others as a courtesy to him as the owner of the place. Sometimes I have concerns, or sometimes he does. So we can talk daily, or every few days. He’s very responsive when I go to him with a concern. He is aware of what goes on at TrekBBS, which I found out long ago when he warned me himself for insulting someone. He rarely posts, but he tries keeps up on things. He’s friendly and approachable and I’ve had zero problems interacting with him.

Para: What are the chances of TrekBBS closing in the next five years?

T'Bonz: That depends on whether C wishes to continue it. Part might depend on whether I continue to manage it. I really don’t know. The best I can say is that as long as it doesn’t become a liability or pain in the ass to him, it will exist. But I can’t estimate that. Part depends on Trek itself perhaps, how it does, if new Trek begins again. But that’s speculation on my part and I really can’t hazard a guess. I would have to know all of his reasons for having the BBS and I can only make speculations which may or may not be correct.

Para: Chris is famous for refusing to sell the SlipstreamBBS properties when he pulled the plug on that site. If he were to pull the plug on TrekBBS would you encourage him to sell his rights to the site or do you feel that TrekBBS, being the brainchild of Christian, should solely live or die with him?

T'Bonz: I don’t get involved in that. TrekBBS is his site and will exist as long as he is willing to allow it to exist. Whether he would keep it or sell it is his concern. As a long-term poster, I would of course prefer that it continue to exist.

Para: If you could tell everyone out there one thing about TrekBBS that would shock the hell out of everyone what would it be?

T'Bonz: There really ISN’T anything shocking. It’s just a place where fans like to have fun and occasionally to fight. It’s just a BBS, truly. I don’t know anything shocking, either good or bad. I’ve seen lots of things happen in my time, been privy to a lot of information, gossip, online drama, but in the end, it’s just a place where a bunch of Trek nerds like me like to hang out.

[BitchSlapSmitty]

i don't smoke.

[The Saint]

You'll pick up the habit. All the uncool kids are doing it.

[kro_1781]

Yeah buddy... Aint "BEER" preasure a bitch hah!!!!

[The Saint]

^^Where the hell are you, bastard? I need caffeine and nicotine, and you still owe me for that phone.

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeee...

Yotch! :bwahaha: