Friday 4 December 2015

The SI3D "Debacle"

I don't usually talk about the goings on within the fanbase all that much as there's so much unnecessary drama on a daily basis that it's hard to keep track of and the majority is best off ignoring anyway. But this is a bit harder to ignore, as a Trainz Simulator player myself, and one that uses fan-made Thomas & Friends models and routes regularly.

Now, for the most part, the Thomas fanbase is really good. There are some hugely talented people out there that have even gotten the attention of HiT Entertainment to such an extent that there's been a huge fan project that's been uploaded to their official channel over the span of a few weeks, and there's another one planned for Christmas, which will begin as I'm writing this post. There are also some brilliant people who are friendly, generous and I've gained some lasting friendships within it.

Unfortunately, there's another part of the fanbase, in the same way there's another side to every fanbase, who either constantly moan about the series (even when they get what they want from it), make petitions about some of the most pointless things or they are just straight up mean spirited for no other reason than "because they can be" (and yes, I fit into that last category at times, before anyone says anything).

But this latest drama is where the negative part of the fanbase is really reaching its nadir:

Yep, SI3D has been taken down by the site's owner (see here for further details; requires an account for the forums to see it). And you better believe that some fans are treating this like it's a life-or-death situation:

Some are going so far as to stalk and harass the person who caused the situation which, to be frank, is spectacularly pathetic and uncool. And this is coming from a guy who's had his issues with the culprit long before this happened. I blocked him for asking a friend to say he'd died solely so he could get sympathy and he retaliated by making Facebook pages to abuse me behind my back (which I ignore as it's not worth my time).

I don't give two iotas of a crap about what he did, the fact that people are getting this worked up over pixels on a screen is ridiculous. If you have a problem with SI3D being pulled (and rightly so; they make the rules, and it's an easy one to abide by), then maybe you should re-evaluate your social situation rather than put so much value into something as benign as models for a video game!

SI3D were not the first group of people to make 3D models for Trainz - they replaced UK Branch Lines when they took their models down. And I can tell you, right now, that they sure as hell won't be the last. Heck, we have so many people making great Trainz models in SI3D's absence as it is! For example, WildNorWester:

Camscott (requires an SI3D account):




So rather than declaring a witch hunt against someone, whining like a baby for SI3D to reverse their decision or make stupid videos like this:

Why don't you actually keep your noses out, mouths shut, fingers off keyboards and let those involved sort things out?! It's not that bloody difficult! Support those who actually make content rather than bemoan about "lost" content that wasn't even there in the first place.

Fans keep wondering why certain fanbases are targeted by bullies. Apart from the obvious lack of understanding that people are different, things like this don't help our case. Every. single. time there's a small dispute between one or two people, it has to blown out of all proportion just so they can turn one person's mistake into a huge manhunt and constant abuse. It has to stop. Now.

Grow up.

8 comments:

  1. Ugh, some people act so immature sometimes it literally baffles my brain on why they act like this. As a fellow Thomas fan, I can say, some of the fans take things so doggone seriously, it makes me sick. Thank goodness there are people like you, and me who keep some decency alive in the fandom.

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    1. In all honesty, I'm still prone to a lack of decency and taking the show too seriously (discounting the reviews). But I'm seriously getting sick of the pointless arguments and drama. The only reason I posted about this is that it's gone far too long.

      They say that you haven't really achieved anything if you don't anger people. If telling these fans the truth is annoying them, then this post, and my philosophy of honesty being the best policy, are doing something right.

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  2. I have to agree. Seriously, they're 3D models for a show about talking locomotives. It's not the end of the world. Treating it like it's life-or-death is extremely petty. Granted I'm not that surprised...

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    1. I don't think anyone's surprised by any of the arguments in the fanbase any more...

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  3. Hey, the site was IMPORTANT for people to make Trainz Thomas videos with. Don't bash the community like that!

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    1. If fans don’t want to be treated like shit, they shouldn’t treat others like shit. Respect should not be a difficult concept to grasp. Content creators earn respect by taking time out of their day to create content for us. The least people could do is respect them and their wishes rather than constantly badgering them for more and burning them out. It’s the whole reason SI3D shut down. Both times.

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    2. But ... painting an entire fandom as shit isn't "the entire fandom is shitty." It's a (bad) judgment call on the one maing the judgment call. Period. Some people were being rude yes but he could have asked the people who at the time had his support.

      It's nobody else's fault, IMO, but his for responding that way.

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    3. Except... I didn't. In fact, I explicitly stated that most of the fanbase was fine (which was begrudgingly true when this was written 8 years ago, but is undeniable now).

      The fact that anyone gets cross, greedy and entitled over these things is something that is completely alien to me. There are a lot of models around that I would love to have, but if content creators don't want to release them, then people should respect their wishes and move on.

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