I was one of the people that read Dark Lover by JRW right when it came out. Read: before the BDB got as wildly cult-like popular as it is today. It was before JRW had a message board. It was before she stopped returning her reader’s emails. When she announced that there was going to be a message board at her site, it was great. I’m a spoiler whore for one series and that is the BDB. I quickly learned that she had insulated herself by selecting moderators (God only knows how) that would stay between her and the peons readers. There were rules. Not the average message board rules such as “be considerate” or “no bad words”. No, these were very specific rules. This is how I read them.
- No saying anything bad about JRW’s books or you’ll be banned from the message boards.
- No asking the same questions over and over again or you’ll get a smack down from the mods. (My question: WHEN IS TOHR’S BOOK COMING OUT?)
- Don’t ask a question in the wrong part of the message board or you’ll get a smack down from the mods.
- If you find [insert BDB title] before it’s street date, don’t announce it or you’ll get a smack down from the mods and maybe even banned.
- Kiss my ass.
Long before blogs became popular, Rowena, Holly, and I met on the JGBB. The one that was run by Simon & Schuster. The JGBB was fun place where we talked about the books, the heroes, and the heroines. Everyone there was so laid back that there were never any problems. I have also been a longtime member of the JMBB (first run by S&S now hosted by Random House). The rules were a little more strict there, but they weren’t extreme. Put a warning in if there are spoilers in your post, no personal attacks, and it was silently agreed that politics and religion were no-no’s.
I have also noticed the same thing in some Yahoo Groups. The power just seems to go to the head of these people. A scuffle happened in the Robyn Carr yahoo group where religion was apparently brought up. Hello? FORBIDDEN FALLS IS ABOUT A FREAKING PREACHER. A notice went out that basically said “No religion talk or else”. It’s completely ridiculous.
It seems obvious that the power of being a message board mod has gone to their heads. Or am I wrong? And where are the authors?
Forbidden Falls was an awesome book; yes it was about a minister, but if you dont want to read a book with a minister as a hero, don’t. It is a romance book, not a religious book! SO yes it is completely ridiculous.
My thaught exactly. They went from protecting their board from any unrespectful behaviour to censurship. Now about your exemple, though I did love Forbidden Falls, the fact that Noah had premarital sex did bother me. Boards are supposed to be places where we can discuss such things, since it’s right in the heart of the book.
ZOMG I AM SO GONNA REPORT CHUUUU.
[lol sorry. Ok so I don’t know you as well…] But um, yes. I stay away from groups and boards etc. Some are perfectly fine. Ok, so the one I can think of. That I never visit anyway O_o
But I have noticed yahoo groups etc- when I did participate (?) more – once someone became a moderator it was like s/he had … been deified.
I’ll stop myself now 🙂
he he This makes me want to go on the JRW board and post lots of questions in the wrong places and redundantly. LOL
Although I often browse JR Ward’s site for info, I never post. I can’t take all the rules. It is kind of crazy. I understand they have something like 30,000 members so they have to keep the peace, but it is overkill.
I can’t find a thing in JRW’s forum. But I do enjoy forum discussions elsewhere, and as long as the conversation remains relevant I’m good with anything. Agree or disagree. But when posts becomes way off-topic, the mod should hit the big DELEATE button. With that said, the comments on religion may or may not have gone off topic over at RC’s forum so its hard to comment.
Ah, the power of the MB moderator. It’s a fine line. But I’ll agree that the BDB board are Cra-Zazy!
Part of the problem is that somehow the moderators think they’re SPEAKING for the author, and that’s not always the case. There was a big time kerfuffle on the BDB boards a couple of years ago, and JRW herself finally had to step in to soothe the savage beasts because it was just getting out of control. Her fans are definitely hard core.
I lurk in there occasionally because sometimes there are interesting tidbits, but any more, I can find others who spend time there and then disseminate the information.
I’m with you though, I just want to know when Tohr’s book is coming. Of course, you know it’ll be the last one. Damn it.
Emmanuelle,
I disagree with you about Noah, but that’s supposed to be the beauty of Yahoo Groups/Message Boards. I can have a discussion with you about why I don’t agree without turning it into a flame war.
Lime,
You are so banned.
Kati,
The last book in a never ending series? It makes me want to go start a post over there.
Seneca,
I had no idea about LL’s board. That is so weird.
I’ve never been to the Ward board, and I don’t plan to go, ever.
Lora Leigh has a crazy rule on her board. You can’t say anything, about any book, unless it is sugar sweet with flowers.
You can’t even say “I didn’t care for that book” or else it will be deleted and you will be given a warning.
I still have the warning email to prove it! LOL
Sorry about my memory but someone’s board blew up over this past year – someone about politics so the author shut the board down and then a few month later I think she re-opened it. I want to say who I think it was but I don’t want to spread rumours. I just remember thinking ‘wow, the crazies are running the show’.
I think (having never been a moderator) that maybe the person in charge just has to let stuff pass for a while before needing to step up. Probably a fine line to walk on a good day.
Cindys
I used to be really involved in the Ward boards but it is like a cult there now. And god forbid you disagree or think a book isn’t up to par or have an issue with one of her characters or writing. Very scary if you think about it because for some they are obsessed.
I run a alternate BDB forum fan board, which evolved into talking about any books period. I’ve had run-ins with the official BDB mods. They were not pleasant and that’s all I’ve got to say about that as it was not a fun time. Actually it made for a not-so-fun year. *zips lips*
In a lot of ways, running one of those things sucks. I’d only hoped to get mine to a place where people wouldn’t need a moderator, really. And I’m glad it has (although man, the times when the BDB board drama was ongoing, members were around a lot more often; I also just think it was height of BDB popularity) because I have a lot of other things to do too. I love to talk about books and will do so whenever time allows, but message boards will DRAIN a moderator dry. And people get some really odd expectations of mods – and members.
I would never create/run/co-run another message board again. I’ve met a few very loely ladies running mine, but the experience overall has been tiring and disheartening.
I have to agree with everything Kmont just said. I used to run a fan forum for a music group and it drained every ounce of pleasure and fun to the point where I do not participate in the community anymore.
Depending on the people who are posting and the level of fanatisicm from some of them, sometimes you need iron clad rules. I agree it’s a much more pleasent experience when rules are not needed but man, some ‘fans’ are just crazy.
I would never recommend anyone ever run/moderate on a board. It’s just not worth the hassle.
Oh I remember those mods over at JRW Board. Bah.