Whether, or not, you believe me, I fought like hell, for you, behind the scenes.
I believe you. And I also think you're a nice guy, and I like you. But you are not the team.
My other friends in the team are not the team either.
The team is the collective decision that the majority makes.
You know the story, but it doesn't matter. Not everyone does.
The team, as a collective, decided to appoint me beta tester 2 years and a half ago, recognizing that I was a major player in the community. Then, after that, everything the team did was to put me down. Always rejected from team votes, in spite of all my efforts (350+ bug reports and fixes, Aeva Lite, SMF Media Gallery, Aeva Media, Footnotes, French translation rewrite... You remember all of that), until the day I resigned from my position as beta tester because I was finished with being ignored like that. Then a month later, I'm invited to join the team as a developer, what I'd always asked for. But as an APPRENTICE, a "mandatory" transition. I did the best possible work I could, work fulltime once again, endangering my health and staying home when it was sunny June outside. Then I got an apprenticeship extension when it was supposed to be a formality. And for what? No reason given. Then I learn that a team vote had taken place *before* I was invited, and I was rejected. Meaning that Norv very well knew I was NOT going to be added to the team, but since everyone else in the dev team had forfeited at that point, he needed someone to fix bugs and make it look like SMF was still being worked on. SMF's development has always been chaotic. What I wanted to bring it was stability and complete focus. At last someone working on it fulltime, as a volunteer, for pleasure.
Yes, I can afford it. But did that make my offer any less generous? No. So, in the end, my commit access was removed, then I was moved to the 'SMF Friends' group (where I'm better off than in the 'Consulting dev' group with no developer rights, but still... SMF *friend*?!), and the team is expecting me to let it go?
No, I won't. Yes, I retaliated by removing the files off the mod site. No, I didn't expect the team to, in turn, retaliate by developing bastardized versions of Aeva. This is where it comes down to, no. Pettiness from vbgamer45, and the team is here to back him up.
I came VERY close to putting my SMF "career" on the line, for you.
Well, you can put it on the line and even abandon it, if you want my opinion. Why would you spend your time for this team?
It has to be said, I was really sad that what happened, happened.
I believe you, and I was even sadder. I was crushed by how I was thanked for all of these years of work.
Whether what was done was right, or not, is of no consequence, now.
Oh yes it is. It explains why I'm not letting this go.
Your views and, indeed, my views are irrelevant, now.
My view is relevant, because I'm the main victim here. Hello..?
It won't change anything.
Yes it will change everything. I kept all of these stories inside of the private boards, trying to find a solution, trying to convince the team they were making a mistake.
Now I really don't see why I should still "behave". Heck,
I didn't say anything until today! And why did I talk?
Because a team member attacked me! And if you don't think AEMP is an all-out attack and a flat-out reply to my strike, then read my posts again!
In fact, it's likely to turn people against you.
Who? The team is already against me in majority, I understood that. What, they're afraid of me? Well, maybe they should think before they crush human beings, then? That fantastic SMF team?
The difference you have a stable developer me who will develop no matter what versus another developer who may come and go and stop development at any time
You, a stable developer? You never did anything vital for SMF. You only make your own commercial mods and that's all. I made 50 commits in the 4 weeks I was a volunteer developer. I've been working on Aeva Lite and Aeva Media ever since I joined these projects years ago -- never abandoned them! The only times I stopped working on them were because I wanted to remind the team that they were completely ignoring me! Great Scot! More lies from you, should I be surprised...?
All you do is think in terms of money. When money stops coming, will YOU keep working on SMF? Talk about a stable developer...!! What's happening, is that you used to "own" the market. Then Aeva Media came along, and people realized that it isn't always about money. When SMF Media Gallery, I told you you should release your mod for free. I told you! I said, if you don't, then I'll join that project, instead of staying in your team. I told you. You said go ahead. But you didn't realize at the time that you'd lost me to a project that would still be alive years later. You probably thought you should have split the benefits with me and kept me working on your mod. Well, I wouldn't have kept doing it. Because we're not compatible. Your idea is to make money. My idea is to have fun. I've never seen anyone as unfunny and money-centered as you are.
So, someone leaves the SMF team and declares he gives up on his Ad mod? Instead of asking him if you can take over, you offer him some money to buy it. Then you sell it. Yay. That's the spirit. SMF is a marketplace to you. The reason *I* made a commercial add-on for Aeva Media is because it's the only way I can keep doing what I love (working on Aeva Media) without it being beneficial to the SMF team (by being free and widely available). I can't think of a saner reason.
The difference you have a stable developer me who will develop no matter what versus another developer who may come and go and stop development at any time
Isn't this as a result of someone having more power than the other ?
Of course, when you've had your team position for the last few years, AND you're earning a lot of money through SMF, and you don't have to do shit on the project (ask anyone who worked with vbgamer45 if he does anything on the project --- nope!!), of course you can afford to look like you're stable. Everyone knows that the only way to be stable is not to move at all!
It'd be interesting to compare between what vbgamer45 and I brought to the SMF community in the last 2 years and a half. I'm sure he'll reconsider "stability" when told this way.
Wow!! Now Nao is grossly vindicated. Someone actually fought.
Of course. You have no idea what happens behind the scenes. People pushing their decisions over everyone else. People getting kicked off the team because they tell the truth, rather than what the bosses want to hear. Things like that. Why do you think most of the team left SMF back in January? Why do you think I joined them on their project? The main reason I came back to SMF was that the SMF team was supposed to have been rebuilt. It was supposed to be nice again. Then I thought maybe I have my chance. Yeah, yeah! I had my chance to get screwed. Again. New team, same spirit.
And it took me 6 weeks to realize I was being screwed again. And another 2 weeks to convince myself to drop out. I really loved doing that, you know. I friggin' love SMF. Why is it that I have to cope with such a hostile team then!
Its a pity this is between two of my best developers here.
I would really appreciate that you don't put me in the same league as him. Really.
