WoST: Recent Moves

[Errol]

In actuality, whoever you heard this from was not telling you the truth. The fact is after years of running a website and having to deal with all the drama one must go through when it builds a fan base, it becomes tiring.

WoST has been online for nearly five years at its domain, and I think longer elsewhere. The cost of running such a site is too high and one's interest in running said site can also get tiring.

While I don't know the whole story myself, I know enough to say that this had nothing to do with PGP, nor is Brian facing any jail time.

[bellcurve]

Well, they should be. They're not doing anything with their vault.

No matter what people's reactions were to Brian and WOST, it should be known that his site was(and IMO, still is) revolutionary. No one(not even the crappy executives at SOAPnet) cared enough about posting full classic episodes online except for Brian.

And yes, we can watch our jawdropping moments on YouTube now, but I don't think it's fair to discredit Brian's passion to his site.

I guess I need to face jailtime too for uploading soap clips to YouTube and other websites?! Ever heard of the "fair use" act?!

[jes_roth]

well i did not mean to ruffle any feathers on this board....i cant figure out why everyone gets touchy about wost.it was only a soap opera site

jessica

[Ryan]

no one is getting touchy jessica. There's already a wost thread on the board.

[GoldenDogs]

Hey all,

Jail time? LOL!!! Where in the world do these stories come from and why do people perpetuate them? I explained why WoST is going away in 2009 in great detail -- more than once! Honestly, Jes, have you read this thread?

Thank to Errol, Ryan, and others for offering some clear-headed explanations on this. Folks, WoST has gotten press in SOW, SOD, and their are some familiar names (and many not so familiar) on the list of registered members. Indeed, I was approached by Procter & Gamble/TeleVest about a year ago with a cease and desist. Rather than run and hide or, worse, thumb my nose at them, I contacted P&G's Susan Savage directly by phone with site details. Less than an hour after our chat, she phoned me back with a big thumbs up, asking only that we not duplicate their efforts at AOL. I responded by giving her and P&G full site access... and to let me know if they ever had ANY issues with any material on the site. Ms. Savage was pleasant and cordial and loves soaps as much as the rest of us do. She stated that there is very little prior to 1979 in the P&G archives and expressed an interest in, at some point, receiving copies of WoST's vintage P&G material.

The site will remain online in its current form through August 2009 because I must honor membership committments. I may or may not post something fresh between now and then. Right now, I have absolutely no desire to work on the site. The past several months have really sucked because of, as Errol pointed out, the "drama" that IS running a site. Maybe it is just the nature of the web, but it's never been easy to manage... too many freaks out there. As my "buddy 'ol pal" Na'Vell can attest, WoST has, over the years, attracted a large number of nutjobs seeking nothing more than to attack and harrass. The past several months has been legendary in the number of them crawling out of the woodwork at once.

I've had enough. Beyond the web, my life is in perfect order and I'm happier than I've ever been. I don't need the drama WoST generates by simply existing. Old news, but I'll recap for folks like Jes who must have somehow missed it... In the past several months alone, I had to contact law enforcement regarding abuse and harrassment from an individual in Indiana who impersonated me and solicited funds in the name of WoST via a Yahoo group. Members at both SON and WoST know all too well the whole Ericakane4life mess and the deception and trouble that caused between our sites -- which hurt personally as it damaged some longtime friendships. I think we've recovered from that, but I still harbor some resentment and anger at the person who caused all of that. Then we booted a Board Member at WoST for dishonesty, which really hurt the credibility of the site. What frustrates me is that those who have done damage refuse to apologize or acknowledge the things they have done and, instead, trash me and spread lies. They incite others.

I closed the forums at WoST down when some folks who should know better jumped my case when I stated my opinion of Rosie O'Donnell. Call me an ass, call me a jerk -- but to conclude that I hate gay people because I dislike Rosie crosses the line. It was also suggested that I had been masquerading at WoST as another poster. Again, statements made and intolerant attitudes displayed by folks who should know better. I'm not putting up with that crap. Life is too short for that. And the internet is a big place. There are plenty of places to chat and/or post. If I was the piece of trash these people insinuate, then I would have blocked access to those who disparaged me in the forums. I haven't, nor do I intend to. They can access whatever they want at the site so long as I don't have to read their poison.

Errol, Ryan, and other thoughtful individuals understand all of this. Maybe you have to run or manage a big, popular website to get it. There are lots of mean, nasty people out there who say and do things behind a veil of anonymity only the internet can provide. Dealing with the worst of the worst is deflating. It isn't worth sacraficing any part of my life to continue WoST for the pleasure of others while enduring unending abuse and harrassment. I like any project I tackle to offer some sliver of reward or fulfillment. People calling me a gay-hater or a liar or a jailbird is hardly fulfilling! If it isn't fun, then I don't want to do it -- the pay sucks!!

Sorry to Errol and company for adding to this generally annoying thread but, for the umpteenth time, I feel the need to clarify the mistatements that seem to be generated by the mean-spirited. And they know who they are. And what goes around ALWAYS comes around...

Brian

[FrenchFan]

Thanks for the clarification Brian. I know you have already explained but my English is not that good so it took me time to understand it all. It probably doesn't matter a lot but the only thing I want to tell you is "thank you". Without WoST I would have never discovered the soaps, in mean, the golden age of soaps. So thanks again and take care of yourself.

[kade]

When I stumbled upon WoST about five plus years ago I was in heaven! I never spent the money to join as I'd kind of exhausted all I wanted from it during the time it was free. A couple times I e-mailed with Brian and he was a nice guy (there was some drama over a banner when the Iraq war started that I felt he was getting a hard time over...), I guess YouTube now scratches that soap opening itch, I was never as into the bonus eps. although opening the holiday gifts was always cool just to see what everyone else was getting! LOL! Great site that was ahead of it's time (see YouTube!) I hope Brian knows that alot of people were made REALLY happy when they would find h is site! His work was appreciated!

Kade

[bellcurve]

Not just a soap opera site. One of THE soap opera sites. There's a difference.