...Or how a few months of my life were severely negatively impacted by someone else's bad management. See for yourself.
Proof of the rule they're speaking about being actively hidden from the participants to this day: FAQ – archived link, screenshot with "Who can participate?" on top, screenshot with "explicit" word search, screenshot with "nsfw" word search; Master Guide – screenshot with "explicit" word search, screenshot with "nsfw" word search; server rules – long screenshots of General Server Rules and StH Big Bang Specific Rules: Mar 12 and Jul 01, screenshots of Strike Policy: Mar 12 and Jul 01, long screenshot of General Guidelines, long screenshot of Collaboration Thread Guidelines.
I feel like this is extremely unfair 😭 One moment I was participating in the event I dreamed about for years, and the next moment I'm thrown out into the cold when I did nothing wrong. I need to get it off my chest...
Below, more about my experience with the event, though it ended up a little vent-y, a detailed (and verified!) record of what exactly happened in private thread #48, the aftermath and some fun facts I discovered or want to share:
First things first!
Yep, I signed up for Sonic BB as a Writer back in January. I didn't talk about it outside of my server 'cause I wanted it to be a surprise – when I roll out a lo-o-ong illustrated fic without a warning. I'll admit, I always wanted to participate in a Big Bang for this fandom, it was a dream of sorts. And still, before sending my form in, I carefully read all of the Master Guide and the FAQ both. Seeing as how for my neurodivergent brain the rules and regulations are important, that's what I usually do for events, and this one wasn't an exception. Confident that I understand what the event would require of me, I signed up.
First month of the event went well. My questions were answered (even though I wondered why some of the things I asked couldn't have been in the Master Guide from the beginning), I wrote my fic summary and submitted it without many problems, etc. There was a small hiccup at the very beginning of March when I noticed how strict the management seemed to be (no changes or adjustments allowed), and my anxiety got the best of me, so I asked the mods if there's a plan in case a collab team doesn't work out: screenshot of my message in #writers-info-and-questions, pulled from my Discord data; screenshot of my detailed explanation in DMs; screenshot of Mod Joy's reply. Here are the most important quotes from his reply:
I understand wanting to plan for the worst case scenarios, but I would caution you not to freak yourself out over what all could go wrong! There are some absolutely lovely artists in this event who are excited to work with the writers. Odds are, things will go off without a hitch.
We are highly encouraging that no one drops out after the assignments, especially writers, unless due to extenuating circumstances.
We want to make everything as fun and stress-free for everyone. Know that we will be around to moderate threads and dissolve any tensions that arise,..
In short, I was placated with reassurances of careful moderation, not dropping writers and ✨positivity✨. I decided to stay and challenge myself since originally BB is meant to be a challenge and all...
For those of you who haven't participated: the way it is supposed to go is that writers submit short summaries of their stories, these summaries are stripped of the writers' names and given to artists to pick through. The artists then have to list their Top 10 stories to illustrate during the claims period. After the claims, private collab threads are made for each writer and their artists with a couple of mods. So no one else could see what happens in these threads.
Now flashforward to March 11th and the threads being created. Obviously I don't have screenshots of that due to being kicked off the server without any warning and before any chance of communication, unable to delete my personal information or save anything that might be used against me which was a case of poor management at best and a deliberate move at worst, so I'm retelling as faithfully as possible. It also has been verified by [artist 1] and according to them, this is exactly what happened.
My fic was in the 4-8k range, and I got two artists. I was asleep when the thread opened, and they talked about how excited they are for my fic before I came in. Both of them are 18, young but adults. I’ll call them [artist 1] (they're cool), and the other one is [artist 2]. Both artists seemed to talk to me normally.
Oh, I have to point out that there were hmm, Mods Chaz, Joy, Summers and Frostios in my thread. I think only four of them, but I know for sure Mod Summers was reading our conversation at least in the beginning because I noticed my fic's Warnings saying "None" (the original summary I submitted had Warnings: Discussion of Homophobia, Slight Internalised Homophobia), and I pointed out that there are warnings, though I don't know if they were lost just now or weren't in the sheet available to the Artists either, and whether they were actually lost or mods didn't consider it a big enough warning to keep... I still don't know. Mod Summers just silently pinned my message.
I mentioned how I'm in one of the Asian timezones geographically, so I might be awake or asleep at unconventional times, and they told me their timezones (I didn't ask!), so I figured I can make a timebuddy chart for easy tracking what time it is for everyone. Made one, sent the link to the thread, Mod Summers asked me if I want it pinned, too, and then a couple of hours later (I think?) [artist 1] came and said it's very helpful. This is my evidence for at least Mod Summers probably reading the conversation that followed but also maybe not. I think all of the mods were online or at least visually online when it was happening.
This is where I reveal that the entire conversation happened in like... one afternoon 🥲 Roughly 7 pm to 2 am for me.
Back to the conversation itself. There were a few questions I had so I started with them, basically 1) if they've read my fics before (explained that I'm asking so I know whether I need to tell them about my writing style and Sonadow dynamics I write); 2) do they want me to send in scenes as I write them or they want a full draft; 3) if they have any immediate questions for me. Question 1) is what we need. Both of them said they've never read my stuff before, and that they don't have any questions now but they want art to be as close to text as possible, so they will ask in the future. This is how it went down after (as per my memory, artist rendition I guess):
[artist 1]: I haven't read your fics but I'd like to! Your Ao3 is the same as your handle? [no link]
Me: It isn't a requirement, you don't have to! But that's right. I have to warn you though that I usually rate my Ao3 profile as 18+ when I link it, though 33/36 of my Sonic fics are rated G and T, and I feel like a warning is in order anyway so people don't accidentally stumble upon something they don't want to see and know what to avoid/filter out. [I didn't post any links or encouraged the artists to read my profile, just made a warning to be cautious]
We go into discussion of how long I have been writing, [artist 1] shows no problems with knowing my Ao3 has 3 Mature fics, I describe what series my fic will be for [the series is completely SFW, and even then I didn't post the link to it] and go into details of how I write Sonadow dynamics in my fics without mentioning the NSFW ones obviously, we speak about Question 2).
[artist 2]: [replying to my warning about my Ao3] ooohh so you write gore sometimes?
Me: Nah, I don't actually, I'm pretty uncomfortable with it tbh, so no, I don't. Some blood and a quick description of Maria's dead body is the most I have ever done 😅 All the angst I make characters go through is emotional rather than physical!
[artist 2]: oh I shouldn't have assumed, sorry. It's just the first thing my mind went to
Me: It's okay! I've been a medical student at some point and I think I've just had enough of that - one of the main reasons I'm not a doctor but a linguist.
[artist 1] gets excited about this for some reason, and we chat about it for a moment.
Normal conversation continues like...
Me: Okay, where were we
[artist 2]: i wasn't paying attention errr
Me: Me neither! But it's Question 3)
I go into saying how them wanting to draw as close to the text is 💯 what I wanted to hear because for me my texts are an extension of my soul, I'm fragile about them, and I'd prefer the art to be exactly according to it blah-blah-blah, I describe my thoughts about a plan of work for us and how I'm going to share pieces of my fic according to their respective wishes.
[artist 1]: Sounds great!
[artist 2]: yeah, sounds good
[artist 1] says something else which I just react with an emoji to, and I start getting ready for sleep because it's almost 2 am, and I have to get up at 6 am.
Nothing else was said in the thread. That's it.
I got to bed and as most people nowadays I check my phone one last time. I see [artist 2] requesting a mod they can DM to, but I don't think much of it…
So 6 am. I wake up and again, as most people nowadays, I check my phone. I went to sleep in a good mood, seemingly in good relations with my artists, excited for the collab and having a solid plan everyone agreed to, so I eagerly open Discord to see if they wrote anything new in the thread. I see no Sonic Big Bang 2024 server.
I will not go into too much detail about my state, but I have an extremely acute reaction to stress very similar to a panic attack that lasts for hours. So with shaking fingers I open my DMs to see the message from that first screenshot I started my post with. The following exchange with me learning about the hidden rule happens the next day. Unfortunately, before that I still have to go to work for a full day in that very same mental state, oof. Plus I have no breaks on Tuesday... I go back and forth all day with my friends about how shitty this situation is, and one of them asks me how [artist 1] reacted. I say that I don't know, but they still follow me on Tumblr so I go and message them, and from what they tell me, it sounds like a mod pretended to them that I was removed because of an existing rule that's stated somewhere. They didn't argue with that, and that's understandable of course.
At home, I notice one of the event mods blocked me.
It is difficult to explain what's happening in my mind without going into details of what my [disorders] are, but things that are unfair, things that are injustice put my brain in a loop until all wrongs are righted. I'm ranting about it to friends, and I think about it day and night. On March 14th I vent about it in the tags of a related reblog, and this is the only instance of me talking about StH BB on my blog. Next morning I'm blocked by the event blog and over the next 2 weeks – by two more mods, while another mod speaks to me passively-aggressively in a shared Discord server. Then I'm shown a screenshot where one of the mods claims I offered my Ao3 to my artists (I didn't) and implies everyone who writes NSFW is dangerous. And then I receive a hate ask about the event, calling me "creepy"... All this time, my brain is still stuck in a loop, and let me tell you – it's not fun. It doesn't help that my first reaction to everything that makes me feel bad is always to assume I'm at fault for everything, and seeing how hostile people are to me, I'm drowning in self-blame. Without going into any more detail, it takes me 2 months and a lot of help to somewhat recover, so I finally send my reply to Headmod Chaz and receive one back:
If you got to this part, you know that half of Headmod Chaz's reply is simply untrue since there were no "multiple instances", and in any case I was never asked to keep quiet about my ban (and why should I?). I sent another reply a month later expressing my confusion and wondering when the messages will be removed (only my intro was removed). As of today, that reply is still ignored, and the messages aren't removed 🤷
And this is the entirety of my Sonic Big Bang 2024 experience. Now for some Q&A:
Why did you wait so long to make this post?
I didn't want to put any participants under fire, particularly my friends because I'll admit, the mods seem like petty people. And also I was worried about throwing shade on other participants (people associating their works with this) or spoiling the event for people who were genuinely having fun with it. Thus, I waited until it was over!
Is this a callout post?
According to definition as "public criticism or asking someone to explain their actions", I think it is – in terms of calling out bad management. It is definitely not a call for harassment. There is a reason I censored some names and left vague who reported me, blocked me, was hostile to me or spread rumours about me. Please don't bother anyone, and if the mods decide to engage with this, they can post their own statement.
Aside from the above reasons, why make a post at all?
Two reasons: a personal one and an altruistic one. Firstly, I hope to get closure this way since I still feel like I was unjustly thrown away when I was just being a dutiful person. Secondly, while Headmod Chaz said they will be transparent about this rule next time they run an event, as you can see they fully ignored my suggestion of doing it now, and in general keeping a rule hidden to such an extent where you lie in your FAQ is pretty shady... I don't trust them not to do it again next year.
Is it okay to reblog the post/reply to it, what about sending an ask or a PM?
Yes to all. I don't expect anyone to reblog, though if you think it's necessary, go on. I'm posting it to the event tags, so-o I think people who need to see it – will see it. If you decide to be negative or call me names, however, be prepared to be blocked by IP or username.
Finally, fun facts as promised 🔥
There are other participants out there who have had negative experiences with BB or were made uncomfortable by the way it was managed, but I'm not going to speak for them;
There was this whole thing with hypocrisy and favouritism;
Out of 6 mods: 3 have me blocked, 2 were passive-aggressive with 1 of them going as far as verbally lash out at me in DMs, and only 1 mod gave me a human apology (not pictured in screenshots);
I saw 3 NSFW writers and at least 2 NSFW artists participating in BB just by scrolling through my dash, without seeking them out, and this is not counting people I noticed in the server prior to me being banned;
Some people are posting Mature and Explicit extras and sequels/prequels to their BB stories already;
The artist who reported me seems to have dropped out anyway;
There's a joke reason why I'm making a post, too: I have to earn being blocked from the event blog since they said they did it because of multiple instances of me talking about my removal;
I'm actually grace and most of the time write my characters as aspec, and I'm exploring what sexuality and intimacy mean for me through writing, so this situation felt a little... like gatekeeping;
My fic was #48 under the title Chao Care 101, and I want you to give me a high five if you had it among your top choices 🖐
Originally, I wasn't going to complete my BB fic because it made me feel bad, but now I've decided I want to reclaim it, so I'm writing it now. Almost 8k words at the moment. It will be published. And it will be illustrated.
Not going to lie, I had thought about joining when it was first announced. But I decided against it since I was taking part in another project. Very upset that this happened. Seemed like the mods didn't do much to resolve the situation. Sony was in no way disrespectful nor breaking the rules. You just got rid someone you didn't like just bc of the content they make.
Yall didn't want to display no "NSFW artists/writers" bc yall didn't want to be caught up in some drama. In reality, it would have saved yall time in vetting the applicants. Just be honest. Yall just wanted clout.
I personally wouldnt want to associate with people like that. You can openly show dislike towards people cuz then at least you're being honest about it. You wasted my friend's time and emotion on this project; something that Sony can't have back.
Do better. Yall know you could do better. Be more professional.
You know (you know)
Every world will have its test (have its test)
Don't blame (don't blame)
For what I have become
You know (you know)
Every world will come to end (come to end)
And I'll (and I'll)
I'll create your final rest
Hi so ever since I finished Sonic Frontiers I couldn't stop thinking about how ironic these two endings might seem put together in retrospect 🤔
Funny, even their boss themes have similar titles but with opposite views...
"With Me" - "I'm with you"
[I know both games have been out for a while but I am gonna tag spoilers just in case]
I'm gonna bare my soul for you here the reason i like maekawas sonic writing is because its just pure drama. it was referred to as jrpg writing but thats what i like about it. i liked that there was love and pain and hubris and death and romance, i like the emotionally intense stories. i dont care that theyre little cartoon animals
i liked elise and the loneliness of her story, i liked silver and blaze and the sadness of their separation, i liked shadow and the tragedy of sa2 for him, i liked rouge and knuckles and their sweet and playful banter sandwiched inside a rivalry, i liked sonic and his attitude and the way it gave out to kindness in situations where it was needed, i liked that cheesy bit at the end of secret rings where he tells shahra to cry, i liked merlina and her struggle with the futility of death, i liked sonic heroes and the idea near the end that we're only catching a glimpse of how metal sonic feels when he says he's no longer afraid of anything and the part near the very end where shadow and omega recover him and you can feel the mutual sympathy between them because theyre all so similar
these arent maekawa games but i liked tikal and her struggle to defend the natives and land of angel island, i liked gamma and his crawl through the barriers of his programming to become sympathetic just before dying, i liked chaos and sonic understanding that he was a deeply pained creature who needed to be calmed and soothed just as badly as he needed to be defeated, i liked in unleashed where sonic and chip both silently come to acknowledge that theyre never ever going to see eachother again after this and the seemingly shared thought that their friendship would withstand that reality, i liked in battle when emerl dies and sonic has to hear his final speech to all of his friends these people who all worked together to basically raise and save him, i liked shadows story and how badly he tried to understand his own creation and his seemingly defeated attitude about it in that he almost felt like it was an act of torture for him to just have been created
its the same way i am about music and art and everything i like, its not enough for something to be epic in scale and stakes, i want it to be just as intense emotionally too
infinites 21-30, fun fact: i didnt look at a single ref of infinite for nearly the entire time i was doing this, which is why my drawings have little quirks like the extra notches at the tips of the ears on his mask and the general design of his shoes haha. i only made that mask ref tutorial thing after frontiers came out and it made me realize "hey i wasnt drawing this thing quite right for five months". but i still get compliments so i think i was close enough LOL
I know it’s late, but hey, this piece was kicking my ass. I am never doing a piece like this again. My hand hurts... (more under the tab)
“I will spare your life for but a second. State your business, Terrorist.”
The dark knight leered with vicious red eyes while catching his breath; his dark sword pointed directly at his opponent’s neck. The fight was close, and he was covered in mud, drenched in water, sweat and maybe blood, but he managed to knock the other’s weapon out of his hand and far enough away from grabbing distance. The fighting style seemed familiar as he had waltzed across the lake with this masked person, but his main priority was figuring the reason why the vigilante was wandering so deep into the woods. There was no gold nor treasure to be found here, so it must be something magical. He was already risking his position by showing himself here as one of the knights of the King’s court; he wouldn’t allow himself to let this other person leave alive.
“I don’t think someone as important as you would bother being all the way out here. Did you follow me? Or are you trying to protect something?”
The masked vigilante was trying his best to not let his eyes betray his feelings. He had just fought his mentor, and he couldn’t beat him--just like all other times. The knight had truly been going easy on him whenever they sparred. His mind was a mess; having to grapple with his feelings of disbelief seeing his mentor so deep within the woods. The knight must be protecting something hidden within this lake. It must be the fae that was alleged to be here, but why would Lancelot be the one stopping him? The ultimate knight, known for enforcing the law down the T, couldn’t possibly be protecting magic. Ugh, that shouldn’t matter. He can’t afford to be stopped here. He’s come so far. He needed time to think of his next move quickly...
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
SatBK Week 2023. Day 4: Dragon
A story about how Lansoni hijacked my fic! /j For reals tho, it wasn't supposed to be shippy, but they just couldn't keep their hands off each other... It starts when Sir Lancelot has a suggestion for his king.
Oh, and Happy Sonic's Birthday!!! I guess Lansoni is what he deserves 💝
I think it’s a neat feature that you can “follow” tags on tumblr. I don’t remember if this was ever a feature before, but it’s new to me. And I think it’s cool
Don’t mind me exaggerating how Chao evolve on... Also...uhhhh, I’m proud of this one bc I managed to replicate what was in my head. Lore bits underneath...
Magical beings are hunted and killed for fun and because the tyrant king wills it. Chao are considered magical beings, and there aren’t many wandering around out in the open due to the previously mentioned activities, or they’re in hiding. Due to decades of purging these beings, people have lost knowledge, or stories about them have been warped to fit the King’s narrative.
Arthur had noticed his chao had been acting strangely lately and was worried for Breeze. He thought his friend was sick and dying, but little did he know that it was going to be evolving to look more like him.
Arthur’s having second thoughts even though he’s came all this way just to find the sword, and it looks like Nimue isn’t going to take “no” for an answer lmfao
(This also feels like a downgrade compared to the other two entries I submitted, but i hope you all like it nonetheless)
I’m not late to the prompt week I was excited about earlier this month whaaaaaaaaaaaaaat This also didnt take a span of around two days noooo
Anyways! I’m here! Decided to start with the Destiny prompt instead of the Champion prompt because I figured it could be a real cool opener for a SaTBK centered lore illustration event (as if my body doesn’t hate me enough over this piece alone)!
During this week (or perhaps more) you can embark on a daring adventure with many new and familiar faces! You can also always feel free to send asks and such about this particular little universe of mine, It may not be as developed as my main Sonic Forces-based AU currently is, but I hope you’ll have fun with it anyways!
Plot Synopsis should probably do one of these for my main sonic universe huh below the cut since I’m already rambly enough.
vaporwave
kaledo-art
discoholicmusic
turnnoffyourmind
izzy806
