Broadway.com Message Boards — Page 3

Sure thing. Want a roasting stick?

There was nothign that could be done. You cannot fight a press war against people who can control what you say, delete what you've said, and make sure you never speak again. Soon Wontorek was feeling the heat as hundreds of posts began to come up in opposition to his tyrannical rule. We were banding together! Fighting! A rebellion was growing and Paul was ready to explode under the pressure. All we needed was a match to light the fuse.

Then it stopped. Everything stopped. A footnote appeared in the Stage Notes article

"I've had mixed feelings about the message boards on Broadway.com over the past year, watching thousands of theater fans argue over shows, performers and gossip. Too often, it seems that when you allow something like this to live and breathe in the hands of users, it becomes overrun with personal attacks and so-called "shills" (people promoting a production because they're on the payroll). On the flip side, when you monitor something like this too heavily, it's just plain dull. To make a long story short, we're taking them down in the coming days--at least until we can find a better alternative."

Shock. Grief. Despair. Disbelief. Surprise. Anguish. A million adjectives could not describe what we felt. A better alternative? Taking down the boards? The rebellion was crushed because they were eliminating what we were fighting for. Paul was scared. He was terrified. For once the fans of a message board were having a say. So what did he do? He announced the closing of the Broadway.com message boards. We tried to post all of our theatrical knowledge as quickly as we could.

Little did we know that a man had started another message board. A light was at the end of this dark tunnel. A light not controlled by a publicly traded company. A light not controlled by a Tony voter. A light had been turned on and the rebels would flock to its glow.

Shall I continue?

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He's off getting more firewood, Monkey. Be patient. Have a s'more. *hands over stick*

edit- this was meant to be right after Monkey's last post, but Sum and I posted at the same time. Sorry for any confusion.

Updated On: 8/15/04 at 11:38 PM

Ssshh, Galindy! We're listening to Sum. You can tell yours afterward. *grabs s'more* thank you, darling. and don't be afraid. At least me and Galindy are here, cause I don't know where Delphie is.

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Oh, and *hands insomniak biggest chocolate bar available on market*

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I don't sleep anyway, not a problem for me. Especially with all the caffeine in the chocolate bar Monkey just gave me. *takes a big bite* Which is delicious. Anyone want a bit?

PASS THE 'MELLOWS!

You know, Sum, this story reminds me of Les Miserables. Now that just plain rocks.

And insomniak, the chocoholic in me can't resist taking a bit of that chocolate bar. Just a little piece though! BTW, what type is it? Hershey, I hope.

Updated On: 8/15/04 at 11:45 PM

Almost, Monkey... but I'm still shaking in my boots.

*passes marshamallos to Delphine and waits for Sum to continue*

*holds breath*

Like I was saying. There was a man and his computer. A man who loved Broadway. Who loved freedom of speech. Who loved the opinions of others. A man with an entrepeneurial vision. This mans name was Rob. Rob didn't flaunt his moderator title. He was a teacher and a respectful and respectable gentleman. Wontorek he was not.

People were counting the days to the destruction of Broadway.com and soon posts began to come in on the doomed board. Posts of a different place. A better place. A place known as All Access World. More specifically, a place known as BroadwayWorld.com. A mecca of theatrical enlightenment. Not commercial, run by a fan for the fans. It featured news and message boards, chat rooms and all the rest. It started small and I was lucky to be one of the first to join.

Oh of course some of us still haunted the Broadway.com message board. They had simply removed the link to it from the main page. But the people who bookmarked it could find a way. Soon however, Wontorek found out about this to. He screamed and pounded his temples and then did the unthinkable.

He killed it.

The message board at Broadway.com was gone forever never to be seen again. Oh maybe the posts were archived but I doubt it. It is said that you can still hear the echoes of the posts if you visit Broadway.com. Though why anyone would visit that website is shrouded in heresay and myth.

However people soon realized what Rob had known all along. You don't need a Tony Voter to run a website. You need a dedicated, noble gentleman who cares. You don't really need a Quizmaster, but that is a different much more frightening story altogether.

So remember this young ones, if you ever feel that this board is going to the dogs. You have a moderator who loves this board and who will make sure that the fate of BroadwayWorld.com is the polar opposite of that of Broadway.com. After all, if I say this board is great, who can argue?






THE END

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Updated On: 8/15/04 at 11:49 PM

*jumps a foot in the air*

Amneris, don't do that!! You scared me!

*wipes away a tear*

That's beautiful, Sum. Rob saved the whole broadway world! (well, he started it, actually, but you know)

I LOVE YOU ROB