Any time you need it, and thank you for your excellent ethics!
LoL
Rita
BigCloset TopShelf
TopShelf TG Fiction in the BigCloset!
The Hatbox
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Comments
Agreed
You shouldn't have to wield a big stick. beats me why we can't all act like adults.
S.
I think the rules here are
I think the rules here are pretty well known, so I really don't see the problem with following them. I mean sure, everyone may write something once in a while they shouldn't have done, but there is a point where everyone ought to know it's smarter to just shut the fuck up.
I like it better this way then an environment where people insult each other and feel like lording around with administrative privileges.
Erin, thank you for all your work here,
Beyogi
Even if the rules AREN'T
Even if the rules AREN'T known and not available, there's the rules that should be permiating everyone's psyche all the time:
"Be Kind"
"If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all"
"Treat others as you would be treated."
and other such sentiments. I've had MASSIVE disagreements with some people, because they are wrong, but I've always respected them as people and tried my best to be kind. Yes, things get heated, yes, opinions get shown, but that doesn't mean it has to devolve into matches between cliques to the point where Mommy needs to step in with a stick.
Our goal here should be to produce stories that others want to read. PERIOD. But someone is always going to double dip in the honey jar, and that fouls it for everyone.
Hugs
It's tough to swing a fist when your arms are pinned to your sides by a hug.
Michelle B
You have my support ERIN!
And I hope and pray that Bigcloset TopShelf stays forever
May Your Light Forever Shine
Be nice
Treat everyone like you would want to be treated yourself.Dont vent your frustrations on other people,change yourself to get rid of them.Long may this site reign and many thanks to the admin team especially Erin .
devonmalc
I think people tend to forget,
that Big Closet/Top Shelf is a PRIVATELY OWNED SITE! The owner of a privately owned site has the right to set down rules for anyone visiting that site to follow. Yeah, I know. We all would like to think that we own a little piece of Top Shelf, but we don't.
Even contributors who help support the site with monetary gifts are STILL not owners of the site.
Simply put, visitors to ANY site should treat it as if they are in someone else's home, and act accordingly. As the homeowner, Erin has the absolute right to protect her home, and to remove from that home, any unwanted guests, as well as to set down rules to be followed while any guests are in her home.
I back Erin 100% in her efforts to make this a friendly place, a home for those of us who might not feel comfortable anywhere else, and a place for us to communicate with others like us. ANY steps she has to take to ensure that it STAYS friendly, are her right, as the site owner.
WE don't own this site. ERIN DOES! We are GUESTS here! Act accordingly!
End of mini-rant.
Catherine Linda Michel
As a T-woman, I do have a Y chromosome... it's just in cursive, pink script.
All the way
I agree that Erin has the right to police her property as she see fit!
Be kind, play nice, say 'please' and 'thank you' - what more do I need to know.
Jeri Elaine
Jeri Elaine
Homonyms, synonyms, heterographs, contractions, slang, colloquialisms, clichés, spoonerisms, and plain old misspellings are the bane of writers, but the art and magic of the story is in the telling not in the spelling.
I support ERIN 100%
Hopefully Bigcloset TopShelf stays for a very long time.
I can't understand why a small number of persons would want to destroy what many like. Human nature is some time not the best part of the human race and for that I'm sorry.
Erin, Peace and Love
tmf
Fustrating
I feel for Erin as it is fustrating that these people think they can do a better job. I ask once why they are not deleted and was told they are contributors to BCTS.
I have your back 100% it is just to bad that the masses get punished because of the few.
My 2 cents -- RICHIE2
Mine too...
As ever I didn't see anything happen, just the 'error' page when I tried to access the site earlier. It always confuses me when pages like that (on any site) pop up because I'm fairly clueless in human nature and don't understand the bitchyness side of people. I love this site and while I may not love all submissions or posters I'm not going to tell them what I feel about them...
On the other hand I also don't understand why some stories that might have a good plot but are poorly written, full of grammar, spelling and other errors are often well received and gain little or no criticism. Which means I never (or almost never) respond critically to authors who in my mind take no care over their work. Maybe I ought.
Just to point out not that I'm saying that I would say "this story is shit..." (or I'm guessing "this author is shit") but more: "If you used proper sentences; worked on the speech more so that a reader can see who is talking; made sure that even if a gender isn't defined in the normal sense the reader can tell who is who (eg she said or he said, you can use Chris said and or Chris said...); Capitalised real names and the beginning of sentences; and last but not least and my own personal hate stick to one writing style, even some big name authors who write a lot seem to have issues with this, while you can write stories in 1st and 3rd person at the same time, switching in the same paragraph is just confusing..."
/rant
Erin has my full non-monetary (I'm broke) support, rules or no rules she tells me to do something I do... I even managed eventually to stop using epilepsies as my post titles (eventually, sorry).
LN
The Legendary Lost Ninja
No one asked me.
But I have no delusions about who the gift horse is and how kindness is the rule of the day. There are no misconceptions about my own importance.
Thank you Erin for all your kind work.
Gwendolyn
You go girl.
Erin,
I was a bit disappointed yesterday when the site wasn't available. Not disappointed in you, but in the members here who abused the privilege of participating. I'd hate to see the site shutdown completely and forever, but,I'm with you that if it comes to that, then well... so be it. Meanwhile, delete accounts as necessary.
If ever I cross a line, I expect censure, all I ask is that a quick message to me personally to explain my offense so I can learn from my mistakes.
Hugs
Patricia
Happiness is being all dressed up and HAVING some place to go.
Semper in femineo gerunt
Ich bin eine Mann
Happy Birthday, Erin, from one more Leo & support
Yes! May you have a wonderful birthday. I suspect that when you were born The Goddess looked down and thought, "Ooo, this is going to be interesting."
Yesterday when I couldn't reach your site, I was devastated, truly. Between aging and some misc. infirmities, I simply can no longer live the rather adventurous live I used to live. So I am here a lot. Every day. I can't often contribute $ but will when I can. Same with writing.
It is your site and I don't envy the job. I remember the occasional terrible incivility of the early days of Mirc Trans sites and moderating Yahoo groups . Drive one bonkers, it can. Thank you for hosting us in this cyber home of yours and I hope that all of us remember to put on our big girl panties(knickers) or big boy as the case may be.
I believe that no adult has the RIGHT to comment on the behavior of another adult unless the behavior targets you and or yours, or the comment is requested, or it is part of an agreed upon arrangement. If I feel that I must make such comment, keeping in mind,"I have no RIGHT" to do so, I'd best be gentle, loving and diplomatic.
It is tough being the Enforcer and you certainly seem to do it well. again,
Thank You and Happy Birthday
Joani
I support you completely, Erin!
I know nothing of the individuals or incidents involved, but I agree with the comments so far and add my support--and my grateful thanks--to Erin, the good ship BCTS and all who labor to keep her afloat.
Karin
Nasty commentary
I've been an anonymous reader for years and have enjoyed this site greatly. This most recent bit of meanness has given me enough upset to give up some of that anonymity in order to speak my piece. One of my favorite authors hasn't posted since these comments were made. Perhaps had I been braver and told her how much I enjoy her work, she would be less available to unneccessary, unconstructive nastiness.
Many of us like one style or another, one author or another, one type of story or another... Well written "day-in-the-life" stories are a great pleasure for me. Especially since certain life obligations prevent me from ever living some parts of my life as I would wish.
Also, whatever happened to simply not reading what we don't wish to read? How can it possibly be offensive that there are stories on this site that one person or another doesn't like? I have to say that I support Erin's work, her ethics and the product of her efforts. I am glad BC exists and I hope it will continue.
I sincerely hope the offended authors will realise that they and their works are valuable.
I guess I'm done being anonymous.
Marybeth
I also want to thank you for
I also want to thank you for a SUPER story site. almost of what I read here is from top noch AUTHORS with a fantastic
talent ... The fact they share thier talent with us is commendable Your ETHICS are great anyone that said different should go elsewere for intertainment..
I am 71 year old and dont have much left of my life I have been bedriden for many years ..I would trade my place anytime
for some good to be done on this earth instead negitiveity and hate.. what is done on this site helps the lonely more than
many know ....
I for the record will support this site as much as i can for as long as i can ...
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TALENT AND FOR SHARING WITH US ...THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
RONE WELLES
Support
I would just like to add my support to Rita's comments and thank Erin for her hard work in creating such a wonderful site. I suffered terrible bullying as a child for being 'different' (like many of us) and while I have no idea about what happened to cause yesterday's downtime (and to be honest nor do I want to know) it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth from what Erin's message said when the site was down yesterday.
*Hugs* for Erin.
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
Amen to All the Above
Amen to the comment of support above. I'm generally a quiet lurker and say too little in appreciation for the site - Erin, the other administrators and the authors. You all to a fantastic job.
And since actions speak louder than words, the Hatbox is a little fuller.
PeterT