I'm taizi, a relatively unknown forumer. I am writing my viewpoints based on a NEUTRAL ground and I'm NOT looking for blood. I've read the 35 pages long thread. Took me a couple of hours. Below is my unbiased analysis of the situation.
1) I understand that dotasgpapa is trying to give teams an opportunity to have a go at this competition by introducing the preliminary rounds. I think we should be thankful for it. However, if one do not look deeper into it, he or she would have thought it would be a great addition-- a seemingly harmless one. However, it is a double edged sword and is what Soloz- and other fellow forumers had claimed earlier on, unfair.
Firstly, the preliminaries include 2 top tier teams, and new participants with no prior experience would be at a huge disadvantage. Furthermore, the participants would have to go through an additional round to be able to win the tournament. This deeply impacts their chances of winning the tournament. If everyone is paying an equal amount of $55 to enter this tournament, they should be given equal chances of winning, assuming that they are equal on skills. I believe this is only fair.
I hope forumers know what Soloz- has been fighting for was not a matter of what dotasg papa will do with the 6x$55, but the fairness and structure of this tournament, as well as the role distortion by the moderator, dreamchazer. The issue of the entry of KS is a seperate issue and Soloz- should not be blamed. Dotasgpapa, from the looks of your post, you are directing every fault at him now. Why? Why are you trying so hard to make him seem like the bad guy when in fact, he was fighting for the interests of us, forumers/gamers. You have yet to give us a feasible explanation at all.
I do know Soloz- has aggravated matters, and it is uncalled for. But you have to admit that you played a major part in this. You have ignored the forumers' doubts which led to a snowball of flamewars and displeasing comments. Should you have settled the qualms and doubts of the participants amicably and quickly, it could have been avoided but you chose to ignore and even going as far out to banning them. The consquences are heavy and you might not be able to shoulder it.
2) Regarding dreamchazer, dotasgpapa I wish to know how you are going to deal with him. I believe majority of the forumers wish to have him stripped of his moderator status. He should not be forgiven. You might plead with us to give him a second chance but has he shown any remorse? Has he apologized? No. In a seperate saga involving one of our ex-moderater, SG_Lancelot. He has apologized and shown deep remorse. He was forgiven. However, Dreamchazer displayed bad attitude and deployed inappropriate means of handling situations. Furthermore, he continued to be sacarstic and hostile in his later posts. This should not be tolerated and having him continue as a moderator is a disgrace to the community as well as setting a bad example towards the forumers.
3) Infractions and bans should be meted out properly meted out and NEVER to be abused. In this saga, I've seen unnecessary infractions and bans. For reasons like, "Playing mahjong (Soloz-)" and "No appropriate reason (zE)". This only increases doubts and the loss of confidence towards the forum within the community. I have to agree, posts with uncalled for comments and profanities ought to be infracted.
However, voicing out of comments is to be taken seriously. These feedbacks will be vital towards the growth of the forum. Forumers should not be banned on such grounds. It's totally wrong. Why do you want to ban them for their efforts to improve the forum and the competition? Moreover, their posts were not filled with aggression nor absurdity. It was filled with comments backed with evidence and meant for improving the community and competition experience for the participants. Why would you think of it as threat, I seriously do not understand. Were you just acting on impulse?
I believe a man who is able of bringing this forum to such heights is able to think rationally and reach a settlement with the forumers without any further conflicts. I have been following this forum for more than a year and indeed, DotaSG has went through a huge change which I'll say is for the worse. The past was so much fun, with lesser restrictions placed on our posts and the community was definitely more bonded back then. Dotasg papa, you have became more uptight over the rules and have forgot the initial purpose of this forum, to provide a fun environment for Singapore DotA-ers to communicate. Maybe it was because of the pressure from organizing the WC tournament?
Reflect on your actions, dotasg papa and think hard-- if the majority of the forumers are revolting, surely the chances are it isn't their fault, right? As much as you demand an apology from the banned members, I think it should be you, dotasg papa who should apologize, as well as Soloz-.
Cast aside your pride and your locked mentality bend on thinking that the opposite party is at fault. Apologize. Then, we would be able to work on reviving this forum and the fading local DotA scene. Let's not lose hope and keep our fingers crossed.
Cheers.
P.s. Dreamchazer, you are seriously the person who deserves the label, f***ing c**t.
p.s.s. I never had infractions before. Will I get my first? Or would it be a straight ban?