Glitchy with an attitude

I love watching the forums. Most of the postings follow a set, predictable pattern of give and take and are mostly quite dull. But sometimes there are some true fireworks that make reading it fun.

Today provided some entertainment in the thread titled HCV: Status Update! Glitchy posts a short, innocuous response to GlassWalls. Jersquall responds to Glitchy: "Nice sig glitchy you still sporting all those cloths or are they in the broom closet with..?"

This was Jersquall's cheeky way of pointing out that Glitchy is wearing jeans hacked from Japan. And the implication is that pointing such out would ruin Glitchy's chance to serve on the HCV (assuming he applied).

Glitchy shows much pluck in his response by saying: "I did it for the picture, what's it to you? What's the point of pointing that out? Are you trying to take a shot at me or something? You can't hurt my chances just because I have a pair of jeans on in a picture. I'm sorry if I sound a bit harsh but, you comment is odd."

I have to say I love the in-your-face attitude on display there. Personally I do think Jer has a point. I am dead set against such actions that would let someone wear Japanese clothes in the NA Home servers. But I do like seeing such displays of attitude in the forums too.

Hunnybunnee & Me Part III: The Cooperation

I ran into Hunnybunnee yet again the other morning. This time, instead of the mall, it was in Central Plaza. And, more specifically, at Listen At Home. I danced. She danced. And, she actually joined me for a dance. And she told me about a cool youtube video I should check out called Playstation Home - The Movie. It was a curious exchange and you know, I think Hunnybunnee is warming up to me. Maybe someday we can actually be friends.

Anyway, for those of you curious about the movie, you should check it out.

There had been some confusion regarding the block list and the ability to send and receive game invites. I was told at one point that the block list prevented game invites, while other said it isn't true.

What I discovered is: if someone is on your block list, you cannot send them game invites. But, the person who is on your block list CAN send you game invites. And, unlike personal space invitations where there is a period of time after an invitation is send when you can send another, game invites can come in consecutively.

I make this suggestion to the Home devs. Please 1. put in the delay in game invites that currently exists in personal invitations, and 2. if someone is on the block list, please prevent any game invites from being sent or received.

Just like in prison, where a prisoner can form a deadly weapon out of innocuous objects like a plate of mashed potatoes, users in Home can use anything at their disposal as a weapon to harass other users. My friends and I have been harassed by a user, who is on our block list, by him using the game invites.

Thank you, Carl!

I received a phone call from Carl the customer service rep at SONY, and J-T-W-NY has been unbanned. He told me he couldn't get much info from the Home people about why it happened (go figure...)

But I am just happy to have cleared my name and am back in Home. I'm going to a party tonight on artform-fazeone's yacht, so I'll tell you all about it.

Now, will Lithium also unban me???

Evading the Lithium ban...

I evaded my two bans on the Lithium forums today by using my trusty proxy. Some day I will just change my IP address once I figure out how to do something that technical and advanced.

Anyway, I pulled this picture off of the forums. This was taken and posted by Rianor last night when we were hanging out in the bowling alley. When we finished our third game, a cue ball from the pool tables appeared where I was sitting. It was a strange sight. I took some pictures.

But that's not what I'm focusing on. What I want to talk about is my favorite topic: me. That's me on the left. But, I look very strange. That isn't what my avatar looks like to me. I've noticed in general that when someone photographs me in Home I look very goofy. Or, I look goofier than usual.

And speaking of looks, I received the picture to the left from my pal hunnybunnee. She sent this to me on the XMB with a note saying "when I see you, this is what I think." This statement is a response to a note I sent to her, with the photos of us posing in the mall below, asking "don't we look cute?"

This is what hunnybunnee thinks I look like. And I have to say she's pretty close. Except for the sweater she's wearing in the pic (I wouldn't be caught dead wearing something that nerdy), this is pretty accurate. So thank you hunnybunnee.

And on another note. I ran into hunnybunnee this morning in the new football arena in Home. She told me she left a comment on this blog, but I have not seen it. Can you point it out to me hunnybunnee?

And so, in the spirit of revelation, posted to the right is an authentic picture of hunnybunnee, caught in action as he spends time on Home. You might be wondering how I was able to snap this pic of you. Well, all I can say is that I have a long reach. Until I see you again in Home....

Hunnybunnee & Me Part II

Part II in the search for Honneybunnee.

I wandered around Home today. I came upon my favorite person: Hunnybunnee. She was posing in the mall just like last time. But instead of being dressed as a cop, she looked extremely sexy. So again: HELLO HUNNYBUNNEE. I hope you have a nice day.

Another reason why Lithium sucks

So I post on the forums under my gts account. And I get this today. I thought J-T-W-NY was banned? What did gts do? And my posts are so incidientary. The forums are worse off for my jokes and pictures.

Still waiting for customer service to complete their investigation of Home and these charges against me.

Ontological Horror

Right now the SONY customer service rep is going to ask HOME exactly why they suspended my account. On Friday Carl (that's his name) looked at the chat logs on May 21st (the date in question) and found nothing. I also asked him to find proof of me hacking into accounts and using info on a website (none of which makes sense).

While waiting, here is my contribution to the Home's Top Avatar: Horror Week competition. This is titled "Ontological Horror" with the caption "Is this establishment cat-free?" I couldn't think up anything funnier. I also concocted a brainy sounding quote: "the essece of horror is a threat to one's being." The quote is from me. But it's something Martin Heidegger or Paul Tillich might say.

Paranoid Thoughts??

Regarding my suspension, I find the timing of it suspicious. I was told the "incident" occured on May 21st. On May 22nd I wrote my post about Mr_Lochwood threatening artform_fazeone. I used to run into Mr_Lochwood quite a bit in Home, but I've not seen him or the mrs since that post.

I wonder, is this related? Could it be Mr_Lochwood behind my suspension? I find it curious that the issue I had with Lochwood is psn cards, the same thing at the center of my accusation. I could be paranoid, but then again maybe not. I will ask SONY if a user complained and if so I will assume it's Mr_Lochwood.

"Someone must have been traducing Jenny W… "

This post is nothing more than me venting. It's been less than 24 hours since I've been told J-T-W-NY has been permanently banned for scamming and I'm still upset. The opening line from Franz Kafka's The Trial goes through my head. How can it be that a user receives a permanent suspension with no warning or discussion.

It bothers me because, not only do I not ever remember promoting a website and scamming for info, I don't even understand the process involved in such a scam. What is the website? What does it do? What does asking for personal information do for such a site?

I've only used a PSN card once when Glenn gave me one as a present. Otherwise I've used my credit card for purchases. What irks me even more is my well known objection to scamming and hacking in any form. I know people used to make fun of my friend Kimturian and I for lecturing people about this, but it's something I feel strongly about. And for SONY to accuse me of doing what I'm so vehement against is insulting.

If Heidi et al think they're getting rid of me, they're wrong. I've fought stronger adversaries than them.

J-T-W-NY has been Abolished by SONY

I logged on Home this morning to play the dj game and the new ModNation racer. I ran errands, and tried to log back into Home, but was told that my account was suspended.

I phoned SONY. I assumed it might have been for text abuse or something along those lines. Instead, I was "abolished," banned permanently. J-T-W-NY can never be used again according to SONY.

I am accused, on May 21st, of "scamming." Of trying to collect people's information for a website that generates PSN cards. The person I spoke to reviewed my activities on that day in the chat log but could not see anything. I told this person that I do not know of any website that generates PSN cards nor would I try to get people's pesonal information. This has come completely out of left field. What is the website?

The person I spoke to told me he's never seen anything like this before and cannot give me any more information and I have to wait until next week to find out why. I do wonder if I mentioned Home Watch on that day. We'll wait and see.

Until then, I"m using my old ID gts1234567890 .

This is why Mr_Lochwood is a bully

I felt bad for Mr_Lochwood. My friend CRUNKRIS, before being permanently banned from the Lithium forums, consistently railed against the "elites" in Home and in the forums. I shared in his concerns about how cliquish Home can be and about how those like us, who are not among the "elite" are abused, humilated and ignored. Mr_Lochwood had become a central figure in this discussion. I wanted to engage in peaceful bridge building. I had CRUNKRIS and Kamala_Ona at my place and I invited Mr and Mrs Lochwood over for a discussion.

Throughout that process I tried to encourage Mr Lochwood. Several times he said he wouldn't participate in the debates, but I encouraged him to do so. I supported his forum parties because he saw it as a way to enable management to interact with common users, which was a goal of mine.

I didn't flinch when he gave me a punative deletion, presumably because I am friends with x-cult and zKAPOWz and participated in their "gay wedding." Even though x-cult used it as a chance to slam Mr_Lochwood, that was his perogative. But that wasn't mine nor was the event done in that spirit. My participation was done out of support for free expression in Home. In fact, I was at Rianor's wedding and even suggested the meditation chapel in Uncharted 2, a suggestion he followed.

I have to agree with artform-fazeone, however. Mr_Lochwood is a Home bully who uses his connections to supress those who he does not like. Artform is hosting several parties this weekend and offering psn cards. Mr_L shows his colors by threatening artform. Threats and intimidation is something which I cannot stomach. These gestapo tactics have no place in Home and are the sure sign of a sick and troubled soul.

What also bothers me is the hypocrisy. At the forum parties, doesn't Mr_Lochwood give out PSN codes? I believe Lochwood's actions are motivated out agression towards artform and not any noble cause.

Hunnybunnee & Me

My favorite user on Home is Hunnybunee. I met her a while ago and, while we are not officially friends, I like it when I run into her. She's always funny and encouraging. She even once suggested I take my act to Broadway. Today I was in a Hunnybunnee mood, but since she's not on my friend list I can't just zap to her. So I asked around. Starting at the plaza I asked bunny ears standing on the bench, but she didn't know.

I next asked the glowing skeleton, but she (or he) didn't know.

At club Fight Night I ran into these two guys from Montreal. Even though they are Quebecois, they spoke excellent English. The guy in the hat even called me "professor." I asked them if they saw Hunnybunnee, but they did not. They then asked me if I wanted to **** them. But since it was censored, I had no clue what they were asking. So I continued my quest.

At the ModNation Racer space, I asked this ghostly mod if he knew where she was. I stood there for a while but no answer...

I even traveled to the far ends of the Home earth: to the fabricator deep in the Sodium wastelands. I found these two girls and, even though I asked them twice, I got no answer. I guess they were in awe of the green glow.

Finally at the mall I found my target. Hunnybunnee is the one dressed in the lawman vest looking very official.

Hello Hunnybunnee!

I hope you're having a nice day!!!!!

Situation Ethics and Conrad_Max

Situation ethics is a theory and practice that was developed by liberal theologians in the 1960's. On the surface, it states that moral principles can sometimes be abrogated in the name of love to serve a greater purprose.

But in practice it is used to justify all sorts of horrible actions "in the name of love" with no regard to others.

I raise this becaue this is the ethical system employed by the Lithium moderation staff for Sony in general, and for their lap dog Conrad_Max in particular.

The return of "Chain Swing" at Listen@Home prompted an older thread to be bumped: Chain Swing Responsible for mass Suicides. It was started on January 27th, 2009, about six weeks after the beginning of open beta when the song began to crawl under everyone's skin and lasted for about a week, dying off on February 2nd, 2009.

KZEL33T bumped the tread on May 10th, more than a year after the final post. It's reintroduction was both timely and relevant.

Confusion creeps in though when the mini-mod blowhard Conrad_Max writes:

"Why is a thread that has no activity bumped when we have a current active thread (Koopa's grievences emergency first edition)? Bumping older threads is pretty much frown uponn (sic) and on some forums it's considered spamming."

There are several respons to Max. "Frowned upon?" By who? It seems to me bumping older threads should be enouraged since it saves space and does not clutter the boards. And where is this rule written anyway?

What is puzzling is that Conrad et al condemn people for duplicting threads, such as the aformentioned CommanderKoopa. And, what does "Chain Swing" have to do with Koops' thread anyway???

And of course, since Conrad says something, the thread is locked by LowestFrequency (a mod I've never heard of) with Conrad_Max giving the mod a kudo.

If Conrad, or anyone, wants to understand why he is so hated, this is the perfect example. His actions remind me of the chracter Rifki in Midnight Express.

So, which is it? If we don't start new threads for old topics, and can't bump old threads to bring a topic back for discussion, then what is the correct thing to do? Tell us Conrad, we're all waiting for your brilliant answer...

Mysterious lights

Marshall McLuhan wrote that the medium is the message. He taught that the way a message is presented contains just as much information as the actual message being portrayed.

We exist in Home as pixels, as blips of light on the television screen. Instead of a physical, biological reality, we have on of phosphorescence.

Many lights, in keeping with Home's attempts to duplicate reality, have a definite source. We can see the lamps and light bulbs. But some lights are mysterious, with no discernable origin.

This series will look at the mysterious lights in Home (TM). These have no origin, and whose purpose is unknown.

The first stop on this tour is the disco in Burn Zombie Burn. This is the room you enter when you successfully navigate the maze. You can dance in a small chapel to music resembling Michael Jackson's "Thriller." The building has stained glass windows, bricks for walls, and a dance floor of colored lights.

But also in this space are a revolving series of white lights, seen in the photo above. It seems to replicate the movement of a disco mirror ball, but no such ball is found in the room. Someone on the forums suggested that the lights emanated from the floor, but again no apparatus can be found.

Disco chapel, Burn Zombie Burn, mysterious lights #1

Home Vacations

The experience on Home replicates psychologically the effects of being on vacation. I've never been to Greece, yet I can at least pretend I'm docked off of Santorini, hanging out on the yacht.

ModNation Racer space

Last summer when the Presentation Podium was set up for E3 we wondered what was behind the large metal doors behind the large screen. This space is it.

It's set up for the Modnation Racer and it's good. There are three hundred mods set up, each unique in their own way.

I do wonder why, since it is a racer, the devs decided to have a matching game instead of a racing game in the space. I know there is already a racer in the EA Sports space, but there is no good reason why not to have two racers. Besides, this space is only temporary.

GlassWalls Glitching

I was hanging out on the roof of the Sodium shooter training facility. Hanging out on the other side of the roof was GlassWalls, glitching with some of his friends.

Two times I saw him make it onto the sirens on the other side, running there and back.

My first post

Since, whenever I log on here blogspot asks me if I want to start a blog, I feel I should start one. So here it is and here is my first post. Sometimes I walk around and have interesting conversations. But other times I simply contemplate inanimate, virtual objects like this telephone.