go team fall-damage!

I will take on a more professional tone but am not going to stop writing articles because they make some people unhappy.  Also, it is unfair of you to say that just because I put on my twiiter that I wanted to think up controversial articles,suddenly I am waging war with the internet.  If I wrote complacent viewpoints that everyone agreed with, not only would they be boring to read but I wouldn't be true to my own nature and beliefs.

I don't follow the normal path in regards to how I think. Most of my personal opinions are unpopular.the problem I have with someone suggesting I shouldn't be voicing them anymore is that I see no harm in continuing what I am doing (as long as it is kept professional).

In fact, both of my articles drummed up some form of civil debate.

Whatever.

Part of this issue comes part and parcel with how we handle things on the blog and how we handle them on the show.  On the podcast, controversy like this is encouraged because it usually fosters healthy debate.  There's usually at least one voice of moderation to balance out whoever has their dander up.

The blog is very different because it's one person speaking with the voice of the whole site.  We're still trying to figure out exactly what that voice is.  I know it's not just a recital of press releases and reposts of Kotaku exclusives, but I'm also fairly sure it's not picking fights with the internet.

One interesting thing is that when Scares did it, it was two thumbs up.  Aevan takes a stab at it, and it's suddenly time to teach us what this site's really about?

Scares didn't tweet that he's trying to drum up controversial article ideas.  And, he's dreamy.

Nowadays I try my damnedest to avoid conflict in my internet travels, mostly because controversy is like a flame to my moth heart.  You guys know this about me.  That goes for everything internet-y.  I hide/unfriend folks in FB and unfollow folks on Twitter who spend a little too much time talking about stuff which gets my ire up because I consider such things a leisure activity and there's nothing leisurely about getting all pissy about something.  I know my failings and would just rather avoid stuff like that in the first place.

I'd never presume to teach you guys what the site is about.  I'd only tell you why I'm here and what'll make me not be.  Even if I stop coming by, though, Scares will always be dreamy and forever right.

You give us too much credit to presume we're pushing an organized agenda of controversial articles.   Yeah 5000 people clicked through on the XBL article, but that's not our first time to capture that much attention.  It won't be the last.  It's not particularly the type of attention I like capturing anyway.

One interesting thing is that when Scares did it, it was two thumbs up.  Aevan takes a stab at it, and it's suddenly time to teach us what this site's really about?

But I share some of your concerns.  I don't write articles to talk down to people, and I agree some recent articles have had a very acerbic tone.  It's a tricky balance, since I don't want to censor our authors, but I also want to at least try to maintain some semblance of professionalism on the blog seeing as it's our most public venue.

I get the feeling that the controversy, but mostly page hits, that Mix's NG4 article drummed up has led you guys to actively seek controversial blog topics with the sole intent of drumming up traffic. It's your thang, do what you want, but that sort of thing isn't why I come here and I think it's actually in opposition to the original intent of FD, or at least my interpretation of it.

Just saying.

So alongside our 1 year anniversary comes our first gigantic hosting renewal bill.  Reliable hosting keeps getting more expensive as our archive of previous shows continues to grow.

But you can help!  If you enjoy the blog, the forums, the podcast, or all of the above please consider chipping in to help us pay the bills.  All money we collect will go towards future site hosting and features for the podcast and forums.  Our next bill is due in November, so hopefully we can generate the funds by then!

Nope.  With all the great games that are out or are coming out today I would careless.

Play the first mission.  /joy

Picked up VCII this morning!  Woot!