BayRatt's Nest - Remembering the "Hotel"
No fancy pics or graphics here yet, just sitting here quietly remembering just 10 1/2 short months ago (which is about 8 years in cyberspace), when I first found the hallowed halls of the OLD HOTEL. The Hotel California we called it. I discovered it with the help of a friendly little search engine, probably Yahoo (THANKS GUYS!!) on the 2nd day of being an internet newbie. I believe I first met Tonia, who made me feel welcome, as did Old/New and quite a few others. Soon we were all one big happy family. We talked Nascar of course, but we also talked about whatever all was on our minds, sorting out problems and enjoying our triumphs, just generally having a great time. That old Hotel was something else though.... used to crash often, and slow as anything. But she was a grand ol' gal, and I know lots of us "veterans" sure miss it. We'd stay online for literally hours upon hours, and never find it boring, used to sing and dance and enjoy what all life had to offer. And people met others who would later become their wife or husband. I'm pretty happy to be witness to that! Of course I saw a few relationships break up too, which in some respects was very sad, but also allowed for new beginnings, so I guess alls well that ends well. I know lots of us have made long and lasting friendships. I certainly have. It was pretty scary though when the old Hotel closed. The "new and improved" Hotel was now open 24/7! No more keys to the backdoor. *sigh* And I imagine that was the beginning of the end really. Now "anybody" could just wander in. And it was some of those types that ruined it for all of us. Even the Chat Hosts couldn't get or keep it under control, but not for lack of trying!! Ya'll did the best you could!! Needed more support from the "powers that be" though. And registered chat sure would have helped a whole ton!! But alas, as one person so "kindly" put it (and I'm sure ya'll know who I mean) - we're just a "bizarre subculture" and in the grand scheme of things, not very important at all. BUT!! We'll still watch our Nascar races, cheer on our favourite drivers, buy the merchandise and support Nascar in our own way.... but you can damn well bet that if we all have anything to say about it - we will not be giving good recommendations about how we were treated or discarded by Starwave and Nascar. But I suppose they don't care what we think.... being just from a bizarre subculture.... *sigh* WAKE UP BABY!!! This is the 90's and heading fast to the new millenium!! Wave of the future and all that!! I'm sure that when telephones were invented, people who actually PHONED others instead of hitching up the horse and buggy and going for a visit were part of a "bizarre subculture". Am I right?? If being a part of the old Hotel etc. is such a crime, then colour me guilty!! I've had an awesome time with all of you (with a few noted exceptions), and I wouldn't trade the experience for the world.
Anyway, I will probably revise my comments above as the mood strikes. But I would welcome your thoughts and rememberances too. And if you agree, I'd like to post a few up on here as well. Sort of a "living reminder" of the good times we all had. E-mail me at [email protected] *BIG HUGS* :-)
And if you can stomach it --- here's the "Infamous" letter. (and if you can't...here's the way to the door outta here! LOL!) Back to page 1.
From: John Crowley
The problems over the last 10 months are directly attributable to
the amount of traffic on the site. A year ago we had 20,000 users on a
good day, now we have between 50-100,000 on any given day. More users,
unfortunately, translates to more jerks.
I did not select the original hosts, Jim Jenks did. This is not to
criticize Jim's choices,. or the hosts themselves, it's just to say that
I was working with a group that was not mine. After a few months I
realized that this was a less-than-ideal group, and I made the move to
institute the new hosts were currently have. Regarding gag warnings, they
are not necessary. Profanity is not an issue where there is a grey area,
either you have used it or not. Use it, and you will be gagged. I have
left that up to the host's discretion. If they want to warn, fine. If
not, they don't have to.
Other people clearly disagree with you. The volume of email I have
received since instituting the new hosts indicates that most people
like it. Literally, hundreds of positive emails.
You are right, I did select the people as hosts who "marketed" themselves to me.
However, I prefer to look at it as "the people who
made a serious effort to get my attention regarding their interest in
hosting." I ask you this: Where was I supposed to get these people? From
observing the chat room for hours on end? I am an editor, not a babysitter, and
frankly, that's what most chat room administration is, babysitting. I
cannot, nor can the site, afford to waste time in the chat room. These
people made a series of inquiries -- some over months of time -- before
I selected them. I corresponded with them through email, talked on the
phone, found out about their occupations, where they live, hours they
are on, and many other things. It was not throwing darts at a board,
despite the fact that it appears to you that it was nothing more than a
popularity contest. And like you said, in the scheme of things the chat
room is pretty unimportant. NASCAR is concerned that it's
a discredit to the site because of what goes on in there, and our hit
totals no longer need the boost that the room provided.
I've spent far too much time as it is administrating this rather strange
and Bizarre social subculture, and what I have found out about it tells me
that it is trivial, in terms of its importance, and relevance, to the site.
I am unsure about how these people "profited" from their "sucking up."
To be honest, there is nothing very pleasureable about being a host,
except the fact that you can be sure the room will be free of obscenity
and depravity while you are there. Otherwise, you are the target of user
anger, cannot chat in a normal anonymous fashion, have to answer
redundant questions, etc., etc. They are performing a service, for
absolutely nothing. Nothing. If there is profit or gain in there
somewhere, I've yet to recognize it. Resentment, that's like jealousy,
often rooted in insecurity. I don't think that's an issue that relates
to administration of the site. Again, I'm sorry if you feel that way,
especially if it relates to me somehow, but as a longtime member of the
media, I'm used to people being angry, or resentful. Not that I'm
insensitive to it, but I've just dealt with so much of it, most of it
misplaced and off base, that I have to take it with a grain of salt.
Like I said, shutting down the room is not out of the question at all.
People on the Starwave payroll are far too valuable to be spending time
as chat hosts. Frankly, the people here are some of the best and
brightest that the Web has to offer. That's why we are the No. 1
multimedia firm on the planet, why NASCAR, the NFL, the NBA, ESPN, among
others, are our Web partners. Hosts HAVE to be users, it's just that simple.
Have I noticed a dropoff? No. I wouldn't know Adam from
Eve in the room. I have no interest in chatting on a computer. I prefer
my interpersonal communication to be direct. Regulars? Who defines what
a "regular" is? You? I need a more authoritative source. So we've lost a few
"regulars." I can't be too worried about the small picture. When our numbers
have more than tripled from a year ago at this time, I can't say that the
loss of users in the chat room, of all places, is a big issue
right now. Nor is it expected to be anytime soon. It's my experience
that most chat room people never go to the rest of the site, as the
answers to the questions they ask in there are readily available on
places like our Home Page. That's pretty sad, if you ask me.
Don't apologize for being honest. I have thick skin, and I do pay
attention to all site comments, positive and negative. But I think you
are taking this a little personally, and I I think you have to
understand there are some limitations that exist that may never be
solved. They will just have to be lived with. If not, we kill the room
and, voila, all the problems are solved, aren't they? But I don't think
that's what you want, nor do the other users in the room. And that is
why, despite the constant headache that the room has become, we will
continue to let it live on the site. Like I said up top, these answers
probably won't satisfy you, but I hope they will serve as some sort of
an explanation for some of the decisions that have been made regarding
the room.
We hope the site continues to fulfill your racing interests. We do work very
hard, not only to satisfy NASCAR, but
to satisfy users. I hope in some ways, we achieve that goal.
John Crowley
NASCAR Online
Back to page 1.