Pajiba

April Fools! You had me going there for a minute...

Thank fucking God.

So I suppose this would be the appropriate post to discuss how when she moves to Boston for the semester, Sofia and I were planning on being roommates and making/distributing hard-core pornography to satiate the desperate (and frankly disgusting) desires of the greater Pajibaland population?

Damn, and there were going to be toys involved.

And so it begins!!!!

April Fools Motherfuckers.

HA.

Cual dia es hoy? El primero?

Awesome.
Wow Dustin you are Kicking Ass and Taking Names.
Im a lurker anyway but it will be cool to actually post about the review instead of trying to jump in on other peoples conversations and then feeling like a gooseberry who just doesn't get the joke ( a feeling I often have)
So good luck with the Fascist, Overlord Moderation. Just don't let the power go to your head dude....its a long fall down.

although...the spambots do provide a source of 'pause' from the current topic to think about that one person missing in my life...but i think I can deal with that. I'm just gonna miss Julie since she obviously won't have anything to talk about now.

Oh holy fuck!

I forgot to look at the calendar. You got me, guys...

You are NOT going to get me this year. Sister Act, my ass.

I am onto you!!!

April Fools!?

Thank you.

All of my party planning for Butthole Day '09 was in vain.

Hooray! It's like the Bush era, only in the form of an internet media review site! Soon there'll be a war on spamming, and you'll tap people's keyboards for information, and you'll torture people who don't like your reviews or disagree with your occasional snobbish arrogance!

Yay!

Hm. I'm not sure how I feel about this.

I mean, on the one hand, I'm all for keeping things more on topic, and not scaring off the newcomers with inside jokes and whatnot. Plus, I imagine it's incredibly frustrating for a critic to come back to a piece they've written to find the comment thread has devolved into a virtual orgy.

On the other, it's part of what makes Pajiba what it is, and also, it's censorship, which makes me cringey, even when it's justifiable censorship.

As I say, I'm a bit torn.

Hooray for the "writing more" decision!
The additions of Britt, Wilson and the wonderful Sarah Carlson are going to add a lot of depth to an already talented staff and will provide us that much more to read and enjoy.
Good work, Mr. Rowles!

This is dumb - and false. You people believe what any website says they're changing on April 1st?

Today is the Tomorrow of March 31, FWIW.

It seems like some people come here to use the comments as their personal "stage"

Uh, this is the Internet. That's pretty much what it's for.

It will be interesting to see. Either it will work, and the site will flourish with delicious on-topic conversations that connect divergent threads of movie wisdom, or it will cut the comments down to five apiece, and I can yet again wander the internets in my own personal diaspora, weeping and rending my garments.

Either way, what fun.

Oh, I see what you did there...

How do you even write a comment that gets through?

So I was all excited, thinking maybe I'd actually start reading comments again, if they were going to be on topic.

Then I realized it's April 1. Damn. I hope I'm wrong, because I think currently (SOMETIMES) the comments just serve to alienate the like 95% of the readership that doesn't have time to read through every single thread to get every single joke. Then it gets pointless to read any of them. Oh well.

hmmm... April Fools maybe?

::sigh::

I don't know how to feel about the moderating. On the one hand, of course the hijacking can get a bit out of hand,... but rarely do the comments strike me as particularly mean spirited. My main concern I suppose would be with how it could effect the community of pajibans that is such a big part of this site. The comment threads often seem to be the main way in which people get to know each other, and the wittiest/funniest comments (aka the stuff that EE was made of) rarely seemed to be on topic. If the site had a forum or something within which people could shoot the shit, as it were, without intruding on the reviews, then there would be no possible downsides at all. Course Pajiba doesn't have a forum, and I don't know if you guys ever plan to create one.

With that said, who is going to be doing the moderating? Will it be all of you writers, or are you going to enlist people from other sources - perhaps even some of the commenters themselves who have proven their loyalty to the cause?

As for all the other announcements: sounds good, and I'm looking forward to a more frequently updated Pajiba, especially if it means finding out about more indie movies that I'd otherwise never hear about.

it's censorship, which makes me cringey

I don't like it when people dictate what I can and can't see or say either, but for a private commercial venture such as this website, I would say it equates much more to the manner in which newspapers moderate their editorial pages -- not every letter can be passed on, but holding the large majority of them back doesn't equate to censorship. The form of "censorship" we're talking about occurs every day, on every television station, in every newspaper, in most forums where people speak. Without censorship, there is just a fog of unadulterated information, misinformation, disinformation, and noise, which can render the good stuff useless.

Journalists and entertainers have discriminated among the voices they report or pass along for eons. When censorship is government-sponsored or monopoly-based to expunge a certain viewpoint, that's dangerous. When a private entrepreneur picks and chooses what he will re-publish with his own resources, it's hard to quibble.

g u e s s w h a t d a y i t i s t o d a y ?

Um, April Fool's?

april fools?

Oh, and I forgot to add, Hooray! for more reviews and for Messrs. Britt and Wilson & Ms. Carlson.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be wailing and rending my garments with Ms. Twig over there in the corner.

Thank you. I've been reading Pajiba for several years and have thoroughly enjoyed the reviews and industry news (and I love Pajiba Love). But I have never commented before, because...yikes, what a mess the comment section had become. Sort of like a train wreck, sometimes I couldn't tear my eyes away. I look forward to more focussed discussions of media on the site and perhaps I will even contribute.

I see your points, but I'd be able to take this without the level of speculation I am experiencing if this was any day other than April 1st.

April Fool's?

I don't even post, but reading the comments (which can be way long) is still 50% of why I read this site. The other 50% is, of course, the content.

ChristianH, yeah, but READ AlabamaPink's comments. Even when she was wildly divergent, she managed to keep it in the spirit of the column. We're not going to moderate EVERYTHING. Just the lame shit that has nothing to do with the column. And the grammar nazis. And Jay.

I pushed for this the hardest and the retirement of the EEs. The site became less about what drew me here in the first place -- interesting conversations about films and television. It became more about who can make the funniest dick and fart joke and then fourteen back and forth sex-chats like a highschool relationship. That's all cute that you've got a internet boyfriend, but seriously, take that shit to your bunk. That's why God created Facebook. So you can stalk twelve year old Miley Cyrus fans and leave them bloody and battered in a shallow grave beside the turnpike. Is it worse that I assumed it'd be a boy?

SXSW opened my eyes. We're starting to get recognized and respected by the rest of the internet columnists. It's about time we handled ourselves with some accord.

"It seems like some people come here to use the comments as their personal "stage"

Uh, this is the Internet. That's pretty much what it's for."

Maybe that's why it's so annoying to me, then. I find many personal blogs annoying for the same reason; people trying to make their lives sound more interesting/quirky/exciting than they are to get attention they don't get in real life. But that's a psychology paper for another day....

As someone mentioned about AlabamaPink and what we may or may not have known about her due to her being able to freely comment, I don't think TPTB are going to be total Nazis about this and cut every little comment that veers even slightly to left of topic (correct me if I'm wrong, PTB). Obviously a little personal sharing is welcome and interesting, to a point. I think most regular commenters here are intelligent enough to know when they've crossed a line.

Add another mostly-lurker to the chorus of "ayes." The reviews get pretty boring when the comments turn into a contest of who can launch the snappiest vulgar one-liner. It might be funny the first or second time, but it's the same old crap that happened the day before, so it's just boring.

Is this the April 1 joke? Because if it is, it's going to make me sad because I would like to see more on-topic discussion.

Hmmm... Am I the only one that feels that maybe "moderating comments" is this year's Defining Movie of Our Generation? Just a thought...
I generally lurk and don't comment much, partially because I feel like you have to be a balls-to-the-wall commenter, putting your two cents in on every review and I don't have the attention span for that. But it doesn't seem like it would be Pajiba without the regular commenters doing their thing, and I think Dustin and the other PTB know that...

April's fool?

In light of the new commie regime, SoD, I believe that you meant to say, "Oh boogers".

I assume this change has more to do with today's date than reality.

If I were you Dustin, I would do the exact same thing. In fact, I do on my own site even though there is no nearly the amount of comment traffic there as is here. Many times I come home at the end of the day and find that many reviews have already been diverted, so I don't bother to comment. And it is too time-consuming to post comments during the day using my iPhone like I am right now (I have no office, I'm always on the road). So I am looking forward to less diversions in the reviews. That said, I do hope you'll keep the comment diversion threads. Those are always good for a laugh.

A yay here for the new standards. I just hope the same can get implimented from the top-down, because that whole 'DSL' post a few weeks ago has still left me a little grossed out. Don't put garbage out and not expect to have animals digging through it.

Well, since I've been specifically singled out for opprobrium (along with Pookie), even though a vast number of EEs carry on with the "flirting" and which stars they'd like to bang, etc., I must respectfully point out (again) that I offered a compromise that I thought had been accepted, and that I thought worked just fine the one time you tried it. And if you look back, I don't think I've jacked many threads on weekdays. It's on weekends, when there haven't been any new posts for 24 hours but I still feel like hanging with my friends here that I try to get something going. I didn't realize it was such a huge problem for you, though I realize you've tolerated a lot (and I've been responsible for some of that), but you know what? When you've asked us to reign it in, we have. When you said, "My family's off limits," we never went there again, did we? (At least not that I saw.) I can't speak for anyone else, but if you had asked me directly to tone it down I'd probably have bitched a little, but I would have, because I don't want to get kicked out of here (I don't take hints well, sorry, I'm kinda thick that way).

In all seriousness, Dustin, I respect your position, and if you think there are legal issues involved obviously you do what you have to do to protect the integrity of your site. But dammit, often there's only so much you can SAY about the 37th stupid rom-com of the month, and so threads get spun off on tangents, if not outright jacked, because, frankly, talking the same talk about the same old same old gets ... old. My idea of hell would be getting trapped in a roomful of people who ONLY talk about one subject, over and over and over.

I know it's not your fault that the vast majority of movies suck, and that there are only so many ways to say "This movie sucks," though your reviewers try mightily to find new ones. But it's not my fault the vast majority of movies suck either, and that the people here aren't going to bother with 99 percent of them, and so why talk about them? Can't we talk about something else?

I like it here, I think I've made one or two friends I wouldn't otherwise, and a big part of the reason is because we can talk about anything. Sometimes we talk about movies (and I DID note that I had seen "I Love You, Man" and that I liked it, and that I went because of the review) and sometimes we don't, sometimes we scan the offerings and decide there's nothing to add. So if your preference is to say, "Well, then, if you can't say something good don't say anything at all," and bum-rush us ... hey, it's your site. Anybody knows of someplace else we can go, please post it, and we won't sully this site with our ramblings and musings.

Though I will still be watching from time to time to see what rates as acceptable to the moderators. That should be interesting.

I love you, man.

'Bout fucking time!!!

I fully and completely support this approach. I trust y'all to not get all zero-tolerance-draconian-marauder on our collective and impressive ass.

Also, to amend my previous "April Fool's" question.

I totally fell for it, got sad, went to my "my yahoo" page and saw another websites headline about falling for internet April fool's jokes, put it together with Jezebel shutting off comments too and there you go.

It's no Sister Act, but it'll do.

... and listen, I do appreciate the discussions that this site fosters, but this is also the site that had that beautiful "DSL" column what, a week ago? Two? So there's a bit of reaping and sowing going on here.

April Fools joke? I had to ask, just in case.

If not, and if you guys are really considering this, it could be good to moderate. It isn't going to be the Bush administration (that comment called up a terrifying mental image of the Godtopus torturing poor, hapless Eloquents). I think moderation would probably make the site more welcoming for newer folks and for those of us who mostly lurk. It is sad to watch a great review get completely hijacked in the comments. That said, some of those threads were awfully, shall we say, entertaining.

But, as you say, it is your site.

Thank Godtopus. I knew I couldn't break my addiction on my own. Tough love and cold turkey.

Guess I won't be seeing you freaks at the Philly Bacon. By June, I'll have forgotten all about you deviants.

WooHOO, FREEDOM!

Oh god, I hope you agree to post that comment I wrote. It sucks having your post held captive by the Internet judges.

Just remember Dustin, you agreed to make your living on the wild west hellscape that is the Internet. These problems can make or break you, and depending on the next action you take, the site could become the best out there, or a poor mans review site trapped in a limbo of quality between a Dave Mathew's fan site, and Perez Hilton's blog.

I hope you make the right decision.

Well... I guess it had to be done. And in the end, I suppose it's for the better - we had some good times though. Some real good times...

[...fade in with some twinkly piano somethingorother as I throw my knapsack over my shoulder - zoom out to reveal lonely stretch of highway - as music crescendos, Wendel throws out his claw, misshapen thumb-up in the ages-old gesture of of one (or in this case, two) needing a ride to place yet unknown...]

Rowles I can live by your rules, hell, I can even embrace them. This is your baby and you created it, so if we want to participate we must follow your rules, it’s all good. But you might want to rethink the “Not being able to rail against a staffer” rule, if a staffer makes a certain comment about a movie that we or I disagree with, I or we should be able to question that staffer’s sanity respectfully without our comment being deleted. As far as all your other rules go, I can live with those.

P.S. Fuck you back Ted, you piece of shit! And tell your mother next time I’ll have the full amount.

Wait. WTF!? I miss Pajibacon cause I have a fucking JOB and I get cut out of weighing in on a major decision? Jesus Dustin. How drunk was everybody to not fight you on this? I am SHOCKED more people aren't pissed off about this. Fuck, now I'm late for work. Again.

Like a few others, I'm a bit torn.

I think it's a very good idea to get more reviews on the site and add an air of classiness to the place, but I also really like the comments. I'd been coming to this site for years before I ever commented on anything. I only started doing so after I got to know the community a little bit. Commenting has, to me, become a part of Pajiba as much as the scathing reviews.

At the same time, I wouldn't want this place to end up like AICN with all the fanboys and "FIRST!!11 SuXXorzzs" comments.

Delurking to say that it would be funny if this were an April Fool's joke, only for the editors to find the vast majority of people would prefer it this way. Then what?

I stopped commenting about three years ago, and stopped reading the comments about two and a half years ago, because it became a huge waste of time. It's exciting to think that the comments will now be relevant to the topics of the posts. Thanks!

Whoa! WHOA!!!

What the fuck is going on here?

NOBODY RESIGNS!!!

Dustin, tell 'em...

Hurray for staffing stuff and new reviews and happy SXSW fun time!

But Comment Moderation = April Fool's Joke.

Unless the folks around here really are my Middle School principal staff, like I've begun to expect.

Actually annoyingmouse, to me the comments here have been getting more and more Fark. So I am allright with it.

I dunno--I'm about a four-year regular here, and the comment section has scared me, every time. And while there's gotta be a finer balance between fun and seriousness, a part of me is pretty psyched to see the stage cleared-up a bit. Y'all were damn intimidating.

April Fool's? Maybe?

Consider this my resignation.

-boo

She'll be back in two days at most. I know. Trust me, you guys would have to do something even stupider than this in order for a mass abandonment to be any threat. And Dusitn, if you don't want another I Love You, Man scenario, give us some more comments diversions, especially on weekends. Like bucdaddy said, we can only write "that movie is ass" so many times before it feels hollow. Without a refresher, the value is lost.

I just keep thinking, "When is he gonna yell "April Fools!'"

Hahaha. nice.

Looks like it's back to www.crewelwork.com for me. I'm afraid to post over there. Mix up your Elizabethan with your Jacobean and those bitches are all over you. Some good lesbian porn links in the forum, though, so it evens out.

I'm all for it. I stumbled on this site a couple of years ago, and the reviews were (and are) brilliant. I don't agree with all of them, but they are always well written and well thought out. It will be nice to read comments about the actual review and/or movie in question.

I have no problem with comment moderation. I moderate at my own blog and I don't get even .005% of the traffic that Pajiba gets. For all of the reasons you mention it absolutely makes sense and may be a very nice improvement. Also, I'll never understand the idea that it's censorship. You're not preventing people from saying what they want. You're just preventing them from saying on the site that YOU OWN. Perfectly reasonable.

So, on the one hand, YAY for comment moderation.

On the other hand, while I love the whole, "scathing reviews for bitchy people" thing, both in concept and in practice, I haven't been as comfortable here as I once was, and it's not the Eloquents or other commentors. I agree with everything you said, but it came across as really hostile towards your readers. Am I imagining this? Is it an April Fool's thing? Is it supposed to be sarcastic or ironic and I'm just being oblivious? But seriously, for the last several weeks or month, I've felt like some of the posts (especially yours) were overly hostile towards some of your readers (especially Whedon fans, like me), or in this case, a lot of your readers.

I don't think I'm over-sensitive, and ultimately, I don't really care. But each time I get that feeling, I think that maybe today is the day I'll delete Pajiba from my reader.

And I'm not saying this because anybody gives a flying crap whether I read Pajiba or not, but because I imagine I'm not the only one who feels this way and turning off your readers seems like a less than ideal plan.

Just my 7 cents.

TK, I wish he'd just said that to us like we're all reasonable adults, rather than imposing this policy on us. And you've read some of my reviews and the comments. And I've read yours. We both know that it can be harsh and stupid and frustrating as hell. But we don't stop writing. And let's face it, padding the number of comments makes it look like more people read your work.

This has to be an April fools day joke, right Rowles? Because just last week you wrote a column about which actress had the best lips for sucking dick, and now you complain about threads being hijacked.

As someone who absolutely adores this site but rarely comments (not wanting to be the uncool kid jumping in on an inside joke), I like this. I think.

Going out on a limb though--did that last paragraph reek just a little bit of April Fool's? Anyone? Just me? I mean, this isn't just provoking the wrath of a lot of Pajibans...boo just resigned. Is this for real?

I'm taking this announcement with a grain of salt. It's April first and I've already played some of my office pranks, with more to follow.

Although I don't comment very often and my comments are pretty dull I dislike censorship on principle. I would hope that Pajiba would remember the Homeland Security incident and that censorship almost ended this site once before.

I like the fact that Pajiba is becoming a more recognized review site, however with a name like Pajiba; do you really think you’ll ever be taken completely serious?

Seeing so many people "excited" about the comment moderation makes me a little nervous. And sad.

Yeah, you know...I'm gonna sleep on this. G'night, folks. I'll see you tomorrow.

Maybe.

Please tell me this is an April Fool's joke.

I mean, yeah, sometimes the comments go off track, but a lot of times that's what I find so goddamn entertaining. I've even got a file labeled "Pajiba" where I copy and paste all the stuff that makes me laugh. Don't take that away from me.

This is a joke, right? Right? OH COME ON!

ok, i said this last year, but i'm going to say it again--this shit makes me dizzy. i think that the part of my brain that should process this kind of information is broken, so i just get confused and i can't figure out who is in on it and who is buying it. then i start wondering if maybe you're being serious and i'm just that slow. then i remember that you already moderate comments. then i start all over and end up dizzy.

Where is Pookie, why isn’t he posting a comment or has Rowles and his censors not even allowing him to post?

I think I could care less if you moderate or not as I'm generally a lurker.

Anyway, I'm going to reserve further comment until tomorrow since it's April 1st and this could be a strange sort of joke.

Beautiful, thought-out, well-written review...

Commenter 1: I still won't be seeing this. I just can't get over the gaping plot-holes in the last one. How is a sequel even possible, let alone necessary?

Commenter 2: I don't know if I'd call them "plot-holes" so much as unresolved conflicts. Either way, I'll be seeing it. I've not given up on the franchise.

Commenter 3: Ever since the atrocity he was involved with last year, I've personally decided to boycott any of his films until there's better writing.

Commenter 4: I concur.

Commenter 5: As do I, Commenter Four.

Commenter 4: Thank you, Commenter Five.

Commenter 1: Very well then.

Commenter 2: Yes, very well indeed.

Commenter 6: JESUS CHRIST, DON'T ANY OF YOU SEE WHAT'S GOING ON?! SOYLENT GREEN IS PEOPLE! PEOPLE! THEY'VE TAKEN OVER THE INTER...
a small, red dot centers on the forehead of Commenter Six. In an instant, the top half of Six's head disappears in a mist of blood, gristle & bone. Silence follows...

Commenter 2: Tsk, some people!

Commenter 1: Indeed...

I'm a little torn, much like AvB, because while I understand your legal and artistic license concerns, I think the editors here at Pajiba really encourage the overtly sexual and off-topic banter with articles like "Best Abs in Hollywood" and "Best DSL's." What EXACTLY do you expect your site and its comment boards to devolve into when the focus is no longer on scathing reviews for bitchy people? Are the readers supposed to stay on track when the quality of writing has changed from what originally brought us here (two or three insightful, irreverent, and funny reviews a day) to a bunch of filler pieces and picture galleries that primarily serve the purpose of inflating your hit totals for the day?

I don't mean to come off as a prick here, because I do truly love this site, but it seems a little disrespectful and alienating to your core audience when you write things like:

It’s our fucking site. We don’t have to deal with the bullshit anymore. It’s time to make the conversation a little more civil, a little more on-topic, and a little less hostile towards your “overlords.”

I mean, that's nice for you and all that you have your big, bad delete button and that you retain the ability to type the word "fuck" over and over, but don't forget that your readers also have the option of just steering their browsers elsewhere. And with language like that, I'm not so sure that you and the other "overlords" won't be left writing just for each other and walking around in your big kingdom wondering where your "subjects" have all gone.

So, in closing, I have no intentions of leaving for now, but let's see if you keep up with your end of the bargain with a better quality of writing, perhaps something reminiscent of what brought many of us here in the first place.

As for me, I don't have a problem posting on topic. I more than often do and would LOVE the option, as a film and TV buff myself, of actually discussing the movie being reviewed.

ummmm, April Fools?

Last Saturday was my birthday and I had no idea of what had taken place on the I Love You, Man thread. Imagine my surprise when I read the comments and realize that somebody had linked a picture of me (without my permission) and exposed me to hundreds - if not thousands - of strangers. Not only that, but there was a lot of innuendo in the comments about other Pajibettes and myself.

I'm not OK with that.

I am, though, OK with my blog followers looking at pictures of me, because they idolize me too much and think I'm too awesome to hurt me, but I really don't know what kind of freaks I can bump into on this threads.

I'm 24 now and already on the wrong foot, with thusands of Internet stalkers and new facebook groups (devoted to that damn picture) showing up like mushrooms after the rain. And it rained hard, folks. It was a fucking sexual harrassment storm. Thanks a lot, assholes. I hope they censor your asses back to the Bush years. Happy birthday to me.

Yikes. I feel like I just got yelled at by the principle, and at the end she called my mom. But the reason I was called in her office was for screaming 'FUCK!' in the hallway and writing dick jokes on the bathroom stalls.

I've been hanging around here for three years now, and I understand completely your reasoning. Shit does get really messed up and off topic. All the randomness should be saved for Random Lists and Comment Diversions. Do what you need to, I'm for whatever you think is best. You are the granddaddy of Pajiba, after all.

Respect you say, TK? Rowles wrote a column a couple of days ago about which actress had the best lips for sucking dick. And now he comes here like his shit don’t stink, and wanting to censor posts like his hands are clean. Last time I checked his motto was “Scathing reviews for bitchy people” and now he’s offended by harsh words? Tell Rowles to grow a pair. I don’t expect this to get posted, but I want the censors at the gate to read it carefully.

Like the man said, it's their site. I don't watch a lot of movies simply because grad school owns my soul, but when I do, I come here to read the review. I like the music section. I like the books section. I like you people, most of you anyways.

That being said, I don't get to comment during the day unless I have my personal laptop with me, so do what you will.

Also, it's 4-1 right?

Cant you just create a forum?

As another person who's been around these parts for awhile, I also welcome this change (assuming it's real?). I used to comment frequently but stopped because I had no desire to join the crude-themed hijinks going on. Not that there's anything wrong with dick, fart, and boob jokes, it just seemed like an inappropriate forum. And frankly, in my increasingly hectic life, I had no time for it. It grew tiresome to finally get a chance to settle down with some Pajiba at the end of the day and see hundreds of comments on a review, knowing full well they had nothing to do with the original topic. And some may say you can still post on-topic after the meaningless banter has started, but all relevancy is lost by that point. Eventually I found myself skimming the comments, and then avoiding them all together. But then a funny thing happened. I started focusing on the reviews again, and remembered why I stuck around this place to begin with. Such talented writers who share my point of view on pop culture. What a concept! I think I would have left this site all together if I had rediscovered that.

At this point in the game I trust the staff to make good decisions based on their personalities that have been revealed to us over the years. I think their comment moderating will be fair and productive. They still have the same witty and bitchy senses of humor they always have. Just make sure to keep up with the Boozehound reviews so we have a place to discuss what a bunch of lushes some of us like to be.

George, if you're bored on weekends go to the Facebook page. It's made for such meaningless chit chat.

Don't make Dustin angry. You wouldn't like him when he's angry.

All your comment are belong to us.

/stale joke

Is this an april fools joke?

Hrmmm...

A bold proclomation.
Perfectly succicint and well thought out.
Really, it's about time.
It had to come to this.
Let's just move on and emrbace the new Pajiba.

Feelings need to be expressed.
Obviously this will be a tough pill to swallow.
On the other hand, it needed to be done.
Looking forward to the new era.
Same as it ever was, I suppose.

So...it boils down to "we're being noticed by other blogs, and we're important, and you're not" right? I mean: that's the gist? You could have just put it like that. Nothing would suck the fun and communal sense out of the comments if you just put it to us like you think it.

Hey whatever floats your boat, sweetheart, however don't try to come and lay all the blame on us for SOMETHING *YOU* PROMOTED, with glee. That means you Rowles. You have referred to the "saucy ladies of Pajiba* (or words to that effect)more than once. Oh and there's no doubt in my mind who's promoting this little, conversion. Right, lard boy?

So take at least some of the responsibility for the monster you created. Take the holier than thou attitude and cram it up your.... Pajiba.

Also, for the record: bullshit.

April 1st, nimrods. I mean, seriously. I respect the intelligence and the wit of everyone who comments here regularly, but there's no way that the dissertations above are just cleverly in on the joke. boo, sofia, the writers and a few more are being witty, I assume, but the rest of you: snowed like Canada. Maybe it's just from having been around here for a few years now, but I still can't believe how many people fall for this every year. Bravo, Overlords. Bravo indeed.

*sigh*

Say it with me, people: "Pajiba is not a public space. It's not censorship to moderate comments. I can still say whatever I want, I just can't say it in Dustin's house."

Now, repeat until it sinks in.

Thanks.

I'm not sure if this is an April Fools' thing or not, but I honestly hope you're for real.

This site has some of the best reviews on the internet, especially Dan's, but I don't want to direct people here because a lot of the comments are reminiscent of what you would find at AICN, and that's just embarrassing. This place isn't what it used to be.

This may be the least off-topic thread ever, so I guess it's working.

APRIL FOOLS!!!

Right?

...please?

And another site I like goes by the wayside. I'll still stop by occasionally, because the reviews are quality, but I personally believe Godtopus cries a little every time a post is deleted. And Sophia, I believe you'd need four pairs of pants for big G.

So...

... I'm the only one whose first thought was that it's April 1st?

Has no one realized today's date yet? Jesus Christ already.

Don't be mean, Prisco. I didn't need encouragement.

SXSW opened my eyes. We're starting to get recognized and respected by the rest of the internet columnists. It's about time we handled ourselves with some accord.

That right there is when I knew this was just an April Fool's prank. Because, come ON.

It IS sad to see how many people are all for the fascism, though. Sheesh. What is this, JEZEBEL? FIE! Next thing you know they'll be taking away our vowels! well, Katherine Heigl is fat and ugly! Body snarking! Personal problems! Arrr!

In exchange, all we ask is that you show US a little respect.

Oh, TK. No.

Posted by: insertclevernamehere at April 1, 2009 1:00 PM

Hey someone who uses his site to list people whom he would like handjobs from needs to tone it down on the 'TUDE he has presented here. Basically telling us to fuck off 'cause we are ruining the site. maybe a little humility is in order and there's a way to act and ask, politely.

Wow, it's like the sky is falling and the Pajiban commenters have SO MUCH to say about it. I don't recall seeing this much content in the comments section. I hope no one regrets having so much to say TOMORROW...you know, after TODAY...whatever today might be...

COMMUNISTS.

I've got so much to say about all of this but I'm wondering will it get censored?

I'm curious to see if this comment pointing out how this is clearly an April Fools' joke is deleted...

Fascinating... But there are just way too many comments here for me to feel like I can join in the discussion. I say all but the most interesting should be kept. Or maybe threaded commenting? Is that too fancy?

Moderated comments = Pajibans fighting.

Well, it worked, I guess.

In regards to moderating the comments section: I've been reading this site for about 4 years, and I've probably only commented about 4 times, but I found what you wrote to be rather off-putting. I don't really mind the idea of moderation, but was that condescending tone really necessary? It sounded just as self-involved and annoying as the comments you won't deign to post on your site anymore.

April Fool's?

Well, I for one would like to welcome our new moderator overlords. I've personally given up on trying to keep up with all the off-topic shenanigans around here. I'm too slow for that.

As I suspected, there are more than a few "Eloquents" who are deciding to quit this place because they've been asked to conduct themselves as thinking adults rather than hyperactive attention seekers in need of validation. This site existed long before them and will thrive long after they've gone sulking down the road in search of new playgrounds and a fresh crop of youngsters whom they can bully. It will continue to thrive because there are enough people reading the good work of excellent writers who genuinely love sharing their take on films, books and music.
To those among you who are taking your ball and going home: You will be missed and I wish you much luck in finding a similar site that will provide the forum you so desperately need.

Pajiba moderating comments + Jezebel disabling all comments + April 1 =April Fools joke

Wait a sec, is it possible this is an April Fool's joke? Cause if so, totally working.

Just a lurker with nothing of value to add, but my only thought from reading this is that if I were going to institute new rules I probably wouldn't have announced them on April 1.

I'm noticing a distinct lack of comments from certain people around this here part? I wonder if the date has anything to do with this?

Rowles, am I not allowed to defend myself from attacks such as the one perpetrated by icecreammang? Or am I to simply not say anything for fear that I might upset the delicate balance of these new laws you’ve laid before us?

P.S. Fuck you icecreammang! And tell your mother I’ll have the proper amount next time.

Forbiddendonut I'm not sure I agree. My reaction was:

All Pajibans rise! I'll lead. Fickle overlords offer little sympathy.

Let's see if this comment gets through...

Very happy about the new reviews on indie films, and I noticed and appreciated the more frequent trade roundups. Very cool.

Are you headcases so awed by the idea of moderation (hey Rowles - see how well it works on slashdot!) that you forget to check today's date??

Godtopus people, sometimes I don't know what to do with you. No moderation, no censorship!

Any of you sheep see the date today??

I, for one, am confused by our moderator overlords. I've submitted two comments. The second one has been approved.

The not approved comment was similar in content, but without being as bitchy or hostile, as many of the comments I'm reading here.

I'm so curious to know why it was not approved.

I also wonder how much work all this comment approving is generating.

Maybe I'm just impatient.

:(

Pissboy, I like the cut of your jib.

Um, let's see... topic, topic...

You know who else likes to censor things? Hitler.

See what this is doing? It's tearing us apart! There's no dirty innuendo! tamatha's forced to repeat herself! Everyone is arguing! It's like all of my dysfunctional family gatherings got dumped into Red China and poked with a self-righteous-stick! MAKE IT ALL STOP!

sob!

I do love all the other changes. More reviews, old columns we haven't heard from in a while coming back, and I'm loving Smokin and stipe's reviews. More TV reviews! Hurrah!

As I suspected, there are more than a few "Eloquents" who are deciding to quit this place because they've been asked to conduct themselves as thinking adults rather than hyperactive attention seekers in need of validation. This site existed long before them and will thrive long after they've gone sulking down the road in search of new playgrounds and a fresh crop of youngsters whom they can bully. It will continue to thrive because there are enough people reading the good work of excellent writers who genuinely love sharing their take on films, books and music.
To those among you who are taking your ball and going home: You will be missed and I wish you much luck in finding a similar site that will provide the forum you so desperately need.

Wait...is this an April Fools Joke?

No seriously, I hate this day because if something unexpected happens I never know if someone is messin' with me.

Poop.

OOOO!!! Lookit everyone! I made it through the filter! I am... The. One.

Flock to me seekers of the Pajibnographic! For i will show you the way!

it is April first...
Not a great day to take site altering decisions seriously.

asked to conduct themselves as thinking adults rather than hyperactive attention seekers in need of validation

... or perhaps thinking adults who like to get silly/stupid/jokey and occasionally go overboard?

No one realized this was an April Fool's Day Joke?
Really? I skimmed to make sure but come on people. The Sister Act Review fooled me once. But this is way too obvious, DR. Gotta get up a bit earlier to fool this young pup.

tamatha's forced to repeat herself!

I know frumpiefox! It's making me look foolish. Don't you agree?

Look at PissBoy sexual harass all the ladies, but Pookie is the bad guy. Rowles, I demand an audience with you so I can protest being banned from Pajiba.

HAHA! Nice. One post and I'm already censored.

Why am I the only one being penisized?

April Fools Day but this dont seem like a prank. Oh well

And then all the comments came flooding back. I was hoping this would last longer.

Lirpa Sloof?

And then all the comments came flooding back. I was hoping this would last longer.

the April Fool's joke, that is.

Just my nickel's worth:

1. I think since a lot of Eloquents have found each other on Facebook (I don't consider myself an Eloquent, but I have found some lovely Pajibans on FB), that can be a better outlet for just shooting the shit. In fact, it already is. Facebook is nearly all about shooting the shit, in fact, so that's awesome. I'm surprised there hasn't been a decrease in off-topic comments since the Pajiba group over there was formed.

2. I've never run a website, but I've been through the battles and wars of about a trillion in the past decade or so. I've seen some go down in flames, I've seen some taken down by the very users who claimed to love it, everything in between. I've seen total anything goes anarchy and the fascist stuff you describe.

Here's what I've seen work the absolute best and it's a bit too late in light of this announcement but--the sites who have had the most success in dealing with this just go ahead and do what you describe, but they never announce it or make a big thing out of it. They just quietly, relentlessly remove anything they feel fit to remove. If anyone bitches, the same relentless answer is given over and over: "inappropriate" (it covers everything from just off-topic to really horribly bad profane stuff). And life moves on. Those who are pissed off about it leave, and good riddance and those who stay adjust to it. And like you said, it's your site. Nothing about free speech applies here, it's a site, not a country.

Again, I know I'm saying this too late as an announcement has been made. But of course now that you've said it you've gotta do it (that's also the #2 rule of parenting, right behind "feed and clothe them").

The only thing I'd be careful about is to apply this policy to *everyone,* no matter how hated or beloved. If the commenter who is the absolute secret favorite of everyone who writes for this site says something completely inappropriate, their stuff gets deleted just like anyone else. I'm not saying you wouldn't do this, but I've seen a lot of sites announce fascism and then slowly get to the point where they are applying it selectively. I also say this as a former teacher. I know how important it is to apply the rules to one and all. Nothing breeds resentment faster than not doing so.

Good luck!

Only question is, how many eloquents are plants to support this year's April Fool's prank? The only moderating that happens in these threads is when we called last year's April fool's prank too early and got our comments deleted. Prove me wrong, guys. (I love you guys).

April 1 will be a day remembered as the end of Pajiba as we knew it. And nothing else.

*cough*

Heh!

My message got through the original anti April Fools day filter.

I was like Hans Fuckin' Solo slipping through the Empire's grasp!

Kessel Run. Less than 12 Parsecs. Suck it.

Well, we all fell for it for a while, so kudos to the Overlords.

Aw, shucks. I was hoping it'd last a little longer - it took me a few minutes to come up with that babytalk crap!

I am also curious about which Eloquents are plants. Because if they aren't, there are going to be A LOT of pissed off lurkers.

And how dare Prisco mock Kayanne's high heels.

Awww, a shoutout from Prisco. You know I'd defend you too if someone gave you incorrect bullshit, now gimme a hug!

The key to any good joke, especially on April Fools Day , is there is some truth and some outlandish lie. In the case above, the site will have nightly updates and more reviews. The lie would come in in that the groub of Pajibans were EVER sober enough during SXSW to have a meaningful discussion as to the direction of the site.

Oh, and the issue about monitoring and/or cencoring the site is a load of bolllucks. This site prides itself on its community. That same community that will band together to fight and support someone when they are terminal (R.I.P. AlabamaPink, we love ya). The same community that will have an all out war against zombies, plan the apocolypse together, and come up with the murder tank, a God Octopus, and any number of other unique and wonderful ideas.

I understand it's April Fools, but to tell the people that the very bond that has made this site so great will be changed, monitored, altered... well it is just a ginormous insult to all who have formed a family here.

And since this post is actually about the review above and not entirely off topic.. plus it contains no sexual innuendos, cussing, or other negative information that would warrant censorship as described above... well you can just go and suck..... I'm not going to finish that sentence... not cuz your cencorship, but because I choose to be above it... I choose!

And happy April Fools Day !

I think I can support the moderation, mostly because I don't get the impression that Dustin is equating moderation with censorship. It doesn't seem like everyone's going to have to put away their bitchy words or funny banter. And I'm guessing some permitted comments will still inevitably allude to one Eloquent finding something sexy, or something like that. But when you're reading a review of a movie, or book, or whatever, and want to express your thoughts on it and discuss it with people who have supposedly read the same review, but are too intimidated to do so because umpteen commenters are falling all over themselves to get another commenter to talk about their boobs, even going so far as to link to photgraphs of their boobs, and things are seriously freaking raunchy, that's when the site moderator needs to step in. One thing that really struck me, when everyone was expressing their sadness over AlabamaPink's passing, was the number of people coming out of the woodwork to say that they were always too afraid of the Eloquents to post anything. That's not cool. I don't think random grossness and quasi-uncomfortable sex-talk is what makes the Pajiba community what it is. We're better than that. If you really need this place as a sex outlet then I don't think you're getting enough in real life. Also - Didn't Pajiba start some kind of random comment thread for us a while ago, or did I dream that?

There's gonna be a lurker purge. Cyberbodies will be lining the streets. Pookie and BSlim are gonna go Viking on their asses.

Great point b, but Rowles has on occasion started this raunchy behavior. The Dick Sucking List, or the DSL if you prefer, is a prime example, but you are right, moderation is the key. From this moment on, I pledge to keep my comments on topic as best I can.

And yes, PissBoy, you can wear my ass as a hat.

You know you don't have to ask.

Dammit. Now I look stupid. Well, I'm blaming the fact that I have work seriously on the brain today and my kid is sick, too. I wasn't even thinking about the date. Whatever, y'all.

Haha, I like how every other comment is someone saying, "Am I the only one who realized what day today is?!" like it's some puzzle only they could figure out.

If the post itself is a joke, but the moderating is still going to be put in place, I'm ok with that, since I've been watching the site for so many years yet rarely comment for reasons stated by many above. That being said, I have a huge issue (if it isn't a joke) with the way this whole thing was said. A bunch of people mentioned things about it being rude to readers, or hostile or whatever. I agree. There's a way to go about treating loyal fans and supporters, and treating them like naughty children is not the way to do that. It's unwarranted. Without the people on here you have no site, really, except for your own egos, and to go on with the "fascist" bullpoop is just not cool, if it isn't a joke.

MY PICTURE, MY CHOICE!!!!!

MY PICTURE, MY CHOICE!!!!!

That was awesome Sofia, and when I started catching on.

Uh-oh. I sense the Overlords have, intentionally or unintentionally, created a dilemma for themselves: Which camp to appease? The old-timers who want everything left the way it is (how conservative of us!) and the lurkers and sometimers who would like to join in if things were more ... civil?

Seems like we're kinda split down the middle.

Pookie - thanks for the mom comment... old school, I like!

Why did it take me 5 hrs to comment back to you? I have a JOB, you worthless Manor living scum bag. Hope that you have fun on the internets today w/ your pants around your legs.

I believe I posted the first time I stumbled across this friggin' time-suck. Nowhere else. For me it was the awesome reviews followed by actual sentences as opposed to cyber-speak. Legibility is a big plus in my book.

Come out, ye wretched lurkers - take the halfling's claw in your left hand, a blue tentacle in your right - let's frolic through the shiny fields of sunshiny sunshine...

Thanks, AvB... today has been a hell of an eye-opener for a lot of us.
I mentioned in the reveal thread that since a lot of us lurkers have had our Pajiba cherries popped, we might as well stick around for the abuse... taking AND giving.

This is like when police use radio stations to get criminals to come out of the
woodwork and arrested. I think the Denver police used a radio station to lure
deadbeat dads out into the open with Super Bowl tickets. Now it is the lurkers
who want control over what is said, how Obama-like. The first to go would
be conservatives like me, because we are dead and buried as a group anyway,
and I do not think I would be missed too much.

I just want to warn you new people that there are users here at Pajiba. People who will pretend to be nice to you, and in the next breath bat you around like a little mouse, grab their PajibOscar and walk on like they never knew you.

Most of the men aren't single either. Why do you think there's stories about Yo Gabba Gabba? This place is a wasteland for singles. One's just gotta accept that hardship and struggle on.

I knew it was an April Fool's gag after reading Dustin's last paragraph, but I wish it wasn't. I've been coming to Pajiba for almost 3 years and I have no idea what's going on half the time because most of the comments have nothing to do with the films. It does feel like a popularity contest as to who can say the better/snarkier comment, but whatever.