I agree with your comments. Normally, I would make sure my response was private but I feel I should speak more publically this time.

However, before I begin, here's a fic idea I had. This is so that this will not be a total piece of spam.

Saber Marionette J- A meteorite hits Terra II. It is actually a space pod sent by Earth and contains a mannequin. The mannequin is stronger and faster than several marionettes put together. Its personality is nil and it only cares about its mission. Its mission is divided into several parts. One- scout-out the inhabitants of Terra II and determine if they will be a threat to Earth. Two- eliminate them if they are. Three- recover the nano-technology carried by the colony ship (partly the reason for the ship's rebellion).

When the mannequin encounters the Saber Marionettes, it considers them too advance and decided that Terra II was a threat to Earth. He has battles with them but losses most of them. He also becomes influential in Terra II community as people think he is human. When he finds the nano-technology, he becomes more powerful and decides to take over Terra II. Nano-technology allows him to 'heal' and to shape his body. He can also create energy weapons.

Episodes
Mannequin makes his first appearance. He fights the Saber Marionettes who are surprised that he is not human. They win but he kills Lime by decapitating her with an energy blade.


Lime is sent to Lorelei to be repaired. Meanwhile, Mannequin steals a shipment of Marionettes and sends them out against the Saber Marionettes. The Saber Marionettes win.


Lime is repaired. Mannequin immerses himself in Garlant society. He also determines that the threat lies in those with Maiden Circuit technology and plans to kill Lorelei as a result. He also begins his search for the missing technology.


Mannequin gets the technology and evolves. He gets a name. He now intends to rule Terra II and intends to steal the Maiden Circuits to create a mate. (She will look like Ayanami Rei from NGE)


Mannequin kills the Garlant council and replaces them with mannequins. Mannequin fails to get the Maiden Circuits despite successfully kidnapping the Saber Marionettes. He is forced to activate Rei during their escape. He later gives her some nanites to evolve her without the need for maiden Circuits.



First off, I value the Lurker's opinion. Yes, yes, no need to lynch me. But when the Lurker actually gives constructive comment, it's usually good. Unfortunately, except for that Pencils thing he posted a while back, he seems to have done nothing but spam and flame. Don't get me wrong, I agree with some of his opinions like that copyright vs fanfiction thing. Valid or not is up for debate. But in recent times, I don't think he has done much to help promote the list. I do however, like his sigs. Did you know some of them are actually longer than his actual posts? But I wonder how many people on the list actually get his reference to the Rock. BTW, I'm not trying to be sarcastic here.

Personally, I love the list, I'm sadden that Andrew Huang left. Luckily, it's only temporarily. And when Jeff M. Bidwell threatened to leave as well, I almost had a heart attack. I can only hope that Jim Lazar, Gragg Sharp, Kenjiko and a whole host of others do not decide to 'retire'.

Unlike the Lurker in recent times, these people contribute greatly to the list. Not everyone is a great writer. To be honest, most of us (particularly myself) just plain $uck. But every once in a while, we do produce a gem.

The Lurker and some others seem to feel that the only fics worthy of the list must be some sort of great epic written in a manner comparable to a pro writer. But who among us are actually pros? If we were, we wouldn't need disclaimers saying we're not making any profit.

I liked the PFML thing. To be honest, for a moment, I thought the name really did change though I ignored the rules except to be taken as humorous. And I like the resulting spam fics like that Eva fic, something 'Hero' or rather I believe.

I could rant for a bit more but I think I'll stop here. Forgive the spam.

I will admit, to start with, that I am not exactly very verbal about
anything on the FFML. This is due to phobia of being mocked and ridiculed
for any ridiculous ideas/posts I may send to the mail boxes of the many
hundreds
of list members out there.

But I do feel that I should voice my concern for the future of the FFML.

I know I'm not one of the greatest authors on this list, and, as far as
I know, only a handful of people even give my work time to breath (and
I know there are probably people who read what I write and just don't
reply to it in any form. Due to work and other variables, I tend to only
have time to sit down, read a chapter from a story I'm following, and
then
get ready for whatever the day has in store for me)

I enjoy fan fiction. I enjoy writing it, reading it, encouraging others
to
do the same if they feel that it would be a reasonable use of their free
time. I've noticed, though, on those rare occasions when I have time to
go over the two-hundred or so messages I get per day, that spam is
filling
the list quite quickly. Now, I have no real problem with spam, but the
topics I've been seeing... Some of them have no business even being on
the list, and I find it comforting that the administrators hop directly
onto this unwelcome topic and bring it abruptly to an end.

That said, I wont deny that I am guilty of posting quite a bit of spam,
but
I haven't done it in quite some time, and I try to make sure that all
responses to said spam come DIRECTLY to me.

Some people, I've noticed, have over reacted just a tad (You know who you

are, Lurker), and rather that ask politely that the list not "slide
deeper
into the pits of Hell", they raise commotion and only fuel the flames of
agitation and spam that hits the list. Most of the mail in my box tonight

was spam, and I had somewhere in the area of 200 messages.

I'm not trying to say that spam should be totally vaporized from the face

of the FFML. The replies I've got on my questions about the Hiryuu Shoten
Ha
were, indeed, extremely helpful. I guess what I'm trying to say is, if
you
must spam, try to make it constructive.

I don't want to see the FFML destroyed due to pointless, off-topic
nonsense.
This list is one of the few places that my work is, for the most part,
taken
seriously. There are a few "Flamers" who never, and I do mean NEVER, have

anything good to say about my work, but then there are those who hold the

same piece of work very highly. Everyone deserves a chance.

If things continue the way they are, I'm almost afraid that a decision to

shut the list down totally will be made, and since I have no access to
the
Internet (only free e-mail) I have no other way to show people what
I am capable of, and I'm sure there has to be many others who feel the
same.
(If not... Then I speak for myself)

So, to close, I only ask that people consider what they are sending to
the
FFML list before they click 'send'. There must be plenty of news groups
that would, in all probability, handle whatever it is they are posting
much better than the FFML (if it is not what is considered to be on
topic).


I thank you all for your time, and I hope the Millennium sees you all
well.

Best regards and wishes,

James
'The Man With the Machinegun'

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
"For the last time, I am NOT the guy who did fat
bastard in the new Austin Powers film... Hey...
you kinda look like a baby...."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------


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