05/20/01: My Two Cents - Source Handles and YOU
by Sass

I decided to write this month on something I have heard complaining about for a very long time. Since I was merely a chatter, when I became host it was worse, and as sysop it seems to be never ending. So I decided to write a bit on exactly why needing to request SMHs (Source Material Handles) is a GOOD thing, contrary to popular belief. After all, IMC could simply say 'NO source handles what so ever'. However, they have given you a way to get that character name you so wish to have, if you follow simple procedure. You just can't apply for it by yourself is all. Keep in mind when reading this that I have nothing to do with the handles department, these are simply my feelings on the matter.

When I was a chatter, I felt that having to request Source Material Handles was a bit of a pain. Personally, I only had one handle ever come up as source, but I heard a lot of people yell about it. Complaints from the simple 'I have used that name for my character for years' to 'but I never even heard of that band before, how can it be source material?' are common. I did not understand it much until I became host of a room. At that point I
was rather GLAD to know that only I could approve handles such as John Wayne, Billy the Kid, Miss Kitty and Wyatt Earp because frankly, who wants twelve clones of Billy the Kid playing in a western room? Think that would not happen? Wrong. *Billy the Kid*, ~Billy the Kid~, Billy_the_Kid. Just to give you a few options. I assume most hosts do not want a thousand Dracula's running about IMC creating havoc! (Ed. Note: Unless they're the host of the strangely unpopular "Billy the Kid vs. Dracula Clones" SPR.)

When I became sysop, I began to hear complaints that go like this, 'That author (band, company, etc.) is hardly known! Not like they are some big time author (band, company, etc.), so why can't I be allowed that name?' First of all, the rules have to be uniform. If "The Doors" is considered source material (even though they have long since ceased to be) then "The Tools" (a band an ex husband used to run sound for, and very little known) are as well. It has nothing to do with popularity or how wide spread their material is, it has to do with the fact that if you search for them on the Internet, they show up as being an entity. The sysops have entirely too much on their plates to concern themselves with whether or not you yourself has ever heard of them before. Just like with any other rule, if you bend it for one thing, eventually you are bending it for others and it becomes pointless. Not to mention the fact that, if the founders of IMC had wanted to, they could have simply said NO SMH at all! This most certainly would save them time and the headache. In many rooms, core characters (such as Mulder in X Files and Caine in all the WOD rooms) would prefer to be played by people who are trusted not to meta game them, or given to staff as NPC's (as well some of these characters should be), which is another reason for not allowing anyone who wishes simply ask for them.

The procedure to get Source Material Handles approved is VERY SIMPLE! Before you enter in the name you wish to have, you simply click the ink to Metacrawler and type it in there, clicking on search. IF the name comes up, it is source (meaning if you type in John Gatspey and only John comes up, you are fine, but if John and Gatspey come up together, it is source.) If you find your creatively thought up name comes up as source, it is simple, do NOT request it yourself! If you intend to play it in a specific room, ask that host to request it for you. Host's emails are easy to find right on the doorway to their rooms. The Host will need your MUN name, and the email address you gave IMC upon sign up in order to request it for you. The host fills out a different form than you do and submits it. Usually within a day or two, you have your new handle! Simple!

Personally, I do not see what all the fuss is about. You, as a chatter, only have to search for SMH when you wish to apply for a handle. On the other hand, the sysops have to search every time anyone applies! Who do you think takes more time in doing this? Certainly not the chatter. Yet, we seem to run about complaining about a few extra seconds it would take us to do the search, instead of get handle privileges pulled. How selfish of us, really.

The sysops do tons to keep this site up and running, constantly adding new features for us to use, sprucing it up, writing and re-writing code, handling conflicts between the chatters and/or the staff etc. Can't we have the common courtesy to spend a few seconds at Metacrawler and request an SMH through proper channels? After all, it is not like we are being told we can not have them, simply to go through proper channels.

Next month, the 'zine will feature a guest editorial with a different slant on Source Handles.