Well after reading that entire forum, I had a lot to say but penguin closed it and I don't think it was rubbish so..
First of all I have to appolagize to you kasperg for bashing you back in the day on some of your comments on some of my maps. I just used to get really testy with my own maps because after perfecting them in my own eyes, flaws seen by others such as the sunny sky not matching the rain etc. just made me mad I guess because I didn't care what other people thought because to me the map was the best it could possibly be. And comments like my mapping philosophy is somewhat the same as yours was only a compliment whereas I offensivly took it that you were the same if not better than me. You became famous within the twhl community because of your ability to produce maps with great solidarity, architecture, skill, and completedness so consistantly and quickly. I at one point almost left this site for good after the remake a game's judgement. I really do agree with you on judgement and that authority is only truly given to one that has knowledge and skill in the area that they are judging. Any time someone comments a map of mine I take into consideration the maps that they have made themselves. If they have many great maps than I hear their opinion more. When there vault is empty I listen to their ideas but also am in the position to consider wheather their opinions are legible or not. While they matter as does everyone's opinion, ones that come from people with experience are much more valuable and meeningfull. Id like to stay in touch with you because I know you are going to become a great architect and I too am going to college for architecture and want to become the best I can be.
Now as to the website dying, I agree that it is.. I also know exactly why.
The TWHL hldm server is down.
Competitions are heald rarely and when held, dude date is not strict and judgement takes a lifetime.
All of the good mappers have been either lazy or too busy with life to make some good maps, but whats the point of making a good dm map when no one will play them. Sart the server back up, set up a payment plan, make it happen!
THE RATING SYSTEM NEEDS 10 STARS NOT 5 STARS MAKE IT HAPPEN ! ! ! ! ! !
This is the only reason I almost never rate maps.
The moderators need to be active, rewarding, encouraging, and mappers themselves. Get mappin! No offence, I just don't think you should judge a competition without experience, in fact I know you shouldn't!