Brazil!

If you're from Brazil or nearby there's a new page for you on fb. Come Back To Brazil Rammstein has a cause worth supporting, so check it out.

Rammstein Communities

Community members should be aware by now that the official fan community forum has been exchanged for a community system, which works quite differently to a straight forum. It's been a shock to many, particularly the English-speaking users, who have found that having English and German users combined into one set of boards resulted in the proliferation of discussion in German, and a severe reduction in English threads. This has now been remedied, bringing about a great improvement in user-friendliness, but many English users have stopped visiting before the change. The only way to make the community revive for English-speaking users is to use the community, so I hope those who have faded away will come back and stamp their personalities all over the place, because we all know that Rammstein fans are personality-plus!

One thing I love about the new community is the ability to share media directly against your account, and the main community feed, so you can see where people are active. You can also friend people and filter the community feed to see what your friends in particular are up to. You can also subscribe to sections of the forum, so you get updated directly when people are engaging. It's very different to the old 'Fan Arena' format, but has way more potential for creating a real family of fans.

I for one have had fun visiting using the Chrome browser by Google. It has GLT built in, so you can go into the German section and read what people are saying, by accepting the browser's offer to translate. If you, like me, are trying to learn German, then switching the translator on and off, to see what is posted in both languages, is awesome.

Chrome is my browser of choice. It has issues with some stuff, so I keep my other browsers installed, but I primarily use Chrome, because it is a superior tool, in my opinion. In a multilingual scene, such as that of Rammstein fans, it really comes into its own. I can read Rammstein World and Rammstein Mexico without having to struggle with copying and pasting content into GLT.

Anyway, back on-point, I really hope people give the new community another chance. I had a really good explore last night, and find myself more and more pleased with it, but the lack of participation that has resulted from such a drastic change is not sustainable. We need to engage, support the community, and ensure it continues to improve.

Many of you won't know this, but I am an active campaigner to get Rammstein's fans to unite. Over the past 18 months-plus I have seen change, and more is to come. I hope these changes get the due consideration and support they deserve. The momentum needs to increase, rather than waning, as it has been, due to the ennui and jadedness of the fans.

My goal is to see more fans engaging on fb, Twitter, the official community, and on their own sites. Link to one another, communicate, and cooperate. Follow each other on Twitter, like each other on fb, join the official community, and link to all the other fan communities on your own fan-sites and MAKE it work. It won't happen overnight, as we have witnessed, but nor will it happen properly if we don't partake.

Okay, pep-talk over. Think it over.

Everything That Goes Down in Vegas Stays in Vegas

There's a fb page for those attending the May 21 show in Vegas who want to hook up with like-minded Rammstein fans. This is an awesome example of community at work. If you're going to Vegas check it out, and I'd love to hear of any more of these that pop up. If you find similar pages for other shows please do let me know!

RammsteiNZ - For Kiwi Rammstein Fans

I've started a NZ Rammstein fan-site at RammsteiNZ.com. I'd really appreciate it if you guys could propagate this, more particularly to any New Zealand residents or citizens you know. I am going to mirror the Rammstein news from here to that site, but keep the LILT stuff and the NZ-specific stuff separate.

The way I see it, there are two way Rammstein would come to NZ. The first is if they elected to take part in BDO (Big Day Out) again. The second is if a demonstrable number of interested fans piped up. I reckon the best way to achieve either is to create a NZ Rammstein fan community. This will be interesting...

Linkage

I'm going to put the list of links to Rammstein fan communities on by sidebar soon. If you know of any fan sites that are not listed here please let me know.

BOOBIES

Sorry, we now return you to our regular broadcast. You know how I was trying to sort out a definitive list of Rammstein fan communities late last year? I still am:

* Affenknecht.com (R+EU as was) - MANY
* DasSchoensteKind.de - DEU
* Endstation-Wuhlheide.com - DEU
* Feuerrader.pl - POL
* Herzeleid.com - ENG/DEU
* Mutter.ru - RU
* myspace.com/RammsteinColombia - SPA
* Neo-Rammstein.com - FRA
* Official Rammstein Site
* PlanetRammstein.com - FRA
* Rammchen.net - JPN
* RammImages.com - ENG
* Ra.mmste.in - ENG (this site)
* RammsteinBrasil.com.br - POR
* lifadchile.cl - SPA
* RammsteinChile.foroactivo.com - SPA
* RammsteinClub.com - SPA
* Rammstein.com.uy - SPA
* rammsteinfan.com.br - POR
* RammsteinFan.hu - HUN
* RammsteinFan.ru - RUS
* Rammstein-HQ.com - FIN
* Rammstein-la.com.ar - SPA
* Rammsteinturkiye.co.cc - TUR
* Rammstein.it - ITA
* Rammstein-Online.com - ENG
* Rammstein.ru - RUS
* RammsteinWorld.com - FRA
* Rammstein-Austria.com - DEU
* Rammstein-Portugal.com - POR
* Rammstein-Serbia.com - SR
* Rammstein-Stripped.com - SPA
* Rammstein.nl - NLD
* Rammstein.prv.pl - POL
* Rammstein.ro - RON
* Rammstein.se - SWE
* Rammstein.com.mx - SPA
* RammsteinNicCage.com - ENG
* RammsteinTR.com - TUR
* RFan.de - DEU
* RKult.com - SPA
* RockClan.ucoz.ru - RUS
* Rosenrot.ca - ENG
* Sehnsucht.dk - DAN
* Zerstoren.myfreeforum.org - ENG
* Zwitter.ru - RUS

What's missing still? I'm betting we've still got a lot to find, and I reckon most will not be English-language sites, so I don't have a snowflake's chance in hell of finding them by myself. As before all assistance appreciated!

[Removed RA-Forum.com as it's part of Rammstein-Austria.com]

[Update 2010.04.05: rammstein-online.com appears to be gone-burger, so I have struck it from the list]

[Update 2010.04.11: Added some more sites]

[Update 2010.05.04: Added Feuerrader]

[Update 2010.05.09: Added rammstein.prv.pl]

[Update 2010.05.18: Added rammstein-la.com.ar]

[discuss]

Help!

I am trying to compile a complete list of Rammstein websites. If you know of any that are not in the list below please contact me or comment here.

Я стараюсь, чтобы составить полный список сайтов, Rammstein. Если вы знаете те, которые не в приведенном ниже списке, пожалуйста свяжитесь со мной или комментарии. Просьба также простите меня. Я перевел с английского помощью Google Language Tools.

Staram się sporządzić kompletny wykaz stron internetowych poświęconych zespołowi Rammstein. Jeśli znasz jakieś, które nie są uwzględnione na poniższej liście proszę o kontakt lub komentarz - thanks to Hans for the correct translation

私はRammsteinウェブサイトの完全なリストをコンパイルしようとしています。がある場合は、以下のリストにない、私に連絡、またはここにコメントしてください知っている。してくださいまた、失礼します。私は英語からGoogleの言語ツールを使用し、この翻訳。

Аз се опитвам да се състави пълен списък на уебсайтове Рамщайн. Ако знаете на всякакви, които не са в списъка по-долу моля свържете се с мен или коментар тук. Моля също така ме извините. Аз превел от английски използвате Google Езикови настройки.

Snažím se sestavit kompletní seznam webových stránek Rammstein. Pokud víte o všech, které nejsou v seznamu níže prosím, kontaktujte mě nebo komentář zde. Také prosím omluvte mě. Já si to z angličtiny pomocí Google Jazykové nástroje.

내가 Rammstein 웹사이트의 전체 목록을 컴파일하려고입니다. 있으면 아래 목록에없는 사람들이 날에 문의하거나 여기에 덧글을 알아 주시기 바랍니다. 또한 실례합니다. 나는 영어에서 Google 언어 도구를 사용하여이 번역.

Próbálok összeállítani egy teljes listát Rammstein websites. Ha tudod, olyan, amelyek nem szerepelnek az alábbi listában, kérjük lépjen kapcsolatba velem vagy comment here. Kérjük, bocsásson meg. Én az angol fordítás a Google segítségével pár perc alatt.

Es cenšos sastādīt pilnu sarakstu Rammstein websites. Ja jūs zināt visu, kas nav šajā sarakstā, lūdzu, sazinieties ar mani vai komentēt šeit. Lūdzam arī excuse me. Es rehabilitācijas no angļu, izmantojot Google Language Tools.

我尝试编译的战车网站的完整列表。如果您知道任何在下面的列表中没有请与我联系，或在这里评论。还请原谅。我翻译的英文本使用谷歌语言工具。

Я прагну, щоб скласти повний список сайтів, Rammstein. Якщо ви знаєте ті, які не в наведеному нижче списку, будь ласка зв'яжіться зі мною або коментарі. Прохання також вибачте мене. Я переклав з англійської допомогою Google Language Tools.

मैं Rammstein वेबसाइटों की एक पूरी सूची के संकलन की कोशिश कर रहा हूँ. यदि आप किसी भी है कि नीचे दी गई सूची में कृपया मुझे संपर्क करें या यहाँ टिप्पणी नहीं कर रहे हैं पता है. कृपया यह भी मुझे माफ करना. मैंने अंग्रेजी से अनुवाद गूगल भाषा उपकरण का उपयोग कर.

* Affenknecht.com (R+EU as was) - MANY
* DasSchoensteKind.de - DEU
* Herzeleid.com - ENG/DEU
* Mutter.ru - RU
* Neo-Rammstein.com - FRA
* Official Rammstein Site
* PlanetRammstein.com - FRA
* Rammchen.net - JPN
* RammImages.com - ENG
* Ra.mmste.in - ENG (this site)
* RammsteinBrasil.com.br - POR
* RammsteinChile.foroactivo.com - SPA
* RammsteinClub.com - SPA
* Rammstein.com.uy - SPA
* RammsteinFan.hu - HUN
* RammsteinFan.ru - RUS
* Rammstein-HQ.com - FIN
* Rammstein.it - ITA
* Rammstein-Online.com - ENG
* Rammstein.ru - RUS
* RammsteinWorld.com - FRA
* Rammstein-Austria.com - DEU
* Rammstein-Portugal.com - POR
* Rammstein-Serbia.com - SR
* Rammstein-Stripped.com - SPA
* Rammstein.nl - NLD
* Rammstein.ro - RON
* Rammstein.se - SWE
* Rammstein.com.mx - SPA
* RammsteinNicCage.com - ENG
* RammsteinTR.com - TUR
* RFan.de - DEU
* RKult.com - SPA
* RockClan.ucoz.ru - RUS
* Rosenrot.ca - ENG
* Sehnsucht.dk - DAN
* Zerstoren.myfreeforum.org - ENG
* Zwitter.ru - RUS


This is a mad punt. This is the same thing in a random range of languages from Google Language Tools (apart from the Polish). I really hope people will help! Sorry if the above has butchered your language...

Community List

Mehr!

I need to ensure my fan community list is complete. I have a list of links on the Rammage Control site, but doubt that this is complete.

If you know of a Rammstein fan community can you please look at the list, see if it's there, and if it isn't let me know. Comments can be left on the RC site or I can be emailed either at lilt (at) rammstein.me or at theletter (at) rammstein.me.

[discuss]

From Rammstein Europe to Enslaved Simian

Rammstein Europe is back as affenknecht.com. The forums will be back in service once the nod has been given. Here's to no more abuse of External's forum! Don't post copyright material there and we should be okay...

[discuss]

Community Rammagement

I'm starting a new project. It's entirely unrelated to LILT, aside from the fact that it's Rammstein-based, but it's going to go on quietly in the background in parallel with it, using the communities I'm now part of because of LILT and Rammstein.

I'm going to write a proposal for Pilgrim and Rammstein. I'm going to work very hard on it. I'm then going to bind it and post it to Pilgrim, Rammstein, Universal Music, and anyone else I can find with a stake in Rammstein. This proposal is going to include community management strategies and also ideas for building PR. I'm no PR expert, but I'm more up with community management and I've got a solid idea of how that ties in to PR. I may need to tap some PR experts for help with this.

Either way, I've decided that something has to change, or Rammstein's fan-base is going to suffer a serious reduction in numbers and a highly negative disillusionment if things continue as they have, most particularly as pertains to the issue of IP protection. The PR and community management for Rammstein is either non-existent or horribly bad. This must change.

Rammstein and Pilgrim can't rely on the intrinsic loyalty of their fans. Yes, it's intense. It's exceptionally strong, given the PR (or lack thereof) we've seen. It's not enough though. There needs to be some love flowing the other way. SOON.

If you have gripes about how the band is presented to the world, with the communications between the band and their fan-base, with the implementation of ideas such as the ticket roll-out last month, with any aspect of the band's public interface, please write to me. Send me your rants, your reasons, your broken hearts. I need them!

[discuss]

Update: I've realised that I will of course have to buy a Fan Arena membership to do this properly, but simply can't afford it at the moment. This may push out my time-frame of a couple of months to be a bit longer, but I will do this.

Stranger Than Fiction

Fan fiction on the whole doesn't worry me. I've read some excellent fan fiction based on a range of of properties, from TV shows to books to movies. I do have a bit of a problem with real people fiction, but it's my problem. I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with writing about real people, so long as consideration is given to those people, their families, and their friends.

Equally, I have no real objection to pornography. It can be fun, is generally interesting, if well-written, and most definitely has a place in the world of literature and film. I think publishing it in such a way that it doesn't fall into the wrong hands is also important, since sex isn't always missionary position and romantic romps in front of roaring fireplaces, but otherwise it's open slather.

What I get really antsy about is a type of fan fiction, referred to as slash or het, depending on whether the subjects go for their own sex or the other, as it is applied to real people. It's not so much its existence that worries me, though I really don't want to be exposed to it myself. It's the manner in which it is often published, i.e. unsecured. I do think that if you're going to write erotica about a person that is alive (and probably famous, given the fact of it being 'fan fiction') you should take into account the fact that your subject is a real person with real family and friends, and that all those people concerned have feelings, both about one another and about what is published about them.

I got a little preachy in a thread on Rammstein Europe's discussion boards recently about precisely this subject, asking that people who write porn fiction about Rammstein be careful about how they publish their work. I pissed some people off, but I genuinely feel this subject shouldn't be dismissed.

Rammstein, and other objects of such enthusiastic fan-dom, are generally big enough and ugly enough to look after themselves, but that's no reason to disregard their feelings or their loved ones. Sure, write your sickest fantasies about Rammstein out, if that floats your boat, and share them with like-minded souls if you feel the need, but is it really that hard to make sure the children of the object of your desire can't possibly find your work? Is it really so onerous to find a responsible and courteous way to share your writings so your idol's mother is safe from the mental image of her son being bent over and very thoroughly reamed by his best friend? It can't be so very troublesome, surely...

Because I've made my feelings and views about this pretty clear I've opted to put my money where my mouth is and have created a hidden forum on You.Rammstein.Me for Rammstein fan art and fiction, more particularly that of a sexual nature. The forum can only be viewed and posted to by forum users who're in the group set up specifically for that forum, and only I can add users to that group. This way people have a place to share and discuss their fan fiction, be it written by them or by someone else, where there's no real chance of it causing problems. I'm actually going to set a robots file up so it's not searchable in the major search engines too.

Because it have a genuine distaste for this kind of fan fiction I won't be using that forum at all, but have found two fan fiction aficionados with thicker skin than mine, who will manage it for me. At present there is no content in the forum, and only one user in the group, but if you wish to partake and perhaps get the ball rolling sign up for the forum and let me know, and I'll add you to the group. This may be done by emailing me or by PMing me via the discussion board.

[discuss]

New Voices

I'm excited. Both Drax, who so kindly helped me with Feuer und Wasser and Rein Raus, and Kitty Alea, who's also taken a really encouraging interest in LILT, are vocalists. They're both looking to record themselves singing one or more of my LILTs. This is such a huge deal for me, because I am not a singer at all. I've never heard my versions of Till's work sung at all. I play the Rammstein songs over and over and sub-vocalise my words as they play, and that's really as close as I get to trying out my work. Actually getting to hear someone who can sing in key going through them is something I can hardly wait for. So. Very. Cool.

[discuss]

You. Rammstein. Me

I've created a small discussion board for this project and for Rammstein fans in general. It's called You.Rammstein.Me and that's also the URL. Handy, huh? I have my moments.

I have no idea if it'll get any use. It's really just there as a reasonably static place for people to post, because the comments functionality on this site is rather transient, as posts fade into the archives.

I'm not a big fan of over-moderation, so I'm fairly relaxed in how I operate communities, but if anyone abuses anything, be it the board, each other, the law, etc. I'll simply get rid of the post, the thread, or the user, depending on how seriously I take the post, my mood, and which way the wind is blowing.

I hope people use it, but I by no means expect them to.