FML Community: Embarrassment of Riches, or Simply an Embarrassment?

BertieBG explains why the new "subscriber discussion" forum has no public access:

The reason we have set the current subscriber forums to private is because it will make us feel more comfortable in talking in detail about updates, your concerns and new features without feeling like we are sending confusing messages to those using the forums to find out more about the game and to find out whether they want to give signing up to the game a go.

*cough* Horseshit *cough* You'd have to be pretty naive to believe that:

I think people understand that persistent world online games are ongoing development projects that will constantly receive updates/patches/whatever-the-developer-labels-them -- it's part of the justification behind the monthly fees afterall, so this shouldn't concern anyone at SI or SEGA really

I don't think that anyone who'd consider playing a game like FML is going to view the fact it receives regular updates, including substantial new function such as the upcoming Academies, in a negative light.
- Durera

MyNameIsJohn was pretty blunt in his take on the changes:

Dress it up how you like but it's pretty obvious that the current subscriber forum has been made private to avoid potential new users being put off by negative posts. Surprised it's taken this long. Not surprised that SEGA/SI can't be honest about it though.
- MyNameIsJohn

In fairness SI responded to the criticism when it would have been very easy to simply ignore it:

It would be a lie to say that this wasn't a consideration, but the reason why we decided down this route was that we strongly felt that new users were potentially intimidated by the forums and wanted to change things to make it so that new people feel more comfortable about getting involved.
- BertieBG

Others raised the point that rather than improving the public perception of the game this move makes it look as if there is a problem:

Ok i think it is a terrible idea just like the person above does, in away you showing/proving that you have something to hide and therefore, you are saying yourself that the game/community has BIG problems.
- mkij

At the end of the day it seems to this cynical old man that the new structure looks like something a marketing dept would dream up without any real understanding of online communities. The General Discussion board is pretty messy and could definitely do with stronger moderation and some structure, however it is by no means any worse than any other gaming message board.

So, are SI ashamed of the community? I guess you can understand why they might be when you see "contributions" like the following:

KEEP YOUR STADIUM - It'll just be half full for a while;
KEEP SOME CASH - probably more than you will ever earn in real life anyway; and,
call your mum, she is concerned that having you as an only child has led to you wasting your life as a miserable selfish cokhaed that couldnt string a sentence together if it was for a chance to lose that virginity that keeps you locked inside all day.

How about some constructive criticism? Or build on it? Or learn to tie knots so you can hurry up and hang yourself?
- oscclever