Post by Llau on Jul 25, 2015 18:04:32 GMT -6
Hey guys, this is to Kill and Dave about some of the website changes, but I decided to post it here after thinking that other members would like to discuss this since I just came back after dealing with real life issues somewhat. Nothing bad really, Kill, Dave, but these are my thoughts, and I do have questions concerning these changes too.
As a former staff member and administrator, I hope you guys take what I say into consideration.
I honestly find the guidelines don't need to be changed or made anew. People just need to learn to grow up and become responsible people. We are all fans here. Of course, no one is perfect, and we do or say stupid shit when things get heated over something silly or over something both parties don't agree with. People just need to take a step back, breathe, and do something else if something/someone makes someone mad to the point that they will argue with each other. If they want to be immature, then ban them from the Cbox after you warn them once to stop. You said it yourself...it's a privilege, thanks to Dave, not a right. Send them a message quietly over the PM system, and tell them why and for how long, or if it's permanent. If they still complain or if they keep doing what they are doing, then that is their problem, not the staff. And if the member of the staff team is causing the problems, deal with them accordingly, just like everyone else. No one should be held above all others if they want to cause trouble with other members of this community.
I agree, to a point. The coups are annoying, really, but if someone on the staff team, especially the administrators who need to be here more than the mods, aren't fulfilling their duties that they promise to do, then maybe it's about time to reconsider their position. Then there are the administrators who end up being pretty bad (Saren...Abroad); which I highly doubt you two will end up becoming like. At least, I hope not. 
I've been there...we've all been there, but if real life gets in the way of the site, it's better for the individual to step down before it gets bad. Dealing with real life issues, and getting your priorities straight is more important than the rank/color your name has...believe me. You guys know this, I know, but still.
Now, I wouldn't say members who have a problem shouldn't demand a staff member to be removed, because that really doesn't work out for the best (it works out, but a lot of hurt is involved on both sides) if members would just voice their concerns with the staff, in a PM or an open discussion with the rest of the community (you guys want trust, then that is the best way to do it), then they shouldn't be afraid to go to you. The staff should also not be afraid to make changes either, I agree...the same thing won't make everyone happy. So, treating this area like...customer service - a better one - would be the best course of action.
I'll be honest, and take this as you well, but if you guys want to implement this, then you should lead by example and kill your high-tiered characters off since they have survived longer than they should have, like you said there. Just...when you do, make it meaningful, and not just because they've survived this long. That's no small feat in Halo.
The rest though, I understand...no one likes god-modding. I certainly don't. No character is invulnerable, that includes Covenant characters...they may be tougher, but they can still bleed and can still die/suffer from injuries.
All of us have worked really hard on our character profiles, and have become attached to them. So, yeah, hard to kill them off or maim them somehow. So, I ask you this...do you guys really want this? There are pros and cons to this, which...feel free to add to it.
Pros: Congrats, your character acts like a real person and not something that was just created to interact with others. You can make another character if one of them ends up dying, perhaps even a better one too! That's always a good feeling. We can make our own war memorial for the fallen UNSC/Covies. It'll weed out the god-modders, that's for sure.
Cons: I really can't think of any...unless someone thinks it won't be good somehow?
Edit: Here are some cons I can think of.
People will feel like their profile has gone to waste
. They won't put as much effort into profiles
and will be upset that their work has to die.
As a former staff member and administrator, I hope you guys take what I say into consideration.
#1: New CBox regulations
We're updating how the CBox will be used by the members. One of the problems of the CBox - which directly associates itself with our role-play - is that it's a source for drama, problems and attitude that develops an unwanted atmosphere here. In order to combat that negative atmosphere we need a new set of guidelines that governs how the members use this paid-for feature. Firstly, we all need to recognize the CBox isn't a god-given right. It is a paid for privilege, remember that please.
The new CBox regulations will hopefully disrupt the following:
1) Snide Comments
2) Disrespectful Comments
3) Disrespectful Attitude
4) Rude Comments
5) Smarmy Comments
6) Offensive Comments
For a complete list of rules check the CBox Rules thread after the update is complete.
We're updating how the CBox will be used by the members. One of the problems of the CBox - which directly associates itself with our role-play - is that it's a source for drama, problems and attitude that develops an unwanted atmosphere here. In order to combat that negative atmosphere we need a new set of guidelines that governs how the members use this paid-for feature. Firstly, we all need to recognize the CBox isn't a god-given right. It is a paid for privilege, remember that please.
The new CBox regulations will hopefully disrupt the following:
1) Snide Comments
2) Disrespectful Comments
3) Disrespectful Attitude
4) Rude Comments
5) Smarmy Comments
6) Offensive Comments
For a complete list of rules check the CBox Rules thread after the update is complete.
I honestly find the guidelines don't need to be changed or made anew. People just need to learn to grow up and become responsible people. We are all fans here. Of course, no one is perfect, and we do or say stupid shit when things get heated over something silly or over something both parties don't agree with. People just need to take a step back, breathe, and do something else if something/someone makes someone mad to the point that they will argue with each other. If they want to be immature, then ban them from the Cbox after you warn them once to stop. You said it yourself...it's a privilege, thanks to Dave, not a right. Send them a message quietly over the PM system, and tell them why and for how long, or if it's permanent. If they still complain or if they keep doing what they are doing, then that is their problem, not the staff. And if the member of the staff team is causing the problems, deal with them accordingly, just like everyone else. No one should be held above all others if they want to cause trouble with other members of this community.
#2: New Website Regulations
I'll be honest, there is no way to address this without pissing people off. But - as administrators have learned in their time of governing the website - is that without pissing at least someone off you're not making progress. Someone will always disagree with your decisions. So, here it is, in the most honest way I can write. Some of you will not like this *cough* while others will support it. You'll have to decide if you will support it or not.
Firstly, let's be honest with each other, there have been enough coups that I'm surprised the website still has 'administrator' ranks. With how many coups we've had - and I've done one myself - it should be titled 'temporary website bitch', because that's how the rank feels. That is, to be honest, how insecure the rank actually is. The website is in a volatile mess in regards to the staff ranks; the moment a single member gets upset with a decisions a staff member made that staff member has a legitimate reason to suspect a coup or someone attempting to remove them from the staff team.
This update is going to eradicate that specific portion in our websites culture. No longer will the staff team be afraid of making a call that will upset people. The staff team has tried to keep the members happy, and that's not a bad thing. However... it is detrimental to the staff team as we have to focus our efforts not upsetting anyone, which harms our ability to trust the members and has cost the staff team opportunities to improve upon the website.
This means that demanding a staff member to be removed or attempting a coup will yield no results anymore. The only result will be a punishment to the individuals responsible.
I'll be honest, there is no way to address this without pissing people off. But - as administrators have learned in their time of governing the website - is that without pissing at least someone off you're not making progress. Someone will always disagree with your decisions. So, here it is, in the most honest way I can write. Some of you will not like this *cough* while others will support it. You'll have to decide if you will support it or not.
Firstly, let's be honest with each other, there have been enough coups that I'm surprised the website still has 'administrator' ranks. With how many coups we've had - and I've done one myself - it should be titled 'temporary website bitch', because that's how the rank feels. That is, to be honest, how insecure the rank actually is. The website is in a volatile mess in regards to the staff ranks; the moment a single member gets upset with a decisions a staff member made that staff member has a legitimate reason to suspect a coup or someone attempting to remove them from the staff team.
This update is going to eradicate that specific portion in our websites culture. No longer will the staff team be afraid of making a call that will upset people. The staff team has tried to keep the members happy, and that's not a bad thing. However... it is detrimental to the staff team as we have to focus our efforts not upsetting anyone, which harms our ability to trust the members and has cost the staff team opportunities to improve upon the website.
This means that demanding a staff member to be removed or attempting a coup will yield no results anymore. The only result will be a punishment to the individuals responsible.
I've been there...we've all been there, but if real life gets in the way of the site, it's better for the individual to step down before it gets bad. Dealing with real life issues, and getting your priorities straight is more important than the rank/color your name has...believe me. You guys know this, I know, but still.
Now, I wouldn't say members who have a problem shouldn't demand a staff member to be removed, because that really doesn't work out for the best (it works out, but a lot of hurt is involved on both sides) if members would just voice their concerns with the staff, in a PM or an open discussion with the rest of the community (you guys want trust, then that is the best way to do it), then they shouldn't be afraid to go to you. The staff should also not be afraid to make changes either, I agree...the same thing won't make everyone happy. So, treating this area like...customer service - a better one - would be the best course of action.
#3: Character vulnerability
I'll be honest again with you guys. We've all treated our characters like they're bad asses, capable of mowing down armies by themselves and not getting a scratch. Of course that's exaggerated, for most of us it's killing one or two more things than we should. For example, my Admiral has survived in space longer than he realistically should have despite usually being disabled or hit by weapons that canonically would have killed him.
Another example is a forty year old Marine with the rank of Sergeant Major cutting through a platoon of grunts by himself and at the end of a mission he would only receive battle damage from plasma that only burned him, when realistically he should have been dead. Character vulnerability is being introduced into our RP.
What is character vulnerability? A member of the website can report a post that they feel is too unrealistic to the staff members, including staff posts themselves. The staff will review these posts and decide if the action within the post would have realistically resulted in injuries, including death.
This doesn't mean your character dies every time the staff reviews a post that someone felt was too unrealistic. It could, however, mean that your character gets injured beyond what you'd like. For staff reported posts, another staff member will review the post and the reported staff member will have no say in what happens. Additionally, a member can appeal a decision by editing his post to be more realistic.
I'll be honest again with you guys. We've all treated our characters like they're bad asses, capable of mowing down armies by themselves and not getting a scratch. Of course that's exaggerated, for most of us it's killing one or two more things than we should. For example, my Admiral has survived in space longer than he realistically should have despite usually being disabled or hit by weapons that canonically would have killed him.
Another example is a forty year old Marine with the rank of Sergeant Major cutting through a platoon of grunts by himself and at the end of a mission he would only receive battle damage from plasma that only burned him, when realistically he should have been dead. Character vulnerability is being introduced into our RP.
What is character vulnerability? A member of the website can report a post that they feel is too unrealistic to the staff members, including staff posts themselves. The staff will review these posts and decide if the action within the post would have realistically resulted in injuries, including death.
This doesn't mean your character dies every time the staff reviews a post that someone felt was too unrealistic. It could, however, mean that your character gets injured beyond what you'd like. For staff reported posts, another staff member will review the post and the reported staff member will have no say in what happens. Additionally, a member can appeal a decision by editing his post to be more realistic.
The rest though, I understand...no one likes god-modding. I certainly don't. No character is invulnerable, that includes Covenant characters...they may be tougher, but they can still bleed and can still die/suffer from injuries.
All of us have worked really hard on our character profiles, and have become attached to them. So, yeah, hard to kill them off or maim them somehow. So, I ask you this...do you guys really want this? There are pros and cons to this, which...feel free to add to it.
Pros: Congrats, your character acts like a real person and not something that was just created to interact with others. You can make another character if one of them ends up dying, perhaps even a better one too! That's always a good feeling. We can make our own war memorial for the fallen UNSC/Covies. It'll weed out the god-modders, that's for sure.
Cons: I really can't think of any...unless someone thinks it won't be good somehow?
Edit: Here are some cons I can think of.
People will feel like their profile has gone to waste
. They won't put as much effort into profiles
and will be upset that their work has to die.
" 
