The State of the Community: An opinion by Psi

[Noobert]

This photograph goes with so many posts in this thread.

And at this point, Turkey is just becoming more laughable.

[Robe]

I don't know PSI bothered to start this thread.

All I see is moderators defending the status quo instead of listening to what players are posting in order to find opportunities for improvement.

[Empy]

I don't know PSI bothered to start this thread.

All I see is moderators defending the status quo instead of listening to what players are posting in order to find opportunities for improvement.

I know you CANNOT be serious. I really CANNOT.

After every post I have made, and after every suggestion I have put forth for people to help us improve, you're really going to make that post?

First of all, very few people, if any, are actually suggesting improvements. Second of all, I believe anyone that has put forth constructive criticism, I have responded to. So having a discussion about the idea they brought forth is "defending the status quo?" Well then what, praytell, would be the correct responses?

[Psi Kiya Trist]

several things have come of this thread already, it seems to have worked rather well, from an unexpected source did suggestions for improvement come. so clearly it was needed.

[Juliette]

I know you CANNOT be serious. I really CANNOT.

After every post I have made, and after every suggestion I have put forth for people to help us improve, you're really going to make that post?

First of all, very few people, if any, are actually suggesting improvements. Second of all, I believe anyone that has put forth constructive criticism, I have responded to. So have a discussion about the idea they brought forth is "defending the status quo?" Well then what, praytell, would be the correct responses?

She is not serious. Obviously that was a very bad joke. Have to agree that of all of us, you have been one of the more vocal ones when it comes to improvements.

I don't know PSI bothered to start this thread.

All I see is moderators defending the status quo instead of listening to what players are posting in order to find opportunities for improvement.

Defending a status quo is contrary to the prior existence of said status quo. If you lack the means to change it for the better (and you do, blinded by hatred and political motivation as you are), the lesser of two evils is the best option to go with. If a true status quo existed, it would be natural. The status quo as it is, is maintained by power. You do not have it, and the Administration does (not us measly mods, no.. the Administration). When you are going to go after the Administration, you should first get yourself and your groupies (no disrespect, just not sure of the proper word) some power. Anything else is idle chatter.

There are levels of survival we are willing to tolerate.

[semper]

I think you've all (the ones I deemed worth reading in the very short time I come near things SGW related now) have overcomplicated it.

Three factors...

Main Reason: The main reason is just the day and age. Game is on the way out.. Nothing last's forever.. old players grow up and move out.
[spoiler]say what you want to get through the night but the game IS on the decline, the game IS going down and the community isn't the bright eyed bushy tailed youngsters to whom the idea of something like this is new. Stargate itself is gone and well... this is just the natural progression - death. (un)fortunately SGW is going slowly.[/spoiler]

Forums: How much crap has gone down here over the years? SO much drama, over zealous RP's and corruption do put people off.
[spoiler]Lousy mods, admins, trolls... hell I stopped coming on here as much because I did and still do think the entire forum team is a joke. I don't want to grace the forums with a character so many once loved (and loved to hate) when I just get a bunch of thankless oaths trying to tell me how I should be. The debacles, scandals, ridiculous notions of Spam vs General... well it's all a bunch of tosh tbh and I KNOW it's put people off.[/spoiler]

Repetition: The game system is limited, the community here is a pool of fairly similar minded groups.. really there is only so much you can say and do with these tools before it's all been done.[spoiler]Only so many times you can debate $$ vs home grown or ETL can report massing a cheater or I can troll the latest moron looking for some sad fame. Eventually the things that used to be edxciting to talk about become common place and that attitude is imposed on the new players who learn from the old until well... why are we here?[/spoiler]

[killtacular]

I really do not care who is atop of the admin team, I do care when said person gives me an answer of I said so . I have seen that from 2 admins in the past from the same situation I was trying to get an answer about . I said so is not a response you want to hear from someone in a leadership role. I have thes pms from them and IM SURE THERE THE ONES STILL IN CHARGE.

[RoKeT]

I really do not care who is atop of the admin team, I do care when said person gives me an answer of I said so . I have seen that from 2 admins in the past from the same situation I was trying to get an answer about . I said so is not a response you want to hear from someone in a leadership role. I have thes pms from them and IM SURE THERE THE ONES STILL IN CHARGE.

I won't fight you on not liking the Admin team a few months ago but are the issues recent? Everyone knows I HATED Earendil or however he spells his god damn forumn name xD but recently he has been pretty cool along with a lot of mod's that i've had issues with... I was just wondering if these PM"s or issues were even recent or if they are old issues?

[killtacular]

I really do not care who is atop of the admin team, I do care when said person gives me an answer of I said so . I have seen that from 2 admins in the past from the same situation I was trying to get an answer about . I said so is not a response you want to hear from someone in a leadership role. I have thes pms from them and IM SURE THERE THE ONES STILL IN CHARGE.

I won't fight you on not liking the Admin team a few months ago but are the issues recent? Everyone knows I HATED Eärendil or however he spells his god damn forumn name xD but recently he has been pretty cool along with a lot of mod's that i've had issues with... I was just wondering if these PM"s or issues were even recent or if they are old issues?

oct 2010

[Guild]

i find that some of the mods are helpful in cases but, there is definately an issue with the mods who have been ...lets say in power for a long period of time and it has gone to their heads.

[Mordack]

I've seen cases of people who have been a mod for a long time losing touch of what it's like to be a user. It's not always a case of becoming consumed with power, or letting it go to your head. They just forget what it's like to see things from that perspective.

In my opinion, two of the most important qualities in a successful moderator are empathy and good judgement. Being able to understand that different problems require different solutions, and that enforcing the rules to the hilt isn't always the best solution to a problem. If two users are in a heated argument, and one of them steps out of line, or swears, then it's better to give them a polite warning. Nine times out of ten, this works. Stamping your boot down straight away, especially with someone whose already in a temper, will lead to an ugly confrontation. Similarly, if someone breaks the rules through genuine ignorance, then it's better to just remind them to look at the guidelines instead of immediately warning them. People who genuinely break the rules for the sake of it are few and far between, and the majority of users who transgress have either done so misguidedly or are not repeat offenders. They may seem like small courtesies, but I find they go a long way toward building a better relationship between the moderators and the users.

[Juliette]

I've seen cases of people who have been a mod for a long time losing touch of what it's like to be a user. It's not always a case of becoming consumed with power, or letting it go to your head. They just forget what it's like to see things from that perspective.

Yup. I have been back to regular usership for a while after I came back, and it can be an eye-opener. Sure helps to see thing with somewhat more perspective.

In my opinion, two of the most important qualities in a successful moderator are empathy and good judgement. Being able to understand that different problems require different solutions, and that enforcing the rules to the hilt isn't always the best solution to a problem. If two users are in a heated argument, and one of them steps out of line, or swears, then it's better to give them a polite warning. Nine times out of ten, this works. Stamping your boot down straight away, especially with someone whose already in a temper, will lead to an ugly confrontation. Similarly, if someone breaks the rules through genuine ignorance, then it's better to just remind them to look at the guidelines instead of immediately warning them. People who genuinely break the rules for the sake of it are few and far between, and the majority of users who transgress have either done so misguidedly or are not repeat offenders. They may seem like small courtesies, but I find they go a long way toward building a better relationship between the moderators and the users.

Something I have advocated for a long time. Social modding. Works excellently, and I second Mordack in recommending it to everyone in these roles.

[Mordack]

I've seen cases of people who have been a mod for a long time losing touch of what it's like to be a user. It's not always a case of becoming consumed with power, or letting it go to your head. They just forget what it's like to see things from that perspective.

Yup. I have been back to regular usership for a while after I came back, and it can be an eye-opener. Sure helps to see thing with somewhat more perspective.

In my opinion, two of the most important qualities in a successful moderator are empathy and good judgement. Being able to understand that different problems require different solutions, and that enforcing the rules to the hilt isn't always the best solution to a problem. If two users are in a heated argument, and one of them steps out of line, or swears, then it's better to give them a polite warning. Nine times out of ten, this works. Stamping your boot down straight away, especially with someone whose already in a temper, will lead to an ugly confrontation. Similarly, if someone breaks the rules through genuine ignorance, then it's better to just remind them to look at the guidelines instead of immediately warning them. People who genuinely break the rules for the sake of it are few and far between, and the majority of users who transgress have either done so misguidedly or are not repeat offenders. They may seem like small courtesies, but I find they go a long way toward building a better relationship between the moderators and the users.

Something I have advocated for a long time. Social modding. Works excellently, and I second Mordack in recommending it to everyone in these roles.

Conversely, the same thing applies to users. Even if a moderator has made a mistake, the best response isn't to immediately fly into a rage at them. With every insult, and every threat, you are making them less likely to them listen to your argument. PM them quietly. Explain why you think the warning was unfair. Explain that you weren't aware of the rule. Explain the circumstances. Do it calmly, and do it courteously. My first warning was from FreeSpirit, and it got removed. This was a long time before the ombudsman. It happened because I spoke to him politely on MSN and explained why I thought it was wrong. He saw my point, and removed it himself. I didn't go over his head, I didn't threaten him, and I didn't mention his mother once. It can work, you know.

[Juliette]

I've seen cases of people who have been a mod for a long time losing touch of what it's like to be a user. It's not always a case of becoming consumed with power, or letting it go to your head. They just forget what it's like to see things from that perspective.

Yup. I have been back to regular usership for a while after I came back, and it can be an eye-opener. Sure helps to see thing with somewhat more perspective.

In my opinion, two of the most important qualities in a successful moderator are empathy and good judgement. Being able to understand that different problems require different solutions, and that enforcing the rules to the hilt isn't always the best solution to a problem. If two users are in a heated argument, and one of them steps out of line, or swears, then it's better to give them a polite warning. Nine times out of ten, this works. Stamping your boot down straight away, especially with someone whose already in a temper, will lead to an ugly confrontation. Similarly, if someone breaks the rules through genuine ignorance, then it's better to just remind them to look at the guidelines instead of immediately warning them. People who genuinely break the rules for the sake of it are few and far between, and the majority of users who transgress have either done so misguidedly or are not repeat offenders. They may seem like small courtesies, but I find they go a long way toward building a better relationship between the moderators and the users.

Something I have advocated for a long time. Social modding. Works excellently, and I second Mordack in recommending it to everyone in these roles.

Conversely, the same thing applies to users. Even if a moderator has made a mistake, the best response isn't to immediately fly into a rage at them. With every insult, and every threat, you are making them less likely to them listen to your argument. PM them quietly. Explain why you think the warning was unfair. Explain that you weren't aware of the rule. Explain the circumstances. Do it calmly, and do it courteously. My first warning was from FreeSpirit, and it got removed. This was a long time before the ombudsman. It happened because I spoke to him politely on MSN and explained why I thought it was wrong. He saw my point, and removed it himself. I didn't go over his head, I didn't threaten him, and I didn't mention his mother once. It can work, you know.

Being first and foremost a forum user myself, I cannot agree more.

[Empy]

I've seen cases of people who have been a mod for a long time losing touch of what it's like to be a user. It's not always a case of becoming consumed with power, or letting it go to your head. They just forget what it's like to see things from that perspective.

Yup. I have been back to regular usership for a while after I came back, and it can be an eye-opener. Sure helps to see thing with somewhat more perspective.

In my opinion, two of the most important qualities in a successful moderator are empathy and good judgement. Being able to understand that different problems require different solutions, and that enforcing the rules to the hilt isn't always the best solution to a problem. If two users are in a heated argument, and one of them steps out of line, or swears, then it's better to give them a polite warning. Nine times out of ten, this works. Stamping your boot down straight away, especially with someone whose already in a temper, will lead to an ugly confrontation. Similarly, if someone breaks the rules through genuine ignorance, then it's better to just remind them to look at the guidelines instead of immediately warning them. People who genuinely break the rules for the sake of it are few and far between, and the majority of users who transgress have either done so misguidedly or are not repeat offenders. They may seem like small courtesies, but I find they go a long way toward building a better relationship between the moderators and the users.

Something I have advocated for a long time. Social modding. Works excellently, and I second Mordack in recommending it to everyone in these roles.

Conversely, the same thing applies to users. Even if a moderator has made a mistake, the best response isn't to immediately fly into a rage at them. With every insult, and every threat, you are making them less likely to them listen to your argument. PM them quietly. Explain why you think the warning was unfair. Explain that you weren't aware of the rule. Explain the circumstances. Do it calmly, and do it courteously. My first warning was from FreeSpirit, and it got removed. This was a long time before the ombudsman. It happened because I spoke to him politely on MSN and explained why I thought it was wrong. He saw my point, and removed it himself. I didn't go over his head, I didn't threaten him, and I didn't mention his mother once. It can work, you know.

I can say I've done the same thing as FreeSpirit more than a few times. If someone wants to come and calmly talk to me about the warning, there is probably a good chance I will be persuaded that it wasn't necessary to warn them. On the other side of things, if someone rages in the same topic I warned them, yelling about Mods, or sends me a raging PM, then they have almost no chance ...