MOD ANNOUNCEMENT

[theearth]

As many of you are aware, there has been a recent incident involving ourselves and a few players. We wish to address this matter here.

Firstly, we apologize not only for our delay in speaking on this, but for our own behavior during this. We do take fault for having been too inflexible on the matter which started everything. All of us are to blame for this inflexibility and we all take responsibility for it; not just one mod is fully to blame for anything which happened. The plot the player desired should not have been dealt with in the way that it was. Our reasoning had been that we had not seen evidence that the plot had been set in stone, we had not been given reason why change was necessary to reconcile the plots, and that the details behind this plot/what was needed to occur to bring it to fruition were not brought to us. We offered one compromise, it was not taken, and we should have been more flexible about offering further compromises. We are, again, sorry for that inflexibility on our end.

Secondly, to prevent any risk of this sort of situation ever happening again, we are discussing a frankly overdue new system of accounting for, organizing, and simplifying coordination between planned plots, both meta and player. Details on it will be coming soon.

And thirdly, the mod with the most concerns voiced about her has been issued a warning, and will be taking far less of a stance involving plot-related issues for the time being. We will monitor her behavior to ensure a repeat of this kind of situation does not occur again and, should it, she will be dealt with. In line with those concerns, while she will still be involved in plotting and whatever issues may come to us, the other mods will have far greater a say, and will be considered the figures of authority where directly addressing player concerns and needs is concerned.

However, what we stand firm about is that ganging up on a person while refusing their own comfort is not permissible. The mod in question had become extremely uncomfortable having so many people, including one not in the game, on her all at once while she was not feeling well. This was the reason warnings were issued. We do, however, concede to having been too impulsive in issuing warnings to all involved, and once more, we do apologize to the parties who had been warned without having acted severely enough to warrant a warning. All but one of the warnings has been lifted.

Finally, not all the mods are experienced mods, and even the more experienced mods will acknowledge they can always use some help. So please, we ask that if any of you have any suggestions on how we might improve to come and tell us.

Thank you and, once again, we all apologize for our respective parts in this situation.

Comments to this post are enabled. At request, they have been unscreened. If you have left a screened comment and would like it unscreened, please indicate so! As per the suggestion of Guin, if you would prefer to leave us a screened comment, please do so on the Mod Contact post.

We will make a second post addressing those concerns, resolutions, and invitation of a second round of feedback as soon as we're able.

UPDATE - 5/3:

The StE modteam is currently planning to come together as a group and discuss all the issues brought to them on this post. Linda and Guin will be present while we are all on to continue discussion as a full team in order to ensure that all points and issues are thoroughly addressed.

This discussion will be happening as soon as possible - but coordinating schedules has proven difficult, so please bear with us.

This post will be edited accordingly once the discussion's day and time have been set.

UPDATE - 5/3:

The discussion will begin Sunday, May 4th, 5:00 P.M. CDT/3:00 P.M. PST.

UPDATE - 5/4:

The discussion has begun and is underway; it's proven to be more intensive than anticipated and hasn't yet ended, but will resume tomorrow and continue until concluded.

In the meantime, screencaps of the discussion thus far are posted at Linda's public Plurk; further updates will be made on this post and the linked Plurk, including the date, once set, of the second post.

UPDATE - 5/5:

Discussion has now concluded - we're sorry for having been quiet for so long!

Formal address of the points brought to this post as well as a second OOC post and a mod apps announcement will be coming by the end of tomorrow - Tuesday, 5/6.

- THE STE MODS: Anduin, Blue, Mini, and Olga

Comments

[guitar_case_vagabond]

Okay. I spent the better part of my day today considering just what I was going to say to this and looking through it now it seems a lot of it has already been said so I'm not gonna take the cudgel to the dead horse.

Here's where we are right now though. You guys blew it here. Seriously. You had a player who, for whatever reason, felt so uncomfortable approaching her mods with game concerns that she felt the need to bring backup and instead of trying to resolve the matter, make amends, reach out, whatever, you instead opted to punish her. Let me run that by you again. A player considered a mod environment to be so hostile that she needed support and you decided the best course of action was to issue ban warnings to everyone involved, drop an extraordinarily hypocritical and passive-aggressive post about respect and then deliver a form letter apology only after you were called out on it.

I've seen the plurks in question too and I don't buy that "ganging up on" business for a second. While I'll grant that including somebody who wasn't in the game was unusual and unnecessary, the players made it clear that they were willing to wait until the issue was discussed with the other mods before a decision was reached. When Olga said she wasn't feeling well, the response was basically "no problem, we'll wait." She continued the conversation past that point herself until she ended it and, from what I can tell, the next thing anybody heard of it they were being issued ban warnings.

This is not the way to do things as mods. At all. And the fallout speaks for itself. People are upset, there's talk of hiatuses, questioning the future of the game, talk of a clone, players opting to voice their concerns via sock accounts and anon posting for fear of repercussions and people I know who were considering apping are dropping the idea. Even I've found myself rethinking some of the characters I wanted to bring in before all of this. One in particular since the character in questions would require a lot of collaboration with the mod team to work properly.

This is bad, guys. Hostility between players and mods is a death sentence in RP. No game can survive an "us vs. them" mentality between players and mods. Ever.

Now, I'm not going to join the people calling for anybody to be suspended or given the boot. Things were handled poorly but I don't believe it was done maliciously and I'd rather everybody learn from the missteps that were made rather than just pay for them. What I will do, is make a proposition.

I've noticed there are a lot of people here saying it would be a good move to add new mods and compartmentalize tasks. I agree with this. I've also noticed a couple of people suggest appointing a PR mod.

I'm volunteering for this job.

Basically, what I want to do is create an account separate from the main mod account. Players (and mods) who don't feel comfortable directly addressing anybody they have concerns with can PM this account or comment on a post on it with their preference. They can voice their concerns, request the presence of a third party in dealing with somebody, or whatever they feel the need to do. I'll run the account myself, or along with anybody else who wants to help out, indefinitely or until the mod/player relationship improves. Whichever comes first. If you want my credentials, I've had modding experience in the past and I've dealt with conflict and people have pretty much universally told me I'm approachable, level-headed and easy to work with.

So, this is my offer to help out with the situation we've found ourselves in. I love this game and I love the CR and plans I've made here and I don't want to see it fall apart over something like this. I know this game will end one day but when it does I want to be able to look back with fond memories and I'm sure everyone else feels the same way.

I'm willing to discuss this here, PM, plurk, whatever. Let me know what you think.

[occasus]

I agree. As much as I hate to say it, just suspending Mini or giving her a warning doesn't feel like a solution. It sounds like a slap on the wrist.

[shineonyou]

Thank you for clarifying here.

[elduderino]

I have a lot I could say about this, but I'm just going to put it, uh, succinctly, man, and save everyone the trouble of reading another tl;dr reply:

The Dude approves.

[detectivetroll]

I think this is an excellent idea.

That said, should we go the route of a PR mod, I don't think it should just be one person, especially not when it comes to moderating concerns between players and between players and mods. Not only would it cause a lot of strain on one person to be the sole moderator of issues and the only one hearing voiced concerns, but it's also a potential issue when it comes to impartiality.

I'd also volunteer to help out with something like this, if it ends up being implemented.

If mod applications open up, it might be a good idea to include a PR section.

[guitar_case_vagabond]

This is hands down the greatest endorsement I could have ever hoped to receive.

Thank you, Dude.

[elduderino]

Hey, not a problem. It's what The Dude does, man.

[holeysock]

I know AC thread length requirements are left vague so as to allow for shorter, but more involved threads to count as activity. But I think we might need to instate a bare minimum on thread lengths that are acceptable. I was under the impression that two comments in a thread from a single character (for a thread totalling 3-4 comments) was too short, and I suspect other players have thought so too. But here it's been stated that two comments in a thread from a single character is acceptable. There is clearly some miscommunication here that needs to be explicitly and officially cleared up, I think.

tl;dr--future accusations of AC dodging/favoritism could probably be lowered or eliminated if we have an explicit lower limit on thread length for AC. This could be considered part of the larger push for more transparency in general.

[batsock]

while I appreciate you coming forth with ideas, I think it's a little premature to be personally volunteering for a mod position. Wait for them to at least open mod apps instead of presenting yourself like this.

[guitar_case_vagabond]

Absolutely agreed! Like I said, I'd be open to help with this from anyone who's interested if it does become a thing. Even promising to be impartial and free of repercussions it can still be a thin line to walk when it comes to keeping it that way.

So, yeah, if this does become a job and if I'm the one to do it, any help would be accepted.

[pheromonecoffee]

I just want to drop another thank you for doing this. It's super clear on what we want and why we want it and polite as well!

Also a +1 to everything you said so far.

[guitar_case_vagabond]

I'm not trying to jump the gun on anything here. I just wanted to put forth the idea and let them know that I'm willing to take the job so it doesn't sound like "I think this is a good idea, somebody else do it, please."

If they prefer to open mod apps with this as one of the jobs, I'll send in my application and go through the proper channels. If they appoint somebody else to the position who they think is better suited than me, I'll respect that choice.

[nevergivesup]

Not a problem at all. Actually, I'd really appreciate it if you could find a way to squeeze in a link to my response in your big comment o' links? I know yours is more links to expand on player concerns and suggestions, but I'd like people to be able to see it easily and know it's been addressed without replying to every single thread here.

[shineonyou]

Will do!

[shineonyou]

no problems! all the comments on this post are incredibly important, and i would hate for their meaning to get lost due to sheer volume of concerns, ideas, and solutions.

[sitvisnobiscum]

I certainly believe a PR mod is a necessary inclusion, though I have little experience in the area myself and as such, I feel I cannot offer any criticism on your suggested implementation of the position.

I am not on especially familiar terms with you, but from what I have seen, your presence and conduct in this game have both been unmistakably positive. You would not necessarily be my first choice for a PR mod, but I do not believe you would make a poor one. Still, I agree with batsock on the grounds of this being a premature offering.

[andshoes]

Thank you, Batty. It's heartening to see you admit to your faults and apologize and I hope you also get the apology you deserve.

[guitar_case_vagabond]

That's fair enough. Like I said in my reply to batsock, my intent wasn't to try to force my way into the rule I just wanted to make it clear that I'm willing to do the job in addition to suggesting it. Sorry if my wording made it seem otherwise.

If mod apps open, I'll apply, and if the job goes to somebody else I'll happily accept that decision.

[elduderino]

Looks like some of your post may have gotten cut off, man.

[pianistofraielin]

+1 to Bri's comment, and I would recommend there be at least 3.

I'd definitely be willing to help out as well. I have a lot of experience modding and mediating and I know that my ability to work with players is my biggest strength as a mod. I'd be more that happy to offer that to this game.

(Not until after my semester ends, though...)

[pickedfirst]

What I get for rushing things, thanks for telling me.

[fae_of_the_rose]

I agree 100% with the idea of a PR mod. I think in most games that role sort of develops naturally. One mod's better at handling troublemakers than the others, or there's one mod who's really open and friendly and the one everyone approaches. This obviously has not happened with StE and it might be a good idea to find someone who can fill that role.

[elduderino]

Not a problem, man! I was curious to know what you were gonna say.

[eso_si_que_es]

I find it really hard to believe that you thought six months of strikes and hiatuses was any way to be a participant in a multiplayer game, extenuating circumstances or not, and the entire thing really does smell like mod favoritism. That's my honest opinion.

But the issue's been dealt with, and frankly, there's been a LOT of "nothing being said" all over this game. What happened happened, I assume you're leaving, and for what it's worth I don't bear a grudge.

If you plan to be active, I'd like to see you back.

[detectivetroll]

Seconding that there be at least three, and adding that honestly I think you'd be excellent at it.

From what I've seen, you're great at mediating and working with players.