Post by Amelius on Apr 19, 2006 1:28:01 GMT -5
Greetings all.
As I am sure you are aware by now, things have gotten a little...shakey in the past few days. I was out of town for most of the weekend and came back to find my PM box full and matters at hand that needed to be adressed and actions to be taken.
I will try to the best of my ability to clear things up but I may not be as concise as I am feeling rather emotionally taxed.
To start off, I consider you all, yes, every single one of you, very dear friends to me. The decision to suspend a friend is not an easy one and I was even reluctant.
This was not a personal matter though.
I have always been one that does not care too much about rules let alone enforce them, that is why I appointed some very efficient people to take care of things when I either could not get to them (spammers) or to make sure everyone plays nicely.
I even went as far as to remove the swearing restrictions (because every other thing I typed that wasn't a swear-word was bing replaced with "baby-swears" and it was thoroughly annoying) and I've left it to the honor system. While I don't swear I certainly don't mind when others do, but in the interest of keeping things clean I request that the language be kept clean.
I'll be the first to admit I am not leadership/management material. I allow others to get their way and let people walk over me in this way. I'm sentimental and sympathetic and puppy eyes easily change my mind. I am surprised at the will my mods have to continue when those who are friends suddenly will turn on them because they feel they are being bullied. The mods here are not bullies, they are doing their job. Nepotism really has no place in a job. Just because you can be good friends with the boss doesn't mean he won't fire you for sleeping on the job. I know for a fact my own sister would fire me for a minor offense if I worked for her! (she and I are different people though)
The suspension was NOT an act of personal vendetta. He is not banned forever. I consider Rehiro a friend and I appreciate that he has posted here for so long. I will gladly welcome him back when he comes back. Like I said even I was a little reluctant. The case was not about my personal feelings though.
The matter had been reviewed for quite a while before it came to my attention (being that I was absent for most of it and did not get into reading the topic in question until recently)
There were valid points and this had to be handled on a proffessional, NOT personal, level.
I have tried to do things in the least painful way. It is hard to keep a friend out because of rules. But without them do you know what this place becomes? Just take a look at the Deviant Art forums. I am absolutely terrified to post anything there. Peope are rude, dirisive, insensitive and would rather insult your entire family line than welcome you. If you don't watch were you tread (or thread) they will rip you in half. In fact of the few times I posted something there, someone saw it fit to try and start something with me, I ignored them though.
If we let nepotism cloud judgement this place could easily devolve into the treacherous waters that is the devart forum, or many others I've had the displeasure of visiting.
Now I do not like anyone thinking that because this place has rules and people that enforce them that CTV forum is no longer fun and all the mods and myself are out to get you and out to censor you. This is not true! The people I chose to take care of things (and yes behind the scenes a lot of things have been taken care of) were chosen because they demonstrated that they had experience and responsibility. Like I said I admire their tenacity and their ability to put aside personal feelings to get things done, simply something I cannot do. I don't mind when topics go off track a little so I don't say anything about it, but I admit when I can read a thread and it is linear the reading experience is so much better. Another flaw with Dev forum, the topics rarely stay on track and as a result what may have been an interesting read instead becomes a wild emoticon-exchange paired with flamebaiting and insults. No matter what you post you can almost bet the first person to respond will either pick apart your post to mix up your words are insult your intelligence or simply inform you that another such thread exists and you "fail". (posts there often dissapear for good after a while anyway, it is left to a one-page list for each category)
I am sad to see such a rift between members because of this matter and I just want you to know again this was not a personal thing. The moderators are not out to get you. Do not take things out on me.
Questioning and insulting them in such a manner is not only hurting them, but me probably the most. Though it is not just "my" forum and ultimately everyone's, I am still responsible for it and the goings-ons and decisions made here. Mods are not in their positions because of favoritism. Being a mod/admin is not as fun and powerful as you'd think. People automatically think that you are arrogant and think you're better than them and may abuse your "authority". They are not police, they are helping ME make sure things run smoothly. And they have been doing a wonderful job despite the reactions to them.
As for the moderator forum. yes I know I do not like "excluding" people. That is why I tried it once then decided against it. We could hide the board if it made you feel better. But know this, it is NOT a place for us to bad-mouth anyone, not even our friend Rehiro. Again I stress that is NOT a personal matter. That forum is for discussion that would be in PM. it is more convenient for us , as going through all your messages to piece together a matter ia a tedious job, especially because replying does not give you the ability to look at the message you are replying to (making it really suck for when multiple questions are being asked)
We needed a place for us to discuss things without interruptions as well, so this was our only option. Even right now communication would be difficult, not all of my mods have AIM and as is I am using a friend's computer so I cannot discuss things in real time. Communication has improved since its addition and I certainly do not want people to worry that it is some secret establishment were we hide behind the curtains and snicker and point at certain posters. We would not be guilty of the same things that we don't want to see in the public forum.
In all, this matter has kept me awake all night and day, I am completely miserable and absolutely heartbroken that it has come to such things. And please do not judge my moderators so harshly, if you have any grievances take them out with me, not them.
Again sorry if this babble is a little disjointed, it's not easy to type and nothing that is on my mind wants to come out clearly.
As I am sure you are aware by now, things have gotten a little...shakey in the past few days. I was out of town for most of the weekend and came back to find my PM box full and matters at hand that needed to be adressed and actions to be taken.
I will try to the best of my ability to clear things up but I may not be as concise as I am feeling rather emotionally taxed.
To start off, I consider you all, yes, every single one of you, very dear friends to me. The decision to suspend a friend is not an easy one and I was even reluctant.
This was not a personal matter though.
I have always been one that does not care too much about rules let alone enforce them, that is why I appointed some very efficient people to take care of things when I either could not get to them (spammers) or to make sure everyone plays nicely.
I even went as far as to remove the swearing restrictions (because every other thing I typed that wasn't a swear-word was bing replaced with "baby-swears" and it was thoroughly annoying) and I've left it to the honor system. While I don't swear I certainly don't mind when others do, but in the interest of keeping things clean I request that the language be kept clean.
I'll be the first to admit I am not leadership/management material. I allow others to get their way and let people walk over me in this way. I'm sentimental and sympathetic and puppy eyes easily change my mind. I am surprised at the will my mods have to continue when those who are friends suddenly will turn on them because they feel they are being bullied. The mods here are not bullies, they are doing their job. Nepotism really has no place in a job. Just because you can be good friends with the boss doesn't mean he won't fire you for sleeping on the job. I know for a fact my own sister would fire me for a minor offense if I worked for her! (she and I are different people though)
The suspension was NOT an act of personal vendetta. He is not banned forever. I consider Rehiro a friend and I appreciate that he has posted here for so long. I will gladly welcome him back when he comes back. Like I said even I was a little reluctant. The case was not about my personal feelings though.
The matter had been reviewed for quite a while before it came to my attention (being that I was absent for most of it and did not get into reading the topic in question until recently)
There were valid points and this had to be handled on a proffessional, NOT personal, level.
I have tried to do things in the least painful way. It is hard to keep a friend out because of rules. But without them do you know what this place becomes? Just take a look at the Deviant Art forums. I am absolutely terrified to post anything there. Peope are rude, dirisive, insensitive and would rather insult your entire family line than welcome you. If you don't watch were you tread (or thread) they will rip you in half. In fact of the few times I posted something there, someone saw it fit to try and start something with me, I ignored them though.
If we let nepotism cloud judgement this place could easily devolve into the treacherous waters that is the devart forum, or many others I've had the displeasure of visiting.
Now I do not like anyone thinking that because this place has rules and people that enforce them that CTV forum is no longer fun and all the mods and myself are out to get you and out to censor you. This is not true! The people I chose to take care of things (and yes behind the scenes a lot of things have been taken care of) were chosen because they demonstrated that they had experience and responsibility. Like I said I admire their tenacity and their ability to put aside personal feelings to get things done, simply something I cannot do. I don't mind when topics go off track a little so I don't say anything about it, but I admit when I can read a thread and it is linear the reading experience is so much better. Another flaw with Dev forum, the topics rarely stay on track and as a result what may have been an interesting read instead becomes a wild emoticon-exchange paired with flamebaiting and insults. No matter what you post you can almost bet the first person to respond will either pick apart your post to mix up your words are insult your intelligence or simply inform you that another such thread exists and you "fail". (posts there often dissapear for good after a while anyway, it is left to a one-page list for each category)
I am sad to see such a rift between members because of this matter and I just want you to know again this was not a personal thing. The moderators are not out to get you. Do not take things out on me.
Questioning and insulting them in such a manner is not only hurting them, but me probably the most. Though it is not just "my" forum and ultimately everyone's, I am still responsible for it and the goings-ons and decisions made here. Mods are not in their positions because of favoritism. Being a mod/admin is not as fun and powerful as you'd think. People automatically think that you are arrogant and think you're better than them and may abuse your "authority". They are not police, they are helping ME make sure things run smoothly. And they have been doing a wonderful job despite the reactions to them.
As for the moderator forum. yes I know I do not like "excluding" people. That is why I tried it once then decided against it. We could hide the board if it made you feel better. But know this, it is NOT a place for us to bad-mouth anyone, not even our friend Rehiro. Again I stress that is NOT a personal matter. That forum is for discussion that would be in PM. it is more convenient for us , as going through all your messages to piece together a matter ia a tedious job, especially because replying does not give you the ability to look at the message you are replying to (making it really suck for when multiple questions are being asked)
We needed a place for us to discuss things without interruptions as well, so this was our only option. Even right now communication would be difficult, not all of my mods have AIM and as is I am using a friend's computer so I cannot discuss things in real time. Communication has improved since its addition and I certainly do not want people to worry that it is some secret establishment were we hide behind the curtains and snicker and point at certain posters. We would not be guilty of the same things that we don't want to see in the public forum.
In all, this matter has kept me awake all night and day, I am completely miserable and absolutely heartbroken that it has come to such things. And please do not judge my moderators so harshly, if you have any grievances take them out with me, not them.
Again sorry if this babble is a little disjointed, it's not easy to type and nothing that is on my mind wants to come out clearly.