Request for another Admin Feedback Thread

[Outlander]

Sure, but that's why we always try to be as involved in conversations as we can. You can't change human nature, but you can mitigate it.

You make a good point. Perhaps we could all work this out somewhat informally then? Try to have some kind of open line of communications here or on Skype where members can speak their minds, for good or ill, without feeling like they could get an infraction?

To equate it to something in the real world, the Arab League has something called an Unmoderated Caucus, which essentially suspends the rules for a period to promote easy cooperation between people without fear of breaking procedure.

Of course, I understand that this is a flawed solution at best. Both sides will have their own echo chambers still. But at the very least, we'll all know what each other thinks and where people stand.

 

[Brandon Rhea]

You make a good point. Perhaps we could all work this out somewhat informally then? Try to have some kind of open line of communications here or on Skype where members can speak their minds, for good or ill, without feeling like they could get an infraction?

To equate it to something in the real world, the Arab League has something called an Unmoderated Caucus, which essentially suspends the rules for a period to promote easy cooperation between people without fear of breaking procedure.

Of course, I understand that this is a flawed solution at best. Both sides will have their own echo chambers still. But at the very least, we'll all know what each other thinks and where people stand.

Depends on what it is. I mean, I would like to think that line of communication is always open. It just depends on people acting on it.

 

[Outlander]

Depends on what it is. I mean, I would like to think that line of communication is always open. It just depends on people acting on it.

I think the issue with PMs is that people end up feeling like their thoughts are being restricted from the public eye. I mean, whether this thread is positive or negative, I think it has a net plus in that people are able to see what the person beside them thinks about what they're talking about. It puts everyone on a plane where things aren't cloaked in shadow, but open to the general public. So, having a sort of open forum where people can voice issues and discuss the site and its direction without fearing repercussions, I think, would be a positive thing. As long as there's some guarantee no one will be punished while speaking in the thread (Or at least making it more like how the rules are toned down for the political section), and that the thread won't be locked, I feel something productive could be created.

 

[Loco]

...If you're waiting for a feedback thread to bring up concerns or issues, that's probably not a good idea. PMing admins when something is at issue is generally a better approach, and then feedback threads can be more high level/high concept type of discussions rather than "I didn't like this ruling" or "I think you're biased because of this decision."

Just don't PM them about Empion Mines. You won't get anywhere with that one.

 

[Outlander]

Just don't PM them about Empion Mines. You won't get anywhere with that one.

u

i liek u

 

[Loco]

u

i liek u

Dan, I hate to drag this thread off topic, but your mother is a hamster and your father smells of elder berries.

 

[Fyremage]

So, I have one very important and inescapable question that cannot be ignored...




Why am I not in this super awesome chat people are speaking about? It sounds like fun. :p

 

[Loco]

So, I have one very important and inescapable question that cannot be ignored...




Why am I not in this super awesome chat people are speaking about? It sounds like fun. :p

You're probably better off. Plausible deniability.

 

[Fyremage]

You're probably better off. Plausible deniability.

A part of me is a little scared to see admins let their hair down.

 

[Brandon Rhea]

I think the issue with PMs is that people end up feeling like their thoughts are being restricted from the public eye. I mean, whether this thread is positive or negative, I think it has a net plus in that people are able to see what the person beside them thinks about what they're talking about. It puts everyone on a plane where things aren't cloaked in shadow, but open to the general public. So, having a sort of open forum where people can voice issues and discuss the site and its direction without fearing repercussions, I think, would be a positive thing. As long as there's some guarantee no one will be punished while speaking in the thread (Or at least making it more like how the rules are toned down for the political section), and that the thread won't be locked, I feel something productive could be created.

That's why we do feedback every once in awhile, but remember that we're speaking now in the context of an open line of communication. We wouldn't constantly have a feedback thread up or anything.

 

[Nor'baal]

I jump into RPs and everyone runs away. >.>

*slithers

 

[Outlander]

That's why we do feedback every once in awhile, but remember that we're speaking now in the context of an open line of communication. We wouldn't constantly have a feedback thread up or anything.

Not really a feedback thread so much. More an open thread for whatever issues may arise from the admins or from the members. The communication would go two ways, not just directing everything towards the admins. Like how most of our skype chats aren't created and dissolved for one issue, but are maintained and shift topics depending on circumstances.

 

[Brandon Rhea]

Not really a feedback thread so much. More an open thread for whatever issues may arise from the admins or from the members. The communication would go two ways, not just directing everything towards the admins. Like how most of our skype chats aren't created and dissolved for one issue, but are maintained and shift topics depending on circumstances.

We do have the Bug Reporting, Requests and Suggestions board too. People can always use that.

 

[Outlander]

We do have the Bug Reporting, Requests and Suggestions board too. People can always use that.

Mmm. I don't think that really fulfils the same purpose. Strangely enough, this conversation we're having here is what id ideally want from that type of thread. This is admittedly off topic from the original point of the thread. But it addresses the same theme. Which is what id like the thread to be. And the admin response to people here has been excellent. So why not just have a thread for that purpose? Like I said, it's not like it would do any harm to try out having something akin to a more general thread to keep communication lines open.

 

[Brandon Rhea]

Mmm. I don't think that really fulfils the same purpose. Strangely enough, this conversation we're having here is what id ideally want from that type of thread. This is admittedly off topic from the original point of the thread. But it addresses the same theme. Which is what id like the thread to be. And the admin response to people here has been excellent. So why not just have a thread for that purpose? Like I said, it's not like it would do any harm to try out having something akin to a more general thread to keep communication lines open.

One thread can get easily cluttered, long, cumbersome to read after awhile, etc. I'm curious why having a board where you can post one thread for one issue doesn't work as well, in your mind.

 

[Outlander]

One thread can get easily cluttered, long, cumbersome to read after awhile, etc. I'm curious why having a board where you can post one thread for one issue doesn't work as well, in your mind.

I guess the disconnect you could feel there, as well as it becoming cumbersome in a different way. Also, a lot of these issues don't really boil down to any one thing. They're more abstract and hard to define. To having one thread per issue might just circumvent the real problems instead of really addressing anything.

Not to mention this wouldn't really apply for anything that isn't directly an issue, like general communication.

 

[Dmitri]

Although we certainly reconsidered that stance when you would always send us shit when you were a member.

Instead you punished me far worse: making me an admin.

We disagree with Brandon on somethings, one of those being the admins not really being involved in the community. While yes they can probably get the jist of the issues and such, they aren't really 'in with' the rest of the community to understand why. You know what I mean?.

Maybe it's from me reading three things at once, but I do not know what you mean. Can you elaborate? How is it that we're not 'in' with the community? For factions, that's intentional. We've found that when we're way more involve and a part of faction leaderships that people tend to be distrusting of us and the faction leaderships, believing us to favor a certain side, so we've enforced a rule upon ourselves that we can not be a part of faction leadership. Plus being an admin and faction leader leads to one side being neglected in favor of the other (for example, Gaba focusing more on Jedi, and me focusing more on admin duties when I was Imperium FL). That may not be what you were covering, but making note of it for everyone.

I think the issue with PMs is that people end up feeling like their thoughts are being restricted from the public eye. I mean, whether this thread is positive or negative, I think it has a net plus in that people are able to see what the person beside them thinks about what they're talking about. It puts everyone on a plane where things aren't cloaked in shadow, but open to the general public. So, having a sort of open forum where people can voice issues and discuss the site and its direction without fearing repercussions, I think, would be a positive thing. As long as there's some guarantee no one will be punished while speaking in the thread (Or at least making it more like how the rules are toned down for the political section), and that the thread won't be locked, I feel something productive could be created.

Let me ask you this: How will it differ from you bringing up valid critiques on a thread vs. PMing the person(s) in question? I can supply one difference, and that is that when things are more in the public, there tends to be dogpiling. We've seen it in many cases, in the Current Events, PvP OOC, OOCs in general, even your Krass situation. It happens. And then it becomes less of figuring out a resolution, and devolves from there, because the person becomes more and more overwhelmed with explaining themselves and trying to justify their actions there's no civil discussion going on in how to improve.

 

[Outlander]

Let me ask you this: How will it differ from you bringing up valid critiques on a thread vs. PMing the person(s) in question? I can supply one difference, and that is that when things are more in the public, there tends to be dogpiling. We've seen it in many cases, in the Current Events, PvP OOC, OOCs in general, even your Krass situation. It happens. And then it becomes less of figuring out a resolution, and devolves from there, because the person becomes more and more overwhelmed with explaining themselves and trying to justify their actions there's no civil discussion going on in how to improve.

To be honest though, about that entire whole stupid situation, the animosity here on the site started because of Skype Echo Chambers. At least, here on the site, we're not constricted to our chambers. We get our opinions out in the world, and have to substantiate them. It's the nature of debate, and while I can't guarantee my suggestion would be without strife, I think, at the least, people will feel more encouraged to move from their own groupthoughts to a place where they can feel like they're being acknowledged by the collective.

 

[Prudence]

even your Krass situation.

 

[Outlander]

kek

But, on a serious note, I can somewhat attest to this with Prudence. I used to have real animosity towards him. This was, partially, amplified by my own echo chamber (Despite cool people like @M4TT , @Diva Tumi , and @Shalken / @Vosrik trying to make me see reason), and it just made things infinitely worse. But, when I actually sat down in a skype call and talked to him and others outside my echo chamber, I lost that animosity and reconciled. Now, we're chill, and can look at the past and laugh, all because we ventured beyond our party lines and met on neutral ground with new peers.