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Ala Changes 8P
Started By
I miss the old Ala. Before I start, I am not here to rampage and nitpick about little things, but just major things that are starting to make this site more of a chore thank a fun activity. As of late, I have noticed that almost everything is getting more expensive, not just by a couple thousand, but by hundreds of thousands of dollars. I.E scholar Collar was-110,000 now-1 million. revitalizer was-15,000 now-150,000. I understand the economy is going to pot, but now newbie players can't possibly hope to afford a collar, and will probably just quit in frustration. lastly, I am getting a bit upset at how controlled Ala now feels. Around once a week, I am messaged about something being wrong about what I am doing, wether it be a list on my profile, or chat, forums, or scribbling other users. I know a couple of times I was wrong, but the rest of the time the things I was modded about were little things blown out of proportion. I also feel that the mod(s) are being a bit biased after talking to players about issues, as one mod put me on her no-sell list for some reason I don't understand, and now if I make a mistake in chat or something, she starts acting like I hacked ala and stepped on a puppy. I just would like them to get on the same level and not act so holier than thou art.

08-20-2011 at 10:31 AM
Gamzee: You have a point: the Issue Hub is not somewhere you can just slap your problem with a mod in there. Also, that was I was trying to say in my first post. xD Sorry 'bout that.<br /> <br /> KaT: I was just having to lighten the situation of Mac. But yes: maybe I was on that topic but was very blunt. xD<br /> <br /> To think this only happened a few minutes after the news post was slapped on the front page. D8

08-20-2011 at 7:15 AM
@Nals, most, if not all of us defending this thread have suggested the same thing, over and over, communication. The main post is suggesting that the staff team get their act together.<br /> <br /> @Gamzee The form letter was a suggestion in the "Open Discussion" thread over on the debate forum which I honestly think should be over here on the suggestions forum. It's basically a form that woul be filled out depending on what the user has done to break the rules. It'd be the same everytime so feeling wouldn't he hurt and users couldn't say "they yelled at me!" or "they were mean to me!"

08-20-2011 at 6:39 AM
I don't mean to spark up any fights [I am currently reading a couple pages back] but I don't understand this "use the Issue Hub" business.<br>There are three options for using the Issue Hub:<br>1. Bug Fixers (Coding errors, bugs on site, glitches)<br>2. Moderators (Trouble making, rule breaking)<br>3. Newbie Helpers (I have a question about something in-game)<br><br>To say "submit a ticket to the issue hub if you have a problem w/ me" is encouraging incorrect use of the Issue Hub and I can see that if some users do this enough, they'll start to come off as crying wolf and users who like to drag their drama to Issue Hub.<br><br><b>EDIT:</b> Wysper, what is this "form letter" thing I keep hearing about? I've never heard of it before.. is it like a feedback type of deal?<br><br><b>EDIT X2 COMBO:</b> Master Pit Breeder.. if you were in that situation you wouldn't say "eh they can keep it", trust me. You'd be running to their page to ask for it back or to the Issue Hub. It's a very rare, very expensive item and people make mistakes, sometimes I send a wrong Newborn Puppy with a collar instead of a Newborn Puppy WITHOUT a collar that I want to sell. It's an honest mistake, but I think people who do purchase dogs with scholar collars should let the seller know. I consider it dishonest, sneaky and stealing - personally.
edit history
2011-08-20 03:57:26 by #5484
2011-08-20 03:54:47 by #5484

08-20-2011 at 4:52 AM
I'd like to comment on something, thus engage in the conversation.<br /> <br /> In light of Mac's incident with Kit, I think it's unfair to say that Kit had forgotten the collar on her dog; she's got a LOT of dogs to take care of, plus life situations she can't help but bring them to the forefront of her mind and can't keep track of who has what item. <br /> <br /> <i>honestly, I would not have put a dog up for sale that I didn't check over to make sure it didn't have any problems, and if I accidentally sold my collar, I would let them have it, as it was MY mistake.</i><br /> <br /> At this, I would gladly put you in my No-Sell list. But I'll give this thing a chance. She might have overlooked that dog. She might not have had time to check that dog over. She must have been busy. There are a lot of situations in which she could have not seen that Scholar Collar. And just arguing about it won't help. In fact, I think it was unfair that you had to kick each other via PM/IM because of that; you should have just given it to her and accept that it was HER mistake. You just fought her because you wanted that collar because you want one; not because it was her dog. It could happen to any, sure, but show some maturity, for goodness sakes.<br /> <br /> I haven't got anything against you guys about the issue about the mods vs users, sorry, because everyone has been nice so far.<br /> <br /> Anyways, I think this is already becoming a debate rather than a suggestion. The first post seems like an aversion to the new changes of Ala and is NOT a suggestion, so I think that should back up my earlier statement.<br /> There's nothing in the first post that says a suggestion about ANYTHING: the mods being nicer, the staff being more attentive. NOTHING.<br /> <br /> :3

08-20-2011 at 3:44 AM
I want to say, as an outside observer, the staff popping into this thread to speak come across as considerably more petulant than users voicing their opinions.<br /> <br /> I don't agree with a few of the complaints. The lists in profiles that serve only to embarrass other users, those few upset by it.. that's really a good thing to have gone as it only encourages animosity over petty things. I don't get the Cash Boutique complaints very much, either- you can get most of those items cheaper in usershops, though I can definitely see how it would suck if the economy goes further down the crapper.<br /> <br /> It's how shamefully users are treated. Especially if they're of strong opinion. And with some mods? Simply because users don't have a special little icon beside their names - they only focus on people who don't have a staff icon. For god's sake, gain some perspective and maturity and actually take some consideration into what's being said to you. These are the people that keep the site afloat. You might think, "oh, there's only a handful of them now," but it will worsen and spread. I have seen it over over and over, on and on, so many times over the years.<br /> <br /> There is a problem with the moderator and some admin staff. It is an undeniable problem. Every person on Ala I'm close enough to talk to in private, and myself, have had problems with some seriously unpleasant and biased staff.<br /> <br /> Please follow the suggestions in the An Open Discussion thread, if nothing else.

08-20-2011 at 12:54 AM
"not just responding and being done with the issue, working hard to please the customer and being happy to provide that is what we need."<br /> <br /> Oh my god, this.<br /> All of it. But especially this.

08-20-2011 at 12:18 AM
While I completely agree that there is some MAJOR problems in both the user and staff base, you can't just blame one side. <br /> <br /> Here's my 2 cents as I'm not going to make an incredibly long paragraph and get too involved as, honestly, some mods do scare me, I'd rather not be banned for voicing my opinion.<br /> <br /> On the scholar collar issue, I do sort of think it's a bit much to argue back and forth. It's an honest accident, you can't honestly think someone would just give you an item because of an honest mistake that any human can make can you ?<br /> <br /> Ly - I don't think pelottava was calling you an idiot at all, but we do need solid proof as opinions of what's rude and what's not can definitely differ between people.<br /> <br /> To sum up, I agree with the suggestion, we need more <b>communication</b> not just responding and being done with the issue, working hard to please the customer and being happy to provide that is what we need. I personally don't like the whole form thing, mods should have the correct level of maturity to handle something both seriously, and respectfully, without scaring the heck out if their users, the people that give them their job.

08-19-2011 at 11:41 PM
Trust me, I know the difference. I'm not an idiot. And considering how often I've been ignored in the past, or had sentences twisted, I'm pretty sure I know where I stand.

08-19-2011 at 11:33 PM
There is a difference between disagreeing with you and ignoring you. I don't claim to know everything here, but from what I've seen in chat and on the forums, the admins listen to you just fine, but they don't always agree, and that's got you upset. I think it's rather unfair to treat them as if they don't care about the site just on the basis of them not taking your suggestions.

08-19-2011 at 11:28 PM
Fine, I'll put it better. They ignore what I say. They rspond, but they pretty much completely change the meanings of what I said, twist my words, or, if they can't manage that, they will ignore entire paragraphs that are vital to what I'm saying.

08-19-2011 at 11:24 PM
While I can agree that things on the site aren't perfect and the moderation isn't always up to snuff (for instance, I've been lumped in with the rude, aggressive arguers in chat even when I was being civil, only because I was part of the discussion, and while I never got in any real trouble for it, it can be unnerving), I'm seeing less issues with truly unfair rules and mods acting up and more issues with members being reprimanded for clearly (and sometimes openly admitting to) breaking the rules and trying to rebel against that. I see members throwing tantrums because they got in trouble and trying to fight even the tiniest things.<br /> <br /> To put it shortly - there is trouble on both sides. I've seen unfair treatment towards the users especially concerning issues with the art, but I've also seen a lot of users starting trouble for the sake of starting trouble. <br /> <br /> Also, Ly, it seems like you have a lot of communications with the mods and admins. They can't answer you instantly and devote all their time to you considering there are a lot of other people on the site, but you're talking to the staff a lot on the forums, in chat, and apparently through messages. Yet you keep claiming you're being ignored. I don't think anyone's ignoring you, I think they just have a lot to handle and can't always get to you right away. But it seems like they do speak to you a lot. Might not be what you want to hear, but they do speak to you.
edit history
2011-08-19 20:25:57 by #1395

08-19-2011 at 10:48 PM
honestly, I would not have put a dog up for sale that I didn't check over to make sure it didn't have any problems, and if I accidentally sold my collar, I would let them have it, as it was MY mistake.

08-19-2011 at 10:34 PM
Eden, she brought the situation up in this chat herself.<br /> <br /> You are welcome to give your own version of it if you like to.<br /> <br />

08-19-2011 at 10:25 PM
<i>"you want proof, I bought a dog with a collar on it, an Kit said I had to give it back, we went back and forth for a while, then she said if I didn't return it she would forcefully take it, so I gave it back, and then two days later, I am on her no sell list"<br /> <br /> Mac, this was ruled to follow under the accidental transfers rule, which is why you were asked to give the collar back. <br /> <br /> And someone's No Sell List is up to them, it is THEIR choice who can or cannot buy their dogs. I'm sorry you ended up on someone's, but we will not monitor that, or tell people not to put someone on it.<br /> <br /> Ask yourself, if you accidentally gave someone a dog with a Scholar Collar, would YOU ask for it back, or just say "eh whatever"?<br /> <br /> Be honest, you would have done the same thing.<br /> <br /> She was acting as a Moderator, not as a personal attack. Please see that.</i><br /> <br /> Am I allowed to message you my own opinion on that situation or is it something that is not to be discussed anymore?

08-19-2011 at 9:49 PM
"I want a update posted explaining why the economy thing isn't as important as the Wall of Shame."<br /> <br /> <br /> Because the economy cannot be fixed over night. The Wall of Shame is player bashing, and being disrespectful and just down right mean to other player's. Are you really upset because you can not put on your profile the people you "hate"?<br /> <br />

08-19-2011 at 9:47 PM
"you want proof, I bought a dog with a collar on it, an Kit said I had to give it back, we went back and forth for a while, then she said if I didn't return it she would forcefully take it, so I gave it back, and then two days later, I am on her no sell list"<br /> <br /> Mac, this was ruled to follow under the accidental transfers rule, which is why you were asked to give the collar back. <br /> <br /> And someone's No Sell List is up to them, it is THEIR choice who can or cannot buy their dogs. I'm sorry you ended up on someone's, but we will not monitor that, or tell people not to put someone on it.<br /> <br /> Ask yourself, if you accidentally gave someone a dog with a Scholar Collar, would YOU ask for it back, or just say "eh whatever"?<br /> <br /> Be honest, you would have done the same thing.<br /> <br /> She was acting as a Moderator, not as a personal attack. Please see that.<br /> <br />

08-19-2011 at 9:09 PM
I want a update posted explaining why the economy thing isn't as important as the Wall of Shame.

08-19-2011 at 8:59 PM
"The words, "Don't knock it until you've tried it" come to mind... Seriously... just try it. If the issue isn't resolved, ask that it's bumped to the next level."<br /> <br /> ...I have tried it. I have messaged at least two admins about my issues and was pretty much completely ignored, or was threatened with random punishments and many other things. Its the same old song and dance. Only thing that's changed is that instead of saying, "message an admin", you're saying "go to the issue hub." If I was to do something, I'd go straight to messaging the admin, considering you have to have a mod bump your issue to admin level, which I honestly don't trust some staff enough to do so, even if asked.<br /> <br /> "...until you get your way. "<br /> <br /> ...My way? My way is for mods and admins to answer questions logically and truthfully without resorting to scare tactics and false punishments, which is how any respectable site should be run anyways.

08-19-2011 at 8:58 PM
you want proof, I bought a dog with a collar on it, an Kit said I had to give it back, we went back and forth for a while, then she said if I didn't return it she would forcefully take it, so I gave it back, and then two days later, I am on her no sell list
edit history
2011-08-19 17:59:47 by #12641
2011-08-19 17:58:20 by #12641

08-19-2011 at 8:57 PM
If no one comes to ME about a Mod, then nothing can be done because I don't KNOW about it. <br /> <br /> I've heard a lot of "I don't like Kit" or "Mods are mean!" But... I have yet to get solid unrefuteable proof and evidence that they did something wrong or against the rules. <br /> <br /> Until that happens, I can NOT just simply fire people.<br /> <br /> And even though it really has nothing to do with any of you, we are formulating Form Letter's to be used by the mods from this point on. Many people have said that some come across as being "rude" or "cold" or "mean". So, we hope that this, when it takes affect, will help people to see the mods as STAFF, and stop acting like they are people that are petty.

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