Staff Behavior
Started By
I’ve been noticing a really bad trend lately here on Ala. One that has completely destroyed other good communities on games in the past. It is that of staff taking up positions that what they say or think is the ONLY thing that matters. But it should NOT be this way.

Why? Because all the players make up the community, not just a few people. When players feel that their opinions no longer matter and all the staff seems to be saying “shut up we don’t care” (oh, but it's said much nicer and politically than that). The game starts to become stagnate. Really, who wants to voice any suggestions if the higher ups will just come stomp all over it and not give any truly logical reason?

This debate is not aimed at any one event here on Ala, just the accumulation of things that point to being warning signs from the many many sites I have been a part of in the past that have had similar sorts of user/staff head butting.

I’ve always felt that if their was a truly hotly debated issue on a game, that it should be discussed between all the staff (not just the top one or two) and get all their input for both the pros and cons of any situation. And then make a poll and collect general user thought on the matter as well, because when it comes down to it, Ala depends on its users having an enjoyable experience and therefore more likely to donate to the site and keep it running. Where as if users feel unwelcome their are hundreds of other sim games online, dog ones being the most common, and they move their taking away valuable resources (and not just monetary!) with them.

I guess what this boils down to is trying to come up with better ways to communicate with the user base and what it truly wants as apposed to what one person decides.

06-12-2011 at 3:13 AM
Well, I just gotta say, there's a reason I avoid chat. And it's not because of the regular users. Which really sucks, because I've been really wanting to become more active around here.

06-12-2011 at 1:54 AM
I would like to take this opportunity to ask ALL of you to do the following.<br /> <br /> Please, send me complaints you have about Mods and show proof of things you feel that they are doing wrong, or feel that they are abusing their power.<br /> <br /> If I don't know about it, I cannot fix it.<br /> <br /> And yes, Cervine, you did complain about someone who was a freshly made mod. But we do NOT demod someone with only one or two or sometimes even three complaints.<br /> <br /> Just as we give a lot of warnings to player's before banning them from chat, forums, or even the site, we HAVE to give the mods warnings as well.<br /> <br /> I do not warn mods lightly. Every time they get a warning, it goes against them and it's kept in thought when dealing with them.<br /> <br /> So I ask, all of you, send me your complaints. If you do not wish to do it via the issue hub, please submit private messages to me. Include the mod name, number, and proof of what they have done that you feel was wrong. <br /> <br /> I will address each and every message I receive.<br /> <br /> ^..^<br /> Wysper<br /> <br /> <br />

06-12-2011 at 1:44 AM
Well, this post was started after the whole thing with the Riddler. I didn't care at all about that. I preferred the old one, but the new one looks nice as well and I have no problem with it. I didn't complain, and I don't really when it comes to the artists. I love the art on this site, and if I don't like a thing or two, I just mention it to a friend offline and move on. I love the artists. The mods are who I have problems with.

06-12-2011 at 1:41 AM
I feel like there is communication between the staff and the players. There has been questions in chat about things users might like. The breedings available being listed was updated to say 'unlimited' for upgraded accounts and this was agreed upon by users and therefore implemented.<br /> <br /> It's impossible to listen to everyone. It seems like a lot of the art follows what majority of people like. Most sites I go on won't even ask player input because in the end it is their site. I will come on and images are changed and look ugly. I just shrug and dont use those items or pets. <br /> <br /> I think critique should be allowed but it should be contructive. Give ways to fix things and well thought out suggestions. <br /> <br /> Like I said before, I've never found anything wrong with the site, mods, players, or the relationships that needed addressed. If anything it would be a tiny misunderstanding. Nothing to really be debated on. <br /> <br /> This is just what I thought~

06-12-2011 at 1:27 AM
This post seems to have deviated from it's original intent, and has become more of a "Flame the Staff" thread.<br /> <br /> Please get it back on topic or it will be closed.<br /> <br />

06-12-2011 at 1:06 AM
"On a side note brought up by someone, mods do get punished or reprimanded. Just because you don't see it doesn't mean it doesn't happen because it does. "<br /> <br /> Considering one of these mods was a newbie helper at the time, and became a mod shortly after I complained about them, yeah, I'm pretty sure they didn't get punished. Even though they had harassed and been plain rude to regular users in chat for no reason. (I've gotten banned from chat for things less than what they were doing.) And I know of several other people who had complained about them. Completely ignored.<br /> <br /> I miss the days when this site had good mods. Seriously, we don't anymore. Well, we still do, but it seems all mods that are actually good people are the ones who are never doing the moderating.<br /> <br /> And it's a complete BS rule as well. It's one thing if it's mature content, but other than that, it's completely stupid and pointless and doesn't teach the user anything. ESPECIALLY when you add in the fact that they don't even bother to tell the user. They just delete half their post, that could contain actual useful information, and never let the user know. Which, again, in itself is completely stupid and made me lose a lot of respect for the mods and admins of this site. Yeah, I respect a few mods, but they are the ones that aren't around as often lately. (Whether this is due to personal problems, I don't know, but most likely.) Or at least, I personally don't see them around as often. I like the majority of the artists and newbie helpers, but when it comes to the ones that matter when it comes to rules and the forums, the mods, I have no respect for most of them because they have no respect for regular users.

06-12-2011 at 12:34 AM
I'm sorry.<br /> <br /> Mod's editing user posts that are blatantly against the rules, harassing, provoking, or just down right mean will continue.<br /> <br /> If you don't like it? Stop posting things that require editing.<br /> <br />

06-11-2011 at 11:24 PM
<i>It wouldn’t be as effective as editing and then messaging the player what was edited and why. They learn better and it’s more efficient. </i><br /> <br /> I agree with Shay. We also just immediately edit posts because some content just can't wait for the user to edit it. We have young children that play this game, and we need to keep it friendly.

06-11-2011 at 10:54 PM
I think that this is ridiculous honestly. I haven't played this game for that long but I'm not exactly new either. I saw nothing wrong with this site nor have I seen any animosity until this thread showed up. The only thing I see is maybe the rules can be vague in certain ways. When things are vague, people interpret them differently depending who they are. I think the rules need to be more solid. <br /> <br><br /> This is a site and you are the guests. You have to behave to be able to play. Yes, the players do provide income but that doesn't make them immune or special to the rules. If you break a rule, then you are punished. You don't have to stay and play this game.<br /> <br><br /> Things are edited out because they violated rules. Don't want posts edited? Don't break the rules. Sites have different ways of taking care of their forums. One forum I was on will delete the message, modify it, or lock the topic. Not all the forums are alike. This is what alacrity does with their posts and I don't find it unreasonable. It would just not be functional to leave the posts there for the users to edit it themselves. Leaving them up, as stated before, will lead to arguments or more feelings to get hurt. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br> On a side note brought up by someone, mods do get punished or reprimanded. Just because you don't see it doesn't mean it doesn't happen because it does. <br /> <br /> <br>This site is not as bad as other sites I have been on. I hardly see a problem with it. You just can't please everyone. People are going to not like things. Then again, you are free to leave if you want.

06-11-2011 at 10:01 PM
"What you said conflicts and doesn’t make sense. You were made aware that your post(s) was/were modified by the mods you hold grudges against you if you knew that they were the ones that edited."<br /> <br /> Actually, no.XD I'm only aware they are the ones that edited them because at the bottom of the post it says edited by and their number. I'm never informed. I only know from looking at them.<br /> <br /> "I’m happy that there is some communication between editing posts and the players. I thought otherwise from what was being said."<br /> <br /> No. There's no communication. At all. Someone posts, and it gets edited. Nobody is made aware. Like I said, the only reason I know who edits the posts is because it says their names at the bottom of the post.<br /> <br /> :You can go practically on any site that has fundamental rules, post something that violates those rules, and either get banned/post deleted/in trouble, or at the very least warn and post deleted."<br /> <br /> Haha, wrong again. I'm on quite a few that don't delete the offending posts. (Unless it's a spam post by a bot. We used to get those a lot on one forum.) They warn the user, and keep other users from responding or anything. Sometimes threads are locked, but I've only ever seen posts deleted on some sites if they contain incredibly mature content on a site that contains younger users. That's it. So, no. Not all site do that.<br /> <br /> And I agree with Geist. STOP. It is censoring. Saying otherwise is foolish. This is obviously and without a doubt, censorship. And it still renders some posts useless, which I hate. And I prefer to edit my own posts, rather than have a mod just slap a "removed by mod" sign on it and move on without a word. Hell, I'd still rather prefer that I edit my own posts rather than mods edit it and message me. Them messagin me is still worthless to me.

06-11-2011 at 9:20 PM
I keep trying to read the posts and all I hear is the teacher from charlie brown.<br /> <br /> Look, it's unfair to the users, no matter their behavior. I haven't had a single post edited to my knowledge, and it still infuriates me. I cannot think of a single forum that does this, and I have no idea what you must be thinking to assume that this will go over well. To run on that anti-logic seems delusional, in absolute honesty, so<br /> <br /> <center><font size="10"><b>STOP</font></b><br /> <i>in the naaame of love, beeefore you breeeak my heart.</i><br /> <br /> </center>
edit history
2011-06-11 14:21:09 by #4246

06-11-2011 at 8:38 PM
<br /> <i>“Yeah, but you render posts completely useless by taking everything out.”</i><br /> <br /> If that’s so then the whole post could have been in violation. <br /> <br /> <i>“And considering I hold grudges against two specific mods, who are pretty much always the one messaging me and editing my posts, you can bet I'm going to continue to break the rules.”</i><br /> <br /> This doesn’t help the case, Cervine. Why do you want to break the rules? I don’t understand why being [corrected by a rule makes you want to go break more. It doesn’t help anything unless you just want more trouble. =/<br /> <br /> <i>“Nobody is made aware when their posts are edited, I would know.” <br /> “And considering I hold grudges against two specific mods, who are pretty much always the one messaging me and editing my posts…”</i><br /> <br /> What you said conflicts and doesn’t make sense. You were made aware that your post(s) was/were modified by the mods you hold grudges against you if you knew that they were the ones that edited. I’m happy that there is some communication between editing posts and the players. I thought otherwise from what was being said.<br /> <br /><i> “It's censorship to the extreme as well, and I am hugely against censorship.”</i><br /> <br /> Once again, we’re not censoring anything. We’re correcting what players have done wrong that violates the rules. <br /> <br /> You can go practically on any site that has fundamental rules, post something that violates those rules, and either get banned/post deleted/in trouble, or at the very least warn and post deleted. <br /> <br /> This site has rules to uphold. We do not allow posts that break rules to run freely which is why we edit. <br /> <br /> We can become better with communicating with the public and the editing of posts. We can mail the rule-breaker the original post and then show what we corrected before/after we edit the violating post. This will help let the players learn and will still keep up the efficiency. <br /> <br /> We’re maintaining the rules, not immaturely censoring what we find because we’re out to get people or because we like doing it. It’s because the said post violated rules and needed to be corrected. <br /> <br /> <br />
edit history
2011-06-11 13:39:41 by #43

06-11-2011 at 6:23 PM
Yeah, but you render posts completely useless by taking everything out. When all there is is the words "removed by mod", it renders the entire post moot and I would rather see those deleted than saved to the database. I don't care if the mods can still see them. It makes posts completely useless. And considering I hold grudges against two specific mods, who are pretty much always the one messaging me and editing my posts, you can bet I'm going to continue to break the rules. I've messaged other mods/admins about said mods and nothing happened. Absolutely nothing. So, yeah. It's completely stupid that users posts are edited without their consent, or even notification. Nobody is made aware when their posts are edited, I would know. It's censorship to the extreme as well, and I am hugely against censorship. I can understand censoring curse words, because there are younger players on this site. That's a seperate thing entirely. I'm not a fan of it, but I understand it. <br /> <br /> In the end, I'd prefer to be messaged to edit my posts than have half my argument destroyed because they get edited and have some of my points taken out of them.<br /> <br /> and I don't have time to say much else, cause my battery is dying. So, yeah. This post was fairly rushed.XD

06-11-2011 at 5:54 PM
<i>“I agree with everything said. And I know it would be effective. If I got messaged with what was offending in a post, I would immediately go and post. The only reason that I wouldn't is if I had gone to bed or something. Then I would edit it in the morning.”</i><br /> <br /> It wouldn’t be as effective as editing and then messaging the player what was edited and why. They learn better and it’s more efficient. <br /> <br /> <i>“The only reason that I wouldn’t is if I had gone to bed or something.” </i><br /> <br /> If there was any harassment posted by a user and the creator of the said harassment was away from the computer, this would allow time for the public to view it. Within this time, sides will be taken.<br /> <br /> In the game, there are a lot of players with friends. If a player was harassed by the person before the post could be edited, it would cause players to view it and take sides. This is dividing the community and making them go against the other side, thus causing a riot. <br /> <br /> We correct by editing the posts before fights/more harassments/hurt feelings happen. <br /> <br /> It would be naïve of us to believe the user would quickly and efficiently edit their post fast enough every time when a rule is broken. <br /> My suggestion would be the mods messaging them why the post was edited and what part before/after the edit. This way a user can learn what they did wrong, the problem is efficiently dealt with, and a bad scene could be avoided. <br /> <i>“I know of quite a few people, including myself, are incredibly stubborn and when this happens, they are more likely to break the rules.”</i><br /> <br /> This doesn’t make sense. We are supposed to correct players according to the rules. It isn’t our fault if a player who is upset on the correction goes and breaks more rules. That is the player’s temperament, not ours. As always said, you can message Wysper (#9) if we corrected you incorrectly. We then will be corrected for our own incorrections. =] That’s a mouthful, ha-ha.<br /> <br /> <i> “Also, if I was directly insulted, I'd still rather have the mod go through messaging a user to change it rather than just completely changing it.” </i><br /> However, each individual is different. There are people who’re more sensitive to insults and would be very pained upon seeing it. There are people who would want their friends to help get the other person back. There are people who don’t really care. And then there are people who would return the insult and cause a big riot before the harasser can edit their own post and cause a big fight.<br /> <br /> We cannot change the way we conduct our jobs as mods because one person is immune to insults. We have to account for the thousands of players who play Alacrity. =]<br /> <br /> “And I'm much more willing to wait for the user to edit their post than I would for a mod to come along and completely delete it.”<br /> <br /> We don’t delete, we edit according to the rules. &lt;3<br />

06-11-2011 at 3:50 PM
I agree with everything said. And I know it would be effective. If I got messaged with what was offending in a post, I would immediately go and post. The only reason that I wouldn't is if I had gone to bed or something. Then I would edit it in the morning. I hate censorship period, and censorship to this extreme? It's freaking insane. Users don't learn anything by mods coming in and just editing their entire posts. I know of quite a few people, including myself, are incredibly stubborn and when this happens, they are more likely to break the rules. Because the mods don't respect them enough, or think highly enough of them to message them and give them a chance to fix their own responses.<br /> <br /> Also, if I was directly insulted, I'd still rather have the mod go through messaging a user to change it rather than just completely changing it. I don't care if I'm insulted, it comes with the territory of the debate board. And I'm much more willing to wait for the user to edit their post than I would for a mod to come along and completely delete it.

06-11-2011 at 11:20 AM
"4) Posts will not be deleted, as they hold evidence and opinion. However, they may be edited by the mods as they see fit."<br /> <br /> I don't expect them to be deleted. That would be worse.<br /> <br /> "The reasons that a mod will edit a post is it is breaking the rules on Ala."<br /> <br /> I also know the reason why, while not condoning the action taken.<br /> <br /> "Recently many of the post that I have edited have been harassment and blatant attacks against other users. The posters are not given the option to edit these because they are in clear violation of the rules that they SHOULD know before joining the debate, and have frankly been repeat offenders. It is not fair for the person being harassed or attacked to have to wait for the poster to edit their post. Simply removing the offending content serves to deal with the situation swiftly."<br /> <br /> Yes, know this, too. However, the posters should be given the option to edit their posts to learn from their mistakes, and having a mod come in and editing posts left and right looks like incredible abuse of the new rule, which, well.. I called <i>that</i> in discussion with someone else. Bet on it, even. won the bet. Yes, they should know, but it is a debate forum and to not expect tempers to flair is very naive. For those potentially insulted, I would hope their skin would be thick enough to wait the short amount of time needed for the original poster to edit their posts. To have a mod do it looks like- IS severe censorship, and it isn't just the debate forum I've seen it on. Mods need to cool their jets, message the responsible party, and politely ask the post to be edited. If it's ignored, warn them. If it persists, ban them. I hate repeating myself, but regardless. This is Not A Good Thing.<br /> <br /> "As to why they are not simply deleted, they serve as evidence about the posters having broken the forum rules. If they were to only be deleted the staff would have no access to the post if they were to be needed on a later occasion."<br /> <br /> Print screen, generally right above the Insert button. Also copypasting to wordpad. Saving the webpage. Etc.<br /> <br /> "As well players were give a chance to edit post, but it became apparent that was not enough as the rule breaking would continue with no heed to the warnings. Therefore the fastest most effective actions were chosen to keep the debate boards in keeping with the rules."<br /> <br /> Not repeating myself again with all that, see above. I disagree on it being the most effective. As said, that IS what the warning system is for, yes? After notifying the user and requesting the post change, of course.<br /> <br /> "Quite frankly your ranting about the wrong people, mods enforce the rules. They do not create them."<br /> <br /> Quite frankly, I'm ranting about how the mods enforce the rules.<br /> <br /> In short, NOPE.avi

06-11-2011 at 10:39 AM
Ah okay, I didn't know previous edits could be seen.

06-11-2011 at 8:54 AM
but what about the Victim?? frankly i'd rather a mod edit what a person had to say something about me if it was bad and hurtful before i, or at least any one else saw it. it defuses a scene.

06-11-2011 at 8:52 AM
Mods and admin can read all of the edits made on a post, meaning the original post, and therefore the original post made by the offender.<br /> <br /> Any punishments made to players are between staff and that player only. While you may not see any kind of punishments going on does not mean they are not happening.

06-11-2011 at 8:48 AM
It just confuses me that a mod-edited post remains on the forums as "evidence" but the full evidence of what the offender said has been wiped out. So you might see that someone was breaking rules with their post, but then you have no idea exactly what they were saying that was supposedly breaking a rule. <br /> <br /> Just doesn't make sense to me. If someone's breaking a rule, shouldn't they face a punishment/consequence, rather than just deleting whatever they said, and, in turn, getting rid of the evidence in case they decide to take the matter to an admin, who can then only gauge what happened by "he said-she said?" And I definitely don't think any admin automatically sides with a mod who might be in the wrong, but how is an escalated problem supposed to come to any real resolution if all they have to go off of is a post that says "Edited by mod?"

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