Hank

In Defense Of The Genre [Part II]

Constructive criticism and or diverging opinions should never be seen as threats, or censored "for the greater good" as long as they are being discussed in a civil manner.

@RWBY Spectre

This is the main reason that this dialogue hasn't happened before this thread. We don't censor constructive criticism and we haven't done so before. Buddha's thread a while back was a good example, even if little came of it so far.

We're not done building the Guild and the mod team, by the way. You're all looking at and participating in a perpetual work-in-progress. Things will change.

In Defense Of The Genre [Part II]

I agree that it mods should not have to "answer to the public," or tell everyone why people were banned. Fine, very well, they do not want to create MORE drama aside from people getting banned to begin with. However, I do think that the person who gets banned, needs to be told WHY they were banned and that some sort of discussion should be had with them perhaps prior to the ban taking effect. Why? Because then even if they are angry they know why it happened to them. This allows the people to reflect on their actions, rather than remaining in a confused, sort of upset, limbo that makes them want to lash out because they don't know why these bad things are happening to them. Furthermore, if you have users know why they were banned, then if anyone wants to find out what happened they can just go ask.

@yoshua171

This is fair. We generally operate under the assumption that people know precisely what they've done when they get banned but I can see how that isn't self-explanatory 100% of the time, and implementing your suggestion prevents people feigning ignorance even if they do understand.

As for everyone else, I'll be replying to all valid points of discussion in this thread over the course of this week. I'd also like to make it clear that I definitely won't be banning anyone for speaking their mind about the administration in this thread... as long as they don't break any other site rules in doing so. Nobody is in the "firing line" for a ban here.

BRING BACK CHAT

Using the Discord app is infinitely easier than the old Guild Chat on mobile, in my opinion.

It was a crude prototype cobbled together by Mahz in lieu of something better. I can almost 100% guarantee we'll be sticking with Discord for a while.

In Defense Of The Genre [Part II]

It's between us and the user and simply isn't anyone else's business.

@Hank

This is why, @Odin. If they want to return they can make the effort themselves.

In Defense Of The Genre [Part II]

Yet when I try to appeal J8's and Nyt's ban I get no reply? IDK man that shit stinks.

@Odin

You don't get to appeal other people's bans.

In Defense Of The Genre [Part II]

I've unlocked this thread for now as an acknowledgement of the polite and reasonable manner you've drafted up your post, but this is definitely an exception and won't be the rule going forward.

First things first: there is no terrorist list . The phrase "We don't negotiate with terrorists", a quote by President Bush, was jokingly invoked by me in a conversation with Ruby to summarize my approach in dealing with problematic users that try to hold the Guild's attention hostage with public outrage instead of discussing issues like adults.

Our policy of not discussing bans in the public domain has nothing to do with anything so melodramatic as a "scare tactic". It's only for the reasons you've outlined yourself -- it gives the drama a chance to continue, which defeats the purpose of banning the user in the first place. It's between us and the user and simply isn't anyone else's business. We don't have to justify ourselves to anyone but the user in question. We're not obligated to tell anyone why j8cob and Nytem4re were banned or why Odin was muted on Discord. The Evidence Chest thread is a method to meet the vocal minority that wants to discuss bans halfway. If banned or muted users don't know why they've been smacked with the hammer, they should probably reflect on their actions or just ask us outright.

There's no coverup or grand scheme. We just don't like to waste our time on people blowing things out of proportion. As for reporting threads, the best way to get our attention is to PM every staff member at once in a group conversation. Nobody bothered to do this when it came to the Negro Academy thread. Moderators don't actively scour the forums looking for rulebreaking. We're all too busy for that (a side effect from the fact that the people most suited to being moderators tend to be adults or teenagers with full-time responsibilities).

PS. We do listen to appeals. @Sven is a good example of this. Grim can obviously forget it for now.

The Elder Scrolls: Fruits of Contention - Chapter 1 (Completed)

I know Peik is working with Hank on a Bleakrock post

@Mortarion

Aye, we've made a good start already. Shouldn't take too long.

Warhammer 40k: The Eternal Fight for Freedom - Penal Legion RP (Looking for cannon fodder!)

Yes...I will get a post up tomorrow (it's my day off), I'm just feckin' burnt out atm. Too many nights, too many customers being a-holes, I'm sure we all know that feeling.

@Jbcool

That's for sure.

I'm ready to rumble once you've moved us along.

Taaj's Fortune & F*ckery Marketplace

6'1"

June 29th

North Sea blue