Staff resignation. It's controversial like Jerry Springer in '97.

[SooN]

Can you put "being a 2d spaceship game staff" onto your resume?

Will you get laid more easily by telling your date that you are a SS mod?

Or

Using "hold on, I am a mod in this internet game, and I am busy" as an excuse to stop your mom from pressing that little button and forcing you to go to bed?

Yes, yes, and yes. :greedy:

[MaGi kOz]

Everything I read from everyone, other than the main players in play (qan, dock, etc.), seems to be of useless information. Is there a way to filter out those people so that all I see is one whole page of the important parts of this argument?

[Jason]

I couldn't agree more with you, qan, most specifically regarding the ephemeral (as you put it) status of the rules and procedures by which staff members must abide.

To lend credit to my opinion, before I go any further, I have been on both sides of this magic eight ball. I've been a part of staff, dealing with upper staff members and the like. I've also been your average joe player. Being in this sort of position, I've had experiences from both perspectives, so none of this is coming out of my ass or anyone else's for that matter.

I've most certainly experienced the same frustrations as Rodge and qan when trying to get things done as a staff member. Just to toss in my own crazy little metaphor, it's almost as if staff has what I would call a "foggy glass ceiling." It's much like a glass ceiling, only a bit worse. Not only do you reach a point where you're relatively "stuck" in terms of what you're given free reign to do, but rather than just be stuck, looking through the glass at those in charge and hoping they'll pay you some notice, there is absolutely no clear line of sight (communication) between you and the honchos. It's enough to drive you bat shit crazy with frustration. You want to be proactive, but you simply can't be because no one will give you any straight answers, or any room to work with, or even a decent amount of help should you have a question.

In addition to the foggy glass ceiling, man oh man, let me tell you... It is outright ridiculous how tight lipped everyone is within staff. There is absolutely no room for expression of one's self or ideas. It's all about keeping your head low, flying under the radar, and being a good little hired monkey so as not to get the axe. Quite literally, everyone's afraid of their own shadow. I realize I sound quite antagonistic whilst saying this, but frankly, there's no way not to. It's just that ridiculous. The problem even stems into plain old conversation amongst staff members. Because of the "I have to be quiet and act like a drone." mentality that most lower staff members develop right from the get go (They don't want to upset P_L, or whoever else might terminate them.), being a member of staff is really fucking boring. You can't be yourself, at least in my experience. I mean everyone knows I'm a crazy fuck. I do silly and outlandish things. And I speak my mind like whoa (which is why I'm such an asshole). As far as I've seen, there's no room for any of that though. You have to be rigid. You have to keep that shirt tucked in and that bed made so tightly you could bounce a quarter off of it. This atmosphere lends itself to widening the communication gap qan has been trying to drill into upper staff's collective head. It also makes for shitty PR. You have boring, stiff (forcedly so) staffers, you have a public that sees those boring, stiff staffers, and it's just not a good combination.

And then from a player's perspective, god-motherfucking-damn you RoboHelp. I know you had only the purest of intentions DoCk>, and it truly is a great piece of work, but it's just not working out. RoboHelp is very much akin to an automated telephone service, and if you can show me a single human being who enjoys interacting with one of those things, I'll eat my own shit for breakfast. Aside from the most basic of questions, the system isn't going to give you the answer you're looking for. In addition, the !tell command makes it far too easy for a staff member to avoid contact with the public. There goes another tally in the negative column as far as your PR is concerned. What's so wrong with having a ZH who comes into your arena and speaks one on one with you? Now I'm sure you encourage your ZH's to do this even now, but the fact is, given the choice between going and actually dealing with a question (one they may not be too sure how to answer, even), versus issuing a quick and painless command to a bot, well no shit sherlock, they're going to take the easy way out. Who wouldn't?

Abuse. Sure, it's a problem. I'll tell you what though, the situation is the exact opposite of what most perceive it to be. Going hand in hand with the tight lipped nature of your average lower staff member, you end up seeing shithead players get away with just about anything. They spam and spam and spam something useless and downright moronic, or they spew racial slur after racial slur, or, and I can't wait for the blowback on this one, they rather blatantly fuck with their connection, all of these things are examples of rule breaking. They are cases in which a staff member should come into the situation, issue a warning and proceed to ban if the warning is not heeded. It rarely works that way though. The offending player will make a fuss, claim abuse, cry wolf if you will, and it's the staff member feeling as if they did something wrong. This happens two or three times, and suddenly you have staffers sitting on their hands, taking no action, rather than doing the right thing, all because they don't want to have to deal with the uproar.

Ultimately, the solution is a complete overhaul. Rules/procedures need oh so badly to be nailed down, and I'm talking nailed down with a railroad spike and a sledgehammer. Most specifically, this would greatly assist in cutting down on the whole abuse situation, but it would sure as shit simply help a great deal in general. Write everything down, clear as crystal, and there can be no objection as to how something was handled, as long as it was handled according to the rules. The position structure and advancement precedents need to go. You do what you're capable of doing, not half-ass it and wait for that promotion. You don't like the fact that some "new" (relative to you?) guy comes along and gets a position higher than you? Sorry Charlie, but maybe he was better suited for the job. Of course, certain positions, such as SMod, carry significant power along with significant responsibility, you wouldn't be handing these out without an abundance of trust, but duh... That's a no brainer.

I rather like the idea of committees amongst staff, all with checks and balances. Why not have just one committee of guys in charge of maintaining the rules and procedures? That's all they would do. They don't have to enforce the rules. They don't have to think up new events that can operate within the confines of the rules. They just sit down, write and revise as neccessary. If you give this task to that group, and only that group, there can be no ambiguity or misinterpretations. If you're unsure on a rule, you go to the committee and say, "Hey dudes, what did you mean here?" Then you have a committee, which would actually be more like a "task force" that, to put it ever so eloquently, gets shit done. This is where you would find zone helpers and event referees, as well as mods. These are the guys who take care of the day to day shit involved in keeping the zone running smoothly, entertaining the player base, and so on and so forth. You could even split this up into sub committees. Moving along, you have a committee that oversees staff as a whole. This is where you find your SMods and what have you, your Dean of Staff and Sysops. By oversee, I mean that they would pretty much be the heads of the other committees and subcommittees, the guys dishing out tasks and responsibilities and what have you. Now here's my super rad idea, peep this! To hell with the the top "fat cats" controlling promotions and terminations. To hell with them having no accountability. Here is what we do folks! We form ourselves just one more committee. This committee's sole purpose of existence is to routinely evaluate, from top to bottom, all of staff. If someone's not doing his/her thing, see ya. You have a group of players that is completely separate from the rest of staff, has no staff "powers", no other responsibilities, other than to maintain quality control. I think this committee would help to alleviate favoritism and grudge holding and the like. Keep the evaluations spaced apart, maybe once every six months for the higher positions, more frequently for the lower (greater turnover) positions. I really think this would be a step in the right direction.

And as for checks and balances, you give each committee it's own specific task(s), and that's it. You streamline and compartmentalize, thus keeping the "power" (I really hate that word.) spread out, rather than falling into just a few "absolute" hands. The rules committee, you make the rules. That's it. You don't stick your nose anywhere else, other than to make suggestions of course. The task force dudes, you get shit done. That's it. You don't stick your nose anywhere else, other than to make suggestions of course. The oversight committee, you are the liasons and the mentors. You keep communication channels flowing. You give guidance to the new guys. You don't stick your nose anywehre else, other than to make suggestions of course. And finally, the evaluation committee, you evaluate. That's it. You don't stick your nose anywhere else, other than to make suggestions of course. I really think this would work, and man, it's just not that difficult a system to implement, is it?

I also want to touch upon development, but my hand is broken, in a splint, and really starting to throb. I'm talking serious fucking "OW!" here. I'll come back and fire off more synapses later.

Shit this is super long. I hope at least a few of you read through it.

[Hero*]

sounds cool, but then again, who would pick the evaluators, if they aren't already staff?

[Twerp]

And as for checks and balances, you give each committee it's own specific task(s), and that's it. You streamline and compartmentalize, thus keeping the "power" (I really hate that word.) spread out, rather than falling into just a few "absolute" hands. The rules committee, you make the rules. That's it. You don't stick your nose anywhere else, other than to make suggestions of course. The task force dudes, you get shit done. That's it. You don't stick your nose anywhere else, other than to make suggestions of course. The oversight committee, you are the liasons and the mentors. You keep communication channels flowing. You give guidance to the new guys. You don't stick your nose anywehre else, other than to make suggestions of course. And finally, the evaluation committee, you evaluate. That's it. You don't stick your nose anywhere else, other than to make suggestions of course. I really think this would work, and man, it's just not that difficult a system to implement, is it?

I also want to touch upon development, but my hand is broken, in a splint, and really starting to throb. I'm talking serious fucking "OW!" here. I'll come back and fire off more synapses later.

Shit this is super long. I hope at least a few of you read through it.

How can the system be checks and balances if the people aren't allowed to "check" what the others are doing to make sure they aren't getting too much power?

[SooN]

Originally Posted by Jason
And as for checks and balances, you give each committee it's own specific task(s), and that's it. You streamline and compartmentalize, thus keeping the "power" (I really hate that word.) spread out, rather than falling into just a few "absolute" hands. The rules committee, you make the rules. That's it. You don't stick your nose anywhere else, other than to make suggestions of course. The task force dudes, you get shit done. That's it. You don't stick your nose anywhere else, other than to make suggestions of course. The oversight committee, you are the liasons and the mentors. You keep communication channels flowing. You give guidance to the new guys. You don't stick your nose anywehre else, other than to make suggestions of course. And finally, the evaluation committee, you evaluate. That's it. You don't stick your nose anywhere else, other than to make suggestions of course. I really think this would work, and man, it's just not that difficult a system to implement, is it?

I also want to touch upon development, but my hand is broken, in a splint, and really starting to throb. I'm talking serious fucking "OW!" here. I'll come back and fire off more synapses later.

Shit this is super long. I hope at least a few of you read through it.

So pretty much its a bunch of people just minding there own buisness and making suggestions? So, it'd be fair to say, we could just make the current staff mind there own buisness and let the higher staff deal with them, instead of them taking it upon themselves to say something and/or leave staff.

[T Mac-1]

Yes Jason, I read the entire thing. It's nice to see someone who is actually motivated about getting something done rather than just complaining about the state of affairs. But i would like to comment on some things you brought up.

RoboHelp is very much akin to an automated telephone service, and if you can show me a single human being who enjoys interacting with one of those things, I'll eat my own shit for breakfast.

I am so fucking glad you brought this up. <ZH>'s are hired to generally do some of the lower work of the zone (Ex. Taking help calls, helping with the more smaller tasks, etc.). My opinion is if they have been there between 1-3 months and are too lazy to go to the arena and help out someone, maybe they shouldn't be staff at all. My thoughts were that staff are people who are willing to put in more time and effort to do something besides just be an ordinary player of the game but maybe im wrong.

Ultimately, the solution is a complete overhaul. Rules/procedures need oh so badly to be nailed down...

I understand your point here, but unfortunately no system is perfect. There will always be some fucking moron who has nothing better to do than sit around and find a loop-hole to which they and their asshole buddies can exploit and probably get away with.

I rather like the idea of committees amongst staff, all with checks and balances. Why not have just one committee of guys in charge of maintaining the rules and procedures? That's all they would do. They don't have to enforce the rules...

The problem with this is yet again...people have lives. As much as a good idea it sounds like to have an "evaluation group" people will most likely just become inactive or have the lack of motivation to do their jobs. Another flaw is that after you form two or three "commitees" and "task forces" the number of staff has reached 75+ and upper staff have more people than they can handle.

Just thought I would give my little piece of constructive criticism. Please don't take this as me tearing your shit apart without my own ideas to change things for the best.

[!cER]

I rather like the idea of committees amongst staff, all with checks and balances. Why not have just one committee of guys in charge of maintaining the rules and procedures?

Personnally i dont think committies are a good idea. They are too hard to run, especially by volunteers. For example, do the decisions have to be unanimous or majority, does the head of the committee (a SMod or SysOp) have a veto? Do all members have to partipate in decisions, and how many members will there be? Will the committee be from different time-zones, or the same so they will be easier to co-ordinate?

I know you might see these as small details that can be addressed later, but i just cant see it running smoothly with so many potential controversial points. Also a committee very rarely has the ability to make on-the-spot decsions, which in most circumstances, is what is required.

Edit: Yeah basically what t-mac said

[Jason]

I admit my ideas, at this point, lack in-depth analysis. My post was pretty much type-as-I-thought. I'll rework what I have into something far more suitable for an actual proposal. Just give me some time, as I have an extra busy week ahead of me.

In the meantime, keep constructively criticizing. Continue to toss out your own ideas. This is the only way we'll get anywhere, dudes. No one idea has ever popped out of someone's head as the be-all, end-all ultimate super fantastic solution to a problem that affects many. I'm happy to see others chiming in.

...now if only we could get some feedback from the guys currently running the show.

[Squeezer]

Dude, get over it, it's a game. Ask yourself:

As a staff, did you ever get paid 5 cents for help SS idiots?

Can you put "being a 2d spaceship game staff" onto your resume?

Will you get laid more easily by telling your date that you are a SS mod?

Or

Using "hold on, I am a mod in this internet game, and I am busy" as an excuse to stop your mom from pressing that little button and forcing you to go to bed?


This is a freaking game, get over it!

It's people like u that shouldnt get staff. If ure gonna take that attitude on the situation, then ure not gonna help nething. If TW really wants to do the right thing, they'll hire ppl opposite of this point of view. People who don't care about putting time and effort into something, for the simple satisfaction recieved in knowing u did good. Oh and by the way Telcat, how come ure not dead yet?

[Galleleo]

Yes Jason, I read the entire thing. It's nice to see someone who is actually motivated about getting something done rather than just complaining about the state of affairs. But i would like to comment on some things you brought up.

No one has replied to my proposal on the last page, maybe because I wrote it or maybe because of something else.. but I think thats an idea to get something done instead of just whining.

[T3l Ca7]

Telcat, how come ure not dead yet?

I am like cockroaches, they just damn don't die. Well even when I die, cats have 9 lives ... so think of me to be like Jesus, only I have 8 extra lives >_<

You haven't done any community service I see.

I donated cash to help TW server and I am subscribing to TWsites. I did my share of volunteer work for my community and I have donated to red cross and various other causes.


That would go to TW staff too, some staff makes everything they have done known to others, while others just doing their job without being a big mouth.


When those who have big mouths resigned or axed, they whine and moan and cry for all the attentions, while those who do stuff without making noise usually go unnoticed.

You tell me which one do you like: those who look as if they have done a lot, or those who actually did a lot?

[Twerp]

I'm sorry if my post wasn't as clear, but I meant community service like food banks where you spend time working. It's easy to send money to places, but the time that you spend, I think, is more worthwhile. That thing I said was supposed to be compared with being on staff. You spend time working without a profit.

[MaGi kOz]

When those who have big mouths resigned or axed, they whine and moan and cry for all the attentions, while those who do stuff without making noise usually go unnoticed.

You tell me which one do you like: those who look as if they have done a lot, or those who actually did a lot?

Have you even read any crucial parts of this thread?

[T3l Ca7]

Twerp: read again, I did say "I did my share of volunteer work for my community" and I meant it literally. More specifically I was a volunteer for Sydney Olympic 2000.

Magi: I read the 1st page.

1st) qan ... who? I never seen him hosting before.

2nd) Dock> does a lot stuff, he doesn't host or answer any ?help. But he is on SS almost 15 hours a day. restarting Bots, respond to every help call for TWsites. He is also the one who knows the most about technical aspect of TW.


And the list goes on. I am sure there are a lot upper staff does nothing, but it isn't like everyone who quit staff are just so damn good.


At the end of the day I still think everyone who treat a game so seriously have no life.