An Apology, and Some Comments
Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 2:41 pm
First off, let me apologize for not being around yesterday to help keep things organized. As the primary IRC op, I'm responsible for keeping the chat on topic and civil and as a forum mod, all hands were clearly needed on deck. Please count on me in the future; I won't let you guys down like that again.
Now.
As previously stated, I wasn't around yesterday, so I don't know what happened or who said what to whom, and for the most part, I don't want to know. It's pretty clear to me that everyone said things they should be regretting by now, and that it's time to move on. That said, I have some comments. Please accept them in the spirit in which they are given, which is that of a veteran of LG15 who remembers when she was a newbie, and would like the game to keep being fun for all.
IRCers: Remember (I know you haven't forgotten) that not everyone can get into the IRC, and not everyone wants to. That doesn't mean that people don't want to play the game. The forums are crucial to the game, and are by no means a secondary means of communication. This means two things--1. don't put down or ignore forum comments just because they're on the forums, and 2. Go read and update the forums yourself to make sure youand others actually know what's going on. Tolerance and understanding are key.
Forum only-ers: The chat, by virtue of its nature, moves faster and is a more efficient medium for communication of information. If you're working only on the forum, please just be aware that sometimes you may be told that your great insight has already been discovered--and sometimes, people are a bit short in these messages because they need to get back to the chat and figure out what they missed. Patience and understanding are key.
OpA/Tach Ancientry (people who were playing before OpA went canon): We know a lot. We have seen a lot. Frequently, we are right. But that doesn't mean that we can miss a clue, or that some young upstart can't figure something out before we do. I know it's sometimes frustrating to have all sorts of new people around asking the same old question we've heard 4,000 times before, but that doesn't give us a reason to assume that new people don't know anything and are worthless to the game. Think back (if you can) to a time when you were just getting a feel for the whole OpA (or, probably CiW) experience and wanted to ask a lot of stupid questions. Remember that we belong in the chat and in the forums, and that our good example is powerful because we have all that experience under our belts. There was once a time when we were known as the friendliest boards on the whole LG15 forums. Let's try to go back to that happier time.
OpA/Tach Tweens (people who joined after OpA went canon, but before The Great Plot Drought): You guys are especially important, because you're still new enough to remember what it was like not to know anything, but experienced enough to have some insights to share with even newer people. Don't fall into the trap of resenting newbies for their newness or the older vets for their stodgy ways. And above all, stay on topic and follow our house rules! You've lived under the rules--act like it.
OpA/Tach Upstarts (people who joined after The Great Plot Drought began): I believe that the vast majority of you are intelligent, entertaining people who truly want to help. It's completely understandable that you want to share your thoughts and get frustrated when it looks like they get ignored just because you're new. You're entitled to a little frustration. But please also keep in mind that you ARE new, and that it takes a little while to become really familiar with the characters of this game and how they operate. Also, there are people, no matter how much you dislike them, who have played this game longer than you have, and have a lot of that inherent knowledge. Please ask questions and make suggestions, but remember that there is a time and a place for everything. The chat or the forums in the middle of a drop is NOT that time or place. Seek out a mod or an op or a vet you respect and plug them with your questions in a PM (I'm sure there are many people on both sides who can attest to how well this system works). Before you ask questions, read the available information to make sure you aren't missing anything . If someone directs you to a thread or the 'pedia, they probably have a reason for doing so. And if you make a suggestion about plot or character interaction and everyone in the vicinity rolls their eyes and gnashes their teeth, it probably has nothing to do with you and only means that your suggestion has been discussed to death. We love you and want you to play with us, but remember that you ARE new and do not see everything from an ingenious and unprecedented perspective.
Everyone: We are all human (or at least masquerading as such, so back in your box, shifty). We all get excited, frustrated, irritated, tired, and drunk. Let's remember that we're dealing with fellow humans here, and not having to look at their faces when we say offensive and hurtful things is not an excuse to let your personal restraints go. Also, when we say things in anger or strong emotion, sometimes we regret it later. Holding grudges at this point is, in my opinion, completely pointless and will only make us a less effective team later. Sure, someone said something mean to you last night. Let it go, and approach the people you said mean things to with respect and a blank slate in the future.
I and the other mods/ops are going to be working on some things in the near future which will hopefully help keep things running more smoothly. Please be patient with us as we work out the bugs.
I am happy to read comments/replies to this post, but please be aware that I will delete immediately and without any appeal any personal attacks against individuals in this thread. I am only interested in constructive comments or general observations. Thank you.
Now.
As previously stated, I wasn't around yesterday, so I don't know what happened or who said what to whom, and for the most part, I don't want to know. It's pretty clear to me that everyone said things they should be regretting by now, and that it's time to move on. That said, I have some comments. Please accept them in the spirit in which they are given, which is that of a veteran of LG15 who remembers when she was a newbie, and would like the game to keep being fun for all.
IRCers: Remember (I know you haven't forgotten) that not everyone can get into the IRC, and not everyone wants to. That doesn't mean that people don't want to play the game. The forums are crucial to the game, and are by no means a secondary means of communication. This means two things--1. don't put down or ignore forum comments just because they're on the forums, and 2. Go read and update the forums yourself to make sure youand others actually know what's going on. Tolerance and understanding are key.
Forum only-ers: The chat, by virtue of its nature, moves faster and is a more efficient medium for communication of information. If you're working only on the forum, please just be aware that sometimes you may be told that your great insight has already been discovered--and sometimes, people are a bit short in these messages because they need to get back to the chat and figure out what they missed. Patience and understanding are key.
OpA/Tach Ancientry (people who were playing before OpA went canon): We know a lot. We have seen a lot. Frequently, we are right. But that doesn't mean that we can miss a clue, or that some young upstart can't figure something out before we do. I know it's sometimes frustrating to have all sorts of new people around asking the same old question we've heard 4,000 times before, but that doesn't give us a reason to assume that new people don't know anything and are worthless to the game. Think back (if you can) to a time when you were just getting a feel for the whole OpA (or, probably CiW) experience and wanted to ask a lot of stupid questions. Remember that we belong in the chat and in the forums, and that our good example is powerful because we have all that experience under our belts. There was once a time when we were known as the friendliest boards on the whole LG15 forums. Let's try to go back to that happier time.
OpA/Tach Tweens (people who joined after OpA went canon, but before The Great Plot Drought): You guys are especially important, because you're still new enough to remember what it was like not to know anything, but experienced enough to have some insights to share with even newer people. Don't fall into the trap of resenting newbies for their newness or the older vets for their stodgy ways. And above all, stay on topic and follow our house rules! You've lived under the rules--act like it.
OpA/Tach Upstarts (people who joined after The Great Plot Drought began): I believe that the vast majority of you are intelligent, entertaining people who truly want to help. It's completely understandable that you want to share your thoughts and get frustrated when it looks like they get ignored just because you're new. You're entitled to a little frustration. But please also keep in mind that you ARE new, and that it takes a little while to become really familiar with the characters of this game and how they operate. Also, there are people, no matter how much you dislike them, who have played this game longer than you have, and have a lot of that inherent knowledge. Please ask questions and make suggestions, but remember that there is a time and a place for everything. The chat or the forums in the middle of a drop is NOT that time or place. Seek out a mod or an op or a vet you respect and plug them with your questions in a PM (I'm sure there are many people on both sides who can attest to how well this system works). Before you ask questions, read the available information to make sure you aren't missing anything . If someone directs you to a thread or the 'pedia, they probably have a reason for doing so. And if you make a suggestion about plot or character interaction and everyone in the vicinity rolls their eyes and gnashes their teeth, it probably has nothing to do with you and only means that your suggestion has been discussed to death. We love you and want you to play with us, but remember that you ARE new and do not see everything from an ingenious and unprecedented perspective.
Everyone: We are all human (or at least masquerading as such, so back in your box, shifty). We all get excited, frustrated, irritated, tired, and drunk. Let's remember that we're dealing with fellow humans here, and not having to look at their faces when we say offensive and hurtful things is not an excuse to let your personal restraints go. Also, when we say things in anger or strong emotion, sometimes we regret it later. Holding grudges at this point is, in my opinion, completely pointless and will only make us a less effective team later. Sure, someone said something mean to you last night. Let it go, and approach the people you said mean things to with respect and a blank slate in the future.
I and the other mods/ops are going to be working on some things in the near future which will hopefully help keep things running more smoothly. Please be patient with us as we work out the bugs.
I am happy to read comments/replies to this post, but please be aware that I will delete immediately and without any appeal any personal attacks against individuals in this thread. I am only interested in constructive comments or general observations. Thank you.
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