Admin Feedback Thread (Archived)

[Dane Summers]

Neither Karst, Lyth or any of the 6 were given any warnings before they got banned. The staff didn't come forward and approach them about anything at all.

That is basically what I'm calling attention to. In this instance, we've been shown that Admins put together a list of folk they want to shadowban and remove permanently from the Mod and Community. The Admins as a group vote on why this person should go, this person should stay, and then they remove those people, for whatever reasons they have agreed upon.

My earlier point when I stated that only witnessing negativity without making effort to know the people your passing judgement on, only leads to a negative and one-sided opinion, is most relevant to the above. Rules violations and sanctions are one thing. Shadowban Lists are entirely another thing. In one instance, a friend of mine was perma'd with the simple explanation "we don't like you." That person is back in the community, but I don't feel that excuses the manner in which that person was dismissed in the first place

There have been those, that had they been Admins at the time, would have submitted my name for a shadowban list, because there have been times when I was most vocal in a completely negative way. During my tenure as FP1 admin during the (one of many) Omega War, I was openly antagonistic of Dab and Alvin, and in Dab's case, was nasty and hostile in both skype and the forums (and not from an IC perspective either.) In one instance, I filled up a few pages of forum argument with my general dislike of what I considered to be retarded RP decisions from the Corsairs. During the growing pains of CR|, a number of people had less than kind things to say about what I was doing, and how I was doing it, and I had less than kind things to say about them in return. On a couple of occasions, I've gotten drunk, and vomited onto the forums with my intention to do whatever I please. I, in fact, still have a lewd sig, because I think the Admin's decision to back Sterlin's witchhunt to be entirely wrong.

We are, none of us, perfect. King Boo has admitted that he is not inclined to be nice to people he feels are not nice in return, and has openly admitted that his feelings on people can be prejudiced. I'm willing to believe he isnt the only one.

My suggestion: Checks and Balances. It might not even be a new concept, and I'm likely not the first person to suggest it. Install an oversight committee of players, and let those players report on the Admin process. Otherwise, when you shadowban a group of players, allow the community to overturn these decisions with a majority vote. In my understanding, when Karst, Lyth, etc were let go, this community was not in agreement - some of those people did come back, however, through Admins "bowing to community pressure" - my suggestion is, make this a part of the system. When people feel they have control over their govt, on the whole they feel less at the whim of oppressors, and more in charge of their own fate. If you want, if "getting to know people" is unfeasible, set up a system of advocates. If you plan on permabaning a community member, have someone speak on that persons behalf, with reasons why they should stay. If that seems unfair, have someone also come forward as to why they shouldn't stay. Hold a debate. (I'm not advocating this for the sanction process, simply the "this person is gone forever because we don't like him" process).

At the very least, eliminate the Admin "Thin Blue Line" policy. Closing ranks to protect Admins from community anger over misconduct doesn't really help matters - it divides the community and creates "us vs them" mentality. As well, transparency seems to be something people want. Maybe consider not making Admin posts invisible. And please, stop with the condescension whenever a problem occurs, and people are upset. Disco is a symbiotic community - between the players and the admins and the devs, you can't have any one without all of them.