[STAFF]: WARNING

[Madvillain]

Disco is an incredible place, but it's also a strange mix of a gaming community, a wildly creative monster project where everyone plays their (often small) part, and for some apparently a bit of a daycare facility. (no offense, not pointing at someone specific here)

It’s easy to point fingers at the staff when things go wrong here, and yes, things do go wrong from time to time. Sometimes there’s blatant injustice; other times, it feels like a jungle where the strongest or the meanest prevail. It can even resemble a chicken coop, with people gossiping and ridiculing others for things they care deeply about (perhaps a bit too much).
The community is full of cliques, where people say unkind things about others who belong to different groups. And since most of the time we don’t know who’s on the other end of the screen, the level of discourse ranges from thoughtful and compassionate to downright childish.

So let’s not forget: the staff aren’t paid for what they have to deal with here. This community is made up of wonderful, caring people, but occasionally also some deeply antisocial, toxic sentiments rear their ugly head. (luckily those instances are far fewer than in the old days) The Discovery staff isn’t perfect, and there are times when they make decisions that at the least don’t seem fully informed: when one side gets off easy while the other is unfairly reprimanded, but I don’t think it’s realistic to expect more from them than what they already do.

I suppose that instead of blaming the staff for everything, the community itself could take a long, hard look in the mirror. A lot of the issues between people are rooted in miscommunication or well-meaning intentions gone awry. A lot of it stems from misinterpreting the rules or lack of experience. Very little of it is out of malice. Most of it comes from misunderstandings about consent and boundaries between players. The best thing you can do, rule-wise, is simply talk to each other. It’s a lot easier and functionally better for the community than waiting for staff to step in.

When it comes to things like development work, balancing, and feedback, there’s a vocal group of people who simply repeat what they’ve heard from others, stirring up drama without really understanding what they’re talking about. One of the most frustrating aspects is when people tell others to step down. Whether you agree with the staff or not, they are passionate, hard-working individuals who often even disagree with each other, but still pour countless hours into this free game, which they pay for with loads of time and energy.

So in my opinion, that kind of criticism is particularly distasteful, as it undermines the efforts of people who work tirelessly to make this game better for everyone.
People have been predicting Disco's downfall and mass exodus since 2010. (hell, even I did) Honestly, I’m not too concerned. The roleplaying community here is deeply cherished by many, and while updates may bring valid concerns and criticisms, we've come a long way together as a community.

In my view, what’s needed now is a little less yelling, complaining, moaning and finger pointing, and a bit more appreciation. Not just for the staff, but for each other. Let’s organize some fun pews, not take ourselves too seriously, and just enjoy this unique, free, and amazing experience together.

Thank you for coming to my tedtalk.

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