11-14-2020, 04:35 AM
I shall open this by allowing you to cut straight to the meat of the issue, skipping past my foreword should you wish.
This public statement is going to be split into two distinct but deeply intertwined topics-
If you are concerned with the state of harassment and hostility in the community, and how we seek to address it moving forwards, skip to the next bolded line.
If you are concerned with hearing how the GM team operate, further potential changes, and some more personal thoughts on recent threads, those will be contained in the next post.
I'd ask that you don't skip the section on harassment, as it constitutes an adjustment on policy that affects nearly every last one of you.
At the time of posting, I intend to spend a few hours in the comments of this thread, responding to things as best I can. Please endeavour to keep your responses polite, respectful towards others, and concise. I shall do the same.
With that out of the way...
"This community is full of fine people. Good souls. And I understand they are on edge for countless reasons. What I pray is people will cease burning bridges, and instead mend them. To give each other comradery." -sic Stenzio, Opinions on the State of Opinions
For the best part of this year, I have been apart from our community perhaps more than I ever have been in the past, even factoring in my relative and intentionl anonymity before applying for GMship. I'll save you all the sordid details- 2020 comes for us all -now that I am in a secure enough place physically to be fully back in action. But as the old curse goes...
May you live in interesting times.
During my absense from public, it well seems as though problems that we as a broader community have suffered for years at this point have been given ample space to grow, consume, and fester. Truly, the timing of my return is ideal and horrible in equal measure, each for numerous reasons.
So, accordingly, I'll begin with an apology.
Whilst I've been active in GM discussions during my unwilling hiatus and responding to every administritive private message I've received in the interim, had I been more involved in the community for the past year, perhaps I would have been able to sooner realise just how bad things had become, and been able to interject far earlier. On behalf of my own public inaction, I deeply apologise.
The problems addressed in recent forum threads are far from new though, and some still remain largely unaddressed. They are merely worsening of trends that I can observe and follow the trail of backwards for years, in large part.
I understand some of you may not think of us GMs as part of the community, and I'm sure that all of us being very old players and largely keeping to ourselves doesn't aid in that perception, but we are indeed community members just like yourselves, and it deeply hurts us when we see such a horrible atmosphere as has been prevalent overtake what should well be a tight-knit, collaborative community. And accordingly, we are just as at fault for allowing hostile aspects of the community to go unresolved.
However...
Let's move on to the meat of things, shall we? Enough waxing lyrical about the negatives, let's get to updates, solutions, and solid steps moving fowards.
Ongoing Harassment Within the Community, and Policy Changes Thereupon.
The way we as a larger community have allowed harassment as a very specific issue and hostility as a whole to grow out of control is a topic I've been taking a deeper look into of late, doubly so the past couple days. Even knowing that it was prevalent before going in, I've found myself taken aback by just how many people are truthfully affected by this matter, in ways large or small. Before getting some rest last night, I dropped in on essentially random, unrelated community members, each of whom was able to give me a distinct positive litmus test on quietly held concerns about the way people have been treating one another.
Accordingly, my opening statement is as such...
There are elements of our playerbase that have fostered an evironment of hostility and harassment that directly silences the necessary reporting of problems that need scrutiny, and indirectly brings many others to silence as to avoid becoming a target.
This is a problem that I personally find abhorrent, especially given that it's a problem that each of us can contribute to without meaning to cause active harm. Stenzio's quote speaks to me accordingly; I refuse to believe that the majority of people who perpetuate such an environment do so intentionally, and fundamentally consider you all to have positive goals and intentions.
This is also a problem that we as GMs cannot solve alone. We will need your help as a broader community, even as we actively endeavour to do our best by you all. We have been considering policy changes on this topic for a while now, and intend to work in tandem with you all to better SL2 for us all.
Let's start with things that are definite on the GM end of things. We are willing to consider further suggestions and ideas accordingly, as this is an evolving situation that takes time, but I want to leave no room for doubt on this specific policy change.
We have elected to take on a harsher, zero-tolerance stance on cases of intentional, targetted harassment.
For a long time, we've been relatively hands off with mechanical punishment. Bans don't come frequently, and typically require quite a few- or at least very significant -overstepping of boundaries. Equally so, we have been relatively unable to pursue cases of this that we're aware of which happen behind closed doors.
I won't mince words, since this really needs to settle in.
If we are presented with adequate evidence that any specific person has been exhibiting behaviour of targetted, malicious harassment or hostility at another player or players, and a further investigation corroborates as much, that person will be met with mechanical punishment swiftly, decisively, and thoroughly.
This, however, is not all.
Firstly, we aren't stupid, and we're all well versed in the ways people make an effort to provide terribly thin veils of plausible deniability. Trying to pull the wool over our eyes whilst harming the game experience for other players will not be treated any more kindly than being blatant about it will be.
Secondly, we have long been aware of a repeating pattern whenever people are scrutinized for their actions. Namely, the direction of their friends and compatriots, intentional or otherwise, to harass and bully the initial victim further, or whomever reported the issue. In the past, this has largely happened in discord communities, and thus we've felt it appropriate to watch carefully, but have been largely unable to consider taking action against these people. Going forth, expect this to change. If you take your harassment of others in the community off of the server, we intend to treat such a case as just as much in the community as anything directly in game. This is where I'd like to think better of people- it's natural to want to come to the aid of one's friends, but very often this comes in the form of harming others. The likelihood is that these cases are less intentionally malicious than the initial instances, however, and such will be taken into consideration when we investigate.
Thirdly, the matter of providing evidence when requested. This will largely be touched upon in post two, but is relevant here. In point two, I noted how people who report things often get harassed themselves, intentionally so. Discretion has been and continues to be a distinct concern in harassment cases, and there is a danger when providing logs that we can put existing victims at further risk of hostility.
So. Onto anything that the wider playerbase can do to help us out.
We need to foster together a better atmosphere in which people feel like they can report things without getting dogpiled and strung up. Part of that is on the GM team, but part of that is also on pushing past reluctancy to report problems with negatively affect not only ourselves, but others. Again- I dropped in on near-random people to ask their personal opinions, and got positives. If things aren't reported to the GM team, it becomes very, very difficult to be aware of ongoing situations.
I get it, fully. Nobody wants to be the one to get ostracised for doing a good thing, and it's abominable when it happens. The GM team is more than willing to hear you out privately, keep you secure, and do our best to prevent you getting targetted for doing right by yourself and your fellow player.
It's a vicious cycle of harassment and hostility bullying people into silence, allowing such things to flourish and spread yet further, worsening until the point where nobody feels comfortable with speaking up. The forums have been very busy the past few days, but the number of people who haven't spoken on related topics are very easy to be hidden away and go without regard when they don't feel comfortable to speak.
But this is not the only feasible cycle. Should we make a collective effort to actively and securely present concerns as well as hard infractions, it will at least start to foster an atmosphere in which rotten behaviour is put under the clear light of day... helping people to further feel comfortable voicing their concerns.
You will not be alone in this. This is not a case of "just speak up, lol." The GM team is currently considering methods to better open channels in which people can feel more comfortable in confidentially giving voice to their concerns, and we're making an active effort to workshop things accordingly.
In the interim period, it would be prudent to at the very least note that we are all willing to take private messages from anybody in the community. I personally encourage it. Really, please. I prefer when people come to me directly for things, it's motivating, encouraging, and I always endeavour to respond as soon as I can to work with people quickly and positively.
Ultimately, we feel problems in the community just as you do, and we want to better ourselves collectively just as you do.
I quoted Stenzio's post in the foreword because I admired the positivity underlying it. It's a positivity I often lack, and I shall be taking as much into account- perhaps we all should take a moment to step back, just every now and then, to breathe deeply and reflect on how we impact those around us? Certainly, I will be doing so. We're all beautifully imperfect, after all, yet blessed with the gift of introspection.
if i have to type harassment one more time i think im going to have an aneurysm
This public statement is going to be split into two distinct but deeply intertwined topics-
If you are concerned with the state of harassment and hostility in the community, and how we seek to address it moving forwards, skip to the next bolded line.
If you are concerned with hearing how the GM team operate, further potential changes, and some more personal thoughts on recent threads, those will be contained in the next post.
I'd ask that you don't skip the section on harassment, as it constitutes an adjustment on policy that affects nearly every last one of you.
At the time of posting, I intend to spend a few hours in the comments of this thread, responding to things as best I can. Please endeavour to keep your responses polite, respectful towards others, and concise. I shall do the same.
With that out of the way...
"This community is full of fine people. Good souls. And I understand they are on edge for countless reasons. What I pray is people will cease burning bridges, and instead mend them. To give each other comradery." -sic Stenzio, Opinions on the State of Opinions
For the best part of this year, I have been apart from our community perhaps more than I ever have been in the past, even factoring in my relative and intentionl anonymity before applying for GMship. I'll save you all the sordid details- 2020 comes for us all -now that I am in a secure enough place physically to be fully back in action. But as the old curse goes...
May you live in interesting times.
During my absense from public, it well seems as though problems that we as a broader community have suffered for years at this point have been given ample space to grow, consume, and fester. Truly, the timing of my return is ideal and horrible in equal measure, each for numerous reasons.
So, accordingly, I'll begin with an apology.
Whilst I've been active in GM discussions during my unwilling hiatus and responding to every administritive private message I've received in the interim, had I been more involved in the community for the past year, perhaps I would have been able to sooner realise just how bad things had become, and been able to interject far earlier. On behalf of my own public inaction, I deeply apologise.
The problems addressed in recent forum threads are far from new though, and some still remain largely unaddressed. They are merely worsening of trends that I can observe and follow the trail of backwards for years, in large part.
I understand some of you may not think of us GMs as part of the community, and I'm sure that all of us being very old players and largely keeping to ourselves doesn't aid in that perception, but we are indeed community members just like yourselves, and it deeply hurts us when we see such a horrible atmosphere as has been prevalent overtake what should well be a tight-knit, collaborative community. And accordingly, we are just as at fault for allowing hostile aspects of the community to go unresolved.
However...
Let's move on to the meat of things, shall we? Enough waxing lyrical about the negatives, let's get to updates, solutions, and solid steps moving fowards.
Ongoing Harassment Within the Community, and Policy Changes Thereupon.
The way we as a larger community have allowed harassment as a very specific issue and hostility as a whole to grow out of control is a topic I've been taking a deeper look into of late, doubly so the past couple days. Even knowing that it was prevalent before going in, I've found myself taken aback by just how many people are truthfully affected by this matter, in ways large or small. Before getting some rest last night, I dropped in on essentially random, unrelated community members, each of whom was able to give me a distinct positive litmus test on quietly held concerns about the way people have been treating one another.
Accordingly, my opening statement is as such...
There are elements of our playerbase that have fostered an evironment of hostility and harassment that directly silences the necessary reporting of problems that need scrutiny, and indirectly brings many others to silence as to avoid becoming a target.
This is a problem that I personally find abhorrent, especially given that it's a problem that each of us can contribute to without meaning to cause active harm. Stenzio's quote speaks to me accordingly; I refuse to believe that the majority of people who perpetuate such an environment do so intentionally, and fundamentally consider you all to have positive goals and intentions.
This is also a problem that we as GMs cannot solve alone. We will need your help as a broader community, even as we actively endeavour to do our best by you all. We have been considering policy changes on this topic for a while now, and intend to work in tandem with you all to better SL2 for us all.
Let's start with things that are definite on the GM end of things. We are willing to consider further suggestions and ideas accordingly, as this is an evolving situation that takes time, but I want to leave no room for doubt on this specific policy change.
We have elected to take on a harsher, zero-tolerance stance on cases of intentional, targetted harassment.
For a long time, we've been relatively hands off with mechanical punishment. Bans don't come frequently, and typically require quite a few- or at least very significant -overstepping of boundaries. Equally so, we have been relatively unable to pursue cases of this that we're aware of which happen behind closed doors.
I won't mince words, since this really needs to settle in.
If we are presented with adequate evidence that any specific person has been exhibiting behaviour of targetted, malicious harassment or hostility at another player or players, and a further investigation corroborates as much, that person will be met with mechanical punishment swiftly, decisively, and thoroughly.
This, however, is not all.
Firstly, we aren't stupid, and we're all well versed in the ways people make an effort to provide terribly thin veils of plausible deniability. Trying to pull the wool over our eyes whilst harming the game experience for other players will not be treated any more kindly than being blatant about it will be.
Secondly, we have long been aware of a repeating pattern whenever people are scrutinized for their actions. Namely, the direction of their friends and compatriots, intentional or otherwise, to harass and bully the initial victim further, or whomever reported the issue. In the past, this has largely happened in discord communities, and thus we've felt it appropriate to watch carefully, but have been largely unable to consider taking action against these people. Going forth, expect this to change. If you take your harassment of others in the community off of the server, we intend to treat such a case as just as much in the community as anything directly in game. This is where I'd like to think better of people- it's natural to want to come to the aid of one's friends, but very often this comes in the form of harming others. The likelihood is that these cases are less intentionally malicious than the initial instances, however, and such will be taken into consideration when we investigate.
Thirdly, the matter of providing evidence when requested. This will largely be touched upon in post two, but is relevant here. In point two, I noted how people who report things often get harassed themselves, intentionally so. Discretion has been and continues to be a distinct concern in harassment cases, and there is a danger when providing logs that we can put existing victims at further risk of hostility.
So. Onto anything that the wider playerbase can do to help us out.
We need to foster together a better atmosphere in which people feel like they can report things without getting dogpiled and strung up. Part of that is on the GM team, but part of that is also on pushing past reluctancy to report problems with negatively affect not only ourselves, but others. Again- I dropped in on near-random people to ask their personal opinions, and got positives. If things aren't reported to the GM team, it becomes very, very difficult to be aware of ongoing situations.
I get it, fully. Nobody wants to be the one to get ostracised for doing a good thing, and it's abominable when it happens. The GM team is more than willing to hear you out privately, keep you secure, and do our best to prevent you getting targetted for doing right by yourself and your fellow player.
It's a vicious cycle of harassment and hostility bullying people into silence, allowing such things to flourish and spread yet further, worsening until the point where nobody feels comfortable with speaking up. The forums have been very busy the past few days, but the number of people who haven't spoken on related topics are very easy to be hidden away and go without regard when they don't feel comfortable to speak.
But this is not the only feasible cycle. Should we make a collective effort to actively and securely present concerns as well as hard infractions, it will at least start to foster an atmosphere in which rotten behaviour is put under the clear light of day... helping people to further feel comfortable voicing their concerns.
You will not be alone in this. This is not a case of "just speak up, lol." The GM team is currently considering methods to better open channels in which people can feel more comfortable in confidentially giving voice to their concerns, and we're making an active effort to workshop things accordingly.
In the interim period, it would be prudent to at the very least note that we are all willing to take private messages from anybody in the community. I personally encourage it. Really, please. I prefer when people come to me directly for things, it's motivating, encouraging, and I always endeavour to respond as soon as I can to work with people quickly and positively.
Ultimately, we feel problems in the community just as you do, and we want to better ourselves collectively just as you do.
I quoted Stenzio's post in the foreword because I admired the positivity underlying it. It's a positivity I often lack, and I shall be taking as much into account- perhaps we all should take a moment to step back, just every now and then, to breathe deeply and reflect on how we impact those around us? Certainly, I will be doing so. We're all beautifully imperfect, after all, yet blessed with the gift of introspection.
if i have to type harassment one more time i think im going to have an aneurysm
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