Open thread on staff improvements

[DZComposer]

It has come to my attention that some of you have been voicing displeasure with the way things are being run here at SFO on other sites. Some of you have even accused us of being on a power-trip.

I have always had an open-door policy with you opinions on how the staff is doing, and when I find out that people are saying things like this elsewhere, it makes me feel like you don't believe that an open door policy exists.

You can ALWAYS PM me if you have an issue. I get several PMs a day, and I also have other things in life that need my attention, so sometimes a PM falls through the cracks (this especially happens if I am reading the boards while at work). If that happens, remind me about it. You can also e-mail me, though I do not respond to e-mails as fast as PMs.

We've had to deal with a couple of complex issues lately, and I think this has put stress on everyone.

I would like to take a moment to apologize to any of you who feel things were not handled fairly.

I will discuss with the staff the issue of dealing with drama. I have noticed myself that some of the mods have been jumping on threads that were not much more than an involved discussion.

Drama can tear communities apart, but an obsession of snuffing it out can lead to censorship and I will admit that we probably have crossed that line a few times.

I think the catalyst for this situation is what happened with Dermot. Some of you feel that he was run out by the staff. I assure you that this was not the case. He took a hiatus on his own, and may return. If he does, he will be welcome. Some of you were not happy with the way he handled his sexual orientation, and I tried to make it an environment where he could be himself. That ended up not being possible, and some of the discussions I had with Dermot on the side went in a direction they shouldn't have. I told him some things that I should not have that made him feel animosity towards a couple of members, who will remain nameless. I have appologized to him and to the staff, and now I apologize to the community for that lack of judgment on my part. No one railroaded him out. Especially not me. He ended up not feeling comfortable here and took a hiatus.

Now that the explanations are there, I would like to open this thread up as a place you can give feedback to the staff on recent things. Please use it. This is not rule with an iron fist here, and if you feel that it is, that won't change if you don't tell us. It has always been SFO policy to not punish people for bringing a grievance with the staff forward in a respectful manner. If you would prefer to let me know in private, you can always PM me. I will try to get better about responding to PMs.

Going to other sites and complaining there or complaining to eachother over IM will not help me make things better, and may cause a damaging rift in the community. I don't think any of you want that. I am not angry about it. I just want you to know that you can tell me if you don't like the way things are going. Don't feel like you have to go through outside channels to discuss issues with us.

[Kursed]

I want this Grudge about me doing things in the past to be dropped if you cannot learn to accept that i Can change then I really  will feel like I have no business with you..  Also I do not want to have to be Sorta kinda blackmailed into Revealing Personal information my profile is setup as is and  also I would like the admins to stop touching my profile I've noticed that someoen has set the gender  for me twice. I have seen no further evidence of this happening.

Oh before I forget If a member has problems with my claims about my Life i would like that they pm'd me about the Issue  cancer is a serious thing people Lieing about it  is soo low that weLl I can't even label  how low it is.

Thank you for your time.

[Steve]

I want this Grudge about me doing things in the past to be dropped if you cannot learn to accept that i Can change then I really  will feel like I have no business with you..  Also I do not want to have to be Sorta kinda blackmailed into Revealing Personal information my profile is setup as is and  also I would like the admins to stop touching my profile I've noticed that someoen has set the gender  for me twice. I have seen no further evidence of this happening.

Oh before I forget If a member has problems with my claims about my Life i would like that they pm'd me about the Issue  cancer is a serious thing people Lieing about it  is soo low that weLl I can't even label  how low it is.

Thank you for your time.

I beg to differ, DZ wasn't here when the "I'm sorry " topic began, and I'm sure as hell I didn't touch your profile, I was actually amazed you did that by yourself, so, I'm just going to leave this out, cause, either me or you are lying. Unless you mean it was set back up to "Female" when you wanted to stay as "Male" if it was that, then I surely am clueless.

[Guest FoXXX]

I like how you're running this place now.

[CrypticQuery]

I like how you're running this place now.

I second this, as the SF-O staff goes above and beyond the call of duty on a daily basis. 

[Guest DRL]

Complains.... COMPLAINS?!

I laught at the very idea of

me doing that in SF-O.

I have blew-it-up in the past

a few times already, but when

I have done, it was MY fault,

and no one else's. Other than

that, I see no real reason to

'complain'.

You are doing it really cool according

to my standards, if it helps any.

[Milkyway64]

No complaints here. Everything so far as I've seen has been handled alright, if maybe sometimes seemingly paranoid.

I only have a vague idea on what's going on right now. Something about Kursed and his gender and blackmail and other such foolishness. I have nothing else to say until I'm more informed.

[Guest DRL]

I only have a vague idea on what's going on right now. Something about Kursed and his gender and blackmail and other such foolishness. I have nothing else to say until I'm more informed.

Hey, that just right.

I have been out-of-tune

for a few days, and a drama

mountain as big as Lylat happens.

But regardless of what

I have-no-clear-idea-still,

it is [90%] drama.

[Sapphire]

DZ, Steve, I think you guys are kick ass and are both awesome. No changes need to be made. Enough said. :)

[Guest Julius Quasar]

I hate that Julius Quasar guy, he pisses me off! :P

[Fluxy]

I hate that Julius Quasar guy, he pisses me off!

Be careful what you say! *Looks left and right* "They" are everywhere! Including Julius! *Hides*

(JK, You is awesome Julius! )

[CrypticQuery]

I hate that Julius Quasar guy, he pisses me off!

I know!! What kinda name is Quasar anyway!?

Seriously Julius, keep up the great work :P

[Guest DRL]

I hate that Julius Quasar guy, he pisses me off!

Yeah, he is allways praising his parents

for their great job, and calling Democracy

the 'best goverment evar!!!'...

No seriously, no complains on my part,

I was just kidding.

[Mr. Fox13]

DZ, Steve and the mods....they're better then some of the staff I've seen at other forums...

I have 0 complaints so far.

[Sapphire]

I hate that Julius Quasar guy, he pisses me off!

Random Fat Man: I LOVE YOU JULIUS!!!!!!!!!

*Rips off his shirt revealing a big tattoo on his back that says I ? JULIUS*

Fat man: I LOVE YOU MAN! YOU'RE MY HERO!!!!!!!

:lol:

[Guest Julius Quasar]

Be careful what you say! *Looks left and right* "They" are everywhere! Including Julius! *Hides*

(JK, You is awesome Julius! )

I know!! What kinda name is Quasar anyway!?

Seriously Julius, keep up the great work

Yeah, he is allways praising his parents

for their great job, and calling Democracy

the 'best goverment evar!!!'...

No seriously, no complains on my part,

I was just kidding.

Random Fat Man: I LOVE YOU JULIUS!!!!!!!!!

*Rips off his shirt revealing a big tattoo on his back that says I ? JULIUS*

Fat man: I LOVE YOU MAN! YOU'RE MY HERO!!!!!!!

Thanks, guys!  :friends:

[Steve]

I hate that Julius Quasar guy, he pisses me off!

Yeah, no kidding, I'm planning to ban him, just don't tell him.

Anyways, thanks guys, I really appreciate the comments  :)

[Four-eyed Vulpine]

No complaints here.  You guys are doing great.

[Sapphire]

Yeah, no kidding, I'm planning to ban him, just don't tell him.

Anyways, thanks guys, I really appreciate the comments 

Who's the fool who even said you guys (the staff) was doin bad?

[Milkyway64]

Who's the fool who even said you guys (the staff) was doin bad?

I'd answer, but I'm not well versed on that bit of drama, and false accusations are something I'd never want to have a part in.

[Caat01]

Nope, i don't have any complains, the admins and mod of this site are doing a good job.

["User"]

I'd answer, but I'm not well versed on that bit of drama, and false accusations are something I'd never want to have a part in.

Said individuals should really be posting their complaints in this thread instead of other places on the Internet.

[Sapphire]

Said individuals should really be posting their complaints in this thread instead of other places on the Internet.

That's true, saying bad stuff about SFO can lead to a decrease in memberships. :(

[fox1235]

Said individuals should really be posting their complaints in this thread instead of other places on the Internet.

Who and why are they doing that?

[Guest FoXXX]

I hate that Julius Quasar guy, he pisses me off!

I hear ya! :P