Sakura's opinions

[Flash Flyer - Sakura]

In your opinion, what would be the best steps to fix these issues you speak of?

Um, bump?

 

I apologize for not answering this sooner, however I have been busy with offsite work among others.

 

However, I should leave a note that I'm retiring because of real life / academics (which I did allude to in an earlier reply as a reason for why I'm leaving, though I didn't expect for it to happen so suddenly).

 

Therefore, whatever's written below will be on the rest of the team to take my "critique" (if any of them so desire to improve).

 

[spoiler=With that said and done...]

 

1. Actual communication

 

Let's face it, the team has had a lot of problems getting its act together regarding sitewide decisions and figuring out how to go about matters. Within maybe the past month, then sure, it's getting more active (likely because more prudent things came up).

 

I suppose that the first step would be to actually TALK to each other regarding certain issues, albeit the mod area is usually dead because there isn't much to discuss (barring noting when someone gets warn points b/c internal site one still isn't fixed). Another would probably look at the topics in there, so you know what's going on in certain places (as some of us have made individual section plans known).

 

Third thing would be having discussion times that are commensurate with the item at hand, but this boils down to not taking over a month just to decide if we want to let you guys delete statuses or not. Certain things like new mod selections should take longer, yes, but in a similar vein, don't stagnate it. Staff members do have lives outside this site, yes, but at least say something. While this isn't like a construction project where being late costs you thousands in penalties per day, being late on a decision will cause the rest of you to be upset for team being slow, among other things.

 

2. Section mods / overstepping.

 

I am aware that the team (as a whole) did say that we'd be eliminating section mods back then (albeit we never carried through on, and presumably still talking about it), though certain places like Custom Cards require a specific one due to the way it functions overall (card design, separation between Casual/Advanced and Advanced Clause/spam things, which are held to different standards than the rest of the site in certain regards).

 

The overstepping issues lies when a staff member who usually doesn't frequent the section (or wasn't assigned in the past) goes in and makes a judgment on something that would be treated differently, though this is more for the specifics that do vary in different areas because of their nature.

 

For general rulebreaks like flaming/harassment, adult content, 2 word posting outside Miscellaneous, spambots, then this isn't as much of an issue. Certain things like the "Advanced Clause" do vary in areas, including appropriate discussion. When overstepping occurs, some discord arises, though it's mostly verbal reprimands / requests to not touch things.

 

Granted, if a certain mod isn't online at the time when an issue comes up, then we gotta step in to address it. For example, let's say that an argument happens in TCG and Broken isn't around to deal with it, but someone else is. Best thing we can do is just try to quell the argument, then let Broken handle it under the rulebook. Even if we try to apply the rules written in TCG's book, we are not Broken. Similarly if I'm not around (which has been the case lately) and someone else has to enforce whatever I've written, they aren't me.

 

So I suppose to address the overstepping issue, unless the matter you need to address is a general thing, try to leave it alone and/or take some initiative to read over the section's rules for the specifics. We don't want oversteps because it becomes a pain to overrule decisions if mod penalties are given out when they shouldn't have. I concede the fact that some things aren't mentioned in the rules and again, the team isn't alike personality-wise.

 

That being said, I also know that each mod doesn't frequent every area on the site, so they don't really know how the vets in that area act, nor understand its rules (i.e. I avoid Fanfic/RPs and Debates for most part as far as active areas go; even TCG to an extent).

 

CC normally doesn't have any issues that need addressing, barring maybe the rare report from certain users and the recent influx of bots. TCG has some specific rules about posting which you know already. Rest of the site does have rulebooks somewhere, but given activity is low or people usually behave, there isn't much need to step in. Debates is another matter though, as there is no "assigned" mod, though I think team needs one because of its nature. If the matter comes up, I think Flame or one of the others will bring it to your attention.

 

3. Underlying issues.

 

I suppose this ties into the first thing about not talking as there have been gripes with the team over the year for various reasons, whether it's related to overstepping, bad blood from earlier on regarding candidates and so forth. That has subsided somewhat, though there has been some tension between staff members.

 

Not really much that can be suggested as a fix outside of talking it out with each other by saying "(x), there's this issue I have with you that needs addressing". I know I've said this to the rest of the team in private, but it's important that there be no bad blood with each other, otherwise you'll end up with a status bar feud like what happened early last year. (I don't like digging up old dirt, but it doesn't help the team's image if staff members berate each other in public)

 

4. Addressing rulebreaks and uncivil behavior.

 

As far as this goes, the team hasn't been consistent with cracking down on behavior / no politics on status bar. I am aware that Debates has gotten more heated during absence and the matter is being addressed. Obviously, there exist disagreements on how to approach these things considering the nature of the area, though YCM is not a place for personal attacks to occur.

 

Moving forward, the team has to start being more proactive in handling these situations and well, make sure politics and other controversial topics stay in Debates and people behave themselves. Certain discussions are prone to getting more heated than others, but you have to behave.

 

With problem members, same thing; address the matter quickly and appropriately, otherwise you'll have members retaliating which escalates the situation and makes it harder to deal with. We did lose a few veterans because we failed to handle problematic users at the time, though said vets also retaliated and have blame.

 

 

 

[spoiler=TL;DR answers]

 

1. Addressing communication between the team.

• Actually talk to each other instead of being mute / care about certain issues.
• Read over topics so we know what we're doing plan-wise.
• Don't take forever to make decisions; gauge it accordingly. (Also helps if there is some compromise instead of stone walling things.)

 

2. Overstepping boundaries.

 

Unless you have to deal with a general issue that applies across the board and there's no variation (like flaming/harassment, etc), don't go into another section and enforce rules (though this is moreso towards Custom Cards and TCG because of how things work and the "assignment" thing). Simple move/hide requests are fine.

 

If we aren't here at the time and an argument does erupt outside your normal area, just lock the thread and let the usual mods handle it later. Otherwise, just ask how things should be handled, should you need to step in.

 

3. Underlying issues.

 

Again, talk it out and resolve differences or concerns civilly. I admit that I'm not great at telling people directly about problems I got with them; least in the interest of avoiding a shitstorm.

 

Other thing is, well, don't jump the gun on things and don't disregard another staff member's opinion/concerns because they're absent a lot of the time.

 

4. Dealing with uncivil behavior / problem members

 

Actually deal with them on a timely manner and not take several months just to do it. Granted, the team should give second chances to improve (and we have), but there's a limit to how long those can be given out and a few have certainly burned them all.

 

 

 

Overall, some of the issues that I feel exist with the team can be addressed by talking, addressing concerns and trying to reach the best conclusion on a timely basis.

[(GigaDrillBreaker)]

Shouldn't a retirement announcement be somewhere other than misc..?

 

I mean, I'd be lying if I said this seemed sudden, but I'll be honest I'm surprised to see it here first.

 

 

Also I like giving my opinion where it isn't requestedbso expect that... Tomorrow or something.

[Draconus297]

Well, I'd honestly be personally sad and disappointed when you do eventually leave, as you say, but that is your prerogative. Wishes for the best in your future endeavors, and all that.

 

More to the point, and on-topic with the point of the thread, I have 2 questions.

1. Not counting issues regarding trying to keep a MR3 Legacy group alive, are there any mistakes you think I'm making in running the AGM? You've been in the group for nearly as long as it's existed, even before its colossal overhaul so sets actually get reviewed, analyzed, erratad as necessary, and given support where appropriate . . . I'd like to know if there is anything you personally believe I could do to better serve my own group.

2. Given the choice, which existing regular member would you promote to mod to replace you, when you do leave? Call me curious.

[Flash Flyer - Sakura]

Shouldn't a retirement announcement be somewhere other than misc..?

 

I mean, I'd be lying if I said this seemed sudden, but I'll be honest I'm surprised to see it here first.

 

 

Also I like giving my opinion where it isn't requestedbso expect that... Tomorrow or something.

 

I had been planning it for a while, but me being busy with other things like finals meant not coming on to YCM to announce it formally (and ending up being short notice like it is now).

 

It will be in News shortly.

 

Well, I'd honestly be personally sad and disappointed when you do eventually leave, as you say, but that is your prerogative. Wishes for the best in your future endeavors, and all that.

 

More to the point, and on-topic with the point of the thread, I have 2 questions.

1. Not counting issues regarding trying to keep a MR3 Legacy group alive, are there any mistakes you think I'm making in running the AGM? You've been in the group for nearly as long as it's existed, even before its colossal overhaul so sets actually get reviewed, analyzed, erratad as necessary, and given support where appropriate . . . I'd like to know if there is anything you personally believe I could do to better serve my own group.

2. Given the choice, which existing regular member would you promote to mod to replace you, when you do leave? Call me curious.

 

I might pop in every now and then (or I'll still contribute to AGM remotely via Discord / DP; idk, I'll figure out something), but yeah, I'm retiring because coursework is going to be an issue come 2019 if this fall was any indicator.

 

1. Honestly, I really don't think there are any mistakes you have made in running the AGM. Barring your eccentricities with card formatting and all, I don't see any flaws.

 

I would say maybe make it easier for newer members to join, but I suppose you do need the assurance of activity. Another thing might be to look over the card pool every now and then to "rebalance" it, but I know it's a lot of work considering how large the pool is now.

 

2. Most of you already know this, but I'd like Dova to succeed me. You guys trust him enough and he's done plenty for the section overall. Without divulging the team's current plans, I can say that no objections exist with him.