What are we doing wrong?

[EriChar]

I've noticed recently that a lot of the newer members seem to be stumbling over issues, and well, the descriptions that we have in place don't quite fit the bill anymore?

Overall, I think because a lot of the active members have been here for a long time, and know a lot of the 'rules' whether they are written down or not. Recently, it has become apparently to me, at least, that there seems to be a lot of information that is a kind of 'unwritten rule'. Newer members are feeling lambasted for not knowing things that they could only find out by asking, and then seem to get belittled for needing to ask? This is a community issue that needs solving, but I'm not saying that can be so easily solved as a thread can sort it out.

For the time being, all I am asking for is the people who are new to the site, and have found things difficult to understand. This isn't a griping thread, more a chance to say "I had a hard time with this" and let us digest that information so we might in future come up with a countermeasure.

Now, let's talk about how this is gonna work. First up, this isn't going to be a discussion, but rather a chance for someone to say their piece and let the next person have a go. Ultimately, I think we should be treating this thread in a way that means any issue raised is a problem, no questions. Some might not think it is a problem, but that does not matter at this point? This is a chance for people who don't understand things to identify sore spots in our site, and I'm afraid we're going to have to all be adults and accept that the place isn't perfect. So, feel free to post up your issues, and let's take a moment to respect the concerns of people.

Finally, while this thread has been aimed at newer members, older members can feel free to post up what they feel are problems with the site's structure and such. However, I cannot stress enough how much this is aimed to be a kind of 'site intervention'. This thread will be used to document problems, without judgement or reprisal. Any who break this aim will face my fury. >:D

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So, to get the ball rolling, there is a big problem I see with the site; the staff numbers. It feels like people who are inactive as staff linger far too long, and reduce the site manpower too much? Like, I can appreciate life gets busy, but we need to be more proactive in saying "Yup, this person has no time to be staff right now. Let's make them an advisor until they have the time, and maybe look at getting more help?" Too often I see that the work is left to a minority of staff, while the majority seem to be either too busy or too disinterested to help, and it's becoming a major issue here? From a personal perspective, anyone who is riding their ego-train so hard that they can't take a step back when they don't have time to work, is probably not the kind of person I would want as a staff member?

Anyway, that is something that I think is wrong with the forum. Who's next?

[Randy Savage]

Defensiveness in some of the staff line up. There is a marked difference between criticism of flaws in a system and complaining for the sake of attention.I think a lot of people need to take the time to recognize that and internalize the idea that not everything is a personal attack. I've actually seen phrases around the cbox like "because that's how it is done so drop it or get banned" and "other people have had worse problems so drop it or get chat banned."  I can't even put into words how much those rubbed me the wrong way to see. 

[Deleted]

Normal members acting like the staff is a gang against them. A few people seem to have a "Staff vs. Members" mentality, forgetting that staff are members, too, just chosen volunteers to help Kuroro run the lovely site that she started. They're not out to get you. If you disagree on something, state it in a peaceful manner. If you can't seem to do that, then take a page out of Red Hair's book... If two people share very different views, and can't see eye-to-eye, then they should go their separate ways.

Also, I feel like people need to practice patience. Not just with things that require staff approval but with the average posting in threads. Not everyone has the time on their hands to move like the fastest posters on the site. If you're one of them, accept the fact that someone has other things in their life keeping them from posting as frequently as you. If you get bored because you feel you wait too much, you have options. Start a mission with one of the other quick posters, or make another character to create more space for you to post. Oh, or you can read someone else's RP thread, or make an island... or a Daibukai! Do some exploring around the site and get creative. Sooner or later, you'll feel like you have more than enough to do.

*passes the mic*

[EriChar]

I think we should stop handling site business in the chat? Like, it seems like it just adds tension to the place when disagreement breaks out, so I think the site policy is that any staff action should be requested or dealt with either by questions on site or by PM? That way, the staff won't feel as tense because they won't be being hounded for issues, and then won't have edgy reactions to junk in the box that upsets people?

[Deleted]

I feel that when someone has a less than adequate character profile, Devil Fruit, plot submission, etc., whoever is reviewing it doesn't have to be so harsh. There are polite ways to even tell someone "you suck," so I believe it should always be in a staff member's mind to make their words kind when grading something. Even if you didn't have negative intentions, you never know how sensitive someone may be, and a pretty crude review could leave a bad taste in someone's mouth, making them feel less than welcome at our humble little abode.

[Devlin]

I think staff are overworked. I do have an idea to fix this, help the workload out, and possibly help with the stress that comes from all of this. Seriously, there is a big stress build up.

This is based on certain types of business structures that help everyone do their jobs and keep everything running smoothly. It helps higher staff focus on what they need, while lower staff are more able to control the smaller details. Basically...

We start with the highest staff position, and move down. Each step down has less overall power, and is more focused on smaller things until the bottom of the list. This is a model of how it could work, obviously it would need more discussion and focus to get things right. This is just a very basic model to give an idea. Roles are descending from most powerful to least.

Admin - Handles everything, oversees everyone's work. Focused on overall improvement and quality of the site. Has all the admin powers.

Global Admin - Advisors for the admin, come to him with the big problems, but are very capable of handling a lot of things themselves. Very trusted staff, and hard working. They help oversee other staff and members for the admin to ease his job. They have admin powers, but not all of them.

Global Moderators - Advisors the Global Admin. Though not to say they couldn't help if the Admin needed them. Their jobs are a bit more specific. They oversee every board as a whole to make sure and help lower staff members. They take some heat away from both the Admin and GAdmin, but don't have the overall admin power that the other two groups have.

Moderators - These are specified into small groups that oversee specific functions on the site. They help run and maintain certain parts of the forum (Character specialist, Devil Fruit specialist, Shop specialist, Overall maintenance specialist) and are given task from their higher up leader base. They oversee one more smaller group, but are the first step into the ring of real administration on the site.

Senior Members/Advisors - Long time trusted members of the site that staff trust know what they are doing and talking about. Kept in check by moderators, these staff have half votes when it comes to approvals and things like that. (ex. It would take two of them to get a character or whatever approved.) Again, they would be trusted members who the admins feel know what they are talking about. They are the eyes on the ground most of the time, and can help with all sorts of things around the base. These guys wouldn't do very much on their own, but would help the staff out a lot when it comes to overall workload.

It's a very rough idea, but having a more structured trickle down of power and responsibility could help staff get more done, smoothly and easily. It would also give a lot of members the ability to feel involved in the process, and help strengthen the bond between everyone. A site that works together stays together. 

[Deleted]

[Devlin]

I think having a staffing set up that trickles down more smoothly and into territory where not quite staff, but highly trusted members, can take some of the heat. This site is big, but it's not so big that working together as a team should be out of the question. I know there are a lot of members on this site that are dedicated and smart. In fact, most everyone on this site seems to be smart. It might take some trust, but we are all here to have run and RP.


Personally, I think a site should run on a few different goals in mind. Posted everywhere so people know what your goal and focus should is. Give everyone a very clear picture of what you want from this site, and what this site is trying to do. Some good goal ideas would be the three F's.

Fun - Everyone here should be having fun. That is the number one goal in my opinion. Every rule, ever policy, everything related to the site should focus on making it as fun as possible. A place to relax, not get more stress.

Friendship - This site is a community of like minded individuals. We might all have different ideas and different lives but we all came here to play together, meet new people, and have our fun. Community and friendship means between everyone. All site improvement rules and such should also focus on making this a place to come together. Nakama.

Fandom - We also come here because in some way shape or form we like our One Piece. It may be in different degrees, we may all like different aspects, but we love one piece. This maybe isn't the biggest goal to hit, but we should all be able to feel like we are able to really be in the universe of One Piece, in all its crazy glory.


Having very clear goals gives a structure to everything that is really important for maintaining everything in the proper order. When you are making a choice, any choice, think to the three F's and ask how it fits into them.

Just an opinion. I think of this kind of stuff a lot.