About the Mafia accounts

[Alys Kinch]

When I posted in a non game thread, I posted on the board the accounts were created for. I posted in a way that was not disruptive. I posted from work not thinking to switch between accounts. *shrugs* I posted not realizing how ... harmful it would be to some people. I apologize merely for my ignorance that people could be offended by such. I apologize merely that people don't understand the objections to posting outside the OG.

 

I would never call anyone for posting in the OG with those accounts unless they did so obnoxiously or by stepping outside any other rules we have.

 

Alys

 

PS Feel free to respond or ignore this... I post for understanding by all parties, not for controversy. Have your say, don't start a fight.

[Lanfear-Mafia]

Oh, and feel free to post what you have to say behind your alts as well.

[Luthine]

*hides behind her pseudonym*

 

I think that what provoked such... reaction was the fact that Barm's warning took place after Demandred posted outside the game thread but still in the OG board (tis how I saw, but and I may be wrong)

 

One way or another it still got blown way out of proportion and the reaction was bu far more disruptive and annoying than your initial post.

My reaction when seeing it was: *giggle* and "ooooh what a naughty mod" and I think it's all it deserved ^^

 

[Lanfear-Mafia]

i only knew that rahvin posted out of the board. I didn't know about anyone else.

 

it's not that his out of board posts were bad. it's that they were out of board and got a complaint.

[DPR]

I think that part of the confusion is that people don't understand why it is a problem. So in a nutshell, Jason owns DM and we all get to play here because he provides the site. Kath is the lead admin, and then there are levels of admin that go org to org.

 

The alt controversy, as far as I know, was originally an issue brought up by Kath. For whatever reason, the alts posed an issue with DM. Thus a deal was struck that they would only be used on the Games Board, and that rule just kind of became a keep-it-in-the-game-rule.

 

So we get to use the alts for the games, which is awesome, and the alts don't cause any problems for the admin. This seems perfectly reasonable, and everybody is happy.

 

In the future, we should probably just announce this before any games that we use the alts in so that everybody knows the rules.  I got in trouble for doing the same thing, and the mod who called me on it could have kicked me out of a game, but didn't, which was very cool and now I know to follow the rules. ;D

 

 

[Lanfear-Mafia]

We've never done more than remind people to keep it to OG. *shrugs* it's not that big of a deal. or i never saw it as such.

[Naeann]

I think he just got upset that he didn't know he couldn't post in it elsewhere and then was given a warning for it and it seemed like a slap in the face that, like Barm said in that warning, anywhere but the actual game was off limits, but other people DID post outside of the game, albeit in the OG section.

 

I can see where both sides are coming from and I think all of you involved are great people and I really don't want this to blow way up to where you feel you have to punish anyone for it.  As my momma would say... you all hug and make up and go about your merry ways.  It's not worth the headaches.  Like DPR suggested... if we use the alts in the future make sure in the very first post of the signups that it is known to everyone signing up that the alts can be used ONLY in that game.  There's honestly no need for them to be used anywhere else anyways.  Half the fun of using them is the anonymity and its blown when you post in it elsewhere anyways.

[loki redfern]

there is another reason it its nice to keep them purly within the one game though, since the search thingy on these boards isnt as.. well good as on the old ones, so you cant search a single persons posts in one thread anymore, but with the mafia accounts if there only used for that game, it makes casing people much much fastster since you can just go to the mafias last posts and there will be no other stuff between them.

 

 

[MsDanya]

I've never really understood people wanting to post with the alt-accounts. So if someone can explain whats so funny about it i'd be very happy.

 

Also, when we made those accounts, they were for specific games, at least thats what they ended up as, after Kathana told us to keep the accounts where they belong, which is in the Organized games board. It seems to me that some people have some difficulties understanding the difference between a BOARD and a GAME, but no matter. So, the alt-accounts in my honest opinion should only be used in the GAME thread. They are there for the amusement of us, and if people want to ruin that for everyone else, then they really need to consider their future game-possibilities.

 

what my actual point is (sorry its taking so long, lol) is that it really isnt worth making such a fuss about it. I will say it now, and I will most definately say it again, but, come on people!! its a forum for crying out loud, just go with the rules or go find another place to play. Ruining it for the rest of us is just stupid.

 

Just my slightly annoyed two cents  :P

[Katiora]

I don't know who you were apologizing to but if it was me I'd be offended. Being a mod isn't about trying to look right and making a mockery of complaints people have just because you're too stubborn and pigheaded to see their side of the coin. Also badgering people and making up fake apology threads isn't the best way to earn people's trust so that they come to YOU when they have a problem, whether with you or someone else. Perhaps you should be more sensitive to members who have a concern, being a mod and all... I mean, you don't think posting under your alt because you were too lazy to change ids was not foolish?

[Alys Kinch]

Again,

I post for understanding by all parties, not for controversy. Have your say, don't start a fight.

 

You will believe what you will, because it's what you chose. You will not come back to start a fight, however, because those posts will be deleted. Please moderate your tone.

 

Being lazy wasn't in it. Being at work moving between several tasks was.

[Katiora]

I'm not trying to start a fight, however if you didn't want to you shouldn't have posted in the tone YOU did.... i can say "this isn't to start a fight" at the end of every post and that doesn't mean that what i am posting isn't derogatory at the person it is aimed at. And i understand posting at work, I do it every day and I'm constantly moving from my desk to anothers and so forth, but that doesn't matter. I still do what i know i should even if it takes a few seconds or minutes more. I don't take short cuts because they are convenient to me. And that is all i'm going to say. 

[Vemynal]

Kati, i don' know you but you are being a bit harsh at least in my eyes

[Katiora]

Ok so i'll post one more thing...

 

I'm not trying to be harsh, I'm being blatantly honest. I think this thread and Aly's first post in this thread was an extremely childish thing for a Mod, or any member to do. If you're gonna post an apology post an apology. If you're gonna state the rules state the rules. However if you are going to say "I'm sorry i'm right and you don't agree" then what's the point but to start an arguement? No matter whether you say you're trying to start an arguement or whether you say you're not. I just want people to realize that it's not right to make a mockery of other people's opinions because you don't agree with it. If you do then it will push people away.

[Alys Kinch]

Explaining a rule from the POV of the moderator who co-instituted it isn't making a mockery of someone else's opinion, I would think.

[Katiora]

I apologize merely for my ignorance that people could be offended by such. I apologize merely that people don't understand the objections to posting outside the OG.

 

 

 

No... ^^^^^^ that is what made a mockery of his complaint.

 

Not that you explained the rule.

[Alys Kinch]

Move this to pm. You cannot regulate your tone here, say what you will in pm. The request that you control your tone has been ignored, so it's been sent to another mod.

[Katiora]

I'm not using a tone. I'm simply explaining why i think that this thread was a bad idea on your part. But agreed. I'll only respond in PM after this.

[Alys Kinch]

All I am saying is that someone else will decide.

[Alys Kinch]

When I posted in a non game thread, I posted on the board the accounts were created for. I posted in a way that was not disruptive. I posted from work not thinking to switch between accounts. *shrugs* I posted not realizing how ... harmful it would be to some people. I apologize merely for my ignorance that people could be offended by such. I apologize merely that people don't understand the objections to posting outside the OG.

 

I would never call anyone for posting in the OG with those accounts unless they did so obnoxiously or by stepping outside any other rules we have.

 

Alys

 

PS Feel free to respond or ignore this... I post for understanding by all parties, not for controversy. Have your say, don't start a fight.

 

Talking with Katoria, how I meant this to sound is very obviously not how it sounds. I have a problem with saying things in a way that makes them sound other than how they are meant and not realizing. Call me on it. Without being rude about it.

 

I apologize for a lack of the proper words.

 

This is more what I meant with the apology.

 

I apologize that there was a discrepancy I didn't catch. I apologize that a big deal was made where there should have been a simple explanation should have sufficed. I apologize that people chose not to try to understand each other before taking unnecessary actions.

[Dragon21]

Wow, just observing this thread, and find the lack of respect or reason pretty shocking. In a scenario like this, each side deserves to be heard, without it turning into a personal battle, There are issues at hand here, not personal attacks.

It's not rude to express feelings and concerns like Kat has done. If the DM population starts to see hints of members being treated harshly for something that really shouldn't have been such a big deal...it's a reason for all of us to be concerend. Members should feel comfortable with their mods and admin, not like subjects under royalty.

 

Move this to pm. You cannot regulate your tone here, say what you will in pm. The request that you control your tone has been ignored, so it's been sent to another mod.

 

At my site, orders and treatment like this of a valued member would not be tolerated. Kat is a fantastic person, incase you don't know her, and if she is concerned about issues or possible unfair treatment, then that's her right, and she deserves respect. (As does a mod, but I haven't seen the disrespect there)

 

I understand your frustration, Alys, but you are here for the people. It should be more like a family atmosphere, not so much like a monarchy and their subjects. I commend you, that if you were getting too upset to handle it any longer, that at least you passed it on to somebody else. I also commend you for all your other efforts here.

 

It really is a shame all this had to happen over something so simple as posting with an alt account. You would think it was the equivalent of calling in a bomb threat the way it was handled. Even if members are wrong, mods are to take the high road, to be an example, and handle them with respect and guidance, not the hammer of the law.

I mean come on, this is a forum based on a book series, not the Supreme Court. We should all be having fun not creating strife over such simple matters. DM could be one of the best sites on the internet if it is handled right. I have enjoyed being a member here, yet it seems things are changing, or perhaps being revealed. I hope that this will result in the end of unfortunate mishandlings and misunderstandings between staff and members. May this be the time that DM staff and members alike, move on and put this incident behind. Behind but not forgotten...there are lessons to be learned and applied here. So cheers...and let's move on together toward a better DM.

 

 

[loki redfern]

I would like to say that had thought Alys was being anything less than sincere in her explantion of the events, then I would have removed her from the game. If I thought she had wilfully disobayed a rule, then i also would have removed her. And if these other two were the case then I'm sure the other Mods would have got involved. As it was Alys happened to be working by a slightly different version of the rule in question, and since Alys is one of ther people meant to set the rules, I see this whole thing as a just a misunderstanding in comunication between the mods, and has been blown out of all proportion. It is becuase of this mitigating factor that I kept Alys in the game.

 

Also, I cant speak for Alys but I never thought this was meant to an 'Apology' Thread, but more of an explaination thread. Which she did. And she was a damn sight more considerate of both sides and all that, than the last person I had to talk to about keeping the Mafia accounts to the thread, which I would expect of a mod. And I think that if you dont like the way this matter has been handled then you should be shouting at me and Barmacral, since we were the ones the complaint was made to.

[Dragon21]

And I think that if you dont like the way this matter has been handled then you should be shouting at me and Barmacral, since we were the ones the complaint was made to.

 

More politics? I appreciate you sticking up for your own, but this wasn't about the complaint. This latest issue doesn't seem to have anything to do with the original posting in alt accounts problem. Kat wasn't digging up the old issue, she was not pleased with the manner in which some of it was handled, and the excuses made as if mods can do no wrong.

I wasn't in on that part so I won't speak much to this past issue, but I simply didn't like how Kat was treated after bringing up her concerns, as I clearly explained.

Up front it would make sense to handle more heated situations in PM, but apparently even those comments later get posted. Plus at this stage, I would rather people see for themselves, if it just turns into people be ganged up on and threatened with possible banishmnet.

And as I have said before, sure, this could have been handled better by all parties, but it wasn't. And again, moving forward, there are lessons to be learned by all.

 

 

 

Sidenote: Tactfulness goes a long way, and One can be sincere and still be rude

[loki redfern]

sticking up for 'one of my own'? I'm sorry to disappoint you, but this isn't a conspiracy. That's just what I think. And no one is saying that Alys has done no wrong, and personally I myself would hold mods to a higher standard than the other members.  and like i said I was told by Alys to do what I saw fit, so if Katoria doesn't like the way this matter has been handled, then it is me that any complaints should be directed at, and I've said about as much as I wish to about that. And as to disrespect, if you don't think calling someone, for simply opening their actions to public comment and explaining what they did and why, "pigheaded and stubborn" is reason to ask someone politely to change there tone and then asking them to continue the conversation via PM when the insults continue, is disrespectful.

 

 

and to the last paragraph, I'm sure your trying to demonstrate how to be just downright rude so i will ignore that.

[Dragon21]

I'm sorry to disappoint you, but this isn't a conspiracy

I'll take that as a joke.  ;D

 

And as to disrespect, if you don't think calling someone, for simply opening their actions to public comment and explaining what they did and why, "pigheaded and stubborn" is reason to ask someone politely to change there tone and then asking them to continue the conversation via PM when the insults continue, is disrespectful

 

Did I say that? hmmm

 

and to the last paragraph, I'm sure your trying to demonstrate how to be just downright rude so i will ignore that.

Not sure what that means, no demonstration of rudeness here. And I wasn't speaking of you anyway. And that wasn't really ignoring it.  8)

 

 

 

For the record, and especially since your name wasn't mentioned publically as to who is handle this now...I was never talking to you in the first place. Didn't have any issues with you.