A Rapidly Developing Issue in AQ Forums


	Home \| Login \| Register \| Help \| Play

A Rapidly Developing Issue in AQ Forums

Logged in as: Guest

Printable Version

All Forums >> [AE Forum Resources] >> Forum Support and Suggestions >> A Rapidly Developing Issue in AQ Forums

Forum Login

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

7/2/2010 7:14:12

infuturity
Member

I have recently noticed a rather upsetting, frustrating trend developing in the AQ forums; and especially in the Game Balance Issues section.

It seems whenever someone posts an issue about a known balance problem (in particular having to do with issues with high-level equipment) to discuss new aspects of that issue, the standard KoO response is something to the effect of this...

quote:

You... you mean there are equipment gaps at the top levels? Why, I am shocked! Shocked, I say!

That is a quote from Zephyros, and contains the *entirety* of his response to someones GBI Post that raised, what I feel, is a rather valid point.

Or...

"In other news, recent reports indicate that the sky is blue"

I understand that there is meant to be a rather hefty amount of ironic humor there and I can appreciate, but it is becoming the standard style of response, without any form of actual acknowledgement or answer involved.

I find responses such as this rather dismissive, and bordering on insulting. I understand that the KoO are frustrated and overworked, but it takes just as much effort to post a response that actually addresses the question/issue as it does to make a snarky comment to dismiss someone.

< Message edited by infuturity -- 7/2/2010 7:58:17 >

Post #: 1

7/2/2010 8:31:15

The Forgotten
Exquisitely pathological

There is a guide dedicated to solving problems between users. There also happens to be a section within that guide on how to deal with problems with a KoO:

quote:

ORIGINAL: How to Deal with Problems with another Person

For issues with a Squire of Order or a Knight of Order, please contact them directly and attempt to resolve it. If that fails:

Contact the head of the SoO and KoO. If that does not resolve your issue,

Contact the head administrator. Circe's word is final.

AQW

Post #: 2

7/2/2010 9:14:40

infuturity
Member

I know that Forgotten.

However, the issue I'm raising isn't with one KoO in particular. Rather it is with the trend developing in reference to sarcastic/snarky/dismissive responses to people's posts.

It is more an issue of fairness for me. If I or another normal forum member were to post nothing but a snarky comment in response to someone's post, we would have our post deleted. On top of that, we would receive a PM warning us against posting responses that don't actually contribute to the discussion.

IMO, comments such as the ones I outlined fall under the guise of non-contribution in that they don't actually discuss the topic, nor possible/current/future solutions to the problem.

All I'm saying is that it would take just as much time to respond by saying that it is a known issue that is being worked on and locking the thread as it does to both create and post the dismissive/sarcastic answer.

Post #: 3

7/2/2010 9:23:42

The Forgotten
Exquisitely pathological

But what good would posting a suggestion about it do? It would be best to bring the issue directly to the KoO (as a whole, if the issue seems to be more widespread than just one person).

AQW

Post #: 4

7/2/2010 9:26:33

infuturity
Member

My understanding from the information given about this section of the forum is that it is also a place to post feedback about our experiences here, which is why I posted it here.

The reason I posted it here was simply for the sake of the awareness of the community as a whole, and to hear others responses and opinions on the topic. I can't imagine I'm the only one who has noticed this problem, and therefore I wanted to see what others had to say about it.

Also, I didn't want to address this specifically to Zephyros because I didn't want him to misunderstand me and feel as though I was singling him out when it is a more widespread issue. Therefore, when I saw that this was the section for forum feedback, I felt it would be appropriate.

< Message edited by infuturity -- 7/2/2010 9:27:53 >

Post #: 5

7/2/2010 13:01:03

ringulreith
Member

I think Infuturity was right to post this here, it's what I would've done too.

Anyways, while I do agree that sometimes this does get a bit annoying, you do have to consider the KoO's position. There are several threads that explain the current state of the sweep and other topics related to it, yet people still make countless posts about balance issues that have already been addressed probably hundreds of times. So you have to give them some credit, they are humans after all. What would you rather do, answer someone's question that's already been answered in a sticky in that forum, or go do something more useful? Maybe all these snarky comments will discourage people from posting questions that have already been answered.

Post #: 6

7/2/2010 13:14:03

infuturity
Member

quote:

Maybe all these snarky comments will discourage people from posting questions that have already been answered.

Clearly not.

Secondly, I absolutely understand their position. I simply feel that it takes the same amount of effort to write a helpful response and lock the thread rather than a dismissive one and leaving the thread open.

As I said before, my issue isn't so much with the actual phrasing of responses, as much as it is with the seeming double standard that has developed for the KoO and mods. If we normal forumites were to post such a comment in response to a thread, we would get deleted and warned. However, it seems to have become standard operating procedure for the KoO and mods to make such remarks and count them as their response to someone's question or issue.

< Message edited by infuturity -- 7/2/2010 15:31:47 >

Post #: 7

7/2/2010 16:13:28

Khimera
Member

As far as I can see, most comments are replies to threads which break rules of some kind, such as the (unwritten?) rule against pointing out things that will be fixed by the sweep. Or, in the case you put forward, "Why is a level 130 weapon dealing more damage than a level 80 spell?". I think, in those cases, Zephyros is perfectly within his rights to say what he likes, just as Artix would be within his rights to say what he likes if I were to e-mail him saying "It would be problematic if you were to not do a release on friday."

Post #: 8

7/2/2010 20:59:36

Wandering Kalanyr

The Shadow of Twilight Dreams

I'd have to say the response both acknowledges the issue and answers it.

The issue is that their vastly different levels of equipment. The solution is to fill in the gaps. Thats really all there is too it.

Post #: 9

7/3/2010 4:26:45

DragonYugi
Member

@Wandering Kalanyr: Look closely at this quote:

quote:

You... you mean there are equipment gaps at the top levels? Why, I am shocked! Shocked, I say!

The so-called Zephyros did/didn't do the following:

He didn't suggest a solution.
He didn't even say that this thread is useless. I think it would have costed him less time saying "Problem known. Locked." rather than that useless comment.
Being sarcastic can be fun but being sarcastic in a section of the forum where seriousness is needed in order to acomplish something is not good. What if I went there and started making sarcastic comments? Eh? I would get banned! Just because Zeph is a SoO/KoO doesn't mean he shouldn't respect the "Respect and Be Respected" rule (it is not a written rule - but it is a rule of some sort).

Regardless, infuturity, you should take this issue through PM with Zeph. That is the best solution currently.

Post #: 10

7/3/2010 7:02:25

infuturity
Member

I appreciate the support DragonYugi.

However, I say again that my issue isn't specifically with Zeph. My issue is with the trend that has been developing over recent weeks/months.

@WanderingKal: While I get the point you're making, I have to disagree that the response either acknowledges or proposes a solution to the issue raised. It simply restates the issue in a way to make the original poster feel stupid for having posted their opinion.

I have a question to ask you:

Would it be acceptable for me, a normal forumite, to enter a GBI post and post a response whose sole purpose was to acknowledge the issue by making the poster feel stupid?

I think we both know the answer to that....

The double standard for the KoO/SoO/mods is getting a little out of hand when it comes to forum behavior. There is a certain cloistered attitude when it comes to dealing with this issue as well, which makes it rather frustrating to even voice opinions about it.

quote:

The issue is that their vastly different levels of equipment. The solution is to fill in the gaps. Thats really all there is too it.

Now that's an appropriate response, and would have taken just as much time to post, which is exactly my point.

< Message edited by infuturity -- 7/3/2010 7:04:20 >

AQ	Post #: 11

7/3/2010 12:28:00

Circe
Stand Back

Hi infuturity,

I want to thank you for posting this thread. I'm sure it must have been hard to do and I appreciate your willingness to do it despite the risk of fallout. It's important to bring concerns like this forward when you have them and because you went to all the trouble, I want you to know that we're all taking it very seriously.

First, you commented on a double standard for KoO/SoO. You're absolutely right, there is a different standard for them than there is for the playing community. What you don't see is that the standard to which we hold staff and staff assistants is much higher than that to which we hold a player. Do members of the staff err on occasion? Yes, for we're all human and sometimes our frustrations get the better of us. When that happens, it is always noted and always acted upon. Never do we note a misstep of a staff member and ignore it because they're staff. AE's opinion on staff behavior is that they are the most public faces of the company and we expect them to be examples for others in how to act. Sometimes people fall short of this - even I let my temper get the best of me when posting on occasion - but we all work very hard to maintain a polite and professional atmosphere when interacting with people on the forums.

Second, I want to touch on the quote that Forgotten posted earlier: from How to Deal with Problems with another Person. The quote he posted told you several ways to respond to issues with a particular individual. What you may not have realized is that you can still go to Kalanyr or myself about problems with more than one person. Kalanyr takes his job as head of the KoO/SoO very seriously and he's always willing to talk about problems or concerns. Trust me, I do it all the time and I'm very annoying. :P Kal's willingness to talk and work things out reflects his belief that while the purpose of the KoO isn't necessarily to be good at public relations (it's all about game design, math and other stuff I don't quite understand), we should all treat our community with respect and care. He cares, I care and the KoO cares. Sometimes their passion for AQ overwhelms their better judgment when posting replies and while it isn't acceptable for any person to treat another with disrespect or disinterest, you should know that their replies come from good intentions. We're all human here, and sometimes we make mistakes, and when that happens I am not telling you to shrug it off. Try contacting the staff member in question and telling them that you felt their reply wasn't kind. If that doesn't work, Kalanyr and I are always available and we're always going to listen and respond if you have an issue with a staff member. The How to Deal thread lays this process out for you because we truly believe that respect should be the underlying tone of the forum and the AE community and any effort made to achieve that is never wasted.

AQW

Epic

Post #: 12

7/4/2010 8:42:54

infuturity
Member

Circe

Thank you very much for your reply. I appreciate the thought and time it took to respond so thoroughly.

I do want you to understand that I know that you are all human, and I have nothing but respect and admiration for the passion and dedication it takes be a part of the KoO/SoO. My reasoning behind this was never to imply anything to the contrary. I know very well that the responses come from a place of good intentions, and I am always willing to take those responses with the customary grain of salt.

The main cause behind my original post was not to bash or otherwise disparage the KoO for making mistakes. It was rather to attempt to avoid future problems with forumites who may not be familiar with procedure. I wouldn't want to see newer members who mistook sarcastic comments as acceptable responses (regardless of their good-humored nature) become frustrated and leave the community due to their being deleted and warned for the same behavior they saw from the very staff that warns/deletes them.

This community means a lot to me and the other members. And attracting/maintaining an equal/fair relationship with the members of that community is crucial to both its survival and its effectiveness. The staff here are amazing beyond compare in reference to the staff of other games/forums. Direct interaction and cooperation with the very people who create/adapt/edit the game we play is a rather rare and special thing that is rather unique to the AQ community, and for that I am nothing but appreciative.

Anywho....thanks again for the response, and I appreciate the attention and respect.
Good Luck and Happy Hunting.

< Message edited by infuturity -- 7/4/2010 10:47:36 >

AQ	Post #: 13

Page: [1]

All Forums >> [AE Forum Resources] >> Forum Support and Suggestions >> A Rapidly Developing Issue in AQ Forums

Jump to:

Icon Legend

New Messages	No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages	Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages	Locked w/o New Messages

Post New Thread

Reply to Message

Post New Poll

Submit Vote

Delete My Own Post

Delete My Own Thread

Rate Posts

Forum Content Copyright © 2018 Artix Entertainment, LLC.

"AdventureQuest", "DragonFable", "MechQuest", "EpicDuel", "BattleOn.com", "AdventureQuest Worlds", "Artix Entertainment"
and all game character names are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Artix Entertainment, LLC. All rights are reserved.
PRIVACY POLICY