Don't you just hate it when you cause so many problems? I've always been known as a trouble maker, but these past few weeks have been for all the right reasons. Today, I cause another stir in, you guessed it, Staff. There's always a host of problems with any system, and most times, they can be worked around. Other times, worked through. In this case, avoiding it is not an option. The problem here, my friends, is in the Staff. Specifically... Floxy. Mind you, I have no qualms with Foxy and Flash's relationship. I find the relationship to be steady and great, but one thing I do NOT agree with is them being in a relationship as staff. For one thing, I direct you to a situation where Flash himself was rehired to the position of DJ. I assure you, the tale is quite telling. Sit down and let old Saikyo tell you what happened that day. Once upon a time, in the land of Everypony, a DJ named Flash was administrating his favorite RP Chat, when suddenly, a very peculiar pony appeared. This unreliable pony claimed that there was pedophilia going on in the RP Chat. (Hint hint. There wasn't.) In a fit of spite, Flash posted private Skype conversations onto his RP chat. This led to his firing and lack of support FOR his RP Chat. Fast forward 2 and a half months. An administrator by the name of Derpy Hooves went on a break. While on break, he gave a moderator an admin position. Who is this person you ask? Foxytail, Flash's boyfriend. While away on break, having no idea what was going to happen, he entrusted the power of adminship to Foxy. At the time, Grey was not a head admin. During this, Foxy decided that rehiring Flash was the best course of action. So he did it. This was, of course, not the best of moves, since the motives behind the re-hiring are, to say the least, questionable. After all, Flash did NOT participate in the community besides a handful of posts, and there weas no evidence of any positive change. I'm sure the mods at the time knew this, and did not re-hire for any remorse of improvement. This leaves only the option that Flash was hired again for personal reasons, such as his relationship with Foxytail. This ties in to an issue from the last ruckus I stirred: Inter-staff relationships. There is no denying that this creates bias towards the partner, and the two "related" staff are likely to agree with each other should an issue of some sort arise. Sometimes, this is benefitial, and promotes a unanimous opinion and synergy. Other times, the bias is unhealthy, and I believe this is one of those cases. One of the obvious side effects of such a relationship is demonstrated very well by the appeal courts most of the countries we live in have. If you think you have been judged unfairly, you can appeal that decision to a different power, and perhaps be judged differently. However, if there is a relationship that biases staff here, then they are, for this purpose, one entity. They would rarely, if ever disagree. Another, more relevant, side effect, is when dealing with internal staff issues. If there were to be some sort of misconduct, and the staff were to decide what the precussions for it would be, in most cases, this bias would lead to a lack of such, or perhaps only less reprecussions. The same goes for positive decisions, where the pair would be more skewed towards a greater outcome. However, this has not done so in the positive regard. This brings us nicely to the issue at hand, which is to say, how this bias affects the decisions of this staff. In the end, the problem is not with Floxy. The problem is that it has gotten in the way of fair treatment of the people who this system is supposed to protect. In the end, from several well documented cases, Flash has proven he is incapable of fair, unbiased moderation of a chatroom or forum. He was given a chance, and was fired when he failed to follow the guidelines. It should have ended here, considering the severity of his misconduct. However, where there was not even a sliver of a reason to do so, he was given a second chance. This, while not the only issue, is the core of them, and I believe it should be dealt with.
That's some pretty strong stuff to say... I got nothing to add. I guess agree is the closest word to my reaction.
Way over my head in terms of whatever goes on staff wise. I can't say I agree or disagree with what's been said now. *lurk mode is a go* -- Sent from my Palm Pre using Forums
The distinct lack of fecal matter suggested otherwise. Besides, I DO belive that some things need to be discussed, not avoided. Admitedly, I would like to do so when the relevant people are here, and not on vacation, but timing is timing is timing.
I don't even use the chat/radio, plus I never see flash post here at all. I doubt I can be useful. Yay, I get to watch for once. -- Sent from my Palm Pre using Forums
That's not even the point, gentlemen. Point being: Staff Bias via Staff Relationship. Bias is Bias no matter how you look at it. Bad.
Not always bad. You say so yourself in your "essay" post thing. However, in this case, I have no choice but to agree.
You know bias is everywhere right. I'm sure some of the other staff might be bias against any one of us for some reason or another. Just sayin' you can't get rid of all bias. -- Sent from my Palm Pre using Forums
Of course I can't. Bias exists in every person, except bias can be -resisted-. In the terms of a relationship, it cannot be resisted or else said relationship has a high probability of ending. @Dan: I meant in this case, I apologize for poor wording.
Well hello there everypony. ^^ This is Oatmeal, former staff, and I'd actually like to state my opinion on this matter. Now, as Saik stated already, I too have no problem with their actual relationship as a whole. As a matter of fact, they seem and I don't doubt that they are very much in love. ^^ I'm 100% behind their relationship and hope for the best, but Saik does raise a very valid point that is also an issue in the real world of business. Though it is not always the case, there ARE times when a relationship impacts the decisions of those they love and it affects the decisions they make. Likewise, the other half in the relationship can give influence to the other, despite going against the other's better judgement. This is very common in the actual world outside of forums and the internet, as well inside too... Basically it's everywhere, but anywho... I do agree with Saik on this topic and it is an issue that must be addressed if it continues to happen. Again, I am behind Floxy and wish them the best, just that things can happen that they may or may not have realized. And a relationship inside a "working" environment can and has caused an issue. Thanks for bringing this topic up Saik. It is indeed a valid point.
I'm going to keep this a short one. Yes, I was rehired, yes i was given a second chane. But that decision wasn't made by Foxy alone. Beleive it or not, he's very well aware that the decisions he makes as an admin are to remain as objective as possible, and we do not blindly agree with eachother. In fact, these arguments about the site, are the reason why we are currently on vacation. And one again, beleive it or not, bringing me back wasn't decided by Foxy himself and it wouldn't have been done if everyone had disagreed with it. Seeing as I'm here right now, we can safely assume that was not the case. You making it out to be, that is another story. Sure, bias can be and is a problem if taken too far, I'm not gonna say otherwise, but to be honest, it is quite easy to call every decision made, out for being biased just because someone is in a relationship or just because you don't like it. And now excuse me please but I have a job to attend to. -Flash
Quite the contrary. I have it on good authority that most the staff was outraged by your return, by more than one moderator on this forum. 4 or 5 of whom, might I add, practically wanted you kicked on the spot. Please don't play the Placate game. Play your cards wisely. IN FACT. I also Have it on good authority from Former staff members (That left because of you, I may add.) that THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT DERPY HOOVES LEFT! Anonymous": Such an ego Anonymous": There was a vote to bring him back but we all were too afraid of foxy's reaction if we said no. [4/17/2012 10:59:05 PM] Anonymous: He's an EPR mod, not a forum mod. [4/17/2012 10:59:15 PM] Anonymous: He rarely spoke on the epr chat too, though. [4/17/2012 11:00:21 PM] Anonymous: But yes, I don't trust Foxy as an admin. [4/17/2012 11:00:34 PM] Anonymous: Flash will get what he wants; I refuse to be under that. Oh, and Flashie, if you want the names of said anonymous users, go ahead and ask away. I can even screencap if you want. Hard as it is to believe, it's true.
Anonymous...Saikyo please, that is going beyond the line of being laughable. As I stated before, it's always easy to claim a decision was biased. We've had an internal discussion about the topic that would have ended in me being gone if the majority had decided that way. The fact that they didn't brings me to the conclusion that, and I'm not sure if you're familiar with the statement, "quod erat demonstandum". And being afraid of Foxy's decision? Quite curious about what they'd expect there. I think accusing Foxy of practically going on a rampage (technically speaking) because they disagree with him is more than over the top. In fact, disagreeing with Foxy happens on a daily base. And to be honest, if they don't state their opinion when it counts, no matter for what reason, In my book they have no right to complain afterwards.
We all knew Foxy tends to get a bit defensive in regards to you, Flash. None of us wanted to take even the smallest amount of risk to tick him off in regards to you. In my opinion, you should have been banned from every being able to join staff again after the **** that got you fired. Also, you are a very rude staff member that very few people actually like. I regret not telling Foxy the truth about how I felt, but at the time I was new to staff; I was scared. I'll admit it here for everyone to see /I was scared/. I even told Foxy "what message are we sending if you let Flash back on staff after he got fired?" yet Foxy had an answer for it; an answer that defended you, not the community.
