Something's fishy... (controversial/racey)

Keep in mind that I am pissed off as I write this, so please forgive spelling, grammar, and sentance/paragraph structure.

Recently a buddy (private) and I were talking and came upon a lovely discussion about a certain someone here on this site. For that person's sake, I wont say their name, however, anyone who pays two-shit's attention to this site would probably be able to tell exactly who it is. With that said, if you know who, don't say, just have your little "luls", sigh, agree, and keep to yourself. Thanks.

Now what were we talking about? Why the fact that a certain person can leave/quit Sythe.org nearly 4 times in the last year (possibly more, I haven't been here longer than a year). Yes yes, they quit, big deal right? Yea its a big deal, because when you quit, you quit. It means you don't come back. Quitting only to come back is called a vacation. But don't flame me just yet, read on!

The real part that pisses my off and chaps my ass to no end is the fact that they are a staff member (by rank) each and every time they've decided to leave the site. Well, we all know that once you leave, you lose rank and don't get it back when and if you return until you earn it. Not this person! Well, this certain someone comes back and, no shit guys, literally within 24 hours, has full staff ranks again. They come right back after supposedly swearing they're done for good only to be gifted with very high staff rankings, while other people who've never left Sythe.org and are perfectly qualified for the position are overlooked for rank.

"Who the fuck cares Swift?" Why, let me explain that to you my children. When you keep leaving somewhere such as said person does, it shows to others that you lack the responsibility and willpower to keep your position. For example; you have a job as a well respected agent for some company. One day you just get up and walk out saying you are busy and can't do this job. A month later you return and say "hey I'm back!". Seriously now, will your boss honestly want you back? Now remember that would be the first time it happens. Try doing that 5 times in a row (much like this person)! Back to the lack of responsibility and willpower--Sythe.org needs staff members who are actually dedicated to their job and who can keep it without leaving, regardless of the reason. Yet, this person continues to leave and come back over and over again with absolutely no penalties whatsoever. Infact, said person generally gets better ranks as they return.

By the way, why do they get a big party when they return. Everyone is like "Oh thank Jesus Christ/Budda/(whoever the hell you worship) that <Blank> is back! Oh idk what we'd do without you!". When to be perfectly honest, the site functions just fine with or without them, however I'd rather without (or at least penalize them for leaving instead of insta-ranking them upon their return).

My point for this thread is that I believe three things are happening:

a. This person is corrupt (meaning to buy/exploit rank upon return)
b. This person is irresponsible and shouldn't be trusted with the ranks.
c. This person cannot be taken seriously when they say they will do something (assumed from the leaving and returning episodes).
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If you agree, kindly post your remarks. If not, post anyways. Thanks for reading.

 

I've expressed my opinions on the issue of returning staff several times, but I'll say it again.

There really is no system in place for staff members to take a break. We have a 'going away thread', where mods can post about brief periods of inactivity (for vacations, technical issues, etc), but other than that, a mod is expected to stay active or risk demotion. Some of us have been on staff for over a year - and constant activity for long stretches like that, with the added pressures of work, school, and even the silly forum dramas on here, can be exhausting.

What's so wrong about a mod taking a break for a while? People get bored of real-life jobs, but they keep at it because they get paid, and they get health benefits, pension, etc. Those rules don't apply to a forum; Sythe is supposed to be something fun, and if someone is being overwhelmed by other pressures in their life, and find they have time later on, why shouldn't they be able to return? The fact that they 'quit' (as opposed to 'going on a break') simply means that they waited until they reached a breaking point before they left - as I said, for lack of another option. I myself have reached that point more than once.

Finally, the reason returning staff are often given preference over new ones is that we know them better - they know the rules, we know how they get along with the rest of the staff, we know we can trust them, we know what to expect of their activity, etc. There is a point at which, during voting, staff will object to promotions on the grounds that the member has left too many times - but they are, overall, the safer (and therefore obvious) choice. There is always room for more staff, and it's not that veteran staff are blocking positions, it's just that it's hard to find new ones and get them through voting.

This is a different issue, and if you'd like to speak with me about these concerns, I will look into them as best I can.

 

I would love to speak to you about those concerns, and I could easily name at least 3 others who would also. Not publicly of course. I'm pissed. When this person says they're leaving, they mean it, they say they're going for a good long time. Yet, they return and get all the same ranks (or better) back? I just don't understand how they supposedly can be trusted to keep that type of responsibility with those ranks. Also, how do they get them within 24 hours of returning without other people who have NEVER left and are equally as qualified are overlooked?

 

I edited my post to address some of that, but I'll elaborate further.

When a mod asks to return, they go through another vote. In the poll, there are three options - yes, let them return to their old position; yes, let them return as a lower rank; and, no, do not promote them again. No one is given a free pass. The vote is generally presented to all globals or higher, but is sometimes addressed to the staff as a whole.

Moreover, HL just showed me an old post from Matthew in the Staff Lounge that considered a target of 40-something sectionals. Although we've never had anywhere near as many, it proves the point that there is plenty of room for new staff even with old ones returning.

 

Interesting Sin. Thanks.

Well I'm sure theres alot of people out there hopeful for that 40 sectional boost.

 

I agree 100% Swift, others are overlooked while there a couple of corrupt staff here in Sythe, who think they can leave and come back and think they deserve it.

 

I don't see a single staff member who is like this. Care to elaborate?

 

It's just how the site is maintained, even though it may not be perfect. You'll just have to keep going through the motions as a regular member and hope a mod(s) takes notice of the work you've put forth.

On your topic of leaving; I'm fine with them going on vacation and other short term things. But, then there are the others who are gone more than they seem to be here which is a bit frustrating.

If we all know what's the relevance of saying it or not?

 

Four times? Hyperbole. However, seeing as I haven't addressed this anywhere else than the Staff Lounge, I'll briefly comment:

I acknowledge that my leaving thread did seem very final, and I have accepted that the next time I am taking a break, I will not take such measures.

In regard to me being reinstated on my return, Sythe was seemingly happy enough to allow me to return when I explained the situation to him, and then created a vote which all staff voted on. This, as Sin said earlier, is customary when a staff member is to be reinstated -- they cannot waltz in and out as they choose.

I do agree in regard to the leaving thread, and that won't happen again. ^_^

I'd like to think I've contributed quite a lot to the site, and of course it would be fine without certain members, but would it be better with them? (This isn't a pretentious comment in regard to myself. It's wholly general in regard to staff returns).

Though the first points stated in the thread are perfectly valid, and my actions perhaps rather frustrating, I am angered that you have come and accused me of corruption, asserting that I ''paid'' to return to staff. This is preposterous. I would not pay to work. Any staff member can vouch for the fact that my reinstation followed a customary staff vote.

It seems this has already been clarified by Sin in a private message, but it seemed appropriate to clarify personally, also. As this has not only been cleared up in private message also, I'll go ahead and lock this to save us from needless drama.