Freelancer - The Void

As far as I know a rhetorical question is one with the answer self intended, and does not need a reply.
Like:

- Is'n Graver have a short fuse?
- Was not my life easier when I was a child?

well...not quite the last one...

Thank you for your opinion.
Is not disregarded.

Its not a short fuse, I am quite simply telling you an easier and more effective way of going about things.

Many threads like this are brought up and all end the same way,

And yes that is what it means.

I have read your other points, and I'm sorry I am only picking out one, but the rest of your points is something I really can't reply to because that is community based. But good luck.

Greaver.

I read the initial post here with great interest. What started out as what might be a legitimate concern sort of wandered into some sort of out-of-body experience. Suddenly we're talking about that age-old gripe, Conflict of Interest regarding people as staff and the same people as players. Good grief. Not again...

Why not address the so-called problem as staff members as players, rather than just as clan members or clan leaders? Are you saying staff might be corrupted by loyalty to a clan but not for their own personal benefit as a "freelancer?" If a person is corruptible, then he is. And if he is, he's not long for any role on the staff. Or do you not believe we oversee the behavior of staff, each to the other, and talk openly to each other about not just correct behavior without conflict of interest but even any appearance of such conflict? If you don't think staff polices itself, then you are saying the entire staff is corrupt. Because in the end here, you are questioning the integrity of every member of the staff. Personally, if I were a different person I might be personally offended by someone essentially saying I cannot be trusted.

Let's get to the real point of whether or not the staff can be trusted. In-game it's just a game. But outside the game it's a little more serious when it comes to trying to manage something like a gaming server. You're (the figurative you, meaning anyone on the staff) trying to take care of something that benefits anyone who wants to take advantage of it, volunteering your time to make something for others to enjoy that is absolutely free and open, with the only requirement that the players be civil toward each other, play fair and most of all, have fun. Because if it's not fun, what the hell are we doing it for? But with the responsibility of managing the server comes some real life responsibility. Like, for instance, managing the funds that are required to keep the server alive. If anyone were going to decide to abandon integrity and screw the player population, he might decide to rip off the money, the real money, not a few make-believe credits in a make-believe game. But that doesn't happen. Because the staff members are doing what they do out of the sincere belief that what they are doing is worth their time... time that could be spent doing any number of other things... in order to give other people the opportunity to enjoy themselves, maybe escape some of the stress of real life in fantasy, and meet people from around the world and perhaps even make life-long friendships.

We don't do it for praise. And we certainly don't do it to be called untrustworthy.

I could read back and find what I'm thinking of but I figure someone will straighten me out anyway... but someone said they'd like to see what would happen if a staff member had to make a choice between his clan and his staff position.  Well, if you remember you already have. Probably more than once. But I can only speak for myself. During my first half-year here I played around with several clans. tried all the different RP's, from freelancer to navy to pirate to rogue and even hated enemy. So I really can't remember which clan I was a member of when I was invited to join the staff as [VOID]Watchwolf. Eclipse, I think... but that's just my old gray cells trying to fire. I really don't remember. I do remember, however, being assured by both Admin and my clan leader that there would be no problem my being a member of a clan and of the staff.

Everything went ok until the -=REAVERS=- did indeed come under new management. That was me, the new management. And right away the cries of conflict of interest were raised. Suddenly the [VOID]Watchwolf everyone seemed to think was such a good Server Guard couldn't be trusted to run a clan and be the same decent SG at the same time, in the view of some at least. So I made a choice and left my duties as Server Guard in order to put my energies into the clan. There was a few other smaller influences but in the end they were all related to the question of integrity. If my integrity was going to be questioned because I had taken responsibility of a clan, who was to say that integrity wouldn't continue to be questioned if I were to give up the clan?

I returned to the staff only when things began to look bleak for the Void, with possible shut-down of the server. OMG, said I. (Because I care about the Void) We can't let that happen. So I asked to be reinstated. I was. I got involved. I offered to take care of the finances. I was accepted in that role. I was "promoted" to Admin soon afterward.

Am I still the same person I was before? Or have I suddenly become corruptible now that I am Admin, leader of the -=REAVERS=- clan and have my hands on the checkbook for the Void?

I think while writing this I have changed my mind. I AM personally offended by your insinuation that server staff can't be trusted to be fair, impartial and honest.

Phooey. If you really feel that way, come out and say it. And then let me show you the door.

I was waiting for your reply with great interest,
only to see personal justifications,
and overall statements of righteousness in stead of the known style of
good temper and judgement.
As for the threat..what is new ???
I just easy and in your power to ban everyone who rebels.
An easy tool that is at a lot of ppl disposal - MY early POINT in fact...

Being a clan member (or worse - leader) and an A or/and V in the same time is not only
unethical (notion way overrated in this world) is not perceived good by the public
and is discriminatory. This is a matter of not being a democracy, but when it come to
RP stories, game play proposals and all sorts of things soon to be forgotten
we cast votes, and we behave democratically.
Isn't that hypocritical?

Ok this is decending into the realms of petty comments about peoples punctuation.

I am not asking you to leave - I am asking you to accept that this is not a democracy and dont try to tell me that it is....! A Closed Community? Were you invited or did you just download and sign on?  Do you pay to play here or do you have to use a password? No, you don't.

Dont get smart - There are professionals that play here - dont make this more than it is.  Getting personal is not going to make this work any better.  

BUT I will state this - If YOU dont like it then YOU dont have to play here - better people than you have come and gone (and in some cases come back again!) and so far the VOID is still here.  If you want it to work please stay and be part of the player base.  I dont remember inviting you here and I certainly dont want you to leave as you have (up until a short while ago) not caused me or any of the players any offence.

There is no need to get bent out of shape about this.  As stated - if you have a PARTICULAR problem with any of the staff please address it to me via PM or send it to Vector X.

Take it or leave it - its that simple. I guess we could ban you for questioning our integrity or would that just validate your point? If I dont ban you, you could equaly say that we didnt because we are afraid of your rebellion... I question your motives - I would even go as far as to say that you are just miffed because your not in "the Server Guard Gang" and are behaving like a petulant child.... is that correct? Its about as substansive as your questioning our integrity ....right?

DONT LIKE IT? Dont Play Here. Its REALY is that simple...!  
(Topic Locked as there seems to be a personal element entering into this.)

Volker,since ever The Void history,and i mean since Ever,Voids/Admins were allways also clan members and in many cases clan leaders.

Theres 2 difrent things.

One is the duty of being server staff,another is wen they step on they clan ships.

If you have evidence that you would like to show me of abuse from staff or any other player for that matter,please send it to me via pm ditailed,not a vague pointless accusation


To the great staff of the Void :  Keep up your excellent work.


Best Regards

PS: No one has "threatened" to ban or anything else. You are entitled to you opinion, no matter how ill-informed.

You are, however, cordially invited to leave. In common vernacular, that is the meaning of showing someone the door.