I spent about ten minutes writing up several paragraphs discussing the purpose of the Admin team, why they do what they do, and defending their decisions while at the same time apologizing for what many view as "unfairness".
Then I realized my post had turned into something completely unrelated to your topic.
So what happened, anyway? You tried to help someone who got sanctioned... and got "Shut down"? How so?
I would really rather not speak about it, however you made an effort to try to help me understand why they do what they do.
So here it is;
Me and a couple mates first came across this young lad in the Nomad system out of Kansas. He begged for help to become a Nomad, as he had attempted several times to contact someone on the forums in regards to some information with it. That was the only contact in-game with him, and at that point I offered him my Skype contact details so I could explain to him the best way of obtain his desire.
I was offline for a day, and when I came back, my partner told me he was sanctioned (she is also a veteran player). I examined the sanction notice, and then he messaged me he had given up with the server, as he found himself banned and couldn't understand why. I showed him the sanction notice, and he then wrote out a novel to me, explaining why he erupts into such rages, and it turns out he is a young autistic boy who suffers a great deal socially in real life. He told me he gets tormented every time he leaves the home, and that he has no real friends, except for the ones he has online, and on another FL mod server. As he has very little understanding why swearing is unacceptable in RP, and especially on this server, as that is the only language he apparently hears when he leaves his home. I explained in great detail, and as easy to understand as I could, why he should not swear, not F1 and why he shouldn't OOC in system. Took me a great amount of time, and I think I got through to him. As he had little understanding of the sanction forums, let alone the ability to contest his sanction, I offered to act for him. I explained on his sanction that I did not condone, nor did I excuse his behaviour, and expressed my own disgust for it such actions. But offered to spend considerable time to help educate him on server policies, and to also defend the admins decisions for his actions. I requested some leniency to him, as he obviously (in my opinion) had no idea what to do, and felt he could come around as he loves these kind of games. A discussion erupted on his sanction post on the ethics of autism. That's fine, a few people here suffer a disability such as that. I requested the evidence, and he also requested I get the evidence, purely to show him into what he did wrong, and to prove to myself that he was not lying and spinning the truth. That was denied, cool as. Forums rules state that only the offender and 'Faction Leaders' can request such evidence. That I can understand, rules are rules. But one admin mentioned that if the offender asked for me to get the evidence, it would be posted. However, another over-zealous admin pipes in and explains that a relation also suffers autism and that it is no excuse. Several points were made that he was not using his disability as an excuse, but as a reason why he does such things, and that he will try his darndest to play by the rules. He made a point that his relation does things normally and, in my opinion, sounded very biased towards all autistic people. Some kids suffer it worse then others, and I believe he breached a human right in regards to ascertaining that because his family member is good, that this kid should be too. He then also blatantly told me that I was not welcome to view the evidence, and then promptly closed the sanction post to prevent his opinion being contested.
Once again, I implore that I do not excuse his behaviour because of his illness, but that I wanted to help both him and the Disco community in being a welcomed member of the community with out fear of judgement. As that is what roleplay is all about, he can be anyone he likes, and get what ever little pleasures he may have playing with us. Everyone makes mistakes, and that is what people learn from. I tried to assist in helping him learn the ropes, and was basically denied by such a crude admin.
Huh. Well, I fear that, in encouraging you to explain in greater detail exactly what happened, that I've opened a rather large can of worms.
Being a regular member here, I can't pretend to explain away everything the Admins do. I'm not a part of their discussions, so I don't know the motivations behind their actions. And I can't really say anything for this specific scenario, either. All I can say is this: The Administrators work day and night to maintain order in our community. As long as people continue to attend the Disco forums or the server, their work is endless. It is often thankless. And with so much to do, I don't imagine that they have the time to give each sanction report a fair and lengthy trial. I'm sure they try their best, but there's only so much deliberation that can be done before an action has to be taken.
This player that you were trying to defend sounds like he may have benefited from a second chance. And when the time comes, he'll get one. With a few notable exceptions, bans don't usually last forever. I think that "Ban" itself is too harsh a word for the time-outs that are given here. If anything, all it does it give a player time to reflect, or read up further on the rules. I won't claim that these "bans" are always effective, though. But they "keep our streets clean", as bad as that may sound to some.
I would also go on to discuss the fact that we're on the internet, and that the internet is a place commonly inhabited by jack-asses, which immediately puts people on edge when it comes to newcomers... But I think I'm all paragraph'd out from writing that previous post that I never posted.
So all I can do is sympathize, and offer an apology. I'm not trying to apologize for any of the people who you feel wronged by, but just for myself. We all try to do what's right. Sometimes it just comes out wrong for some people.
I appreciate such jobs the admins do, and the stress it may bring down upon them. And that 'trials' would be very very inefficient. However, a little compassion, and a little gratitude to ordinary players such as my self for the extent me and my gf go to to help new players here.
I may have made a comment collaborating all admins into one group, and for that I was not intending. However, the prejudice and ignorance from one particular admin really gets my back up, especially when I have put so much effort, trying to assist them with this guy. For that, I apologise to the admins, I fully appreciate the jobs you do.
Many people want to help others, many don't. Can't really force them to do that. I usually do when in my trading ship, as it's high level and people PM me asking for questions. I gladly answer if I can.
I saw that sanction report, I know the person who filled the report, I know the person who wrote the sanction, and I've seen the evidence. I do understand that he needs help, and I greatly admire you for wanting to help him, I really do. However, and that's the point of both Doc and King, they cannot just pretend it didn't happen and forget the sanction. It'd just be wrong.
Anyway, if you need any further help with this fella, feel free to contact me. I have met him in game, and had a share of his attitude....
Quote: Doc and King, they cannot just pretend it didn't happen and forget the sanction. It'd just be wrong.
I was not asking for them to forget it, nor drop the punishment. But perhaps a little less harsher punishment with the ability for 'rehabilitation' and a learning experience. The decision was made not too, and that I will respect. It was the lack of recognizing the effort people go to to help people play the game, and the way a certain someone went about this.
This certain someones reaction and implication is what angered me.
whichever admin that diagnosed the extent of that player's autism, without having met him, i'd like to shake him by the hand. everyday i have a queue of autistic patients waiting with hope in their eyes that i might be able to help them live a normal life. if only i could have some of his experience that i might be able to diagnose them and provide a prognosis without ever having met them, i could devote more time to playing golf.
and if you think im spinning a tale?
my full name is:
Mr Masters, Dip Hum Sci, LCSP, BSc, MSc, DC, OM.
I hereby propose a court of review for sanctions, for cases like this. The court must be comprised of at least three faction leaders, not connected with the case, and not admins. referral to Sanction Appeals is not a given right, and is akin to a judicidal review - i.e. the case must needs be borderline, and your just not going to get one for swearing, even if you have tourette's.
Quote:I hereby propose a court of review for sanctions, for cases like this. The court must be comprised of at least three faction leaders, not connected with the case, and not admins. referral to Sanction Appeals is not a given right, and is akin to a judicidal review - i.e. the case must needs be borderline, and your just not going to get one for swearing, even if you have tourette's.
Yeh, if only you had seen the pic.....
Still the idea is good, for borderline cases..