Posts: 1,947
Threads: 175
Joined: Feb 2013
Staff roles: Systems Lead Server Administrator
The handling of XA's officialdom request sets a dangerous precedent. Admittedly, it was one started by previous denials, but they at least had other reasoning to back it up, such as lack of activity or actual sanctionable behavior. However, having a questionable leader should not be grounds for denying a faction's officialdom. Were that the case, you would need to disband a majority of the official factions on the server, my own included more than likely.
I'm somewhat concerned as the leader of my own faction wishing to acquire officialdom, especially given that I'm a bit of a loudmouth when it comes to problems in Discovery. As far as I understand it, Reeves is a contributing member to the community with an active SRP. Should he have committed some form of rule violation, he should've been sanctioned for such behavior, or at the very least warned. Perhaps a staff dialogue discussing his behavior should've been opened, informing him that this continued course might lead to a decline in officialdom. Literally any option other than the course presently plotted, because now, you've given another group of people trying their very best to give a historically underpopulated and undervalued faction in Discovery a thumbs-down and a kick out the door, all because you believe the faction leader might be problematic.
Let's not kid ourselves here. You stated yourselves in the past that the SRP restrictions were reduced because the player count is on its way down, and that there just aren't as many people playing anymore. So why are we holding back a faction for something you can't even admit publicly on the forums? If the man's behavior is toxic and problematic, sanction him. Ban him from the forums. Warn him for specific instances. Take away his SRP. This isn't a USR or some special perk that needs a fine-toothed comb, this is a group of individuals trying together to make something interesting in Discovery, and for god's sake they've actually managed to keep a Xeno faction alive for two months. That's a miracle in and of itself.
Recently, another OFL was banned for three months, who is also the owner of an SRP. That's actual sanctionable behavior, to the point where you not only have a report and sanction history on the individual but so many rules violated that you couldn't even bother to list them. Why is their SRP untouched, their faction official? Is it, by chance, that their faction is perhaps more than just the one person, and that perhaps maybe action taken on the individual for the individual's actions is more sensible than kicking a faction to the curb for the sins of its leader?
I should close by saying that in most dealings with the GMs, they have been very helpful and actually quick to act, something that was more or less missing in prior teams. Despite being a much smaller team, they've opened dialogue in a lot of places quite well, and I appreciate the fact that they don't necessarily shy away from feedback in most cases. This, however, bears thorough examining. I believe it's a grave misstep for the community if not re-examined and re-assessed. Thanks.
