Eyes on Final Fantasy: Posting Activity History

[Baloki]

Neglect or mistreatment by the new owners? Check.
Staffers whose work was treated as though they were mandated as opposed to friendly contributions? Check.
A radical shift in expectations? Check.

Cid didn't really do anything in the last couple of years he was the owner.
Who specifically treated you that way?
What were the expectations before and what were the changes?

I do laugh that you ask Trav about the changes in staff treatment when he's not been around long enough to know how we were treated back then

[Del Murder]

Oh ok, so he's just blowing smoke.

[Psychotic]

More because we ask people for help and the response is:

"Site Staff are lazy"

We are actually pissed off with it you know. Also one small piece of content really doesn't make up a whole section.

Edit: Also if the front site was forgotten would have we spent 2 months overhauling the look and feel?

Now that you mention it... I haven't actually said this, but I think it, so it needs to be said: I think you did a fantastic job with the re-design of the site. It's something you should be proud of. Well done.

I think "Site Staff are lazy" and "Forums staff are oppressive fascists" are more in-jokes than actual criticisms. I don't think anyone genuinely thinks that. If they do then I don't know what the smurf.

Now, the admins, man, those guys are lazy...!

[Del Murder]

lazy oppressive fascists at that

[Baloki]

In one way yes, in another no.

The treatment of staff has gotten worse over time, mainly because regular forum members see us as paid cronies who do nothing and it's become ingrained that "Site Staff are lazy", but we just don't get enough contributions from regs as much anymore and that's what used to drive us forward.

Nowadays Site Staff just feel like we're between a rock and a few hard places, hence our motivation gives out and we think, "smurf it, no-one else cares, why should we, let the place burn". It's a pity that most of us have such a vested interest in the place that when we think that we actually feel really guilty.

Edit: Thanks Psy, it's a pity the new owners didn't see it that way.

[Rye]

I think most people really do appreciate the site staff, Baloki. I don't think they're lazy, and no one I talk to, and I talk to quite a lot of people, has ever said they are. I'm mind blown by all of the stuff on the front site from all of the years, and the front page's new design is really something, you guys really kicked butt on that.

I just think any negativity members think about site staff tend to be some site staff, not naming names, just really acting like they hate their job on the forum, on multiple occasions. And yeah, the site staff is a bit of a thankless task, but if you volunteer to do it for a forum you love, people tend to feel that hating on your job so much is discouraging, especially for some people who may want to join it. It just has a huge stereotype of being people who hate their jobs, which is a shame. It's a sad thing for people to think, and it's a sad thing to portray. But keep in mind, for everyone or two of those people who act like that, there are many other site staff that have never complained and did hard work, which is very admirable. ;]

That's just my two-cents anyway. Sorry if that came out more critical than it meant it. I have a monster of a tooth ache! Too many candy canes! And that definitely was not aimed at you, Baloki. You've done arguably the most work of any of the site staff. Just so you know. xD

[Tavrobel]

I do laugh that you ask Trav about the changes in staff treatment when he's not been around long enough to know how we were treated back then

What, we can't be lurkers anymore? This is new. Okay, let's pretend that I'm two years old, because that'll give me license to act like it, because clearly that's the only thing that gets people to pay attention.

Cid didn't really do anything in the last couple of years he was the owner.
Who specifically treated you that way?
What were the expectations before and what were the changes?

But he could be expected to listen. As least someone knew that he was there and we could contact him, unlike the new owners who only respond to "wanna buy your thang."

Okay, that was really poor word choice on my part. What I was trying to get across was that when Cid sold the site, the content wasn't treated as though it were from the populace or the individual members that wrote it. Instead, it was sold as part of a whole package with no regard or seeming input from the people that wrote it. I don't believe that the SS at the time were asked by Cid if he was allowed to treat the content as his own.

The expectations are those of a visitor. Before, EoFF was a fan-run site, which meant that updates were whenever we damn well felt like it, and that Forums Staff (yes, you've got a part to play in this, too) were free to do as they pleased, and it was okay, because it was a community of fans with like minds and interests. Now, no such expectation can be given; EoFF is a business. and with it comes every single difficulty and mind-aggravating aspect of it.

I will admit that my views likely to be extremely unpopular, but not figuring out where everything stands and what needs to be done isn't going to help. What does need to happen? Organization, and a conscious, team-based effort to fix the damn problem. Problems aren't going to be solved by dicking around a bush and pretending that it doesn't exist, or fooling ourselves that being nice about it is the best solution.

[Levian]

More because we ask people for help and the response is:

"Site Staff are lazy"

We are actually pissed off with it you know. Also one small piece of content really doesn't make up a whole section.

Edit: Also if the front site was forgotten would have we spent 2 months overhauling the look and feel?

Now that you mention it... I haven't actually said this, but I think it, so it needs to be said: I think you did a fantastic job with the re-design of the site. It's something you should be proud of. Well done.

Yeah, I don't think I've ever said it either, but it really is awesome. Best one we ever had, and more appealing than close to all designs I've seen at various FF sites.

[Baloki]

We still have alot of features and bits and bobs to add but it's just getting time to do them all, I'm battelling through a few things on the personal front at the mo which means I haven't had the time I had in the summer to push things through a bit.

Also Black Ord deserves most of the credit as it's his banner that makes it.

[Del Murder]

The forums staff still does what it pleases for the most part.

[Madame Adequate]

-MILF: I can see us being an obstacle at times However, I would say that the general trend at EoFF has been one towards flexibility: way, way fewer people get banned and threads get closed than in the past. Of course, it's less active, too, but I think that as a whole we are more forgiving (ie care less).

That's probably fair.

One thing I wanted to point out here is that a lot of the member base has this expectation that the staffers are supposed to do all of the work and entertain everyone. This is everyone's forum and site. If you want to see fun stuff happen, then make a thread in private feedback asking about it. A lot of the more interesting events, contests and other such things were conceived of, created and run by regular members that wanted to make something fun and entertaining.

That's definitely fair. However, my point was less that I'm expecting entertainment from the staff (Heck, I don't participate in most of the stuff that does go on because it doesn't interest me.) and more that there just doesn't seem to be a culture of discussing things sensibly. I don't know, I'm not privy to the staff forum, but it's always seemed to me that most suggestions are never considered, and get shot down because the staff have already decided they are against it, regardless of the merit of contrary arguments. Of course, I've had my run-ins with some mods and admins, and I'm sure some of them dislike me as I dislike them, so take what I'm saying with a pinch of salt.

You want to fix the forums? Easy. What does everyone use the internet for? Porn.

We add a new forum. Final Fantasy hentai.

Activity doubled.

No, really.

This is also completely fair.

[Tavrobel]

The forums staff still does what it pleases for the most part.

And you don't see this as potentially causing any such problem(s) or contributing to an atmosphere of something that feels like it's closed off from the rest of the world? It doesn't seem like this might cause a problem with an inability or inflexibility when it comes to suggestions?

[Del Murder]

The rest of the world? This is a forums for a video game series.

[Tavrobel]

The rest of the world? This is a forums for a video game series.

The rest of the world being those potential new people/newbies/visitors. Not any sort of culture mishandle. Leave that to EoEO.

[Tama2]

I'll volunteer to help. I may be ,for the most part, useless, and you guys won't even want me on the team. But what the hell, huh.

Anybody else?