April Fools - Advance planning & ideas - CENSORED THREAD

[Yamaneko]

Someone can deknight me if you want. I think I'm mad at staff for not listening to me and for the drama you've created.

[Del Murder]

Roogle should have set the announcement to expire on April 1, as a subtle hint for someone paying too much attention.

Maybe Yams can go tomorrow. Today can be about Feedback, tomorrow Yams, and Thursday the new knights. Gives us an event for every day left. Is that good?

I need to make sure to call you a coward too.

[Big D]

It's not like there needs to be public disagreement before someone steps down, anyway. A member can go "omg why isn't Stalin on staff anymore?" then Yams can be all like "omg secret argument in secret staff forum".

Edit: Tony posted a milisecond before me; I agree with everything he just said.

[RSL]

Sounds good, Del.

[Yamaneko]

You gotta love Spiff. This cracked me up in eest's thread.

Foreshadowing is a good thing too.

[Leeza]

After being away for so many days I'm kind of lost here, but I agree that The Captain should know that it's an April Fool's joke because it really does seem to be bothering him a lot.

Wasn't Daryl going to step down before Feedback was taken off or did I miss something?

Since I've "taken the easy way out" and have already not posted in the forums since the 24th, I don't think that I should post there anymore until this is over and then I can say "What are you all talking about?" when I start closing those horrid threads in GC and they tell me that I can't do it because I'm not a Knight anymore.

[Shlup]

Yeah, I was thinking of telling Devin myself but neglected to bring it up. Please do tell him. Screwing with him isn't nearly as fun as everyone else. ;_;

[Del Murder]

I reopened the Feedback GC thread to stir things up a little more. I'll also send a pm to The Captain telling him that everything's cool.

[Shlup]

Alright. After you send yours to him tell me 'cause I want to send him a personal apology for being so awful. xD

[Daryl]

I wasn't sure if I was still supposed to step down or not. I don't care either way.

[Del Murder]

Nah, Yams will be the only person that needs to step down.

I've decided that instead of calling him a coward, I'm going to go nuts and blame everyone for causing this to happen to my good friend. It will be fun.

[Shlup]

I totally told you, Del. Haha.

[Big D]

I totally told you, Del. Haha.

At first I thought it was a little unfair that everyone was blaming it all on you. Now, though, it seems like you're enjoying it

Here's a draft of a PM I'd like to send to Devin. Any objections from anyone?

Hi Devin,
I just wanted to provide some measure of reassurance about things that have been happening at EoFF recently. I believe Tony has already sent you a PM on this topic, but I wanted to add my own thoughts too. I just have to ask that you keep it confidential for the time being, as I will explain later...
Here goes:

Basically, there has not been a devastating breakdown in staff discipline and rules. What we have all witnessed is, in essence, a "worst case scenario" simulation - a role play, of sorts, assessing the impact and repercussions of what would happen if a serious breach of rules took place.

Here's how it all developed:
Every year, the staff do something unusual for April Fool's Day. This year, we were trying to come up with something original, something creative. The idea of "Kishi getting banned for posting porn" came to mind immediately, but the problem was how to make it look real, not just a blatant gag that everyone would see through.

At this time, there was considerable controversy concerning EoFF's swear filter, with staff and regulars on both sides of the (sometimes heated) debate in Feedback. This gave us an idea: what if the staff become seriously split over a big issue of some sort? A fundamental divide, something so bad that half of us would quit? From then on, we orchestrated a timetable and basic 'plot synopsis' for how things would develop, including who would side against whom, and what kind of issues would polarise us. My 'Serious or Silly?' thread in Feedback was one manifestation of that.
However, through all of this, it was decided that each Staffer would remain true to their own personality and opinions. Whenever we said we supported or opposed something, that was usually all true; the only 'acting' was in the degree of response we each showed. Deliberately taking things to extremes and getting angered by fairly trivial differences of opinion. This was all intended to create a 'factual matrix' to support - and conceal - Kishi being banned. All staff arguments and resignations are a part of the simulation, as is the removal of Feedback.

However, this is not merely an April Fool's joke; it is also a serious investigation into what makes a forum function, what members expect and require from their staff and vice versa. Powerful lessons have been learned; the value of professionalism and a healthy balance of seriousness and levity have been given much exposure. Noble concepts such as Del Snizz's "The Community of EoFF" and your own proposed Constitution have given everyone plenty to think about. Staff decisions on matters of discipline and rule enforcement will forever be improved as as result of the intense response to recent staged events.

In a matter of days, all will be restored and a detailed thread will be moved in the Archive, explaining exactly what has been going down. I just wanted to tell you in advance, since you've clearly been upset and even angered by some aspects of staff's 'performance' in recent days. Many of us feel that it is unfair for you to be left in the dark in this way.

In early April, EoFF will be back to its congenial former self, no doubt about that. The majority of members should soon appreciate both the absurd humour of the entire scheme, as well as the gravity of the lessons learned.

Our heartfelt apologies for any consternation caused.

Regards,
Dave

[Del Murder]

I haven't sent him the pm yet, but you can go with that one. Mine would have been one sentence .

I also felt bad that Shlup was the grand bitch in all this, which is why I stood up for her yesterday (though I am betraying her today, I wonder if anyone caught that). Roog or BoB or RSL or someone should give her some support.

[Shlup]

If it weren't a joke I would be totally crushed at being so totally blamed for all of this, but as long as it's for the joke I don't mind. And I'm used to it. Haha.

Yeah, send that PM, D. It's a bit long-winded, but I think Cappy'll appreciate it seeing as anyone else would just be like "Chill, dude, it's a joke." xD