GF's platform

[Avaz]

Will you continue to DM the Fallout PbP if elected?

Will you continue to DM the Fallout PbP if not elected?

Will you continue to DM the Fallout PbP when Fallout 3 launches and sucks you into it for good?
Edit: For what it's worth, Fallout 3 will suck me into it for good as well.

[Grand Fromage]

Yes, yes, and yes. I have to go back to the US first, then play some Red Alert 3 beta, but there will be Fallout next week. Have no fear, sir.

[Wynna]

Unlike those who have posted their support of your one policy platform, I do not support this platform, sir. Although I have a huge respect for your intelligence and abilities, I believe you to be unprepared on this issue. I invite rebuttal of my following concerns on your preparedness to disagree with the current moderation policy:

• 1) Current context -- Your recent trip through Europe (of which I am insanely jealous) took place before and during the time the moderation catalyst fired at the behest of all current Admin);
  
  2) Viewpoint -- You have an admirable belief in free speech unsurprising in a journalist and yet I believe it to be one-sided, willing to accept offending other's beliefs as the collateral cost; and
  
  3) Alternatives -- You have stated you won't really think about what to replace the current moderation policy with unless you are elected, although you do support moderation.

I would like to have something to vote for, instead of merely a promised 'negative' or 'repeal' platform. Anonymity of moderators is something I disagreed with on a personal level at the beginning of this moderation push, but it has born results with which I cannot argue. Prove to me that removing anonymity will continue what I consider the current success of an environment of politeness sweeping ALFA? As you so ably allude, this is not a state or a government, it is a place to have fun with D&D, and much of the fun was being eroded for at least a significant portion of the populace -- a reasonable, adult, very-little-time-on-our-hands-to-play populace** -- by forum behaviors of others. I turn your intimations back on you: Why should one end of the spectrum of the populace have power to ruin the fun of the other end of the spectrum of the populace? Either end of the spectrum? That asked, where lies the happy medium? **Repeated below for ease of organization in response.

In addition to these concerns about your lack of preparation on the moderation front, neither will you have my vote until and unless you can convince me that you have time and intend to do the rest of the job as it has developed since you held it, and do it better than the other two candidates. Questions:

• 1) Where is the happy medium?
  
  2) If there is no happy medium; if you are elected and see currently hidden forums and discover a) blanket support of current Admin for the moderation policy, or b) good examples of why things should have been moderated, will you reconsider your blanket opposition?
  
  3) What is the role of the PA in modern ALFA?

Lovely to have you back, GF. We've missed you.

Thanks for your answers.

** Edit to say that I am not questioning the reasonableness or adulthood of any in the opposition camp. Only pointing out that those who wished for the moderation policy are often reasonable people and not jackbooted *self moderated to avoid Godwin's Law*.

[HATEFACE]

[Moderiert: Im besten Interesse der ALFAn Leute. Ich bestelle hiermit, dass alle Pfosten durch das Büro der Volksaufklärung ergriffen werden.]

[Donrath]

Ok, How many months have I been dormant.
Bigs issues here and all.
But for cripes sakes its Gf, and those of us who have been part of this project for the last several years know his dedication to what we are trying to do.
Is he perfect? Cripes no. Has he spent years working, believing, striving to make our little world a better place? Hell, yes.
Shall we fault him for throwing in a little humour into a platform...hell no, because our insane seriousness tends to waylay the fact that were stilll just having fun playing D and D.
I am not making light of the issues, simply, I'm trying to say that thru joy and dedication shall we begin to reach the realm of which we strive and Gf will help get us there.

Don

[Lusipher]

thank you Winston Churchhill...

[Donrath]

You bugger, Dan, I know where u live..... and its good to talk to you again

[Nalo Jade]

As much as folks are trying to turn this into a "freedom" or "facism" debate.

It just isn't.

There is no justification for allowing a hostile environment.

Regardless of what you have done for the community, your "anti-platform" is simply counter-productive.

ALFA has a lower membership than ever before, your policy "if" it was to be successful will not encourage people to join ALFA.

No one has joined ALFA because our forums are "uniquely" hostile. They have only said they have left because of it.

Maybe alot of the internet forums are hostile, does that mean ALFA is obligated to follow suit?

[Vendrin]

They have only said they have left because of it.

Names please.

[Nalo Jade]

First you give me the names of people that joined because our forums were hostile.

[Rick7475]

Non-members can't see these forums, so how can they join or not join without seeing them.

Everyone in the gaming communities are familiar with bitching on forums.

Just go to any MMORG and see.

[Magile]

As much as folks are trying to turn this into a "freedom" or "facism" debate.

It just isn't.

There is no justification for allowing a hostile environment.

Regardless of what you have done for the community, your "anti-platform" is simply counter-productive.

ALFA has a lower membership than ever before, your policy "if" it was to be successful will not encourage people to join ALFA.

No one has joined ALFA because our forums are "uniquely" hostile. They have only said they have left because of it.

Maybe alot of the internet forums are hostile, does that mean ALFA is obligated to follow suit?

Just so you know, under the new moderation rules that were in "full" effect, a new member to ALFA has quit due to the "whining" (re: "civil" bullying) on their RP over an entire thread that was ignored for a while and in chat from members in said thread.

When asked why this occurred and how it could be considered acceptable, such comments as "<x> was banned from a couple of other PWs too," as well as "to be honest <x> almost didn't get into ALFA" were spoken out by two people who have posted in this thread (and are for moderation). The new moderation rules were meant to create a more "peaceful" environment and to have new members feel welcome, but people who support the system have found excuses for why it was acceptable/reasonable/not out of the ordinary for a new member to flee from ridicule under the new rules (which, if I may add, was in poor taste considering how they were classified as if they weren't even worth it -- a member of ALFA is a member of ALFA, period).

The system is already showing it's not working and that people who the moderators have not focused on are driving out new members in ALFA -- which was originally implied that the lolcat/flame "warriors" were the culprit. I'm willing to put my vote and faith into GrandFromage at this point for the simple fact that he's known what he's doing before and we need that for our super serious online D&D community.

[Mulu]

Heck, just look at the official Bioware forums for examples of hostility.

So GF, if you find you can't eliminate forum moderation, would you be willing to empower a "poison pill" by appointing a moderater that will do such a godawful job that the community as a whole will convulse and reject the moderation system?

Then again I suspect someone has already done this.

[Swift]

First you give me the names of people that joined because our forums were hostile.

Actually the onus would be on you to front up first, since you made the claim, and Vendrin merely asked for proof to back it up

[Nalo Jade]

Proof is in the pudding.

We have heard how moderation has failed in the past.

The example of someome leaving due to their RP method being discussed is not evidence to support the "anti moderation" cause ... it is evidence to support the moderation cause.

It would be silly to deny that members have left because of forum drama. That is like the people that claim the holocaust never happened.

Before I reveal the few names I know that have left , because their are undoubtedly more that have left that I never knew... I want to see the proof that "lax moderation" has done us any good...

because if having better moderation equates to even +1 member it is worth more than the no moderation. Since no moderation has not netted us additional members.

Insanity is repeating the same thing over and over again and expecting different results ...

We have "tried" no moderation for years and it has put us exactly where we are today.