I am saying goodbye to ALFA

[Mayhem]

So, as I said, if the rest of the admins are going to hold ALFA to ransom whenever somebody they don't like is voted in, by threatenig mass resignation, why don't we just start letting the existing admins choose which of their friends they are going to give the job to whenever an opening comes up?

What could possibly go wrong.

[Hialmar]

Of course there are other solutions:
- we vote for admin tickets (a team of 5 like minded admins).
- or we switch to Fluff's solution.

However, in the past, most of the time Admins got well together.

Changing our charter because we currently have an admin which lacks communication skills might or might not be a solution.
I suggest we first try what is in the charter (recall procedure and election) and see if we need more.

[Wynna]

So, it's 5am as I begin to write this, after a second instance of being up all night worrying about human resources, entitlement and managerial responsibility--mine as well as other peoples'--in ALFA. I came to a few conclusions but the only thing I could be sure of was that when I gave up and got up, there would be new anger and new posts on the forums. I'm very tired, and not just from the last two nights. The most important and startling conclusion reached was one that others seem to have gotten to before me: this is not fun. ALFA != fun. That's pretty hard for me to compute, but it keeps returning TRUE.

The managerial responsibility that falls on my side has been pretty heavy with Rusty-drama of late. I spent two and a half hours in chat with him yesterday and the entire day with all of Admin -- including Rusty -- discussing issues. I've had my secondment of the recall motion drafted for most of that time, but I'd rather find a less bloody way forward and so we've been working on the root of the problem instead. I can see no good results to be had from proceeding with the recall motion. If it doesn't pass, we lose Admin. If it does pass, we go through a recall and rip ALFA up. If the recall motion fails, we lose Admin. If the recall succeeds, we lose Admin. It seems to be a zero sum game exactly paralleling one of the driving reasons behind the recall motion: if Rusty stays, we lose a NWN2 HDM. If Rusty goes, I'm told we'll lose NWN1 servers. Hard to dispute that latter half of the equation with the 17 votes cast his way in the last election even after several people spoke to the difficulties of working with him.

Actually, I mispeak. It's not hard to work with Rusty, not for me. Rusty and I have a very good personal relationship. It is hard to work around Rusty, though, as storms seem to form around him and even if you're not the one struck by bolts of lightning you get caught up in the storm and the clean-up efforts after. Recently I've been spending way too much time dealing with clean-up. In order, iirc, I've had to deal with the fallout from Rusty disallowing campaign awards; Thang's PT proposal accidentally getting shuffled aside; a dispute case that should have been a wealth reduction case; verbal assault that earned Rusty a warning; Rusty's resignation; posting about a dispute case that lost us our Admissions Head which earned both Rusty and I a strike; Rusty's candidacy; what level the target should be in the wealth reduction case; NWN2 server documentation; NWN DMs needing to apply again to DM in NWN2; TSM not being Beta 3 but Beta 1; HDM resignation and accompanying server host resignation (I can only assume without communication from the person in question); where the item standards on the wiki have gone during the wealth reduction case; whether the standards approved by Admin in one of my Lead terms in Feb '06 are the same as the standards now; if not, why not; whether Indio is being approved for HDM of TSM or just as DM; and whether the work done by one Admin is worth sacrificing the work done by another.

I'm tired.

I'll add that the list above is the first time I've actually put together such an exercise and it's surprising even to me. What's more surprising is that I've been Rusty's staunch advocate during my term. I have always been the one giving second chances until he apologizes (verbal assault) or arguing players out of launching an appeal (campaign awards) or acting as a buffer between DM complaints and Rusty's goals (target wealth reduction). In negotiating with Rick recently, I offered to act as go between 'twixt Rick and Rusty; I asked him to come back just to get us to Live and then help us effect the orderly transfer of the server...and I did all this not knowing if Rusty would take him back and dreading (yes, dreading) having to fight that battle if Rick accepted the offer. Rick did not, citing as we all know, inability to work with the DMA.

This could not be timed worse, of course, but there's never a good time for this sort of thing and any time a recall motion is on the table it's by definition the worst time for it.

In my chat with Rusty yesterday, we discussed a pattern of negative behavior. Many of the things above did not come up. We focussed on two of the most recent issues. I tried to impress upon him that the role of manager necessitates an ability to negotiate, to find a way around barriers, to compromise, if necessary. We never really got very far as he kept asking for proof of the pattern and debating each instance. At one point he asked for three examples and my third in a second set -- after Rusty dismissed the first set -- was his inability to hear what I was saying. He left the chat asking for concrete suggestions for finding a way forward. I PMed him:

Your parting request was for a concrete suggestion.

1) Start a mechanism for simply renewing the apps of existing DMs AND offer the contract stating that they will learn and uphold the current standards.

2) Approve Rick as HDM if he comes back to the table or Indio if he doesn't OR find an immediate replacement HDM so we can move forward.

I was composing a response to Hialmar's motion when you departed from mIRC, and I post it here, as I was going to post it to you in mIRC. This is where I am, currently, based on our mIRC chat. I want to give you a chance to air your opinion on the above concrete suggestions, however, first.

3.4 Recall

A motion to recall an Administrator can be made by any HDM or any of the other Administrators. The motion requires at least 10% of the sum total of HDMs and other Administrators, with a minimum of three persons, including the proposer, to be carried. Vote-eligible Administrator Staff and EADMs are not able to propose, or move to carry, a recall motion.

Once a motion for recall has been successfully proposed and carried, a vote, lasting one week, is taken among the voting constituencies eligible to cast ballots in the election of that Administrator, including vote-eligible Administrator Staff and live or beta 3 EADMs for Lead, Tech, and Infrastructure Administrators; in the case of the DM Administrator, all ADMs as well; and in the case of the Player Administrator, all members of ALFA. The recall motion is considered to have passed if affirmed by more than 60% of the votes cast.

An Administrator who is recalled must immediately vacate the position.

Any Administrator in breach of the provisions of this Charter immediately and automatically invokes a recall vote against them.

This means that two seconds are required to begin a recall vote on the position of DMA. It's very bad timing, but there's never a good time for such negativity. Frankly, I see only negative outcomes of both courses of action, either passing the motion and beginning the vote or voting down the motion. That means that if ALFA suffers through either course of action, it comes down to what side one falls on the principles that have triggered the recall motion.

I've spent the last two hours in IRC with Rusty, talking this over. It was a very civil conversation and a very difficult one. I believe that the work he gets done is a staggering amount that has helped us get closer to Live than we could have done without him. He is the best DMA we've ever had, until it comes to barriers. I believe that a manager has to have the ability to find a way forward to the betterment of the community, to compromise if necessary, to negotiate certainly. When unwillingness to do so harms the community, then it becomes a problem. I believe that a pattern has been exhibited of such harmful behavior. Rusty disagrees and we have discussed his reasons for disagreeing with it for quite some time. Probably many people out there feel one way or the other, strongly. Probably we'll lose people, one way or the other. I urge you to consider the future of ALFA if the outcome is not the way you did or would vote.

Since then, we have been discussing in Admin where to go from here. Cipher had an idea for variable DM applications, where the questions could be altered or left off as wanted for individual DMs. That sounds like progress to me, or at least something to bring back to the negotiating table with Rick et. al. I would accept that as an indication that Rusty can negotiate if he did re-open dialog with Rick with that as his offering. We have also discussed Indio's DM application, which I believe is about to be approved and which only leaves his appointment as HDM. I would like to see that happen, too.

I have spent the last days before Live doing other things than getting a server to Live. It has cost us valuable time. At this time, I don't think we'll make Tuesday. I'm sorry. Others and I are still busting our butts to do what we can. Indio has worked pretty much round the clock as far as I can tell, and bowed his head to things he has not wished to do. AL has given and given and given of his time, his resources and his attention when all of the above should be focussed on writing his thesis. Curm and Runestaff have tested the buggery out of the server. Creslyn is back (woot!) writing scripts. Paaz (double woot!) is doing the same. Veilan has been through every store and priced every item. However, even with that concerted effort, we've lost valuable time. I don't lay that entirely at Rusty's feet. Rusty, too, has worked to his usual incredible standard on TSM throughout all. But just as much of my list above involved others who share responsibility/blame for each entry in it, the storm that has swirled around Rusty has caught TSM in its winds.

I'm tired. I still want to find a less bloody way forward. I'll still continue to seek one but I don't see a good result unless things change radically. This post is an attempt to bring ALFA up to speed while we try to negotiate our way around this barrier. For the first time through these last months, I haven't consulted with Rusty or approached him with a draft before posting. As I said, I'm tired, and I have a server to get Live.

[Veilan]

I see no obastacles, philosophical, practical or technical, to altering the DM application process; in fact, BB and I tossed around ideas for that in chat, scrapping some questions for returning DMs i.e. "if you are a returning DM, scrap questions X-Y" was certainly among them.

What I can understand, though, is that changing a process mid-working can appear a bit questionable, and that people may not want to compromise when they're being told "change it like that or I won't do it".

Inflexibility seems to have been the problem on both sides here, on one side procedural, on the other side personal.

[Leevoth]

Wow, please get some sleep Wynna.

No matter what comes of it, the airing of such strong emotions can only be a good thing.

[MShady]

So basically after Wynna tried to politely work with him, he neither gets or acknowledges anything is a problem. It's probably everyone else. Oh yes, its all those OTHER people causing problems, its never his fault...

Yeah. That's a really good sign things are going to change...

It's also a good sign all that has happened before will happen again. And again. What exactly is going to change the situation or prevent it from happening again? Rusty does not want to change. That leaves one option.

Why the heck are we running a gaming community this way? How many qualified people refuse to work with or around him? This Captain Ahab style of management, or maybe Captain Queg, is NOT how you run an international, volunteer, gaming community.

[Misty]

Quite honestly, I found HDMing under Rusty a pleasant experience. He was reasonable and easy to work with. I suppose I'm in the minority here, and RL prevents me from committing to DMing at this time, so there isn't really an easy way for me to help the DM ranks.

[Valdimir]

If Rusty goes, I'm told we'll lose NWN1 servers. Hard to dispute that latter half of the equation with the 17 votes cast his way in the last election even after several people spoke to the difficulties of working with him.

Wynna, I am curious about this statement regarding NWN1 servers. If you don't want to post, maybe you'll find a moment to PM me?

My experience has been similar to that of Misty. Rusty is pure business and does not play favorites. ALFA has long been a bit of a cult of personality where Admin operated behind a shroud of secrecy. Perhaps they were were equitable to all, but it was hard to see. So while he does step on toes, there may be some sentiment out there that some small bit of it is long overdue. Only through complete transparency can the average ALFAn know the truth and judge for themselves. From this outside, this is all "he said, she said" petty bickering.

IMHO, no matter how coarse he can be, (and I've had to tell him to bugger off a few times) Rusty is the first DMA I've seen that really had an agenda, any agenda, and worked hard to make it happen. The flip side is that any far-reaching vision is bound to run up against differing opinions. Rusty clearly needs to learn how to deal with those situations better. He is stubborn, and as indicated in his conversation with Wynna, often seems incapable of seeing another person's perspective. This is something he clearly needs to work on. From where I stand, the trade-off is worth it, but this may not be the case for NWN2.

As a current NWN1 HDM, I am willing to support an application if I ever DM on NWN2. I would also support mandatory standards training. It is a very complex system, but equitable. In a multi-server PW that allows CvC, it is necessary to maintain a fair playing field. I have seen the results of "DMs Gone Wild."

On a final note, and I hope all Admin take note... Over the last year or so, Rusty has been one of the few regularly involved in NWN1. While I understand we are moving in a new, sexier direction, we represent the only live servers in ALFA at this point. Much of Rusty's support comes from those that are holding down the fort with a legacy game. A recall is a bad idea and I doubt it would get the support necessary from the very DMs you often neglect.

While we may be beyond the "group hug," we need to ignore the pot-stirring rabble, tee up the issues, and see where we can reach compromise. If we cannot, then we trust our Lead Admin to make decisions. When she does, we stop the crying and childish resignations and press on.

[Swift]

While we may be beyond the "group hug," we need to ignore the pot-stirring rabble, tee up the issues, and see where we can reach compromise. If we cannot, then we trust our Lead Admin to make decisions. When she does, we stop the crying and childish resignations and press on.

I think the only reason we have reached the point we are at is because the issues have been on the table without any compromise coming from it.

We would not be at the public drama stage if this could be solved by getting everyone in a room, laying out the issues and talking about it. Wynna has clearly tried that, and it has not achieved much. While back in the day forum drama started over just about anything, these days it is usually about serious problems that cant just be whisked away with a click of an Admins fingers.

[Wynna]

If Rusty goes, I'm told we'll lose NWN1 servers. Hard to dispute that latter half of the equation with the 17 votes cast his way in the last election even after several people spoke to the difficulties of working with him.

Wynna, I am curious about this statement regarding NWN1 servers. If you don't want to post, maybe you'll find a moment to PM me?

Thanks for your response, Vald. Glad to answer in public.

I know that sounds like I was putting words in NWN1 DMs mouths. For that, I apologize, especially because I can't substantiate the point with the name of anybody telling me that in so many words. No NWN1 DM has threatened such action, certainly. I can only say that it's an inference drawn from repeated mentions from Rusty both privately and in Admin of a schism and of the results of the last election meaning that a recall will do more harm than good. I suppose I jumped to conclusions of the worst possible meaning to that.

[Veilan]

I think the only reason we have reached the point we are at is because the issues have been on the table without any compromise coming from it.

We would not be at the public drama stage if the problems were not very real and very difficult to solve.

You know I like you Swift, but saying "someone made a big fuss so the problems must be real!" is a bit of a cart before the horse logic.

The problems are of course real, and Valdimir didn't belittle them, he just said to deal with it like mature adults instead of drama.

Which you should do too instead of posting with no more information than you can pull out of your hat . Not that you're the only one guilty of that. *glances a certain dorf cleric's way*

Anyway, fact of the matter: DM Applications are not set in stone, and we staffies have drawn our lessons out of this during the ongoing conflict, however, not changing the application mid-process is Rusty's call and a call that seems reasonable. It may seem uncompromising, but it is certainly not a personal affront against anyone.
What really bothered me in this was Rick quitting after he finally took the time to send in his App, forcing something that was on the way to its resolution to become what we see now. I can understand him being fed up after he ran and lost on a "no DM app" platform, but that is a bad starting point to try to force the acting DMA to change it just for him.

That said, I'm reasonably sure there are going to be changes to the App questions once we get the more pressing issues of an impending live launch out of the way.

[Nalo Jade]

Rick will come back if Rusty is recalled...

I am on Rick's side so far...as in Rusty acted like an A$$hat.

But the recall...that is a scary thing.

The DMA position would suffer. Having a weak or puppet DMA will not serve the community.

There is little point to the DMA position if any one HDM no matter how much we like him and no matter how much work he does for the community...can get the DMA recalled because of something less than gross neglect and abuse.

Like I said I am on Rick's side, I know the guy and he is a hard worker...

Rusty has caused many problems and the fact that Wynna has not been able to solve them is jaw dropping. The fact that other Admins are threatening to exodus is also jaw dropping.

A compromise could be assigning Rusty a spokesperson...

Rusty you stink at people skills so you cannot talk to people anymore, meet Bob, Bob will translate your a$$hat comments so that others will not be offended.

If Rusty was trying to dissolve the "good ole boys club" and bring ALFA into a state of uniformity vs the confederacy, as well as Global DMs I would support him 100% and be sad to see Rick leave but if Rick cannot adapt to that kind of a change from NWN1 to NWN2 then ALFA will not change...

If Rusty is just a power drunk jerkface then ... how on earth did he get elected 3 times?

[Veilan]

I am on Rick's side so far...as in Rusty acted like an A$$hat.

That's just the thing - I don't see Rusty having acted at all. All he did was insist on a long established procedure, which may seem asshattish if you feel it is an ornery procedure you are entitled to skip, but I can't really be convinced that it actually is. Inflexible perhaps, but it was neither personally insulting, nor demeaning, nor... asshattish. And Rusty can be an asshat, that's for sure, it's just that in this particular crime... he seems to have no blood on his hands.

Mind you, I don't know all the details either, even though I'm naturally privvy to more access to Rusty, but from what has been dragged out... I can but shake my head and point to Valdimir's call.

[Hialmar]

A DMA has been recalled before.

It's not new Nalo and we had good DMAs after that.

In fact we have had a lot of good DMAs before and after that and I can't understand why people say that Rusty is the only good DMA we had.

What did he do ? Standards were there before he came.
He just bullied everyone to get them applied.
A lot of people just stopped DMing because of that.

At the current rate, the standards will be completely applied soon because we will have more staff to check them than DMs.

[Leevoth]

If Rusty is just a power drunk jerkface then ... how on earth did he get elected 3 times?

Hey if Bush can do it....

Ba-zing!