- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Posted by: Recon Number 54
Wow.
Would it help if I apologized? No? *shrug* I didn't think so.
I think that the main source of the problem (not the technical problem regarding the stats, but the apparent "what we have here is a failure to communicate" problem) is what people want, expect, and anticipate from this site and the forums (which includes the moderating staff).
Many many members are under the impression (mistaken, but understandable) that this site is intended to provide support for Bungie products and/or services. I'm not a Bungie employee, so I can't say for certain, but I don't think that it is. And that may be the source of this friction. Here's my take on things.
If this site were meant to be a place to officially lodge complaints and request assistance with Bungie products or services, I believe that the url for this site would be "bungie.com". But instead it is "bungie.net". A small difference, a subtle difference, I know. I admit that it is easy to miss or to misinterpret. But here is my reasoning.
A dot.com site is about business. It is about someone selling, promoting, offering, or providing something. A product or a service. A dot.org site or a dot.net site are not (typically) intended to be so "business-like". For example, "halo.bungie.org" is a wonderful and incredibly robust fan community site that is hosted and run by a group of dedicated fans. Likewise, "bungie.net" is (in my opinion) a fan community site that is intended to be used and enjoyed by the fans, but the site is provided and managed by Bungie themselves.
Now that might confuse or ruffle some members feathers. But hang on, I will try to explain. The management of this site (Achronos, Frankie, Luke, Sketch and so on) fall under the mantle of "Bungie Community". Not sales, not marketing, not support.... Community. While it could be argued that this site is "one HUGE advertisement for Halo and Bungie products...." look around. Is it really? Banner ads anywhere? "Buy here" links? Or do you see stories that could have been (and in many cases are) by anyone who is a fan of the game?
Let's take a look at the front page of Bungie.Net and another game dev-site that ends in "dot.com". Maybe it is just me, but the wealth of articles on the front page of this site are focused on not selling more titles, but in helping the community to get more out of the game, to share with fans things that are going on, and are (again, to me) much more "hey guys, we've got something to share with you" conversational tone between friends.
Go to the other site and click on any of the games. I see a little link there that says "buy". I don't see that sort of direct and overt marketing happening on this site. I see the company interacting with the fans. Because (if you ask me) the "company" guys that bring us this site? They are fans TOO!
The member who stated that I was abusing my position and not a comedian, that I am here to help people.... I think that he may (I won't presume to say that I know for sure) be under the impression that this site is more a "dot.com" than a "dot.net". After all, I do remember a while back that he posted a support request (multiple times into multiple forums if memory serves) asking for support with his WLID and gamertag linking. Even made "where the hell are the mods?" questions. That appears to me, to be an expectation of service and support. Well, I may have contributed to this misunderstanding, because I actually replied and gave an support-type reply. This reinforced the mistaken assumption. I apologize.
But this site (and the moderators) are not support. Not tech support (follow the support links at the top and you will see that we're not listed) and not emotional support (everyone of us has seen what THAT job requires!). so what is this site and what are the moderators?
This is a fan community site. Period. We are ALL the fan community. Bungie provides this site (much like a city council will provide a park or playground), and they let us play in it. If we form groups.... not their concern. If we sit around singing "kumbaya"... they'll sneer, but not interfere. But nowhere on this playground is there an office to speak with public works, the city council chambers, building permits, public relations, business development,or the court. You see, the "City Council" doesn't operate out of "our park".
So, what do we have here? Fans. Some fans have been asked to watch over things, keep an eye on things, call in the cops (the REAL ones) if things get completely out of hand. Do we do any of the City's business? Not one bit. Are we employed by the city? Nope, we're volunteers. Do we provide any assitance or support? Other than offering to help someone who has fallen off of the slide, breaking up fights, and telling people to "play nice".... nope, not one bit.
Do some of the other kids on the playground consider us to be bullies? Perhaps. Do some consider us to be full of ourselves and our "crossing guard vests"? Probably. Do some of the kids think that we are the law? Possibly. Do we ever buy into our own hype or ego? Not on your life. It's one of the reasons that I make jokes. (sure, they're probably bad, but you didn't pay for admission) I joke to show that I don't take myself or any of the problems in this playground all that seriously. Because it IS a playground. People can decide to make it their world, but in order to do so, they have to deliberately ignore what is outside of the fence.
Woah. I think that I got too deep into the analogy. Where was I?
Oh right. Moderators.
We're not support. This site is not support. This site is not sales. This site is not marketing. This site is, and we moderators are... community. If anyone makes any comment or statement, it is under that framework.
You want polished and true professionalism from me? Come see me at my real job. (yes, I actually have one of those)
You want sarcasm, poor humor and relaxed banter as if I were among friends? That is what I do here.
*straightens crossing guard vest* Well, that and a little bit more.
TLDR. I'll sum it up-
"I'm sorry and you're right. Stating that anyone who cares about stats is playing the RPG version of Halo 3 is just ignorance. I don't know why I wrote that. Again, I apologize. Bungie made a FPS and Bungie put the stats in. Obviously, they intended for them to work. I don't know what I was posting about...honestly, no clue...so again, excuse me."
I'm sure that's what it said pretty much anyway. Anything else, and I don't want to see the rhetoric anyway...