So evidently I was fired for...

[Zrcalo]

Saying this:

"I dont really see a point in this new rule other than to encourage forum moderators to lock threads they dont like, or feel they dont like.

To me, it sounds like a loophole for draconian behaviour.

So, instead of letting a thread naturally progress and then people move on to another thread, you're going to lock the thread then give everyone a warning before shooing them out and threatening them.

It's completely unnecessary.

If anything, we NEED a chat thread. or Forum or SOMETHING so people can *start* to talk to each other. What you're doing is stifling the newer members and punishing them with isolation."

And my honest question to all of you is, did I cross the line? Did I sound really harsh? Because I've gotten some nasty accusations from this statement, when all I really meant to mean was "This rule is so vague it could be abused."

Discuss.
Some feedback would be nice to hear.

I was extremely sad when I got dismissed. As the position was volunteer and I put a LOT of work into some things that I never got to finish.

I talked to a local artist council about it and they thought it was immensely unreasonable, but I'd really like to see other peoples' opinions on the matter.

[XD001Pika]

Yeah that's pretty darn pathetic really. You guys deserve the chat thread to talk about things. If the rule really encourages mods to be bias then something is really messed up with the rule and should be scrapped.

You did not cross for saying what you thought. They crossed the line for dismissing you over an opinion. If they are that bias you should at tell some stronger authority or petition the site/admin over this.

Trust me on this. It's like the same pain of a mod telling you out because of a opinion, when they themselves were screwing their own rules.

[zikul]

That's... what you got fired for saying...? Wow. What you're saying and how you're phrasing it is TAME compared to some staff arguments I've experienced in the past (granted not on a pet sim site and not on a site with thousands of members, but still).

Not sure if it's all that wise to leak this info if you ever want to regain the position on that site but... This seems very fishy to me. Because if that's the reason, then firing you over it only makes it seem like you were very close to the truth of why that rule (not sure which one since I'm not much on wajas anymore) was being made.

[ThunderFox]

It is unfair Zee, but from what i've experienced with many sites is that topics must be specific, if wajas had a shoutbox like on this forum then obviously the rule wouldn't be applicable.

*shrugs*

But i've also noticed that a lot of people can be snarky for the sake of them having 'power' over others. I don't care much for appointed authority on sites as it's bound to cause problems one way or another, i generally keep a low profile but by no means am i a 'yes ma'am, no ma'am, three bags full ma'am' person, you were right to question the rule as i'm sure everyone else has done, including myself... there's nothing wrong with a random chat thread as it helps bond a community.

Anyway Zee, their loss at the end of the day...

*raises pint* ... onwards and upwards, eh?

[marionette]

Wut. Seriously. That's it? To be honest, I hate the way they've decided to ban any kind of threads that including people just chatting.
Sure, arguments sometimes crop up in them which gives the mods more work (that's the reason they were banned, isn't it?) but they are also the place that people, you know, actually make friends. It's hard to befriend anybody if you're never allowed to go at all off-topic in any thread.
I used to love talking to people within give away and contest threads. In fact, most of my happiest memories from Wajas is of doing so; they gave me the opportunity to talk to so many wonderful and awesome people I would never would have dared trying to befriend by annoying them with PMs, which is now the only way you are allowed to just talk to one another.
It's stifling, annoying, counter-productive and seriously not something you deserve to get fired for just disagreeing with. Especially since you were an artist, not an actual modly mod, so whether or not you agreed with the new rules had no effect on how well you would perform in your job.
I'm pretty pissed off right now.

[comet]

I agree. To me, you look like you're being completely honest in a way that benefits the site. lol That's not mean at all and I agree with Pika that they're pathetic for firing you. I can definitely see some serious abuse in that rule- definitely not joining that site. lol

[Deleted]

That is the very reason? Seriously? A lot of members are against that rule as a whole and you are just simply trying to state your opinion. What is wrong with an opinion? Not to mention you were volunteer work, with no pay, who helped the site a lot. Not to mention you were an artist and not a mod, I mean you are not reinforcing it is like a member who just turns in their art, nothing more.

Actually, I always found your presence and art refreshing. Why fire you for stating what every other member is stating? By firing you over this, in some way you are being placed below a fellow member.


Also, I have been able to get around that rule a bit, but I still find it a tad saddening and fishy.

Question is wajas even big enough to start arguments and disagreements? It seems to me every-time there is off topic it was to get to know people, never starting fights. Granted there was on member who always posted "hi" and nothing else, but to close a whole thread for some members?

Umm and you sounded like you were being just calm and honest, a few member are being more rude and upset than you are.

[Zrcalo]

That was one of the biggest issues working with them.
I'm not a mod. I never applied to be a mod, and I never wanted to be a mod. Yet, I was held up to the same standard as a mod, but I had absolutely no authority. And I never thought about it, but I /was/ treated lower than a user. A user can at least question the staff decisions and speak their opinions. I never got that luxury. I was informed that I *could* on the shared mod/artist hidden board AFTER I was no longer on staff. And even then, I'm afraid if I shared any of my opinions, it would leave the mods bitter and quick to bite me anyway. There are some people who just cant handle feedback without biting, and I'm afraid I was dealing with those people.

It would have been different if I actually *was* a mod on that site. But after all the drama around that I didnt want to touch it with a ten foot pole.

I also got into an argument four years ago with someone (whom I'm actually good friends with now. ha!) about fish and requested to be forum banned for a month. (I was homeless at the time, depressed, and getting away from abusive parents) Then a few years after that incident, it was brought up on an offsite forum and they got together to write complaints and try to de-feather me over the incident two years prior. I joined the forum and literally made friends with mostly everyone on there. Everyone who was calling for my head on a platter. Unfortunately, several of those people who were attacking me originally from years ago have since become mods.

So I have a feeling that it's personal.
But I just REALLY do not want to volunteer my time and effort for people who hate me anyway. It's sad the users have to suffer for that.

A funny thing is, they treated it like they were taking a privilege away from me. Working for free as a site artist is not a privilege at all. Its a thing you do to help your community. You do it because you're needed and things need to be made for other people.

[Cueball]

If anything, thats one of the 'tamer' things that you've said on Wajas. Maybe they were just looking for a reason to demote you? Even though you weren't a mod. The whole 'RANDOM CHATTER IS A NO' thing rubs me the wrong way. We -need- Wajas to sometimes be a random, no topic kind of place. There needs to be random discussions going on. How else are we going to know each other?

I don't think everyone on Wajas hates you. While at first I did find you a bit odd, you've actually grown to be a good friend to me, like a few others from Wajas. I love talking to you, and I love how while there wasn't much going on, you were one of the ones that were active and doing stuff. Now what are we going to see of the world you pretty much made? Are other artists going to actually listen to items that the players want?

The post in question is in a very public place on Wajas where anyone could see. This is an over reaction on the matter. Its wrong to punish someone over having a differing opinion, especially just... Something like that. Nowhere were you rude, nowhere were you being out of line, you were just stating a very valid opinion. I don't agree with this at all.

[Zrcalo]

Yeah, I think they were just looking for a way to demote me. Heck even if they said to me
"you know.. we have a bunch of other artists right now... and you have a pretty spotty history... we'll let you finish these few things, then give you a break."

That would have been MORE than fine. I probably would have whined a little, but a break would be nice and if they didnt need me, heck they didnt need me.

But immediate dismissal over /that/? no. This does not sit well with me.

Yeah, I dont think any users hate me on wajas at all... but I definitely believe I was not liked at all by some of the mod staff. After a VERY accusatory message on an offsite forum.

I WILL not name the people I had issues with. As, I *myself* have said things I later regretted. And we're only human. We have our likes and dislikes, and we say dumb things. We should never try to be perfect, as perfection is never attainable. But the situation as a whole? And the way I was treated? Jesus christ lord almighty.