So, I feel the need to write again, and I suppose I want folks to see more of my thought processes. I don't like being that intimidating presence that people fear for no reason, so random rambles to see some of the things in my head seems like a good idea.
I'll leave you to decide what connection these ramblings have. Perhaps they have no connection. We'll see.
I'll begin with a story. This is a cautionary tale that I've told others in the GM team in the past, but I think it serves as a commentary overall on what can happen to folks who take such a position if they're not ready for it.
There once was a GM on the server. One of the originals, in fact. She was one of the sweetest folks you'd ever meet, nice to everyone and always helpful to folks coming onto the server. When we first promoted her, Kretol and I both counted her as one of our closest friends on the server. She was promoted without question, and for a while did a lot of good things with her position.
However, as time went on, she became more strained by the job. She became cynical. She pointed everyone to read and do their own work on finding things out about the server rather than help them herself, due to the constant repetition of certain questions. She became jaded, expecting the worst in folks. Over time, the position became too much for her. She eventually left CotH and the staff.
I haven't heard from her since.
People make mistakes. GMs have a stressful job just by having to deal with people. We're not trained customer service professionals, we're just folks volunteering to help a community we love. Sometimes dealing with people, both good and bad, on a more consistent basis will change someone's views and put more pressure on them. Everyone makes mistakes.
I don't pretend to be immune to this either.
Remember server clean-ups? Some of you might. "These people are obvious trouble-makers. They need to go."
Thinking back on it, I think it was a mistake.
Apparently some folks are harboring rumors that this is going to happen again. I can't fathom why such a rumor ever started, because we haven't done this in ages, nor was there any intention of doing them again. Sometimes it comes up from our older GMs who remember the "good old days" (Why, in my day, people RESPECTED the GMs! We don't have folks back-talking us and throwing snide comments all the time, because they knew better!) Such an idea has never gained any support, however.
It's funny how some rumors spread, seemingly just to create more drama.
We've been having drama a lot lately, haven't we? I look back on my previous blog posts and I have to frown at all the drama we've had. People can never agree. Folks with different opinions clash and you see folks at either their best or their worst.
Some of you I don't like. I don't expect this to be shocking, we all have folks that we don't really care for. I'm quite certain that there are some folks reading this that don't like me. Such is life.
Some of you surprised me, however. I saw someone who I had developed a negative opinion on show a surprising amount of maturity and respect when I wasn't expecting it.
Thank you.
It's staggering when I think about how the CotH of today is different from how it was two, three years ago. We've had some big changes, some positive and some negative.
Removal of prestiges? Yeah, I stand by that decision, though I admit I may have been hasty and done it too soon. Nonetheless, I think CotH is in an overall better place than it was in the past, with players able to do more now than they were in the past. Of course, some may disagree. It's all opinion.
I was in a rush, I think. A month seems like a long time to wait, until a year goes by and you wonder where all the time went.
I think that, overall, CotH is a much more relaxed place than it was in the past. The removal of vouches? Did quite a bit to lower the feelings of elitism that were running rampant, I feel.
Of course, I'd ask for opinions, but I'm afraid of another drama storm stirring. I'd like to have at least one positive thread on my blog.
Maybe I should post about puppies and rainbows one of these days.
It's funny thinking about it. I enjoyed Winter's Veil. I generally don't like Christmas due to feelings of loneliness and general resentment, but I did have fun giving gifts here.
It's the little things, eh?
I tend to be stand-offish while in the OOCC. That's not because I don't enjoy talking, I just don't enjoy getting crowded. It seems I can never find a happy medium there, either I'm just sitting by myself or everyone is surrounding me and poking me for things. I'm simply not used to large crowds. Or public speaking. It's funny to think about given that I'm an admin of the server. I have a story regarding literal shaking, head to toe, while giving a speech during my senior year of high school English.
Life seemed simpler then, thinking about it.
Some folks claim that I never RP. My answer is "who would I RP with?" It's funny, no one ever asks me in the OOCC if I want to RP with them.
I'm scary, I suppose.
I have no profound thoughts to end this. Just more rambling. Maybe this was a nice read. Maybe it was a waste of time. I dunno. I'm just writing.
Have fun, all. Try to keep the drama down for me, will you?
I'll leave you to decide what connection these ramblings have. Perhaps they have no connection. We'll see.
---
I'll begin with a story. This is a cautionary tale that I've told others in the GM team in the past, but I think it serves as a commentary overall on what can happen to folks who take such a position if they're not ready for it.
There once was a GM on the server. One of the originals, in fact. She was one of the sweetest folks you'd ever meet, nice to everyone and always helpful to folks coming onto the server. When we first promoted her, Kretol and I both counted her as one of our closest friends on the server. She was promoted without question, and for a while did a lot of good things with her position.
However, as time went on, she became more strained by the job. She became cynical. She pointed everyone to read and do their own work on finding things out about the server rather than help them herself, due to the constant repetition of certain questions. She became jaded, expecting the worst in folks. Over time, the position became too much for her. She eventually left CotH and the staff.
I haven't heard from her since.
People make mistakes. GMs have a stressful job just by having to deal with people. We're not trained customer service professionals, we're just folks volunteering to help a community we love. Sometimes dealing with people, both good and bad, on a more consistent basis will change someone's views and put more pressure on them. Everyone makes mistakes.
I don't pretend to be immune to this either.
---
Remember server clean-ups? Some of you might. "These people are obvious trouble-makers. They need to go."
Thinking back on it, I think it was a mistake.
Apparently some folks are harboring rumors that this is going to happen again. I can't fathom why such a rumor ever started, because we haven't done this in ages, nor was there any intention of doing them again. Sometimes it comes up from our older GMs who remember the "good old days" (Why, in my day, people RESPECTED the GMs! We don't have folks back-talking us and throwing snide comments all the time, because they knew better!) Such an idea has never gained any support, however.
It's funny how some rumors spread, seemingly just to create more drama.
---
We've been having drama a lot lately, haven't we? I look back on my previous blog posts and I have to frown at all the drama we've had. People can never agree. Folks with different opinions clash and you see folks at either their best or their worst.
Some of you I don't like. I don't expect this to be shocking, we all have folks that we don't really care for. I'm quite certain that there are some folks reading this that don't like me. Such is life.
Some of you surprised me, however. I saw someone who I had developed a negative opinion on show a surprising amount of maturity and respect when I wasn't expecting it.
Thank you.
---
It's staggering when I think about how the CotH of today is different from how it was two, three years ago. We've had some big changes, some positive and some negative.
Removal of prestiges? Yeah, I stand by that decision, though I admit I may have been hasty and done it too soon. Nonetheless, I think CotH is in an overall better place than it was in the past, with players able to do more now than they were in the past. Of course, some may disagree. It's all opinion.
I was in a rush, I think. A month seems like a long time to wait, until a year goes by and you wonder where all the time went.
I think that, overall, CotH is a much more relaxed place than it was in the past. The removal of vouches? Did quite a bit to lower the feelings of elitism that were running rampant, I feel.
Of course, I'd ask for opinions, but I'm afraid of another drama storm stirring. I'd like to have at least one positive thread on my blog.
Maybe I should post about puppies and rainbows one of these days.
---
It's funny thinking about it. I enjoyed Winter's Veil. I generally don't like Christmas due to feelings of loneliness and general resentment, but I did have fun giving gifts here.
It's the little things, eh?
I tend to be stand-offish while in the OOCC. That's not because I don't enjoy talking, I just don't enjoy getting crowded. It seems I can never find a happy medium there, either I'm just sitting by myself or everyone is surrounding me and poking me for things. I'm simply not used to large crowds. Or public speaking. It's funny to think about given that I'm an admin of the server. I have a story regarding literal shaking, head to toe, while giving a speech during my senior year of high school English.
Life seemed simpler then, thinking about it.
Some folks claim that I never RP. My answer is "who would I RP with?" It's funny, no one ever asks me in the OOCC if I want to RP with them.
I'm scary, I suppose.
---
I have no profound thoughts to end this. Just more rambling. Maybe this was a nice read. Maybe it was a waste of time. I dunno. I'm just writing.
Have fun, all. Try to keep the drama down for me, will you?
Have you hugged an orc today?
- I am not tech support. Please do not contact me regarding technical issues. -
- I am not tech support. Please do not contact me regarding technical issues. -