Novice Network Woes

[mazetic]

I tried to make a post here, but apparently I've gone way over the character limit. I've instead posted it on the Lodestone blog system for anyone who would like to read it in its entirety. However I will leave a shorter summarized post here as well.

On my server, we have a severely abusive mentor who seems to get away with everything they do. It's quite upsetting as someone who has experienced threats from this person firsthand and seemingly had them dismissed by the GMs. Not to say they did outright dismiss my concerns, as I understand what they can do is limited.
It's frustrating that we can't do anything to keep this person at bay and that they still get to do as they please with what seems to be no consequences at all.

If you read my blog post, I greatly appreciate it. If anyone has a similar experience to share, I would appreciate hearing about your experiences as well.

Thank you.

[Jetstream_Fox]

It's funny, we just had a forum on how the Network should be monitored, basically half the players who visit the website believe the Network should be grounds for players to discuss what they want how they want, in hopes of establishing friendships, and the other half believed the Network should be used for training purposes only and be monitored by mentors to ensure a comfortable learning environment.

Even in that forum the OP contacted a GM and got a half thought out reply, that the Network is like every other channel. Which we know it isn't due to the restrictions to join the channel as a mentor.

Yet here we are, the similarities between your post and the old one are one in the same, and people still don't have any idea on what constitutes as acceptable communication in the Network.

[mazetic]

That's rather disheartening. I'd hope that if this sort of issue was brought up, they could give a more solid, definitive response. Clearly Novice Network isn't just a linkshell or something. There should be more solid rules for it than that.

Thank you for your response. I appreciate it a lot.

[Kosmos992k]

It's funny, we just had a forum on how the Network should be monitored, basically half the players who visit the website believe the Network should be grounds for players to discuss what they want how they want, in hopes of establishing friendships, and the other half believed the Network should be used for training purposes only and be monitored by mentors to ensure a comfortable learning environment.

Even in that forum the OP contacted a GM and got a half thought out reply, that the Network is like every other channel. Which we know it isn't due to the restrictions to join the channel as a mentor.

Yet here we are, the similarities between your post and the old one are one in the same, and people still don't have any idea on what constitutes as acceptable communication in the Network.

Indeed. Unfortunately, many people in the world, and by extension our community, have no idea how to be respectful, civil or mature. It's become painfully obvious that to some people the word 'mature' means you get to swear, indulge in so called 'locker room' talk, and all manner of borderline aggressive and abusive speech. Ironically of course, that is immature.

It's extremely disappointing to me that SE set up the Novice Network with great ideals in place, and put rules and guidelines down, yet will not - apparently - do anything to enforce them.


Personally, I think that people should start reporting abusive mentors for their rude and insulting conduct, and or harassment of any kind. Mentors who abuse or harass others should be permanently striped of their 'title' and have any thing that came through that status revoked. Some might call that draconian, but if SE wants to send a message to ensure better self mod\eration of the Novice Network, that's what needs to happen - IMHO.

Jet nailed it.

Basically, SE doesn't know what they want out of it. They tell us expectations, but GMs say those don't apply as it is a general chat. Mentors also aren't really punished for being jerks.

I personally avoid the NN for these very reasons.

In my FC, we apply the very simple "don't be a jerk" rule, and if someone is a jerk, they get warned and asked to clean up their act. If they ignore warnings, they get booted. Fortunately, we have not had to do that in two years, and I hope that we never have to again. If people cannot obey the simple principle of "don't be a jerk", then they should bear the consequences of their behavior.

[Windseraph]

This is unfortunate, I'd say your best bet is to simply blacklist them and hope others do the same if they find them unbearable /shrug

Oh and you can bypass the character limit by editing your original post, yeah it's dumb xD

[mazetic]

I've considered it. But I'm unsure if that would keep them from kicking me from Novice Network whenever they so please. I've apparently upset them quite greatly and I'm "on their list."

Also, that is quite a strange caveat. I'll keep that in mind if I make a long post in the future. Thank you.

[Frowny]

Jet nailed it.

Basically, SE doesn't know what they want out of it. They tell us expectations, but GMs say those don't apply as it is a general chat. Mentors also aren't really punished for being jerks.

I personally avoid the NN for these very reasons.

[Chocolys]

I believe the topic Jetstream_Fox mentioned is this one: Official Response Requested Regarding Allowed Topics in Novice Network (and I'm not gonna repeat what I already said there)

Tip: You can use more than 1000 characterd per message on the forum, you just need to post something short and then edit it with your 1000+ characters.

[Bourne_Endeavor]

As someone who did support the network potential of NN. There is no excuse for someone being willful abrasive and antagonistic. The primary purpose of the NN is to help new players. I may still feel it can also benefit them to make friends and have that casual aspect, it shouldn't come at the cost of helping them improve at the game itself. Sadly, Jet and Frowny summed it up. Square really has no idea what they actually want out of the NN and just assume it'll function the same as it does in Japan.

[mazetic]

I have read through the post linked, and while I found it an interesting read, it is not quite what I'm talking about here. We're not having an issue with casual discussions, and no one's being offended and rebuffed or anything. A single individual is, in their own words, attempting to "tame" the mentors of my server's novice network because they feel they're being mistreated. Despite numerous reports of their abusive language toward others and threats toward dissenters of their opinions (including kicking people for disagreeing with a comment they made), they're being enabled repeatedly by GMs and being allowed to run rampant making NN a veritable snakepit when they're around.