Just like everyone else who has responded to your post, I too agree with everything you've stated in your original post. It was wonderfully written. One of the few, good objective standpoints of how to look at this entire ordeal that I've seen as of yet.
You are, and everyone else who has posted is correct when they say change is difficult. It can be upsetting to some and in some cases, cause uproar/riot-like situations, like the ones we recently had, especially for those who've become comfortable and set in their ways and see no reason to change. At the same time though, change is good. It allows all those directly involved and those who may become involved sometime down the road, to add another tool to their toolkit bag for overcoming challenges in the future. It opens doors as change provides people the opportunity to better understand and acquaint themselves with what it truly means to "adapt and overcome," as change essentially forces them to. It makes people ask, "I can't go back, so how do I go forward while at the same time, not repeating the past?" It makes us take a 360-degree look and consider other options when we may have only dared consider the 180-degree aspect of something before.
Everyone's correct when they keep repeating the phrase that nothing is going to remain the same; something's going to happen, be it now, a week from today or years down the road. It's true that all we can do is prepare ourselves, setting percussions and individualized instructions for ourselves on what to do if x, y, and z happens, so that when the worst does occur, we have a secondary plan of action to turn to and place into motion to minimize the damage done to us or those we consider dear. Who knows, we could even potentially craft the third solution if there is any speculation (even the slightest) that the secondary fix may fall through. Now the secondary or third options may not fix or be the solution in the grand scheme of things but it extends the clock, adding time for others to collectively create what may be the appropriate fix. I agree with you when you mentioned this is essentially what Raz is doing. Creating that x, y, and z secondary and third option.
I must concede, when this entire system was put out about a week ago, I was rather upset. Not in the traditional sense that everyone else was. I was not upset at the "injustice" divided against the staff, nor the "unfairness" directed toward the community for "destroying" their access to new content, but because I allowed the banter to get the better of me. In the end, too, I ended up joining in, letting my new found ability to voice the years of pent-up frustration toward x, y, and z be my guide. I don't regret the decision looking back, as one should never regret anything they do, but I am disappointed in myself for just how quick I responded with my initial opinion. I took a bias stand instead of an objective.
You're right, we do need to be objective in this. Being bias will get us nowhere; choosing these so-called or self-proclaimed "sides," will lead us to nothing but a dead end. We can't ignore what's happened but we also can't get caught up in it. We must overcome it and find the appropriate solution that'll minimize the issues Feral-Heart was having before, be it on the staff/administrative level or member/community one. We must look at this challenge as "how can this issue better our community and if it doesn't, how can we change it to be what it is we're looking for?" without reverting to the "old ways" of how things are traditionally done.
Truthfully I too like this idea of an AI system that helps moderate the game. I too am all for the idea of removing moderator ability from the Feral-Heart game itself, restricting their power to solely the forum. It'll alleviate, if not at minimum, reduce the current "power-hungry" or "ill-trained" perspective a lot of the members the community have of the moderators. It could potentially eliminate the "favoritism" or "big-shot" issue that's been seen in the past (ie. the more you're known, the greater someone/moderators are willing to assist/help you in the issue you've brought to the table). In layman terms, it gives light to all the "little people" out there that have been overlooked because they simply aren't "active" on the forums, Deviant Art page, Discord server and so on so forth. Catch my drift?
Bottom line, I also agree. I'm excited and am looking forward to how this goes - to having Feral-Heart turn into a community lead group instead of a moderator/staff lead one. I believe someone mentioned it on another forum but it may pave the way for members without any "power" to have the opportunity to hold their own events (ie. dances, movie nights, raffles) and what else not, without the need to be "staff" to fuel people's interest of participating. Ya know?
Let me know what you think. I look forward to reading responses to this post.
Very Respectfully,
Angarika/Blakyhart
