I think the issue is, in regard to this topic is that leaders of groups do not quite understand that the Staff take care of the public chats moreso Group chats. We watch over Local chat and make sure everyone is talking appropriately as well as respectfully and that the rules are obeyed and - if not - the rulebreakers have faced consequences to pursue a safe environment.
As leaders of groups, you are expected to take responsibility over how your group presents themselves to not only the FeralHeart community, but other members within your group, especially newbies. Hence groups usually having their own set of rules to go alongside the Official FeralHeart Game & Forum Rules.
Ideally, you as a Group Leader should be taking charge in how you deal with people who cuss and act inappropriately within Group chat, (or whichever other chat you use). If Staff join your roleplay group, they are not going to be the first person to take action if someone is not behaving themselves. You, as a Group Leader, should be dealing with this yourself. Which is why you are able to Kick members from your Group if you do not wish to have them there any longer.
^^^ I believe is where the concern comes from, anyway. People think Staff join Groups and then suddenly take over.
Now onto my main point.
Yes, I do believe Staff should be allowed to join roleplay groups.
Some, if not most, if not all, of us were big roleplayers back in the day. We still are, hence FHORD. For those of us who have been pushed away from joining Groups just because we have a title to our name and responsibilities in taking care of the game, we use this day to truly get our chance in roleplaying with everyone that we can. Some of the old staffers might be able to support this opinion of mine, as well as agree that it gives Staff a sense of freedom and more transparency between Staff and Community.
We have been trying to create as much transparency as possible and, being a part of Roleplay Groups help this. You know?
It gives the Community a chance to see the roleplaying, casual side of us, to know that we are not always big strict monsters who are watching your every move. We just want everyone to have fun, but we want to have fun with you guys too!
Roleplaying with Groups also gives us Staff some sense for future patch updates. Looking into and participating in the themed roleplays that aren't necessarily suitable for our current maps, gives us inspiration to make something that you guys could use without having to make your own map (unless that is truly what you'd like to do, we encourage this!).
So like, desert roleplays... we get so much inspiration from the roleplay itself that, we might decide to bring in a desert map in the future.
Panther roleplays... we might get some inspiration, decide to bring in a jungle map so you panther players can jump around on logs and hide in the isolated greenery.
Who knows?
Maybe a farm map might appear one day for all you horse roleplayers...
Which is why I believe it's good to have Staff roleplay with Groups.
It gives us something to explore and consider.
Not to mention, we just love roleplaying too!