Here's my take on 'what we learned', abriged from a PM I sent to a concerned member:
What we have all witnessed is, in essence, a "worst case scenario" simulation - a role play, of sorts, assessing the impact and repercussions of what would happen if a serious breach of rules took place.
Here's how it all developed:
Every year, the staff do something unusual for April Fool's Day. This year, we were trying to come up with something original, something creative. The idea of "Kishi getting banned for posting porn" came to mind immediately, but the problem was how to make it look real, not just a blatant gag that everyone would see through.
At this time, there was considerable controversy concerning EoFF's swear filter, with staff and regulars on both sides of the (sometimes heated) debate in Feedback. This gave us an idea: what if the staff become seriously split over a big issue of some sort? A fundamental divide, something so bad that half of us would quit? From then on, we orchestrated a timetable and basic 'plot synopsis' for how things would develop, including who would side against whom, and what kind of issues would polarise us. My 'Serious or Silly?' thread in Feedback was one manifestation of that.
However, through all of this, it was decided that each Staffer would remain true to their own personality and opinions. Whenever we said we supported or opposed something, that was usually all true; the only 'acting' was in the degree of response we each showed. Deliberately taking things to extremes and getting angered by fairly trivial differences of opinion. This was all intended to create a 'factual matrix' to support - and conceal - Kishi being banned. All staff arguments and resignations are a part of the simulation, as is the removal of Feedback.
However, this is not merely an April Fool's joke; it is also a serious investigation into what makes a forum function, what members expect and require from their staff and vice versa. Powerful lessons have been learned; the value of professionalism and a healthy balance of seriousness and levity have been given much exposure. Noble concepts such as Del Snizz's "The Community of EoFF" and the proposed Constitution have given everyone plenty to think about. Staff decisions on matters of discipline and rule enforcement will forever be improved as as result of the intense response to recent staged events.
You gotta admit... we played it pretty well, I think. I often disagree with ShlupQuack, but we get along nicely - even more, recently. The recent scandals have simply been a result of us 'hamming up' our own opinions, pretending to refuse to co-operate or compromise. All was rigged so that EoFF's members would witness an apparent bust-up among the staff. However, as it transpired, the plot went from a mere April Fool's joke into a powerful learning experience.
04-03-2005, 12:05 AM
