Topic Rules (We want change)

Age : 32 Posts : 1912

So I have been punished for being in 4 topics, rather then 3, something that is entirely my fault, no argument there. Now, the punishment in itself is something I can live with, though it is also the reason why I am bringing this up.

The rules clearly state that 3 topics is the maximum allowed for one person to be in. However, no one is keeping in mind that on a site like this, people tend to go inactive or might just slack off on posting. Whether people have a legit reason to not be capable of posting or because they are just lazy and don't feel like it is not up to me, but the fact of the matter is, people still get fucked over.

I personally have been Inactive several times because people disappeared and left me locked in topics without anything I could do about it. Maybe it was because I did not want to bash them that I kept myself from bitching at the time, though I was still locked. 3 topics is generally more then enough, given that people are in fact active and post once every... 2 or 3 days. When people don't post for about a week, I get anxious and feel like I can't do anything, leading me to look for other places to write or to just stop writing all together and play games.

It is not always intentional, I understand that very well, and as the meme goes, "I ain't even mad", though I do decline on the notion of being locked for several days or weeks because someone can't find the time for you anymore. As such, I made the choice to start a 4th topic, a solo one that would allow me to keep myself from going inactive yet again. I was punished for it, even though I just wanted to be active so I in turn can keep other people active by RPing with them. It goes without saying that I am one of US's most active members, so listening to me and taking this into consideration, rather then saying you will to keep me quiet would be nice.

So please, can we change the rules so that we can maybe apply for another (4th) topic in the Request Area, given that we have a legit reason for it?

Age : 37 Posts : 2201

I agree with the above, as people have been going inactive and getting slow and such as it is and 4 topics aren't really that much of a change from 3 topics. It can matter a lot for a character growth to be able to be in at least 2 active topics if the others go inactive and it would be impossible to end them in a timely manner.

Age : 24 Posts : 1767

Whilst I see the reasoning for having a 3 topic limit, I do feel that if you're active enough to be able to post regularly in more than 3 topics at once then there should be no punishment, as long as you're not slowing down and it isn't affecting your posting. In fact, if you're able to do that, you should probably be rewarded rather than reprimanded (not that the quick points you gain aren't reward enough or anything). The idea of making exceptions to allow for increased, sustained activity from a member is probably something I'd suggest is worth considering.

Age : 32 Posts : 1912

I agree with both of you, because I actually felt like being punished for being active, and that is just the weirdest thing that ever happened to me on a Roleplaying site. You'd think people would want to promote the activity on their site, rather then bashing it. That said, I would really want to be able to be in more then 3 topics, especially when 3 of them don't move... at all x_x

Age : 28 Posts : 3145

The problem wasn't that you happened to be in 4 topics at once because someone was inactive. The problem was that you kept either joining or creating topics (missions count you know?) which made you go over the limit repeatedly, and, to make things worse, you had the audacity to roleplay in two countries at once (and are still doing so, since there is no travel topic in Hot Springs), whilst already breaking one rule quite frivolously.

Anyways, 4 topics per person is a change I could stand behind. Just stop victimising yourself and exaggerating. It makes people look at your ideas negatively from the start.

And before you start offending me or defending yourself, just stop. I'm in favour of your idea. I'm not in favour of how you went about introducing it or how you broke the two rules aforementioned.

Age : 32 Posts : 1912

Going to do it anyway, because I can.

______________________________

The punishment I received was for being in multiple topics, not because of the country thing, which was my mistake. I figured people could not be in two places at the same time, which according to the OOC and IC timeline, I wasnt. I was told that it was a general thing, rather then a timeline thing. That said, the punishment was handed out and won't be reversed. So, whether you want to stand behind it or not, you attacking me over something that can be handled in a private chat is what starts this in a topic that can go without personal beef. If you have something to say to me, be a man about it and keep it private, you have my Skype. If you looked closely, I was not the one to start any kind of victimizing, so look carefully at the above posts and see if you can find who did. So, next time, stating you agree or disagree will suffice, rather then bashing me and asking me not to retaliate. It's rather retarded and obviously won't work.

So, to get back to the topic,

______________________________

MsMoney, Winged Blade and I have had personal problems with the 3 topics rule, so whether another topic can be added, or if we need to request it somewhere, I would like it if people would take a look at this and make a decision as soon as possible. One Moderator is already in favor, so the more people we can get on board, the better.

Posts : 1729

My proposition:

Increase the topic limit to 4, with allowance for Admin approval to join/start other topics over the limit.

Solo-topics don't count towards the limit.

Topics that have gone in excess of 96 hours without a reply don't count towards the limit.

Players can only be in one battle topic at a time (Unless it's unavoidable that the other player would start a fight.)

Age : 32 Posts : 1912

BK-201 wrote:: My proposition:
Increase the topic limit to 4, with allowance for Admin approval to join/start other topics over the limit.

Solo-topics don't count towards the limit.

Topics that have gone in excess of 72 hours without a reply don't count towards the limit.

Players can only be in one battle topic at a time (Unless it's unavoidable that the other player would start a fight.)

^
So much this

Maybe the solo topics should still count towards the limit though, just for fairness sake. It can keep people from just spamming solo's.

Age : 30 Posts : 8965

Putting this topic on hold until I can post so it doesn't get out of hand.

Age : 30 Posts : 8965

Okay, so let me say that after reading the initial post I was ready to commend you for not whinging about your punishment but after two people had posted their opinions you dedicated your next post to how it was seemingly unfair to punish you 'for being active' I was ultimately disappointed. Chris did what I would have done had he not done so first and what I'd expect any staff member to do, which is defend the integrity of the staff team and the systems. When you publicize yourself like you do you have to expect publicized responses, it would have been silly for Chris to take it to private chat because it's not about a personal beef it's about defending the staffs decision-making. As noted, the biggest thing about your case was the fact that you were roleplaying in more topics than the limit permits as of right now in multiple countries, I believe without a travel topic. Not to mention the fact that you've been pulled up on exceeding the limit numerous times. You cannot say you accept a punishment when you continue to dispute it publicly. Just leave it be, don't make it worse for yourself.

Let me make something extremely to everybody who's posted above me. If a topic you're in goes inactive and you've already attempted to communicate with the participant(s) that are holding up your thread then you reserve the right to conclude the thread with an exit and still submit it for evaluation. Allowing you to create more topics on the basis that you aren't concluding your other threads isn't promoting site activity. So I reiterate, if your fellow thread participants aren't posting you're more than welcome to end the topic yourself.

In regards to the actual key rule being brought into question here, the topic limit. Change is something you shall receive, like Chris and the others who have posted in here thus far I am also for increasing the topic limit by one with admin permission. I'm fairly certain Cookie Monster also supports this notion, in fact I believe he was the one that brought it up in the Staff Lounge. The reason I locked this thread outside of the fact that it was about to start getting out of hand was to save people wasting their energy on making posts in here before I came in just to say that the staff are already looking into this topic and are looking to make regulations for the topic limit increase permissions in the near future.

Hope this was helpful, I'll be solving this within 48 hours.

Age : 29 Posts : 4301

Rule updated.

Solved.