Another Founder, long time and current player of the game, and fan of Battletech/Mechwarrior chiming in here.
This thread started with a most alarming statement from you Niko:
Quote
You may have heard the amusing news ...
I don't post much, but I have kept up on the forums since beta. I really don't mean to pile on with a cliche, but it is very true in this case. You do reap what you sow. And the unfortunate fact for Niko and current mods, is that certainly a majority of the ill will of this game's fans is because there is a history of a lack of communication or even simple acknowledgement of concerns by the developers. Since beta, there has been a practice of asking for feedback and then not being very forthright with reasoning for not listening to well constructed and thought out criticisms, and there has been a general feeling of not being listened to as a customer base that is interested in seeing a beloved franchise and a game succeed. And when this happens, criticism will rightfully follow. Any business needs to listen to that feedback and react. How you react shapes further feedback. If you do not like your product or processes being legitimately criticized, then make changes. I'd like to say, at least pertaining to the game, that in listening to the Town Hall by Russ, there is a movement to follow up on a better year of action (relative to previous years) and improve. I look forward to it. However, just because it may be an upswing, it does not excuse it from further criticism.
And that is the crux of this issue in how criticism was handled. Aside from agreement that personal attacks and threats are uncalled for and grounds for losing your place in a discussion, the methods and practices of 'controlling the message' were ill conceived. And using a 3rd party site (over your own website and forums) as a discussion tool may be the thing to do in this connected age (regardless of how this appears to fans that look to your official site first), but if you do so, you fall under the rules and moderation policies of that site.
The fact that you found or termed the news "amusing" is alarming. I appreciate the difficulty of a moderator's job. However the actions taken recently in moderation on this site, and on 3rd party sites steps beyond the bounds of propriety and good practices. It is in no way 'amusing' to me. And attempting to circumvent policies for commercial practice on a site with specific policies against that engenders no sympathy from me. If it were my place, I'd recommend no restoration of privileges whatsoever.
I enjoy playing this game. I do not like all aspects of this game, but I can have fun playing, thus I continue to do so. I feel that many people here have made excellent posts appropriately criticizing and offering feedback on many of the issues. Such that I never really felt I needed to add that much. I agree some people crossed the line here. I believe that the situations could have been handled better.
I add my post in support of my fellow mech warriors and hopes of a better policy going forward.
Edited by Gravitas, 11 September 2014 - 07:00 AM.