Well, here goes... Bias?

Well, then, here goes nothing.


I would like to note in advance... THIS IS NOT A COMPLAINING THREAD. I have no problems with the server and forums. The server seems lively, maybe not at the 2000 people it once had, but still fun to be on. The forums is welcoming, a better environment since the deletion of post count. All in all, things are going well.
Well... There is one thing.
Peoples, this isn't really a complaint, only an objection. And if you don't agree with me then oh well. I also want to note that although it may not seem like it, I have no problem with the people I'm describing. You'll see what I mean soon.
Anyway.
Over a week ago new helpers were chosen. And I was interested in what would happen, of course.
First, Lila. No surprise, I had no problem with her. I thought she would be a good helper and still do believe that she is one.
Next was Blue, who I didn't have as much of a problem with either. And according to a certain mod she's been doing an excellent job. Another good choice in that sense.
The next three choices kind of came as a shock and helped me to realize something.
Look, everyone has kind of learned by now how the helpers are chosen. It's not secret. The mods recommend people, then everyone votes. After the vote is done the owners might check up on people a bit and that's it.
Now, I have little problem with the owners. And honestly, the system isn't that bad. Except for one little thing... That the moderators are choosing their friends instead of people more suited to the position.
I'm not calling everyone here out. And honestly it's not the Helper's faults either, so Helpers, don't get mad at this. I'm not blaming you for anything.
Let's look at, I don't know, Cram. His application was... Okay? It wasn't as much in detail as many of the top applications are. It was... Meh. That's really it.
He's friends with like three of the moderators and it's also no secret about some of the people who got recommended.
Caity's application wasn't bad either. Yeah, might be a little young, but it's wasn't bad at all.
Yet why do I hear that at least two of the moderators are friends with her? And that I hear rumors from the other players that both of those mods recommended her. Honestly, the choice seems slightly one sided, no?
And now Zezze, someone who had a long application. Yeah, he's not that bad, but the application wasn't the best one there compared to others, either. Long, but aren't most like that? And like he has four friends who are mods, give or take. Can't you see where I'm coming from?
And suddenly he is accepted.
Guess what? I talk actively with the other members of the community. They all agree that this is a problem. They want to help end this. I mean, heck, I think Blue is a good helper, but I think there was bias in the decision of her as well. The only decision with no bias was Lila, who is only friends with one of the mods, really. She won it based on merit (and maybe Blue did too, but I can't confirm it).
Did anyone see Edge's application? It was honestly excellent. Or how about rockor's? It was great too. These applications were long and detailed, and from good members that I don't understand why they weren't selected too. Some of these people deserve it.
Well, yeah, you might be thinking "well the mods don't know too many people and they can only judge from people they know" and that's not true.
It is my belief and the belief of much of the community (including some of the staff as well) that the moderator decision process is biased.
So how about this for a modest proposal. Because it is only fair.
I feel that either the moderators should start making wholly unbiased choices and only choose for the server's sake and the server's sake alone... Or should just leave the decision to Jerry and Harry, like with what happened with helpers a year ago.
If I am wrong, which I do not believe to be the case, but nevertheless if I am, then enlighten me on how so.
This is only my (and the community's) opinion. Please don't get offended.
Thank you

 

I don't mean to be rude to Caity, but the fact that she is dating one of the current moderators definitely gave her a leg-up in the competition.

 

Question: what's bias?

 

Time to possibly offend like 50 different people at once.
I've made some decisions, and a bunch of people know who I think should be promoted for truly doing... things... that make them deserve moderator. Here are the 5 people who deserve it most out of all the people. If you're not on the list, it doesn't mean you're not worthy, these 5 are just the ones who deserve it the most.
In no particular order, here we go. If you want specification, I can give you specification. #specification

1. Yomc
2. rockor1757
3. PresidentBacon
4. Boozington
5. athenswill
6. me

 

Bias is when someone either dislikes or likes someone and gives them an edge over others due to a reason that doesn't have to do with the thing being judged.
Like for example, a helper being promoted just because they are a mod's friend.

 

Okay, thanks for explaining that.. Word? :P

 

Bias is something that is impossible to avoid fully. Even if you deny it, it's a subconscious instinct to hold someone you like over someone you like less. But that's not what I feel is the problem.


I think the staff selection system is slightly... confusing.

If you look at it, answer me this.

Does your application really matter? I mean, look at Edge's staff application.
http://itsjerryandharry.com/index.php?threads/guess-ill-give-it-a-try.10231/#post-98827

That application was truly excellent. But did he get selected?

I'm not saying the way it works at the moment is bad, but it's not exactly what was said to the public.

Many of the appliers believed that staff were picked solely from their applications. How were they supposed to know?

Top that off with a little favoritism here and there, I feel like there should be a little change.


But that's only how I feel.

 

Sorry, but I couldn't agree more with that.

Anyway, this whole thread makes a great point. I think it would be better to do it like they did in the old forums' first moments.

 

Why am I on this list ._.

 

@Cole
I am extremely offended by that. First of all, owners are not that stupid to promote somebody just because of dating. They couldn't give two craps about it. Second, it makes me feel like I don't deserve it because everybody says I only got it because of Dylan. News flash, no I did not!
@WikiRigbyDude
Thanks for having faith. -.-

First of all, it's your attitude folks. Joey, you hate on almost every single helper there is. Why? You think they don't deserve it? Keep it to your god dang self.
Being friends with staff gets you barely any advantage. It's not because they like you, it's because they know you better and can see what you are really capable of.

 

Well sorry as I said I did not mean to offend. I did not say you only got it because of him. I said it was a helping factor. Like you said,

And by dating someone rather than talking occasionally as friends, they know you more :)

 

Exactly. They know you better.
But what if there were good candidates that we didn't know?
Friends of staff get recommended, and their apps will be seen. Those who are not, do not get their applications seen.

In the end, those who are not friends of staff had no chance to begin with, like myself.

 

They read them all, they saw your attitude. You guys are treating it like theres nobody else getting accepted.

You all are just friends, who think eachother deserved it. Sure, hate me for it I really don't care.

 

Adding onto what Caity said, say a staff member knows you, and they think you are a nice person, that doesn't mean you are really fit for the task of being a helper. Also, you could be able to go above and beyond in applications and helping people on the server like they do. And who says there aren't going to be more Helpers in the future? I mean, they just added Zezze a few days ago, which is a week after the first ones were accepted. Always look to the bright side to things! And Caity, I highly doubt you were accepted because of your relationship. You application was amazing and you totally deserve it! Don't doubt yourselves guys ^.^

And rokor, I personally don't know many Mods very well at the moment, but I really don't think that that makes any difference in whether you will become a Helper or not. Have faith in yourself :D

 

Greater relationships with already existing staff may increase your chance of being picked, but not to the point where the pick you solely because you're pals. They are your friend, they know about you, have seen you interact with others in-game, and know exactly whether you can handle it or not based on those things. If you don't have any staff friends, take the time to get some, friends are awesome! All the Owners, Co-Owners, Admins, Mods, Helpers, and any other staff are super nice and super qualified for the job. That's why they got picked in the first place!

 

For one thing, I don't hate on every single helper there is.
I've talked with Lila about this, and I've learned that she deserves it more than I thought.
I commented on Zezze's profile saying that out of the 5, he deserved it the most.

Being friends with staff gets you a whole load of an advantage, you are just denying it because you want yourself to seem better. Lila said herself that you think you're better than all of us because you're "DWG's girlfriend" and a "helper."

All of the helpers, with the exception of 2, were COMPLETELY, ENTIRELY promoted because they were friends with mods. If they didn't know you, they wouldn't know anything about you. If you're friends with a mod, they're going to have bias with you.

I'm going to slap you in the face with reality here, you were promoted because of DWG...

 

I think this is one of the only topics I am nuetral on. Yes, Yomc and the rest make some excelling points on Favoritism, white Caity said one thing, and I fully understood:

Is it just me, or do you guys see J&H's true potential. Caity is right, they aren't idiots. Infact, the complete opposite! J&H have successfully marketed their server and helped it Thrive. They know their stuff on coding marketing, and Character Analysis, which is what this thread is questioning.

While it may have seemed I am siding with Caity, I can assure, I am staying neutral.

 

We have recommended some of the players you have mentioned. J&H gave us a final poll on who would make it and not all the players mentioned here were on it. We did our job and recommended some of you guys. It was J&H's final decision on who got Helper, not us

Edit:

Some other staff recommended DWG. Just because Caity and DWG are dating doesn't mean she instantly got promoted just from him.

 

Exactly! I couldn't have said it better myself! I was thinking the same thing! Say you know someone famous in real life, that doesn't mean your friendship with them will make you famous too. But also, staff are extremely nice people but, I mean, you don't have to be friends with them. In a way, you are saying that they are a different type of friend,

What first comes to mind when I think of this, is a different type of friend. I mean, don't get me wrong the staff team rocks but what I'm trying to say is, you don't always have to focus on the people that are well known around the server, focus on people you think are great people, which many, if not all, of the staff are! This was just the message I got out of that one section of the post, otherwise, I totally agree with you! :D

I'm sorry, but this isn't true. She got promoted because she deserved it. And please don't say that it was because of DWG again, because it wasn't. The thing is, you may not know her well, but I do. She got this because she is an awesome person and please, please stop telling her it was because of DWG. It wasn't. It was because she is a very nice person that cares about the success of the server.

 

@perc: Yes, but do they know the community?
Look, with all due respect to Jerry and Harry they are not on the forums all that much (understandably so). Why would they disagree with the recommendation of a moderator? They do not know they people as well themselves. They have no choice but to trust the moderators in that sense.
@Caity: Your last post proved that favoritism occurs. People go for their friends.
Look, we are not hating on you at all (at least, I'm not). None of the situation is your fault. Yet the fact is that being friends with staff can give you an advantage.
I know you've seen the recommendation page, or at least have heard about. So have I. Can you not deny that nearly all the people the mods mentioned are their friends?
Sure, a few here and there, but overall I feel that the evidence speaks for itself.

Look, I am not denying that some of the helpers are good. It is my belief that one of the current helpers is exceptional and another is pretty good. So yes, favoritism isn't bad when it chooses good people.
Some of the people chosen could have been better choices, which proves that favoritism is reigning over logical decisions.
@homie: The point is that the people would not have been on that poll had it not been for the recommendations. And they wouldn't have been voted for... had it not been for favoritism.
I agree that J+H have the final decision, but wasn't it the mods that gave them the biased choices?