@Meg I appreciate you including me in this discussion and probing me for meaningful response.

I’m not willing to provide who I am on the game as it stands to reason I will gain no benefit from my comments. I’m not vigorously defending the alleged actions of those mentioned, only saying that I have not seen it from my perspective, which is strongly opposed here, but heard at least, and I appreciate the opportunity to say so.

I will comment that I interact often with those accused, but only in that they provide content or direction of many of stories players can participate in. My own personal situation has left me incapable of participating lately, though. I recently experienced the loss of someone very dear to me, and grief has certainly weighed upon my conscience as of late.

I suppose my own motivation in posting here, after I saw it, was to convey that the story/game is not bad. I can count many wonderful experiences I’ve had there, and genuine good people I’ve met. I just want more positivity in the world, and in place of lamenting a problem, finding more meaningful solutions. I saw where people were saying that they were going to leave, and I just felt responsible for the game because I play there, and in essence, it’s a reflection of me as a person, too. Or so it may be perceived. My nature is to be a fixer, but in this particular scenario, I have no power to fix things and make it function better.

I appreciate the candid responses, and the opportunity to provide a puzzle for the would-be predators to identify who I might or might not be. It’s interesting to see a community that lifts up victims of alleged transgressions, then go on a witch hunt in an attempt to identify any of those who would disagree with the narrative and go against the grain.

Oh, it’s because they get stuff from the admins.
Oh, it’s because they stand to benefit from receiving fake currency.
Oh, it’s because they get political capital in a game.
Oh, it’s because they stand to benefit from the friendship of a person they’re never likely to meet.

@IoleRae Thank you for providing this. I’ll give it a read, and I appreciate the summary you provided as well.

@Meg I appreciate you including me in this discussion and probing me for meaningful response.

I’m not willing to provide who I am on the game as it stands to reason I will gain no benefit from my comments. I’m not vigorously defending the alleged actions of those mentioned, only saying that I have not seen it from my perspective, which is strongly opposed here, but heard at least, and I appreciate the opportunity to say so.

I will comment that I interact often with those accused, but only in that they provide content or direction of many of stories players can participate in. My own personal situation has left me incapable of participating lately, though. I recently experienced the loss of someone very dear to me, and grief has certainly weighed upon my conscience as of late.

I suppose my own motivation in posting here, after I saw it, was to convey that the story/game is not bad. I can count many wonderful experiences I’ve had there, and genuine good people I’ve met. I just want more positivity in the world, and in place of lamenting a problem, finding more meaningful solutions. I saw where people were saying that they were going to leave, and I just felt responsible for the game because I play there, and in essence, it’s a reflection of me as a person, too. Or so it may be perceived. My nature is to be a fixer, but in this particular scenario, I have no power to fix things and make it function better.

@IoleRae Is that a book or an article? I’d love to read it, regardless.

@GoodInnit Thank you for this comment.

My question is this. Was it really a promotion? People who serve on staff are subjected to a lot of abuse by players who don’t get their way. Passive aggressiveness, hatefulness, bitterness, etc. I’m not shielding the action of those named, but my perspective of staff being a promotion is slightly different. I think there’s more liberty in being able to just show up, rp, and have a good time.

@Meg That’s totally fair. I acknowledge people are incorporating their own experiences in this. My experience just differs, and I appreciate that there might be a side of it I haven’t witnessed. My own testimony is that it’s not something I’ve seen in the game regarding those named.

@Meg I think it’s a good point you’re making, but the other side is I can’t provide you proof that this is the case. I’m not implying anything about anyone by asking this, but what if the possibility exists that none of this is true? As an innocent bystander playing in the game under the purview of these people, I can’t make an informed decision without a measure of risk of it being true or false.

@Meg But on the other side of the coin, it’s not the game that’s the problem. It’s people. Some people take issue with those named, others take issue with other players (like I had), and if everyone was just cast out, no one would rp anywhere! I’m sorry that others have had a negative experience there, I do think there’s an opportunity for growth, and I hope that through meaningful conversation, that happens.

@mietze I think this is really well written and conveys some of my own experience regarding things in other games. I won’t detract from the point of this discussion to elaborate, but to your point I’ve been where you are, too

Regarding the two named in this discussion however, from my own experience, I’ve not seen this behavior. I think admin have a tendency to come across aloof sometimes, but I also don’t know what bigger picture they’re seeing, either. Or agenda, etc.

I came into the conversation here because no one spoke about what was good about AoA, as it all seemed oriented toward the bad. I agree my approach was was not the best, but who is perfect in our world. I don’t think AoA fosters this environment the others are referencing. I don’t think the staff are intentionally malicious either. That’s just my perspective. I think there are people who certainly abuse the system though, (not just in AoA, but wholly).

@Meg I appreciate your comment, thank you.