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There has been quite a problem concerning how CRTs, beyond the very mainstream and chock-full of supporters, are devoid of staff evaluation, among many things. Vsbw users supporting verses that don’t meet these requirements are most likely stuck in bump limbo, no matter how many times they go to the walls of as many staff as possible. I’m one of those people who find this quite an issue, especially how staff handle situations like this (or in this case, the lack thereof), but keep silent about this. Not to say that it happens all the time, and I come across genuinely good staff members from time to time, but this problem rears its head more often than not. One can only endure this for so long before becoming frustrated over this lack of action. Thus, I’m breaking my silence to address this problem, because someone’s got to point it out. Do note that I’m talking about the average admins (so not the big shots like Antvasima) and thread moderators, but what I proposed can and likely should be applied to all staff under the super moderator rank. I don’t have problems with any specific staff members or the staff team in general, but there are issues in how they operate, so I’m just here to give my perspective as an average vsbw user.
The title feels like it’s generalising the problem at hand, which it is, because even some crts from mainstream verses fall into the cracks of obscurity. A Simpsons AP changing CRT took half a year to finish, and some Demon Slayer CRTs are untouched till a long while later, as an example. Niche verses have it worse, like how a fairy tail crt took 4 months to finish (though one staff came to look at it initially, but then it all went limbo from there). There’s a Tier 1 Battlecats CRT still ongoing. Not just any crt, A TIER 1 CRT. There’s even a straightforward crt that took a year to get a single admin to look into it, and it's still ongoing. Don’t get me started on how I had to wait for a week for one more staff to join to add the ability to be able to summon the motorcycle a certain character rides, in addition to the simple ass abilities said bike has.
Basically, the time the staff takes to do things fluctuates from one second to one year. This isn’t just exclusive to CRTs either. The VS Thread Removal Requests have been infamously unchecked by Staff since August 7. While there has been some staff activity again, there’s no denying that there was a big drought there when there shouldn’t have been in the first place.
The following crossed text are irrelevant to the problem at hand, since the staff have cleared this segment up. This is a mistake on my end due to my hubris.
Staff members are the ultimate driving force of the VS Battles site as a whole. They are the border gate that determines whether your crt can be applied to the wiki or not, among many things. While they do take moderation as a whole seriously, it’s inevitable that they’re going to miss out on a few cracks here and there, for different reasons. Such is the case here; if this border gate is closed for any reason, how can progress be made? CRTs are almost always required to add something new to the wiki (characters, powers, verses, etc.), and the average user can only wait till the gate opens in god knows when, which is very frustrating, especially if it’s short. A good example is the drought that happened on the VS Thread Removal Requests, which I’ve already mentioned. No staff to remove matches means no progress to be made on that front.
The real obstacle to the VSBW environment is not the rejection of staff, but the absence of their input. When CRTs receive zero staff engagement, the affected verse is placed in a state of "wholesale freezing". For niche verses, this results in years of stagnation for the supporters.
Staff members really love to flock to the crts of more popular verses, and to pretend that those of the lesser-known ones don’t exist. They’ll gladly check a small and straightforward crt without hesitation, but leave those of the opposite spectrum in the dust for one year. While I get the importance of dealing with crts of more popular verses, this doesn’t mean the staff can just forget ones from other less-known verses. This problem feels like a double standard on behalf of the staff. Here’s an example. Despite tier 1 crts being extremely important to the point of requiring more than the average amount of staff to evaluate, they just leave it to rust for a good amount of time because it comes from a verse that they don’t know, support, and/or even care for. Even if you’ve gotten the attention of the staff for a while, don’t expect them to stay and vote, since they will sometimes drop off the face of the thread and then reappear much later.
There are some staff who only evaluate verses they support, but conveniently ignore the rest of the bunch. There are also those that seem to be hardworking and contribute by evaluating most crts, but then they actually just do the same thing as the former. These kinds of staff don’t even try and attempt to touch even the smallest and most straightforward of crts with a 10-foot pole, which would have made things easier and faster for both the staff and the average vsbw member. This is sure to clog up the amount of CRTs that need to be evaluated, and leave backlogs, but they would probably just pass it over to another staff, like a game of hot potatoes.
I understand that the staff are unpaid and are just volunteering to work here, and that they shouldn’t be overtaxed with a mountain load of work; there’s a reason why it’s called volunteer work, and not volunteer activities. Being a staff member is still quite the responsibility since they hold the power over what goes on and not. Meaning, you can’t half-ass what your work brings, even if they seem small. This is like volunteering to clean up a beach, but flaking out of it at the last second. You also don’t take all the charity money to spend it on yourself instead of actually donating it to whatever charity group you’re supposed to donate to. Basically, there’s still some accountability to be had, especially when the staff are the ones that make vsbw go round. Obviously, you shouldn’t be forced to slave away at a hobby, but there’s no excuse for never touching a crt. Even evaluating small ass ones goes a long way.
Also, not just anyone can volunteer as a staff member easily, either. While complaints about low staff numbers and manpower are brought up a lot, trying to become part of the staff is like trying to get accepted into a secret society. “Volunteer Work” doesn’t cut it in this case.
There are staff members who are legitimately busy, so this is valid. However, this does not apply to staff who are constantly active yet still can’t find the time to deal with crts of this nature. Instead, I see some of them frequent discussion threads, among other non-work-related threads. Again, I would like to state that I don’t necessarily have problems with this, but if your active status is usually seen around them instead of doing actual work, then something is very wrong.
There’s bound to be crts about verses that staff aren’t knowledgeable about or don’t care for. Tough shit, someone has to do it, and if everyone is going to just play hot potato to feign ignorance, how’s progress ever going to be made? Your knowledge from your verses would help out in other verses. There’s even an appointment for thread mods and admins for this kind of thing:
If you’re just going to evaluate the corners of the verses you support, then why are you staff at all? This just feels like you being a glorified knowledgeable member rather than a fully-fledged staff. This may or may not be a problem if you have personal connections with the staff and can ring them up, but for the average vsbw member with no deep connections like this, fat chance they’ll be getting reasonable evaluation time. If these verses are ones that genuinely frustrate you or have personal hatred for, then it might be valid, but there should be someone else at the ready to deal with that verse, otherwise the round of hot potato continues on and on.
This also allows staff members to pick up on crts that they normally glance over, which allows niche verses (or other crts that don't get traction as a whole) the attention needed to be evaluated. Such a method can also aid in weeding out possible staff members with specific agendas to certain verses by preventing their focus from just being on those verses only. Situations like Wankbreaker can be prevented more easily. The prospect of staff being necessary for CRTs is implied to encourage the perspective of an outsider to the verse, yet more often than not, they're just comfortably evaluating their own verses. Not to say this is bad, but the VSB isn't just Jujutsu Kaisen, One Piece, or Marvel. This amount of focus and attention should be spread to other verses as well, within reason. FinePoint’s method of evaluation should be the norm, not the exception.
Also, since the staff members get pinged, don't even think about weaselling out and feigning ignorance of the pings. That just makes you look inconsiderate.
If you have reasons why you are unable to do staff duties, just have them be displayed on the wall. Basically, the staff should be more open about something like this, rather than being silent on their walls or some shit. If they really don't want to evaluate this, just say no, and maybe state your reasoning instead of leaving them on read. Silence is not golden in this scenario. If you are going to evaluate this but are genuinely busy, just say "I'll check this out, but I am busy, but will come by in 2 to 3 days" or something as an example. Do tell them to remind you in case you forget. This also applies to responding to pings, so please don't be silent. Say something.
It's a starting step to a solution that helps out the average vsbw user in some way while also allowing autonomy for the staff users, aiding in reducing headaches for both sides. Otherwise, bullshit like this will happen. You could’ve nipped this in the bud, but no. You had to let this shit continue on. Just say no, or state your reasoning, then if a member bugs you to no end afterwards, you get the obligation of sending them to RvR or something like that.
In conclusion, all this is just so that an average vsbw member is able to get the appropriate staff evaluation at the appropriate time, without needing to have the right connections and pulling strings like some politician. Again, I would like to state that this is by no means an attack on the staff AT ALL. They are unpaid, and yet are trying their best to do what they can with this site and the wiki as a whole. I’m just making this thread based on my experiences dealing with the staff members, and likely many others that had gone through the frustrations that could easily be fixed. This is only constructive criticism on my end.
However, if this does end in me getting any sort of warning or a ban, just know that I would rather put a target on my back and tarnish whatever bearings of reputation I may or may not have to criticise this aspect of the staff than to stay silent and keep being shafted like this. It just has to be called out.
There has been quite a problem concerning how CRTs, beyond the very mainstream and chock-full of supporters, are devoid of staff evaluation, among many things. Vsbw users supporting verses that don’t meet these requirements are most likely stuck in bump limbo, no matter how many times they go to the walls of as many staff as possible. I’m one of those people who find this quite an issue, especially how staff handle situations like this (or in this case, the lack thereof), but keep silent about this. Not to say that it happens all the time, and I come across genuinely good staff members from time to time, but this problem rears its head more often than not. One can only endure this for so long before becoming frustrated over this lack of action. Thus, I’m breaking my silence to address this problem, because someone’s got to point it out. Do note that I’m talking about the average admins (so not the big shots like Antvasima) and thread moderators, but what I proposed can and likely should be applied to all staff under the super moderator rank. I don’t have problems with any specific staff members or the staff team in general, but there are issues in how they operate, so I’m just here to give my perspective as an average vsbw user.
The Main Problem
- Lack of Staff Evaluation For Non-Popular Verses As A Whole
You’ve finished with your crt that needs to be passed. You worked hard here, making sure to add detailed scans and the appropriate feats, scalings, etc. You are hoping that you’ll get this new stuff into the VSBW soon, so that you can put it to use. And then you click post, and try to get attention by posting it in the content revision thread promotion thread and a few of the staff’s walls. No response for the entire day. A day turns to 3 days, and then likely a week, then you’re surprised at how long it can drag on without a single staff touching it. You don’t miss a bump, and yet, no response. You see all the other threads with more supporters getting staff evaluations so quickly, and they couldn’t even be bothered to check yours. It’s no surprise you’d be frustrated about this. But there’s nothing else you can do but to keep bumping and getting into staff walls till someone responds… Eventually.)
The title feels like it’s generalising the problem at hand, which it is, because even some crts from mainstream verses fall into the cracks of obscurity. A Simpsons AP changing CRT took half a year to finish, and some Demon Slayer CRTs are untouched till a long while later, as an example. Niche verses have it worse, like how a fairy tail crt took 4 months to finish (though one staff came to look at it initially, but then it all went limbo from there). There’s a Tier 1 Battlecats CRT still ongoing. Not just any crt, A TIER 1 CRT. There’s even a straightforward crt that took a year to get a single admin to look into it, and it's still ongoing. Don’t get me started on how I had to wait for a week for one more staff to join to add the ability to be able to summon the motorcycle a certain character rides, in addition to the simple ass abilities said bike has.
Basically, the time the staff takes to do things fluctuates from one second to one year. This isn’t just exclusive to CRTs either. The VS Thread Removal Requests have been infamously unchecked by Staff since August 7. While there has been some staff activity again, there’s no denying that there was a big drought there when there shouldn’t have been in the first place.
The following crossed text are irrelevant to the problem at hand, since the staff have cleared this segment up. This is a mistake on my end due to my hubris.
Why is this a problem?
Staff Responsibilities
The real obstacle to the VSBW environment is not the rejection of staff, but the absence of their input. When CRTs receive zero staff engagement, the affected verse is placed in a state of "wholesale freezing". For niche verses, this results in years of stagnation for the supporters.
Double Standards
Staff Indifference
The Arguments
Volunteer Work
Also, not just anyone can volunteer as a staff member easily, either. While complaints about low staff numbers and manpower are brought up a lot, trying to become part of the staff is like trying to get accepted into a secret society. “Volunteer Work” doesn’t cut it in this case.
Being Busy
Staff Indifference Part 2
If you’re just going to evaluate the corners of the verses you support, then why are you staff at all? This just feels like you being a glorified knowledgeable member rather than a fully-fledged staff. This may or may not be a problem if you have personal connections with the staff and can ring them up, but for the average vsbw member with no deep connections like this, fat chance they’ll be getting reasonable evaluation time. If these verses are ones that genuinely frustrate you or have personal hatred for, then it might be valid, but there should be someone else at the ready to deal with that verse, otherwise the round of hot potato continues on and on.
The Solutions
Quick Disclaimer: These solutions are not mutually exclusive of each other. In fact, having them all be implemented in some form should bring about ideal regulation.- The FinePoint Method
This also allows staff members to pick up on crts that they normally glance over, which allows niche verses (or other crts that don't get traction as a whole) the attention needed to be evaluated. Such a method can also aid in weeding out possible staff members with specific agendas to certain verses by preventing their focus from just being on those verses only. Situations like Wankbreaker can be prevented more easily. The prospect of staff being necessary for CRTs is implied to encourage the perspective of an outsider to the verse, yet more often than not, they're just comfortably evaluating their own verses. Not to say this is bad, but the VSB isn't just Jujutsu Kaisen, One Piece, or Marvel. This amount of focus and attention should be spread to other verses as well, within reason. FinePoint’s method of evaluation should be the norm, not the exception.
- Pinging In Wiki Management Threads
Also, since the staff members get pinged, don't even think about weaselling out and feigning ignorance of the pings. That just makes you look inconsiderate.
- More Staff Recruitments & Hierarchy By Priority
- Being Open & Clear In Your Staff Walls
If you have reasons why you are unable to do staff duties, just have them be displayed on the wall. Basically, the staff should be more open about something like this, rather than being silent on their walls or some shit. If they really don't want to evaluate this, just say no, and maybe state your reasoning instead of leaving them on read. Silence is not golden in this scenario. If you are going to evaluate this but are genuinely busy, just say "I'll check this out, but I am busy, but will come by in 2 to 3 days" or something as an example. Do tell them to remind you in case you forget. This also applies to responding to pings, so please don't be silent. Say something.
It's a starting step to a solution that helps out the average vsbw user in some way while also allowing autonomy for the staff users, aiding in reducing headaches for both sides. Otherwise, bullshit like this will happen. You could’ve nipped this in the bud, but no. You had to let this shit continue on. Just say no, or state your reasoning, then if a member bugs you to no end afterwards, you get the obligation of sending them to RvR or something like that.
In conclusion, all this is just so that an average vsbw member is able to get the appropriate staff evaluation at the appropriate time, without needing to have the right connections and pulling strings like some politician. Again, I would like to state that this is by no means an attack on the staff AT ALL. They are unpaid, and yet are trying their best to do what they can with this site and the wiki as a whole. I’m just making this thread based on my experiences dealing with the staff members, and likely many others that had gone through the frustrations that could easily be fixed. This is only constructive criticism on my end.
However, if this does end in me getting any sort of warning or a ban, just know that I would rather put a target on my back and tarnish whatever bearings of reputation I may or may not have to criticise this aspect of the staff than to stay silent and keep being shafted like this. It just has to be called out.
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