Posted by Adam W. in Questions for the Candidates - Favoritism
These are questions for all candidates.

On August 13, 2017, Jerome posted the following in Command as part of a longer post, stating that no one seemed to be getting that this is a problem:

“We tell people to do one thing and do another when someone in the President’s clique, or the FCOMM’s clique or the cool kids clique gets offended.”

In the post Jerome had also explained his perspective that this had been a problem for several years and had caused many members to quit.

Do you personally believe favoritism has been a significant problem in STF in the past couple years? Why or why not?

So Sarah is going to answer her words later today or so due to her brief LOA due to life stuff. But here’s my feelings. Favoritism in any part whether small or large is always a factor in internet clubs. No matter how much anyone works to avoid it it happens eventually in some form. But, that said STF in my view DOES I feel have a stronger vibe of trying to avoid this problem, and so to say its a significant problem in the past couple of years or even since I joined in late 2006 to my knowledge, I’d say not really.

How will you avoid favoritism as an executive?

A Sarah’s VPrez I believe one way to counter favoritism during prez decisions is to act as her counter balance, asking hard questions and playing the devil’s advocate as it were to choices and such she will make. I try to pride myself on being neutral and not letting friendships influence my choices and opinions of others when I dont got the full information to the best of my ability. In this way I feel Sarah and I are a solid team to work towards bringing back the unique and fun styling of STF, as well as ensuring all members from us on down are provided the tools, guidance, and knowledge to perform their tasks and still have fun in our writing environment.

If you view cliques as a problem, are you more immune to their effects than others? If so, why?

Adam W.

While I personally dont view cliques as a problem (Sarah can voice her view on this) in STF, I again point to my earlier piece that like favoritism, cliques happen in clubs on the internet. STF is not immune to it either, BUT like favoritism STF has a better handle on it in my view then a lot of other places I’ve been in the past. To use an example of another place I roleplay on a PC gaming community through the game Neverwinter Nights Enhanced Edition (great game!), has a HUGE problem of favoritism and cliques with the DMs supporting a group of players or factions frequently. It makes playing on this gaming server draining for me at times and any mention of such is met with outright hostility and words like ‘go back under your rock paranoid man’ (or words to that effect). STF doesnt have this. Sure we may face moments of strongly held beliefs differing but similar like minded groups, but this is a far cry from cliques or favoritism. Personally I believe STF is one of the least cliquish and favoritism playing places I’ve seen in my years here!

Overall the sense of community, love, club family, and fun that the club provides is amazing and Sarah and I want to keep that going and enhance it where we can by our guidance if elected over the next term.

Thanks for your question Adam

Robert Archer