Posted 14 August 2017 - 6:45pm by Jeremy DeSpain
Edict #14
Monday, August 14th, 2017
“Shut up, Wesley! ” ~ Jean-Luc Picard
This quote is an often used star trek quote, so often so that it does not need to be cited to a specific episode, it ranks up there with “Make it So”, and “Engage”. Why were people telling Westley Crusher to shut up? It was because Westley had a tendency to say things that did not need to be said, and then expound it until such time as someone stopped him. Recent events have brought this quote back to mind. There have been a series of unfortunate events that ultimately led to the resignation of two players from all roles (If Sharon was speaking for Ty in her post as alluded). This started with a post on one ship. I will not go into my personal opinion of said post. This led to another player feeling harassed, bullied and attacked. Also unfortunately it led this player to post publically about this in the Command boards. That was inappropriate to say the least. Command is the place where we discuss issues not attack each other over posts. That will be further addressed in the second half of this edict. First though I feel that some of our most basic rules need to be readdressed and reinforced. Everyone upon joining our site, agreed to our Terms of Service. If you need a reminder you can read them here:
Terms of Service : https://www.star-fleet.com/webb/legal
As well here are links to other important documents that all members should be familiar with.
MOO: https://www.star-fleet.com/library/bookshelf/charters/charter-moo.html
FCOMM: https://www.star-fleet.com/library/bookshelf/charters/charter-fleets.html
Players Handbook: https://www.star-fleet.com/library/bookshelf/handbook/index.html
GRAVITIES: https://www.star-fleet.com/library/bookshelf/charters/charter-gravities.html
These are the basic rules and principals we operate under. We have a chain of command, it starts with a Junior Officer, progresses to a Department Head. While a DH is a Roleplay position holding no direct command authority, they are expected to be members that you can go to for assistance in your RP needs aboard a ship. From DH you go to Executive Officer, this is the Captain’s right hand. They should be able to help you with any day to day issue on your ship. The XO reports to the Captain or Commanding Officer, A Captain is in Charge of the Command in question. That means they hire and fire all subordinate personnel on their ship. Just as a Captain has the right to refuse you admittance to their command, they maintain the right to remove you for any reason, within TOS, as well, especially when you are out of existing guidelines, either imposed by our Site wide rules, or refined by the Ships rules. The reason they were named to the position in the first place is there exists an implicit level of trust in their ability to act in a professional, fair and just manner. Though I am the President of this Club I am not the only one in it. I can however lay out my personal expectations for a Captain, or anyone else, posting in Command.
- Litmus Test your Post - Does it need to be in Command(I.E. Should this be on the Personnel Dept. Board instead)?
- Are you Certain that it needs to be in Command(Does this actually require Executive Oversight and Club wide exposure)?
- Do you have all your facts straight(And in a fashion they can be shared when asked for)?
- Did you follow your proper Chain of Command(If you are bringing up a ship issue, did you start with your Captain)?
- Do you have a reasonable solution to go with your I don’t likes(Please bring more to the post than your Opinion on the issue, please have a thought out solution as well, if there is no solution to the issue, do we really need to discuss it)?
- Bounce the idea off someone (You would be surprised how many times this will save you from rash decisions. I know it has saved me more than once, and I am thankful that I have people to collaborate with when I need to vet an Idea.)
- Is this an issue that requires an Immediate reaction(As we have seen repeatedly a controversial post in command is going to get quick and immediate responses, not always helpful ones, but they will show up rapidly, could this have functioned better as an email)?
These are simple rules, I try to apply them to my Job all day long, to Command, and to my Personal Posts. I will not lie I get as frustrated as anyone else at other players, I have gotten angry more than once. The primary rule of Command on the MoTD is about not posting when angry. That should be expanded, to When you are upset as well. You do not have to be Angry for an emotionally driven post to be a bad idea. This entire issue, could have been avoided if the above rules had been applied to the initial and all subsequent posts. This entire issue, while not exactly my fault, it is partly my fault I did not stomp down on it immediately, is my responsibility. It is also my responsibility to hash out punishments for those that were out of line. There is more than one person in that Category. It saddens me that everyone on this list currently, or recently, Serves as a Command Officer under my Command.
In Order of Offense to be discussed.
Kate O’Neill, For conduct that breached TOS in the form of Defamation of another player, and not following the Chain of Command you are hereby given a 3 Month Ban on posting in Command. As well an Official Executive Reprimand is now on file in the form of this Edict.(1) - No Formal or Official Complaints Filed, Executive Decision.
Sharon Miller, For Conduct that breached TOS in the form of Defamation of another player you are hereby given a 3 Month(2) Ban on Posting in Command. As well an Official Executive Reprimand is now on file in the form of this Edict.(1)- 1 Formal or Official Complaint Filed, Executive Decision.
Jerome Davis, For Conduct that breached TOS in the form of Defamation of another player you are hereby given a 3 Month Ban on Posting in Command. As well an Official Executive Reprimand is now on file in the form of this Edict.(1)- 2 Formal or Official Complaints Filed, Executive Decision.
While I am not in the habit of justifying my decisions, I will on the issue of the denial of the appeal of Ty Napier. To me, while the issue above, and this are related, they are not exclusionary. Just because The post by Kate was wrong, it does not invalidate the issues on Outpost 42 between the Command staff and a player on the Station. I am a player on the Station as well, I even understand the level of frustration that Ty got to on the issue. When emailed about her post, which for the record was Prior to the declared LOA, and asked to respond, no response was sent, when asked a second time to Respond to this request as the Captain wanted to resolve the issues under his command, he was responded to with a less than Satisfactory response by Ty. This led to the decision that Ty was either A: Unwilling to, or B: Unaware of and Unwilling to discuss the established guidelines in the future, and therefore Adam removed her from under his Command. Prior to responding to the Appeal request I had been furnished a Copy of this Correspondence by the Captain in question, as he expected the Appeal to be sent. Under the guidelines of STF there is no provision for overturning this type of Decision by a Command Staff. That being said that left the request to my discretion. Since this involved an issue that has ongoing potential, therefore I saw no reason to overturn this decision.
It would be bad form of me to undercut a Commanding Officer in this fashion. I would not have Done any different should it have happened under Sharon’s Command to Kate, or Under Jerome’s Command, JoeP’s Command, or any other Captains, barring a legitimate TOS violation in the Process. It is the Command Staff’s decision who is the best fit for their Commands, if they are making rash and wrong decisions, it will appear in the health of the ship. The second reason, and it still eludes me, If I was removed from a ship, and it was made clear that the Command staff did not think I was a fit for the ship any longer, why would I want someone to put me back there? The only reasons that came to mind, were I enjoy the character, the Character can be moved and played elsewhere. I enjoy the players I RP’d with, very few people have only one ship that they play on. The final reason, I want to be the one to quit instead of being removed, it is not my job to soothe an ego that is bruised if that is the case. Which means that I saw no reason to overturn this decision. The only mistake I can see that I made in my evolution of thought on the issues is not allowing Ty to give me her side of the issue. As she had not prior been willing to discuss it with the Captain, whom had given her this option already, I did not see anything that would be said that would sway my opinion on the matter. As well it had been implied from the start in a very manipulative phrasing that I would not give in to her request for an appeal because I was playing favorites. I do not by and large work well when attempting to be manipulated, and that was what the request phrasing was, at least in my opinion. In the end I did apply due diligence, and reason to the request for an Appeal, and denied it.
The fact that all three violators were Captains really bothers me. We hold Captains to a Higher standard of behavior than junior members. We have entrusted you with responsibility and authority within the scope of the club. It is my wish that all see this learning opportunity, not just those directly involved. As a Captain of a ship you are expected to set examples of proper behavior across the board. These are the basics of leadership, your behavior exemplifies the acceptable behavior for those under your command. Two of the participants have short stints as command. One has multiple Commands under their belt. That does not excuse any of the behaviors it does how ever put them in context. It shows that some parts of the Command Training that people are receiving, or lack thereof in some cases, has a direct impact on the understanding of Expected behavior, there is not a direct document on Command behavior.
The final thing I want to address here, and I am going to tell you all now, every time I think about it I am Angry, so I will not be able to post about it when I calm down, because that will not happen. I have friends all over the Site, on just about any ship in the Fleet. I do not consider myself better or worse than any other player, at least not where STF is concerned. There are many things in life that I am good at that have no bearing here that I am certain that I am better at than most here, and that is just life. Humans are judgmental creatures, it is part of Sentience and Sapience. The awareness of who you are. There are people that I like better than others. I love my brother and my sister, but I am honest with myself, I like my sister better. That is the way of humanity. What I do not do, and have not ever done was treat them different when rules were applied. I might talk different with the people I am most friendly with. I have never and will never do is something specifically to benefit them that is against the rules. There are two people alive that I would break rules for, and neither plays STF. It angers me to no end when I am accused of playing favorites because I did not decide the way someone else thought an Issue should have been decided. Disagree with my decisions, that I can live with, but do not call me a cheater, which is exactly what was implied, without proof, because I do not cheat, I try not to lie, they are not part of who I am. The insinuation, that I would not listen because it was one of my friends made this a attempt at manipulation from the beginning, intended or not. That was continued in the actions of several others over the course of the discussion, I do not appreciate the implications, and If I was not the President but a standard member I would file a formal complaint, as President I am expected to eat it, and take this form of treatment because it was stated I am the Elected Representative, that some have no faith in.
I now consider this matter very much Closed on the Command board, if it is brought up in another thread on Command, expect to find your ability to post in Command banned as well. No replies are needed or expected to this thread. We are all here to have fun, and lets just go back to doing that. If you have any issues with the above feel free to email me at Pres @ Starfleet.com or to Contact David at Veep @ Star-fleet.com or EGO @ Star-fleet.com to file an official formal complaint.
Fleet Admiral Jeremy DeSpain
President Star-Fleet.Com
(1): Though Per GRAVITIES no edict is required, the issuing authority is combining this into one Document, Instead of separate documents and emails.
(2): As the recipient has resigned all offices at this time, aside from a post announcing a return to Star-Fleet.Com this punishment will take effect upon return to club.