'A habitable and non-toxic environment to all its playerbase'

[VelmaDingus]

So, I'm fairly certain this is going to get a lot of negative responses, but I think it needs to be said, and hopefully a constructive conversation and discourse can be had. I only ask that if you engage in this thread, you do so in good faith. Disagree with me, by all means, but like, don't be a weirdo about it, lmao.​

I've been on Willard for about two months now, the server, forums, and discord, and it's largely been a very positive experience. I've had some great experiences, story arcs, and times on this server!

The main thing that has impeded my enjoyment of this community is the hostility, rampant bad faith and prejudices toward groups of people. Both staff members and community members have specifically targeted me for who I am. Funny haha jokes are cool, but to actively tell someone you don't know that they're subhuman because they're Jewish, or that they're going to hell for being gay? That's really fucked up and unnecessary.

It's either active, deliberate, wilful hate to make someone feel upset or unwelcome, or it's an attempt at a joke. If the latter, they really should not be disingenuously unpleasant toward people until they're friends with those people and it is clear it isn't genuine. Without any previous interactions, context, or indication, it's impossible to tell if any given person on this server is legitimately hateful toward these groups or people, or is just engaging in ironic hate that is indistinguishable from the real thing.

I know at least a dozen people who joined the server, had fun, joined the discord or caught a message in the LOOC, and left immediately, realizing that queer and non-white people aren't really welcome here, or at least are targeted on the basis of being those things. Those are just the incidences I know of, of course, I don't know how many others have done the same.

Also, without naming names, I know at least another dozen people in Willard, some who have been here a very long time, who feel incredibly uncomfortable and upset by the way the community acts towards people like them.

The community has no hard and fast rules against this stuff, the closest thing being the Ideological Behaviour rule.



Since there is no definition for what falls under this exactly, Fungle (Short Stories lead) was able to get away with using an official Willard Server to announce daily prayer and decry the "sin of homosexuality.". He remains the Short Stories lead despite this, and the channels created for this remain up and active on the SS server now. Clear Ideological Behaviour making a section of Willard inhabitable and toxic for a large amount of the community, but nothing happened. Does this not fall under "special treatment"?



Ultimately, this problem is so prominent, that I'm just gonna head out. I've had a lot of fun here, and made friends with a lot of great people! I'll think fondly of large amounts of my time on Willard, but ultimately, I don't think the staff are really able to tackle this problem, as some of the issues are coming from them.

I've informed the right people about the things that have happened to me, made this post, and now I'm gonna ollie outie, champs!

Hopefully this thread at least makes people from this community consider their actions and the discomfort they cause others. Whatever you're getting out of calling people slurs, or being ironically racist/homophobic/whatever, is surely not worth upsetting the targeted groups, or driving them from the community. Even if, ultimately, things stay the same, it might be cool for people to know why these groups of people don't feel comfortable here.

Thank you to everyone who has made my time here very enjoyable and fun! You were all based.

Be kind and have fun!

 

[M3ntal]

I already said it once that people should probably realize that just because you make a joke, doesn't mean everyone finds it funny. If you're gonna use dark humor, at least try to make it obvious that it's humor.

I've observed this problem, as well. Now, I don't know if Fungle is serious or joking, but in the case of a joke, it's completely dry and lacks any content because the butt of the joke is damning gay people to go to hell, and if it wasn't, it was damning gay people to, well, yeah, as I said. So, yeah, all in all, from a community member, of such high ranking and standing this is not only disappointing but just utterly confusing to witness.

These EXACT problems were brought up in the community meeting before, but this is now an exact repeat of the situation. People need to smarten up.

 

[VelmaDingus]

Fungle is serious or joking

No, that is the only case we can prove without a shadow of a doubt was 100% genuine.

He has said as much, and gone as far to say "I am homophobic, yes". This is 100% intentional on the Fungle side of things.

 

[Kaffee]

little nuns daily on top

 

[Craw]

little nuns daily on top

Fr fr
Can't go a day without it

 

[Neonity]

homosexuality is gay.

 

[RedHotGinger]

non-white people aren't really welcome here, or at least are targeted on the basis of being those things.

I can honestly never recall this ever even being close to the case on Willard, even at its worst. All these people would have to do is report the people and boom, solved. If you don't even attempt to solve the problem yourself...I mean what can staff do about something they dont even know?

 

[M3ntal]

I can honestly never recall this ever even being close to the case on Willard, even at its worst. All these people would have to do is report the people and boom, solved. If you don't even attempt to solve the problem yourself...I mean what can staff do about something they dont even know?

I'm pretty sure they already have. I doubt they'd be making this thread if they hadn't done that already.

 

[Sleeves]

I can honestly never recall this ever even being close to the case on Willard, even at its worst. All these people would have to do is report the people and boom, solved. If you don't even attempt to solve the problem yourself...I mean what can staff do about something they dont even know?

When there's like... famous instances of members, including several admins, spouting off the n-word... how can you honestly say it's a welcoming or inclusive place for them?

 

[Donavin Jones]

When there's like... famous instances of members, including several admins, spouting off the n-word... how can you honestly say it's a welcoming or inclusive place for them?

The aftermath of what was 'freedom of rp/speech'.
One admin that shall not be named is a big case of this, we all know the one.

 

[Kappatalist]

When there's like... famous instances of members, including several admins, spouting off the n-word... how can you honestly say it's a welcoming or inclusive place for them?

This is VERY old, I recall there being issues during v1 of Willard but... after that? There's no tolerance for it anymore - if you see somebody doing this, make a report. There's a literal ban request / admin abuse thread - use it. It's public, too.

Player Reports

willard.network

Abuse Reports

For submitting reports of abuse from Staff, GMs, or Mentors. Keep information clear and objective.

willard.network

 

[Sleeves]

This is VERY old, I recall there being issues during v1 of Willard but... after that? There's no tolerance for it anymore - if you see somebody doing this, make a report. There's a literal ban request / admin abuse thread - use it. It's public, too.

Player Reports

willard.network

Abuse Reports

For submitting reports of abuse from Staff, GMs, or Mentors. Keep information clear and objective.

willard.network

But it still gets brought up as a meme, but with people being careful not to say the words anymore. The people who did this shit before this rule were never punished and many are still around. It literally goes right to the top, unfortunately. I've seen quoted posts and screenshots of high staff and owners shooting it out.

 

[Kappatalist]

But it still gets brought up as a meme, but with people being careful not to say the words anymore. The people who did this shit before this rule were never punished and many are still around. It literally goes right to the top, unfortunately. I've seen quoted posts and screenshots of high staff and owners shooting it out.

It happened, sure. You can disagree with it, I mean I did - but people are entitled to their opinions, and to think/say what they want. It's now no longer allowed on Willard, regardless of what those people have said/done they aren't doing it anymore and if they do, you have access to those two threads there to have it looked at.

 

[M3ntal]

It happened, sure. You can disagree with it, I mean I did - but people are entitled to their opinions, and to think/say what they want. It's now no longer allowed on Willard, regardless of what those people have said/done they aren't doing it anymore and if they do, you have access to those two threads there to have it looked at.

Word of the wise, labeling something as an 'opinion' is a VERY VERY thin line to draw. It's a weak defense of what was said. Freedom of speech is freedom of speech, but it's been known that this shit drives people away, so maybe that's a sign people should stop, regardless if it's an 'opinion' or not?

Especially when said 'opinions' are not opinions at all. They're not expressing their thoughts about anything, they're literally just saying derogatory shit. I don't know when that's started to be called 'opinions', but it's not. Quite frankly and simply not. An opinion is typically argumentative and explained, not just saying shit for the sake of it.

 

[VelmaDingus]

But it still gets brought up as a meme, but with people being careful not to say the words anymore. The people who did this shit before this rule were never punished and many are still around. It literally goes right to the top, unfortunately. I've seen quoted posts and screenshots of high staff and owners shooting it out.

Agreed. @Kappatalist , I once reported someone for posting an incredibly offensive image. Then the person who posted that image DM'd me, because the admin who removed the image and gave them the warning told them who reported it.

When half the admin team are making these "jokes" and spreading these views, and there's no guarantee your concerns will be kept private? Yeah, it's not an environment conducive to bringing shit up.

Imagine thinking you can report someone to admins for something you've seen that admin do, lmao.

 

[Neonity]

Imagine thinking you can report someone to admins for something you've seen that admin do, lmao.

Your complaints are valid but do understand nothing gets done if you don’t report it to the appropriate parties, especially something like this that happened in private DM’s.

Community Management isn’t all-seeing and all-knowing. If you see someone acting out of line, report it. Nothing gets done if you don’t.

We have a public Admin Abuse Reports forum. If someone absolutely stepped out of line and the report was ignored, everyone will be able to see that. If you do want to keep it private, I trust the Head of Staff or Community Managers not to leak.

 

[Kappatalist]

Imagine thinking you can report someone to admins for something you've seen that admin do, lmao.

It's a public thread, private if you want to make it that way. The people who deal with ban requests are myself and memesky, if you see a player doing something we'll look into it, as you well know.

If you see something worth making an abuse report over it, you can do that too, and it'll be looked into. If it gets thrown out the window, then complain you're not being listened to, but not before.

Word of the wise, labeling something as an 'opinion' is a VERY VERY thin line to draw. It's a weak defense of what was said. Freedom of speech is freedom of speech, but it's been known that this shit drives people away, so maybe that's a sign people should stop, regardless if it's an 'opinion' or not?

Especially when said 'opinions' are not opinions at all. They're not expressing their thoughts about anything, they're literally just saying derogatory shit. I don't know when that's started to be called 'opinions', but it's not. Quite frankly and simply not. An opinion is typically argumentative and explained, not just saying shit for the sake of it.

Whatever you want to call it, it's in the past whether you agree with it or not. People have all sorts of thoughts/beliefs, stuff like that is banned now, though. If you see it, report it to the people who can actually do something about it

 

[VelmaDingus]

Your complaints are valid but do understand nothing gets done if you don’t report it to the appropriate parties, especially something like this that happened in private DM’s.

Obviously? So if people feel, rightfully, uncomfortable reporting stuff to staff because the staff have no discretion or are doing the exact behavior they're trying to report? Staff issue. Skill issue.

 

[VelmaDingus]

then complain you're not being listened to, but not before.

I'm sorry, was no one aware of the June First Incident?

 

[Kappatalist]

I'm sorry, was no one aware of the June First Incident?

yeah it was retarded, but all the same, report people for it if and when you see it, and me and memesky will take a look.