Complaints of long ticket wait times?

[AppleFlavoredFox]

I am making this purely because I do want clarification of this. Apparently and I can see it quite blatantly when in game, the wait time for a GM alone (So far me and members of my faction waited 20+ minutes) when there's usually 3-4 on. Or even an admin, I ask about this and the response is the same "We don't have enough staff" Or "Nobody really has a drive to take things most days." Or even the more common "They're volunteers don't expect them to take your ticket if they're busy" Which leads to me asking, if the manpower in the staff team is constantly tied up like this leading to 20+ minute wait times for simple tickets. Why not open apps again, and furthermore, why not be more inclusive into those who actually have medical disabilities where they cant speak or have issues with communicating? Yeah I can see the need to communications, but you're telling me. Even though I have a reliable way to communicate (TTS) I still cant apply for staff? Even if i am super active and super excited and dedicated to do so?

Im a little bit upset about it because i've been denied 2 times for the same thing, but I digress. Its a royal pain in the ass when i'm excluded from something i'd LOVE to dedicate time to and help out the community i love by adding just a bit more of that care into the staff team.. But I don't know, I guess thats just me. Maybe I ask too much to be included in these things. Fuck if I know..

This concludes my sort of question/rant/letter to the staff team. Which I'm expecting generic responses because not many can really answer these questions without sounding like a dick. At least in past experience when i've asked the handicapped question.

With love~ Apple

 

[Fallizs]

so you're telling me that people who can't speak due to medical conditions can't play a No-VC server
y'all getting smarter by the day

Spoiler: active admin locator

 

[Hayden]

Yeah tbh I've never really understood the whole need for a microphone. Staff meetings are already chaotic enough with all the staff members who love to talk (and talk over people, when I was still staff) - if we're really struggling with finding active staff who can be bothered to deal with tickets then it's about time we make the occasional exception for people who simply don't have confidence in VCs or can't engage in VCs due to issues out of their control.

Though I will say, this isn't really a new problem, it's been this way for awhile. Before I was removed from staff just a couple months ago, I was usually the most active person dealing with tickets, eventually I just started maining my admin char just so I could deal with tickets that'd otherwise start piling up. And then when they do pile up, I recall a bunch of times where tickets would just be dismissed so the screen could be cleared.

 

[AppleFlavoredFox]

Yeah tbh I've never really understood the whole need for a microphone. Staff meetings are already chaotic enough with all the staff members who love to talk (and talk over people, when I was still staff) - if we're really struggling with finding active staff who can be bothered to deal with tickets then it's about time we make the occasional exception for people who simply don't have confidence in VCs or can't engage in VCs due to issues out of their control.

Though I will say, this isn't really a new problem, it's been this way for awhile. Before I was removed from staff just a couple months ago, I was usually the most active person dealing with tickets, eventually I just started maining my admin char just so I could deal with tickets that'd otherwise start piling up. And then when they do pile up, I recall a bunch of times where tickets would just be dismissed so the screen could be cleared.

I would absolutely love doing this i love helping people out and honestly helping a community i love is just something i love doing in my spare time. Being locked out of this just because i cant talk. Is saddening enough. But being unable to assist with the 20+ minute wait time for small priority issues... Well.. Its not something that im happy about honestly.

 

[Rat King]

why not be more inclusive into those who actually have medical disabilities where they cant speak or have issues with communicating? Yeah I can see the need to communications, but you're telling me. Even though I have a reliable way to communicate (TTS) I still cant apply for staff? Even if i am super active and super excited and dedicated to do so?

I'm sorry to hear that your medical condition leaves you unable to apply on the current standards. Perhaps this reveals something about the current guidelines that is owed an adjustment, especially since there are a lot of valid reasons for not being able to sit and talk, from aphasia to deafness to english as a second language. Very little of admin duties requires a VC call, almost everything can be handled non-verbally; though a lot of staff do prefer VC for ease of communication ive never seen anybody refuse to communicate over text.

I can't really talk about ticket time because I try my best to handle the ones i am able to. If you find yourself waiting overlong for a ticket there's a good chance you're asking about something only a select few can help with, and that person is either in character or not on the server. using /printstafflist will pull up all the GMS, admins and mentors currently connected, and atleast a few of them dont mind being pmed in-game either, as long as you're not persistent or pestering about it.

 

[Overseer Inspector Count Reece Orlok]

It isn't that we lack manpower. It's more so we're busy, how would you feel if mid RP the person you're RPing with just TP'd away for like 10 minutes to an hour? I'm always open to more people doing staff tickets, for example GM's doing staff tickets instead of just mentors, or maybe mentors doing GMing instead of staff and GM's.

why not be more inclusive into those who actually have medical disabilities where they cant speak or have issues with communicating? Yeah I can see the need to communications, but you're telling me. Even though I have a reliable way to communicate (TTS) I still cant apply for staff? Even if i am super active and super excited and dedicated to do so?

Having a microphone should be suggested, not a requirement. It's sad to hear you've been denied on that fact alone and I agree we should be more inclusive. Talking about it being a requirement, you'd actually be surprised how often we use VC, it's not often, so it being a requirement is just redundant.

 

[Neonity]

Hello.

Let me preface this by saying I do apologize for slow response times.

Staffing in Willard (and GMing too) is a 100% voluntary position in which the only reward is our thanks. Most of our staff members do play actual characters and do engage in roleplay. Staff members and GMs are not expected to respond to every ticket as they come in, because it’s not a job. They can take up tickets at their leisure, and they almost all do so after wrapping up their IC situation first and going somewhere where they can safely separate themselves from RP without breaking immersion or leaving an active situation in which their character is important (LTARP).

Only the truly urgent tickets get people to drop what they’re doing and respond. The others can wait without really harming anything other than some people’s patience. I will not force people to sit in observer for hours and do tickets all day. They can, and sometimes they do if they’re bored of RPing and want to relax, but it’s not an expectation. Staffing is not a job and treating it as one will lead to burnout and people no longer enjoying the server because of this constant feeling of pressure.

A microphone is a requirement for staff. This is something that has been set in stone for several years and not something I will change. As has been explained to you before, you’re expected to be able to jump into a VC and either coordinate something more effectively or explain yourself in the case of a wrongdoing.

You’re also expected to be able to speak up swiftly during things like staff meetings, in which the topic can change faster than you’ll be able to input your response into your TTS software.

Why not open apps again

I will touch on this. The staff roster makes up roughly 28 people including the Server Council and Director. These staff members cover roughly every hour of the day, and you’ll often find about 5 to 10 online at times where the server is full, or close to full. This number is fine, and does not include Mentors and Game Masters, which can take up most tickets as well.

 

[AppleFlavoredFox]

either coordinate something more effectively or explain yourself in the case of a wrongdoing.

I have done this repeatedly in the past when booile was around assisting him in working on and volunteering to assist with expeditions as an actor and GM in the past. None of the staff present had an issue with it outside of one who was uncomfortable about the TTS system at the time because i had a voice similar to the emergency broadcast system. Its since changed.

You’re also expected to be able to speak up swiftly during things like staff meetings, in which the topic can change faster than you’ll be able to input your response into your TTS software.

This is actually something I can do when able to when I am not working. I am able to type up responses quite often and easily. As i've been using this program for 5+ years now. If I can do it in real life quickly to contribute to conversations. I can do it on my PC.

I will not force people to sit in observer for hours and do tickets all day.

You don't have to, some people would love to do this just to contribute to the community. Like me... But I digress. I am fully capable of having conversations with my TTS system even if its a bit slower then a standard conversation, its no worse or slower then someone with a stutter or speech issue.. I've always been told to just not try and explain this but this gives the opportunity because this actually made me realize. Nobody in gmod anymore wants anything to do with me on a staff team, The 4 communities i'm part of and would love to contribute to. Refuse to have me on the team because of my medical issue and lack of voice. The lack of ability to even vocalize, severely hinders my ability to contribute to the well being of the community outside of just existing on the server and walking around in a circle for 6 hours or standing at a food stand and giving food to people. I want to help in more meaningful ways in the OOC standpoint as well. My faction recently got taken over from me for a temporary amount of time (and even then i was given no guarantee i'd even get it back fully) so outside of that i have no meaningful way of contributing to the community right now. Which is why i raised this question in the first place.