Server Management; Rad-X

[Divine]

Hello all,

I’ll try to be brief and concise. But also, if anyone wishes to speak to me anonymously for me to speak by proxy on this thread — send a friend request and DM me at: ._divine.

The Brief & Concise Edition:

Rad-X has manipulated people and feigned ignorance or otherwise for far too long. He has used his role to promote or otherwise protect his friends in this server and it has happened not just one time. The Server Management itself is a point of reference for this - two of Rad-X's friends in positions above the Server Council and below him, one which is literally titled "The Old Guard".

The recent promotion of FungleTheBungle (and other considerations of unbanning certain people whom even the majority of the staff team would agree should never come back) was the straw that broke the camel's back for a few people. Against major pushback, Rad-X promoted his friend in a case of textbook nepotism, and this is not the first time. He also defended (no malice to these people, their situations were resolved) Rabithunter, Robert, and DeNuke in situations of either abuse in some cases, or general complaints about their positions.

A few notable people, myself included, have left over these decisions. I ask Rad-X to resign, and I also ask others to chime in with their voice. I will not return regardless, I just wish the best for those who remain so they can enjoy their stories.

Spoiler: Not-So-Brief Edition

The Not-So-Concice & Not-So-Brief Edition Which Really Shouldn't Be Read:

You may have noticed a few names dropped from the scoreboard recently. Some people have left, on good terms or otherwise — and a few people have even joined back, for good or for worse; even those who some would consider persona-non-grata have been considered for a chance to come back.

These few people who have left have done so for similar reasons, but not the exact same reasons nor at the same time. I personally resigned as the Mod Team Lead and withdrew my other hats in the server. Why? Poor management. Extremely poor management. The Server Council exists with a few decent names to its history, current or past, but the Server Management is a concept of bloat, with figures who do not even touch the server they play on, bar a few times to play special characters.

Rad-X stands atop the management of the Main Server, English. He is the Server Director over here. He is the catalyst behind plenty of stories good and bad, but recently he has gotten more into that dictator mindset. Appointing FungleTheBungle to Short Stories Manager was a major mistake. It was done, against major pushback, and with almost zero support from any of the Server Council or otherwise. Fungle is Rad-X's friend of quite some time, and the Server Council, which is meant to be an advisory body, heavily advised against it. Even non-SC figures commented on the chance and said "No". This act is textbook nepotism.

It is not the first time, I’ll add, as Rad-X has had a great many faults. We all have! But, Rad-X keeps piling them up. He has used his position to defend his friends before, and ensure they keep their roles; be it as server management, council, or faction leaders. DeNuke sits up there too, keeping a looming eye over the vortigaunt faction and a position of authority which is literally titled "The Old Guard" as a backing for his role. Robert also hardly touches the server but rests as Server Management aside from this fact. At least for them I can say that DeNuke doesn’t really overstep using this position, and Robert has a very good mind for gameplay and has tried to get on the server more frequently to be in touch with the going-on's.

Rabithunter was accused of abuse a time or two (which, again, no malice to Rabit) and Rad-X stepped in and said "Well, let’s not be rash…" again, and again. When Rabit was on the brink of removal from his Faction Lead position, who stepped in to say "Well, no…" completely overriding the authority of the people below them who were appointed to oversee factions (Purple Knight and myself at the time).

Rad-X once asked the Server Council if he should resign. I said no. I should have said yes. He has used his position to protect his friends and put them up on a pedestal, all while being the first to drop blame with dozens of insults glued on whenever somebody else even meagerly messes up. When you confront him? He brushes it off and ghosts you for a week. Unless the entire Server Council pings him and asks "Really?"

Rad-X, please resign. I believe a few other voices will want to chime in. I happily invite them to do so.

I hope I do not get banned for inciting drama or any other silly reason to censor me. People share this opinion, and it is all assorted in a reasonable and civil manner.

 

[Stanford]

I speak primarily to the individuals posting reaction images, but frankly, most people are commenting from an outward perspective. Hence why I believe them not to be entirely "valid" because they have not had to engage with Rad on the same levels as faction managers, heads of staff, event leads, community leaders, etc.

I am not here to diminish opinions or whatever, but to say "all is good, nothing but positive experiences" without having to actually talk to the man as a subordinate is not particularly helpful when speaking to his ability to manage.

Ah, that makes more sense, and is better in line with how I view you. I must've misunderstood your meaning there then.

 

[Wraygun]

Against major pushback,

Yeah, can count the majority on all of my ten fingers. Truth is, @Imperator RAD-X has a community to run, and I think it's only appropriate that he takes whatever steps he sees fit to run things. There were plenty of chances for people to step up, take matters into their own hands, but decided not to.

And where did all that care go? Has anyone competent applied for the position? Short Stories is in a horrible state right now, and if your kind claims to care as much as they do, where were they when the community needed them? Rhetorical question. It feels like this community was under constant sabotgate. And enough is enough.

You paint @Imperator RAD-X as this master manipulator who tricked everyone into doing his bid but no. I'm sorry to say (because I still respect you, despite this complaint) but it is your post that comes across as manipulative to me; you don't appeal to people who are right in what they say or think, you appeal to people who want to feel righteous.

That's incredibly powerful, and also incredibly dangerous, because it's:

1. Self-sealing.
2. Moralizing.
3. And punishment driven for the sake of dissent.

And I don't need to go on about how this is becoming anti-truth, even if it begins with valid concerns or good intentions.

 

[Divine]

View attachment 45700

Yeah, can count the majority on all of my ten fingers.

Major pushback from the whopping majority of the Server Council, the supposed "advisory group" for the future of the server. I guess we can throw that out the window when our friends are the ones being voted "no".

And where did all that care go? Has anyone competent applied for the position? Short Stories is in a horrible state right now, and if your kind claims to care as much as they do, where were they when the community needed them? Rhetorical question. It feels like this community was under constant sabotgate. And enough is enough.

We did not need to make a decision within five days of applications being made, Short Stories did not demand such hasty and rash action against the advice given by the people we call advisors.

I personally suggested that the Short Stories team be merged with the Event Team and let ET run OOC events too. This would have given Short Stories more backing and authority, let them get easier comms and support from other ET members, and overall work for more well-planned Short Story events with the help to make them prosper. This was seconded by Nath I believe, and a few others agreed. I didn’t just leave the question to float there.

 

[Astro]

View attachment 45700

Yeah, can count the majority on all of my ten fingers. Truth is, @Imperator RAD-X has a community to run, and I think it's only appropriate that he takes whatever steps he sees fit to run things. There were plenty of chances for people to step up, take matters into their own hands, but decided not to.

And where did all that care go? Has anyone competent applied for the position? Short Stories is in a horrible state right now, and if your kind claims to care as much as they do, where were they when the community needed them? Rhetorical question. It feels like this community was under constant sabotgate. And enough is enough.

You paint @Imperator RAD-X as this master manipulator who tricked everyone into doing his bid but no. I'm sorry to say (because I still respect you, despite this complaint) but it is your post that comes across as manipulative to me; you don't appeal to people who are right in what they say or think, you appeal to people who want to feel righteous.

That's incredibly powerful, and also incredibly dangerous, because it's:

1. Self-sealing.
2. Moralizing.
3. And punishment driven for the sake of dissent.

And I don't need to go on about how this is becoming anti-truth, even if it begins with valid concerns or good intentions.

Maybe he's not a master manipulator as Divine suggests. But does that somehow diminish how he has failed as a leader? Either way, regardless of the fact, sure, people may not have stepped up to take the mantle. We do not know; this is between Rad and whoever reached out. But was Fungle really the best pick? It has been excruciatingly clear that he is a highly controversial figure in this community who has been allowed to remain on this server and is now reinstated in the position he was once removed from.

To paint the shortcomings of the server as "sabotage" feels disingenuous. Rather, you should take a step back and really consider the why. Creek is the result of inexperience and the boldness of a person's later teens. The fault of these resignations lay entirely with Rad.

If Short Stories is in such an abhorrent position, perhaps he should have done his job, convene with the council, and work to fix the problems. Maybe take the reins and manage it for a bit, as he seems to like to do. Then take the time to evaluate potential candidates. This feels very fast-tracked, unplanned, and a borderline knee-jerk decision.

 

[Wraygun]

If Short Stories is in such an abhorrent position, perhaps he should do his job, convene with the council, and work to fix the problems. Maybe take the reins and manage it for a bit, as he seems to like to do. Then take the time to evaluate potential candidates. This feels very fast-tracked, unplanned, and a borderline knee-jerk decision.

I think swift action is demanded when you have a community that was nothing but short of falling on itself all under a few days, with little time to go on. Is Fungle a controversial figure? Yes, he 100% is due to the things he has done and said. Can Fungle get Short Stories back up on its feet? I

I think this is the question that matters most when RAD-X was picking the new manager. It's not about the reputation, it's not about the past anymore. It's a question if the person in charge, can do their job. Because despite the reputation, despite the bad things that were said, the experience and the results brought to the table are what matter.



I will not disclose from whom this is, but it comes from someone who isn't fond of Fungle either, but understands the necessity and the dire situation. I can see why RAD-X has appointed him, I can see why there's such huge backlash over this decision, but I don't see anyone else with more experience under their belt that could take his place.

 

[Astro]

I think swift action is demanded when you have a community that was nothing but short of falling on itself all under a few days, with little time to go on. Is Fungle a controversial figure? Yes, he 100% is due to the things he has done and said. Can Fungle get Short Stories back up on its feet? I

I think this is the question that matters most when RAD-X was picking the new manager. It's not about the reputation, it's not about the past anymore. It's a question if the person in charge, can do their job. Because despite the reputation, despite the bad things that were said, the experience and the results brought to the table are what matter.

View attachment 45702

I will not disclose from whom this is, but it comes from someone who isn't fond of Fungle either, but understands the necessity and the dire situation. I can see why RAD-X has appointed him, I can see why there's such huge backlash over this decision, but I don't see anyone else with more experience under their belt that could take his place.

Perhaps. But you have to realize that a person put into power is a reflection on management. Sure, he might have been a good Short Stories manager three years ago, but it also communicates to the wider community that some people are not welcome here. You need to consider if it is worth putting in experience over losing members of the community and turning away future members of this community.

I am not sure where you stand, but I do not think it is worth losing people in such a small, niche community over one person.

Even so, short stories does not need two managers immediately put into place. Short stories is a small subset of Willard running its own small events. It does not require the same maintenance as the creative team on the main server because, simply, there is far less to manage. You would have done fine on your own. Even if you did need an extra person, to value internal management positions over the wider community is a pitfall that no online gaming community should fall into.

If he had taken the time and stretched out this timetable, we would not be here. But he was swift, fucked up again, and now his leadership is being called into question because of it.

 

[Omega]

Perhaps. But you have to realize that a person put into power is a reflection on management. Sure, he might have been a good Short Stories manager three years ago, but it also communicates to the wider community that some people are not welcome here.

Stuff like this has happened already several times, with direct actions taken against actual players. Fungle doesn't actually do anything to anyone. At most he just says some shit that you can block him over. You only raise these complaints against the server and it's council/structure once the people you like and call friends aren't in power. Any other time, staff gets final say, but now that there's something staff dislike but people like, the staff start to leave. Then, right after they leave, they make a thread saying Willard as a whole needs new management, as if they themselves haven't been helping run this whole ship. The entire thing feels so disingenuous, facetious, and to me is the prime example of why these people resigning is for the better.

 

[Omega]

If you were part of the server for the better half of the last two years, you would know that I filed complaints and BEGGED for action against multiple of the people you listed. I have turned my back on some of these people several times, because I thought what they were doing was wrong or entirely illogical.

I reported Hayden and Liam in a public voice chat, I cried for Rad-X to remove Liam from staff, I immediately asked for Hoki to be banned when the chance popped up — so, tell me about this monopoly of mine a little more.

It seems like to me you only turn against folk when the time is convenient, and not when it's right. In your own examples, these people were either in public doing wrong, or actively shooting themselves/the community in the foot relationship-wise, when any other time people were doing wrong you stayed silent (i.e Neonity and Sachimii). Like I mentioned to Astro in my previous reply, you were already in a position to change things. To try and bring this up privately. Hell, to even make a public thread but add the clout of your rank behind it. But now, it just seems like some oddly political move. Resigning to avoid dealing with whatever result you may dislike from this complaint thread, but still having that window to come back into influence given Rad-X did (for some reason) resign.

 

[Divine]

It seems like to me you only turn against folk when the time is convenient, and not when it's right. In your own examples, these people were either in public doing wrong, or actively shooting themselves/the community in the foot relationship-wise, when any other time people were doing wrong you stayed silent (i.e Neonity and Sachimii).

I don’t even know Sachimii, they were banned before I was at all involved in "the scoop".

Somebody can do something right one day, then wrong the next. I spoke horribly about Neonity when I thought they were in the wrong on something, and I defended their statements when I thought they were in the right.

Blind loyalty is not a foundation for credibility; don’t attack me because I change my opinions on people instead of sticking to them like this because I proved your clique argument wrong. Agreeing someone once does not mean I support everything they will do or have done — cooking a nice meal doesn’t make you a chef.

but still having that window to come back into influence given Rad-X did (for some reason) resign.

Then hold it to me here. I will not, at any point, return to Willard networks in a position of influence be it in staff of any capacity or faction leadership.

 

[ramen]

Remember when Willard was fun?

 

[Astro]

Stuff like this has happened already several times, with direct actions taken against actual players. Fungle doesn't actually do anything to anyone. At most he just says some shit that you can block him over. You only raise these complaints against the server and it's council/structure once the people you like and call friends aren't in power. Any other time, staff gets final say, but now that there's something staff dislike but people like, the staff start to leave. Then, right after they leave, they make a thread saying Willard as a whole needs new management, as if they themselves haven't been helping run this whole ship. The entire thing feels so disingenuous, facetious, and to me is the prime example of why these people resigning is for the better.

I feel you are dismissing this entire post under the pretense that these staff members are former disgruntled staff.

Except that is where you are wrong. For years and years, people have tried to change things, have Rad pivot on his managerial skills. I did try myself. Where does that bring us? Here, this very thread. You have a very isolated view of things, especially after being gone for so long, so I can understand your perspective. But I can assure you, these complaints are not coming from some malicious pit.

 

[MrTuki]

Remember when Willard was fun?

I do, vividly.

 

[Imperator RAD-X]

I'm not going anywhere.

Now let me run my project in peace. Thread locked.

 

[Robert]

I do feel a slight need to speak as while this isn't critical, it is still a topic worth touching on for the sake of it.

To be blunt, I understand the concerns and opinions raised from the both of you in regards to Rad-X but as Astro did at least point out, he is not some master manipulator sitting in his position and using his power to ensure things go the way he wants it to go, nor is he trying to invoke his control over everything and anything.

Its more of the case where Rad-X just like any manager ever, is not perfect. I understand some beyond just the 2 of you feel Rad-X may not be manager material and that's a opinion you're allowed to hold. But I must point out that I feel like it sort of just erases the work he has done for Willard up to this point and his achievements. As mentioned by one of you already, he is masterful at de-escalating situations and calming the drama storms down to ensure the Staff or any team doesn't just eat itself into oblivion, something not many managers are even able to do.

But he is not just good at de-escalation, he tries to see all parties views, takes in all POVs and generally listens to everyone before making decisions, he communicates his own POV- even if it may incur the wrath of another party and tries to be as humanitarian as possible. Often people see his human side as a weakness that causes some very questionable decisions- and being honest, him allowing Fungle to be SS manager was just another one of those where he wished to forgive Fungle for his "crimes" on Willard given it was:

A) A few years ago
B) Was just a few BUT serious insults compared to some other bans
C) A religious man going too far in his beliefs in a public space.

But also he let Fungle in because of the fact WN:EO had reported that Fungle had not only changed and was able to keep his views more in check, but also the fact that some LGBT people are infact on friendly or familiar terms with Fungle despite his views against them. It goes against his better judgement of his religion, but has done it regardless because its not exactly harming him nor his views in any capacity- nor is any of it in his face or causing him any distress. Rad heard and saw all this, took it to SC to say "Hey, this man despite his history and drama could help Short Stories return to what it once was, should we forgive for his past transgression."

And naturally yes, Server Council did push back including myself but even I acknowledged that eventually whether it be V3, passing on the torch to WN:EO or even just leaving it to die/rot would of led to Fungle regardless and our last ditch effort plan Rad allowed us to create an application process for potential SS managers. Unfortunately only four people put themselves forward. Fungle, Wraygun, Arvil and Gordao.

We reviewed each of their opening statements and Wraygun had the strongest and wished to start off as Co-manager per his application, the other 2, and to be fair to them may or may not have understood what we were looking for in the opening of coming forward and we closed the case there, also saw one of them with too little of activity. This led to Wraygun being the sole candidate in ENG to be elected while Fungle got the position of Lead per his own efforts and application on the condition he doesn't voice those views in public per our guidelines. He understands he is under watchful eyes and his progress will be tracked in ENG for the sake of any concerned members sanity.

But anyway, as I was saying about Rad-X is:

Is he flawed? Yes.
Does he mean good? Yes.
Do his decisions lead to questionable outcomes or circumstances? Yes, at times they do.
Is it malice? No.
Does he communicate? Yes.
Does he listen to others POV? Yes.
Does he prioritize personal morals or humanity? Humanity. Personal Moral codes can be different across the board, so he chooses humanity and forgiveness over morals and ideology.

I have worked with him for 10+ years now and have seen good choices, bad choices, neutral choices and so on. I have had a go at him many times for his decisions myself and even lashed out at him many times for silly decisions and some uh "Insert the R word here" decisions which have made me question his positions in the past.

He is not perfect, but look around. Willard is still standing after what? 5-6 years? Not just because of Atle but Rad-X has stood by it every single step of the way, even during its TelsaCloud days. He sometimes sleeps on action he could be taking because he wants time to think, he holds off on punishment because to him there's always more to the story, even when the community is on fire- he doesn't give up and keeps pushing through even if his decisions are unpopular, he is there when everyone else could've thrown in the towel, crashed out or even just fucked off- but he didn't.

Truth is, he has a lot of managerial skills and its the reason why Atle instated him as the Director in the first place, because he knows how to lead, even in tough times where most would just give up and quit. We seen in many times in HL2RP servers and communities in general. Community gets too much heat? Owner lashes out, the management explode, and the community collectively commits suicide but here we are. Still standing strong and sure things arent perfect- but we are here trying to hold the strings keeping it all together even if we may disagree with one another.

That's all I wanted to say.

P.S. please don't discredit people just because they have not worked with someone directly, often times its the external POVs that offer their own insight that is well-intentioned to give their view of what they see. Its not fair to ignore or discredit an opinion just because they haven't seen the internals. The internals is where all the drama is- I am sure every Willardian knows that much and sees that each year as things change and move.

 

[Inspector Orlok]