Update/Clarification to previous announcement plus FAQ
Hello everyone, this announcement is a follow-up to this, so please read through that for some context.
If this post reads kind of strangely, it’s because it was heavily shortened. There is a longer version of this announcement here if you want more context: https://pastebin.com/ZAFiiHUD
It is highly recommended to read the longer version if you are able, as it trades brevity for tone and extra details.
This situation has been developing for a few weeks now since the release of Amphoreus, but this week it had reached a tipping point in regards to volume of posts we were being forced to remove, reports on posts/comments, modmails, and general enforcement of other rules regarding the state of the game.
There have been many posts related to the lower quality of the new patch and difficulty of MOC, and those posts claiming the subreddit is becoming “PVP” are correct. Everything eventually comes into our queue to deal with.
Most times, things like this blow over very quickly, usually in a few days. The problem is that if it doesn’t, it very quickly reaches a point where users are not discussing in good faith anymore and it becomes impossible to moderate in a fair way that ensures discussion isn’t tainted with passive aggression, bad-faith arguments, and malice, and is impossible for us to deal with, as well.
For functionality’s sake, in short, the system works as follows:
- Post topics where it becomes untenable to continue good faith moderation will undergo stricter moderation.
- Limitations are not permanent, and will last only for a short time.
- Restrictions will only go into effect on topics which have had at least a few weeks of open discussion, as these are the result of increasing pressure for us to take action from users, rather than any internal pressure to suppress ideas.
- Restricted topics can still be posted; the benchmark for quality and discussion is simply higher to prevent passive aggression and bad actors from instigating flame wars.
This was a solution borne from our desire to let people discuss things openly while keeping things practically manageable. You will find everything in the four bullets above is in-line with our previous post.
FAQ:
1. Are you trying to suppress negative discussion regarding the game? Did HYV ask you to do this?
No and no. The way the original post is worded, it really feels like that, though, and it’s understandable for people to think that. This system has actually existed for a while. You may have seen us use it before, in a less official capacity. (In the past, it has been used for NSFW concerns, certain brigading actions, drama related to other HYV games, and shipping, notably)
2. How are we supposed to believe you about that?
HYV has not initiated any similar policy on their other official social media, the controversies were allowed on reddit for the better part of a whole patch, and I as an individual can say: I thought the newest patch sucked and has been the worst quality in a long time. I wish the characters did more animations, there were less black screens, and I haven’t cleared MOC in like 6 months because I can’t keep up with new characters dropping. I hope they fix all of that, and I as a player am frustrated about these things. These are also the opinions of many others on the mod team. The problem isn’t about opinions and dissent, it’s about manageability and maintaining a friendly space for everyone.
3. Why don’t you just hire more mods?
We just brought some more on a month ago. Mods are volunteers. Major controversy requires a measured and reasonable response where we try to get a general consensus in the team itself. It isn’t a problem you can just throw people at to solve. More people means more differences in opinion and schedules and a higher proportion of random internet strangers needing to be contacted. Burnout in the mod queue is a volume problem, but burnout in situation management is unavoidable. Not everyone can be the lead mod handling a situation, and the ones who do will burn out naturally over time.
4. Why are you conveniently doing this now that there is a major controversy against HYV? Why didn’t you do this before?
Partially answered in 1 above, but we have always tried to keep the sub an open space for discussion. It’s why we have such convoluted rules regarding things like Shipping, Theories, etc. We generally have a philosophy of “Restrict only what needs to be to keep things running”.
5. Nobody uses the Lounge/Party Car/Megathreads, you’re just sending controversy there to die.
The curt answer to this is “Perhaps you only think that because you don’t use it, and if everyone who thought your way used it it wouldn’t be that way”, but the thread exists for a reason. It’s already tied into our rules on Mundane content for all the other general detritus that you are happily shielded against on a day-to-day basis. We know it isn’t a perfect solution and there is much less visibility, but it is meant to balance too much low-quality content going to the front page with allowing people to post what they want. Additionally, the thread is part of our internal workflow and topics of conversation within are monitored by the mod team. This does lead us into the next question, though:
6. Why don’t you want us to provide feedback to HYV? Isn’t consolidating everything to a megathread going to downplay these issues to HYV and ensure they don’t get fixed?
HYV is based in China and doesn’t dedicate a large number of resources to reading the sub directly. Every decision we make they are aware of in regards to popular topics, and we regularly compile “subreddit pulse” reports for all the major trends, dramas, popular topics, and controversies the subreddit handles each week as a joint project with HYV. All the big ideas, the demands for change, and shitty meme trends are reported at appropriate severity levels to pass onto HYV directly, and trust me we have noted EVERYTHING the community has been arguing about. You are being heard. We still see posts that require removal. We still keep tabs on the megathreads. Going to the Lounge/Party Car is not a death knell for your movement. Oftentimes, the mod team are bringing these issues up to the appropriate people themselves.
That’s all, as per usual please feel free to leave comments here, send us modmails, and discuss to your heart’s desire. I’ll stick around for a bit to answer questions, and the other members of the team will also be present in and out to provide context as needed.