- Joined
- Aug 7, 2020
- Messages
- 153
- Points
- 8
- Location
- Spain
Title: My defense against some horrible accusations thrown at me
Character Name: None
Hello! To whomever this may concern, I come here today to defend from some accusations that have been thrown at me as well as getting explained one of them - cause I might be missing the reasoning behind a particular one. I have been pointed by Pika this was probably the most valid type of ticket to toss all of this in. Without much hesitation, lets begin. I will begin with Pika's first seem I deem them the lighter ones and then move to Exile's:
1. I need to address some concerning things regarding Aklaq, the biggest of which being his weapons. Although I know your intentions may not have been bad, the staff has mutually agreed that they are culturally insensitive to native people. Aklaq can have a typical AR-15 and hatchet, but not the 'tribal' variants of the weapons. We won't support harmful stereotypes and cultural appropriation on the server.
So the first one I want to tackle is the one that confuses me. And the first thing I want to state - straight forward and point-blank - is if playing a tribal character was going to be so much of an issue for someone, why was the character accepted in the first place even, given the background clearly states that at least one of the three tribes that compose the Ghost Wolves had an Inuit community as origin and that they kind of returned to the old ways. Again, I never said they went back to pure native americans but moved into a more tribal-ish organization and society. Cause yes, I want to point out they are not native but tribals. Many tribes all around the world are known by decorating their weapons in such ways like feathers and leather furnising, among other things, so its not special of the american natives. And even if all this reasoning was disregarded - which I honestly hope won't - and it was pushed into me that I am supporting harmful stereotypes I need to point out that I only found this was an actual thing the moment Pika let me know, which was literally this morning when I readed her DM addressing this. Moreover, I would like an explanation about why this is a 'harmful stereotype', 'culturally insensitive' or a 'cultural appropiation'. It is historically accuarate that not only native americans but also - as pointed out before - other tribes around the world decorated their weapons in similar ways. This makes me wonder if this was never an issue until someone brought it up, either because they think I am committing a 'harmful stereotype' show, a 'culturally insensitiveness' or a 'cultural appropiation' or perhaps other reasons.
2. Additionally, you've made some jokes about the possibility of other characters being racist towards Aklaq. It is not funny in the slightest, and is incredibly insensitive. I'm asking that you refrain from making such jokes in the future. Aklaq's race should not be a point of comedic relief. He is a normal person like any other.
About this, first of all - and someone please show me screenshots if my memory is failing me -, the literal only two times that this has happened and it wasn't even in a serious or uncomfortable air. Here is the first one:
'SgtoSeryei 12/12/2020
Mhm
[21:01]
Aklaq be like 'I have been sent to the worse possible destination.'
[21:01]
'Its because I am tribal isn't it. Fuckin' racists' '
No one called me out about this cause due to the context - which is the channel #ranger-zone in Discord - was that CPF had sent him to the worst possible destination because he was of northern descendency. I could had said northern instead of tribal? Yes I could, but I had no idea it would be this much of an issue. And again no one told me I said anything inappropiate so I assumed everyone understood the context.
The second and last situation was the following - I am posting Pika's messages too cause given its public channel that all senior admins are able to see is not like I am revealing anything they couldn't go and look to themselves in said channel:
'SgtoSeryei10/12/2020
Lets look at the brightside
[14:32]
Now I can talk with Max without all of it being hateful bs ?
[14:32]
Unless she hates black guys
pika10/12/2020
Nah, not this lore
[14:47]
The only version of max to ever be racist is the one from the wp lore
SgtoSeryei10/12/2020
Oh dear
[14:49]
As if she isn't hateful already :(
pika10/12/2020
That lore took place in '91, so it was. A very different time.
[14:53]
Max has no reason to treat Aklaq badly unless he acts out of line
[14:54]
Even in the WP lore I never actually rp'd it because. That's. No.
SgtoSeryei10/12/2020
Goes racist with Aklaq
pika10/12/2020
No!!
SgtoSeryei10/12/2020
"Hey skinny pale! Commere!"
pika10/12/2020
Oh HGJFDKSDFG that would be funny
[15:00]
Aight, I have to go to work on my day off and ask why I wasn't paid for 16 hours of work
SgtoSeryei10/12/2020
Nooooo
[15:00]
:(
[15:01]
Demand! '
I want to point out - cause its important, I am not putting blame on anyone cause there is no blame to be placed - that it was Pika with whom I crossed this words and she didn't take them bad at all or at least she didn't tell me to stop right there and then nor seemed uncomfortable or off by the cross of words. It all was in a pretty chilled and friendly way as it can be seen.
Now lets continue with Exile's addressing - which is the one that concerns me the most and the one I feel like deserves my intake and explanations the most. I need to say, before I begin, that I have suspects and fears that someone is targetting me with this ones and the previous ones. I won't say names or names though cause if that is the case I don't want to fall to the same level this person or persons have fallen:
3. The complaints stem from the hyper sexualization of women others believe you to display on your two characters. They believe you put over importance on sexuality and romance rather than the story at hand.
To address this one properly, first of all: Two characters? Recorder has been long enough for a while but Aklaq? I have literally played as him what, 3 or 5 times? Its a brand new character which literally wouldn't had had enough time to show any of this accussations - if they would even have a base. Lets go back to all my characters and a brief explanation of their drives.
First one: Anastasia Hope. Her personal arc was heavily based in romance yes. I just entered the lore and I didn't want to base a character in deep in lore information when I had no idea how things worked even, so I took an easier approach with more freedom while I got used to the server. Hope only was laid once, and it was a FTB. Apart of that, no other fully romances unfolded other than Omnia - which I would calify as romance even if they had their moments - and I dare say - with the story guarding my back on this - that Hope did way much more story-wise that romance-wise.
Second one: Henry Patton. Henry Patton has been heavily based in story and lore rather than romance. In fact amorous romance was not even on my head ooc until Henry crossed paths with Emma Reid. It is true, however, he had an interest for Crystal but it very quickly faded when he noticed she was quite a manipulative person. Going back to Emma Reid, that romance was very brief and it had rather the impact on Henry which is an easy way of pointing out ther was no sexualization of any sorts. After this I thought about the idea of how a romance could be rather impactful in his personal arc given it was about getting his family back and having a partner that could act as step-mother could add a lot to it. So Henry and Brianna happened, the development was entirely based on Henry's personal arc - I won't get tired to repeat that, sorry. So again, no sexualization at all even if scenes happened. I could count them with the fingers of a single hand in fact.
Third one: Recorder. Now Recorder is grey in this. Has sexualization happened about her? Yes. Does it have a purpose other than 'haha sex'? Yes. Recorder was meant to be a spy that would get information and supports doing whatever it takes. In such a world like the one of this lore, it is undeniable one of her assets is seduction the same way it would be literally any other character's without minding the gender. Romance was never on my head for Recorder, literally never. But alas, Maxine and Recorder has naturally happened and I won't say now cause it has reached a point where, IC, there is actually reasons for Recorder to try a relationship.
Fourth one: Aklaq Scott: ... Do I need to point out that he literally have had no time to even meet someone other than meeting some fo the Rangers while on duty?
On a personal note on this oh-so-called and fundamental sexualization I have made, and after presenting this information, if I am honestly getting a heads-up out of this there is person/persons in the server that should had been called out on this way way sooner. And I mean lores sooner. Thats as far as I can tell.
4. The other topic I have been asked to alert you that we are aware of is the overstepping of boundaries in female users inbox’s. Your consistent messaging has made players incredibly uncomfortable. We ask you take a step back to understand what is and is not appropriate when it comes to DM conversations with other members of the server.
Now this is something that is controversial for me. First of all, the fact that both of the persons with whom this has happened are female has nothing to do with it. Instead, I couldn't care less about their gender. The main problem here has been that both of this persons have straight up disappeared without a heads-up or a wayaround to explain their character's absents, leaving my own characters kind of locked in those respective plots with their characters. Now I am going to say and explain - cause I am almost 100% sure this information will reac the affected persons - the easy solution this issue would had have back when it happened and that would have prevented it from even becoming an issue in the first place. COMMUNICATION. USE YOUR FINGERS TO WRITE A MESSAGE THAT WOULD ONLY TAKE 10 SECONDS OF YOUR TIME TO SEND TO LET ME KNOW THAT YOU WILL BE OUT OF COMMISSION, RATHER THAN STAY QUIET FOR WEEKS AND LEAVE THE PERSON/PERSONS YOU HAVE PLOTS WITH HANGING AND THEN BRING IT UP LIKE THE ISSUE THAT YOU HAVE LET IT BECOME. And yes, the first I want to do after uppercassing and remarking that is to apologize, but is because this has bothered me a lot. I hate to leave people hanging on anything and roleplays are not an exception. Forcing the way out of a RP, from my point of view, is just plainly disrespectful and pretty much spitting to the person with whom you are RPing. Its literally my last choice and I hate I have had to use it on both cases. Thats why I was asking every day once - which isn't anything crazy to be honest. But here is an example of how easy would have been to avoid the issue: 'Hey Seryei, I am quite busy lately so I won't be able to log in. Do what you must.'. How much time did that take to write? 10 seconds, 12 at best. And that would have been it. Now lets tackle both cases individually:
While the first time this happened I accepted the guilt placed - needs to be said - very very unrespectfully on me and in very bad words, this person was right. I insisted for way too long. Clearly for way longer than it was worth it. I apologized to her and things were seemingly talked out. And that was it until now, which for some reason she has decided to bring it up again. I can only make wild assumptions as of why and thus does not belong here. From my point of view it feels like a backstab and very low move, moreover when the matter was supposed to be settled for almost pair of months now.
The second case, I deem it even more worth it of insist on it - which I didn't insist nearly as much as with the first case -. I still feel bad I left this other character out of the final scene given both myself and the player playing the other character in the final scene - not the player with the issues about overstepping, another one - coincided that it would had been ideal for her character to be present for that scene cause it made complete sence IC for her to be there. In fact, it was the scene that we were forced to play that it did not make sense. Again, I feel bad I left her out of it but I obtained no signals of life and thus needed to move forward once and for all.
And again, both issues wouldn't be if both players would have spent literally 10-15 seconds of their time to let me know they wouldn't or didn't want to log in again and that I was on my own. But none did.
And there was a 5th issue that I clearly remember - on Exile's addressing - but it has been edited out and thus I am going to assume it has been deemed not an issue. Which I am glad cause it also bothered me greatly.
I want to throw a conclussion here and it is I am feeling targetted by someone who is a veteran and who has good relations with the staff. It might be my imagination. Might. I haven't precisely heard a single good thing about this person from anyone, all bad, which kind of boost my thinking about malicious intents behind bringing up this topics as issues. It seems to me that shit has been dug out, put together and partially taken out of context only to be tossed into a ticket so the admins would be placed against me or even warn/ban me. I need to point out that, while I have had my clashes with some admins - one way or another -, I am not feeling that you are against me so far but rather doing your job as admins. Neutrality and patient, even with other possible influences trying to or taking part in this, is something I deeply appreciate and that I deem very professional and polite.
-Regards, Seryei.
Character Name: None
Hello! To whomever this may concern, I come here today to defend from some accusations that have been thrown at me as well as getting explained one of them - cause I might be missing the reasoning behind a particular one. I have been pointed by Pika this was probably the most valid type of ticket to toss all of this in. Without much hesitation, lets begin. I will begin with Pika's first seem I deem them the lighter ones and then move to Exile's:
1. I need to address some concerning things regarding Aklaq, the biggest of which being his weapons. Although I know your intentions may not have been bad, the staff has mutually agreed that they are culturally insensitive to native people. Aklaq can have a typical AR-15 and hatchet, but not the 'tribal' variants of the weapons. We won't support harmful stereotypes and cultural appropriation on the server.
So the first one I want to tackle is the one that confuses me. And the first thing I want to state - straight forward and point-blank - is if playing a tribal character was going to be so much of an issue for someone, why was the character accepted in the first place even, given the background clearly states that at least one of the three tribes that compose the Ghost Wolves had an Inuit community as origin and that they kind of returned to the old ways. Again, I never said they went back to pure native americans but moved into a more tribal-ish organization and society. Cause yes, I want to point out they are not native but tribals. Many tribes all around the world are known by decorating their weapons in such ways like feathers and leather furnising, among other things, so its not special of the american natives. And even if all this reasoning was disregarded - which I honestly hope won't - and it was pushed into me that I am supporting harmful stereotypes I need to point out that I only found this was an actual thing the moment Pika let me know, which was literally this morning when I readed her DM addressing this. Moreover, I would like an explanation about why this is a 'harmful stereotype', 'culturally insensitive' or a 'cultural appropiation'. It is historically accuarate that not only native americans but also - as pointed out before - other tribes around the world decorated their weapons in similar ways. This makes me wonder if this was never an issue until someone brought it up, either because they think I am committing a 'harmful stereotype' show, a 'culturally insensitiveness' or a 'cultural appropiation' or perhaps other reasons.
2. Additionally, you've made some jokes about the possibility of other characters being racist towards Aklaq. It is not funny in the slightest, and is incredibly insensitive. I'm asking that you refrain from making such jokes in the future. Aklaq's race should not be a point of comedic relief. He is a normal person like any other.
About this, first of all - and someone please show me screenshots if my memory is failing me -, the literal only two times that this has happened and it wasn't even in a serious or uncomfortable air. Here is the first one:
'SgtoSeryei 12/12/2020
Mhm
[21:01]
Aklaq be like 'I have been sent to the worse possible destination.'
[21:01]
'Its because I am tribal isn't it. Fuckin' racists' '
No one called me out about this cause due to the context - which is the channel #ranger-zone in Discord - was that CPF had sent him to the worst possible destination because he was of northern descendency. I could had said northern instead of tribal? Yes I could, but I had no idea it would be this much of an issue. And again no one told me I said anything inappropiate so I assumed everyone understood the context.
The second and last situation was the following - I am posting Pika's messages too cause given its public channel that all senior admins are able to see is not like I am revealing anything they couldn't go and look to themselves in said channel:
'SgtoSeryei10/12/2020
Lets look at the brightside
[14:32]
Now I can talk with Max without all of it being hateful bs ?
[14:32]
Unless she hates black guys
pika10/12/2020
Nah, not this lore
[14:47]
The only version of max to ever be racist is the one from the wp lore
SgtoSeryei10/12/2020
Oh dear
[14:49]
As if she isn't hateful already :(
pika10/12/2020
That lore took place in '91, so it was. A very different time.
[14:53]
Max has no reason to treat Aklaq badly unless he acts out of line
[14:54]
Even in the WP lore I never actually rp'd it because. That's. No.
SgtoSeryei10/12/2020
Goes racist with Aklaq
pika10/12/2020
No!!
SgtoSeryei10/12/2020
"Hey skinny pale! Commere!"
pika10/12/2020
Oh HGJFDKSDFG that would be funny
[15:00]
Aight, I have to go to work on my day off and ask why I wasn't paid for 16 hours of work
SgtoSeryei10/12/2020
Nooooo
[15:00]
:(
[15:01]
Demand! '
I want to point out - cause its important, I am not putting blame on anyone cause there is no blame to be placed - that it was Pika with whom I crossed this words and she didn't take them bad at all or at least she didn't tell me to stop right there and then nor seemed uncomfortable or off by the cross of words. It all was in a pretty chilled and friendly way as it can be seen.
Now lets continue with Exile's addressing - which is the one that concerns me the most and the one I feel like deserves my intake and explanations the most. I need to say, before I begin, that I have suspects and fears that someone is targetting me with this ones and the previous ones. I won't say names or names though cause if that is the case I don't want to fall to the same level this person or persons have fallen:
3. The complaints stem from the hyper sexualization of women others believe you to display on your two characters. They believe you put over importance on sexuality and romance rather than the story at hand.
To address this one properly, first of all: Two characters? Recorder has been long enough for a while but Aklaq? I have literally played as him what, 3 or 5 times? Its a brand new character which literally wouldn't had had enough time to show any of this accussations - if they would even have a base. Lets go back to all my characters and a brief explanation of their drives.
First one: Anastasia Hope. Her personal arc was heavily based in romance yes. I just entered the lore and I didn't want to base a character in deep in lore information when I had no idea how things worked even, so I took an easier approach with more freedom while I got used to the server. Hope only was laid once, and it was a FTB. Apart of that, no other fully romances unfolded other than Omnia - which I would calify as romance even if they had their moments - and I dare say - with the story guarding my back on this - that Hope did way much more story-wise that romance-wise.
Second one: Henry Patton. Henry Patton has been heavily based in story and lore rather than romance. In fact amorous romance was not even on my head ooc until Henry crossed paths with Emma Reid. It is true, however, he had an interest for Crystal but it very quickly faded when he noticed she was quite a manipulative person. Going back to Emma Reid, that romance was very brief and it had rather the impact on Henry which is an easy way of pointing out ther was no sexualization of any sorts. After this I thought about the idea of how a romance could be rather impactful in his personal arc given it was about getting his family back and having a partner that could act as step-mother could add a lot to it. So Henry and Brianna happened, the development was entirely based on Henry's personal arc - I won't get tired to repeat that, sorry. So again, no sexualization at all even if scenes happened. I could count them with the fingers of a single hand in fact.
Third one: Recorder. Now Recorder is grey in this. Has sexualization happened about her? Yes. Does it have a purpose other than 'haha sex'? Yes. Recorder was meant to be a spy that would get information and supports doing whatever it takes. In such a world like the one of this lore, it is undeniable one of her assets is seduction the same way it would be literally any other character's without minding the gender. Romance was never on my head for Recorder, literally never. But alas, Maxine and Recorder has naturally happened and I won't say now cause it has reached a point where, IC, there is actually reasons for Recorder to try a relationship.
Fourth one: Aklaq Scott: ... Do I need to point out that he literally have had no time to even meet someone other than meeting some fo the Rangers while on duty?
On a personal note on this oh-so-called and fundamental sexualization I have made, and after presenting this information, if I am honestly getting a heads-up out of this there is person/persons in the server that should had been called out on this way way sooner. And I mean lores sooner. Thats as far as I can tell.
4. The other topic I have been asked to alert you that we are aware of is the overstepping of boundaries in female users inbox’s. Your consistent messaging has made players incredibly uncomfortable. We ask you take a step back to understand what is and is not appropriate when it comes to DM conversations with other members of the server.
Now this is something that is controversial for me. First of all, the fact that both of the persons with whom this has happened are female has nothing to do with it. Instead, I couldn't care less about their gender. The main problem here has been that both of this persons have straight up disappeared without a heads-up or a wayaround to explain their character's absents, leaving my own characters kind of locked in those respective plots with their characters. Now I am going to say and explain - cause I am almost 100% sure this information will reac the affected persons - the easy solution this issue would had have back when it happened and that would have prevented it from even becoming an issue in the first place. COMMUNICATION. USE YOUR FINGERS TO WRITE A MESSAGE THAT WOULD ONLY TAKE 10 SECONDS OF YOUR TIME TO SEND TO LET ME KNOW THAT YOU WILL BE OUT OF COMMISSION, RATHER THAN STAY QUIET FOR WEEKS AND LEAVE THE PERSON/PERSONS YOU HAVE PLOTS WITH HANGING AND THEN BRING IT UP LIKE THE ISSUE THAT YOU HAVE LET IT BECOME. And yes, the first I want to do after uppercassing and remarking that is to apologize, but is because this has bothered me a lot. I hate to leave people hanging on anything and roleplays are not an exception. Forcing the way out of a RP, from my point of view, is just plainly disrespectful and pretty much spitting to the person with whom you are RPing. Its literally my last choice and I hate I have had to use it on both cases. Thats why I was asking every day once - which isn't anything crazy to be honest. But here is an example of how easy would have been to avoid the issue: 'Hey Seryei, I am quite busy lately so I won't be able to log in. Do what you must.'. How much time did that take to write? 10 seconds, 12 at best. And that would have been it. Now lets tackle both cases individually:
While the first time this happened I accepted the guilt placed - needs to be said - very very unrespectfully on me and in very bad words, this person was right. I insisted for way too long. Clearly for way longer than it was worth it. I apologized to her and things were seemingly talked out. And that was it until now, which for some reason she has decided to bring it up again. I can only make wild assumptions as of why and thus does not belong here. From my point of view it feels like a backstab and very low move, moreover when the matter was supposed to be settled for almost pair of months now.
The second case, I deem it even more worth it of insist on it - which I didn't insist nearly as much as with the first case -. I still feel bad I left this other character out of the final scene given both myself and the player playing the other character in the final scene - not the player with the issues about overstepping, another one - coincided that it would had been ideal for her character to be present for that scene cause it made complete sence IC for her to be there. In fact, it was the scene that we were forced to play that it did not make sense. Again, I feel bad I left her out of it but I obtained no signals of life and thus needed to move forward once and for all.
And again, both issues wouldn't be if both players would have spent literally 10-15 seconds of their time to let me know they wouldn't or didn't want to log in again and that I was on my own. But none did.
And there was a 5th issue that I clearly remember - on Exile's addressing - but it has been edited out and thus I am going to assume it has been deemed not an issue. Which I am glad cause it also bothered me greatly.
I want to throw a conclussion here and it is I am feeling targetted by someone who is a veteran and who has good relations with the staff. It might be my imagination. Might. I haven't precisely heard a single good thing about this person from anyone, all bad, which kind of boost my thinking about malicious intents behind bringing up this topics as issues. It seems to me that shit has been dug out, put together and partially taken out of context only to be tossed into a ticket so the admins would be placed against me or even warn/ban me. I need to point out that, while I have had my clashes with some admins - one way or another -, I am not feeling that you are against me so far but rather doing your job as admins. Neutrality and patient, even with other possible influences trying to or taking part in this, is something I deeply appreciate and that I deem very professional and polite.
-Regards, Seryei.
