State of the Community - Required Reform

[[IAM] theNineteen]

From our Community Rules and guidelines:

Overall Mantra: Always show respect to ALL players.  We play with a large variety of players from many different backgrounds. The language used in-game and in mumble should reflect an awareness of the other players that can hear you.  Our goal as a clan is to make a place that people WANT to play games. With that being said, this should be a fun environment that new players want to return to.  You should be welcoming and continue the atmosphere of respect that brought you here.  Bringing people into the community under these pretenses is strongly encouraged.  This is an all-encompassing rule.

Read it again.  This is the premiere rule of the entire clan.  This is the foundation of not only the clan, but the community.  As of late, the drama and negativity in this clan/community has reached not only an unacceptable level, but an egregiously unacceptable level.  The overall tone of posts/communications/mumble conversations no longer give the feeling of "a place that people WANT to play games."  This is no longer a "fun environment."  It seems unlikely that any new players would be encouraged to this place full of hostility and drama.

The very first sentence of the mantra is not being followed!  Always show respect to ALL players.  The finger-pointing, the yelling, the griefing, the raging, the trolling, the insulting, etc. will NO LONGER BE TOLERATED.  End it now.  If you have any previous beef with a community/clan member, arrange a meeting with a Clan Leader if you cannot discuss it out on your own.  If you do not want to talk it out, let the problem die.  We've been fairly liberal with our interpretation of this mantra because we thought that the community as a whole could handle acting like adults and rising above the petty situations.  However, we will now be interpreting this standard more strictly. 

One of the founding clans of [IAM] once had a no-swearing rule.  At the time, many people thought that this was an over-burdening rule and that the clan's level of maturity surely could avoid problems if they were allowed to speak freely.  We currently do not have a language rule and drama is knocking on our door.  This necessity of such a rule may be re-visited if you do not all work together to clean these problems up.

The aforementioned problems will cease immediately.  Everyone is held to a higher standard here at [IAM] than the general "internet."  The actions that are "OK" by the majority are not acceptable here.  That's what we've stood for forever and we are not about to back away from it now.  We are all on the same team.  We wear the same tag and call the same place home.  If you do not think you are part of the problem, you are wrong.  It is no longer going to be socially acceptable in this community to get away with negative actions.  This is not something to joke around about and excuses will no longer be tolerated.  Those perpetuating and conducting themselves in such a manner will be dealt with.  Posts will be edited when they are found to pass acceptable levels.  Mumble will be policed through mute/kick/ban.  Other appropriate actions will be taken to curtail this cancer from our community.  This is your only warning.

This is not a drama club and we refuse to allow it to get to that level.  Those of you that are wearing the clan tag, you have a tag to live up to.  It's done.

Those of you in the community, we apologize for letting it get to this level.  In fact, it is embarrassing.  Those of you without the tag, know that you are appreciated here and that we will be much more strict as a clan getting back to a place that we are proud of.  We aspire to keep quality community members around and potentially allow them to add to our clan by joining our ranks.  Please report any violations of the mantra.

-[IAM] Clan Leaders

[[IAM] KariXXX]

I, Karina, take the Clan rules, to be my rules to follow, to be with it in sickness and in health... wait, wrong vow.
BUT I promise to be nice and respectful.....now can we ALL just get along and bring the shout box back? 
I don't think we should all pay with the absence of the shout because of other's lack of kindness and respect.
the end.

[[IAM] DJ]

kyle, this may have been needed, but at the same time, do not forget, being to strict was also a downfall of the first time we were in [I AM].  true we had no swearing rules back then, but don't forget that we still had all kinds of friggin drama.  This post may have been in haste because of you being aggravated about certain shit.  I'm behind you either way, i just want to be sure you understand that you can't enforce everything and that their is gonna be drama no matter what we do, but it's a matter of how we deal with it, not how we enforce the rules.  It's been my observation that we've been really lenient on the "this is not a drama club"  enforcement.  fact is, maybe its time to bring that sucker back.  I mean we got a few people alone just on that son bitch alone.  Magnet being the biggest one.  Time for a harsher enforcement yes, time to go all out and clean house.....i'm not so sure.

also no welcome back post?? i'm hurt........nevermind found it.

[[IAM] theNineteen]

The post was not in haste.  The no-swearing rule kept drama pretty tame because it was a lot harder to offend people when you had to use PG language.  The reference was that people said they were mature enough to handle not having such a rule and yet the lack of situational maturity is showing by a large number of members.  Many have been given liberties based on actions of long ago and need to understand that each day requires the same level of maturity to allow us to enjoy these liberties. 

[[IAM] Running]

To be fair, I'm very capable of offending somebody now matter the type of language that I use.

[[IAM] DJ]

just enforcing a language rule is not going to solve the issue.  it may help but it's not going to solve it.  when drama happens you gotta nip it in the ass right away.  old I AM proved that you don't need a language rule to still have a bunch of drama, you just need jerks causing problems. the way to solve it, go after the jerks themselves.

use RICO as a model.

[[IAM] beloveddoll]

To be fair, I'm very capable of offending somebody now matter the type of language that I use.

I agree with this.

But, hear hear for the parts about raging and trolling and insulting! Treat others how you want to be treated! Give them sexy lovin' if you want to get some sexy lovin'! It is that simple!

[[IAM] theNineteen]

You're nitpicking a tiny portion of the entire statement and misconstruing that portion.  I never said the language policy would fix anything.  I am saying that the maturity behind the removal of that policy is now lacking by a large number of members.

[[IAM] DJ]

Yea I hear you man.

[Wings]

Reading you loud and clear capn' kyle!

[[IAM] White Rice]

I see what you're saying here, and I am all for people taking care of whatever issues they may have (privately and in a civil matter; not turning the discussion forums into a mess we don't all need to see) and going from there.  Not a complete " forgive & forget" but more of a "communicate, reach an understanding, & be cool about it henceforth" (more words, but more realistic)  I know people will always have disagreements, arguments, or just times when they feel a need to dick-around.  Plus, we're on the Internet, and even with the community being what/who it is, there's still a level of anonymity that gives people a bit more confidence in "speaking", which can be good for the somewhat shy, good natured folks, but can become tiresome in those who see it as a shield from repercussions from ass-hattery.  I've seen a lot of good from everyone I've spoken with/played games with/interacted with in any way here (and I've seen ass-hattery, but not been the subject/recipient of it, so I don't have a huge personal stake in what I've witnessed) and I know that the folks here are more than capable of being civil towards each other (even when opinions differ)

tl;dr
General agreement with kMac.
People should clear the air if it needs clearing, then everyone should be excellent to everyone else.

[[IAM] RedMooN]

NS2 will fix it...

Talking of respecting people online, I kinda love  how much I grew up with this darn clan... I think I was an 8th grader when I've discovered it, now a sophomore in a uni... Many clannies have always been old but hey, cool stuff nevertheless.

[[IAM] Punisher]

One of the founding clans of [IAM] once had a no-swearing rule.  At the time, many people thought that this was an over-burdening rule and that the clan's level of maturity surely could avoid problems if they were allowed to speak freely.  We currently do not have a language rule and drama is knocking on our door.  This necessity of such a rule may be re-visited if you do not all work together to clean these problems up.

Just put me in coach, gimme back my hammer and it will be done

[Crispix]

Crazy. I've always found too much drama going on in this clan/community.

Thing is, there's a lack of loyality between everyone. Everyone needs to step back from playing games together and getting frustrated when the going gets rough, and realise the reality that each and everyone one of you is a human being behind a monitor that wants respect out of the person you're with, talking to, or having cyber sex together, hahaha I kid I kid (about that last part)

No seriously, you people have know each other for such a long time, have even been to Crosseyed's wedding ( I wasn't even invited ) and have done so much together to get to this point and can easily revive this place once NS2 is kicking ass. I think one of the problems could be the type of games this place is playing. I seriously do miss NS1 days with this place. It's really how I met you all except Kyle at the time. That was through stalking with the baby voice on your CS:S server LOL!!!

But yeah bringing each other together  all comes down to the games. I dont know exactly what you guys are playing, but certain games I play with friends sometimes results in getting mad at each other. Company of Heroes for example for me and a couple of buddies.

Anyways I for one think the plan of action should really be is to try and revive the NS1 server again although it's such a difficult thing but I came close to doing it. I was dedicated after all. But revive that, and see what you can get out of it, in terms of turning this place around. I wouldn't even mind a no swearing rule, because it forces others to be polite to each other. Of course, not everyone will agree with it, and could potentially leave the clan for that rule being in power. But what is more important? The friends that you've known here for such a very long time, that give you respect and ask for the same back, or getting mad just because a swearing rule is there to help benefit the atmosphere of the community/clan?

[[IAM] Thats Enough]

I think some people here suffer from what I like to call "diarrhea of the mouth".  Give some of those people the Pepto Bismol they need, and we're good to go.