*this is a long post, I hope you have the patience with me*
There are times where people embody themselves in others, could be people - could be things (such as ideas).
Where they idealized a concept based on whatever merit.
These people in this kind of community, is where a lot of the frustration, ripens.
Some really become martyrs and set as examples for something – unknowing that considering of all sides is helpful when dealing with problematic people.
However, this could happen to anyone, or even anything else.
If you are part of the community, you are part of the family, and you are supposedly seen as part of a belonging, a sense of purpose – not withstanding, how they treat outsiders –
They believe that outsiders, would be easier to handle as they are not in the collective entity.
They pay no attention to them, but as soon as they get personal with an individual of that community, now it becomes tribalism – you talk shit of one, you talk shit of all.
The individual, is symbiotic, with the collective. It’s the people that look for such individualistic traits, a sense of purpose within themselves.
They look for a sense of guidance – and in the pursuit of individual freedom. I don't mean to condescend, its sometimes a reason to be in a gaming clan.
They embody the idea of family, purpose, order, structure, and subordination.
I'm often confused at the way some members of the community treat each other, and how being ostracized can really hurt.
I think that the sense of individuality in being a part of a community, especially online, where there's a power structure in place - that sense of individual freedom can be skewed.
Honestly, I've personally seen high members of this community treat their own like shit. However, the worst part of this, i think its complacency, and silence around it.
Perhaps its lack of transparency because it becomes clan business, but sometimes it just is blatant disregard for feedback that is constructive criticism.
I’ve seen this before. I'm sure some would agree and I have personally spoken to people that have been at the other side of this, and I frankly mean no bad intentions from it.
Over 2 months ago, I've seen a very close friend of mine get treated badly here out of a situation that could've been handled differently, to the point where it caused real harm.
This person was treated to the point of gaslighting, and people around started to take notion of whatever rumors may have spread, which led to a skewed perspective.
I felt that it damaged a lot of this person and led to them leaving the community entirely, and I've heard that in the midst of it - a high-ranking member decided to ban the person for an egregious part of time, even though they had already quit.
I just find it messed up that the person didn't even get a chance to defend themselves. Yet, there's still some scrutiny behind that lingers - even if this person now doesn't want anything to do with FA anymore.
Whilst some may never understand what goes through a person's mind, I think this is something that needs to be addressed because it goes deeper than this.
It isn't just treating someone like shit because of a person's character, its more of the perceived notions of who or what things seem to be, versus things that are.
I didn't want to interfere because I felt like that wasn't really my business, yet I felt like since there are things that have been twisted and warped to misinterpretations -
It eventually just ended up being for what it is: wrong.
it only exhibits more of the behavioral patterns I've seen before -
It's just sad to see how people can act in this way, and I just think it can be a power trip.
Even more so before, for example - some members of the community have just been neglected and dismissed to "go on forums" by your admins, which doesn't really help the issue at first hand.
Dismissing it, only to have it be ignored or put off on forums, doesn't also look good. I understand that ET shouldn't be a second job, i get it. Yet,
Additionally muting, or even banning for way more time than necessary - i think it just makes it seem like an ego power trip. Some clan members had a bad reputation before because of this abuse.
Sure, the one thing at hand is keeping the community in check, but then its turning the other cheek as well when it's someone that is convenient for them to mess around with.
It isn't just admins and clan members, just in general everyone piling on certain people because they're "the bad guy, because <rumor>".
To be really honest, I've said some shit to some FA members in the past, but only when it was needed (so you can call me a hypocrite there) - yet my role is very different here, as I don't have admin privileges.
I don't mean that it isn't without its good days, and it becomes pleasant and a pleasure to experience this first hand.
The patterns of what's considered abuse are becoming more prominent, and I feel like if someone doesn't say anything, then it becomes normalized.
I've delayed on talking about this, but it just feels like it just needs to be said. I wanted to approach this the right way.
There's a lot of cherry picking and blatant disregard of people that want to say things, especially regarding admin abuse, and neglect.
I don't want to stir the pot by naming names or whatever, but yeah - its just not good - and I hope its been addressed internally.
No, I'm not putting an agenda, nor was i told to make a post about it by someone - this is by my own grace.
This is getting to a point where things that are badly perceived, are becoming things that badly are.
I simply just wish better out of a community that has provided some of the best times of my life.
Thanks.