EphemeralEternity
2013-07-03 |  | An EE Wall of text Explination |  |
Alright So this is the situation, as you know some time ago Tribaltea took control of GC/UC admin panel and removed all Staff except himself. Of course He claims to have had Stephens approval, Stephen has only said that he has Talked to Trib, but of course How much Stephen actually knew about Tribs actions is any ones guess. Trib could have either laid it out in detail, or simply said “Stephen, i`m going to do some work on UC.” and stephen says OK. It`s also hard some times to get stephen to actually understand what you`re talking about or need done. So Trib could have told him more and still stephen might not have fully understood what was going on. And the third option here is that Stephen knew and understood and that he`s just unwilling to own up to that because he knows how things were handled we`re not acceptable.
After talking to Stephen he pretty much said that GC should have never been touched and that he apologizes for what happened and that It was established long ago that even he doesn`t have the right to interfere in GC affairs
“[12:36:38 PM] Stephen: by right i am not suppose to meddle with gc as well o-0”
word for word which I think is a bit extreme since he`s the creator, but to me that basically says only GC Staff and GC players have a say in what happens here and that the authority of the GC Staff cannot be Altered by any UC admin. Though If stephen reads this, I want to say, and I will later to him, that I don`t think staff has ever minded stephen here in GC, we just prefer you to run all your ideas by us first so we can discuss instead of simply doing something on a whim.
As to why all this was done, you`ve seen Tribs reasons or his motivations, that`s what he`s sticking too for now. I haven`t know Trib personally for to long. So was it as he said to clean up UC staff and to help the game? I find a hard time believing that myself.
There`s also rumors within UC of players/Staff that have been offered payoffs and benefits within the game to discredit the old admins in other players eyes as well as other staff and stephens in order to gain control over UC. And with these rumors I have indeed see some things that make me question if something bigger is going on. such as lower level UC staff have way more information about about all this than any other staff, even an influx of previously blacklisted UC players under new names that are not careful about keeping who they are secret also having more knowledge than I had for sure. Secret conversation where Trib and an low level guide talk with stephen without any other staff being present.
It`s up to you to make up your own mind there, UC land is a mess it was before and certainly hasn`t gotten any better. But I have never had any say there, i`ve never wanted too. I honestly know nothing about UC so why should I. Me interfering there would be just as bad as what Trib did here.
Continued further down
Edited by EphemeralEternity on 2013-07-03 |
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EphemeralEternity
99+ day(s) ago | Omeg, GA has no rightful owner that particular one was made by trib, supposedly Trib has left UC entirely in Ghostriders hands, yet i`ve heard he`s still dictating that certain staff members cannot become staff there again.
there`s plenty of people willing to help Stephen with security, but apparently he`s still letting trib handle that, hopefully one day he`ll allow others like BW and raist to help him since they know a great deal more about security and the holes that exist than stephen does.
as for what`s keeping trib from messing with GC again, honestly not enough. aside from stephen claiming no one but GC staff have authority in GC..so if he were to do something perhaps stephen could be persuaded to reverse the changes... if not the only thing i could really do is quit, i posted this to both stephen and Trib, and a few other staff saw it yet neither stephen or trib acknowledge it
"[7/3/2013 6:29:55 PM] ShatterdDreams: Also Trib,to continue with what i have said above. i just want it to be known that i would certainly rather have you completely 100% gone from gamestotal, games and the back end... but i will tolerate you being here for now, though should you ever perform actions in GC or in the admin panel without telling us AND DISCUSSING it with us all first,
i will see it as you lying about not only my authority in GC but also you lying to UC staff as well. at which point you`ll be finding new admins and perhaps new staff for GC....and i will inform all new staff of exactly what they`ll be getting if they get involved with you. I also want stephen to note this as well."
So yeah i would quit like other admins in the past, because i refuse to be merely a figurehead and can`t even have a say in what changes happen on the game or for staff. whats the point of me being an admin if i`m going to have orders force fed to me, have people tell who can and cannot be apart of my staff and when i don`t even have a say in the changes happening around me.
I`m sure a few people would quit with me and then it would be up to him or stephen to find replacements, and though i don`t doubt that i can be replaced, it would take time to get people up to speed, and i know the more knowledgeable players here in GC would probably feel the same way i would about being a puppet. that and perhaps stephen would notice a max exodus of staff and over and over again and finally fix the issue
Edited by EphemeralEternity on 2013-07-06 |
borok
99+ day(s) ago | GG popped a molly, now he`s sweaten` |
Global}{Galactica
99+ day(s) ago | EE many thanks for the info provided and even more thanks to the time i spend for cleaning up, posting etc. Much appreciated =) |
{DrKsT}GuArDiAn
99+ day(s) ago | I don`t see any guide app thread posted yet but I`m willing to apply and help in any way that I can. |
ArchAng3l
99+ day(s) ago | Thanks for all the effort done resolving this :) |
Omegian
99+ day(s) ago | Actually, 4 things.
4. Coming from past work I did with IT security controls. As far as permission base goes since Ste does not have a true understanding of his own permissions system. It might be wise for him or someone who can look at the different access levels and make sure there isn`t some text file trick, ghost account, or back door maneuver. (Again thinking from a high level). |
Omegian
99+ day(s) ago | EE, I applaud your work, however 3 things still concern me. Also, I think Ste is thinking Treg is TribalTea as well. Of course, if that was the case, I want the Tregbot to play with again on IRC.
1. So, if split powers, technically speaking, what is to stop Tribal from encroaching over to GC again?
2. As far as security of the GA account, I assume that has been restored to its rightful owner(s).
3. Also, since TribalTea is still, assuming admin over in UC, wouldn`t his actions have warranted his powers removal because of these abusive actions?
Cheers! |
GalacticMercenaries
99+ day(s) ago | Thanks EE |
WolfHaley
99+ day(s) ago | Thank you, EE |
GradualIncline
99+ day(s) ago | I`ll admit, I was proud of the response against the takeover too. Now I wish I hadn`t done a 20 day vm... still, looks like I`ll be back after all. Hopefully not too many of you are sad about that fact :P |
Renegade
Game-Admin
99+ day(s) ago | I have to say I`m extremely proud of the GC community. Admittedly I was starting to lose faith a bit the last few months, but this has shown me very clearly otherwise. All of GC stood up with one voice and said `We aren`t going to take this`, and for a game I`ve dedicated a huge portion of the last 10 years of my life too, that makes me incredibly proud and happy.
So I thank you all for standing up against this, and letting your voices be heard. |
DraconianParadise
99+ day(s) ago | Fantastic thanks for all the in depth feed back EE.
Well done on how you guys handled the situation.
I hope both you and Adam will stay with us for a while and get things back to an order of sorts. Personally I think you both do an amazing job for a lot of stick.
The evnts of the last few days have really made me think and I for one will be applying for Guide for the first time, as I believe things can only be changed by those who have a deep and intimate love and knowledge for the game
I look forward to the future ! |
LordaeroN
99+ day(s) ago | Really happy to see all this resolved for good. Was on the verge of plundering and deleting all my accounts had things not gone this way. Thanks for keeping is up to date, and striving for the betterment of the GC community as a whole, EE.
I only wish I didn`t have to VM for a week on most servers because of this ;`( |
EvilAbadayos
99+ day(s) ago | EE, are you sure Stephen isn`t confusing Tribaltea (Trib) with Treg? It would seem to be something he would do with his memory (not a dig at Ste, butr we all know his memory isn`t amazing)?
Either way it`s great to see it all worked up. Personally I`m very proud of the GC community, just sucks that people long term VMed in protest so quickly :( Also I`m shocked I wasn`t banned/suspended by tribal because of my attacks to him in the previous thread, even though they got a good laugh. |
EphemeralEternity
99+ day(s) ago | though i`ll state again that Trib himself said he`ll be walking away from UC as well once he`s done doing what ever it is that he is doing, again only time will tell |
EphemeralEternity
99+ day(s) ago | he`s not exactly new, He`s been a UC admin since around 2010 i think but i`ve only technically be an admin since feb or march of 2011. though Badwolf has been head admin since 2009 so basically Trib and i were the same rank just he was over in UC and me here, then some how, whether he hacked it for himself or what have you he gained access way above that of BW. we were never told and stephen never acknowledge it or removed him.
all stephen has said on the matter is that he doesn`t know who has ranks above who even though all admins have as much as said BW was the one given head admin. and Stephen keeps thinking that trib is an old admin, but 2010 isn`t that old, so either trib is some old UC admin that returned and no one was ever informed which shouldn`t matter anyhow, or Stephen is mixing trib up with someone else, or trib is manipulating him into thinking he is someone else. who knows.
But at any rate stephen said that trib is head of UC and BW is head of GC and Trib shouldn`t have messed with GC and is sorry that he did, and that despite what all the other admins have told him he insist that BW is over GC only and Trib is UC only and he will continue to believe that until he hears back from an old paid staff member.
that`s pretty much that can of worms atm....
Edited by EphemeralEternity on 2013-07-03 |
Africa
99+ day(s) ago | First...
Thank you EE for write up.
Also, how is it that this new dude from UC even have access above you? I mean, how did he get that and why isnt Stephen shutting that down? |
EphemeralEternity
99+ day(s) ago | Continued....
As to my personal Knowledge of Trib I never spoke to him aside from when he`s done UC stuff and i just comment. But I have seen his UC accounts and logs of other things and how he`s dealt with players in the past, I didn`t agree with some of the stuff like making his personal accounts “test accounts” and then granting himself stuff. Staff we`ve always lived under the rule that no matter what you`re not allowed to touch your own account except to perform a name change. He certainly broke that. so I had a hard time trusting the guy then, and with all this now it makes it even hard to fathom anything he says as truth personally.
I don`t know where Tribs authority comes from Since I remember the last paid staff member and last head admin gave the position of head admin to Badwolf, and head admin had say over both UC and GC, which wasn`t the best system honestly but that;s how it was. Of course ever other admin also remembers it being this way and it was marked as such as BW`s account. Though stephen is unsure and logs as to admin succession were lost during the server move Stephen has tried to get a hold of that old Paid staff member to find out the truth but I have no idea how that went or if stephen really cares as to what that person has to say.
What has happened thus far as to what i`ve been told there has been some security patch work done to the admin panel of course i`ve been given no real details on it so I can`t verify that. There is more separation between GC and UC staff wise, so that those with powers in one game can not meddle in the other one this I have seen with my own eyes and I support it on some levels. Also we`re trying to encourage more cooperation between staff and stephen. We`ll see what happens there.
Most of the real changes stem from UC and within UC so again I don`t know what all is going on over there and whether these changes will be detrimental or beneficial to the game. But I will not allow interference within GC from Trib or any other none GC source. unless I and other GC staff ask for it, and we know it will be beneficial to the game. If I see any significant changes to GC or to GC admin panel without a word and without anyone asking my opinion and that of other staff I will see that as going back on what stephen stated earlier and I will probably quit if things aren`t fixed because I do not like being lied to, and I will not merely be a figurehead for a person in the shadows.
But moving on, I have been given the Head admin of GC position, i`m unsure if i`m going to stay in this position or as a part of the staff in the long term that partially depends on if Trib keeps his word on going away once He finishes doing things with the admin panel. Hopefully it will be in terms of days or maybe a few weeks. I refuse to be lied to and told I have authority of a head admin in GC and yet have one of the biggest security risk and threats still working above me interfering in GC as he pleases as he`s already demonstrated. But despite any of that right now GC needs cleaning up I feel I should at the least get GC fixed up and get things in order regardless of what I may do down the road regarding my position in staff.
As of right now I have restored BW back to an admin and Raist back to mod, I will also talk with other former staff, sorry I haven`t yet. Though as I intended to do before all this happened I wished to hold guide apps so that we could get more active staff as a lot of the staff on the list were fairly inactive due to real life which I understand, I also want people that will be capable and willing to perform events such as running npcs or quizzes and the like. I also want more diversity as I would like for at the very least 2 preferably more Turn bases oriented guides to join the ranks because TB needs love too in the event department as well.
As for those who have already applied for guide apps I ask that you close those, though you can copy paste what you`ve posted to add to a new app, Another place where Trib messed up was in how Guides are recruited in GC, evidently things are handled much different in UC.... But for those that don`t know GC guides applications are more of a test along with the application to ensure that guides have knowledge of the game as part of their duty is to help instruct new players in what to do in the game and we can`t have guides who don`t have at least a good understanding of the game.
It will probably be a few days before I get the guide app form up with instructions and more info about it up, There`s still a lot of stuff to get figured out and situated that sadly won`t benefit players right off, but eventually we will hopefully get to Events, things to bolster activity, and maybe even an update up before long.
As for your Emails, Make sure you change them back the instructions are in the banner. Or feel free to ask if you need more help. When I get some spare time I will try and track down those who haven`t yet and pm them personally. If you know someone who hasn`t been around for a while and has forgotten their PW inform them to make a temporary account on RT and make a help center post in the problems section detailing who they are and we will look into it and try and get them up and going again as soon as possible.
I know others have voiced concern about Credit card info, i`ve been informed all that info stays with the service provider and is not stored on GC, and every ones email was changed to the same assortment of letters which in no way should resemble a email account and there for any info attempted to be sent to it shouldn`t have been able to resolve. How ever if you look at your email, and see an email address there that does not belong to you and you know you didn`t set it then please inform me by pm and help center post so it can be looked into.
I want to say that i`m sorry all this has happened. You deserved better and a quicker resolution, But Badwolf and I am proud of the GC community for sticking together it might almost be a first but I had a sneaking suspicion that in times of crisis that we can all put aside server politics and old rivalries and hold together. GC is ours and your voice whether you believe it or not makes a difference. You`ve all shown the real spirit of the GC player and their stubbornness.
I will continue to strive to be an admin you guys deserve, I hope you will always have faith in me to do whats right and I also hope you keep faith in us when we make changes to the game and believe that our only intentions and interest is to make the game better. Though Faith doesn`t mean you can`t disagree or have differing opinions. The staff knows it`s not infallible and that mistakes are made but I do ask you to trust our judgment. in the end if we do something wrong we will strive to make it right.
Edited by EphemeralEternity on 2013-07-03 |
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