Post by kaishi on Aug 28, 2007 23:00:19 GMT -5
Written by the lovely Bakemono. (Hug this person multiple times!)
1. Read the rules (duh). Also follow them (double duh). Reread them every so often to check for updates.
2. Don't piss off Kaishi (triple duh).
3. Read the forums from time to time in addition to dropping by the dream, to try and keep up with news and whatnot.
4. If you have to be away for a while and know ahead of time, try to let us know. A forum post saying "hay guz I'm gone fer 3 weeks" will suffice.
5. Remember that, as staff, you represent the dream. Think of the places on Furcadia that you most love or most hate, and think of how the staff behaved in both places. Places that are too lax are often overrun by undesirables. However, if staff are too strict/anal/jerky, the dream tends to empty out. So be careful in weighing the necessary amount of force in each rule breaking situation, and never use your position to bully others.
6. With the above in mind, also remember to watch how you act in the dream in general. As staff you should try to set an example for the other players. This means no twinking, godmoding, spamming, flipping out on people for no damn reason, or generally making an ass of yourself. Srsly you'll get fired.
Now, I know we all have hot tempers sometimes, but as much as possible, try to express unpleasant feelings in a mature and thoughtful manner. And if you do blow your top, try to remember to apologize later (even if you still are pissed at the person you blew up at, apologizing to the people who had to watch the argument unfold at the very least is a plus).
If you have a personal problem with somebody, keep it to whisper.
If the person is being a jackass to everyone and just won't quit, report it to either Kaishi or a Co-owner (we will then relay it to Kaishi), and have logs ready. In the meantime, try to deal with the jerk as politely as you can. For one, it REALLY pisses them off (heheheh).
7. Now for the hard part: staff disputes. Our staff and patrons are in some sense a family, and we all know families are a little dysfunctional sometimes. Inevitably in the course of hirings you'll run into a case where some of the staff don't get along as well as one might hope. Best thing to do in these cases is to try and keep things civil (good practice for real life - you'll almost never find a workplace where you love absolutely everybody), and if that means only speaking to each other when it relates to your job, go that route.
If you have an argument with another staff member that either relates to your job here, or is affecting it, it may be time to bring it up to Kaishi or a Co-owner. If possible, both parties should be present to have a talk. As always, please keep your explanations calm and civil. I don't know about the others, but I know if people just start shouting I get tempted just to eject both, fire their arses, and let them duke it out in the Vinca.
Obviously if the problem is with a Co-owner, you should go to Kaishi.
If your problem is with Kaishi.... um... why do you work here again? XD
8. Be careful about overusing emits. The occasional stupid emit as a joke is fine, we all do it, but remember there's almost always somebody RPing when the place is busy. Therefore, MOST emits should deal with official dream business.
Also, please remember to always sign your emits. And don't sign as somebody else. If we catch you doing that we might just have to feed you to Kaibutsu's puppies.
9. This is probably a given, but always try to give at least one warning before ejecting someone. A lot of people use the "three warns then eject" rule, but honestly, if they haven't stfu after you warned them the first time, maybe a second to make sure they heard, then they're probably just plain not going to listen.
I sometimes waive this rule for repeat offenders who have been blatantly asinine in the past., but for most people in civilized society, a verbal warning will work. Again, be polite with these, because some people honestly don't know any better (remember, we hate n00bs, not newbs).
Basically, just try to use good common-sense judgment. Theoretically you were hired because you have some of that gray stuff in your head. Wink
10. If you ever have a question about how to enforce a rule (or anything similar really), never be afraid to ask, either in the dream or on the forum. When in doubt, check with Kaishi or other staff.
11. This one is important: Don't let yourself get too stressed. If you know staff duties are driving you up a wall, take a break. Go RP, relax, have some fun. Because if staff related stuff is stressing you out, you're more likely to get abusive with it. The ability to know when to walk away is a very good thing to have.
12. This brings me to the last and most important thing of all to remember (though we all tend to forget it from time to time):
REAL LIFE COMES BEFORE FURCADIA.
1. Read the rules (duh). Also follow them (double duh). Reread them every so often to check for updates.
2. Don't piss off Kaishi (triple duh).
3. Read the forums from time to time in addition to dropping by the dream, to try and keep up with news and whatnot.
4. If you have to be away for a while and know ahead of time, try to let us know. A forum post saying "hay guz I'm gone fer 3 weeks" will suffice.
5. Remember that, as staff, you represent the dream. Think of the places on Furcadia that you most love or most hate, and think of how the staff behaved in both places. Places that are too lax are often overrun by undesirables. However, if staff are too strict/anal/jerky, the dream tends to empty out. So be careful in weighing the necessary amount of force in each rule breaking situation, and never use your position to bully others.
6. With the above in mind, also remember to watch how you act in the dream in general. As staff you should try to set an example for the other players. This means no twinking, godmoding, spamming, flipping out on people for no damn reason, or generally making an ass of yourself. Srsly you'll get fired.
Now, I know we all have hot tempers sometimes, but as much as possible, try to express unpleasant feelings in a mature and thoughtful manner. And if you do blow your top, try to remember to apologize later (even if you still are pissed at the person you blew up at, apologizing to the people who had to watch the argument unfold at the very least is a plus).
If you have a personal problem with somebody, keep it to whisper.
If the person is being a jackass to everyone and just won't quit, report it to either Kaishi or a Co-owner (we will then relay it to Kaishi), and have logs ready. In the meantime, try to deal with the jerk as politely as you can. For one, it REALLY pisses them off (heheheh).
7. Now for the hard part: staff disputes. Our staff and patrons are in some sense a family, and we all know families are a little dysfunctional sometimes. Inevitably in the course of hirings you'll run into a case where some of the staff don't get along as well as one might hope. Best thing to do in these cases is to try and keep things civil (good practice for real life - you'll almost never find a workplace where you love absolutely everybody), and if that means only speaking to each other when it relates to your job, go that route.
If you have an argument with another staff member that either relates to your job here, or is affecting it, it may be time to bring it up to Kaishi or a Co-owner. If possible, both parties should be present to have a talk. As always, please keep your explanations calm and civil. I don't know about the others, but I know if people just start shouting I get tempted just to eject both, fire their arses, and let them duke it out in the Vinca.
Obviously if the problem is with a Co-owner, you should go to Kaishi.
If your problem is with Kaishi.... um... why do you work here again? XD
8. Be careful about overusing emits. The occasional stupid emit as a joke is fine, we all do it, but remember there's almost always somebody RPing when the place is busy. Therefore, MOST emits should deal with official dream business.
Also, please remember to always sign your emits. And don't sign as somebody else. If we catch you doing that we might just have to feed you to Kaibutsu's puppies.
9. This is probably a given, but always try to give at least one warning before ejecting someone. A lot of people use the "three warns then eject" rule, but honestly, if they haven't stfu after you warned them the first time, maybe a second to make sure they heard, then they're probably just plain not going to listen.
I sometimes waive this rule for repeat offenders who have been blatantly asinine in the past., but for most people in civilized society, a verbal warning will work. Again, be polite with these, because some people honestly don't know any better (remember, we hate n00bs, not newbs).
Basically, just try to use good common-sense judgment. Theoretically you were hired because you have some of that gray stuff in your head. Wink
10. If you ever have a question about how to enforce a rule (or anything similar really), never be afraid to ask, either in the dream or on the forum. When in doubt, check with Kaishi or other staff.
11. This one is important: Don't let yourself get too stressed. If you know staff duties are driving you up a wall, take a break. Go RP, relax, have some fun. Because if staff related stuff is stressing you out, you're more likely to get abusive with it. The ability to know when to walk away is a very good thing to have.
12. This brings me to the last and most important thing of all to remember (though we all tend to forget it from time to time):
REAL LIFE COMES BEFORE FURCADIA.