User blog comment:Avery FireFlame/A Possible Change to the Featureds/@comment-5931267-20130729173956

Ok so I suppose it's my turn to weigh in on the issue...

I'm opposed to shutting down any of the Featureds but I am in support of Reddy's proposal. Removing the Oppose section for certain Featureds allows us to not have to go through the same drama which has plagued us the last couple of days. Although I do think the Oppose option should still be allowed on Featured User because this month we had a User running with barely over 100 edits and we did give constructive feedback to that user on why we were opposing.

I honestly feel the Featureds should be promoted a bit more and that more people should weigh in on them. Toad originally nominated Hippo's picture because, "FI is dead," and that was honestly a bit true. However this month FI did pick up... if only because of the users involved. The only constant that gets a ton of votes is Featured User and there's an obvious reason for that.

I'd just like to add that voting due to a personal bias is ridiculous. You're not going to honestly tell me that 6 people opposed Noah's image on the grounds that it was truly unworthy, are you? The only Featured that should be based on the User behind it is Featured User. Any of the other Featureds should be based on the Story/Image/Quote/Character that is in question. I supported Noah's image far earlier in the month because I actually liked the image and the story it came from. I didn't support Toads because I usually limit myself to one vote per Featured (besides FU) because I feel that voting for multiple things diminishes the value of my vote. I did like Hippo's image and would've voted for it had it not been for me enjoying Noah's image a bit more because of the context it came from.

Yesterday I actually avoided going on chat for about three hours because I was fed up with all the drama that I couldn't repair. I've been trying so hard as of recently to try and make this wiki peaceful but yesterday I encountered an issue that I just couldn't tackle.

Oh and on the drama that happened... I addresed this in a blog I made about a week ago and I've been addressing it for a while so I'll just keep this short and sweet.

1. Although Noah may have come across as a bit rude he DID NOT deserve to be treated as harshly as he was on chat. I've spoken numerous times about the "gang mentality" of this wiki and it was in full force this time around. I saw no less than ten users attacking Noah and making him feel unwelcome and unwanted. Even users who tried to defend him and give LOGICAL ARGUMENTS were being attacked and ganged up on. He was even kicked and banned multiple times just for what he thought was defending himself. That brings me to my next point...

2. Abuse of Powers. I will say nothing else on the subject but you know who you are. Kicking and Banning someone based on personal preference is an unacceptable way for a chatmod/admin to act. Yesterday I had multiple people trying to coerce me to get on chat and unban more than one user you had banned. Although I was not present at that time on chat based on the actions displayed the previous day I can only assume the worst to be honest. which brings me to my final point...

3. User Preference. I thought we had gotten over this with the last string of arguments but I was apparently wrong. Whilst Noah was banned multiple times not once did a person who was attacking him get so much as a kick. I would've kicked and should've kicked multiple users but I feared that I myself would be banned for upholding our rules by someone with higher power than me. I was actually too afraid of one user to be able to do my job... and it's actually made me feel like a coward for not standing up for myself and the wiki's rules.

Now I know we have a rule against doubting or speaking out against the actions of people with higher power but this is ridiculous. If someone feels the need to ban me because I have broken a rule then I'd gladly accept punishment because this was far too ridiculous for me to stay silent on.

May I just add that I've apologized to Noah MULTIPLE TIMES over the past two days for actions taken against him.

I apologize if I just stepped on any toes but this time it was warranted. Once again I have refrained from using the names of the wiki users involved (with the exception of Noah because he was victimized here) due to the respect I have for said users. May I add though that the respect is slowly dwindling for some individuals.