Squad Leader Archive
Thread: Goodbye I Quit SL Correspondent Position
I am here to formally announce my resignation to SOE from my position as Squad Leader Correspondent, which has been the most unfullfilling waste of my time and effort in my many years of MMPORG experience.
June 2003 - I am admitted to being the first Squad Leader correspondent and had the immense responsibility of proving to a unsupportive crowd that me, the stranger around, could handle and promote a fix for this broken class. I submitted a rag-tag Top 5 list as was requested from me after an exhausting effort of trying to combine so many issues into one neat little package. Our "response" to this came in a month later in the form of some random Dev's idea of "cool" as he splurt out a brujahjah of ridiculous proposals that were completely irrevalent to the class. In an effort to correct this, I spent a week and then an entire Saturday and Sunday (and no, that's no exageration, I asked off work specifically for this purpose) compiled, revised, drafted, etc. a 2nd full-length team-lead style report. Excuse me when I say I was very pleased with my work. I rarely compile something and edit it with such extreme discression. I made a mistake, though ... a big one. I assumed it would be read. The only response to this date I have received is GreenMarine saying to me "Only so much time in a day." which was over 3 months ago now and, hey, guess what, about 90 days later.
SOE decides to send a messiah to us in the form of Thunderheart who would bridge the cap from player-to-correspondent and correspondent-to-dev. I'm here to let you know - it is the polar opposite. The guy is a good guy, he really is, he just has a lot of personal sensitivity issues and should probably run a communication studies coruse or two over there in Neverland. There is only so many times you can tell people "we'll look into it" or "we'll get there soon." Sure, you'll get there eventually, I have no doubt, but what are you goind to do about the people paying you $13 a month for their trust in YOU? Anyways...
The community here, as to be expected, started growing restless that since the 2nd report was neglected, perhaps a 3rd one where we spoon feed the Dev's would be an easier approach. No problem. One full Sunday and "Voila!" we have a report ... another good work with, again, great support from the most fabulous community of MMPORG people I've met to-date. Wham, bam, submitted both here and on the correspondent forums. Simple enough and very straightforward. Apparently not. TH immediately threw the book at me and shook his fist saying that I must only narrow it to a Top 5. I declined, saying that this class is far too broken and far too insufficient to fit into only a 2nd grade reading level top 5. TH still insisted that I supply a Top 5. "Take the top 5 on the list, then," I say. Declined again. TH now demands a Top 5 which, finally out of respect for what the community and not me personally would want, I obliged to do. I posted - QUOTE ME HERE - in the EXACT THREAD Thunderheart asked me to post in.
This evening, TH posted a thread for each profession called(Profession Name) Top 5 Response and Challenges. Guess what class was conveniently excluded? You got it - Squad Leader. As per the norm, somehow it is twisted on ME that is it MY fault for not getting a list included. /boggle. Any two-bit hooker could log onto these forums and find my report at the top, and if he wanted a top 5 list, I most certainly gave him one in the place he asked me to and he even replied with "That's fine." Tonight he accuses me of never having given it to him. I started a thread entitled "...where Squad Leader is?"
TH replies:
The problem is that I dont have a Squad leader top 5 as asked in the Top 5 request thread.
As soon as I can get it,I will get answers and get a response.
Let me now post to you, from that thread, what was posted in it:
CaptainVemnox:
I've posted my report a half dozen times here, and that still stands as mine. I'll update it when we get a response to that one.
TH replies:
This was fine Vemnox - please lets not have another misguided rant in the professions forums.
Moving back to the thread asking where the SL responses today are, I posted the following:
This is absolutely ridiculous. I posted to you five times in the last 24 hours about where exactly to find my Top 5 list and in the thread you asked for it in. If you truly do not have any information for me, then I'm sorry to say my time is done (which I'm sure you will be passionately pleased about).
TH replies:
Captain. During the last 24 hours, I have been doing a lot of work and havent been on the forums. I asked for a top 5 on several occaisions and checked the Top 5 request thread as I produced this list.
I dont even have a PM on it.
It is unreasonable to think that I read every post.
Even still, this is not an issue. Post the top 5 her and Ill pull it.
Please understand the volume of information I am dealing with - - through the forums. The key to success here is a tight channel of information.
I then posted the direct link to the exact spot where I included a clear Top 5 list. TH replies:
Its not even at that link and I asked for it here: (it IS in there, as you will see later)
http://forums.station.sony.com/swg/board/message?board.id=Correspondents&message.id=6572
Captain - - I need you to work with me and not against me if we are going to get such a large volume of information dealt with.
When I ask for information to be posted in specific threads its because I have a link on my desktop and I can pull it up quickly.
I gave instructions to make it easy, but in each case you wont. Im not trying to be difficult with you but you are resisting me and making the process uncomfortable for both of us.
Please, just post things where I ask so I can retrieve them easily. Thanks.
Here comes me again:
TH, you accepted my report as YOU stated here:
"This was fine Vemnox - please lets not have another misguided rant in the professions forums."
Edit: ...and even then I STILL submitted a Top 5 because you were adamant about it.
Here comes TH, now getting frustrated with me:
Captian, thats a different issue. I asked for a simple Top 5 list. You ask for clarification and I gave it. At this point, I dont know why you can't/wont summarize your Top 5. Do you need some help?
Dude, I cant click through 100+ links that people throw at me everyday. (I asked him to click just one in this very thread) Please just post it where I ask and please dont make me fish for it...
At this point the Doctor correspondent replies with a copy-and-paste of my Top 5 (2+2=4). TH thanks THE DOCTOR CORRESPONDENT and then goes silent.
You know something? I'm not a 12 year old submitting my research paper on frogs in. I'm a hard-working individual who volunteers my time and my experience to apply and fix this class and this game. Instead of thanking me and acknowledging my work, you ignore it and then shake your rattle at me saying "Wha?!!?" I don't know how much more clear I can be or how blunt you want me to be. TH's attitude towards me became blatantly clear when he instructed me on multiple occasions to "calm down." If the community is frustrated, I am frustrated. If they want something fixed, I want something fixed. This isn't me, Joey, running personally around frolcking screaming out "I want this, Mommy!" to the Dev's. I am telling you what the community is saying and how they are saying it. I'm a communication studies major near graduation with a minor in psychology, so please don't tell me I don't know how to talk to or approach people.
(cont.)
Message Edited by CaptainVemnox on 11-21-2003 07:40 PM
Sorry to see you go, Captain. You have indeed been a tireless advocate for the most hopelessly broken profession in the game. I would urge you to reconsider, but I suspect you are beyond your breaking point. Your obvious talent and steadfast dedication to our cause will be sorely missed. And your absence from the Correspondent program will undoubtedly be SOE's loss.
/salute
/bow
You are a great correspondent, leader, and player overall. I thank you for your work as Im sure we all do.
We've seen similar posts about the Dev team from other Correspondents that have left. I know I definately wont be signing up for the position.
Again, sorry to see you go.
Ya know, after everything we've had to put up with since launch, all the crap we've had to deal with, broekn professions, broken servers, rampant bugs prevalent in what basically no more than a paid beta version of a game, I've never once seriously thought of quitting the game. Now... Now you better believe I'm thinking about it.. long and hard.. this is absurd!!!!!! Absolutely and utterly ridiculous!!!!!! I defected to this game from Earth and Beyond and you better believe I can go back to it just as easily. My Visa is accepted everywhere 
To have our Correspondent, our hard working champion, leader of leaders being berated belittled and ignored culminating in his resignation.... I'm bloody well livid!!!!!!!!!
Captain, I can't claim to speak for the whole SL community, but I've got your back. I haven't been incredibly vocal on the boards till late, but this has become the dawn of a new day...
Good luck mate, and god bless ya..
/salute
I know I've been a lurker most of my SL career, but with being a lurker i've witnessed everything you've had to put up with, Captain. Being the leader of leaders was no easy task, but you took it, and I think everyone will agree, you did better than anyone could've hoped. I only wish SOE had actually listened. I am sad to see you go... I only wish I had more inspiring words in me. May one day SL be made a worthwhile, respectable position, and may it be thanks to you. It was an honor.
Take care.
Captain,
You have had an amount of patience that I wouldnt have expected from anyone in your position. It is ashame to see you go, but I think we all understand. You have endured far more than most would have.
SOE showed a completely ignorance to any desires of this community the moment you were choosen as correspondant, when they overlooked the strong support and dedication of Volatris. Despite an immediate backlash from the community about this, you stepped forward and proved your quality. You performed your task far and above what anyone could have asked for. You earned the respect and even admiration of those who doubted you. Yet youwere never offered thisrespect from those who needed to give it to you. Nor have they ever shown that they have even heard a word of what the community desires.
I hope you do not think ALL of your work was nothing but wasted effort. This community has heard and appreciated it, and am I certain that when they are ready to hear us, your influences will not have been slight.
Good luck in all your endevors, and I must say, congratulations on your freedom from this hellish position.
-Syd Laedaner
The way I see it Cap'n you have gone above and beyond your duty to represent the Squad Leader profession. You are a Leader of Leaders, and thats not easy.
Your efforts have been much appreciated by all of us and we understand your frustration.
I think we should just forget the Correspondent for Squad Leaders.
If all the work you have done didn't satisfy the knuckleheads then they can pee up a rope and slurp on the wet end.
It appears they are not really interested in what we think after the check clears anyway.
Let them do what they will. If they can't make the profession worthwhile I'll just be a creature handler like the 95% of players.
thx again Cap'n Vem
Honestly I imagine this post will be removed, they don't want any bad blood between the players and the devs, how they can treat someone who is not getting paid like this... I'll never understand. I'm very sorry to you and the rest of the SLs.
WOW, 8 whole resplies, They really love You SL'rs!
Sorry to see another person buckle!!
Personally, I can't see why Anyone would accept this position without pay!!!!
/Rolls eyes
I am becoming more and more convinced that TH should be dragged out back and beaten severely with his own bong . . . and I called him a friend for several years. But its becoming very obvious that he needs a severe attitude and priority adjustment . . . and I'm really thinking he can't handle the job.
~~Shabhaii, Mayor of Tombra, Naboo
www.cityoftombra.com
The REAL BT
(Snitter): There isn't any island, Rowf...
(Rowf): There is... there... can't you see it... Our island...just stay with me.. I'll get you there...
Valin_Horn wrote:
That post hurt my eyes.
I don't know why it did that. It will be deleted by tommorow anyways.