Fun and Respect

[Houdini]

I joined FC because I wanted to make friends and have fun playing Halo. I feel like we may have lost our core values of fun and respect recently.

People are leaving the community because they feel disrespected (allegedly, I don't have first hand experience with any of these cases, but I've heard plenty of stories to believe that we might have a problem with respect.) Even hearing speculation about this is a huge warning flag that things need to change. This shouldn't even be brought to the table as a possible issue. If people don't feel like they are being respected or if an individual feels like they are isolated from the community we have a problem.

Then we have a lack of fun. This past war was by far my least favorite. Several things contributed to this, but I have no intention of being a part of this community if I have a repeat experience. I'm not here to suffer. I'm not in this community for battle nights that feel like a chore. Too many times I contemplated not showing up to Battle Nights because of the issues, problems, drama, or simply the lack of fun I would have. I'd like to think that I'm a pretty dedicated community member who has remained in this community through some pretty awesome times and some pretty terrible times, and if I, as a veteran community member, am questioning my attendance at a battle night what are the newer members thinking?

A huge part of my perceived lack of fun this past war has been the even more religious drive towards cut throat competition in the community. Winning is important, but I don't think winning should take priority over fun or respect. Obviously there is competition structure here (two armies attacking each other), but I think we may be taking it too far.


My dream for this community is that at the end of every battle night, I can ask any member from either army and they will respond that they had fun and felt respected during this evening. I honestly don't think that is the case for the majority of the community right now, and to me that is the biggest problem we face retaining members and recruiting new members into the community.


Now for the suggestion:

Moving forward, I would like to see a system in place where each community member is given the opportunity (and encouraged) to respond to a short survey at the end of the battle night.

Example:
0) Name/GT (Optional)
1) Did you have fun tonight? (Yes, No)
2) Did you feel respected tonight? (Yes, No)
3) Do you have any suggestions for improvement (Short Answer)

That will take less than 5 minutes to fill out, but the information collected would provide valuable insight into the state of the community. Then the HC/FM/WC/WD can use the results to hopefully improve the experience for the next week. This kind of continuous integration of changes would hopefully allow the leadership to better and more quickly address the concerns of the community throughout the war.

The results of this kind of survey might create some unease with people in leadership, and that is okay. Guiding this community to a better state may not be easy or simple at first, but ignoring these issues should not be an option.


One interesting possibility with this type of survey is that the statistics could be published with the battle results. It would be very interesting to see how the results improve as the leadership makes decisions to hopefully address concerns. I think you could inspire a lot of people at the lower levels in this community if they could see the progress as changes are implemented.

[Maxdoggy]

Your post was well-written and I can tell it was made with good intentions. I'm all for the survey.

I do have one question though, and my ignorance to the answer is probably the result of me not being terribly active this past war:
Where did you see a "religious drive towards cut throat competition"? Compared to former wars, this one felt relatively tame to me.

[Houdini]

Where did you see a "religious drive towards cut throat competition"? Compared to former wars, this one felt relatively tame to me.

This definitely may just be my experience. I think part of my feelings about the competition may be related to the fact that at least in blue army we were pushing hard to win so the war would be over. This may just be me, but it felt like we were pushing to play any rule or any advantage we could have to finish the war faster.

Honestly it may just be me that feels like we were having a more competition experience. I'd be very interested in hearing about other opinions on the competition level.

[silversleek]

I'll disagree at least with your solution. Any problem, real or just perceived, will not be fixed by paper work.

[Maxdoggy]

I'll disagree at least with your solution. Any problem, real or just perceived, will not be fixed by paper work.

While that may be true, it most certainly wouldn't hurt, which is why I'm okay with it happening.

[Houdini]

I'll disagree at least with your solution. Any problem, real or just perceived, will not be fixed by paper work.

LOL. I guess I misrepresented my solution if you think the solution is paper work. The "paper work" is designed so that the people in power have the information necessary to come up with the solutions that are needed.

I would find it extremely hard if not impossible for the people in power to be able to make informed decisions about what is best for the community and what the community wants if they the only information they have is from personal conversations with people.

Oftentimes anonymous feedback is required before people will open up about things they would like to see changed. Especially since we (as an internet community) have a habit of knocking people down as soon as the step out of what we perceive as normal.

[Legendary Nova]

I could see this becoming a thing in each Battle Results thread. I wouldn't be opposed to it.

In regards to the actual survey questions, I feel that sometimes it's too easy to just say, "No, tonight was not respectful/fun." If this were to be implemented, I suggest adding a 'why' to each of the questions. Someone saying they feel disrespected is important to know, but you can't make a solution without the problem first. You've also got to remember that it's much easier for someone to hate something than it is to ejoy it. Sometimes people just keep on hating something for the sake of it, even when it gets fixed. Look at all the hate the Xbox One and MCC still get even though most of it is because of stuff from the past that's been (mostly) fixed.

[Houdini]

In regards to the actual survey questions, I feel that sometimes it's too easy to just say, "No, tonight was not respectful/fun." If this were to be implemented, I suggest adding a 'why' to each of the questions. Someone saying they feel disrespected is important to know, but you can't make a solution without the problem first. You've also got to remember that it's much easier for someone to hate something than it is to ejoy it. Sometimes people just keep on hating something for the sake of it, even when it gets fixed. Look at all the hate the Xbox One and MCC still get even though most of it is because of stuff from the past that's been (mostly) fixed.

I intended for the "Why" part to be encompassed in the "Suggestions for Improvement" question. Maybe it needs to be reworded to make this intend more clear?

Regarding you comment on it being easier to hate something than to enjoy it: I think we should hold ourselves to the standard that our community will be a place were even if it is easier to hate on things than enjoy them the vast majority of the community members will enjoy there time here.

I've been reminded many times that people are here on a voluntary basis. If we aren't providing an environment where people can say they enjoyed their experience then that is a problem. Nobody volunteers to do things that they hate.

[Dark Remalf]

Dark Remalf would love for this to be implemented.

I dont see how this could hurt the community rather than help it. Dark Rain will participate in these surveys if they end up being implemented.

[NervyDestroyer]

I'm hearing a lot how battles are too competitive. I agree. However, it's almost as if no one wants any more competition. That's another extreme that's bad. We need a balance between friendly competition and screw around stuff (words). Keep in mind that losing is not the worst thing in the universe. It sucks, you lose and it's upsetting. You can become a bit quiet and sad. After you're done feeling sorry for yourself, you pick yourself up and play again. Alternatively, you can not care and play for your friends rather than for winning. There is no greater sense of togetherness. That's a choice. Everything that happens is because someone makes a decision. Blaming everything and everyone is not the way to go about this. We need a clean slate. No more rivalries, no more bullshit.

Regarding the survey, the strongest motivation for positive change starts with constructive criticism. The survey could be helpful if it's not used as an outlet for anger.

Very well constructed thread Houdini.

[Solus Exsequor]

The survey would being completed by us active forum members, new recruits and non active forum members will have no interest

[Barry Soap]

I wonder when this thread will get closed because it talks about respect...

[Fernando Naranj]

Pretty sure i said this months ago in my own thread. :)

Will this get closed too?

[Barry Soap]

Pretty sure i said this months ago in my own thread. :)

Will this get closed too?

Prepare your anus for replies

[Maxdoggy]

I wonder when this thread will get closed because it talks about respect...


Pretty sure i said this months ago in my own thread. :)

Will this get closed too?


Prepare your anus for replies

:off topic:

I'd say it appears to be a done-deal with making the surveys. Would you want to make a rough draft using Google Forms, Houdini?

[Fernando Naranj]

:off topic:


What? I don't think it is.

[Anarchy]

ITT - About to be a lot of people in denial

[Barry Soap]

ITT - About to be a lot of people in denial


I wonder when this thread will get closed because it talks about respect...

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^

[NervyDestroyer]

The thread is not being closed unless we all get off topic and it gets out of hand. Right now, we are getting off topic. This thread is to discuss a potential solution to a problem someone has. Let's keep it to that please :)

[Fernando Naranj]

The thread is not being closed unless we all get off topic and it gets out of hand. Right now, we are getting off topic. This thread is to discuss a potential solution to a problem someone has. Let's keep it to that please :)

Last i checked, anyone who talks about loss of respect and members leaving because of that, your thread would get closed.
Mine did, So uhm, can we close this please?

[Solus Exsequor]

This is just veering off topic.

It could be done in a way the old squad reports were done. Either bring them back or just get squad leaders to ask everyone about how the BN went and any issues. That way we are guaranteed continual results. Rather than an inconsistent number of surveys each week

[Fernando Naranj]

This is just veering off topic.

It could be done in a way the old squad reports were done. Either bring them back or just get squad leaders to ask everyone about how the BN went and any issues. That way we are guaranteed continual results. Rather than an inconsistent number of surveys each week

What are you talking about? Talking about respect here, so shut it down.

[Solus Exsequor]

What are you talking about? Talking about respect here, so shut it down.

Rather than focus on the negatives we are trying to engineer a solution to problems faced within FC. Why shut down a potentially helpful thing that could prosper within FC? No one has been negative on this thread as of yet. It hasn't spiralled out of control. We were all coming around to a comprise, something that can be used weekly to help the community.

[Fernando Naranj]

Rather than focus on the negatives we are trying to engineer a solution to problems faced within FC. Why shut down a potentially helpful thing that could prosper within FC? No one has been negative on this thread as of yet. It hasn't spiralled out of control. We were all coming around to a comprise, something that can be used weekly to help the community.

Exactly, so shut it down right? because that's what i learned from the last thread.

[Ominous Solace]

Alright this is going to be a warning(unofficial) to you Fernando and Barry.

I am not trying to be an asshole to you guys. I just don't want this to get out of hand. So if you would.

Please get back to the topic at hand.

[Fernando Naranj]

Alright this is going to be a warning(unofficial) to you Fernando and Barry.

I am trying to be an asshole to you guys. I just want this to get out of hand. So if you would.

Please get back to the topic at hand.

What you talking about? I'm trying to get this closed down because you did it to mine for talking about respect.

[W3z4b1]

Why does he have 11 vCash? Satan?

[Solus Exsequor]

Can we please get back to the topic at hand? I feel bad for Houdini who is putting forward good ideas and trying to help fix the community but gets his hard work trampled on.

[Fernando Naranj]

hard work trampled on.

Tell me about it.

[Ominous Solace]

Fernando, there is something your thread was missing that Houdini's isn't. He has posted possible solutions. He has used his person views and not others that we do not know the names of who they were. So if you would please. Stop getting this off topic and move on.

Again I am not trying to be an asshole to you. I am just telling you that he has the evidence that you did not to which is why his thread stands and yours didn't.

So please get back on topic.

[Fernando Naranj]

Fernando, there is something your thread was missing that Houdini's isn't. He has posted possible solutions. He has used his person views and not others that we do not know the names of who they were. So if you would please. Stop getting this off topic and move on.

Again I am not trying to be an asshole to you. I am just telling you that he has the evidence that you did not to which is why his thread stands and yours didn't.

So please get back on topic.

And that gives you the right to close it?

LolWUT

- - - Updated - - -

I'm not trying to be an asshole, just trying to help the community! :)

[Solus Exsequor]

Anyway, back on topic.

Opinions on a squad based report after BNs?

[W3z4b1]

Opinions on a squad based report after BNs?

I really like doing squad paperwork when I was FT Leader back when those were a thing. Pretty sure I still have some of those, they make me happy. I'd support and actively submit such reports after battlenight if I couuuuuld. It'd be a good asset to have as hard copy information for disputes.

[Sicarioano]

This is exactly what the military does it's fucking ridiculous.

Did your instructor offend you? If so how and when (Be sure to include names, dates, and important details)

Could work though, doubt it.

Carry on.

[Solus Exsequor]

I really like doing squad paperwork when I was FT Leader back when those were a thing. Pretty sure I still have some of those, they make me happy. I'd support and actively submit such reports after battlenight if I couuuuuld. It'd be a good asset to have as hard copy information for disputes.

I remember doing that too! It kept it all in check

[Ominous Solace]

Well we use to do the Squad reports back in the day for BLUE so I am sure we could do that again.

[Houdini]

The survey would being completed by us active forum members, new recruits and non active forum members will have no interest

The trick with this is making the survey easy enough to complete by the community members who normally wouldn't participate in the discussions.

If a community member can be given a link in a Xbox message, Snap Internet Explorer, Give feedback, I think we would be able to get the not so active members to participate in this.

[Dark Remalf]

Stole it right from my mind lol I think newer members and less active members would like to be given a chance to voice their thoughts. I personally would feel more appreciated with a feeling that I can help make a difference by simply answering a few questions lol.

[Houdini]

I'd say it appears to be a done-deal with making the surveys. Would you want to make a rough draft using Google Forms, Houdini?

Live Form: http://goo.gl/forms/17iG4RAB2q
Results: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1aD4eYUKt4u_hg81M9Ua45phS Bzgf8Oyg9XyMaJtB7qU/edit?usp=sharing

Let me know if you want edit permissions.

[W3z4b1]

Live Form: http://goo.gl/forms/17iG4RAB2q
Results: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1aD4eYUKt4u_hg81M9Ua45phS Bzgf8Oyg9XyMaJtB7qU/edit?usp=sharing

Let me know if you want edit permissions.

Maybe add text boxes after questions 2 and 3 that say

"If no, why?" (optional)

Or write the above in a more optional-esque manor.

[Houdini]

Opinions on a squad based report after BNs?

I remember those, but I don't know if anything was ever done with them. I'm not in HC so I don't exactly know how they were used, but I don't remember them being particularly effective.

One thing that I think is important to remember is that there will be some people who don't want to give feedback out of fear of being shutdown. One thing that made an anonymous survey seem like a good choice is that people who aren't comfortable having their opinions judged can still provided constructive feedback to the community. Even though I would hope everybody is comfortable coming to their squad leaders for help or to give feedback, some of the newer recruits may be intimidated by the squad leaders (especially considering that the majority of our squad leaders are also HC).

I don't think it hurts giving them some distance to voice their opinions with absolutely no fear of retribution. The only potential problem with this is spam by anti-community members wanting to cause trouble. I don't really see that as being a problem. Who cares if somebody is spamming the survey with trash? We just ignore it and move on.

Back to squad reports. I think we should have a conversation about how we could make them more effective and discuss why we stopped using them. It might be very useful to be collecting information from multiple sources (i.e. squad reports, anonymous surveys, something else?). I can't see anything wrong with having extra information when making decisions about the future of the community.

- - - Updated - - -


Well we use to do the Squad reports back in the day for BLUE so I am sure we could do that again.

Do you know why we stopped using those? I think it is extremely important that we figure out why we stopped (was it just laziness?), so we don't make the same mistakes again.

[Maxdoggy]

Live Form: http://goo.gl/forms/17iG4RAB2q
Results: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1aD4eYUKt4u_hg81M9Ua45phS Bzgf8Oyg9XyMaJtB7qU/edit?usp=sharing

Let me know if you want edit permissions.

Nice! Short and sweet, I like it!


Maybe add text boxes after questions 2 and 3 that say

"If no, why?" (optional)

Or write the above in a more optional-esque manor.

I like options. That's why I like Halo's campaign. Also, good suggestion. :P

[Houdini]

I personally would feel more appreciated with a feeling that I can help make a difference by simply answering a few questions lol.

I think this is another important point.

If we can provide a stepping stone to help get the less active community members more engaged that would be fantastic.

Image a new recruit:
1. Play battle night
2. Give feedback
3. Squad leader says results of feedback available here (Battle Results Thread)
4. Go look at Battle Results
5. Sees some other interesting threads
6. Slowly becomes a more active and engaged community member

- - - Updated - - -


Maybe add text boxes after questions 2 and 3 that say

"If no, why?" (optional)

Or write the above in a more optional-esque manor.

Do you have any ideas for rewording the last question to encompass all of these opinion thoughts? I really don't want to make the survey too long out of the fear of people being discouraged to reply (especially if people will be filling this in on there Xbox IE browser)

The logic I used was that if people respond 'no' to either question, they will hopefully have a suggestion to improve their experience so that they can respond with 'yes' next week. Somebody else brought up that this logic flow wasn't as clear earlier in this thread, so I'm trying to figure out how that last question can be better worded to make this more clear.