USAAC is Shutting Down or The Systamatic Killing of Communities

[Tbar]

USAAC is Shutting Down or The Systematic Killing of Communities


Got your attention now? :)

This is not a doom and gloom post as the title might suggest. No we are NOT shutting down.

What is needed is a community discussion about certain opinions recently expressed on the CLP Forums as well as certain moves certain parties are making on the CLP such as adding Team Speak 3 for all pilots and the policing or moderation of the CLP Forums.

Lets first ask:  Who is the power on the CLP?  Who makes these decisions for "all of us"?  Who decides what "we" want? Who is really in Control?  I think the first parties to explain the CLP powers to be and what they can and can't do .. and who actually represents the interest of the USAAC is Temper and Kid.   Kid is the 'Administrator' of the USAAC elected by the CO's of Member Squads of the USAAC. The USAAC is the recognized body politics representing North and South Americas.  Temper is the US Lead SysOps as well as the overall SysOps Manager. So these two people are well qualified to answer the question posed here in this paragraph. ( I think I have stated Kid and Tempers positions properly, if not, they will elaborate).

Secondly lets ask: Is a TS3 for all pilots a good idea on the CLP?  Maybe yes and maybe no. At first thought.. why not? What is the harm? Does it not serve everyone? Who decides who is admin and who is not? Who decides who can be banned and who cannot?  Who decides anything as far as the TS is concerned? What languages are allowed? Who decides on behavior and a host of other problematic areas?

Thirdly lets discussion the merits of a forum on the CLP for ALL pilots? Again at first thought .. sure why not, what is the harm?  What type of forums would be allowed? Would it be ok to have a picture gallery? A cooking gallery?  Other games area?  Who will moderate the forums and decide what can be said, what cant be said? What is flaming and what is not?  Different communities have different standards. A 'Fag' in Great Britten has a whole different meaning in the US. The word "bloody" is ok in
USA.. but is it acceptable in GB and AU speak?

This may be a passionate and 'hot' topic, but we must keep it civil. So let the intellect flow, let experience speak, and let the pilots of the USAAC have a voice in this matter.

--------END

PS: Side Bar - For those of you that wanted more "participation" on these forums now is the time to show your colors or forever hold your voice.

PSS: I am the topic starter and will reply as a "pilot" member of the USAAC when I make a reply. This thread will be monitored by USAAC Staff.

[shrapnel]

I don't intend to say too much here (sighs of relief all round  ) but the topic has been discussed before...
http://usaac.us/forums/index.php/topic,931.0.html
Kid, Temper, Tbar and myself expressed our opinions at that time and with, one exception, most were in favour of a CLP forum. I think I'm right in saying that no one intended that it should replace community forums and it was thought that CLP forums would only be game related. When he actually implemented it, however, Tank restricted it not just to the game but to help requests only.

I have suggested, in line with what most of us thought from the outset, that the CLP forum should be extended to game related topics other than just help requests. I do not think it will affect community sites to any great extent. In fact the broadening has already happened illegally if you like by posting off the help topic.

What I would like to make clear here is that I do not have any kind of political agenda and yes I took it rather personally when this was suggested on the CLP. I fully support our community, always have and always will. This can be evidenced by the efforts that Bonz and myself have been making recently to revive interest in the forums. I have nothing but respect for USAAC and, as most of you know, I, along with Kid, Vipor and TBar played a major role in formulating the charter under which USAAC operates. I believed in what we did then and still do. I do not appreciate attempts to turn us against each other by having my words twisted into meanings they never had.

If our community is in danger of being killed I think we will have to look beyond anything I have done but my posts speak for themselves. I want it to be clearly understood that I have nothing but respect for the job that Kid, Temper and the squad CO's do and would hope they will not allow anyone's  twisting of my words to make it seem otherwise.

[USHA_Kid]

I'll try to answer your questions Tbar.I'm not speaking for anyone else and I may be wrong.From my experience as a CO,sysop and USAAC Admin I have some insight into the workings of the CLP.

The forums were discussed and ideas were debated by representatives of each community.The admins and all sysops who police the game.As far as I know,there is no one person that controls the CLP.Anytime a new idea needs addressed, there is a discussion about it before anything is changed.As we all know,Tank does a lot of the backend work to keep things running smoothly.He writes and codes a lot of the scripts we all use for league scoring etc.He also helps trouble shoot any area where a problem may occur,such as the rooms not working right and so on.Del also helps in these areas and also maintains the sysop system that is used for bans and so on.

Temper and I,as well as Slayer and Vipor all take part in making decisions pertaining to the CLP.Sometimes things get changed without a lot of discussion,just to try it out so to speak.If it works out ok,no one says much about it.If there is a problem,then an admin or someone else will make mention and everyone will discuss it and keep it or do away with it.I think most ideas and changes that occur on the CLP are meant to be helpful to everyone and to make things work a little more smoother.So with that in mind,not everything works as well as first intended.

I'm not sure about the TS3 on the CLP.I do not  have an answer for that at this time.I see no harm in migrating to TS3.

The help forums on the CLP have turned into a little more than was intended by a lot of recent posts that are not truly help topics.We are now looking into that and letting those posters know that they need to use the community forums for anything other than help areas.We did let it slip for awhile.but are now addressing it.I think the forums on the CLP are fine as long as they are not misused.The CLP forums are supposed to be moderated by the admins (Temper,Ghost etc).

If anyone wants a change made on the CLP, then they will need to let their reps know so they can look into it and see if the change would benefit not just their community ,but all the communities,because the CLP is a multi-national area that is used by everyone.So keep that in mind.

[Temper]

That's an awful lot of questions in one go, Tbar. I'll try my best.

Lets first ask:  Who is the power on the CLP?

http://www.airattack-central.com/teamsysop.php?entryid=57

Secondly lets ask: Is a TS3 for all pilots a good idea on the CLP?

That is the UK TS2 upgraded to TS3, which has always been open to everyone. Why would it not be open to all now?

Thirdly lets discussion the merits of a forum on the CLP for ALL pilots?

I think an open forum on the CLP is a good idea, as I have stated in the past.



Now, I have a question for you, Tbar: Who is the power at TOW?

[Tbar]

Temper,

RE: TS3

Help me out here. We or I am not talking about the TS3 the UK has via the viewer like everyone else. That I have no problem with and it is as it should be. But.. what is this big announcement on the CLP:

The CLP has now a own Teamspeak 3 server available

We got our own TS3 server and as you may guess it is only one click to join it, directly below the launch for the arena.
Additional you can also select a user name that shows up on teamspeak, depending on the game tags you have in use.

I am sorry Temper but you are in error. This is the official Team Speak for Air Attack Central. Deleriux installed it on the server and Tank set it up. He did the same for Mumble, but now that has been replaced with Team Speak 3.

All my questions concerning this TS are still valid as to who owns it, maintains it, assigns privileges, can set up rooms, kick players, etc.

Pilots that want to join in on USAAC Fun Events will be even more confused as to what Team Speak they go to.. or are even on (new pilots).

[Tbar]

Temper,

Re: Power on the CLP

So your link indicates to me that the power on the CLP is the SysOps. SysOps decide everything including what goes on the CLP and what does not. So the SysOps decided upon a TS3 server.

Am I drawing the wrong conclusion here?

I further assume from the group leaders that there is one boss or major leader from each Major Nationality on the CLP, i.e. US, GB, GE, and Korea. ??

[Vipor]

Tbar,

I suggest you seek your answers in a more private medium.

Tank should be able to enlighten you as to who does what and who controls and or owns anything you are curious or concerned about.

IMO-Who has the power is a bit off kilter. Who or who all is envolved in the daily running and the additions or deletions on the CLP is more to the point.

If not Tank, then try Del!!!

 

[Rb_Tullamore-Dew]

If I´m allowed to comment on the TS3 issue:

I wonder why there wasn´t that much of a hassle about `Mumble´. Because it got ignored anyway or because the TS 2 buttons and overview were still available ?

Im not a member of the groups, listed above anymore but from my pov, The CLP should offer the cheapest and most up to date solution for all.

With ´Mumble´TANK tried to do it on his own (I think) but I think with the best intentions. It got ignored. Nevertheless all other options were still available.

TS3. Well, it´s up to date but I don´t like it. We (Rb) tried it out, found it crap and returned to TS2, which suited us always best.  You decide on your own, what your squad or community shall use and it should be no problem, to let your peeps know what your squad/ community currently use.

If you´re missing any buttons to join ´your´ TS- server(s) or any entries of your server(s) on the TS-overview on the CLP, I think that is nothing TANK couldn´t fix.

So far everything is cheap (no charge) and ´up to date´.  I really, don´t understand the hassle about TS3.

[Rb_Tullamore-Dew]

Oh and what Kid said is actually true, as far as I know.


Over here in Europe, we call it democracy.

[shrapnel]

Some folks seek power others have it thrust upon them. Power, authority, responsibility whatever has been thrust upon the administrators/sysops who are doing a great job of keeping the game alive. I have seen no signs of power being abused at the CLP level and I for one would aplaud them for the way in which they have set up the central site with the constant improvements that Del, Tank etc provide. I think it's wonderful that you can now jump on the appropriate Team Speak channel from the launch page.

There are those amongst us who would "seek" power for their own political aggrandizement and they are the ones to be aware of but, again, I have seen every sign that the present "power" holders are well aware of the need to shut out those who seek power for the wrong reasons. Long live democracy as it is presently practiced at the CLP... The next thing for them to consider is the suggestion on the CLP forum for a widening of the topics that may be discussed. It seems that the idea has a fairly large following. 

[shrapnel]

In any case this discussion is headed down a dead end street. It deals with two things: The introduction of an improved TS3 on the CLP and a request for the widening of topics that may be discussed in the CLP forums.

Congratulations and a big thank you to those who have upgraded Team Speak and made it available to all.

People have made their views known on the CLP forum issue and it is now for those responsible to give it some consideration. As far as I'm concerned everything is on track and moving along smoothly.

I have no idea why these things should be brewing up such a storm in a tea cup. Who has the power? Suggestions are political? Who gives a damn as long as we're getting what we need and we seem to be so what's the beef?

[Vipor]

 

[j69o]

After reading this thoroughly and me being a Drama Major in college a Shakesphere title comes to mind, "Much Ado About Nothing"
J 

[shrapnel]

You're good John. You only needed four words to say what I took 143 words to say.
 

I just have to learn to keep it short instead of asking for the 2000 word limit per post to be increased. 

[j69o]

So the college paid off!
J