Thundy's Application

[Thundy]

Basic Information

Byond Account: Thundy

Character Name(s): Charlie Dove, Mel Hanford, Fel'siti Rummka'nen, Steph Hodge...etc

AI Name(s): KARLOR

Preferred means of contact: Skype, kik, Teamspeak, Forum PM's. I'm not fussed.

Age: 22

Timezone: GMT +10 Sydney Australia Time.

When are you on Aurora?: Mostly during deadhour.

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Experience

How long have you played SS13?: Since September Last year

How long have you played on Aurora: Same as above

How much do you know about SS13 (Baystation build) game mechanics?:

The wiki is my friend. Over the recent months, I feel like I have really been building up my knowledge of the way things work, especially when the wiki doesn't have the answers I need.

Do you have any experience moderating for an SS13 server?:

I was trialled here for a week and have also had experience modding high population minecraft servers.

Have you ever been banned, and if so, how long and why?: Not here, no.

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Personality

Why do you play SS13?:

I love the sandbox-RP aspect of this place. It has the perfect balance between rules and framework verses allowing creative RP to flow through the characters.

Why do you play on Aurora?:

I love the community here. Like, I actually do. Y'all have your dramas and bushfires and all that, but the fact that you are all so passionate about it means you actually care and that means a lot to me.

Also we get free cookies.

What do moderators do?:

Moderators are chefs in the back kitchen and the server is the restaurant floor. The patrons that come here sit at the table and are served by the chefs. The patrons and customers are not responsible for maintaining the restaurant and may never see the busy-ness of the kitchen, they are only there to enjoy the food and socialize. When you become a moderator, you are introduced as a chef to the kitchen and all the craziness that it entails.

What does it mean to be a moderator for our server?:

I believe that the staff have a strict moral grounding, made apparent by how they deal with things. I fully respect this, and although I may not always agree with the method of which it is under taken, I believe things like duty, obligation and honor are important parts of being a moderator for this server.

Why do you want to be a moderator?:

I believe that I can give back to this community in much the same way that it supported me when I really needed it. I have addressed the issues previously brought up from my last application and believe that I now meet the criteria for a moderator.

What qualities do you possess that would make you a good moderator?:

I have been especially trying to focus on new people and my conduct towards them. I also have been learning about how to best go about managing my problems and decision making both in and out of game and I am hoping that I have curved a lot of the issues that I had in the past.

How well do you handle stress, anger, or insults?:

I have really been working on these. I have been making a great effort to identify where I have been going wrong in the past and rectify these problems as best as I know how.

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Anything Else You Want to Add: If we could keep the comments as constructive as possible, that would be nice. I love you all.

[Guest]

Thundy has always been a nice person that from what I've seen, has avoided most server drama over their stay here. They are pleasant to deal with, and I would not mind getting in shit from them. +1

[Tenenza]

My interview with Thundy:

 

Moderator PM to-Thundy: Namasate! Hello! So you want to be a moderator? Would you mind if I ask some questions so we can get to know you better>

Player PM from-Thundy/(Charlie Dove)(?): Of course Ten, hit me.

Moderator PM to-Thundy: Well, I guess the first question I have concerns your last mod application, and how you think you've changed since then.

Player PM from-Thundy/(Charlie Dove)(?): Well, for one I got out of the terrible relationship that seemed to be the main reason I was denied. Would you mind being more specific?

Moderator PM to-Thundy: Well, I guess what do you think you learned from your last application experience?

Player PM from-Thundy/(Charlie Dove)(?): Well, I am not entirely sure how to answer that? I guess I was told things about myself that were not moderator worthy and decided to take it upon myself to change those things. It also helps to rememeber not to read player notes outloud in teamspeak I suppose.

Moderator PM to-Thundy: Okay, gottcha. Next, I'm going to give you some hypothetical situations, and you tell me how you would react as a moderator. Some of these should be fairly easy, since you've trialed before, but it'd be nice to know more about your thought process, okay?

Player PM from-Thundy/(Charlie Dove)(?): Sounds just dandy.

Moderator PM to-Thundy: Great, lets get started. Situation one: A new player joins with the character name "Vladimir Putin", a bald 30 year old assistant. Our records show their account is 2 days old. What do you do?

Player PM from-Thundy/(Charlie Dove)(?): Well, the name is a direct violation of the -- would you hold on one moment?

Player PM from-Thundy/(Charlie Dove)(?): Hey, I'll not join the next round and answer all your stuff so im not divided and can answer you properly.

Player PM from-Thundy/(Charlie Dove)(?): Is that cool?

Moderator PM to-Thundy: Sure, take your time, I've got plenty.

The Rest of the interview took place via Forum PMS:

Thundy:Hey, would it be easier to talk here?

Tenenza:Sure, although I'll be out most of today, so feel free to continue answering the last hypothetical situation we left off on and I'll take a look when I get back.

Thundy:Okay, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the question centered around a bald who had joined with an inappropriate name. I'd boing them about the name, and after hearing their explanation or whatever they said, I'd ask if they'd read the rules of our server, specifically referring to the post about not having pop culture referenced names. I'm not sure if mod privileges allow for us to change player names, but I would discuss with them a viable name and make the change.

Tenenza:Mkay, second situation: You get an ahelp from a player saying that they have been permabrigged for no reason. What do you do?

Thundy:Firstly I'd boing the player, asking for their version of events, while asking any other staff that were online if they'd seen what had happened and for advice into the matter if they knew more then I did about it. Depending, I might hand it off to them. If not, I'd listen to the player and then, if they accused specific people, I'd boing those people asking for their version etc until I found out a rough idea of what was going on. From there, I'd either explain to the player that the perma was deserved and why or ask the officers involved to move the player to a timed cell.

Tenenza:Mhmm, okay then. Third situation: Suddenly a bunch of Modlogs appear about two guys shooting eachother. You recognize one as being a regular player, but you don't really know this player that well. It looks like they're shooting at eachother with lethal weapons, but you were in the lobby so you don't have much else information on the situation. There are no other mods or staff on at the time. Go.

Thundy:Ahhh these are hard.

Okay, jump in and boing them both, asking for what happened. Doesn't matter if I know the person or not. Find out the story. It really depends on what they do next that determines what I do. If, contextually, the entire server has been taken over and there are constructs everywhere, Iwould assume the outcome differently then if it's dead hour and there's two chucklefucks shooting each other for funsies.

So, in conclusion, I would need more information to give you a more descriptive answer.

Tenenza:One is a scientist, with a advanced protopistol, the other is a detective with the detective gun-thing.

They are dueling eachother on the holodeck, with the winterfield setting.

About 10 people are watching.

Thundy:And no other staff is on? Hmm.

Okay, so I would likely observe. I would look for RP and try to gather an idea of what the situation was. If they weren'tt breaking any rules, I'd simply watch. From what you're saying, it doesn't sound like they were breaking rules and therefore, my involvement would be minimal.

Tenenza:Final situation: A player adminhelps that another player, one you know well but have never had to deal with as a moderator, is powergaming. A quick check on them reveals that they, as a non-security role (such as either a quartermaster, scientist, or doctor), have managed to arm themselves heavy using the most powerful weapons they could have legitamately aquired in that job (such as a powered crossbow as a quartermaster, a polyacid syringe gun as a doctor, or a laser canon as a scientist), and is currently in a firefight with the nuke team. They are winning. What do you do.

Thundy:Okay, this person is a regular player and have obviously read the rules. I might check their skills. If the person is not trained in weapons combat, I would one: boing the offending player and ask why they were playing a non combat orientated role if that were trained in combat or, alternatively, if they were not trained, why they were able, with no skill, to pick up the weapon with such ease and know it's workings.

Not sure if that entirely make sense.

Thundy:Please reply, you're making me nervous.

Tenenza:Sorry, went to sleep early last night.

Mhmm, I think I've got a good grasp of your thought process then, so we're just about done.

This interview and it's contents will not be disclosed outside of the moderation staff without your consent. Would you like to leave it publicly closed for just moderation staff review, or open to public review on your application thread as well?

Thundy:I'm not entirely sure I understand what that means, but I don't mind things being made public. Criticism is generally how I learn.

[TechnoKat]

Eyyy, I'm all up to see Thundy moderating. They are a very kind and nice person overall, I've had fun roleplaying with Thundy, this player was also one of the reasons I've been staying in Aurora, not many people ever interacted with my characters.

Thundy's very welcome to new players in my opinion, which is what I really want to see more from mods. I've ever rarely saw any frustration at all coming from Thundy, just couple of LOOC statements maybe, but that was waay far back, and not much either. I'm all up for Thundy with a moderator status.

Hopefully the player will get accepted.

+1

[Guest Menown]

I'd like to bring this up, Thundy.

http://aurorastation.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1643&p=29859&hilit#p29859

Now, that confession isn't something a moderator should do, and, against what everybody is saying about you, isn't exactly good, nor welcoming to new players.

[Thundy]

I'd like to bring this up, Thundy.

http://aurorastation.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1643&p=29859&hilit#p29859

Now, that confession isn't something a moderator should do, and, against what everybody is saying about you, isn't exactly good, nor welcoming to new players.

Hi, not actually sure I've played with you, who are your characters? I've never actually done this before, this was a personal joke between a friend of mine and I, though if people are going to be so strenuously watching my every post, I may have to be more careful about what I post about.

[Guest Menown]

Hi, not actually sure I've played with you, who are your characters? I've never actually done this before, this was a personal joke between a friend of mine and I, though if people are going to be so strenuously watching my every post, I may have to be more careful about what I post about.

 

It's not about if you've played with me. It's about your statement in the thread. I'm not trying to be mean, or overly critical, but "purposefully giving false information to people that treat me or my characters bad" isn't the best quality in a moderator; even joking or not.

You've been up for the position before, I believe, but you didn't make it through the initial trials. Do you think you've improved past that?

[Thundy]

Why do you want to be a moderator?:

I believe that I can give back to this community in much the same way that it supported me when I really needed it. I have addressed the issues previously brought up from my last application and believe that I now meet the criteria for a moderator.

 

Yes I do.

[nanotoxin]

As probably the only person who's seen Thundy's previous modding/admining on the minecraft servers she mentioned, I feel as if I should give some insight as to what type of staff she was.

The minecraft was actually a modpack called voidswrath. It added an incredible amount of extra weapons, armours, edibles, and blocks. Some of which would take almost months of griding to craft.

When I joined the server, because I had known Thundy prior to her being promoted on that server, I was instantly greeted with the best armour, the best weapons, and a nearly indestructible house, simply because I was her friend. When other friends in our group would lose their armour in PVP, she would refund the lost items completely. She would put her friends in creative mode and let them do whatever they wanted as long as the head admin wasn't on. She'd do random unscheduled drop parties in the servers spawn, dropping again, months worth of material, to mostly veteran players. She had built one of her friends an adventure map, that had taken almost three weeks. She ignored every other person who asked for help, dead set on building that map. I can also provide multiple sources if need be.

Professionally speaking, loyalty to your friends is an admiral quality, but not one I'd see fit for a staff member. Personally speaking however, I know for a fact, Thundy has a very difficult time changing her ways and would rather do what she wants in the name of fun instead of following rules/guidelines.

I'm going to give this a heavy -1.

[Xelnagahunter]

So a recent conversation started on another moderator application that I don't like. Thundy, if someone else making staff will make you willing to remove yours, then you probably need to rethink why you want to be staff in the first place. If you can't handle working with someone you may dislike, then how can you handle moderating someone you may dislike? this makes me foresee grudging and other issues arising and I'm not a fan. I don't particularly not support you, but given your stance on the situation I can't bring myself to support you either.

[Frances]

Valid concern, but keep in mind having to work with someone is different than simply seeing them on a server you mod (yes, even if you might encounter them every day).

It'd be a lie to say that anybody on Aurora staff doesn't have players they dislike for personal reasons, but that hasn't prevented most of them from remaining impartial when needed.

[Xelnagahunter]

Valid concern, but keep in mind having to work with someone is different than simply seeing them on a server you mod (yes, even if you might encounter them every day).

It'd be a lie to say that anybody on Aurora staff doesn't have players they dislike for personal reasons, but that hasn't prevented most of them from remaining impartial when needed.

 

I'm aware of the differences, I simply do validate them. We will act how we act to people regardless of them being a co-worker or a customer. When you become as familiar with the customer as you are with the co-worker (The case for servers) then the same level of tolerance will easily become prevalent. I'm not saying Thundy cannot do the job given the stated dislike of the other applicant, I'm saying that it doesn't bode well or produce large amounts of confidence in the ability to remain impartial.

Side note: It's not a lie to say that about any one member of staff. I've no players I dislike yet, characters are a different story. I've only been playing SS13 for 50 something days though.

[Frances]

All I'm saying is it's not unnatural to feel uncomfortable working with certain people if you've had/are having personal issues with them. It might simply be the case of two people preferring not to remain too near each other, lest unpleasant situations arise. This doesn't make either of them unqualified to be mods by default. As for the issue of one dealing with the other on a staff-to-player basis, I would assume both would easily be capable of handing off potential cases involving the other to different staff.

Both parties here could and should speak about this to leading server staff (preferably in a confidential manner, probably). I do hope they're contacted about this and given a chance to explain themselves, rather than have their applications brushed off because of the issue.

[Thundy]

To put it bluntly, nano and I used to be engaged. I do not believe that I will share that with anyone else on this server. I don't know how far you are willing to go in terms of getting along with people that you may have had run ins with in the past, but I for one am not going to work with my ex fiancee. Period. I apologise if that seems extreme, but, for me, it really isn't.

[Guest]

Given that the both of you have history, I'm willing to believe that both of your applications (not just one or the other) are both compromised in the fact of the matter that, well.

Both of you have history.

And this is only going to become problematic, unless by some act of God, the both of you learn to get along/ignore each other's existence.

But I'm not going to be foolish in saying that's what should happen, because I know it won't.

As much as I know about the situation as has been told by a certain person or two, this is extremely concerning. It's horrid timing and circumstance that the both of you are applying for moderator.

I don't think the staff are going to take chances here, one way or the other. In their position, neither would I.

I'm going to have to give a firm, "No", even though I do believe Thundy would be a good moderator, but I'm extremely worried about conduct issues from the both of you. That, however, is my two cents.

[Frances]

Delta, aren't trial periods used to verify these sort of things?

[Guest]

Trial periods themselves aren't a guarantee.

I would know this, despite being told before by the Head Dev a few months back that I would get a trial period.

That chance didn't really come. But I don't really care, I felt that was relevant to that point.

And either way that I look at it, it doesn't look good, trial or no. Problems are going to fester, turn into drama, and end up being terrible again.

History has a funny way of repeating itself, despite the people involved.

[Xelnagahunter]

I'd like to point out that I'm not putting forth my opinion on the matter, just approaching a concerning thought and sharing it so that others may choose if they feel it is worth overlooking or not.

Thundy, to all of my limited experience with her, is a nice person who genuinely seems to care about the server and the people here. Which is what I would personally want in a staff team. But then comes the problem of them being the only person able to handle a situation involving someone they strongly dislike, for any reason. In human nature we see bias all the time. It will almost always effect someone in some way. Beyond that, what happens if the mutual dislike between her and another user becomes so overwhelming that every action is being scrutinized and reported? It would suck to have someone else looking at you that harshly when it might have honestly been a simple mistake to learn from. Yet enough of those can shine through to ruin a person's reputation, deserving or not.

Thundy, I hate a few of my exes and would enjoy watching them suffer in a large variety of ways. Hell one of them moved on and my best friend started dating her. I found that putting up with her got me to chill with my friend. So I learned to do that. I did something I didn't like, to do something I loved.

[Thundy]

Okay, I did not initially want to speak and wanted my application to speak for itself but I think my response is now required. I am sorry in advance if I hurt or offend anyone, it is not my intention.

The minecraft server. I put that forward because I thought it was a good thing to have as previous experience and show that I could handle myself in stress situations. I was a mod for a few months and an admin for a few more. The staff consisted of the guy that ran the youtube channel, his brother, the three or four admins and the moderators.

When Nick joined the scene, the youtube guy had taken his focus from our server and put it onto the other mod pack that centered around Lord of the Rings so as to cash in in time for the hobbit movies. I was a moderator at the time of Nano's joining. I had, at the time, been building a faction home and we had a faction stash, which is where I brought the armor for him. I did not spawn it in for him. As a moderator and later as an admin, it was our job to answer Ahelps, visit the player in need and help them however we could. If it was deemed that the player that lost their armor or weapons had suffered an injustice, it was our job also to retrieve that armor from the inventory of the offending player or spawn entirely new armor.

The adventure map? That was a map originally designed for Nano but half way through I realised that if I made it good enough, the youtuber may want to play it and have it as a video on his channel (bringing the spotlight back on us) and so put more and more time into it. I did not disregard my job to work on it as Nano says.

I did not do random unscheduled drop parties. Like most of the staff here, we had a skype group that operated to serve as a way of informing the other staff of what was happening. Nano was not a part of this group and therefore cannot know what was scheduled and what was not. Putting people in creative mode to build was also a thing discussed in the group and was used widely by the other staff to help build things faster.

Numerous times it was talked about that I should be made community manager since I was so good at welcoming new players and helping them out. I was and still am very welcoming and, if you should fault me, it would be for the fact that I would be too open with new players, having to move our faction home over 20 times since I would bring new people to the faction who would grief it and leave the server.

I have learned a lot from that. I have learned how to give the attention needed to solve a problem. I have learned how to maintain an even (if not perfect) demeanor when handling cases between two arguing parties. I feel like I have advanced these skills to a point that I am a viable option for a moderator on this server.

 

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I am going to take back what I have said previously. After careful consideration and help from a friend, I realise that I am not expecting conflict. Rather I fear it. I would be happy to work on the same team as Nano and can, if need be, put my own feelings aside. Everyone on this team is very capable of making up their own minds and discerning whether Nano and I are Moderator-worthy.

Lastly, I do genuinely care for this server. I want to see it succeed and prevail. If we are both chosen, so be it, if neither of us are, then fair enough. If one is chosen over the other, then that is fine, I will continue to play here.

[Xelnagahunter]

I am going to take back what I have said previously. After careful consideration and help from a friend, I realise that I am not expecting conflict. Rather I fear it. I would be happy to work on the same team as Nano and can, if need be, put my own feelings aside. Everyone on this team is very capable of making up their own minds and discerning whether Nano and I are Moderator-worthy.

Lastly, I do genuinely care for this server. I want to see it succeed and prevail. If we are both chosen, so be it, if neither of us are, then fair enough. If one is chosen over the other, then that is fine, I will continue to play here.

 

I can't express to you how happy I am for this statement alone. I wish you luck, though I still remain impartial.

[Thundy]

Hey guys, not sure how all this works, but I haven't been contacted or anything and I don't know who to contact. Don't rush, just don't know what to expect is all.

[Thundy]

Okidokie.

I am going to bring everything to light that has been spoken about me. I would really like people to talk about this as it seems that at present no one is being completely transparent and open with issues. Here goes.

After not hearing anything from anyone concerning this, I took it upon myself to message Viking on beyond and ask what was up. His response (and I'm paraphrasing) was the following:

1. The teamspeak. I had that issue concerning me reading out peoples notes on Team Speak during a training session with Viking on my first trail moderator run. He was teaching me how to look up peoples notes and how to add to them. It was assumed that I wouldn't read them out, as others that were not part of staff were in the call. I, however, forgot. Those non-staff people then presumptively told the other members of staff.

2. That I am too sweet. There is a general agreement that I am too sweet, which they (staff) all agree on. "You seem like you can't boop people hard enough."

After talking to Doom on skype, I got the idea that it wasnt my lack of sweetness (people can attest that I have my moments of un-sweetness) but my lack of assertion.

Addressing point one.

There was no malicious intent at all, it was a simple mistake. It will not happen again. Anyone with a brain can see that.

Addressing point two.

I handle things very differently to how I think others do. As of late, I have been trying to gather a more rounded view of a situation and remain absolutely calm when dishing out what I believe to be "justice." I know justice as finding the most absolutely "right" way and going as close to it as possible. If that means punishing both or all parties, then so be it. I dislike taking sides when I haven't heard every view. From my own observations, this isn't how everyone deals with things. That's fine. You do you and I'll do me.

BUT

Don't call me sweet when you haven't seen me in action. When I was on trial, I was almost always alone during deadhour or with Viking trying to train on how to do macros or whatever. I have been told that people never observed me answering ahelps and I therefore never did. I resent this. You didn't see me and I live in Australia so my times might not be the same as yours.

Lastly, I need an answer. You need to either give me a trail or deny me. Leaving me without an answer is both rude and cowardly.

Someone take responsibility already.

Cheers

Edited July 31, 2015 by Guest

[Xelnagahunter]

I like that you brought forth the previous issues and helped to iron them out. It shows a desire and a strong sense of moral motion and a willingness to step up. I can respect your answers there and it further gives cause for me to wish you luck. The only issue I take is with your last few sentences. They have stated that they are not done selecting trials but that it might take a few weeks to come around. After my secondary interview I was told it would be a few days before trials would be selected and it took nearly two weeks beyond that. Give them time, they are already jugging a bunch of us and I'm sure some of us will make the cut and some of us won't. Just hang in there and wait it out.

[Thundy]

If someone could remove this, that would be great, thanks.

[Doomberg]

Locking and archiving as per the applicant's request.