Just to add an anecdotal note, we did use to have server-specific forum-categories - I believe at the time it was Balmung/Gilgamesh and Other, however as time went on the sections were closed - the reasoning among others being that having specific debate categories for servers seemed to make people think that the RPC was mostly Balmung-centric since Balmung's forum-category was getting the most activity. There has been an ongoing focus ever since on making the RPC appeal more to communities outside of Balmung within the system limitations we have, and as I see it (as a person, not a moderator) there never has been a clear cut intention to keep the forum balmung-only.Â
What I hear in the debates I've seen and participated in around and about is that people either:Â
- Can't be bothered using a forum or find it difficultÂ
- Think that the RPC is only for Balmung
- Think there's a lot of drama on the RPCÂ
- Have not heard of the RPCÂ
For the last two, I can't help but wonder if people have gotten so used to saying that things are this way because it's just what you say - Where there isn't put any attention into updating the opinion. Specifically about things being dramatic here, I would say in the last 1-2 years there has been a notable decline in topics that explode, and an increase in even difficult/volatile topics being discussed in a respectful manner. Comparing it to other places (Like Tumblr) makes the RPC look like an idyllic farmhouse on the countryside.Â
Either way, how I see it is that you have to be the change you want to see in the world. This is especially true for a place like a forum. Instead of subscribing to old ideas, you could opt to go "So what" and post/participate anyways, essentially. If other people see a more diverse group of servers-under-the-avatars involving themselves in the debates then you may just inspire others to jump in too.Â
I think that the coming upgrade of the RPC is going to help support a positive change, by giving us additional possibilities to support the community how it is now, not how it used to be.Â
*Just putting an extra disclaimer into noting that this is my personal opinion and not my opinion as a moderator, no hats.
What I hear in the debates I've seen and participated in around and about is that people either:Â
- Can't be bothered using a forum or find it difficultÂ
- Think that the RPC is only for Balmung
- Think there's a lot of drama on the RPCÂ
- Have not heard of the RPCÂ
For the last two, I can't help but wonder if people have gotten so used to saying that things are this way because it's just what you say - Where there isn't put any attention into updating the opinion. Specifically about things being dramatic here, I would say in the last 1-2 years there has been a notable decline in topics that explode, and an increase in even difficult/volatile topics being discussed in a respectful manner. Comparing it to other places (Like Tumblr) makes the RPC look like an idyllic farmhouse on the countryside.Â
Either way, how I see it is that you have to be the change you want to see in the world. This is especially true for a place like a forum. Instead of subscribing to old ideas, you could opt to go "So what" and post/participate anyways, essentially. If other people see a more diverse group of servers-under-the-avatars involving themselves in the debates then you may just inspire others to jump in too.Â
I think that the coming upgrade of the RPC is going to help support a positive change, by giving us additional possibilities to support the community how it is now, not how it used to be.Â
*Just putting an extra disclaimer into noting that this is my personal opinion and not my opinion as a moderator, no hats.
