This discussion thread has three stated topics:
- To revise the roles and channels currently utilised by all staff members within the Staffchat.
- To remove, foreclose, or otherwise change the current existing channels within the Staffchat.
- To specifically revise the role of Retired Staff within the Staffchat with the upcoming implementation of the Public Staffchat.
After some discussion within the Staffchat, it has been determined that this topic would be better suited to being posted on O5 Command as members of Staff were unable to reach an immediate compromise. This thread will provide a forum to facilitate public discussion of the above goals. An incomplete list of the salient topics encountered within the preliminary discussion are outlined below:
Arguments towards the revision of current Staffchat organisation:
- Staff Casual Channels should not exist within the Staffchat as they contribute towards a clique atmosphere within Staff and primarily exist to allow Retired Staff to remain within the wider Staff community. Examples of past issues concerning this activity, such as the formation of in-Staff cliques, were raised.
- At present, Retired Staff would be invisible to any observers joining the Public Staffchat. Staff members have raised opposition to this lack of visibility because they are, in effect, only present from the casual channels and nothing more, and therefore do not contribute to Staff.
- Suggestions that Retired Staff should have an additional channel where they can be asked for input on topics that require their explicit advice.
- Staff role recieves a single permissions role, with additional cosmetic roles being enabled for JS/OS/Mod/Captains/Admins. This would provide clearer permissions as you would, in most cases, either be Staff or an Observer.
- Staff Announcements channel should be open to all Staff due to any member of Staff being capable of opening 05 threads.
Arguments against overwhelming revisions of current Staffchat organisation:
- Staff Casual Channels should exist as they provide a channel for inappropriate and off-topic discussion that does not involve telling the Staff member to shut up. Additionally, they provide a place to blow off-steam and prevent off-topic discussions from dominating Staff-orientated discussions.
- Retired Staff remain hidden from the public because their accounts are private, and therefore, they do not wish to be subjected to unsolicited messages and DMs.
- Staff Casual Channels actively discourage the formation of private, casual, staff-only sidechats.
- The additional Retired Staff Channel is non-public, so as to provide privacy for those members of Retired Staff that no longer wish to be contacted.
- Potential abuse of the Staff Announcements channnel.
As an example, I'm in favour of culling all casual channels except for one which would be renamed to Off-Topic, whilst creating a new channel for the purpose of allowing Retired Staff to input on topics requiring their explicit advice.