Staredit Network

The clan may be several months old, but most of the members just recently joined. I say wait about 2 weeks for it to settle down.

The problem, as I see it is that the members are constantly changing around. (One example I can think of was Chicken jumping in and out of membership.) There seems to be tension created by several members in and out of the group. (Shocko seems to have a problem with the clan.. Although thats not surprising.) I wouldn't give them a forum yet.

Stupid slow internet post.

I think they're starting out kinda like SEN did; members from other clans falling apart joining a new one with some promise. But I'd say before giving them their own forums we should set some more formal rules for clan forum creations/removals from now on.


They're trying to smuggle me into chef, by the way. I agreed I would join on the condition they help me make a map, though. I don't really care for clans, frankly, but I'd be willing to suspend that sentiment if something good were to come of it (for a change).

Historically I've found clans to be more about pointless drama and bragging rights than productivity, frankly.

And that said drama has spilled into several other forums. If they can't keep it between themselves, then they aren't ready for the responsibility, IMO. Somehow, a guy (mugen) has made it sound as if anyone who hates Chef should hate me too because I somehow support them. All I did was lock a drama-queen topic, but he's "pulling a gamma" and accusing the staff of being co-conspirators because of it. But I'd also agree with the idea of giving them a few more weeks to settle down, and perhaps see if they can disassociate themselves with members such as mugen.

The drama is quite a deterrent.

I'm fed up with the drama, to be honest. If we gave them a forum they would hopefully confine their flames to it, but I'm not sure if they have 'solidified' enough as a clan for them to warrant having one.

They have very loose joining requirements (if any, I've heard anyone can get in), which I think might be a problem. Most of the drama is being caused by a formerly banned member, Knx, now known as mugen.

Are you sure thats Knx? That would explain why he's so eager to drag my name through the mud. He did send me a PM apologizing, though. But still...

ADDITION:
After reading some more of that forum request thread, I don't think he's very sincere. He probably feels more defeated than remorseful, and is just tired.

So I see we've crossed the threshold that dictates that general behavior is more important than mapping skill or other merit. Kinda a shame that has to be the case, but I suppose it's of more value to look out for the community base as a whole than to give way to higher level individuals. Otherwise it'd be like building a tower and putting everything at the top, leaving little to hold it up at the base.

What I would expect from a mapping clan would be a group that could help me with problems I might face in my map. This would mean that the members would be able to positively work with others. Behavior becomes more important than mapping skill alone. A single great mapper can make a clan, but if he treats everyone else like a nobody, I woulnd't join.

That applies everywhere. I fired 3 talented people for disrespectful behavior on my movie. They were a pain to replace, but their behavior was inescusable (such as being late all the time, missing session without notice, difficulty following orders, openly challenging my authority in front of other cast/crew members). I'm not accusing any of the talented map makers here of such behavior, but the stink of bad behavior sometimes ends up following undeserving people.

From what I've seen in their meetings, they still need to really work out a system of order, many of the members disagree with what position of rank they have and are not following the leadership of silentecho.

I think that it may be in the best interest to pull the forum out for a short while, and let things cool down. (Although I'm not sure if this would actually cool things down or make it worse. It is clear to me that something must be done before this insolence becomes any worse.)

I think it would make things worse. The major issue with Chef is that it originated as a fun hang-out clan without a tag. And now that many members have joined thinking it is a serious guild of map makers, it is somewhat chaotic still, keeping that level of naivety (which is why I'm pondering leaving Chef for a more stable environment like Unknown, but that's a different story).

At this point, the issue is leadership. Silentecho is not a great leader. And sadly, this is the issue that Oo and Mp face as well (Oo with a leader who quit map making a while ago and Mp with none other than 7-7...). Perhaps if we give him time, Silentecho will become better, or he'll just assume all is well and not attempt to change.

To be honest, I think they have too many ranks, and too many ranks leads to members becoming obsessed with promotion.

Also, they have Panzer_kavalier? I thought he'd retired years ago...

There's a lot of conflict regarding Panzer. Silentecho is convinced he is the real Panzer, whereas many people claim he is Panzer's brother looking to use the name Panzer_Kavalier to his advantage. I personally think he is a fake.

I kinda agree. For a relatively small organization such as a clan, there probably doesn't need to be so many.