As someone on the Safety Team I want to make it clear that I absolutely, without reservation, agree with Telanir and his decision to end the ‘Safety Team’. I joined the safety team because I am very unknown, unbiased, and have experience with the things the community was suffering from at the time, and probably still does. I came on board to stop predatory actions, sexual harassment, and other dangerous activities that actively harm community members. I never wanted the team to have power, nor was it meant to as Telanir stated.
What I envisioned for the team was it being the friendly, open, and honest voice that could reach out to each and everyone of you, as well as being there when you needed someone to reach out to. We weren’t meant to be mods and the mis-characterization, overstepping of our bounds, and lack of any agreed upon document is the reason for the teams failure, not Telanir or any communication.
To this day I think the lack of defined rules, channels, and community based definitions are a failure of the rule-system and the staff team. Defining and setting up more effective and personal measures to report violations such as discrimination, doxxing, sexual harassment, and harassment in general in a public setting are still something that will plague the community until it is addressed in one manner or another. The team was supposed to be there as trusted members, figures if you will, that acted professionally towards everyone and could communicate with each other, staff, the respondent, and the claimant.
In short, I tried my best but other members on the team wanted far more than just a group of people who cared, wanted to make the difference, and were able to listen to all sides. It’s an issue in the community, staff, and very core. As sad as that is to say. I’ve been here for a while, off and on because of life, but things will change someday, I hope.
Just thought I’d put my points in before it got swept under the rug.
(PS: To clarify I actively campaigned against Draeris announcing the team, especially on a case that had nothing to do with us while Telanir was away. I do not support his actions nor did I think it was a case that was in the jurisdiction of the Safety Team, but in fact was in the jurisdiction of the Moderator team who should’ve self-policed or had admin support, not us getting involved.)