Michael Lohmann for HST

[Demir Dogan]

While I agree the thread seems to be escalating aggressively, I don't think someone should be publicly questioned on their desire to be anonymous. Tree may not feel safe identifying themselves for personal reasons, and those reasons could potentially be identifiable should they be revealed. While Tree could have gone through a PA to achieve a similar effect, posting as an anonymous user in the forums should also be considered acceptable (as long as it complies with the Code of Conduct) and there may be reasons why Tree felt this method is more comfortable.

In my opinion, a forum member's personal desire to remain anonymous should be publicly respected.

[Sir Eric Locke]

I'd like to agree with you Seth and I would in a perfect world where there are no shady people. Unfortunately it's not a perfect world and some people are very shady indeed.

What's to stop someone on the opposing staff in the election (and before I continue this is a hypothetical example I do not believe this is what is happening here) from posting anonymously and pretending to be a new or returning player to throw shade on their opponent?

My point is when we have discussions in the shadows and no one knows who we are it only invites negativity and makes us question each other's motives.

We should all be civil and cool enough with each other as friends to talk in the light.

[Denise]

As you said Nathan, unfortunately we don't live in a perfect world. We live in a world where people can't always be civil and friends either.

PAs exist when we feel this way so we don't have to speak directly to staff or another player.

I literally spent 10 minutes considering the backlash from posting my option to support tree. And that right there could very well be why they want to be anonymous.

But all of your points are valid, that it could be someone from the other staff, etc.

-Denise

[Oberon Gault]

I'm still sorting through the lengthy reply before I have a full response, however I will note that, in my statement that there were multiple persons concerned with the topic of anonymity, after it was blatantly questioned for validity, two persons came forth in abandoning that anonymity, and a third stated their concerns from an anonymous account.

I believe that this should satisfy the concern that "anyone can say anything" that spoke against the very nature of the Player Advocate's requirement of privacy and confidence.

There are very serious concerns of keeping player's interests intact without fearing repercussion, and while I am still attempting to parse down the aforementioned lengthy replies to something more manageable to reply to, this years-old trait of the PA has been proven as quite valid and very serious to keep intact.

[Barnaby Cuthbert]

Mar 23, 2017 7:28:34 GMT -8 Sir Eric Locke said:

Hey Tree,

Out of curiosity why attack from the shadows? I'm not saying your points don't have merit some do but the fact that you don't tell anyone who you are makes it seem a little shady. Also there's no reasons for attacks at all in a civil discussion. If you believe Mike is not fit for HST there are better ways to go about saying it that will be much more effective. All you are doing now is making yourself look super shady and turning people away from your points with your harsh tone.

 

In light of unprecedented, brutal, personal attacks on social media by multiple parties in connection with members of this staff I support this person's fear of reprisal and need to remain anonymous. It is flatly not safe to disagree with some of these individuals. I would not wish anyone to have to go through the kind of things that I've been through related to that in recent months. And it continues to happen.

[Victor Adelai]

It is a shame when someone chooses to weaponize the boards or social media, I agree.

-Rob.