It's Time To Step Up (Short Update)

[Roy 10,832 / 0]

Hello everybody. I just wanted to give a small update on the state of GFL.

 

GFL's Lack Of Progression

Recently, there has been very little progression in GFL with the front-end and back-end.

 

Front-End

For the front-end, there isn't enough communication going on with our higher ups. With that said, I haven't seen anybody try to step up and address these issues until this past week. I do plan on addressing this to the Trusted team in greater detail. The lack of communication is definitely noticeable. Although players have said GFL has never had "great" communication, back when we rebuilt our CA team the communication was better than it ever was in my opinion. Unfortunately, that didn't last and these "drops" in communication cannot keep reoccurring in the future. We're going to have to find a permanent solution and I highly believe the Tracker we plan on making will definitely help.

 

Although a tracker will help us in the future, what has been going on in the past month or so cannot continue to happen in the future at any cost. Although we don't have the tools to make communicating easier yet, that is no excuse for the lack of communication as of recently. Communication was strong just a couple months ago without these tools.

 

Back End

I do believe the back-end hasn't seen great progress as well. Although, the back end of GFL is mostly handled by @denros and myself. We are still waiting on things like the web VM move that should have been done a while ago in my opinion. The OVH machines in Europe are finally done and running smoothly. As for coding, I also believe we need to see more progress on our IPS 4 applications and such (e.g. official admin applications, the tracker idea, and so on). We've been waiting for over a year for official admin applications and they still haven't been made.

 

I also believe we need a bigger team to help with the back end of GFL (Technical Administrators). Therefore, I will be working with trusted individuals and train them to help develop and manage the back end of GFL. This not only gives me a lot more motivation to work on GFL, it will allow us to build a larger TA team that will help with the back end. This hopefully should result in things getting done more quickly and we'll also be learning more from each other.

 

I Hear Your Complaints

There have been a few users coming to me recently about their concerns for GFL. I am listening and I am well aware of the big issues in the community. The current state of GFL is not what I want it to be. I haven't been happy with GFL at all recently and honestly, even at GFL's prime, we had a lot of issues that were never fixed. Although in GFL's prime I was satisfied with its state (we were one of the largest multi-gaming communities out there when it came to game servers), I always felt we could improve. Although this mindset has its advantages and disadvantages (e.g. I'm never truly "happy" with the community so I don't take any breaks). It is a mindset that will lead this community in the right direction again as long as people are performing. To clarify, I'm talking about the community as a whole (not server-specific). For example, if a server is doing great, I'm not going to say "oh come on, this server can do better!". Even if the community is doing great, we can always be doing better (e.g. expanding into more games/servers and coming up with more ideas). There's never a stopping point.

 

It's time to start permanently fixing the issues in this gaming community.

 

Future Complaints

I'm aware there are a couple other users who want to talk to me about their concerns for GFL. I will do so when I have the time but I'd highly suggest going to the other Directors if you haven't already. In my opinion, complaints should be directed towards all directors instead of one (especially myself since I'm often busy).

 

It's Time To Pick Myself Up

For those who follow me on the forums or generally look at my content, you're probably aware of the health issues I've been going through recently. Health issues have been tearing me down recently but as said in my content, I am working on fixing them. My motivation has been on the very low side recently in GFL and I've been very burnt out (I still am). I've been very frustrated with GFL's state and with myself in general.

 

The break I was "suppose" to take a couple weeks ago never happened. And I feel it won't be possible unless if I take a break from the computer in general which won't be happening anytime soon. With that said, I don't think GFL can support me going on break right now. There are still a lot of things I need to take care of soon.

 

Therefore, I have only one good choice. I will be picking myself up and gaining motivation for GFL again. This time, I want the motivation to last instead of it being "spikes" of motivation which NEVER works out in the end and this same situation happens again and again. So, as said in the back-end update above, I will be training trusted individuals which should help with the load I have and help myself gain motivation (training others to help me can only lead to good things with the current state of GFL). I am also going to be looking into getting help from outside of GFL (e.g. server friends I have). @Rukus will be moving next week and after he is moved, he will be able to help GFL. I am looking forward to that! If all works out, I am very confident the motivation will last a lot longer and GFL will start going in the right direction again!

 

Conclusion

To conclude, GFL's current state is not looking great and I am well aware of that. I along with the other Directors will be working with everybody again and looking for a permanent solution that will keep the communication going with the higher ups. With that said, I need to also pick myself up and gain motivation that will last. 

 

I'm confident that things will start going into the right direction again soon. We just need to get out of this slump. I'm going to start making update threads again addressing ideas and issues in GFL. I'm sick of making these type of posts again and again. Therefore, it's time to start coming up with permanent solutions to fix the real issues in this community.

 

Thanks for understanding.

[JerryBomb 452 / 9,328]

first

 

 

Seriously though, thanks for the update. Hoping for great things to come!

Edited October 4, 2017 by JerryBomb

[Roy 10,832 / 0]

Moving to public (not sure why I didn't think of this while posting).

 

Thanks.

[Eli 708 / 11,596]

You personally have been very good with communicating to us what your trying to do. I know personally front end shit is being delt with pretty drastically (just look at the gmod manager purge) and cant wait to see what comes from it. Don't feel to down about the current state, because even though were not #1 anymore, were still something to be proud of.

[rapperdan 2,323 / 0]

right so TA team we bringing back @SFB and friends lmao

 

 

on a more serious note, @Roy once you get health care of some sort please dude get a psychologist or something as I feel alot of your issues may be from your mind it's self then once you get those dope meds that can help you mentally take the prescribed dose and don't ever abuse those pills as bad shit happens get blood tests to monitor your levels that the pills are at and the such and you should be so much better when it comes to mentally and physically as they truly are intertwined .

 

also I have that same mindset and it does drive me most likely even more crazy then yourself picture a dude who has to go to others to legit get a fix done that he could probably do in your sleep then having to explain why it needs to happen is always fun aswell.

Edited October 4, 2017 by OwnerOfGames4Dan_rapperdan

[Omid 215 / 5,687]

hire my boy nick027nd  and he'll save gfl 

Edited October 4, 2017 by Omid

[Runda 206 / 5,849]

Thanks for the update. +2

[ShadowPlays 394 / 7,237]

I had a dream once that when I logged on the forums my computer exploded

 

did I predict the future of gfl

 

no but in all seriousness, as soon as you get all this stuff sorted out I'm gonna make you take the break you deserve, and peeps are right, talking to a Therapist or Psychologist can really help take a load off of you with stress and other problems you might be having. You a real hard worker and you need real long break

Edited October 4, 2017 by Vivian
Misspelling

[Guest]

if GFL needs a developer, you guys could always get @reuben . he's applied in the past.

 

 

 

 

I kid. But seriously, thanks for the update @Roy, it's not often communities like these have owners and higher ups that deal and communicate with the basic users.

[TheLastBee 310 / 6,301]

Feel like change will be good as long as the change is a step forward. +1 

[Finnick 2,355 / 32,330]

css dr mg or ze right now

[Joshy 4,364 / 44,945]

I'm proud you are able to acknowledge this, and to share it with the greater community.

 

TL;DR / Summary:

• I think Server Managers should be able to more officially select Developers.  Cut-out intermediate systems such as ticketing and keep it on the forums.
• Increase team diversity.  Not everybody should be agreeing or seeing things in the same way.  You need deviants on the team.
• Evaluate the trade-offs.  You'll have to make decisions people wont like from time to time.  A lot of the awesome cool things usually come at a cost, and being cheap can be inherently more expensive.

----------------------------------------

 

I'm disappointed in the "lessons learned" because that's where the true weakness - in my opinion - lies.  I want to get straight A's in school, but I don't want to attend class, study, turn in completed assignments...  I want to be skinny and healthy, but I don't want to eat a balanced meal neither exercise...  I want to get a decent job and achieve a decent pay, but I don't want to work hard, I don't want to really think a lot, and I'm not in the mood to even look for a job.

 

Do you see my point here?  It's true: You can certainly achieve straight A's without those conditions; you can be skinny and maintain good health without those conditions; you can also get a decent job and achieve decent pay without those condition, and the opportunity may even be handed to you.  The converse is true too: You can do all the right moves and still get straight F's, be on the heavier/swollen side with poor health, and have no job and pay, but which side of each extreme should you be leaning on if you want to help your chances?  I think the answer is obvious.

 

The mechanisms to this point is that your success is going to come at a cost.  There are trade-offs to everything, and to the many decisions I have seen within GFL, many people and the preserved leadership members were not willing to pay that cost.  Being cheap has been inherently more expensive.  This is something to really consider when you come across difficult decision.  If the answers were easy or we always did things the fun way - the way that everybody likes it (at the moment) - then we probably don't need leaders at all.  To be clear in what I see: People just say what they know others want to hear.  They paint a "perfect picture" and might even have good intentions, but they aren't willing to make it happen.

 

--

 

Anyhow: If I were to make a personal recommendation for your Developer goals, then I would (start here and I would) like to see the capabilities of Server Managers increase.  It had always been my goal to move everyone a step up and decrease their dependence on CAs, DLs, Directors, and yourself.  One thing I have noticed is almost like a "black market."  When the system in place fails, then people find work-arounds.  Some of your Server Managers are already doing this.  They don't have programming skills and end up unofficially taking on Developers.  I think Server Managers should be allowed to choose Developers officially, and I would imagine CAs+ could quickly make the update on the forums too.  Developers on the forums have no security risk to my knowledge, and there was nothing I saw in my past role where there were risks.  I would also stop with the secondary systems or intermediate systems, such as a ticketing system, because we're too small and it creates unnecessary delays; people also forget about or get confused.  The forums are good enough.  I don't plan on digging into this anymore as I have written too much for my own taste, and plan to write more.

 

I would also recommend increasing the diversity in your leadership, and accepting the costs of people.  Does this person help your team even if they're a jerk or called you out?  Does this person have great activity, but lack technical skills?  Maybe they have valuable technical skills, but they aren't super great on the forums.  I've seen you guys spend a lot of time looking for the most perfect candidate.

 

"PERFECT is the enemy of GOOD."

 

I don't have any opinions of specific individuals, but I have a suspicion about why you may have liked your revamped teams at the beginning, and I'm not speaking for myself.  The revamped teams were all about people introducing and trying new things.  You had a few crybaby admins imposing "roles", "rules", and "standards" on these team members (we constantly seeing people "not understanding" what a CA is for example), but I believe your team was generally well-liked and I even recall a time where it seems so many were seeking to achieve these roles- it looks a lot more quiet lately.  Imagine someone wanting to do something interesting...  I don't think NASA is a terrible example (not speaking for myself and I don't work there)...  We see it on television and the news all the time about how they are working on deep-space missions and wanting to send people out to Mars, and I think that's really cool.  Lets stipulate, for the sake of conversation, that I did get hired NASA.  Would that make me cool?  Not at all.  They could hire me, but unless they could tell me what to do, then I wouldn't be able to get the job done.  If they could tell me what to do, then why would they even hire me?  The cool stuff is cool because it's novel- it's never been done before, and the people hired there champion their ideas and realize them.  What I am meaning here is people don't just get hired at NASA and all of the sudden have the ideas and skills to do deep-space missions or can build these super rockets; these people ALREADY had these ideas, these skills, and NASA is merely a resource to help them realize it- if it weren't for NASA, then I would imagine these people would likely do it elsewhere, or it would be more difficult and take more time make happen if ever.  To map this to GFL: What I believe I am seeing here is the few that do want these more interesting roles much liked the revamped position, but upon making it there, it's possible they didn't have the ideas, the skills, neither motivation to champion and realize (again: speaking for nobody in particular, and so nobody should feel threatened neither offended), and so the positions aren't as interesting as they believed.  It's like being hired at NASA, but all you can do is some paperwork.  It's probably not that exciting and doesn't make its way to the news.  The champions at these places often appear as jerks, crazy-talk, or are misunderstood - I'm sure of it -, or maybe not all of their corners are covered and it cannot be overlooked- the trade-offs couldn't be accepted, but that's the cost your team will have to evaluate.

 

Anyhoo:  Way too much writing.  Good luck, and thanks for the update.

[Monsoon 95 / 4,018]

Thanks @Roy for the update! I may not talk or play with you at all but I do understand your health issues as I just got out of the hospital myself. It's always a good thing to see higher ups talk about the issues plaguing the community. In terms of what you said about motivation spikes, this to I understand. I have faced the same issues a few years back when I tried to run my own TTT server. Even though it's minimal it really can wear down on you. Work in general can wear down on you. I and others here, think you should focus on your health as that is most important here. This community and every other community thrive on good leadership, and it makes me happy to see you post this. As I said I may not know you all too well, but from what I've seen you strive to be the best you can be and that is the key to a good leader. Always try and when you fail keep moving, but when you succeed, keep building on what you've created/ done. We all appreciate you and this community, never forget that you have a large base of loyal people who believe in you. I wish the best of luck to you, and I hope you get better from you health issues. Keep up the good work, proud of you. 

Edited October 4, 2017 by Monsoon

[Bae 2,489 / 41,520]

Most of it, I kind of knew since we talked about it occasionally. And then there's some that it's like oh, is that true? reaction. I mean, I really hope this can help gfl; the hope is the problem that may or may not work.

 

Anyways, like I said to you privately, if it hurts, take a small break. Do not abuse your body.

[Pyros 1,796 / 30,750]

but hey, @Roy, what if I'm lazy and I rather step down?  

Great update and thanks for giving me something to read @Joshy

[Rukus 19 / 2,496]

Thanks for the update @Roy. 

Things will get better.  It's the hard times and problems we endure that makes us stronger and better.

 

 

Ruk

[Kronenberg 6 / 1,250]

You could have like scheduled meeting or something.

[Bae 2,489 / 41,520]

4 hours ago, Imagination said:

You could have like scheduled meeting or something.

They done that before; it didn't really work out as planned; some had work or school or just didn't feel like coming into the meeting.

[Roy 10,832 / 0]

Just a quick update, I have made a public Trello board here. This board will help you guys see what we're working on and what needs to be addressed in the community. Once we complete our Tracker project, transparency will no longer be a big issue in the community.

 

In the past couple days I've gained a lot of motivation for GFL again and I have a lot of confidence this motivation will last. Things are starting to go in the right direction!

 

I just wanted to say thanks to @Xy_ and the others who have been helping me a lot recently!

 

Thanks!