Good afternoon. To start off, I didn't know whether this post belongs in the "Off Topic" forums section or the "Suggestions and Feedback" section of the forums, so feel free to move my thread if necessary. My username in-game is UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, for those of you wondering.
Recently, I was permanently banned for the discussion controversial topics at various points in chat/class assignments. After some deep consideration, I have decided not to make an appeal, but rather to offer some parting constructive criticism to the player base, the staff members, and the server as a whole. While the goal of this post is to call PotterWorld out on several issues I noticed as a brand new player entering a long-established player base, I hope you do not take this as mere annoyance over my ban or to what some would refer as "saltiness," but rather as a fresh set off eyes adding a new perspective.
Many of the issues I encountered at PW stemmed from long-established relations between players, causing those players not to be welcoming. For example, the server's player base is quick congratulate new players on being sorted into a new house, but when that player actually needs help, they are usually ignored, as the same questions are asked over and over from new players, causing other players to be annoyed. However, their confusion is understandable. I was also extremely confused when I began my PW journey. It takes about 3 days of game play to fully understand how to server works, and even then all of the locations are still hard to find. Some of the reasons for this confusion, which are not necessarily bad, just reasons for the confusion, are the following: most new players are used to other servers, in which one can warp anywhere; the texture pack, though necessary and expertly crafted, on top of many new plugins makes the experience even more confusing, as the player loses their sense of traditional Minecraft; the items for professions are extensive, and usually are obtained before the player begins professions; etc. All of these make PW such an immersive, truly one-of-a-kind experience, but lead to confusion for new players, and older players fail to remember when they, too, were confused.
To extend, when players do help new players or act friendly in chat, it is usually out of obligation or for power. The following example is not the only one, and no disrespect is intended toward this player; she just happens to be the first person whom I witnessed this type of behavior when I joined the server, making her notable in my mind. Erica_Mendes/Erica_Rayne proved to be one of the most helpful members of my early game experience. She constantly answered questions and showed me locations. However, when she became a Jr. Prefect, almost all of this aide ceased. While I do understand that there are responsibilities outside of chat of chat for staff members, this made it clear that this player only wanted power or the position and was helping extensively to try to gain brownie points and develop her application, not actually to help new players, meaning the behavior was somewhat fake. This is not just a problem Erica created; this type of behavior is rampant beyond rampant in the server, and it creates a toxic, corrupt, fake environment. A player will immediately tell another to "ask in /ch qc" but will not helped them with their riddle. This is a problem. When kindness isn't genuine, it is delegitimized.
The next large issue I encountered was a great deal of favoritism. Though PW tried to present itself as a totally objective, unbiased server base, this was not the case. Usually acts of favoritism were just small acts, but these small acts added up and really tore down other players. For example, I was warned by a staff member for calling a player "icky," which is obviously a crude, facetious joke satirizing how toddlers offend each other, but then when paying donors and other staff members call each other or other players "stinky," it is totally justified as "just a joke," yet these two concepts are almost identical in joke structure and severity of offense, which is very, very little. Additionally, while some classes were seemingly objective and purely for the joy of teaching class (like Ema's classes, thank you so much for being a solid positive force in the server), others proved to be less than fair. I read a lot of writing assignments that received better grades than not only mine, but also other players' writing assignments. While there is always some subjectivity in grading and sometimes I would not agree with a grade difference but would understand it, other times it would be obvious that one player had a better work than another, but the Professor that attended another Professor's class, or the player that had been on the server for 4 years and spent hundreds of dollars would receive the O+. Don't get me wrong, I received O's and O+'s throughout my time on the server; this is not out of personal saltiness, but out of an observed, somewhat favoritistic system.
The next issue I noticed mainly arose from players who were not staff but had been on the server for several years. A lot of discussion on PW is exclusionary of those not deemed elite players. Many new players tried to create conversations that were easily shut down or belittled because they were unspokenly deemed un-elite. Additionally, players sharing last names is fun for RolePlay, but often times, all of the staff members or elite players belonging to families divided the old players from the new further. Nothing made me feel more excluded than not being part of a family group and somehow that making me lesser, or not understanding an inside joke. Inside jokes exclude people. This concept is ironic, considering PW tries to present itself as ultimately inclusive.
My next point, is that most of the previous points I made were indirectly developed. Many players did not directly state these concepts above, but, rather, they were developed through implication, passive-agressiveness, etc. Players would hide behind the fact that nothing was explicitly stated that was wrong, but this does not justify favoritism or exclusivity. You might read this and think that it does not apply to you, but chances are, it probably does. In fact, so much of this has developed in the server's player base, that many don't even realize their actions are hurting others, especially new players.
Next (and the most controversial opinion so far), the server covers up large issues in society or within itself. When a player targets issues that should make others uncomfortable, or the call the server/staff/players out on wrongdoings, they are usually shut down and punished, which is unfair. While it is important to keep chat appropriate, tackling tough issues in a respectful, educated way, especially with backing sources, or issues that occurred in the novels should not be disallowed. A server built upon the Harry Potter novels should not punish its players for mentioning events that occurred in said novels, even if they are tough topics. A server so largely supported and congregated by LGBTQIA+ members (myself included) should not shut down discussion of society's issues, like oppression and discrimination, with respect to any minority or majority group. On the server, I noticed that if anyone had a differing opinion from the norm, it was deemed "offensive" or "political." As an openly gay male, I accept that it is OK for religious players not to agree with homosexuality, especially if they are respectful to all of the queer players regardlessly. It is OK to have different beliefs, yet the server shuts these down. Furthermore, since I have remained within the rules throughout this post's entirety, if it is shut down, this action will prove the server does not wish to admit it has issues, and would rather delete my post and cover these issues up. Acceptance is the first step in improvement.
While not all players fall under these problems that the server presented in my month at PW as a fresh set of eyes to the server's ways, many did. You are most likely part of the problem, even if you do not realize that you are. I genuinely hope that each of you considers your actions and how they may affect others on the server, and I genuinely hope those who are high up in server status attempt to reform the staffing system to eliminate favoritism, bias, and exclusion, even if it is not easy to accept or to realize.
Thank you for your time,
UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH (Brendan)
Recently, I was permanently banned for the discussion controversial topics at various points in chat/class assignments. After some deep consideration, I have decided not to make an appeal, but rather to offer some parting constructive criticism to the player base, the staff members, and the server as a whole. While the goal of this post is to call PotterWorld out on several issues I noticed as a brand new player entering a long-established player base, I hope you do not take this as mere annoyance over my ban or to what some would refer as "saltiness," but rather as a fresh set off eyes adding a new perspective.
Many of the issues I encountered at PW stemmed from long-established relations between players, causing those players not to be welcoming. For example, the server's player base is quick congratulate new players on being sorted into a new house, but when that player actually needs help, they are usually ignored, as the same questions are asked over and over from new players, causing other players to be annoyed. However, their confusion is understandable. I was also extremely confused when I began my PW journey. It takes about 3 days of game play to fully understand how to server works, and even then all of the locations are still hard to find. Some of the reasons for this confusion, which are not necessarily bad, just reasons for the confusion, are the following: most new players are used to other servers, in which one can warp anywhere; the texture pack, though necessary and expertly crafted, on top of many new plugins makes the experience even more confusing, as the player loses their sense of traditional Minecraft; the items for professions are extensive, and usually are obtained before the player begins professions; etc. All of these make PW such an immersive, truly one-of-a-kind experience, but lead to confusion for new players, and older players fail to remember when they, too, were confused.
To extend, when players do help new players or act friendly in chat, it is usually out of obligation or for power. The following example is not the only one, and no disrespect is intended toward this player; she just happens to be the first person whom I witnessed this type of behavior when I joined the server, making her notable in my mind. Erica_Mendes/Erica_Rayne proved to be one of the most helpful members of my early game experience. She constantly answered questions and showed me locations. However, when she became a Jr. Prefect, almost all of this aide ceased. While I do understand that there are responsibilities outside of chat of chat for staff members, this made it clear that this player only wanted power or the position and was helping extensively to try to gain brownie points and develop her application, not actually to help new players, meaning the behavior was somewhat fake. This is not just a problem Erica created; this type of behavior is rampant beyond rampant in the server, and it creates a toxic, corrupt, fake environment. A player will immediately tell another to "ask in /ch qc" but will not helped them with their riddle. This is a problem. When kindness isn't genuine, it is delegitimized.
The next large issue I encountered was a great deal of favoritism. Though PW tried to present itself as a totally objective, unbiased server base, this was not the case. Usually acts of favoritism were just small acts, but these small acts added up and really tore down other players. For example, I was warned by a staff member for calling a player "icky," which is obviously a crude, facetious joke satirizing how toddlers offend each other, but then when paying donors and other staff members call each other or other players "stinky," it is totally justified as "just a joke," yet these two concepts are almost identical in joke structure and severity of offense, which is very, very little. Additionally, while some classes were seemingly objective and purely for the joy of teaching class (like Ema's classes, thank you so much for being a solid positive force in the server), others proved to be less than fair. I read a lot of writing assignments that received better grades than not only mine, but also other players' writing assignments. While there is always some subjectivity in grading and sometimes I would not agree with a grade difference but would understand it, other times it would be obvious that one player had a better work than another, but the Professor that attended another Professor's class, or the player that had been on the server for 4 years and spent hundreds of dollars would receive the O+. Don't get me wrong, I received O's and O+'s throughout my time on the server; this is not out of personal saltiness, but out of an observed, somewhat favoritistic system.
The next issue I noticed mainly arose from players who were not staff but had been on the server for several years. A lot of discussion on PW is exclusionary of those not deemed elite players. Many new players tried to create conversations that were easily shut down or belittled because they were unspokenly deemed un-elite. Additionally, players sharing last names is fun for RolePlay, but often times, all of the staff members or elite players belonging to families divided the old players from the new further. Nothing made me feel more excluded than not being part of a family group and somehow that making me lesser, or not understanding an inside joke. Inside jokes exclude people. This concept is ironic, considering PW tries to present itself as ultimately inclusive.
My next point, is that most of the previous points I made were indirectly developed. Many players did not directly state these concepts above, but, rather, they were developed through implication, passive-agressiveness, etc. Players would hide behind the fact that nothing was explicitly stated that was wrong, but this does not justify favoritism or exclusivity. You might read this and think that it does not apply to you, but chances are, it probably does. In fact, so much of this has developed in the server's player base, that many don't even realize their actions are hurting others, especially new players.
Next (and the most controversial opinion so far), the server covers up large issues in society or within itself. When a player targets issues that should make others uncomfortable, or the call the server/staff/players out on wrongdoings, they are usually shut down and punished, which is unfair. While it is important to keep chat appropriate, tackling tough issues in a respectful, educated way, especially with backing sources, or issues that occurred in the novels should not be disallowed. A server built upon the Harry Potter novels should not punish its players for mentioning events that occurred in said novels, even if they are tough topics. A server so largely supported and congregated by LGBTQIA+ members (myself included) should not shut down discussion of society's issues, like oppression and discrimination, with respect to any minority or majority group. On the server, I noticed that if anyone had a differing opinion from the norm, it was deemed "offensive" or "political." As an openly gay male, I accept that it is OK for religious players not to agree with homosexuality, especially if they are respectful to all of the queer players regardlessly. It is OK to have different beliefs, yet the server shuts these down. Furthermore, since I have remained within the rules throughout this post's entirety, if it is shut down, this action will prove the server does not wish to admit it has issues, and would rather delete my post and cover these issues up. Acceptance is the first step in improvement.
While not all players fall under these problems that the server presented in my month at PW as a fresh set of eyes to the server's ways, many did. You are most likely part of the problem, even if you do not realize that you are. I genuinely hope that each of you considers your actions and how they may affect others on the server, and I genuinely hope those who are high up in server status attempt to reform the staffing system to eliminate favoritism, bias, and exclusion, even if it is not easy to accept or to realize.
Thank you for your time,
UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH (Brendan)
I agree with most of the other points, but I think the people above me have already addressed those well, so I won’t repeat what’s already been said. “UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH” was a super memorable name and you seemed like a chill person (I specifically remember that whenever you asked a question and got replies, the people answering your questions addressed you as “ugh” which made it sound like they were complaining while answering the question- I don’t know if that was just me who found that funny lmao). Anyways, a lot of the issues you mention aren’t entirely exclusive to pw, but I hope pw does what it can do address them, 
