Forum Thread

Thank you for sharing your feedback! I think your complaints are obviously very tough, but I think we all need to respect them. I also respect that you tried to include solutions in your points whenever possible :)

It's currently very early in the morning for me, so I have only skimmed over the points - but I'll be taking my time to think about your full feedback at a later point. There's just one thing I feel like pointing out already, because you're criticizing the mods based on a decision that actually I made - so I want to clear this one thing up.

Quote from -mystery

there's also the argument that they don't see things unless they're reported, but that's just...even worse, in my opinion. if by any chance that's true, that's absolutely terrible

The fact that mods only react when there's a report is true. That's what they're clearly instructed to do - otherwise we'd be living in a biased police state on here.
Mods only see a small portion of the global feeds and messages every day, so they heavily rely on your reports. If they see a user acting out themselves, they report it and then (if they have time right now) handle the report themselves. This step is required because every decision and action they make needs to be fully documented. Every report is always archived and mods always add notes and comments including further evidence or explanations on why they made certain decisions.
They are clearly instructed (by me) NOT to go around and search for rule violations. I just personally don't think this would be the right thing to do. That's why we have the report function after all.
If you don't use the report function, I honestly think you can't complain about user's behaviour either... It's a simple step you can make yourself to change things for the better.

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An unexpected response, but a welcome one

>> -mystery
Just to not continue lengthy post in this thread, I'll keep it short. (And yes, find the humor in everything. Makes the world go round with laughter~)

I agree with you 100%, we need more mods, and to possibly replace those who have been offline for too long. (To be fair on the timezone thing, it's an English-speaking website only so other countries don't really do much with this site.)

And I will say you aren't alone in thinking the mods have a bad aura, I used to think the same way too. But after getting in trouble for no real reason on Pokefarm, the mod just said "I don't care, you're banned. Have fun loser." Nothing like the mods on this site would do. And yes, you're right, they aren't bad people, but they are certainly slowing down.

You wouldn't be reported, not at all. If you have a valid problem with a mod and think it was unjust, then you have every right to point it out. Mods are people. People are human. Humans are imperfect, they make errors and not everyone can be a mod. (I was debating mod applications when I first joined but figured maybe I wasn't the right person, but after today and feeling strongly on preventing such issues from happening I think I need to apply.)

I can understand that, you'd like to know if you helped someone fix a problem or if what you suggested can't really be done. Silence does make things harder, but sometimes when something can't be done, it creates more negativity.

If you do try to get them fixed, I will gladly support you all the way. Heck, maybe I'll even edit the sprites or create ones of my own and put them in suggested. May as well use my time and computer for something.

You're actually not the first I've seen complain about mods, but definitely the first to put it publicly. Probably not the best way to go about things, but it gets your point across and makes for a good debate and open conversations.

Thank you for respecting my proof, I really didn't want to post it but thought I really wanted to make a point. And by all means, any questionable activity from a mod or staff member as proof is highly appreciated for this thread. I've spoken to a few users, and they too have not seen this behavior from staff.

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>>Riako
Wait, really? It needs to come from reports, not from what a mod can see?
I feel like this needs to be bent just a bit. What if a mod or staff member sees some very inappropriate behavior, and it hasn't been reported yet? Are they not allowed to act on it?
Per se a user posted an explicit image on their profile and no one reported it or even saw it except a staff member... They have to wait until it's reported?
If they don't go looking for any sort of rule breaking, then those rule breakers could very well get away with it if they are careful enough.
Or users are too afraid to report thinking they will be in trouble for it. (And be fair, there are many people out there like that, shy and timid, too afraid to stand up and make a statement, even if it is anonymous)
Or users will think someone would have reported already and decide not to report again due to spam.

I also have to agree with -mystery here. Not too long ago, I did send a report in for someone breaking a rule, and five days went by with nothing being done about it. Mods had been on and offline during those days, I would check the staff list. It wasn't until someone sent a PM to a mod that the issue was resolved within the hour.
There's also the fact two spam comments were removed from this thread, but not the third, potentially offensive one.
Is there something going on with the mods lately that's been causing this sudden outbreak on Pokeheroes?

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Honestly Yeah, just yeah.

Quote from MetalHeadKendra

I feel like this needs to be bent just a bit. What if a mod or staff member sees some very inappropriate behavior, and it hasn't been reported yet? Are they not allowed to act on it?

I think you need to re-read that part of my post:

Quote from Riako

If they see a user acting out themselves, they report it and then (if they have time right now) handle the report themselves.

They can act like regular users, of course.
I was just pointing out that there job is not to go around and search for violations of the rules.

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Can I just mention that some things that are reported, they never get solved? I remember at least reporting one or two (or maybe a few I just can't remember) feeds that had swear or inappropriate words and they never get deleted. They stay there for a while before the user themselves delete them (that's unless the feed actually gets deleted by a mod and I just never noticed). Like there's still a feed that I commented on that's inappropriate and it's been up for twelve hours. Although there could be a possibility that this feed wasn't seen by anyone else but me and no one really reported it. I guess I should report since it seems no one else did. But there were other "troll" users posting really ridiculous and inappropriate and extremely long feeds that clogged up the notification walls and they're still up. I know someone had to have noticed it and had to report it, since this person spammed the really long feed FOUR times and clogged up the notification walls. There has been at least three troll users making inappropriate and extremely weird feeds throughout the day and they're still up even when some mods were online. Maybe the mods themselves never see these feeds but didn't at least one person reported these trolls and their ridiculous feeds? I mean, everyone has been talking about the 'drama' that exploded on here, they had to have seen at least two inappropriate feeds from these users.

I'm just a little confused right now.

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Quote from -mystery

if i'm being completely honest, if you decide to work for a website and put your art out there for hundreds (or thousands) to see, you should learn how to deal with not being able to please everybody.

You know, while that statement is absolutely true, it is. Not. A. One-way street.


I can assure you, I'm very much aware that I can't always please everyone with my art - pixel or otherwise - and it isn't something I want to do anyway.
However, I do take into consideration what others might enjoy and want to see - I don't create events for my very own enjoyment (of course, I sneaked in Pokémon/themes I personally like a lot here and there; can't - won't - deny that, but that's very much not my standard approach), but for the site/users after all. And that means paying attention to all kinds of possible opinions and different preferences. That also means not being able to incooperate them all in one single sprite/event line though. That's simply just not possible.
So yes, there's always gonna be someone who doesn't like Event X - and sometimes that someone even can turn into a whole group of people, depending on (but not limited to) how un/popular the Pokémon/theme in question. And yes, I try to analyze how people react to different type of events and draw conclusions from that.

But. Let's be real here, it's impossible to create an event that everyone will like, considering the sheer amount of users on here and all the differing opinions that come with them.
And, apart from that, why do only I, as the creator in this scenario, have to accept that I cannot please everyone with what I do? Why does this seemingly not apply to the viewer as well? Why can't some people accept that not everything can be after their taste, instead make a big deal out of not liking something - and with that I mean the people who go around flatout disrespecting the work (and the human(s) working on it behind the scenes; because, even though I mainly talk about 'I' and 'me' here - simply because I won't speak on the behalf of other staffies; it does not belong to me to do so - events usually are a team effort, you know), insulting everything and everyone on their way, instead of simply being like "ok that's not after my taste, maybe next time then"?


And that was about it. Thanks and bye~

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"ok that's not after my taste, maybe next time then?"

Okay but like, next time is always dissapointing too

It's impossible to create an event that everyone will like, yes, this is true ! You can't always make something that will please the most people on this site...but there is only one thing I have seen around me and here on PH overall that is about the recent events. Lately, it seems that the artists here tried their best to find pokemon less loved by the fanbase which resulted in people...not being in awe or pleased by the event themselves.
The newer events were meant to make those unlucky pokemon to be more loved but sometimes, some pokemon are not liked by the majority for a reason. Sure, one person or two might be very happy but this can't compare with 1000 people that like the pokemon. More people liking the actual pokemon itself, the more people will interact to get the pokemon and be eager to hunt it. Lately the events weren't very exciting to get.

Now, another problem brought by this is that the events are not very often on this site as they used to. Now we get events so rarely...it feels like this site slowly dies...A community contest where users create events would bring a spark of joy again. It was actually demanded many times. This a very small part of the problem that the community faces in the obvious lack of activity this site has.

As many said, a solution to this is more people to make content. more mods would be nice as well since the list became so small in the past 2 years and this site really needs it

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deleted

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>> Riako
My apologies. I would have sworn that wasn't there but I supposed I missed it.

The point here still stands. Too few mods.
And they're rarely online, or they don't act on reports when they're sent in.
As we've seen several users claim already, reporting doesn't seem to do anything lately.
Either they take far too long to get to the problem, or not at all.
If a user posts an inappropriate image on their profile and only one users sees it and reports it, that image may very well stay there for many children to come across accidentally.

The purpose of the mods is to protect the users and website from harmful or disruptive content.
If they aren't allowed to search for problems, then what's the point of having them?
The Wiki and Pokeheroes Panel suggests that the mods actually search for things as well, so you're contradicting yourself.

Quote from Moderator Application

The job of a moderator mainly includes our forum management, which means you will have to search for rule breaking posts/threads and delete them. But you will also be in direct contact with our PokéHeroes members every day! Be prepared to be flooded with questions about the game everyday, as well as trying to solve troubles between users. As a moderator you have to act impartial and friendly in every situation.

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>> -mystery
Indeed, when my upcoming camping trip is over, I think I may spend some time doing that and getting opinions on fixing sprites.

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>> Liirah
You are fair on all your points. Of course not everyone will like everything.
I personally thought the Solar Voltorb was a funny idea but that's just me.
Being someone to help a website of custom-made sprites and Pokemon, you will have hate and like for every little thing you do. That's a part of fame, a part of the "Spriter" nametag you wear. I believe people who have an issue with the unpopular Pokemon getting events may very well be in the wrong, but that's not what the issue of the post was. If someone has an issue with the sprites or events, it should be taken elsewhere when this thread is mainly focused on the staff.

Quote from Spriter Application ; Spriter Requirements

As a PokéHeroes spriter, you have to develop new Event ideas and create theme-based Pokémon-Sprites as well as "Fake" Mega Pokémon Sprites (Mega versions for Pokémon that don't have a mega version in the official Pokémon games) on a regular basis.
You work together in a group with our other spriters, discussing about new ideas and helping each other to improve an Event Sprite.
The main technique requirements are customizing Pokémon sprites by adding outfits/items, changing skin colors or editing parts of a Pokémon's body.
You should be able to work very precise, detailed and have enough patient to improve a sprite until it's perfect. You also need to be able to deal with criticism and express criticism to other spriters in a objective way.

The issue was "inability to take criticism".
Criticism. The way you make it sound is when someone doesn't particularly like the way a sprite looks or the event idea itself, then you take it as an insult. It's a choice to be offended, and no one was attempting to insult you. They basically state there's something about the sprite they don't particularly like, which in turn provides an idea that maybe you should stay away from the things they point out since there's a large group of people that dislike it.
In this case, the unpopular Pokemon getting events. No one cares for Voltorb or Nosepass, and so far there's been more dislike for the two event Pokemon as such and the users are stating their opinion. So instead of being offended like someone is disrespecting the spriters or the work (which they aren't) just file that in mind and go after Pokemon that are a little more liked by fans.

Quote from Liirah

And, apart from that, why do only I, as the creator in this scenario, have to accept that I cannot please everyone with what I do? Why does this seemingly not apply to the viewer as well?

You're making these FOR the viewers.
If you're the chef of a restaurant and you have many people complaining the dish is dry, bland, or generally gross...
Well, you lose those customers or supporters. You lose money. You go out of business.
Unless you change that recipe and make it to the customer liking, and things go smoothly again. The restaurant is booming and customers praise you. (You'll still get the picky customers, but that's life.)

I agree that people do need to know that not every event sprite will be to their liking.
But you need to understand that you can't do what you want to do either.
You tailor based on the likes of users.
Accepting that spriter position means you need to accept criticism while not being offended by it.

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