1857

Though that Nick Diamond guy probably should be. I mean, really, what’s his deal ;)

1858

This whole situation should be a case study for people interested in emotional intelligence, because it shows how every side was wrong, refused to admit it, and created the worst possible outcome.

  • The guy commenting (I forget his name) was being “nice,” and I don’t think he meant to be sexist (which doesn’t mean he wasn’t sexist, just that I think it was probably inadvertent), but he’s a douche for trying to teach a long-time pro how to do her work. However, it is certainly his right to engage her on twitter while also being wrong about his criticism.
  • Price read into the situation something that (likely) wasn’t there and reacted poorly. She could have done any number of things that would have de-escalated but instead chose the opposite recourse, with no good outcome in mind. Did she think the internet would finally learn its lesson and stop harassing women (in her mind)?
  • O’Brien and Arena.net then chose the worst-possible resolution that solved nothing. Their hard core players aren’t going to suddenly stop critiquing them and their staff. They now look weak and unsupportive to people who they might want to hire, and they’ve given more power to the group of assholes who revel in the ability to brigade and force someone they disagree with out of a job.

At every step every person involved in this bullshit drama could have stopped, given it some thought, and picked a healthier response. This isn’t about one person screwing up, this is about every single person involved, and also those who should have been involved but weren’t for whatever reason, failing to pick the right path.

1859

I almost got fired for posting on a message board once. Good times!

1860

That guy is a jerk!

1861

FTFY.

Please pack your things, security will escort you out.

I’ve arranged you to be transported to EA where you will make mobile Kardashian games… for the rest of your life.

1862

I always knew coming back was a mistake!

1863

Derior is being a “douche” for expressing his opinion is a position that I reject entirely. You and Dave are insisting that laymen have no rights to express an opinion (Dave has now resorted to making up false quotes which would be funny if not so pathetic). How can you support this position while making an opinion yourself? Is that not the height of hypocrisy?

And what should ArenaNet’s response been? That is it okay to unfairly and publicly call a customer a bigot? Should Justine Sacco kept her job as well? Public statements and public image matter and you seem to believe that ArenaNet should somehow support or justify her statements while she gives the company a black eye. That is ludicrous. The only reason that some want to paint that ArenaNet somehow gave into a lynch mob is to try to justify their predetermined position. ArenaNet has done no such thing. The angry internet mob has nothing to do with her termination beyond bringing visibility to it, much like the angry internet mob did nothing but bring Justine Sacco’s “Going to Africa. Hope I don’t get AIDS. Just kidding. I’m white!” tweet to the masses. The tweets themselves were what was actionable, not the visibility they were given. If you can show evidence to the contrary then please go ahead and do so.

Of course, what I find with those that seem to excuse Price and blame Derior and ArenaNet is quite consistent. They have to attach the worst possible motive to both Derior and ArenaNet to try to justify their option despite any shred of evidence to back up their assertions. Not only should Occam’s’ Razor be applied here but when you start going around looking for the worst possible motivations of people’s actions (with absolutely no proof) to back up your predefined agenda then it is really you that has the problem.

1865

From Menzo’s post.

1866

Maybe you need to tone it down a bit. I’m worried you’re getting spit on your monitor.

You accuse me of things that I specifically address, so it’s clear you’re just reading what you want to read.

Good day, sir.

1867

That’s a strong argument for not allowing any “long-time pros” onto twitter or any other platforms where they might be exposed to such rudeness and be tempted to respond.

Because damn near any interaction can be interpreted that way if someone is of a mind to do that.

1868

I would certainly advise any developer at a game company to avoid social media and message boards at all costs for just that reason. There’s very little of actual value that can be gained by engaging and if you have a community team (or person) who is any good, he or she can tell you what you need to know and act as your liaison.

There are people who can handle it, but even the best-trained zen-master community person can fall prey to the trolls. Game devs have no chance, and I have plenty of evidence and direct experience to back it up.

1869

I think what people are trying to say is that not all interactions are that, but there are certainly people who act that way to troll. It can be very difficult to tell the difference some times.

1870

I would think that’s an argument for not immediately reacting as though the person is a troll, though.

1871

yeah, and I dont take my own advice some times when I’m in a bad mood and people have been shitty to me all day

1872

That certainly happens.

To me, I mean.

1873

For years I watched the “blue post” trackers on the Blizzard forums and was amazed at how well they dealt with trolling, entitlement, or outright hostility. It’s definitely a skill set. That said, it’s hard to want to see devs as being so fragile, but perhaps that’s better characterized as “human.”

1874

I will address this one, though, as a thought experiment.

We don’t know exactly what was said in that meeting, so maybe Arena.net did all these things and Price refused, so who knows, but:

  • I would have told Price that she needed to publicly apologize
  • I would have suggested that we fly this guy to Seattle and have a sit-down meeting together and see if we can’t all just be friends. Call it an Obama-esque teachable moment.
  • I would have told Price that she can no longer speak on behalf of Arena.net on social media. No problem talking about industry issues or whatever, but she is not a spokesperson and is not allowed to talk about her work at Arena.net on social media in any way.
  • I would then draft a statement saying that Price was wrong for how she treated the customer, that the issue has now been addressed, and that we would not be commenting further on the matter.
1875

They don’t have to be deferential, but they should avoid being hostile.

This example doesn’t seem to correspond with the way this fan actually acted. A twitter comment, a question, that I believe he hoped might start a discussion, is hardly a lecture. Maybe a better example would be you hear the line cook and you interject a comment instead of taking over the conversation and lecturing. And the line cook hears the comment, perhaps nods and says something like, “It can be done that way too” and then moves on with his conversation. Or he could call you an asshat.

1876

You speak out of both sides of your mouth. In one sentence you say he is a douche. In the other you say it is certainly his right. I find this in congruent. By implication he must be doing something wrong if he is a douche. Also, inherently disagreement is not criticism.

1877

What question?

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Do you see a question in there. He didn’t open conversation or ask questions, he told her what to do, that’s part of the reason she read it the way she did. He’s telling her, a vet in the industry, how to fix the problem she’s talking about. Had he asked a question, maybe she would have taken it as more than a one way street comment that he says he thinks it was.