As my formal retiring letter, I’d like to inform people of the problems I see within the VE Army.

Fury, we all understand that you have a job and a family and that you donate as much of your time that you have available to the VE. However the VE requires more time then you are able to afford it, try to make a decision that doesn’t leave the head of the army cut off.
Merrick, stop being cold. Why are you bringing back Jester, it’s in the past, you’re in a position to actually do something productive, but you still try to bring that back.
Cosmic, don’t tell me that I don’t respect people. Just because I don’t respect you, means nothing. There are people in the VE, that I consider my friends, and I respect them.


None of you pay attention to what’s going on, I was Squad Leader of Dark Dragoons for awhile now, and I barely wrote a one page story. Not once did I report. You guys try to make these 8.5 chapter stories and things, but why even bother if you aren’t gonna make sure the people under you are doing their jobs, I thought that’s what bosses do.

Now that I’m finally leaving, I can say these things without worrying about just being shut up, though I’m sure one of you will edit this for me as soon as you see it. Farewell.

I’m noticing a trend in your comments. You are “asking” for things, instead of taking them.  If you are going to sit there with your hand held out like a child, people aren’t going to do as you asked. Rizzit usually asked me once a week to make sure I reported, and I never did. Is it his fault that I’m not reporting? Of course not, it was mine. But since nothing was done about it, why would I start?
And if you can read my little paragraph where it reads, “None of you pay attention,”  I confessed to being a bad SL, which is also saying some of the problems are my fault.
I’m not accusing any of you of doing a bad job, but you’re not doing a good one.

And Fury,  “Sarcasm is the protest of people who are weak.” – John Knowles

I don't think this is a particularly constructive post Yill. Fury, Rizzit etc. can't physically make you do your job. This entire club is very reliant on members having the initiative to go ahead and participate along club guidelines, and contribute because of a general love for Star Wars and writing/gaming.

If you've reached the stage where you no longer care enough to put in even a minimum effort (i.e. in regular tasks such as reporting), perhaps it's good you're leaving. I respect what you've done for the club, but when you're sick of something, it's good to get away for a while

I cannot speak for the Army itself these days, but I felt I would expand on what Kami was talking about where the "entire club is very reliant on members having the initiative to go ahead and participate".

Yillis, what you are asking for is those higher than you to nag you, yell at you, etc to do your job properly. I don't know how it is with you, but when my parents (my mom in particular) nags me it more often than not results in me having even less of a desire to do the things she's making me do. Of course I usually end up doing them as they are important things (applying for jobs, looking for a place to live, etc) she just overestimates how soon they need to be done.

My point from that rant is that (at least in my case) the same can be said for my duties (posting on stories, etc) here in the VE. There have been times where I simply could not get in the mood to post. As Trevor can attest to, his attempts to get me to post at first had the same result as the situation with my mom...it would push me further and further away from wanting to post. The difference here is when it comes down to it, posting on a story, making a report, etc aren't vital and in all reality aren't things we HAVE to do. They are just things that we are expected to do as part of our squad/squadron. Each and everyone of us has a responsibility in this club to be active, and if we aren't able to perform these duties then we resign or come to some understanding with our superiors.

You probably understand all this, and think that when you didn't perform your responsibilities you should have been removed as a squad leader (I think that is what you were getting at, but I'm not sure). If you know/think you are not doing a good job as a squad leader, why make the High Command take action? I'm sure they just loooove to remove long-standing members from command positions. As I said before, if you don't think you can handle the responsibility of the position, you resign. If you think you can, it shouldn't be responsibiliy of your superiors to make you show it...you should be taking it on yourself (showing initiative) to prove it.

That's all I have to say on the matter, sorry if I rambled. I just don't see why someone would want to be nagged to do their job.

I know there is a lot of resistance to this Jester reopening, what I don't get is why. I also don't see how that is "bringing back the old days".

Perhaps some explanation is in order.

In the main IRC channel, I am by no means blameless when it comes to cursing, so let's go back to using #Lounge or something like that. That would be a good first step.  And maybe #Politics or something as well. It is our server so we don't often have to worry about channel names being taken.

And though Yillis has decided to bow out of making things better, he has opened up a discussion we should always be having. Let's use this time to see - as Rogueboy has suggested - how to actually do that. He's brought out some good ideas. What else do people have?

I will just add comments to certain pieces of the first post.

Yillis wrote:Fury, we all understand that you have a job and a family and that you donate as much of your time that you have available to the VE. However the VE requires more time then you are able to afford it, try to make a decision that doesn’t leave the head of the army cut off.

Yillis:  Joined - Mar 2005
Fury:  Joined - Jun 2000

I think those stats say it all about how much time has been put into the VE.

Fury is the leader of the Stormtrooper Corps.  It's not for you to decide what is approved and/or not.  Some things will work; while some things won't.  Only time tells what will and won't work.

As commanders, we will allow members to run certain projects if they are showing initiative.  We certainly can't run everything; so we're more than happy to allow someone else to take something over.

It is then up to the member that is given the opportunity to make it work.  If they do, then great; more things for members to do plus promotions and recognition to the member that made it happen.  If not, that's fine too; it didn't take any more work on our part for someone else to not do anything.

I can name off certain things you were approved to take on; where others may not have approved.  I have still yet to see the completion of those items.  I'm not surprised though; you're not the first or the last member to be given an opportunity and just sit there with it.

Those that make things happen with the opportunities given are the ones in the command positions.  The more people take on, the higher ranks and positions they achieve.  It's a pretty simple concept.

Yillis wrote:None of you pay attention to what’s going on, I was Squad Leader of Dark Dragoons for awhile now, and I barely wrote a one page story. Not once did I report.

Believe me, we notice.  Why do you think you're only a Gunnery Sergeant?  Higher ranks take more initiative to achieve; something which was proven you had lacked, even in your own words.

As commanders, we don't force anyone to do anything.  Just as Fury said earlier; if we did, it would probably just make more people mad anyways. 

You basically have a choice of whether you want to just sit around and coast in the VE or if you want to participate and actually gain rank/rewards.  The level of involvement taken is all up to each member. 

Yillis wrote:You guys try to make these 8.5 chapter stories and things, but why even bother if you aren’t gonna make sure the people under you are doing their jobs, I thought that’s what bosses do.

If we waited for everything to be perfect before beginning something new, there would never be anything new in the VE.  Everything would be the same and nothing would ever change.  There wouldn't be anything new for members to do.  How long do you think people would stick around then?
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I like when members give ideas about how to improve.  This is how the VE gets better and becomes more fun for all the members.

What I don't like is when members attack other members in the process; especially the commanders.  If you are insulting the commanders, you are insulting me since I put them into the position of power.

If you have negative things to say, at least offer suggestions on how to improve them.  Otherwise your negativity will be taken with a grain of salt.

I have know Fury since I was 13 when I first joined this club and I have to say that I am fully behind his back. Like what Riel said, I have not seen a more dedicated member than Fury in the four years I have been here. As a commander he has been willing to listen to suggestions and any refusal is always backed by solid reasoning.

Case in point - the ARCs are not his brainchild, it was that of some obscure lance corporal back in late 2003. He listened to the idea and took it up, going as far as setting up a fantastic webpage for it. The fact that the ARC teams were constantly aborted was of no fault of his but that of the members rather.

Like Fury has mentioned, God knows that this isn't a real military nor is it an online dictatorship. We're just a bunch of Star Wars nerds looking for fun, and I'm sorry that it turned out sour for you Yill.

There's only so much he could have done and the rest was and is up to us.

Honestly, I don't care if you don't respect me, Yillis. As to why you don't have that respect, I don't know. Perhaps it's my character, the fact that I'm a Christian, or the fact that I keep having to remind you that you can't say "f**k" all the time in mIRC. Now, the reason you don't have my respect is because you instigate so much negativity in mIRC despite what others ask/tell you. I don't give a damn if you dislike me, but whatever you want to say, you say it in private. You don't go around telling me to "f**k off" or say "I think you're an idiot" in the main channel. I've worked my ass off in the VE for 7 years, so if you don't have even just a little respect for anyone by that fact alone, then I would be most interested with how you define "respect".

As far as the happenings in the Corps, we know exactly what's going on. I've kept my own tabs, and I know you haven't sent in any reports. I've had to rely on your ASL for that. We're not exactly in a position where we can just swap you out of your SL position with all the squads bearing only PFCs-Corporals.

And don't you even start touching the topic about what you think Fury has or has not done. He didn't earn the position of Prefect for just sitting on his ass. In fact, I don't see a Medal of Honor around your neck either.


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People had problems with Jester in the past, but that's the past. I've thought about it myself, and am glad that Jester has returned. A lot of people just don't understand what's going on and what it can mean for the Army.

1) Jester primarily has veteran or retired members. There may be one or two that are new blood, but other than that, they are not pulling away from anything.

2) In general, having people leave squads isn't a bad thing. In fact, it's a good thing. Why? Because as the higher-ranking troopers leave, this paves way for the lower-ranking individuals to move up. If people stayed in one spot, there would be no elevation in position.

Just thought I’d clear up a few of the myths about Jester

I had actually approached Rizzit a few months before the opening of Jester with the concept of reopening IH and filling it with a few veterans and retirees I had been in contact with since my resignation from formal duty. I was knocked back at the time because of the current situation in the army, and respect that Rizz made that decision. In retrospect, there was still a greater need to maintain focus on the current squads at the time.

Jester would not have been opened had the army not been capable of taking the loss of a few members. Like Fury has said, the majority of our roster consists of retired members who were not actively participating in any form. While I understand some of the angst associated with the approach we used to recruit, it was necessary for us to understand how much interest there was in the ranks before actively recruiting for the squad. Additionally, we already had approval from Fury from this time. Rizz and Kairo were informed when the squad was actually formed. It was simply a concept beforehand. All the squads were full at the time. Drill squad was well on its way.

Jester is still subject to the commanding orders of Kairo, our PC, and Rizzit, our CC. Just because Merrick has a personal interest in the squad does not render us unaccountable for our actions in anyway.

Ultimately, we’re just here to write and have fun, not to offend

Thanks for the kind words, and let's be clear about something here.

It isn't that I think Yillis is all wrong, just that the presentation could have been better.

Yes, my job has been crazy over the past year or so. My part of my department has lost three vets and I'm the lead now over a group involving four others, one of which has experience. We have a new product line coming out literally any day now and new servers are popping up on our properties all the time.

So yeah, real life is being a bitch.

That said, I *know* I'm not around as much as I used to be. I can't change that but I can attempt to try a little harder. That's where the reports help, and the synopses of what is going on. I asked for a Phase II update this morning and already got three squad responses. That's great and I thank the SLs for being there whenever they can.

Which is all we can ask of ourselves and of the rest of you.

We constantly try to draw the line between what is active and what isn't. Do we put a post limit? Do we fine if you don't report? How fast do we AWOL people?  There's no hard and fast rules here and sometimes we are alternately too slack or too rigid and it bites us in the butt.

So, am I blameless? No, but I'd like to move on past fingerpointing and get onto something constructive, knowing full well that there's always room for improvement at all levels.