Day of action=bashing

[raudf]

I agree with both sides of the day of action, because they both have a point... So I posted a 3-Posted message on that board! Lets hope I get some reasonable responces... but I doubt it...

Reasonable?! From them? Oh, my, we are dreaming! Well, I hope you reach a few more of the more intelligent souls who might not respond due to the flaming, but are taking it seriously all the same.

[Moogum]

I know that you said that PPT doesn't necessarily support it, but then why is it on the front page? By posting it, you are kind of supporting it, and it's giving people (and TNT) the wrong idea about this site.

Personally I think that it's stupid. Sponsers = free site. Glitches = inevitable on a website. Try to think of how many glitches go unnoticed because they fix them. Just because being a computer programer is their job, does not mean that there aren't going to be any problems along the way.

It's not bad customer service. With so many people on the site, and so many clueless new members e-mailing them every minute about everything, I can understand why lots of e-mails sent to them go un noticed.

[atomicblonde]

The most important part of the article always gets overlooked....

Note that anything which appears on PPT does not solely exemplify the thoughts of either myself or the staff. Anything which appears on PPT does not encompass the aim to 'idolize' nor 'bash' Neopets and their staff. These postings are the views, thoughts and opinions of the neopian populace.

I'm sure that if an 'Up with TNT' article was sent in, it would have the same opportunity to be posted.

[Moogum]

The most important part of the article always gets overlooked....

Note that anything which appears on PPT does not solely exemplify the thoughts of either myself or the staff. Anything which appears on PPT does not encompass the aim to 'idolize' nor 'bash' Neopets and their staff. These postings are the views, thoughts and opinions of the neopian populace.

I'm sure that if an 'Up with TNT' article was sent in, it would have the same opportunity to be posted.

You made my point. No one cares about what the article says about "these are not the views of PPT". The fact that it is on PPT's homepage makes it seem like they are the views of this site, which they are not. I just don't understand why PPT would get involved in something like this in the first place (what I mean by that is, why post it on the front page? Why not just leave it as a board members opinion).

[raudf]

Personally I think that it's stupid. Sponsers = free site. Glitches = inevitable on a website. Try to think of how many glitches go unnoticed because they fix them. Just because being a computer programer is their job, does not mean that there aren't going to be any problems along the way.

It's not bad customer service. With so many people on the site, and so many clueless new members e-mailing them every minute about everything, I can understand why lots of e-mails sent to them go un noticed.

Hmmm... Glitches are inevitable, true. Sponsors are okay, but when you put the Sponsors as a higher priority than fixing the glitches.. that's when problems and complaints arise. As for customer service, lets just say, I fully disagree with your opinion, because it's not just "lots" but "truckloads". Especially for the frozen auto form.
It's annoying when they creat ed the auto forms to take the load off the email system, but in this case, it's a complete failure, given that it appears that they aren't even reading them! You don't get an autoresponse in most cases and when you do, it's lost in the system.
As for this Day of Action? It might work, or it might not. But as long as Neopets has Sponsors, the site isn't free, because we pay for it by looking at sites, signing up with things and *gasp* by playing the sponsors games. Sure it doesn't come directly from our pockets, but we do pay the sponsors, so... circle of life.

[atomicblonde]

You know, I don't think it'll work and I personally don't support it but everyone is entitled to their opinion. It it's one thing I love about PPT is our ability to editorialize without censorship about neopets. That being said, it's that person's opinion and she's entitled to it. It's all about an exchange of ideas. The article really started a dialouge didn't it? That's the point. For it to stoop to a childish right/wrong debate like in some other threads is really a pity. There's more important issues in that article than a silly boycott.

[Phibby]

when you put the Sponsors as a higher priority than fixing the glitches..

Where or when have they done this? Seriously, did I miss some huge glitch sometime? Most glitches appear to be taken care of just a few days or hours after they come about. I highly doubt the time it takes to fix glitches is comprised of just a minute of fixing and hours of meetings with McDonald's and Disney.

It's annoying when they creat ed the auto forms to take the load off the email system, but in this case, it's a complete failure, given that it appears that they aren't even reading them! You don't get an autoresponse in most cases and when you do, it's lost in the system.

Maybe you're just referring to the freezing form (which I've never used), but the time I did use a form instead of actually e-mailing a staff member, I received a reply in just a couple weeks. It was a perfectly helpful one, too, not something like, "Sorry, but tough luck. :P" Maybe I'm just "one of the lucky ones," but it seems to me that they *do* read the letters they get through the forms posted on the "Contact Us" page and get to replying to them in a decent amount of time.

Sure it doesn't come directly from our pockets,

And without the sponsers, chances are the money paying to keep Neo up *would* come from users' pockets. With all the users and features Neo has now, I doubt they'd be able to handle everything if the money from sponsers didn't keep rolling in.

I personally don't support it, and that's because I really haven't had any bad service from Neo in my time on the site. The sponsers don't bother me, either. *shrug* If you support it, go ahead and boycott all you want.

Last edited by Phibby on Wed Jun 30, 2004 1:27 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Fishblade_Bluestream]

Personally I think that it's stupid. Sponsers = free site. Glitches = inevitable on a website. Try to think of how many glitches go unnoticed because they fix them. Just because being a computer programer is their job, does not mean that there aren't going to be any problems along the way.

It's not bad customer service. With so many people on the site, and so many clueless new members e-mailing them every minute about everything, I can understand why lots of e-mails sent to them go un noticed.

Hmmm... Glitches are inevitable, true. Sponsors are okay, but when you put the Sponsors as a higher priority than fixing the glitches.. that's when problems and complaints arise. As for customer service, lets just say, I fully disagree with your opinion, because it's not just "lots" but "truckloads". Especially for the frozen auto form.
It's annoying when they creat ed the auto forms to take the load off the email system, but in this case, it's a complete failure, given that it appears that they aren't even reading them! You don't get an autoresponse in most cases and when you do, it's lost in the system.
As for this Day of Action? It might work, or it might not. But as long as Neopets has Sponsors, the site isn't free, because we pay for it by looking at sites, signing up with things and *gasp* by playing the sponsors games. Sure it doesn't come directly from our pockets, but we do pay the sponsors, so... circle of life.

But that's not Neopets, is it? You buy a box of Cocoa Puffs because they're yummy sugar cereal, not 'cause they have a game on Neopets!

McDonald's was different, but I actually play with the plushies I got, and use the TCG cards in my deck!

So you're saying Neopets should be completely free? Well, if it was completely "free", ie. no RL merchandise WHATSOEVER, Neopets would go out of business.

"OMG LIEK IS JST A WBE SIGHT!11!!11", or so some people say. To them, I say "EXACTLY!"

Web sites, especially those as big and popular as Neopets, need bandwidth, expensive programs (Hey, Flash costs $500), and repairs, and that costs money. Seriously, people, instead of protesting Neopets, why don't you help them a little by contributing some money! You even get a cute little plushie for your donation! And some of 'em talk! *brick*

We can still get to them about the problems and stuff. As long as many people do it, it's a surefire way to get TNT more active and helpful to their members. ^_^

[Moogum]

I really hate when people say "They don't concentrate on fixing the glitches, they care more about merchandising". Do you really think every programer is in charge of the marketing? No, obviously not. There are special people for the merchandise. So by them merchandising to keep the site free (and when people say "Neopets is free" they mean just that: we are not paying out of our own pockets), they are taking away from the programing.

EDIT: Oh one more thing...

It it's one thing I love about PPT is our ability to editorialize without censorship about neopets.

Then why not post EVERY opinion that a member states? By choosing this opinion and posting it, it's almost like your agreeing with it. I think peoples opinions should stay within the boards and not be glorified by being posted on the homepage, just because it will give people the wrong impression of PPT as a whole.

[raudf]

But that's not Neopets, is it? You buy a box of Cocoa Puffs because they're yummy sugar cereal, not 'cause they have a game on Neopets!

McDonald's was different, but I actually play with the plushies I got, and use the TCG cards in my deck!

So you're saying Neopets should be completely free? Well, if it was completely "free", ie. no RL merchandise WHATSOEVER, Neopets would go out of business.

Web sites, especially those as big and popular as Neopets, need bandwidth, expensive programs (Hey, Flash costs $500), and repairs, and that costs money. Seriously, people, instead of protesting Neopets, why don't you help them a little by contributing some money! You even get a cute little plushie for your donation! And some of 'em talk! *brick*

We can still get to them about the problems and stuff. As long as many people do it, it's a surefire way to get TNT more active and helpful to their members. ^_^

Actually, I have no problem with Sponsor stuff, knowing how much bandwidth costs. I just wish that Neopets team would pay more attention to their players and a little less to touting their sponsorships. As for contributing money, no, not until they show an actual interest in the site they're running If it wasn't for the site, the toys and plushies would fail. *shrugs*

As for not getting a response from them? Well, I've used most of their autoforms and only in one case did I get a response and that was for a complaint I did have.. about two years ago. I'm not saying Neopets is completely evil, just neglective.

And about the huge amounts of glitches, take a look at posts here from around the Jun 12, 2004. Or simply run a search on the word Glitch in the general forum. It was bad.. and all it got in the news was a single small paragraph that didn't begin to cover the extent of the errors that occured. This is what spawned the Day of Action protest.

[DiscordantNote]

I highly doubt, that this thing will work, even if we get over half of the active 'neopian populace' to join in. I'm not against it, I just don't think it'll work.

What would be more effective in my opinion is that a bunch of people travel to the Neopets HQ and convince them to do something about the site. Mass email is one thing, mass snail mail is another, but mass-showing-up-in-person ought to get their attention. I don't mean protest to them, I mean show up in a group and kindly make some suggestions, share opinions, and give some encouragement in a peaceful way. I know this would be impossible for most people, but as I said, it would get their attention. Perhaps some people who live near Neopets HQ could even apply for jobs, and for encouragement and more money to the site little to no pay (kinda like volunteer work).

I know that's very, VERY far-fetched, but it's a thought.

[Phibby]

If it wasn't for the site, the toys and plushies would fail. *shrugs*

Maybe overall they would fail, but without the site, I know I would still buy the plushies as long as they stayed the same in quality. ;) Perhaps it's just that I'm a sucker for stuffed animals in general, but I don't buy the plushies for the site, I buy them just because I consider them to be cute and good toys.

And about the huge amounts of glitches, take a look at posts here from around the Jun 12, 2004. Or simply run a search on the word Glitch in the general forum. It was bad.. and all it got in the news was a single small paragraph that didn't begin to cover the extent of the errors that occured. This is what spawned the Day of Action protest.

Well, sure, it's been established that there have been glitches recently and Neo usually doesn't post about them, but how does not mentioning them in the news equal them not fixing the glitches in favor of interacting with sponsers? As far as I know, the sponsers have nothing to do with glitches at all. I'm with you in that I think Neo should explain about the glitches more (posting about it in the news, trying to get everyone to understand exactly what happened and that it's being dealt with as best as they can), but I'm not sure about how that has anything to do with sponsers...

[raudf]

If it wasn't for the site, the toys and plushies would fail. *shrugs*

Maybe overall they would fail, but without the site, I know I would still buy the plushies as long as they stayed the same in quality. Perhaps it's just that I'm a sucker for stuffed animals in general, but I don't buy the plushies for the site, I buy them just because I consider them to be cute and good toys.

Well, sure, it's been established that there have been glitches recently and Neo usually doesn't post about them, but how does not mentioning them in the news equal them not fixing the glitches in favor of interacting with sponsers? As far as I know, the sponsers have nothing to do with glitches at all. I'm with you in that I think Neo should explain about the glitches more (posting about it in the news, trying to get everyone to understand exactly what happened and that it's being dealt with as best as they can), but I'm not sure about how that has anything to do with sponsers...

On the plushies, Way to go! That's the best reason to collect things! I'm a packrat by nature and the fact that I can collect things without a "real" cost to me is the only reason I am still with Neopets now.

Okay Phibby, the sponsors aren't directly the cause of the glitches, no. Problem we've seen is that during the McDonald's thing, when the glitches were popping up, it seemed that given the small pathetic excuse of an explaination, they were paying more attention to the whole McDonald's than to actually keeping us informed of problems and in fixing them in a timely manner. IE, they could have taken the site down for a full day and done the transfers (and while we would have complained that would have been better), but probably due to contracts with McDonalds, they would lose money if they take the site down for any lenght of time. So we wound up dealing with glitches, lost items and NP, that could have been avoided by taking the site down for a day as they have done in the past.

Now for how the sponsors are connected with the lack of explainations, hmm.. more like, because Neopets can't admit it on the news that they suffered something like that, because then the sponsors might lose faith in them. I mean, if players are upset and Neopets admits it, it means that they failed in their satisfaction quota, which is what Sponsors also look at when deciding to sign on with a site.

[Jenna!]

I posted 3 very long messages on the end of that thread.

[raudf]

*looks sheepish* Thanks to Phibby, I probably could post several long ones to the neoboard too! I mean, I had to actually think about what I was trying to convey and put it into text!

On second though.. no. I hate soiling my hands with those boards. I like the challenge of being made to think!