[Babyhead4127]

I actually don't perceive a problem either (or don't know because I don't play STO) so I don't know how you're insulting me. It has just been brought up a few times (in this thread) that newcomers don't feel welcome and my answer is "CL4s and above need to correct that" (which would include RSOs). But again, that's based on the issues described herein, which I am unable to perceive. Just adding input based on this thread.

Caymen

Your right but also your the only CL5 that has commented on this issue but has noticed a few areas yes we do need to sort this out as something we work on in the furture and maybe bring it up in SFHQ meeting next month

[Dodgers]

My time to chime in I guess

I don't think there is a problem with a divide in the fleet as a whole or in SF/HoK, however there will be issues with getting new members to become active members of the community.

Now that can be on our end of not advertising the {UFP-UFPK} chat enough that some members don't know about it and thus think nobody is talking as all they see is the basic fleet chat(which nobody uses), to actively encouraging new members to come on to TS(STF events prove helpful for that). Of course some people may just like to keep to themselves and are just happy to be in a fleet.

As for the the divide between the SFO/HoK room on TS and the "Vortex"(Members Lounge & Holodeck) that can be a more notable divide, but in a fleet as large as our is not unexpected that members will be spread about doing different things and as a result form groups of friends and stick with them. However that divide doesn't exist from my point of view as if am not on STO or the SFO/HoK room is quiet I will jump down and hang in the Members Lounge from time to time.

So I think what I am saying is yes there 'may' be a divide, but it depends on both your perspective and whether or not we have communicated to members enough of all the ways to join in the community.

[Farron]

I'm not sure if there's much of an issue but thats no reason not to explore the possibility of things we can do better.

As Silynn said, I do see groups of people interacting more regularly with each other but I've never seen or heard of anyone being excluded from such groups. Newer members might be nervous about jumping into these groups but I'm willing to bet more often than not they'd be welcomed if they reach out.

While I havn't had a lot of time for STO lately (really dull RL stuff :/) when I am on I do remember I'm a CSO. I'm always available if needed and I've run to every sector block as fast as my nacelles could take me helping blow up this or that, explaining such and such and on a couple of occasions, giving a practical demonstration to something that wasn't understood just by explaining it. I've seen similar behaviour from other Officers too. My RSO was also always available for me when I needed him but I had to let him know I needed something.

And thats the thing, it's a two way street and all the onus cant just be on the CL4+. To me, I feel the Officers do a good job and the systems are in place to help new members integrate into the fleet, the best advice I can give for them is to reach out to those Officers and use those systems. If, however, we can see signs of a member struggling and nothing is done, then that needs to be identified and brought to attention so something can be done about it.

All that said, like I mentioned at the top, theres no reason not to pursue improvement and this discussion is definately worth having.

[Bondgadget]

I invite everyone to submit there opinions or grievances on this matter and also if they wish to talk to us privately about this to use the feedback form or to feel free to PM me about any problems they may be having.

This has been an 'issue' since Teamspeak has taken prominence in the fleet, as the easiest way of communication within the fleet. I can see how it would be interpreted that there is are clicks in the fleet, but I wouldn't say it was the case. Unless there is a private meeting (SFC or SFHQ) or a private conversation taking place on teamspeak, everyone is generally in a channel that all members can access. For example at the moment I am in the Members Lounge which is accessible to all members of the fleet. Its just a case that some members don't come in because they are playing a game that has its own room or that I am not in another room, say the SFO room, because I am not playing STO (and because of my difficulties with cryptic wont be for a while).

Its sad to hear that people do not know others, and its even sadder to know that some people do not know who the members of SFC are, however at the same time, with a fleet as big as this I understand why that has happened. I do not think people do not know each other because of 'clicks'. I do not believe there are clicks, and I do not think anyone would exclude anyone on purpose.

[Mikester92]

I'd have to agree with Three of Seven on pretty much all her points. The reason we have different channels on TeamSpeak is because they correspond to what one is doing or what one wishes to talk about. For those who are playing STO, the SFO and HoK Rooms are naturally the most appropriate rooms on TS to congregate in. Some of our members have also found a shared interest in non-Trek games such as Garry's Mod, Minecraft and APB. For those players the Holodeck is best. And then of course there is the member's lounge, the most general room on TS in which members are free to speak freely about a variety of topics, while also enjoying the bounty of media sharing from sites like YouTube.

If you were to mix these rooms together you'd be dealing with a case in which members are, for example, continuously talking about "Minecraft dimensions" while others are trying to talk about STO and others about a new movie trailer that recently came out. I've witness such combinations in the past and its always ended with seperation.

The Member's Lounge, much like the SFO rooms and Holodeck is open to all members. It is the perfect place to be if you're not playing a particular game and simply wish to converse; be it about politics or a recent RL event. Therefore the use of the word "clique" is not particuarly relevant in my opinion for cliques are defined by the dictionary as "a small close-knit group of people who do not readily allow others to join them." As the lounge is open to everyone and we enjoy new company such as that of Three of Seven's company who manages perfectly fine to switch between both channels, I do not feel as though any one group on TeamSpeak is actively making it uncomfortable for new people to join them.

In regards to the welcoming of new members, CL5s and CL6s continue to play an active role in doing so. Did you guys know that SFC once considered the possibility of delegating down the acceptance of applications? Such an idea wasn't even discussed for more than a few minutes because everyone believed that a member's initial acceptance and welcome to the fleet should be done by the highest office. And it is. Many SFC and SFHQ members have even fired off PMs to new members out of pure interest from their fleet application.

As Bondgadget has already stated, if there are still are any grievences on this, please feel free to use the Feedback form or even TS to speak with us. So much more (in a lesser amount of time) can be achieved with a live conversation.

[Three of Seven]

To me, I feel the Officers do a good job and the systems are in place to help new members integrate into the fleet, the best advice I can give for them is to reach out to those Officers and use those systems.

It all seemed fine to me, from a personal view, I mean I think this is one of the few communities I've gotten into so fast. There where sometimes where it seemed like no one was answering a questions I had though, that much I can say so now everytime I see a question, I will answer it or give a response suggesting where to look for help.

I see some questions I used to ask, lol.

It is hard to interpret 'silence'. Currently this thread has 96 views and 10 replies. Thus, the 86 times this thread was viewed, did the viewer agree, disagree, or just indifferent that there is an issue?

Some of those views could be refereshes, I have a habit of refereshing a topic a few times after I reply.

[Babyhead4127]

Thank you for your views i have drafted up little statment regarding new members and teamspeak hopefully hand it to Hightower or Laz by the close play friday it goes in detail about TS rooms and what they used for little Bio about Senior staff whos etc , again thanks for the feed back as i said before any members that new like to add note please feel free to add a post or PM me as this was something i felt need to be talked about to get feed back as to see if there is ways a RSO could improve on what he/she is doing .

[Mister-Mopar]

As a kinda newer member to the Fleet I must say this fleet is the kindest and friendlyest fleet i've had the oppurtunity to become a part of.

I to have noticed a kind of Click atmosphere but thats to be expected it's human nature to group with people you know better. And as for the Ts stuff as a naturaly shy person i don't always jump into the main channel and go to talking right away. But after i do everyone is alway's saying hello and askin' how you have been which is something other fleet's i've been in never did!! I too have had new member's ask "is it alway's this quiet in game" or" have i done something to affend someone" but i try to explain that this is a huge fleet with many people in different timezone's so it's not alway's going to be 24/7 talk.

I do feel that we lower rank member's need to do more alot more to welcome and assist new members to the fleet. So a few week's ago i took to doing more in game and out-of game to be more vocal. Such as in the fleet forum's to welcome new member's and to bump the fleet page on the main STO Forum's both the House of Kular and {UFP}. Which i'm more then happy to do for this fleet. And i hope more member's will do now.

[LynxMukka]

Welcoming new members is key and that's why I myself and encourage others to give a welcome in their application thread. Some intepret this as spam and we've put in measures so it's not abused but I think members appreciate the fact that the community of the {UFP} welcome them in their 'first' thread.

My post would have been long but I think others such as Three of Seven and Mikester have covered the points I was otherwise going to make. However what I will say is that I do know where Babyhead is coming from and I'd encourage that those in the STO rooms who aren't actually playing the game, come join the members' lounge and see where things go.

Admittedly there is a sense of familiarity with quite a few of the regulars in the members' lounge but that doesn't mean other people aren't welcome, when other members join the regulars of that channel which I would encourage more, there's been no awkward moments and often they continue to come back.

What I will say though, is that effort works both ways in a conversation as it does in real life. If people are somewhat expectant that those already in the channel are going to actively converse with the newcomer for an extended period of time, I'm afraid that isn't going to happen as it also wouldn't occur in real life. In real life, you cannot be expectant for people to come to you, you need to reach out and you'll never know what new friends you might find. If those going into ANY channel take part in a conversation and even lead one, then that's a sure way of becoming more familiar with fleet members. If they're uncomfortable doing so, then we do have members who simply enjoy listening to conversations and talk every so often or who just use text chat.

[Fer-rat]

As a very new member to this fleet I noticed the issue being discussed in this thread as one that eventually comes up in every fleet/guild. What is nice to see is the way the fleet is promptly addressing this issue. I see my role as a new member is to be proactive in discussions both in-game and on TS. Just my 2 cents.

[Caymen Greener]

And I would like to extend a welcome to ANYone to the "Text Chat" CL3 room. As I said earlier, I am hardly ever on in audio/voice mode buT I am typically idling in TS in text mode, able to have text conversations as needed. Occasionally we have some fun text conversations in there, but I wouldn't mind seeing more people pop in there just to say hey. TS does not have to be a headset-wearing-while-gaming tool - it can be a text-chat tool for other UFP communications as well. It is an all-around "live" communications tool.

Caymen

[Kains]

Caymen, you have a good point. I will check out the text chat next time I'm on!

[Babyhead4127]

invite everyone to submit there opinions or grievances on this matter and also if they wish to talk to us privately about this to use the feedback form or to feel free to PM me about any problems they may be having.

Kinnda wired on feedback form says not used for complaints when there a complaint option in the drop down menu

[LynxMukka]

The form is worded so that official complaints in regards to another member etc, need to contact a member of Starfleet Command, the Chief of Staff being the ideal choice.

What the word does mean on that form, is generally related to small issues that members may have such as perhaps an accidental removal from something or a complaint about the way something works in the fleet.