What a joke.

[Kyle]

I have a lot of a respect for the guy and no, I don't really think that changing his avatar is that much of a detriment but sometimes it does mean that he ignores tweets about things that really matter. The discussion of his radical new bacon hair went on for days and when asked to read a tweet about something serious that got lost amongst to "omfg cool hair who is ur stylist" tweets and he said something along the lines that he couldn't be bothered to find it. Fair enough, but he could at least have asked them to resend it so he could read it?

The trouble with Paul is that he seems to only take suggestions that echo changes that are already planned, much like a professional radio presenter would only read out a request for a song that's actually on their playlist. A lot of minor tweaks were suggested to make the voting system fairer and the one he called a good idea was this monstrosity:

Show Hide

He would rather change the system completely, making it even more automatic, than just send a staff member or two in. He commented that "25%" of his staff would be used to "make 50 users happy". Now, I know the staff cuts at sulake have been pretty harsh, but are there really only four staff members? If so then that's pretty upsetting. I think that a lot more people would enter if they knew that the competition would be judged as fairly as possible, meaning many many more happy users.

Some of the changes are great, but when he doesn't budge at all when given suggestions for improvement then that is where my respect for him begins to waver. Of course it isn't in his remit to actually listen to his users' advice (some of which have experienced habbo since the beginning - but what would they know?!) but it would be nice if he did take some of the ideas that would actually work on board.

None of my tweets have been childish, all are as constructive as possible within the word limit. If you could tweet longer (and know that he would actually read it and take it on board) then I, and I'm sure many other users, would be happy to work with him to mend the voting system and help to make it a little fairer. We need some kind of competitions council!

[tm]

That response annoyed me.

If I had phrased it: 'It's just a shame that so many noobs are being tricked so a few users can win badges they don't deserve.' I'm sure he would have either ignored the comment or replied to say how I shouldn't be calling people going to giveaways noobs. Instead I decided to use proper words that were absolutely applicable to the situation and he goes off on a rant towards me and others for using overly emotive behaviour. Sometimes you just can't win.

Anyway I'm actually here to post how I feel really sorry for Paul and how he's being treated. The man is not a community manager, he's not even customer service, he's a business manager. His job should be to run Sulake from the business side and not have to deal with the whiny rants regarding minor issues with competitions from myself or anyone else. He's put himself in the public firing line, perhaps that's NAIVE on his part to think he could handle it, but he is actually trying to pass on feedback and ideas from users. There have been a few positives from it. If the feedback regarding the competitions voting etc. does lead to a change as Paul said it would, then all credit to the guy. He also seems to be listening to issues regarding the account lock problems which desperately need attention.

So to conclude. I think we're right to be asking questions of him since that's what he asked for, but I think everyone has to remember that he isn't customer service staff nor has he any obligation to listen to what we have to say. I'd prefer to see a PR representative doing what he is doing in more of a 'hotel (/events) manager' type role in the future.

[Pigperson]

That is stupid how the maze wins. I hate this, it's just popularity and disregards how good the rooms are :S

Will

[Plebings]

He is so rude though it is unbelievable. He took competitions from us, saying pathetic comments like 'statistics show users want credits more than competitions.'

ahahahaha! did he really say that?? i'm sure his statistics team must be pretty challenged if they take on board suggestions like "u shud giv users 100c a month"

talking about statistics, i'd love to see the data on how fast this campaign furni is selling for, as much as i hate room building competitions, i can't see the stuff selling as fast without an incentive of badges. sure if they were in game or video competitions they waste staff's time, but i know loads of people who wouldn't have even touched the new range if there wasn't a competition.

would you have bought so much of this range if there wasn't a comp kirst?

[Tom]

"Let's go back to the old Habbo system... oh wait no that means more work! We're in 2012 now, less work ****** system, that's how it goes"

I feel like that's basically what he's saying. Well done anyway Kirst

[Red]

ahahahaha! did he really say that?? i'm sure his statistics team must be pretty challenged if they take on board suggestions like "u shud giv users 100c a month"

talking about statistics, i'd love to see the data on how fast this campaign furni is selling for, as much as i hate room building competitions, i can't see the stuff selling as fast without an incentive of badges. sure if they were in game or video competitions they waste staff's time, but i know loads of people who wouldn't have even touched the new range if there wasn't a competition.

would you have bought so much of this range if there wasn't a comp kirst?

Nope I rarely buy the new furni. I must have spent like 200c or more. However this was a really nice range and even though I am not entering the next one, ill buy some of it too! Even if it wastes time, they should be trying to make habbo as enjoyable as possible. I would love some real art, or writing contests. I never won the video ones but I loved entering them too. And yes he did actually say that. It was an actual you are a mong moment.

[Jarkie]

I know I wouldn't of touched the furni for the comp. And there is no way I am entering any more room comps till this voting system is fixed. (Which will be never!)

[Red]

That response annoyed me.

If I had phrased it: 'It's just a shame that so many noobs are being tricked so a few users can win badges they don't deserve.' I'm sure he would have either ignored the comment or replied to say how I shouldn't be calling people going to giveaways noobs. Instead I decided to use proper words that were absolutely applicable to the situation and he goes off on a rant towards me and others for using overly emotive behaviour. Sometimes you just can't win.

Anyway I'm actually here to post how I feel really sorry for Paul and how he's being treated. The man is not a community manager, he's not even customer service, he's a business manager. His job should be to run Sulake from the business side and not have to deal with the whiny rants regarding minor issues with competitions from myself or anyone else. He's put himself in the public firing line, perhaps that's NAIVE on his part to think he could handle it, but he is actually trying to pass on feedback and ideas from users. There have been a few positives from it. If the feedback regarding the competitions voting etc. does lead to a change as Paul said it would, then all credit to the guy. He also seems to be listening to issues regarding the account lock problems which desperately need attention.

So to conclude. I think we're right to be asking questions of him since that's what he asked for, but I think everyone has to remember that he isn't customer service staff nor has he any obligation to listen to what we have to say. I'd prefer to see a PR representative doing what he is doing in more of a 'hotel (/events) manager' type role in the future.

I was a bit in shock when he called you histrionic. I'm sorry but if a staff member is advocating scamming people as part of the comp, then that is disgraceful? And its disgraceful he doesn't think so. It's his own fault. He had perfectly good community staff like puffin and kitano who could have taken feedback from users.

[Mr.L.Darragh]

You've got to take into consideration guys, that while yes, people have spent loads if credits on making amazing rooms, and yes some might not have got close to winning. People want the badge for entering, therefore they enter a room with minimum requirements. It is not their fault if the room is popular and gets votes, however, yes they could perhaps make a new room. It is ridiculous to see people arguing over a competition, for a badge and giving threats. It is only a room, I can see how people get frustrated though, however, there is still no need for threats.

[Fifty-Six]

You've got to take into consideration guys, that while yes, people have spent loads if credits on making amazing rooms, and yes some might not have got close to winning. People want the badge for entering, therefore they enter a room with minimum requirements. It is not their fault if the room is popular and gets votes, however, yes they could perhaps make a new room. It is ridiculous to see people arguing over a competition, for a badge and giving threats. It is only a room, I can see how people get frustrated though, however, there is still no need for threats.

That's the issue though, people with popular rooms enter with minimal requirements knowing they will win Top 10, Top 100, solely because of their rooms popularity. That's what people are annoyed about. I think people should be mad about the way the two room competitions were handled. Paul was made aware of the voting issue right after results were posted, as is shown by all of the tweets in which he responded about stopping the comps, yet no changes were made to the actual process. Instead, he was parading around for "chat relaunch" parties with his supposedly amazing bacon hair.