In this edition of Why Your Team Sucks, I've set my sights a little higher. I will be providing honest criticism of the teams that run the league through 95 individual theses. My particular focus will be on Head Office since I'm currently very upset with them. I provide my criticisms, then of course propose a plan in which we could improve upon the current system. If this pisses any one off, sorry, not sorry. This will for the most part lack the normal humorous undertones of a WYTS article, and instead focus on things about the league that I honestly think suck. Enjoy!
95 Theses
I. Head Office is broken because there is no established accountability for their actions.
II. As long as they are internally promoted through a completely non-transparent process, there will be no change.
III. The lack of transparency extends well past HO hiring and plagues every action HO makes; including its rulings and voting record.
IV. As long as HO has individual loyalties that extend beyond their HO duties, there is a basis to assume they're actions are biased.
V. As long as HO are able to hold multiple jobs and serve in war rooms, they have a conflict of interest in each position.
VI. As long as HO holds a rule veto, they hold absolute power.
VII. Since the precedent set by the Dallas appeal of using backup bots, HO can create rules at any point without consent or approval from anyone else.
VIII. This is a core tenet of authoritarian power structures.
IX. Any league has the need for strong rules and regulations, even a virtual one.
X. Anyone in charge of stewarding these rules is responsible for the consistent application of said rules.
XI. As it is, there is no consistency to HO's actions. Other than them accusing all those who point out their issues of being "mean".
XII. HO's main concern is maintaining control over the league and protecting their power.
XIII. Many GMs who want to remain in good favor with HO, or are distrustful of their fellow GMs, voted to relinquish their checks on HO power and let them keep their absolute rule veto.
XIV. HO has a track record of making poor and unpopular decisions. Through every iteration of the governing body.
XV. They are trusted with absolute power despite the qualifications for being on HO being unclear.
XVI. Members of the league are either oblivious or too un-invested to demand a fair operating policy for the league.
XVII. As seen by the incident in season 20/21, there is no established method to remove a member of HO. Just ad hoc methods created by the fellow HO members.
XVIII. Without codifying this process, you introduce further lack of accountability for HO members.
XIX. We have seen HO force members out due to public demand, this seems to be the only method to remove a member for abuse of power.
XX. HO have repeatedly shown that they will avoid taking responsibility for their own mistakes, choosing to place the burden of their actions on other parties.
XXI. HO have repeatedly shown the lack of ability to communicate at the level expected of a governing body.
XXII. HO have repeatedly shown that their top priority is league growth, rather than league stability.
XXIII. GM turnover is hitting record highs, in no doubt due to the increasing demands placed on the position by HO.
XXIV. The expansion process was designed by HO to protect their own loaded teams from suffering greater losses than other teams that haven't had time to accrue talent like they have.
XXV. HO has largely ignored creative efforts by teams to circumvent the expansion process as a whole, effectively encouraging the unsportsmanlike behavior.
XXVI. If you want an example of HO abusing their power, look no further than the "Appeals Cases (x5)" thread where it's established that waiver abuse was encouraged by the DSFL commish and was completely ignored.
XXVII. The Appeals team's job is to say no to HO when they're clearly wrong.
XXVIII. As long as the Appeals Team has individual loyalties that extend beyond their Appeals Team duties, there is a basis to assume they're actions are biased.
XXIX. As long as the Appeals Team are able to hold multiple jobs and serve in war rooms, they have a conflict of interest in each position. Anonymously recusing does not solve this issue.
XXX. The vast majority of issues are handled well by HO.
XXXI. The Appeals Team exists to better handle the cases that are not.
XXXII. If the Appeals Team cannot uphold the responsibility established in thesis XXVII, they should not exist.
XXXIII. The Appeals Team is essentially identical to HO in that their hiring process is completely non-transparent.
XXXIV. Yet this non-transparent shadow council is given the only check on HO's absolute power and the league is instructed to blindly trust them.
XXXV. The Audit team also has no purpose to exist, their job is to do retroactively do the updater's jobs for them.
XXXVI. The Audit team's existence increases the burden on GMs so that bean counters can feel better about their spots on TPE leaderboards.
XXXVII. The Audit team's existence is a scheme to provide more league jobs as the league has outgrown the current economy and HO doesn't want to reconfigure the salary cap.
XXXVIII. This is also the reason for the existence of the Casino and Stock Market.
XXXIX. They also serve as bread and circuses to placate the league as the few "most dedicated users" amass vast wealth and power at the top.
XL. League jobs and wealth are now concentrated in cliques.
XLI. While that is standard for online communities, it is a fast-track to abuses of power and corruption in a league setting.
XLII. This corruption was demonstrated when the current ISFL commissioner conspired with the current DSFL commissioner to break serious league rules.
XLIII. The team that suffered a loss from the situation was never compensated.
XLIV. The precedent that deleted discord messages that were not screenshotted cannot be used against you was set. Know your rights, folks.
XLV. The whistleblower was punished. The result was being banned from the league.
XLVI. This is another core tenet of authoritarian power structures.
XLVII. Earlier I mentioned bread and circuses to placate the league, but I forgot to mention Dotts, the ultimate bread and circuses.
XLVIII. Imagine buying pictures that are made for you for free during the draft with a frame copy/pasted around them.
XLIX. The hierarchy of the league includes a level of political intrigue that sometimes makes the league feel more like a medieval court roleplay server.
L. I shouldn't need to elaborate on why this is an issue, but medieval courts largely rely on currying favor in order to gain special treatment.
LI. This is yet another core tenet of authoritarian power structures.
LII. HO interns are just a way for HO to underpay people that subsidize their work.
LIII. HO has done more to prevent structural change that they feel diminishes their control than they have done to improve the league.
LIV. Unparalleled success in recruitment in recent seasons and the constant addition of new "features" have masked this fact.
LV. There is no reason HO should get an awards vote.
LVI. Admittedly, most of HO publicly claims to agree with this notion, but certain bootlicking GMs who cried when a HO member voted with clear bias prevented this rule from going through.
LVII. New users are to be taught that they will not be able to get away with breaking the rules, which any new user who pays attention knows you just need to reach the level of exemption from rules first.
LVIII. New users are to be taught not to be a dick.
LIX. New users are to be taught that they can have a say in the future of the league.
LX. New users are to be taught that every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
LXI. New users are to be taught that the league thrives when its user base demands more from their leadership.
LXII. New users are to be taught that gambling is more likely to leave you broke rather than rich.
LXIII. New users are to be taught that HO has a responsibility to live up to their standards, as well as the other way around.
LXIV. Just as HO justly shuts down the poor behavior of deviant users, the users should have means to shut down the behavior of deviant HO members.
LXV. Members should be exhorted to be diligent in following the ISFL rulebook, regardless of their positions within the league.
LXVI. It is clear that the power of head office rests solely in the good faith of the league members, and the league members get no representation in arguments towards HO.
LXVII. If the authority of HO is left unchallenged, the authority of HO will continue to grow until it is an insurmountable obstacle for the rest of the league.
LXVIII. Anyone who speaks the truth regarding the imbalance of power in this league will be isolated and even persecuted for merely expressing their opinion, we've seen it before.
LXIX. #AC4Commish
LXX. Watch me get punished for putting that at 69.
LXXI. Why does the head office, whose effort is certainly high, but not unparalleled within the league get paid so much more than other roles if not to distort the league's balance of wealth?
LXXII. Why do good, active users routinely get ignored for job openings in favor of applicants with at least one (usually more) league jobs?
LXXIII. Why does the DSFL HO exist since they have done very little to curb the toxic competitiveness in the DSFL and have actively contributed to the largest recent DSFL scandal?
LXXIV. Why has the HO routinely sided with users (more accurately their GMs) on rules that would add competitive balance to the league?
LXXV. Since the Appeals Team seeks justice rather than biased favor, why was Zamir punished more harshly than Yellowknife for essentially the exact same tampering issue?
LXXVI. The connections between HO decisions and their motives can be observed by the most average user, so why is it allowed to continue?
LXXVII. The fact is the HO knows that the average user is concerned with box scores and Dotts packs rather than the moves they make in the shadows.
LXXVIII. HO would rather appease the bloodthirsty masses than provide justice to the few.
LXXIX. Let those who stand up to the mistreatment of those who lack both legislative and judicial power be commended for their actions.
LXXX. The importance in separation of Judicial, Legislative, and Executive powers is well documented in free nations around the world. Why is a body given power over all 3 aspects of the league?
LXXXI. In my humble opinion, Head Office should oversee the executive functions of the league, with new bodies being established to control judicial and legislative powers.
LXXXII. This would free HO from any accusations of bias as there would be proper checks on the biases of any one body.
LXXXIII. This would also give the rest of the league a review process they could trust.
LXXXIV. As well as solve HO's problem with job creation that has led to bureaucratic redundancies across the league.
LXXXV. Most reading this will continue to bow at the alter of HO until they inevitably reach an interaction with the council that results in a clearly incorrect decision upheld unanimously by the appeals team.
LXXXVI. This article is for you to refer back to, those who have been wronged and ignored by the rest of your peers out of fear of losing favor.
LXXXVII. As the league continues to grow, these problems will only continue to be exacerbated.
LXXXVIII. The solution will be to add more members to HO in an attempt to maintain control.
LXXXIX. This is not an issue that can be solved without the dissolution of their powers into equal branches of governance, in my opinion of course.
XC. To be completely frank, I like all of the members of HO and consider some to be friends.
XCI. I have nothing against any individuals in any of the bodies mentioned above, it is the governing bodies and their flawed design that I have an issue with.
XCII. That being said, I stand by my assertations that people in positions of power have escaped punishments as a direct result of their positions.
XCIII. HO is a very difficult and under-appreciated job.
XCIV. That does not absolve them of being held to the high standard this league expects of its leadership.
XCV. Who thought the league Bachelorette was actually a good idea and not just a fun meme?
95 Theses
I. Head Office is broken because there is no established accountability for their actions.
II. As long as they are internally promoted through a completely non-transparent process, there will be no change.
III. The lack of transparency extends well past HO hiring and plagues every action HO makes; including its rulings and voting record.
IV. As long as HO has individual loyalties that extend beyond their HO duties, there is a basis to assume they're actions are biased.
V. As long as HO are able to hold multiple jobs and serve in war rooms, they have a conflict of interest in each position.
VI. As long as HO holds a rule veto, they hold absolute power.
VII. Since the precedent set by the Dallas appeal of using backup bots, HO can create rules at any point without consent or approval from anyone else.
VIII. This is a core tenet of authoritarian power structures.
IX. Any league has the need for strong rules and regulations, even a virtual one.
X. Anyone in charge of stewarding these rules is responsible for the consistent application of said rules.
XI. As it is, there is no consistency to HO's actions. Other than them accusing all those who point out their issues of being "mean".
XII. HO's main concern is maintaining control over the league and protecting their power.
XIII. Many GMs who want to remain in good favor with HO, or are distrustful of their fellow GMs, voted to relinquish their checks on HO power and let them keep their absolute rule veto.
XIV. HO has a track record of making poor and unpopular decisions. Through every iteration of the governing body.
XV. They are trusted with absolute power despite the qualifications for being on HO being unclear.
XVI. Members of the league are either oblivious or too un-invested to demand a fair operating policy for the league.
XVII. As seen by the incident in season 20/21, there is no established method to remove a member of HO. Just ad hoc methods created by the fellow HO members.
XVIII. Without codifying this process, you introduce further lack of accountability for HO members.
XIX. We have seen HO force members out due to public demand, this seems to be the only method to remove a member for abuse of power.
XX. HO have repeatedly shown that they will avoid taking responsibility for their own mistakes, choosing to place the burden of their actions on other parties.
XXI. HO have repeatedly shown the lack of ability to communicate at the level expected of a governing body.
XXII. HO have repeatedly shown that their top priority is league growth, rather than league stability.
XXIII. GM turnover is hitting record highs, in no doubt due to the increasing demands placed on the position by HO.
XXIV. The expansion process was designed by HO to protect their own loaded teams from suffering greater losses than other teams that haven't had time to accrue talent like they have.
XXV. HO has largely ignored creative efforts by teams to circumvent the expansion process as a whole, effectively encouraging the unsportsmanlike behavior.
XXVI. If you want an example of HO abusing their power, look no further than the "Appeals Cases (x5)" thread where it's established that waiver abuse was encouraged by the DSFL commish and was completely ignored.
XXVII. The Appeals team's job is to say no to HO when they're clearly wrong.
XXVIII. As long as the Appeals Team has individual loyalties that extend beyond their Appeals Team duties, there is a basis to assume they're actions are biased.
XXIX. As long as the Appeals Team are able to hold multiple jobs and serve in war rooms, they have a conflict of interest in each position. Anonymously recusing does not solve this issue.
XXX. The vast majority of issues are handled well by HO.
XXXI. The Appeals Team exists to better handle the cases that are not.
XXXII. If the Appeals Team cannot uphold the responsibility established in thesis XXVII, they should not exist.
XXXIII. The Appeals Team is essentially identical to HO in that their hiring process is completely non-transparent.
XXXIV. Yet this non-transparent shadow council is given the only check on HO's absolute power and the league is instructed to blindly trust them.
XXXV. The Audit team also has no purpose to exist, their job is to do retroactively do the updater's jobs for them.
XXXVI. The Audit team's existence increases the burden on GMs so that bean counters can feel better about their spots on TPE leaderboards.
XXXVII. The Audit team's existence is a scheme to provide more league jobs as the league has outgrown the current economy and HO doesn't want to reconfigure the salary cap.
XXXVIII. This is also the reason for the existence of the Casino and Stock Market.
XXXIX. They also serve as bread and circuses to placate the league as the few "most dedicated users" amass vast wealth and power at the top.
XL. League jobs and wealth are now concentrated in cliques.
XLI. While that is standard for online communities, it is a fast-track to abuses of power and corruption in a league setting.
XLII. This corruption was demonstrated when the current ISFL commissioner conspired with the current DSFL commissioner to break serious league rules.
XLIII. The team that suffered a loss from the situation was never compensated.
XLIV. The precedent that deleted discord messages that were not screenshotted cannot be used against you was set. Know your rights, folks.
XLV. The whistleblower was punished. The result was being banned from the league.
XLVI. This is another core tenet of authoritarian power structures.
XLVII. Earlier I mentioned bread and circuses to placate the league, but I forgot to mention Dotts, the ultimate bread and circuses.
XLVIII. Imagine buying pictures that are made for you for free during the draft with a frame copy/pasted around them.
XLIX. The hierarchy of the league includes a level of political intrigue that sometimes makes the league feel more like a medieval court roleplay server.
L. I shouldn't need to elaborate on why this is an issue, but medieval courts largely rely on currying favor in order to gain special treatment.
LI. This is yet another core tenet of authoritarian power structures.
LII. HO interns are just a way for HO to underpay people that subsidize their work.
LIII. HO has done more to prevent structural change that they feel diminishes their control than they have done to improve the league.
LIV. Unparalleled success in recruitment in recent seasons and the constant addition of new "features" have masked this fact.
LV. There is no reason HO should get an awards vote.
LVI. Admittedly, most of HO publicly claims to agree with this notion, but certain bootlicking GMs who cried when a HO member voted with clear bias prevented this rule from going through.
LVII. New users are to be taught that they will not be able to get away with breaking the rules, which any new user who pays attention knows you just need to reach the level of exemption from rules first.
LVIII. New users are to be taught not to be a dick.
LIX. New users are to be taught that they can have a say in the future of the league.
LX. New users are to be taught that every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
LXI. New users are to be taught that the league thrives when its user base demands more from their leadership.
LXII. New users are to be taught that gambling is more likely to leave you broke rather than rich.
LXIII. New users are to be taught that HO has a responsibility to live up to their standards, as well as the other way around.
LXIV. Just as HO justly shuts down the poor behavior of deviant users, the users should have means to shut down the behavior of deviant HO members.
LXV. Members should be exhorted to be diligent in following the ISFL rulebook, regardless of their positions within the league.
LXVI. It is clear that the power of head office rests solely in the good faith of the league members, and the league members get no representation in arguments towards HO.
LXVII. If the authority of HO is left unchallenged, the authority of HO will continue to grow until it is an insurmountable obstacle for the rest of the league.
LXVIII. Anyone who speaks the truth regarding the imbalance of power in this league will be isolated and even persecuted for merely expressing their opinion, we've seen it before.
LXIX. #AC4Commish
LXX. Watch me get punished for putting that at 69.
LXXI. Why does the head office, whose effort is certainly high, but not unparalleled within the league get paid so much more than other roles if not to distort the league's balance of wealth?
LXXII. Why do good, active users routinely get ignored for job openings in favor of applicants with at least one (usually more) league jobs?
LXXIII. Why does the DSFL HO exist since they have done very little to curb the toxic competitiveness in the DSFL and have actively contributed to the largest recent DSFL scandal?
LXXIV. Why has the HO routinely sided with users (more accurately their GMs) on rules that would add competitive balance to the league?
LXXV. Since the Appeals Team seeks justice rather than biased favor, why was Zamir punished more harshly than Yellowknife for essentially the exact same tampering issue?
LXXVI. The connections between HO decisions and their motives can be observed by the most average user, so why is it allowed to continue?
LXXVII. The fact is the HO knows that the average user is concerned with box scores and Dotts packs rather than the moves they make in the shadows.
LXXVIII. HO would rather appease the bloodthirsty masses than provide justice to the few.
LXXIX. Let those who stand up to the mistreatment of those who lack both legislative and judicial power be commended for their actions.
LXXX. The importance in separation of Judicial, Legislative, and Executive powers is well documented in free nations around the world. Why is a body given power over all 3 aspects of the league?
LXXXI. In my humble opinion, Head Office should oversee the executive functions of the league, with new bodies being established to control judicial and legislative powers.
LXXXII. This would free HO from any accusations of bias as there would be proper checks on the biases of any one body.
LXXXIII. This would also give the rest of the league a review process they could trust.
LXXXIV. As well as solve HO's problem with job creation that has led to bureaucratic redundancies across the league.
LXXXV. Most reading this will continue to bow at the alter of HO until they inevitably reach an interaction with the council that results in a clearly incorrect decision upheld unanimously by the appeals team.
LXXXVI. This article is for you to refer back to, those who have been wronged and ignored by the rest of your peers out of fear of losing favor.
LXXXVII. As the league continues to grow, these problems will only continue to be exacerbated.
LXXXVIII. The solution will be to add more members to HO in an attempt to maintain control.
LXXXIX. This is not an issue that can be solved without the dissolution of their powers into equal branches of governance, in my opinion of course.
XC. To be completely frank, I like all of the members of HO and consider some to be friends.
XCI. I have nothing against any individuals in any of the bodies mentioned above, it is the governing bodies and their flawed design that I have an issue with.
XCII. That being said, I stand by my assertations that people in positions of power have escaped punishments as a direct result of their positions.
XCIII. HO is a very difficult and under-appreciated job.
XCIV. That does not absolve them of being held to the high standard this league expects of its leadership.
XCV. Who thought the league Bachelorette was actually a good idea and not just a fun meme?
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