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TOPIC: {TTT} Staff & Bias Help Thread

{TTT} Staff & Bias Help Thread 5 years 11 months ago #895333

It is worrying when staff members do not acknowledge their own bias and it negatively affects their decision making. This is why I have made this post about identifying your bias and possibly to help you control your bias. Even though this isn't a problem merely on the TTT server its the only one I have experience of.

How do I know i'm biased?
We are all biased. Everything we have ever experienced is subjective and therefore every decision we will ever make is clouded by some form of bias.
People exhibit a tendency to believe they are less
biased than their peers. College students believe they are less biased than their classmates, airline
passengers believe they are less biased than other passengers,
and Americans believe they are less biased
than their fellow citizens.
Source

How does my bias affect my work?
As a staff member we are affected by multiple types of bias. When handling situations on the server, forums and within the staff meetings. I wish to bring couple key forms of bias that we should acknowledge when making decisions.

1. Affinity bias.
Affinity bias refers to when you unconsciously prefer people who share qualities with you or someone you like. It occurs because your brain sees them as familiar and relatable, and we all want to be around people we can relate to.
Source
Warning: Spoiler! [ Click to expand ]


2. Conformity bias
Conformity bias happens when your views are swayed too much by those of other people. It occurs because we all seek acceptance from others – we want to hold opinions and views that our community accepts.
Source
Warning: Spoiler! [ Click to expand ]


3. Confirmation bias
Confirmation bias refers to how people primarily search for bits of evidence that back up their opinions, rather than looking at the whole picture. It leads to selective observation, meaning you overlook other information and instead focus on things that fit your view. You may even reject new information that contradicts your initial evidence.
Source

Warning: Spoiler! [ Click to expand ]


These are examples of bias that affects you when: punishing users & voting in meetings (especially in LT where there is no anonymity.) I believe these examples are the ones that affect your work the most and the ones you should pay most attention to, but if you happen to be interested here is a list of unconscious biases you may have towards others.

How can I combat my bias?
Here I have gathered some methods you can use to counter your bias.

  • Be honest with yourself. It’s okay to have biases – we all do. It doesn’t make you any less of a person. What’s important is that you control them and actively look for ways to expand and revise your views. Be open to change.
  • Discuss with peers This is extremely easy especially in the meetings. When you are in doubt you can discuss with other staff members about the issues you have with the candidate and why you think they are great. This also means you should give feedback when others do as well instead of yelling over others.
  • Take your time during decision-making processes. Making the right pick is more important than making a fast pick to save time, so you should avoid snap judgments or opinions. Instead, make sure you fully assess each candidate’s capabilities and keep an open mind. This is especially towards LT members and whoever hosts the meetings. Everyone should be given enough time to make a decision with care.

  • Johnler and (some other LT members) also believes bias is an issue within the staff team and suggests you read this post
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    {TTT} Staff & Bias Help Thread 5 years 11 months ago #895335

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    {TTT} Staff & Bias Help Thread 5 years 11 months ago #895337

    When I began studying Journalism one of the first things they taught me was the following:

    1. You have to aspire to be objective
    2. True objectivity does not exist
    I think the same applies to staffing. You have to try to not let your biases get in the way of your work, but try to at least know and understand that there is no such thing as "unbiased" and "objective". When you know and accept your own shortcomings, you can do your best to overcome them.
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    {TTT} Staff & Bias Help Thread 5 years 11 months ago #895339

    Raeker wrote:
    When I began studying Journalism one of the first things they taught us was the following:

    1. You have to aspire to be objective
    2. True objectivity does not exist
    I think the same applies to staffing. You have to try to not let your biases get in the way of your work, but try to at least know and understand that there is no such thing as "unbiased" and "objective". When you know and accept your own shortcomings, you can do your best to overcome them.

    Yep. Let's hope this post actually makes atleast 1 person in our Staff Team to aspire to be objective. I would be happy with that.
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    {TTT} Staff & Bias Help Thread 5 years 11 months ago #895340

    This is a topic that should have a lot of light on it
    :support:
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    {TTT} Staff & Bias Help Thread 5 years 11 months ago #895343

    Great post Lonelydodo.
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    {TTT} Staff & Bias Help Thread 5 years 11 months ago #895344

    Drconor wrote:
    Great post Lonelydodo.

    Cant take all the credit. Raeker was assisting from the very beginning and deserves recognition #Raeker4CM
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    {TTT} Staff & Bias Help Thread 5 years 11 months ago #895348

    LonelyDodo wrote:
    Drconor wrote:
    Great post Lonelydodo.

    Cant take all the credit. Raeker was assisting from the very beginning and deserves recognition #Raeker4CM

    Ofcourse it was Raeker! Raeker is the most logical person here.

    #Raeker4CM
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    {TTT} Staff & Bias Help Thread 5 years 11 months ago #895356

    LonelyDodo wrote:
    Drconor wrote:
    Great post Lonelydodo.

    Cant take all the credit. Raeker was assisting from the very beginning and deserves recognition #Raeker4CM

    Well great post Raeker aswell.
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    {TTT} Staff & Bias Help Thread 5 years 11 months ago #895469

    Dodo asked me this on steam and thanks for keeping my word anonymous but there is no need for this. I admitted to being bias myself sometimes but that is mostly in moderator applications and even then if the person doesn't get what I voted for I wouldn't object and if he did get what I voted for and someone objected I would most likely change my vote. Thanks for making this guide Dodo and Raeker!
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    {TTT} Staff & Bias Help Thread 5 years 11 months ago #895529

    Thanks for making this post Dodo, you did a great job (together with Raeker). Bias is a common thing unfortunately, and surely undermines the overall quality of decision-making. Providing the staff with a proper understanding of what bias actually is, will surely help them preventing being biased.
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    {TTT} Staff & Bias Help Thread 5 years 11 months ago #895541

    Nick0GR wrote:
    Dodo asked me this on steam and thanks for keeping my word anonymous but there is no need for this. I admitted to being bias myself sometimes but that is mostly in moderator applications and even then if the person doesn't get what I voted for I wouldn't object and if he did get what I voted for and someone objected I would most likely change my vote. Thanks for making this guide Dodo and Raeker!

    I asked literally 20-30 staff memebers just to find out whether the issue is as wide spread as I had imagined it to be. This is in no direct relation to you.
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    {TTT} Staff & Bias Help Thread 5 years 11 months ago #895542

    Thankyou for the post Dodo, shows that you made a lot of effort into it, and I completely agree on what you're trying to do. The message should be viewed by all staff members and users alike, so that we'll have a more friendly environment on the forums and in-game.
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    {TTT} Staff & Bias Help Thread 5 years 11 months ago #895545

    Real nice thread man, will be very helpful to those who are in need of help.

    Are you calling me bias though? What the fuck.
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    {TTT} Staff & Bias Help Thread 5 years 11 months ago #895552

    Thank you once again for making this.

    We of the lead team will have to be more careful too, and help everyone, may them be new or old staff members, to be more sensible to this growing issue.

    Remember that treating ALL users equally make us different from other servers.
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    {TTT} Staff & Bias Help Thread 5 years 11 months ago #896183

    to those who are bias about some things such as their own decision on other note this, you are the one who is holding up the future and you are suppression peoples skills.

    also nice post to both raeker and dodo.
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    {TTT} Staff & Bias Help Thread 5 years 11 months ago #896213

    TehWither wrote:
    to those who are bias about some things such as their own decision on other note this, you are the one who is holding up the future and you are suppression peoples skills.

    also nice post to both raeker and dodo.

    > Implying that everyone isn't biased in a post about bias that has a special section stating that everyone is biased
    > Shifting blame to others and being overall semi hostile

    This is not the way to make a change. Most of the bias is unconscious and therefore I do not think anyone is at fault and that wasn't the point of the post its about raising awarness
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    {TTT} Staff & Bias Help Thread 5 years 11 months ago #896556

    LonelyDodo wrote:
    TehWither wrote:
    to those who are bias about some things such as their own decision on other note this, you are the one who is holding up the future and you are suppression peoples skills.

    also nice post to both raeker and dodo.

    > Implying that everyone isn't biased in a post about bias that has a special section stating that everyone is biased
    > Shifting blame to others and being overall semi hostile

    This is not the way to make a change. Most of the bias is unconscious and therefore I do not think anyone is at fault and that wasn't the point of the post its about raising awarness

    I honestly dont think TehWither really ment to exclude people as from personal experience with myself and others we all all bias, Although he really should of worded it better.
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    {TTT} Staff & Bias Help Thread 5 years 11 months ago #896559

    Drconor wrote:
    LonelyDodo wrote:
    TehWither wrote:
    to those who are bias about some things such as their own decision on other note this, you are the one who is holding up the future and you are suppression peoples skills.

    also nice post to both raeker and dodo.

    > Implying that everyone isn't biased in a post about bias that has a special section stating that everyone is biased
    > Shifting blame to others and being overall semi hostile

    This is not the way to make a change. Most of the bias is unconscious and therefore I do not think anyone is at fault and that wasn't the point of the post its about raising awarness

    I honestly dont think TehWither really ment to exclude people as from personal experience with myself and others we all all bias, Although he really should of worded it better.

    I was passing personal opinion on the matter. since personally i have been affected by bias and unfair decision in real life. and if you want to hear my story on this I can tell it. but thanks dodo for your insight.
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    {TTT} Staff & Bias Help Thread 5 years 11 months ago #896595

    TehWither wrote:
    Drconor wrote:
    LonelyDodo wrote:
    TehWither wrote:
    to those who are bias about some things such as their own decision on other note this, you are the one who is holding up the future and you are suppression peoples skills.

    also nice post to both raeker and dodo.

    > Implying that everyone isn't biased in a post about bias that has a special section stating that everyone is biased
    > Shifting blame to others and being overall semi hostile

    This is not the way to make a change. Most of the bias is unconscious and therefore I do not think anyone is at fault and that wasn't the point of the post its about raising awarness

    I honestly dont think TehWither really ment to exclude people as from personal experience with myself and others we all all bias, Although he really should of worded it better.

    I was passing personal opinion on the matter. since personally i have been affected by bias and unfair decision in real life. and if you want to hear my story on this I can tell it. but thanks dodo for your insight.
    Yeah it sucks I know... I believe all of us here in Zarp have had unfair treatment at one point due to bias within the community and outside of it. I did not mean to appear aggressive and apologize for that since in retrospect it does seem like it.
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