mad pretty much summed it up with his last sentence. In any case, what can be seen here is lack of consistency between staff and their representatives. I.e; luminance post and post of other staff. Sadly, other post is making his post barely noticeable which had a chance to go in proper direction. Another thing is exhibiting way too defensive stance which is the one direction ticket. This is suggesting us that there is a lack of the ability to process the critics and whatnot.
As for debating; you don't go in a debate if you are not able to back it up. That being said, defensive stance does not really help to above said cause nor does it help to a debate, eventually it will become beating around the bush rather than a debate. Players addressed few times the issue about leadership and coordination of the asset. Such position may require certain mind set and certain portion of intelligence. I won't name anyone nor I will be playing favorites. However, two former staff who were admins obviously tend to exhibit said traits. I also remember them often being prevented to do their task and eventually they parted, or actually, being tossed away on a more or less polite way. due to other staff behavior and ideology. Those two also socialized with players and were accepting their complaints and critics and handled them on a professional way. This is obviously what people like. Normally, people want to feel wanted and welcome. They often were able to turn the discussion in a way where a standard player is being listened and made feel special to some extent. Given such feelings in a player, most of them surely will socialize and report legit issues and whatnot because they feel obligated and needed and their effort is recognized by the management.
When I said socialize, I was directly thinking on socialization on a way where results are being done through socialization. Personally, I am very anti-social. However, socializing on a business and professional level where you share same interests is something that everyone can do. Say I often socialize where I need to discuss business and stuff, starting random conversation with little chance of something being done to benefit everyone is something I am not very good at. If I want to give a handshake to someone I will give it if something will come out of it. Otherwise I won't bother overcoming the limitations imposed on myself. That is the open land of common interests and effort where results are being visible and you get more fuel as stuff are being done. That very same thing is a key of a success. Google for Silicon Valley and it's way of socialization and results coming from it. That being said, there are different types of socialization. Classic socialization often brings little or no results, but it gives temporary clarity and people feeling better, which can be deceiving very often but then again ideas might happen with little chance of putting said idea into the practice. If homo-sapiens socialized that way in a cave, you would still be in the cave, socializing, chatting, smiling and not getting anything done. I don't think that the first spear ever to be created by a homo-sapiens was created by someone who socialized and danced around the camp fire, it was created by some misunderstood anti social geek fellow in the cave who socialized on a business level where results were visible instantly. Narrowed interest in a certain field that is the key of a success as well. If you are truly interested in something and love that, nothing can stop you to be good in what you do and what you want. That is it, need to know what you want. But don't mix this up with the emotions. Just because you like dogs doesn't mean you have the wire to be a vet. Meaning, liking something is not to be bias and emotion based otherwise you will suck at it big time and eventually only thing you will be seeing are the dead and loose ends.
Anyway, back on the topic. People often say you guys talk too much but getting little or nothing done. This doesn't have to be always correct as the work behind scenes is being done. Then again, is the useless talk or productive results being done that is another thing and you can't expect from players to know that. What are you being asked by your players is that you talk with them through updates, fixes and through respect. You have to respect your players and talk to them on the language they understand and accept. Especially those ones who are yet to leave PWO and ones who are yet to come here. After all, you are here because of the players who are liking the game or the community. Players are not here because of you, they are here because of the friends and because they find it nice time playing. That being said, you need to work on the communication with the community. You shouldn't be here to prove any point to anyone. Pretty much you should be doing what Luminance tried to do as he answered to OP. From him wanting to listen the suggestions and whatnot, you gone different direction with "us being hurt" and "we are right, you might not be". As said above, that is the one way ticket. Similar thing happened to those past two admins, who ended up eating a cheesy fishy burger at Donalds shortly after due to being tackled at times.
Another things is that defensive stance. When people express themselves through a forum post and even starting taunting and provoking staff, instead of backing down from their provocations you are aggressively returning them through defensive stance. You are reacting on the posts that might not be proper for you without any hesitation while you are leaving ones that you deem alright. And when those people who might or might be taunting and provoking disclose the fact that they might not be satisfied with they way how game is being managed, you immediately begin to respond on their posts. Now imagine how community profiles you after you acting like that? If there is nothing you deem proper in their story you will be targeting them and even ones who are less to taunt and provoke by nature while you are ok with things you deem proper said to you by the supporters. "We are not the ones who are wrong here", "Those who are giving the critic we deem wrong and provoking us with said critic are the ones who are in the wrong. And this is where lack of filtering might happen. That is suggesting them that you may be having a firm stance to defend for something that is done by you and something that might not be accurate given the numbers around here. Absorbing what I've just said, you are giving the one way ticket to them as you are making sure to tell them that you aren't planning on changing things from inside. No, you are giving the one way ticket to yourself actually.
As for whole reviving dead stuff. Remember, where there is a will there is a way. It's all about with what your will is driven. Regardless, there is always the way. Do not take anyone wrong here. Someone said something about lack of events. Well, event doesn't really mean the change on better if community is faced with problems like now. It's just a painkiller rather than diagnosis itself. No one said anything bad or offended you. Your ideas might be of innocent nature. However, you are yet to present that to your players. The way I see it, you owe an apology to players if you plan on changing things around here. I can't say for sure that everyone will care about you apologizing to them but it is indeed good start. Tell them that you are trying for a while now, but that you can't be sure what will come out of it and if the things are not certain to work how you expect them to work. No one can say anything to you then because you are being straight with them. Pretty much sure the number of actual people who supports you will increase dramatically. And another thing is you being tired and have no will to do anything. When that happens you are to find the neutral replacement. Prefer someone who is not sharing the same ideology as you are currently having. Encourage them to address the issues within the management itself, if there is any. Let them question its system and be opened. That is how you are opening the door. I wont be saying what I would do if I am in your shoes but you get the picture. I know a few people who stayed here despite everything what happened and despite they have been jabbing you in the process. You might want to search for someone among those people. Those are rare breed lately though. But there are few of them. Pretty much what those two admins were before they got promoted.
In any case, I wish you do all well and fulfill your dreams both here and in your life. I would be happy if we are to cross paths in future. Crazy as it sounds, I would rather have you as an competitor than someone else. I do have my own reasoning for it. Remember, you have it in you. All you have to do is to find it. What that "it" is, well, if I am to tell you that I would be corrupting the natural process. But sit down for a moment and think about it for a while. I am sure you will find it. Someone once said that the players are dogs at times, could be me, i dont know. But indeed, they are like dogs at times. You can beat them all the time but they will always come to you, because they like you obviously. Oh and yeah, dog is a friend. Personally I like more dogs than I like most of people. People smell a lot worse when they are in the process of rotting. Especially on the very hot summer day as you are sweating. Ah yeah, dead people can't sweat no? It's kinda funny though, how the prosthetic teeth look like on the corpse. Reminds me on a horse smile. Erm anyway, gonne off topic. Ignore it. Not a comparison or something, no.