Tales from CE: Krystal in Decline

From time to time CE will swell with a sort of anti-mod, or anti-specific-mod, sentiment. The topics will go on and the people who complain will have their topics closed, then people complain about the closed topics until those topics get closed, then that's usually it because people who try to restart closed topic discussions get modded. Fresh off a screenshot competition, I caught up with one of these cycles this past week and it doesn't look good for Krystal109. Some have already argued that there is an abuse of power going on, among other things below.

As for this writer, we were originally optimistic about Krystal but decided to head more toward neutral, since we can see the reason behind some of the complaints, but not for some others. We'll let readers decide. The criticism came in the following forms:

Unprofessionalism: Users pointed out how Krystal's posting style is...how do we say...not always up to a typical adult's level. Spelling and grammar errors? Not so bad when they're rare and mistakes are corrected. But with Krystal it seemed to some users that, while she was being paid for this position, she made multiple mistakes in her messages and even in official site announcements. People are perfectly willing to give out some mulligans, but the grace period has to end at some point. Hopefully Krystal's FAQs are written better than her posts.

Krystal was also criticized for using the official gamefaqs twitter account to give her personal opinon about a game, and it seemed strange that this happened when she could've brought it up the normal way on the site like anyone else.

Some complained when Krystal said she wouldn't date black people due to cultural differences, a point which they argued was racist. Others thought that she was bringing up inappropriate subjects, in a manner not fitting for an admin. In one topic she talked about "vag smells" and when someone said this was unprofessional, she asked why it isn't refreshing to have an admin who doesn't act like a robot. But no one has complained so far that she acts like a robot. If anything, they have complained that she's too far in the other direction. Better to be a robot than a punchline.

Krystal's race comment came up mere months after a moderator was removed after posting a similar message, and this point was not lost at CE.

Krystal herself didn't handle the complaints as well as some would've liked, with critics saying she was dismissive or insulting toward the community that she was supposed to be drawing to the site. In one topic she asked her critics: if they think they can do better, why didn't they apply to the position? The problem with that is that regardless of how they act, the typical user expects a paid administrator to act more professionally. When one of Krystal's selling points was that she knew the community, as a regular user just like us, her new argument - that no one else could hope to perform the job as well as her - was another dismissive claim that downplayed others, even as she was acting more unprofessionally on the boards than quite a few other users and even some of the trolls.

Abuse of power: critics stated that Krystal had revealed someone's usermap over the board's chat, which she denies, but also made clear that she could do it whenever she liked if she wanted. Users also complained that when they brought this up on CE, Krystal would delete their messages and it added to the impression that she was covering something up.

Not only was Krystal closing down topics that complained about her actions, topics that simply asked about what was going on were closed. Even after the swell of complaints, Krystal continues to close down topics that she deems "complaint forums" on the board. We here at GUAC have long suspected that moderators have closed topics simply because they were getting criticized in them. Did Krystal need to lock these topics, when they would've purged on their own in a day or two? Her actions only added to the idea that she was covering up something and was unable to accept criticism.

Finally, Krystal joked about shutting the board down for a little just to see how annoyed people would get.

Taken together, many posters said that Krystal was having a "meltdown."

Quote compilations below...



Unprofessionalism:


"That feel when the Community Manager keeps insulting the community" -Orchestrion

"Eesh, while CE didn't need to troll her, I think Krystal's posts are a bit too unprofessional. I mean, insulting us really isn't the way to go." -PerseusRad

"Krystal is being unbelievably unprofessional and is getting mad that CE is calling her out on it." -Blbmbr666

"I think Krystal should be fired from her position. Very unprofessional, and very antagonistic to the community that she's suppose to be dealing with. Sadly I'm sure nothing will be done about it, not even a warning...The fact is an admin is being paid to insult and antagonize us, and that simply should not be put up with."" -justaguy3492

"Allen should at least tell her to tone it down with the antagonism, and show more of that thick skin." -PerseusRad

"If your job involves not hurting people's feelings and you cannot do that you absolutely deserve to be fired. Just like any other job." -TheBiggerWiggle

"Krystal...If you want to avoid the personal drama with your posting you should perhaps try to be more like a community manager. This means not taking part in discussions that could jeopardize your image. You get paid for this job. You're only required to address concerns and handle announcements. You shouldn't ever be caught in CE chat rooms or racial conversations. A CM isn't a CEgal and it looks very irresponsible. Your behavior needs to remain professional. Do you not want this job to last long? What have you done to improve this site? I've seen you favorite users and mods then brag about yourself." ---Zero-

"'The Admiral Posted: How about you guys just stop going out of your way to try to troll Krystal?' It's not about trolling Krystal, it's about expecting professionalism from a paid administrator and being left with zero confidence in her ability to provide impartial oversight." -Mecha Sonic

"> getting paid to interface as community manager
> unable to use English properly" -plagueship

"'Krystal109 posted...I hate condoms because I don't like my vag smelling like rubbers so I use birth control. Anyone who thinks "pull out" is an effective method of birth control can probably expect to get a girl knocked up eventually when they don't want a kid. Be smart and use a condom or make sure she is on birth control (don't take her word for it... everyone lies when they want to get laid really bad).' Why is she an admin?" -Sativa_Rose

"Apparently she's done some pretty questionable things offsite with revealing usermaps. Not sure if this is true or not, but she comes off as really unprofessional like mentioned otherwise. Community involvement on the admin level is a great thing that I've wanted on this board for a while, but getting involved in cliques and generally posting like you don't care about how others perceive you isn't very good." -Fieryterminator

"Remember when she said refusing to date someone based on race was the same as refusing to date someone who snored...And then pulled the "I'm not racist, I dated a ___ guy!" card...fun times" -DeathDeathSong

"I went into my first tinychat a week or two ago and Krystal was there. And honestly I couldn't believe it was really her because she was acting so unprofessional. But CE and Gamefaqs have been going down the toilet for damn near 5 years now so I really don't blame her" -KillerSlaw

"One of the great mysteries of Gamefaqs was why admins hardly ever posted on CE. That's why I like Krystal, she pretty much shows us exactly why with nearly every topic she makes." -Swagnificent119

"So far it seems like she just posts on Twitter and riles up CE really." -saintsfan

Abuse of Power:

"she literally modded and overturned a post of mine so people couldn't see it, even though it wasn't a violation" -MC_BatCommander

"She abuses her power." -ShadowHulk

"she constantly goes for reactions and deletes anything she wants to, and behaves like a spoiled child." -ComradeKaufman

"Lol now she just locked a topic criticizing her tweets...If she really shared a usermap in CEchat that's pretty damning" -Littlegator

"She did. I was there when she did." -Burnt_Puke82

"And now another topic was just deleted. That's some poor damage control. You can't put the genie back in the bottle, Ms. Usermap." -TheMadbadman

"You can't even ask genuine questions about site rules anymore even if it does not mention Krystal at all just because she had a separate incident with Usermaps. Absolutely stupid , this site has become awful" -BolognaSammich

"so she's using her position of authority to try boost her popularity? What a teenager thing to do." -Correct_Facts

"I like her but I think criticizing a game in the first person using the Gamefaqs twitter and spilling usermap info are mistakes. Doesn't mean she can't learn from them." -GiftedACIII

"Krystal just called out Burgess for how he got "b****-slapped", then deleted her post, then modded the guy that quoted her, then destroyed the topic. All in the name of defending how she's NOT sensitive/melting down." -Forte612 (a modded message)

^"Normally I would say "whole story, etc", but I saw it and that wasn't worth a moderation" -chill 02

"it really wasn't. what is going on at this place?" -shonen_guy

"yeah krystal talked a good game but it appears that she is just another person willing to look the other way and cover up for some of the awful mods here" -Andel

"I overturned it. It was to delete the message on a administrative level, not to punish you. What I said was inappropriate and I didn't think everyone should go making comments on it. While I am posting on my free time, I still am seen as an Admin." -Krystal109

^"That would be like someone going into where they work on a day off, insulting coworkers, and then being like 'BUT IT WAS MY DAY OFF, IT'S MY FREE TIME!', then expecting no repercussions lol." -Blbmbr666

"didnt you know it is ok to post unprofessional things as long as you cover your tracks? frank underwood would be proud" -Andel

"a few days ago you shared the usermaps of a couple gamefaqs users and I'd like to know why." -Cornmuffins

"No one trolled Krystal...Offered valid criticism at best and said "haha Burgess got her" at worst, and she proved everyone saying she was too sensitive 100% correct by dropping moderation and lock nukes on everyone discussing it...Not to mention, even IF someone trolled Krystal, shouldn't the goddamn administrator on literal payroll be above "u trol me :("? It's like the nerdy website version of Obama sentencing someone to life in prison for asking to see his birth certificate." -Forte612

"What would be funny is if we troll you all by closing CE down for a day, like the Xbox board somehow got deleted, and see where you all would go. I think you'd all be salty." -Krystal109

"That would actually confirm to me that you're a joke-tier person that can't even do their job semi-professionally, and would convince me to leave the site. But that's just me. You're literally getting paid to do this, and you still have petty arguments with users and abuse your powers." -Blbmbr666

"Wow. Follow up unprofessionalism with vindictive threats. I don't care how hard CE trolls our tries to get under your skin, that's not the way an admin should act." -Corrupt_Power

"The Admiral (Moderator) posted...'Well, this thread has run its course. I'll be closing this topic in 5 minutes (just so there's no mysteries). Get your final comments in now. Remaking this thread will be moderated for disruptive, just as an FYI.' What a goddamn joke you guys are." -Forte612

"-valid criticism of events that happened
-told to stop "trolling" a paid professional admin
-thinly veiled threats to shut down CE for a day
-topic locked" -Forte612

"Wagons are circled. Mods and admins operate as they will to a different, lesser set of standards. The new hire's actions prove as much; what makes any of you think that Admiral isn't protected by the same?" -ArtosRC

"My 12 year old brother can do a better job as a moderator than these guys. The mods here are just terrible. Such a joke." -Stallion_Prime

"from what i can gather..mod abuse is officially unabashed and sanctioned with the new administrator which i thought was appointed to curb this unprofessional behaviour...probably time to move somewhere else, everyone. ideas?" -Omnislasher

"She abuses the system more than the other mods" -_x_Phoenix_x_

"Accused of doing something off-site that may or may not be true. Any time CE talked about it or even hinted at it without naming names, they were moderated and Warned. All around unprofessional." -Leanaunfurled

"She also insulted the community multiple times and then locked the topics once people called her out on it." -Orchestrion

"Someone had their topic deleted for merely asking if usermap information was mod-only info." -ArthasReborn

"And for the people saying some bulls*** like we're just trolling, most of us were FOR a community manager. Instead, we got this. "We want details!" Anytime said details are brought up, locks and warnings abound." -dave_is_slick

"One of my accounts was banned almost immediately after making a fairly innocuous comment on her and the situation but none of my posts were deleted. It was fast, too. I clicked to post, got the suspended thing, clicked to read the message and got the banned page. I haven't been banned in years but I don't remember it being that fast. Of course, I can't read why or find out." -neversingagain

"Krystal: has no capacity to act like a paid professional, goes on temper tantrums, mods people, then topics get locked." -I Like Toast

"I had a topic get closed even though I just said I still liked her :(" -CeruleanAngel

"krystal is basically raptor 2.0...she has a very shaky understanding of what is actually going on but commits to making terrible decisions regardless while refusing to acknowledge her own shortcomings" -Andel

"Krystal wants as few people as possible to know she's abusing her position. but she's about as subtle as an elephant" -Anti_PhiIosophy

"Krystal109 is making everything that slightly offends someone moddable." -HisBoyLondon

"an admin abuses her powers and silences everyone..." -Dwreak

"bluezero posted...'Just another attention seeker.' only this one will warn you for things that wouldn't even get modded if said to anyone else. And locks topics whenever they aren't positive about her." -I Like Toast

"she's got this board on lockdown with a bad attitude and kneejerk reactions." -DestroyedDog