My first few blogs have been about various Minecraft server related things, and this one is no exception. However, unlike the others, I've been able to brutally question given the chance to ask some of the most asked questions to a member of staff on a very large Minecraft server (around 50000 players). This is the gritty yet fun reality of being a staff member on a Minecraft server, I hope you enjoy. :)

The interview

Me: Why exactly did you decide to become a staff member?

Maxarias: Well, IcecreamCow asked me to join, and I thought "Man, this guy is insane, asking me.." So I said yes, mainly because I like to help out. :P
Me: So, how long have you been staff for now?
Maxarias: Since March, and it's October now, so.. Let me count.. Around 5-6 months.
Me: Wow... a long time... O.O. Are you still enjoying what you do now you've done it for so long, or has it become a little... meh?
Maxarias: Of course I still enjoy what I'm doing. I help people, and they appreciate it. Each and every one of those thank yous makes it all worth while.
Me: Ahh, that's good to know :) Have there ever been times where you've regretted being staff?
Maxarias: A few times, I kind of don't like banning people. It can take a lot out of your day if you don't pace yourself. It's like playing a video game, you have to do it in moderation.
Me: In moderation, I suppose I'll take that as a bad joke. :P So, what's the feeling like when you have to ban someone that really deserves it? Is it a good one or bad?
Maxarias: When I ban someone, I question why they did that action. I want to know what they were thinking, and why they thought they could get away with it. It's more of a confused feeling, instead of good or bad.
Me: Hrm, makes sense. So, do you have to have certain things to ban someone, or do you just suspect that they did something and give them a long break from the server?
Maxarias: We do not ban based off of feeling of gut. We make sure we have some sort of evidence, either that be chat logs, screenshots, or video proof. I make SURE I have proof before I issue a ban.
Me: Sounds like a good idea to me . Is there anything you'd like to tell people who have just become staff on a sever? Advice perhaps?
Maxarias: It's a long, hard road full of hate, respect, envy, trust, and distrust. Your friends will be jealous, players will pretend to be your friend, but secretly wish they were you. You have to learn to block it all out. It doesn't get any easier as time goes on.
Me: Would you say it's harder than you expected it to be?
Maxarias: I expected it to be hard. When I joined the server I played on, I only had one friend. I quickly made a few more, but I ended up losing even more then I made when I became a staff member. I knew which ones would stay my friends, and which would not. When I said "Yes, I'd like to be a staff member" I knew I was taking on a huge load. I accepted because I enjoy this server enough, that I wanted to see it flourish. Mmmm Peach Cranberry juice is good. ^_^
Me: Haha. Okay, finally: are there any funny stories that have happened to you during your time as staff?
Maxarias: Let me think... So a couple of staff and I were on top of the town spawn, holding a competition to see who would get to us first (Hacks aren't allowed on our servers), and this one guy decided he'd fly up to us to get an easy win. I had got a video of the guy, and when we questioned him about it, he denied ever flying, until we showed him the video.
...Then he proceeded to swear at all of us and call us nasty names, haha.
So IcecreamCow came along, and site banned him. The end. c(=
When someone starts swearing at me, I don't feel bad about banning them anymore. Not because they're attacking me, but because they're swearing at the staff as a whole.. Swearing at one of us = swearing at all of us. That's just how we all look at it, and we have a lot of pride in our staff.
Me: Very true. Well, thanks Max! :)
Maxarias: Not a problem, any time Jack.

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I hope this clears up any and all pre-misconceptions anyone has ever had about being staff on a large Minecraft server. If you are one, and aren't a power mad tyrant, then you have the utter-most respect from me.

If you are one of those people who join random servers just to make the people who run it's life hell, then honestly, pack it in. Those people who take their own time and effort to make others have a fun time deserve better - and now you've heard it this way, I hope you understand.

A big thanks to Maxarias from Empire Minecraft for agreeing to do this - she can't imagine how much I appreciate it. :)