This is a really excellent thread! <br /><br />It&#039;s interesting to see what the board says about this because there has been somewhat of an internal disagreement about whether even current players (last season and next season) should have a say in how IDL is run.<br /><br />One way to find out what people think in an orderly manner is the do forum polls. A poll gives the active players in the community a way to make their voices heard and allows the administration a way to easily (without reading a novel) gauge the overall opinion(s) of the player base. It also gives each opinion the same weight, which in some cases is a good thing and in some cases a bad thing. Polls are a useful tool.<br /><br />A way for the players to make their ideas know is to simply talk to the administrators. We&#039;re all on a lot and afaik none of us mind talking about what we do and why we do it. For instance I had a conversation with Jenova this afternoon about servers. It went swimmingly. The past two days I&#039;ve chatter with Saber about maps. These guys are smart and have an interest in IDL, why not listen to them?<br /><br />Mass&#039;s point is that players who aren&#039;t actively supporting IDL with their presence/efforts shouldn&#039;t be given the same status as those who are. Jenova&#039;s point is that we should do whatever we can to make IDL better, regardless of where the ideas come from. I agree with both of these positions. I do not find them to be mutually exclusive.<br /><br />We should give credence and consideration to any idea that is good whether it comes from Capodecima or Chaindude. The idea that one person&#039;s opinion should be disregarded because they didn&#039;t play for one or two seasons is ridiculous. If DomRem showed up and started participating in IDL for the first time in almost 5 years I&#039;d listen to his ideas. I&#039;d also treat him with some respect and I&#039;m sure he&#039;d reciprocate. I do care what Fast and White and Chain and Jenova think. Regardless of their previous season sabbaticals I think they all have the intention of playing this upcoming season and I&#039;m looking forward to their ideas about what would make this season better. Even if they didn&#039;t I&#039;d still hear their ideas. I&#039;m a people person.<br /><br />Bear in mind when you do offer your opinions you should do it in a respectful way. While I think the players should have a paramount role in shaping the league I also have some inclination to not cater to people who are rude, much as I&#039;d like to rise above it. In general I have very little problem with people stating their ideas to me nicely with the exception of Jenova of course. He&#039;s a douche to everyone as I understand it so I take little offense.