I've seen a few HO members today make comments such as "why don't you tun for HO" or "maybe if you guys would put forward some ideas we could implement them". The first one isn't feasible for some people, but the last one definitely is! Maybe instead of fighting with HO on these fundamental problems that plague them (and this is not indicative of this particular HO, who seem like a bunch of great guys. I mean fuck Dangies and Adam are two of my favourite people around. These have been issues since the dawn of HO), we should have an open discussion on the forums that is constructive and might spark a good rapport between the members of the forum who feel like the HO is overstepping its bounds, those who believe the HO is acting within its rights, and those that are in HO.

Please keep all discussion civil

1) Transparency - This has been an issue that goes all the way back to even when I was in HO. We don't know what HO is thinking, we don't understand why they make certain decisions. Without a communication to the higher ups about what we are facing as issues in our league today, there is no way to react but with shock or backlash when something happens that a majority don't agree with.

2) Discussion - The HO could get good feedback if they held a town hall every season, or maybe every month, into what they are discussing and if we can help at all. They attempted this for a little after my suspension in HO caused an uproar but stopped because there wasn't a ton of discussion. Maybe offer 1 uncapped TPE for a response in that thread. It would at least get people to come to it, and if they want to add more they can, because once people make that first post they are invested.

3) Concrete Rules - No retroactive bullshit, it makes everyone walk on eggshells. Rules are put in place for a reason. If you don't like something, consult the league, work it into the rulebook, and then punish. You shouldn't be punishing someone for a prior offense. I find this mostly happens to unpopular members like Samee or c, which really pushes the cliquey-ness that the league has in its higher ups (I was part of that for a long time)

4) Strong, Defined Roles - Who does what in HO? is it still chaos like it was when I was involved? There should be more structure, more rules, and those roles should be plainly laid out on the forums. I don't know the chain of command anymore, and people I talk to don't seem to know either. It would be nice to have a public thread, maybe stickied in announcements or somewhere else that can tell us who is currently making decisions for the good for the league

5) Representing the League, not GM's - Talking to a few HO members, and seeing posts on the forums, I have heard quotes such as "we represent the GM's best interests". And to put it bluntly I don't think this is correct. The role of HO is to make sure the entire league is catered too and everyone, from the owners/HO/GM's to the PT guy, are having fun and feel like they can enjoy themselves. I don't think you represent GM's as much as you represent the good for the forum and helping everyone grow and prosper. And what that means to you is subjective, but I think that encapsulates lots of what I said, from transparency, to involving everyone, to being considerate and professional when it comes to suspension threads. I love HO and I love its members, and I think it functions best when it tries to look at the needs of society and the forums, and making SHL into the #1 hockey forum on the internet.

6) Cliquey Attitude - Going back to that point 3, it's an interesting one, and a controversial one. I think there is definitely an elite cliquey-ness to the SHL, and there always has been. From crew, to the voted HO, to now, we have had the liked people bullying, and keeping down the disliked. It's hard to break out of that disliked mould. I do wonder if it was a popular member (like a gooney, or a bojo. But you can make the argument they wouldn't, but lets instead say someone like me who totally would be this kind of ass) that was doing the rumour mill, if we would have seen such a harsh reaction and very little support. I think this because I myself think I benefited from being liked. When I leaked HO information I faced a severe punishment, but the league was completely on my side, and I had riled people up to a point where they were all against the HO for their decision. Was this because it was a bad decision, or because I am a popular member on the forums with a lot of friends in important places? I also got my expansion team in S25, and again I think about whether this is because I had a lot of friends in HO. I have said some on the line shit on these forums that are suspension worthy, but again my friends in HO kept me from seeing punishment. What I'm saying is, are we unfair to those who aren't popular, because it is easy to make an example out of them because we will see less anger? This could be a point that is completely off base, and something that should be ignored if I'm being honest, but just something I've been thinking about because I feel like I have unfairly benefited while a c or Samee has not had the same benefit of the doubt. Again, not saying current HO are like that, it just feels like we can get a mob mentality and cliquey here, and it's something that we should maybe keep in check? Maybe I should never have written this...


Anyway, feel free to put in your 2 cents, this is just my opinion and something I've pined on today. I could probably add more, and I might, but this is just what I'm able to think of while raking leaves. Please keep it civil, I love you guys and just want to see SHL be its very best, because I've put a lot of time in here