Admin Controversy

The Admin Controversy was a controversy surrounding ownership semantics of Hongkongggag between flutters and Card0 on February 8, 2022.

Background

Changes to the document are highlighted. Text in Blue is done by Card0, text in orange is flutters

In March 2020, a document defining the roles and positions of the community was issued. Due to a large degree of ambiguity. it was not made clear to all admins that the title of "Hongkongggag" was to be claimed by Card0 solely.

Document Disputes

The wording of the document lacked clarity, as there were no explicit claims dictating what roles could or could not take on the mantle of "Hongkongggag." For instance, the document did not state whether Admins had any right to claim the title, nor did it exclude the title to Founders only.

This led flutters to enter a dispute with Card0, as they believed that Card0's interpretation was unjustified due to the document's ambiguity.

Incident

flutters publicized the issue, stating that Founders and Admins should be considered equal in terms of power instead of having one rank with absolute authority. They also pushed for the notion that the community should not be based around a personality.

Self-proclamation Controversy

On February 9, 2022, Card0 and flutters had a heated argument over the Hongkongggag title. Card0 claimed that he was Hongkongggag and that since the Instagram page was largely run by him, he should be the sole face of it. flutters argued for a team-oriented effort, and that Admins should be given credit, saying that Hongkongggag comprised of Card0 and all admins as an entity. They said that no one person could be credited for any organization or project. For example, College Humor is comprised of many workers and actors, but not one person can claim to be the institution. Card0 didn't understand any of the examples flutters gave. The debate ended in flutters' resignation to Senior Mod.

A day later, after a private discussion between Card0, flutters and Andi, an internal staff guideline was put in place and Card0 apologized to flutters for some of his actions. This led to a line stating explicitly what admins can do with the name (that is to claim they are a part of Hongkongggag).

As the document was poorly phrased, it was not made known to flutters that Admins did not hold the right to call themselves "Hongkongggag", despite Card0 claims of it being present.

Aftermath

flutters resigned from their position as Admin and is currently a Senior Moderator. Below is their final message before departure:

"I am resigning as admin. I realised I am not a part of Hongkongggag rather I was a person behind the shadows. I thought me and Card0 were Hongkongggag but a definition of admin was changed without notification to any admins. I am going to go forth as Senior mod and so will @melody 小儀 <4 . Both of us will only do operations in 852R rather than Hongkongggag as any contribution was under Card0's image anyways.   I will still countdown, I will still be here, but posting will not happen, because I wasn't an admin, I was just a person in the background."

In response to their resignation, many users gave salutations and respect towards flutters' decision.

Further Discussion

Lemontea agreed that both flutters and Card0 should hold the right to proclaim themselves as Hongkongggag, given flutters' extent of participation throughout the years.

Resolution

On February 9, 2022. after a discussion between Andi, Card0 and flutters in which flutters gave the example of group credit in the form of a film project. One person cannot claim to be a whole team if one did most of the jobs, even if one only did storyboarding. In which finally Card0 understood flutters' perspective.

It was decided to allow flutters to remain as a Senior Moderator, while the document concerning the right to claim ownership of the title was rephrased:

"Admins and the Founder are equal in the sense that they are Hongkongggag and as such, can speak on behalf of the page."