Staff- They volunteer to put their time in, to add to the game. Got some beef with an NPC? You are suppose to be treating them like PCs anyway. Handle it like you would in a PC to PC IC way. Staff are people, this isn't a game you buy, this is a game that comes out of their pocket if you want to look at costs/emotions, hell everything that goes into the *freetime* they offer up to this recess.
Players- You get treated as you treat others. Grade school stuff here. What happens IC, can be handled IC. This is after all happening to your character not you. I can admit I have gotten more than a little pissed off at a number of things IC just from getting so wrapped up in my character. I have had her over a year and have rage quit... thrown my computer... done some IC actions that really aren't in my characters nature then once I was calm talked it out. Even if an agreement isn't reached, it doesn't matter. This game is a community in a way OOCly. We all cackle and cluck like a bunch of underfed horny hens that have been baked in the sun way too long and the approaches that come from it do come out wrong. We are humans we make mistakes. Best thing to do as a player? Log off cool down and try not to think about SD until you can talk about whatever it is without wanting to throw some midol at someone or better yet, choking them out with a tampon.
I can guarantee you don't know half of what goes on behind the scenes. Not even a fourth. With how big the player base is compared to the number of admin that are available at any given time, not to mention the various other things going on that isn't about plots in the making.
If you can form a complete thought that doesn't come off as attacking, the staff can and will respond to the vibe that you give them. As soon as you start attacking in any matter it comes as something way more personal than it should've probably been from your end, not saying they are perfect either. We are, after all, all just human... Except for a few..maybe..