Editorial > The Neopets Team

Hey TNT! *chucks plushie rock* I was wondering how the Neo-staff works. Do you all have separate jobs, or are there teams, or do Meepits rule the world....? Thanks :D Oh, and how do you pick through all of these NT submissions? ~gerilyn20

We all have our separate jobs, but are grouped as departments within the big team. For example, there are five writers, with one of them being the lead writer, and they form the Writing Department. Each department has their own leader, and all those departments together form The Neopets Team.

As for your second question, we mostly read them to pick through the submissions. We tried closing our eyes once and throwing darts at the submissions to pick for us, but the management got angry when they had to buy new monitors, so we just stick to reading them now. D: (Issue 321)

I've been wondering this for a while now, and it's really been bugging me! You could, for instance, have chosen TNA (The Neopets Association), TNB (The NeoBots), or even TNC (Tea And Cookies)! So, my question is, did the nickname "TNT" come into existence by accident? Or was it deliberate? ~this_is_a_long_thing

You guys gave us TNT, actually. Prior to that, we just called ourselves The Neopets Team. (Though, from that, TNT isn't really much of a stretch.) If you're asking more about "The Neopets Team" name itself, well, we feel like a team. We even had a softball game going a few years ago but it failed. (Once we realised we're all computer nerds, it was easy to figure out why we weren't very good at the whole sports thing.) (Issue 321)

If you [TNT] wanted could you go on someone's account and ruin it? An example of what I'm saying is, could you go on an account and just throw away their paint brushes or Neopoints? Not that I'm saying that you would, but if the Meepits made you do it could you? Also if I get in the Times this is me: :) If I don't then this is me: :( ~scofmunch

o_O That's an odd question. Technically speaking, we guess we could delete the entire contents of your account. We store all the data for your account in our databases, so we could wipe everything if we wanted to. THEY'RE OUR DATABASES, WE DO WHAT WE WANT! There's really no reason we would, though, and very few people have that kind of access. Generally, the only time we ever delete items/NPs from an account is if there is some type of abuse going on with the items, they were sent to an innocent account by a scammer, we've unfrozen an account but forcing them to start over, etc. All these are rather rare occurrences, though, and anyone with access to do so is also monitored and tracked themselves. (Yes, we monitor the monitors. We also monitor support staff, programmers, lawyers... Neopets may be a game, but those who work here have real, serious jobs. We have very strict rules on what people can and can't do to accounts.) (Issue 321)

"Theneopetsteam" is an account that a whole bunch of staff members share, right? If so, let's say if my father got a job as staff, would HE share the account theneopetsteam too? Just wondering. It has been bugging me for quite a bit. ~Friendsforever998630

Nope. The account theneopetsteam is for all of us and none of us at the same time. That account is only our messenger, and cannot be logged into by anyone, actually. (Issue 310)

So, in the Editorial from issue 308, you mentioned that the Neopets staff members were referred to as TNT. Does that include all staff, programmers, artists and such, or is it only those we hear about? I won't be able to sleep on my pineapple bed until I know. By the way, it's quite comfortable. ~uogy

When we say TNT we mean everyone who works for Neopets, Inc. Those nutty characters like Snarkie, El Picklesaur, and others from activities like the old Altador Cup staff competition are just a tiny portion of everyone who makes up The Neopets Team. :) (Issue 310)

Has a regular account ever been recruited to become part of TNT? ~girls232323

We assume you mean a player who has a Neopet account? If so, then yes, many of our most dedicated TNT staffers were once players before they joined our ranks. Some of those players turned TNT are Dragona, Soup Faerie, and Snowbunny, just to name a few! That being said, many who only discovered Neopets while applying to work here have fallen in love with the site and enjoy playing as well. However, we always do our best these days to remember that we're staff first and players second, to make sure our enthusiasm for the site never overshadows responsible action (we get carried away sometimes). (Issue 309)