Self Moderation. In all my time there, I haven't seen anything 'toxic'. Also there isn't any real 'us vs them' mentality there. They just want to do a little venting (and :grouphug:ing) every now and again, just to prevent stress.
Pretty much.
The one time I can recall that anybody started getting vitriolic, we told them so and they logged off for a few hours to unwind away from the net. Sometimes, rather than vent, you have to just take a step back and come back later.
How do you make sure the venting doesn't turn toxic and result in further entrenching an "us vs them" mentality? Is the venting helping or hurting?
You don't.
Look, let's be honest. People are gonna vent somewhere. Maybe it's on the forum, maybe it's on Twitter, maybe it's via AIM, maybe it's to their dog. They're going to vent, and occasionally it'll just be vitriol, and occasionally it'll just be non-productive omphaloskepsis. You can't stop that.
Doing it here with each other, we get it out in "the open" so that if it does get toxic, someone we trust can come to us and say "you're being toxic." Heck, you can do that--even if you don't want post in Mod Chat, you can always send us PMs. But I'd rather be able to see the things my colleagues here are venting about, know the kinds of things that are stressing them out, and try to help them and the forum find ways of dealing with them, than the alternative.
Private Mod Note
():
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Sing lustily and with good courage.
Be aware of singing as if you were half dead,
or half asleep:
but lift your voice with strength.
Be no more afraid of your voice now,
nor more ashamed of its being heard,
than when you sang the songs of Satan.
Look, let's be honest. People are gonna vent somewhere. Maybe it's on the forum, maybe it's on Twitter, maybe it's via AIM, maybe it's to their dog. They're going to vent, and occasionally it'll just be vitriol, and occasionally it'll just be non-productive omphaloskepsis. You can't stop that.
Doing it here with each other, we get it out in "the open" so that if it does get toxic, someone we trust can come to us and say "you're being toxic." Heck, you can do that--even if you don't want post in Mod Chat, you can always send us PMs. But I'd rather be able to see the things my colleagues here are venting about, know the kinds of things that are stressing them out, and try to help them and the forum find ways of dealing with them, than the alternative.
The problem is not the venting. It's when one person starts venting and gets someone else riled up and then they start venting and then they get someone else riled up. That's toxic. It spreads from one person to another and gets worse with every iteration. If you don't think that is exactly what is happening... I don't know what to tell you. Maybe an outsider's perspective is needed to let you know when things are spiraling out of control.
The problem is not the venting. It's when one person starts venting and gets someone else riled up and then they start venting and then they get someone else riled up. That's toxic. It spreads from one person to another and gets worse with every iteration. If you don't think that is exactly what is happening... I don't know what to tell you. Maybe an outsider's perspective is needed to let you know when things are spiraling out of control.
I mean, if there's something specific you think is spiraling (I suspect I know what in general you're talking about, but obviously I don't know exactly what about it you think is bad) post about it in Mod Chat and we can talk about it. I know there's that thing with :meg:, but I'm sure in this case it won't matter.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sing lustily and with good courage.
Be aware of singing as if you were half dead,
or half asleep:
but lift your voice with strength.
Be no more afraid of your voice now,
nor more ashamed of its being heard,
than when you sang the songs of Satan.
I mean, if there's something specific you think is spiraling (I suspect I know what in general you're talking about, but obviously I don't know exactly what about it you think is bad) post about it in Mod Chat and we can talk about it. I know there's that thing with :meg:, but I'm sure in this case it won't matter.
No offense, but I'll pass. I've PMed enough people to understand that it's not going to change.
Change is a slow, yet noble beast. Long ago the grand canyon was but a trickle, and the Russian wastes a tropical paradise.
Senori doesn't think there is a problem and Yomako didn't see anything wrong when he was there (last week). Why would there be change if they didn't see anything wrong? Is it changing or going to change? Do you think there is a problem?
Heh, I'm probably the wrong guy to ask about that. I prefer to just let things move at their own pace and go from there.
The only thing I can think of is feedback. ie: non-judgemental advice on how to do things better. Not 'This is bad, change it.', but 'hey, I think this would be better than what you're doing now.' and just that, no arguing, no pressing further, just one point raised each time you see something that could be improved.
And not just from the community, but from other staff members as well.
Senori doesn't think there is a problem and Yomako didn't see anything wrong when he was there (last week). Why would there be change if they didn't see anything wrong? Is it changing or going to change? Do you think there is a problem?
Because change always happens.
It is happening now, though you may not notice the effects for some time.
Yes, I think there is a problem, but it's not exactly what you're talking about.
The problem I see is a rather large staff that are inexperienced in the roles they have been given and the only solution is gaining experience and proper guidance. Everything else is a symptom of this.
Patience, as they say, is a virtue. Don't write something off just because it doesn't improve as fast as you'd hope.
ehh, I'm an optimist generally. While positive thinking can be powerful, it isn't helpful when used to ignore problems.
Optimism's great, but what I'm talking about is patience.
As much as you might want something to happen now, and your frustration is well understood, but one must wait for all things good.
I'm not saying to ignore stuff, I'm saying there's no point keeping on about something once enough attention has been brought to it.
The problem I see is a rather large staff that are inexperienced in the roles they have been given and the only solution is gaining experience and proper guidance. Everything else is a symptom of this.
Patience, as they say, is a virtue. Don't write something off just because it doesn't improve as fast as you'd hope.
Pretty much.
The one time I can recall that anybody started getting vitriolic, we told them so and they logged off for a few hours to unwind away from the net. Sometimes, rather than vent, you have to just take a step back and come back later.
You don't.
Look, let's be honest. People are gonna vent somewhere. Maybe it's on the forum, maybe it's on Twitter, maybe it's via AIM, maybe it's to their dog. They're going to vent, and occasionally it'll just be vitriol, and occasionally it'll just be non-productive omphaloskepsis. You can't stop that.
Doing it here with each other, we get it out in "the open" so that if it does get toxic, someone we trust can come to us and say "you're being toxic." Heck, you can do that--even if you don't want post in Mod Chat, you can always send us PMs. But I'd rather be able to see the things my colleagues here are venting about, know the kinds of things that are stressing them out, and try to help them and the forum find ways of dealing with them, than the alternative.
Be aware of singing as if you were half dead,
or half asleep:
but lift your voice with strength.
Be no more afraid of your voice now,
nor more ashamed of its being heard,
than when you sang the songs of Satan.
The problem is not the venting. It's when one person starts venting and gets someone else riled up and then they start venting and then they get someone else riled up. That's toxic. It spreads from one person to another and gets worse with every iteration. If you don't think that is exactly what is happening... I don't know what to tell you. Maybe an outsider's perspective is needed to let you know when things are spiraling out of control.
I mean, if there's something specific you think is spiraling (I suspect I know what in general you're talking about, but obviously I don't know exactly what about it you think is bad) post about it in Mod Chat and we can talk about it. I know there's that thing with :meg:, but I'm sure in this case it won't matter.
Be aware of singing as if you were half dead,
or half asleep:
but lift your voice with strength.
Be no more afraid of your voice now,
nor more ashamed of its being heard,
than when you sang the songs of Satan.
No offense, but I'll pass. I've PMed enough people to understand that it's not going to change.
Change is a slow, yet noble beast. Long ago the grand canyon was but a trickle, and the Russian wastes a tropical paradise.
that's deep man.
any thoughts on how to speed up the process?
Senori doesn't think there is a problem and Yomako didn't see anything wrong when he was there (last week). Why would there be change if they didn't see anything wrong? Is it changing or going to change? Do you think there is a problem?
Heh, I'm probably the wrong guy to ask about that. I prefer to just let things move at their own pace and go from there.
The only thing I can think of is feedback. ie: non-judgemental advice on how to do things better. Not 'This is bad, change it.', but 'hey, I think this would be better than what you're doing now.' and just that, no arguing, no pressing further, just one point raised each time you see something that could be improved.
And not just from the community, but from other staff members as well.
Because change always happens.
It is happening now, though you may not notice the effects for some time.
Yes, I think there is a problem, but it's not exactly what you're talking about.
The problem I see is a rather large staff that are inexperienced in the roles they have been given and the only solution is gaining experience and proper guidance. Everything else is a symptom of this.
Patience, as they say, is a virtue. Don't write something off just because it doesn't improve as fast as you'd hope.
Then what is it?
Optimism's great, but what I'm talking about is patience.
As much as you might want something to happen now, and your frustration is well understood, but one must wait for all things good.
I'm not saying to ignore stuff, I'm saying there's no point keeping on about something once enough attention has been brought to it.
V
We don't call it WWYD for nothing.
This is true for many irl situations as well. Take it from me. n_n
Why?