posted on March 3, 2001 11:24:48 AM new
Perhaps I can word this in such a manner as to keep it form being locked or deleted by the Mod Squad.
Without using the three-letter word that guarantees to get a thread locked (you, know, the one that starts with an "f", and ends with a double "e", I must express my much deeper concerns.
It seems to me that, concurrent with the recent announcement, the attitude around here has undergone a complete transformation.
Honest questions and concerns are being responded to rudely, or not at all. I get the feeling in every communication (as well as in the lack of same) from AW that we can all go to hell, which is the worst possible attitude for them to take at this crucial time. For, of course, if we all go to hell, where does that leave AW? (BTW, for the purposes of moderation, hell is not a competitive site to AW....eBay, maybe, but not AW.)
If this was a well-planned and thoroughly considered move, you would think that AW would have been better braced for the backlash, but they seem to be in a frenzy, if not outright panic.
I have tried to respond to you fairly and timely. If you have a complaint regarding my performance or any moderator's performance, please email [email protected].
posted on March 3, 2001 11:31:35 AM new
I have been thinking the exact same thing.
I've seen MANY, MANY threads being answered rudely and then locked.
I've seen many threads that were locked - but if those threads had started 2 weeks ago they wouldn't have been locked.
I've seen someone's posting priveleges that had been suspended because they had 2 ID's - one for posting on the boards and ONE for launching auctions.
We are all told to post our concerns on Mark's thread - but when we post there and ask our questions, the only time a moderator says anything is to say "your post has been deleted".
And they wonder why everyone is asking questions everywhere else?
I'm really sorry to do this, particularly in this thread, but I had to delete your post because you mentioned suspended members that are not allowed to join the discussion.
posted on March 3, 2001 11:40:22 AM new
I for one have found this new turn of events both Distracting and Distressing.
I'm haveing a real hard time understanding whats going on around here.
And yes the moderation team seems to be totally unprepared.
You know this(fees) wasn't all thought up the night before they announced it.
I would have thought that there would have been extensive meetings on how to reply and respond to the many questions and to be able to do it tactfully.
JMO(or is that not allowed anymore?
packer in a state of confussion!
.
edited for spelling because I was in a hurry to post before it got deleted.
[ edited by packer on Mar 3, 2001 11:42 AM ]
posted on March 3, 2001 11:44:45 AM new
Joice, I am not referring to you, or any individual in particular.
I'm talking about an attitude that began at a specific time, and has pervaded AW up until and including this moment, and is apparent to anyone who has been around here any time at all.
We are not your enemy. Nor or we Mark's, nor Diana's, etc. What has everyone so defensive and combative? As I stated before, this really isn't the time to push people further away. If you want us all to leave, why doesn't someone just say so?
And let me offer an apology which I can't in a locked thread: I'm sorry you think that referring to the moderators' usual high standards of communicaton and courtesy is "moderator bashing".
posted on March 3, 2001 11:44:56 AM new
gc2; If you are interested in "any thoughts" you would have to go to a forum where users can freely discuss their thoughts.
posted on March 3, 2001 11:56:00 AM new
This and other boards I use are all presently experiencing some conflicts between the users and the commercial sponsor (or their staff).
While I hope to continue to use each of these services I do see a growing need for a forum free of commercial involvement that provides the opportunity for discussions and is free of restrictions based on the business interests of the host.
A non-profit, member run organization is an ideal sponsor for that type of additional service. I do not see it as a replacement for AW but rather as a supplement to this and other services I'm presently using.
posted on March 3, 2001 12:07:48 PM new
Pretty much right about the attitude!
It used to be you could mention a competitor as long as you didn't post the link. Now that is no longer true!
Also, I just started a thread regarding my inability to launch auctions on eBay in which I explicitly state that I'm signed in to eBay and eBay recognizes that by displaying my UserId, etc. (You can read the details on the thread if you're interested in the rest...). And what happens????
A moderator intervenes (before anyone else has even responded) and asks me to post in the AW services area if I'm using AW to launch my auctions as I would get faster responses over there!
Now, I guess said moderator couldn't tell from my post that I wasn't using AW, she just assumed I was! Does that tell you that AW thinks they're indispensable or what? They seem to assume that everyone who posts here and reports having trouble launching is using their service to do it. BTW, I, and many others from the threads there were, had the same trouble a few days ago. Again, a moderator tried to direct my post to the other area.
Here was my response to today's attempt to redirect my thread:
What makes you think I am using AW to launch my auctions? I am not! I'm trying to launch directly on site and am having this problem. So this is certainly the appropriate place to post this, thank you very much!
I was much more polite myself a couple of days ago in assuring the moderator (same one I believe) that I was posting in the right area.
posted on March 3, 2001 12:08:22 PM new
A forum with selective censorship is basically just propoganda and a subtle form of brainwashing. Allow the posts and opinions that promote your interests. Delete the posts that go against your interests. Within due time users will learn to express opinions in terms that suit the interests of those hosting the forum. How many times do you start typing a post and then modify it so it is more "suitable"?
I agree with all. When we started to develope the co-op movement here on AW we had our threads locked and AW moves discussion away to more seldom seen forums where they can be ignored.
Do you know how many times I've seen Joice pass us off to Diane who is expert at writing amazingly polite emails that say very little??
Again, nothing against Joice or any of you. You're doing your jobs I guess.
I agree with Ray. This is one of the reasons why we need a co-op. Even a great site like AW can at some point become corrupt or change corporate direction leaving us all in the lurch!
I can't post the co-op's url but it's not hard to find!
posted on March 3, 2001 12:44:42 PM new
You go with the methods that brung ya.
The methods AW are using during this 'crisis' are not new. AW has a long and well established tradition of ignoring issues that upset its posters. Time and time again they have used it. So, clearly it must be part of it's core corporate philosophy.
AW believes strongly that if you ignore an issue long enough the problem will go away. So far they have been right.
They have always been a 'my way or the highway' company. And there is absolutely no doubt that they have been highly successful with this strategy and their site.
Don't waste your breath complaining.
Leave the site, get suspended and (with appologies to Clint Eastwood) Mark will smile and thank you for making his day.
It has always been such here at AW. It always will be. But it is still a great board.
Mark will go with the strategy that 'brung him'. Believe it.
Bill
OTOH, if the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem becomes a nail.
posted on March 3, 2001 02:35:28 PM new
I like this thread! Thus I wish to Bump It Up and turn on the ol' Email. While I'm at it let me say this: I am very dissapointed with AW's lack of communication. Yes, at first, they where answering questions here and there but only selectively, Then the locking started,Then they virtually quit answering altogether. If our business is really that important to them then you would think they would have been answering as many questions as they could no matter what thread they were posted in!
posted on March 3, 2001 02:44:32 PM new
Also, besides the rudeness factor, if one truly has a superior product that the auction public can't live without, then one shouldn't be afraid of having the competition named. One could then jump in with some constructive criticism of said competition to enable the membership to see why ones services are worth paying for vs. migrating to free image hosting, listing, or at least lower cost alternatives.
But, I guess it's the can't live without part that is the real debate here, therefore the rudeness (panic?) shown on this board to the membership.
We understand your frustration at the recent turn of events - it's been a frustrating few days for the Moderation team too. Our job is to moderate the Message Center guided by the not only requirements of the User Agreement but directives issued to us by Management.
As this thread is discussing AW policy and moderation practices, it should be happening in the Moderator's Corner, not the EO. I will be locking this thread and request you post your comments in the appropriate Forum or email your concerns directly to [email protected].
MichelleG
Moderator
(wearing my thickest skin today - think I might be needing it )
, I must express my much deeper concerns.
