Resignation from Resmod position.

This was what I posted in the ResMod forum and here it is for fellow forum readers....

I was honored to have been chosen to help moderate these forums. One of the reasons I felt comfortable taking on this task was because I thought I could do some good.

After doing this for a few days, I feel I have done no good. Personally, I don't see what all the bitching is about from most of these people, its not like we can do anything to hurt them. It still hurts to see how post after post, we are not trusted. The reality is, if they don't trust and respect us, then what we say to try to difuse a situation is only going to fall on def ears. Any positive comments we try to make will only appear as if we are doing our job. Before.....if I made a positive comment, then I was just another resident and appeared more sincere.

This was also implemented right before a weekend and the ResMods are being attacked by a pack of wolves. (half of them I thought were my friends). I don't need this stress. All I wanted to do was help. This is not helping!

One last thing, I found that I can't be objective. Talens thread "What the hell is happening around here?" was placed into review because another Resmod wasn't sure what to do with it after recieving 4 reports in a row by the same person. This was even expressed in the resmod forums. Then to find out he later got a warning?? Wow. That makes us look good. Not that we looked good before. Its just too hard for me and I wish current and future Resmods the best of luck.

I will also be posting this in Notices.

MJ

Since it would seem I'm leading the charge against this thing, I feel I should say something.

I have stated over and over my positive feelings about the people selected (I even just gave thumbs up to the idea of Cybin Linden!) And while I think the 15 names represent some of the best folks of Second Life, I would go so far as to bubble YOU to near the top of that list (best of the best?) So I really hope none of the resmods take any of this personally.

It actually makes me sad to see you quit. If this program can't be rolled back and we have to live with it, then you would be exactly the type of fair, kind, and responsible person I wish would be involved with it.

I dont think the majority is really mad at the resmods persay... Though some specific actions are questionable... But unfortunatly LL kinda made you the target of a lot of unrest through how they handled this (Setting you guys up as the week ended then mostly vanishing, for example...)

You folks just kinda happened to be the victims of circumstance here. I have a couple private reservations about some of the resmods abstractly, but I don't think theres any one of them that I feel couldn't do the job admirably. It's a shame this blew up the way it did, but its absolutely understandable. Too bad you got caught in the crossfire, though.

I too am guilty of not being more vocal in my support of ResMods. I think it it likely the best thing to happen to the forums. I will concede that it is thankless work and I think the naysayers have been over the top with unfounded concern.

But, I think worst of all is Linden Lab's implementation of "responsibility without authority". What a lame move. Jeska will you do my work for me? It is unpleasant and ungratifying and I don't want to pay you and if you don't mind, I'd like you to do it with both hands tied behind your back. kthxbye.

I think "victims of ill-conceived, poorly communicated, insufficiently thought out policy change with not a whit of forethought toward the implications" would be a tad more accurate.

Well said. Unfortunately mods need to have a thick skin.

After some time, I'm sure Jeska and the team will have taken care of all the bitching, whining wolves. They must be stopped, or they will continue hurting the whole community.

Ever heard about the Law of Jante? It is common knowledge in Scandinavia, and I think it describes very well what we see here. http://www.waste.org/~xtal/red/jante.html
There are 10 different rules in the law, but they are all variations on a single theme and are usually referred to as a homogenous unit: Don't think you're anyone special or that you're better than us. The 10 rules are:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jante_Law

Thanks Aimee, means alot.

However, it wasn't just one thing as I stated above. How can I be objective, when Residents are getting warnings over a thread that was put into review (by mistake admitted by the Resmod) and then the OP gets a warning. This concerns me and doesn't make us look good at all. If the OP got a warning because he questions LL move to implement this program...then half the forum posters should get a warning as well.

There are other reasons too that I didn't put in my initial post. I KNOW that I would have done a great job as a mod. However, there are some that were chosen that I put into question myself. One, that I know of, didn't even volunteer. Since then, this person has made comments that incite anger imo and encouraged the ResMod bashing.

There are a couple that are really taking their new position seriously and I can see that on the forums. You all keep this up and you'll lose them too. Then you will really have a need to worry because if you get a bunch of tards moderating the forums then gah...we'll all be getting warnings. There are about 5 good and active Resmods right now and I really do hope that you start to recognize them and give them your support. They are listening to you and commenting in the ResMod forums. Remember, we are all Residents.

Lastly, yesterday before I made the decision to resign..I started a poll in the Resmod forum asking if the ResMods wanted to still receive "Report a Post". (We are listening) The options were "Yes", "Yes, only if the SL name is removed", "No" and "Other (list reason below)...last I looked 5 votes and none were for the "Yes" option.

I'm going to take a break from the forums for a couple days and take a deep breath. Please note that when I say "you" I'm not targetting any one person, just to whoever is reading.

MJ

I think charactarizing the critics of this as "bitching, whiny wolves" who "must be stopped" before they "[hurt] the whole community" is a little harsh, ne?

*hugs MJ*

It is a thankless job, much like being a parent

You get a warning just because the thread was put into review? Doesn't that simply mean that LL should take a look at it. Do they just sweep in and warn all posters that got moved to review? Call me confused.

And yes, calling people "bitching, whining wolves" who must be stopped before theycontinue "hurting the whole community" isn't really helping much either.

And just a note.....
Posters don't seem to realize that tone and language make a big difference between saying "I would like to point out such and such about LL and question whether this is a positive move" and "LL is at it again! They are out to scew all who don't agree with them. Down with LL! Who's with me?"

The former = criticism, the latter = inciting.

I posted this in another thread and will repost it for you here, MJ.

It is unfortunate that you and other resmods are feeling the brunt of this but I do feel that most of the critique has been of the program and its implementation.

MJ makes some great points and all with her usual grace. One part in particular (Moonshine addressed it as well) seemed almost a threat of dire consequences if residents don't shut up about the resmod program.

No doubt, if critics bash the resmods themselves, we are likely to lose the nice ones and end up with resmods who may lack a certain sensitivity (they gonna be MEAN! ) Even with NO dire consequences, these nice folks don't deserve bashing!

On the other hand, I would hope the forums will always be a place where we can freely speak our minds about Linden PROGRAMS. I don't see my criticism of the Resmod program as being harmful, especially since it seems most people believe the program to be harmful idea. Could I be wrong? Absolutely. But I think it's at least worth the discussion!

It gets trickier when the discussion about a program's flaws lead back to a particular resmod. If a resmod has a history of poor forum behavior, or is not performing well then it shouldn't be omitted from the discussion. But people should be cautious to attack the BEHAVIOR as an abstract facet of a flawed SYSTEM, and not attack the PERSON.

Issues pertaining to individuals are best handled privately and out of the forum. First with the individual then, if necessary, with their "boss".

Discussions which pertain to the decisions which are reflective of the overall policy should have a place in the forum and not be viewed as a personal attack.

I THINK we are in agreement here. I am just saying that if, say, a resmod closes a thread wrongfully, that fact SHOULD be addressed in the discussion about the resmod program. It should not be omitted just because the discussion could lead back to an individual resmod. Omitting names is a good way to go if possible but certainly not omitting the incident.

But yes, problems with a specific individual should absolutely be handled in private with their "boss."

I am in total agreement with you, Aimee.

Hugs, MJ. I feel for you and for the other mods. When the possibility of repurcussions to people who report posts was brought up in the discussion, part of my reaction (which I didn't articulate) was "what about the mods themselves?" It's an unfair position to put people in given the fact that ANY change in policy, features, or anything else (even the background color of the forums for gods sake), will inevitably result in pages and pages of overreaction. I admire you for volunteering. I wouldn't touch the job with a ten foot electric cattle prod.

MJ! NOOOoooooo.

I really do admire your frankness and thought you were very impartial and overall a good choice for this.

And yes, sometimes I feel like we're just the sacrificial lambs for this until they appoint the ones with the really big guns.

OOF

Hmm...I haven't joined the general chorus of disapproval, but it does seem to me that it is the method of introduction which is being criticised on the whole rather than the mods themselves. The problem is that I think this is one of the jobs where a wish to do it may very well be a disqualification for fitness to do it. And those most fit to do it are all going to feel like Chip....

This is a generalisation, and shouldn't be taken personally by those who volunteered or were volunteered for the position, but I am beginning to wonder if anyone at Linden Labs really understands how important it is that the rules should be open and fair and seen to be fair, and that the process should be open and fair and seen to be fair. At present I am heartily confused...if I report a thread four times, it gets pulled for consideration and the originator gets a warning??? Is this really what's going on?

Suggest Torley should be put in charge of the resmod thing and that only volunteers with some training and guidance should be mods.

Further suggest that no-one who is affected by the eternal rise and fall of the indignation from the masses should volunteer. It is going to be a difficult job for anyone. For someone who worries about what people are saying about them, it will be impossible.
Cali

*hugs* MJ! I hope a break will change your mind. You were a great choice for the ResMod position, and as I stated in our fourm, you should *not* take the criticism personally. Just as Aimee states above, it is the system people are objecting to, not the people themselves mostly (ignore anything you read on blogs that are not official to SL).

I've had a few moments in the last couple of days were my own ears burned, and had those thoughts of "these are my friends, what's going on??". But then I remember, these *are* people I talk with day in and out with on the forums. And while we all have our differences, we are a community, and we have stood together through some really rough times. All that is going on now is an honest desire that *if* this program stays in place, it stays for the right reasons and with the right guidelines.

For a long time there has been debate on the best ways to handle the forums. How to keep them a place people want to come to, how to keep them civil, and how to keep them open for a free exchange of ideas. That isn't an easy task to accomplish. Especially with only one or two people moderating.

I myself got on one night and posted a rant about the fact that I was upset about posts being moved to areas I did not think they should have been. That they were fine where they started. We all have our passions about this community, and that is never a bad thing.

My personal goal in wanting to be a ResMod, was to bring a forum regular perspective to the way things were handled. There are so many here with so many excellent ideas. Things that even the Lindens or you or I may never think of. And I want those ideas tossed into the mix of how things *could* be. So I'm loving the feedback on the ResMod program, and hoping it leads to some really great new ways of doing things around here.

So don't ever think less of yourself or feel you didn't give your 100% MJ. You are a wonderful asset to SL, and I thank you for all you have and will do! *hugs*

/sigh I'm afraid that reporting was probably me. It was apparently a forum bug. I was trying to search the scripting forums and kept getting a message that the post had been reported. I reported the problem in the technical issues forum but got no response. I had no specific post up on my screen at the time however so I didn't think it actually reported anything. I'm sorry to have caused so much trouble.

This is so

You did nothing to cause this Niamh. Yours was an honest tech glitch that was understood. So no worries on your part.

My sentiments exactly MJ - /hugs