note
tilly
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
Let me speak for myself.
</blockquote><P>
This may be incredibly obvious but no one speaks for anyone here but
themselves, even if they use the word "we" in their posts.
</blockquote><P>
I meant as opposed to passing on the opinions I have been fed in private
by people ranging from bypassers to old and respected members. Or as
opposed to my opinions about other people who have shown up here.
<P>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
I tread on a few toes...I have tried to be helpful and polite
</blockquote><P>
I've seen the latter, I believe. You should stick with that one instead of
the former. There seems to be a general
community spirit of helpfulness here, and when someone acts contrary
to that spirit, I've noticed that many
individuals speak up in defense of the Monastery and its unwritten
guidelines of behavior. (clarification: good,
civil, community-oriented behavior)
</blockquote><P>
Note that I did not intend to tread on some toes. I know I did. I indeed
try to be helpful and polite but I am letting people know that there have
indeed been things that I know could upset some.
<P>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
Many (most?) people here have welcomed me.
</blockquote><P>
There are thousands of users. That's quite a welcome. I don't mean to
be sarcastic, but you seem to use a lot of
hyperbole in your post.
</blockquote><P>
Trust me, this was not intended as hyperbole. I know that many have
welcomed me because I see how many people privately tell me "thanks", and
I know how many private discussions I carry on. Plus when I posted the
above I saw multiple people's response in the chatterbox. In
addition I know a lot of people voted for posts of mine. Is that a sign
of welcome?<P>
I do not, of course, know the majority opinion. Hence my question mark.
But certainly in terms of people talking to me I have had virtually all
positive feedback.<P>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
But I have also watched in disbelief as I answer several questions
to the best of my ability and they get
downgraded one after the other.
</blockquote><P>
I haven't read enough of your posts to know whether "to the best of
my ability" is synonymous with "correct" and
"the needed information". I don't know the tone of your posts either.
So I'm not sure I could say that the reaction
to your posts is unfair.
</blockquote><P>
Please do then and make up your own mind. I have received private
opinions from over a half-dozen people who thought it was unfair.<P>
As an example, ask whether [id://26860] deserved to show up
(however briefly) on the worst nodes of the day:
<P>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
Which is why today no post of mine appears in the list of best
posts of the day...
</blockquote><P>
Is that your goal?
</blockquote><P>
No, but for several days I consistently had 3-5 posts on that list and
I do not think my posts today are worse than my posts yesterday.<P>
In other words I am stating how noticable the change is.<P>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
Please do not react to that by modding me up across the board either.
</blockquote><P>
Okay. I haven't voted on this node because while I believe it
is well-written, I also believe that it casts a lot of
shadowy accusations. I don't like that as a precedent. Plus,
even if I had real evidence that you'd been wronged, I
still think that sympathy votes are just uncool.
</blockquote><P>
That is close to how I feel. However I included this comment because I
had already /told 3 people that I wished they had not reacted that way.
It is far better for me to make my opinion clear once publically before
the fact than to tell it in private to everyone who tells me that they
already did it.
<P>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
Besides which, as long as whoever it is doing that keeps on doing
that, they cannot use their votes against someone who actually
would be bothered. :-)
</blockquote><P>
Some posts deserve a --. I haven't read yours, but it's possible
that some of yours deserved to be downgraded.
I've gotten -- votes before, sometimes for no reason, more often
because there was something not right with my
post. It would be more appropriate for the person who votes you
down to tell you why, but they are free NOT to
do so if they wish. You have the right to vote the way you want
to. I doubt that there is one person that is out to
use all his/her votes on you, anyway.
</blockquote><P>
Doubt it you may. I have watched whole blocks of my posts go -- one
after the other with no rhyme or reason as to quality.<P>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
The only reason that I am bringing this up is that I have been
told by several that I am far from the first person
that this has happened to.
</blockquote><P>
Does "this" refer to receiving -- votes? Or receiving a whole
horde of -- votes? If it's the latter, I'm curious as
to why. You made some mention of being voluble in the chatterbox.
Do you think that may be affecting your
standing in the community?
</blockquote><P>
Receiving a whole horde of -- votes. I don't know if my talking in
the chatterbox has any effect on my standing. The feedback that I
have received directly has actually been incredibly positive. I would,
in fact, <B>really like</B> to receive feedback from some of the people
who are voting against me. I have publically asked for that to a
notable (not entire) lack of response.<P>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
/tell me in person what specifically you object to. If you
think it warrants public discussion, then post your
opinion as an anonymous monk. A very good place to do that
is in response to this post.
</blockquote><P>
Sure. I think that you are not the center of anything here, though
you have made an extraordinary number of posts
in the very short time since you joined the community. I think you
should cite facts instead of making ambiguous
accusations about an organization of conspirators (q{But a small
clique should not decide for everyone who they
do and do not want to be around, then organize an effort to drive
the unwanted people away.})
</blockquote><P>
I am sorry for ambiguous accusations. I am mainly repeating what I
have been told in private. I would like it if some of those people
were to step forward and say in public what they said in private.
Namely that I seem to be the latest lightning rod for stuff that has
been going on for quite a while.
But I will not publically pass on what I was told in private and
have not been told I can pass on.<P>
My apologies for having made the accusation though. Clearly all I
have to go on are personal impresssions and private comments. I
would, in fact, dearly love to have more to go on but that does not
seem to be happening.<P>
<blockquote>
This is the first post of yours I have read. I replied instead
of voting on it. I would be interested to hear your
further impressions of the community, but with more specifics.
</blockquote><P>
Well the people who are willing to talk to me seem to be an extremely
nice group of people, and that ranges from raw initiates who have
just received unexpectedly quick answers to very experienced monks
who are commenting on things that I have seen.<P>
OTOH it seems that some people are not willing to talk to me, and
at least some strongly dislike me.<P>
Is that specific enough?<P>
Regards,<BR>
Ben
26848
26915