A little explanation of todays events.
I think I have sat out long enough today, not with the intention of making people sweat, wondering what is happening to the site but with basic knowledge of what transpired last night. After an issue that was and will remain between some of the moderators and the management I decided enough was enough and sent in a letter asking Martha (one of the owners for those who are unaware) to please remove the title of Moderator from my profile as I want nothing to do with the position any longer. I have been kept in the dark about events on this site long enough. If I can't do a job well then I don't want it and without information one cannot succeed in any project. While I can't speak for Heidita, I can tell you she was also quite upset and what you see are the results. I will probably still pop in from time to time to say hello to my good friends here, I have built that base to a point where I can't bear to just walk away. I will not be available for pm's about flags and bad behavior because although they still haven't taken the title down I am not doing any more moderating. I am still going to be in contact with Heidita via Skype and anyone else who I have in my contact list will stay there. I do plan on using SD as a medium to bring an occasional chat together on Skype. SpanishDict is a wonderful experience and I can't blame the membership for any of the reasons that I am stepping down. You all have been a fantastic group of individuals which is why I don't plan on straying too far.
Sincerely, Gary
21 Answers
Hi Gary - I can easily understand you reasoning.
It seems that the "powers that be" are out of step with the "special" people who have made this site what it is today.
Many of us have disagreed with each other but remained civil (most of the time) recent events have shown a lack of maturity, bad buisness decisions and bad manners,
It looks like the site "owners" are interested more in "hits" than having a respected functioning language teaching site.
Thank you, Gary, it's very kind of you to let us know.
You already know where I am
Apparently, if the moderators quit, then we are out of touch completely about decisions they make.
Joyce, I don't think you quite understand. You are already out of touch. The management kept the moderators in the dark in the first place which is why I quit. Do you think any of us knew about the change in the format? I was as surprised as you all were and that is just the tip of the iceberg. Sure, life on the forum will go on but without the exuberance that Heidita brought to it, and without that I won't spend nearly as much time here.
Thank you Gary I appreciate your honesty and consideration for all our feelings .
My line is always open to you mate , and that goes for any of my friends on SD .
If you do not have my private address please PM me and I will give it to you .
Sorry that I cannot say more but I am too upset and emotional to express myself
adequately , losing you Gary and Heidi is too much for an old guy to wear in one day.
I feel that I am adrift in an ocean of grief without a rudder and no friendly shore in sight .
Gary, you have been an amazing and kind moderator. I support what you are doing completely. I know you have given this some thought and consideration and did not make this decision hastily.
Thank you so much for your friendship and support in the forum. I really have to get onto Skype! Before everyone disappears, I want a way to contact al of you!! I know that you have been a rock for Heidi behind the scenes and someone she can turn to. I think it is amazing that you and your wife opened your home up to your fellow forum members at Christmas. That speaks volumes to the sort of person you are.
Sure, life on the forum will go on but without the exuberance that Heidita brought to it, and without that I won't spend nearly as much time here.
Without a doubt, a new moderator or two can be appointed and people we never heard of might join the forum. However, it will never be the same. It just won't be that place where achievements and birthdays were celebrated. It won't be a hideout from the aggravations of the day... a place where we can pop in and have a laugh or two; a place where the friendships have developed to the point where we can tease each other and have fun. It won't be the place where members mourning a loved one or members healing from surgery or other illness take refuge. This has been a place where we have heated debates over politics and religion one day and laugh about the newest addition to the Dunce Corner the next day. Newbies are welcomed with enthusiasm and prodigals are embraced with open arms. Oh, and by the way, in between all of the above....a ton of Spanish and English is being taught, explained, corrected.
Forums like this just don't happen.
This forum was lovingly molded into what it is today by the loving care of Heidi. Of course, she would be the first to say that many members participated in this process. But at the helm, it has always been Heidi. She has done so much that everyone just assumed she was paid!!! And Gary, you have been here for quite awhile now....and especially in these most recent months as a faithful moderator. So for that I thank you. As Quentin and others mentioned, if Heidi goes, many of us will follow.
I honestly can't imagine this forum without our two favorite scuba divers.
Thank you for this explanation, Gary. You have my support. I hope this site can remain, but definitely I want to remain in contact with everyone of my friends here. Thank you for all your service here. You are one of the best!
Gary - Good post. We'll be in touch either here or there. Patti
Well! Well! Well ! What an absolutely dissappointing start to my day , I am so very sorry for you Yesser that such events have led to your dissatisfaction ,I was just starting to feel very cosy with you all and especially Heidi who I have not always seen eye to eye. For me the moderaters on this Site represent the heart and soul of the Spanish Dict. community, with out them to keep us all on the straight and narrow I cannot imagine what will become of the site as we know it .I love the fact that I have become friends with people from different cultures .I feel there is something underlyingly important on this site and it is not neccessarily that we are learning Spanish together .We have shown that it is possible for people from different walks of life to co-exist in a world that is often violent without reason . .I only hope that sanity will prevail so we can all continue on this fantastic journey of learning and sharing .
Thanks for all you have done, Gary. I hope to stay in touch via skype.
"Without the exuberance that Heidita brought to it...."
Exactly! It seems our "management" is not very in touch with who we are, either. Not only will I miss the people who choose to leave if this does not end well, I honestly don't think I want to support a site that treats people badly.
I treasure my friends here, but they know where to find me.
Thank you, Gary, for all the work you have done here. I will remain hopeful that some apologies are forthcoming.
I said it when the new layout came out and I'll say it again: "My gosh." I step away for a day and everything changes. Gary, I am extremely sorry to see you go. I'm a much newer member than most that are commenting here but from my time here I have come to extremely value everyone here and all the things they do. You've been a good admin for the forum and so has Heidita. I wish it were not so but with Heidita leaving, you ending your admin-ship, and several other regular members leaving or going on hiatus, I'm not going to be coming back here much anymore. I'll come on a little to see what's happening and maybe if I have a really hard question but.... I don't see much point.
Sounds like you and Heidita have been kicked in the teeth Gary. I understand and respect your decision. I'm absolutely gutted and don't really know what to say. Stunned.
Gary, thank you for your service to the forum. And, for filling us in.
The real challenge for those of us who love this site is that there is not a system of communicating with the owners. Apparently, if the moderators quit, then we are out of touch completely about decisions they make.
This site has been a life saver for me, personally. I'm so grateful for it and for everyone who contributes to it. Words are really inadequate to express my appreciation.
But, the reality of the situation is that if it were to go away tomorrow, life would go on.
I really respect your decision, Gary. It shows your good character. The management 's approach to keeping all of you moderators in the dark have placed you all in an impossible and unenviable position.
I really hope that the management receives a wake up call regarding their treatment of all the moderators! To make this place the great, safe, family orientated place it is for learning is a collosal task which has only been possible through the hard work of all you moderators, especially Heidi and we all take our hats off to you!
Thank you all so much for all of your hard work English words seem inadequate, so
¡Muchísimas gracias amigos, apreciamos tanto todo del trabajo que han hecho!
.
Here's something I've posted on Heidinha's thread and now I also post it here because it's not private
Actually I don't think that we need to have any enemies though they can be thieves or killers. If we consider the life of other people the same as our life, I think that it'll make everything easier to solve. If we prefer the common benefits to our individual benefits, it can help us solve lots of problems and issues.
I'd like to tell you that I want to thank you for all the help on this site. It's not easy to list all of them, and it's numerous, it's giant.
You've mentioned many changes of the SpanishDict site. If it's unable to be changed, we need to accept this reality. It looks like the way we live in a country, and we need to follow the law of the government. We can give the leaders our ideas and opinions but the rights to decide belong to the leaders. It will lead us to lots of losses if a war occurred just to ruin that law.
I still think that all the issues can be solved based on mutual respects and true friendship.
Life can be sometimes hard, but we can finally pass it to advance to a better future. And I hope you can have a sparkling future when you start a new era of your life.
Wherever you are, I hope you can do all the best things as possible and never stop helping Spanish learners. I'm glad that I have had chances to called you a "maestra".
Thank you and wish you successes in your career.
And for you, Mr Yesero, I wish you all the happiest things wherever you go, whenever you are, whatever you do.
