I am On Strike
I am On Strike (assuming I don't get banned) and will not answer any more questions until the policy of chastising faithful members for being helpful and friendly is reversed.
Consider this example: I am new to the site and post a question with bad grammar. A moderators who is vigilant posts a comment to correct the grammar. No one can answer until the poster returns to check his/her question (which may be hours or days). In the course of a day there may be ten or more such questions waiting correction but without a single answer.
Now you are another new person who is new to the forum and looks at the current posts to get an idea of how to procede and all they see are unanswered posts with demands (albeit polite ones) to fix their posts. Are you going to stick around a forum like that? I wouldn't.
Now as an old member who wants to answer questions and help people and make them feel welcome I answer a post with bad grammar before a moderator arrives and I get the following email.
Hola Gringo! Thank you for being a helpful member, on both the old and new version. The moderators posted Posting and Answering Protocals and I did see your comment.
In the Help me now plz post, the new user was not using proper grammar with the use of text chat. I've sent them a personal message.
We would like you to assist us in helping the new members with suggestions to use our other resources and give them time to do so. By flagging that individual, the moderators will see it more quickly. In this way you will be an older member who helps us to set the example when you see forum rules broken.
This is coming from bandit51jd in the capacity of Moderator and hopefully with kindness.
Well here was my response:
Bandit51jd: Last night I sent a feedback message to the owners stating that I thought your post was a terrible idea and that the forum is already badly wounded and you and the other moderators are at risk of killing it with over zealousness. In case you haven't noticed there is hardly any activity above an elementary level now.
Chastising the few remaining "old" members for answering questions in a timely manner will only drive us away along with all those who have already left leaving nothing but vote seekers looking to get into chat.
Send a message to the member with the poor grammar. Correct it for them so they can see what the standard is and if they repeat the same errors then ban them. But as a member it is not my responsibility to make such corrections. That is the job of the moderators.
I am going to send a copy of your email and my response as well to feedback. I am also going to consider posting it in a thread. l strongly disagree with this policy and I know several others do as well.
The forum should be inviting, friendly and helpful to all who come there for answers. They should not be met with a catholic school approach to discipline.
3 Answers
Dear gringojrf,
After reading your post to the moderator, I feel the need to address one point you made.
I am not an "old" member as you describe yourself. I am a new member (for a little more than a month); but I am certainly not a "vote seeker looking to get into chat". I think that is a less than complimentary comment about new members like myself who are honestly trying to learn a new language and I highly resent it. I may be banned myself for criticizing an 'old soldier'. If that is the case, so be it, but I will not sit back and take undeserved rebuke.
Good luck with your 'strike'.
so right...
I sent a feedback also. I got the impression that we were not supposed to answer questions too.
