E-mailing Criticism

[Zashara Sho'am]

So, this issue has been brought up repeatedly, in pretty much every thread where there is any kind of disagreement/criticism/concern regarding site policy. Instead of bringing it up in announcement threads again, I figure making a thread about it would be the best way to go about it. This isn't the perfect place, but it's the only one that seems remotely applicable.

Obviously, I disagree with the policy of emailing criticism. It removes transparency. It also comes off as a way to sweep under the rug what people are saying (even though that may not be the point). Yes, the reason stated for email is to make it more personal, have records, and try and get people on the same page. That's great. However, it doesn't let other Tower members know that there were any issues. In other terms, it's divide and conquer - you get each person e-mailing on their own instead of having a group of members who are like "Hey, this concern makes sense and I think it needs to be addressed".

Private questions/criticisms/issues should be taken to e-mail. By "private", I mean specific circumstances that refer to only the member in question or to a small group of members. However, general criticism of site policy and announcements should be public.

 

[Jalen te'Kreg]

I think it might be wise to follow-up here and ask: what *is* the actual rationale for trying to move every critical conversation to email? What's the administrative philosophy behind it?

I'm old school. Been here for far too long. Been part of the power structure here and there. I remember why we did it back in the day. But in an age where we're an organization striving for more legitimacy and transparency, what is the philosophy behind continuing this policy?

 

[Ubahsur Kindellaer]

I'll let an Officer handle the bulk of this. I did want to state that I have added to my list of items for meeting agendas, be it the monthly Exec Meeting or Semi-Annual Admin Meeting, to include this topic both in the format of the policy itself as well as to revisit the discussion of having a forum, similar to CE, to discuss/express concerns/etc on announcements.

 

[Deoan Kakarot]

I have to agree, that a public forum for discourse on policy and announcements, should be encouraged as long as it can remain civil. Thank you for noting the concern for future address.

 

[Laralelle Susandrea]

Thanks for bringing this up Zasha. And Thanks Ubah for the follow up.

 

[Jaryd Kosari]

I'd like to chip in- I don't think a specific forum is necessary,but I DO think that if healthy discussion/feedback is being given in a thread, it should not be shooed into emails 'just because'.

There's a lot of back and forth happening in the SoA thread, for instance, that is beneficial, friendly, and helpful...and it wouldn't have happened had everyone emailed in instead of deciding to go ahead and post anyway.

 

[Sa'areah Britthorn]

My policy is this - a public post is allowed to have public criticism and/or suggestions of how they would prefer it done. However, it should be done simply as I stated, without personal attacks or criticisms of the person. The latter should be taken straight to email without making it public.
Where I ask you to email suggestions, it's not to prevent you from making those known, it's more so I have it on official records as well as in the thread just in case I missed a few points after reading the said threads, or even missed a post when I'm looking through. That way I can respond to the person sending it me, so that they know of any follow up that might be needed, or simply know that I've got the email.
I can't talk for everyone, and I'm not going to try to, but that's how I do things.

 

[Yelenia Hylraren]

I would love to have a private forum to discuss matters. It makes me squeamish thinking about all the discussion that happens in SA because there is no other public option.

 

[Kelgan al'Moranwin]

I also would love to have a more shielded place to have such discussions than SA. The admin meeting notes discussion forum is an excellent start on that and will hopefully be expanded into a more permanent fixture!

 

[Neisa Alibrylla]

I feel part of the problem is that when comments are taken to email, scores of people who read the thread, were genuinely curious and invested in the discussion suddenly have no follow up or knowledge to the next step. So my suggestion is, if there is a no-go to a civil forum (cause let's face it, not everyone is civil), to have official public follow ups to things taken to email.

 

[Sa'areah Britthorn]

That's a good point actually, and one that will definitely be brought up at the Exec meeting, as Ubah said before.

 

[Zashara Sho'am]

Been thinking about this, specifically with regards to the idea of a 'private' discussion forum. Posting some of my thoughts here for consideration. This forum would be explicitly for discussion. That would mean you only post if you have something of value to add to the discussion. Let the Admins/Staff involved address the issues. I know that criticism can come off as a lack of appreciation for the legwork that people do, which most of the time isn't the case. So, leave Site Announcements for the people to post congrats and kudos. Basically, have some kind of separation.

 

[Roheryn ni Galghandhrei t'al'Djinn]

^ This!
I've been following all the threads and haven't had anything to add, but I think Zasha Sedai's idea is good.
I also think that it should be strictly for discussion. I know for me I'm not always sure how to take some of the things people say becuase I don't know them very well and frankly the post is off putting, only to realize (sometimes through later posts) that they were joking because they knew the person really well. That's often very off-putting in the SA forum, especially when it is a heated discussion that is happening, because they sometimes come across as very mean, even if the posts weren't intended to be that way.

I hope that came across right, I'm rather tired but wanted to bring that up.

 

[Jeffan Caliarthan]

I also think that a separation would be good as well, because SA is public, and I don't think it presents a good image if we're all bickering in public. :P

 

[Tazren Talamar]

I like the idea of a discussion forum. I've mostly found that communities that have a "suggestion/improvements" forum get a lot of constructive feedback from those. As long as the discussions are kept constructive. It's not always fun to have something you've done or worked on criticised, but as long as it's done in a constructive manner, people shouldn't get offended by it. In my opinion, it's much better than people complaining and talking amongst themselves in small groups behind other people's backs, which kind of is the only option for discussing issues if it's not allowed in public. Better to have an open, honest and polite discussion.

 

[Sonea Ilandred]

I think that taking things to email allows you to address the issue in a specific way that allows both individuals to phrase things so that the other understands but in a public context could be viewed very differently. Its like sitting in a meeting and wanting to say something but knowing only half your audience will actually "get it" and choosing whether to express yourself and risk a new arguement or stay quiet and not get your point across.

That said I think there is room for both; public discussion and email chats and maybe we need to find a better way of following up after those private discussions.

 

[Yelenia Hylraren]

I don't mind taking specific issues to email, sometimes they're certainly easier to discuss there. But if there's an issue with a bit broader scope or implication - I find I've benefited from others speaking their mind publicly, because it helps give voice to things that are nagging me. (like in the SoA thread - I was bothered, but it took some public, private and individual talks to pinpoint why)

I'd like to get it out of public anyone-can-see view, at any rate. We've certainly seen good things come from the Exec/Admin meeting note forum.

 

[Drake O' Neeus]

As the saying goes (I could be making this up), "If one person says something, ten are thinking it"