News from the Board of Directors.

[Kelgan al'Moranwin]

It was decided that because of the necessity to adequately perform our duties as board members, board members will have read-only access to all forums.

I think it would be wise to share the thought behind why having read-only access to all forums is a necessity to adequately perform all duties. Just for transparency, you know, and to pre-emptively answer some questions that are sure to come.

One of the primary responsibilities of the Board is to monitor and hold accountable the Officers. Since several of our Officers have universal read/write access to the forums, it makes a deal of sense to me that the Board would need to be able to see what they're doing to be able to carry out their duties properly. That's the best rationale I can find, anyway, and I would be curious to hear the actual reasoning behind it (not because I think the grant is inappropriate, just that I'm curious and I doubt it's all that sensitive).

 

[Riley Maconnar]

Kelgan is right to a point. We do not intend to micromanage our officers, and God knows, we shouldn't ever have need to. Vivvy and Leora are awesomesauce on toast. LEt's say, for the sake of argument, that there was a kerfluffle in one of the memberships forums, and it were brought to our attention that after it having been brought to the appropriate membership director, and then to either the Keeper or the Amyrlin, and we were to find out that they either did not manage to sort it out properly, or possibly even made the situation worse. Without access to those forums in question we would not be able to see the situation in question we would be relying strictly on hearsay to determine if they performed their duties adequately, or to decide if further action on our part were warranted. We need to be able to go look and see with our own eyes, discuss the situation amongst ourselves, then decide if something needed to be done. This is one example.

 

[Leese Sulan]

I understand the value of having the BoD being able to read all forums.

However, the part that makes me really uncomfortable is that these extra members are men who can read my private things in say for example, the Red Chambers. I don't forsee them abusing the privilege, but it still bothers me on principle. I just simply no longer feel comfortable to be candid or talk about my personal life, and that sucks, because the reds were the only ones I felt comfortable going to for advice. I didn't mind before that admins could see my postings when I thought they were only women.

 

[Emory Sheldon]

Thanks for the Info!

 

[Yelenia Hylraren]

Ariana, our Master of the Watch, or whatever Defen's title is - has been able to see all the forums for years now.

I am curious as to if there's a list somewhere of all the people who have access to read everything.


Congrats on getting a title that's WoT-y. good times!

 

[Jeffan Caliarthan]

I somehow doubt that the issues of one member are going to be of any importance to a member of the Board, unless it's causing an issue within their membership group and it's traveled all the way up the ladder to them.

 

[Zashara Sho'am]

Jeffy, you are only saying that because you are a lowly pleb. I'm pretty sure my issues are important to the board, given importance of my personage. Clearly they want to know more about me for dastardly purposes, as if you are against me, then you are against God and all things (un)holy! When I [statement redacted] and told all my Brown sisters, does that mean that the Board now gets to know about it? What kind of precedent is that setting? What right do THEY HAVE to infringe on MY RIGHTS?

I don't trust the Board and their scheming! Caerwyn works for Google and graduated from some elitist university full of arrogant jackasses. He's clearly an awful person who likes to invade the privacy of others and feel superior to the unwashed masses! Jaim liked to dress like a woman and called himself "Jaimina" (or something) so he could get into the novice halls. You can't trust a creepy cross-dresser like that! Plus, he's a Brit - you definitely can't trust them furriners. Riley's a psychology major - you know what psychology sounds like, psychopath. I definitely don't trust him. Dralyn and Eleyan are just awful, i mean ffs, remember their reign of terror as Keeper & Amyrlin. They suppressed dissent and promoted their sick agenda of male exhibitionism with their "tradition" of men not wearing pants. Also, they are both from the South, you know what else is from the South - a lot of bad people who do bad things (or so the stereotype tells me)!

ETA: Don't think I didn't notice the clear censoring of my statements. Apparently, I can't share certain things in public because the board doesn't approve of it! I call oppression!

 

[Jeffan Caliarthan]

I AM NOT A PLEB.

:cry

 

[Riley Maconnar]

Actually I graduated. I'm a real live shrink now.

 

[Kitan Tataru]

Ohhhh, I <3 you, Zasha

 

[Emerald ní Róhan]

 

[Neisa Alibrylla]

I am channeling Ismene right now: there has never been and there will never be a truly private forum on the site, and thinking that we do is false. Our "private" forums just mean less people can see it. And that's how it's always been.

 

[Azi al'Thone]

You also should understand that the people who have the physical ability to go into those private places have been granted to ability to do so with the trust that goes along with the position, and none would peek where they weren't supposed to or didn't have reason to. At the end of the day, all this information is stored in a database which can be accessed by anyone with the password and means of logging in to it, so you have to trust the person in charge.

 

[Meirah Zaïde]

Zasha, that's a little bit of hyperbolic mockery, isn't it? :\

I do agree, though, that our forums are not, nor were ever meant to be, truly private. Which is why there are things I won't post even in Chambers - I use email instead.

 

[Emerald ní Róhan]

I wasn't going to add to this, but since you guys have carried on with discussion here...

Azi, for some, that is easier said than done. I think it has long been assumed that forums specifically set aside for the ladies would only be overseen by ladies. There are many conversations which would make for all kinds of uncomfortable if it were thought that menfolk were peaking in. It's a perfectly valid concern. It is difficult not to wonder whether even the most mature on the site would be tempted to peek in at at least one of these conversations. An uncomfortable thought. Of course we want to trust our officers, and I think we pretty much do. But feeling uncomfortable is what it is.

Neisa - I get what you're saying, but this recent note has made it a whole lot more obvious and clear, and I think that is what is making some people uncomfortable. It is practically a declaration that someone will be reading those forums.

I speak entirely from my perspective and do not claim to speak on behalf of anyone but myself.

 

[Meirah Zaïde]

It is a valid concern.

 

[Zashara Sho'am]

Well, considering that Jeffy inspired my post with his attempt to diminish my importance and bruise my ego, I'd say I didn't go far enough.

Riley - I trust you less now D:

 

[Azi al'Thone]

It is, but one a situation that is unavoidable. No matter what you do, someone can get access to that information if they want to. Our software isn't enterprise-level security. Anyone with fileserver access and the know-how can log in and view the database. I'm not sure if our filesystem is encrypted on the file storage site (I'm assuming wherever we're hosted), but I doubt it.

Sorry, I'm not meaning to be a scary boogey monster Know that their are also access logs so if anything is in question, someone's IP is recorded for just about anything they could do

 

[Leese Sulan]

I wasn't going to add to this, but since you guys have carried on with discussion here...

Azi, for some, that is easier said than done. I think it has long been assumed that forums specifically set aside for the ladies would only be overseen by ladies. There are many conversations which would make for all kinds of uncomfortable if it were thought that menfolk were peaking in. It's a perfectly valid concern. It is difficult not to wonder whether even the most mature on the site would be tempted to peek in at at least one of these conversations. An uncomfortable thought. Of course we want to trust our officers, and I think we pretty much do. But feeling uncomfortable is what it is.

Neisa - I get what you're saying, but this recent note has made it a whole lot more obvious and clear, and I think that is what is making some people uncomfortable. It is practically a declaration that someone will be reading those forums.

I speak entirely from my perspective and do not claim to speak on behalf of anyone but myself.

Thankyou, for that. I greatly appreciate how you were able to describe exactly how I feel.


I was merely voicing how I felt, and I have to say... the insensitive, mocking responses only help me feel even more passive and jaded towards the community. It's no wonder people don't want to speak up most of the time.

Yelenia, thankyou for the clarification. I'm sure I'll adjust to the knowledge.

 

[Yelenia Hylraren]

It seems like it's something that's announced/made known to varying degrees, depending on membership group. I know in Blue we have periodic "who can see this?" type threads or discussions. It's bothersome that it's not more common knowledge, so I'm glad something like this is making the community more aware.