I'll conceded the point. I've altered the post and removed the whispers since people have no way of knowing that it was something that happened more than once and that gives off the wrong impression.
I'll also conceded the point that I allowed my frustration to let me be slightly snarky. Regardless of how rude or persistent anyone is, there is no need for that.
Like I said I do appreciate the input. This world is useless if I'm confusing people instead of clarifying things.
Also, I'm not above reproach. I'll apologize for it.
I hate to say it, but I find this a tad extreme myself. And the unfortunate part of it is that your irritation is understandable, since you have to deal with the request over and over and over again. But unless one particular member is repeating the same request over and over again—and by that I mean multiple instances on multiple and numerous days—it's not reasonable to expect every member to 'get the memo', so to speak.
Most everything else I'd say right now would be an echo of Sara's comment below, so I'll save it for now. But I will say it's far easier (at least for me) to say "sorry, hun, I don't know it" and "I really don't have the right to spread around other members' passwords" than to kick off by informing them, however (intentionally) politely, that you're not their messenger, because no matter the intent that statement will come off as abrasive.
And that runs totally counter to our efforts to become more approachable.
While it's understandable for you to be annoyed if this happens often, I think it's important to remember that while this may a common conversation for you, it's probably a one-time conversation for them.
I can see how you would think this, but no, it’s not a onetime deal. Most members simply say “oh, okay” and go about their business.
I think the whisper snippet you posted casts you in a poor light.
Someone with an honest chat-related question contacts you, a staff member and chat administrator. It's reasonable to expect 1.) that you know the answer and 2.) that even if you don't, you will reply in a helpful way.
You don't know the answer to their question (which is fine, and beyond your control), but instead of being polite, you throw in a passive-aggressive comment about being a messenger. This puts them on the defensive, and in their next two replies, they try to explain their action. You continue to be short with them.
Like I said, this is not a first occurrence, I don’t give people grief unless it’s something that happens many times. =/
Then they ask why you were being rude—and you were being rude. Judged as a member of the site, you were being impolite. Judged as a staff member, you were being unprofessional. Instead of checking your behavior, you ignore the question and talk down to them.
While their next reply was unnecessary, it was not unprovoked.
The fact that you kicked them from the room and temp-banned them from chat shocks me. I know I haven't been active on theOtaku for a couple years, but I thought it was a place with staff who did their best to be friendly and helpful to members—not one where they abused their powers to punish those who annoyed them.
(It's also unreasonable to expect that every chat user will read and abide by the arbitrary rules you post in this blog. If this issue concerns you that much, you should have the Community Chat blurb ["Welcome to our community's chat hub..." etc.] edited to contain the portions of ToS applicable to chat, and add this rule there as well.)
I’m sorry you are shocked and I can see that obviously I didn’t do a good enough job of properly explaining that I’m referring to people who continue to harass staff via whispers in this manner.
I appreciate the feed back since the last thing I want to do is to create even further confusion by not explaining my point properly.
While it's understandable for you to be annoyed if this happens often, I think it's important to remember that while this may a common conversation for you, it's probably a one-time conversation for them.
I think the whisper snippet you posted casts you in a poor light.
Someone with an honest chat-related question contacts you, a staff member and chat administrator. It's reasonable to expect 1.) that you know the answer and 2.) that even if you don't, you will reply in a helpful way.
You don't know the answer to their question (which is fine, and beyond your control), but instead of being polite, you throw in a passive-aggressive comment about being a messenger. This puts them on the defensive, and in their next two replies, they try to explain their action. You continue to be short with them.
Then they ask why you were being rude—and you were being rude. Judged as a member of the site, you were being impolite. Judged as a staff member, you were being unprofessional. Instead of checking your behavior, you ignore the question and talk down to them.
While their next reply was unnecessary, it was not unprovoked.
The fact that you kicked them from the room and temp-banned them from chat shocks me. I know I haven't been active on theOtaku for a couple years, but I thought it was a place with staff who did their best to be friendly and helpful to members—not one where they abused their powers to punish those who annoyed them.
(It's also unreasonable to expect that every chat user will read and abide by the arbitrary rules you post in this blog. If this issue concerns you that much, you should have the Community Chat blurb ["Welcome to our community's chat hub..." etc.] edited to contain the portions of ToS applicable to chat, and add this rule there as well.)
I gotta agree, and getting abrasive when someone doesn't want to pass on a message you could just as easily pass on yourself isn't exactly more likely to get them to listen to you. That's why I'm inclined to Put you in my Trollslum and change my mood setting to Rancorous over such slights.
SunfallE
Nyaa~ (ZE MEANIE) | Posted 02/10/10 | Reply
@Allamorph:
You're both right and I'll do what I can to make things clear.
In the name of the tune I will punish you!
SunfallE
Nyaa~ (ZE MEANIE) | Posted 02/10/10 | Reply
@Sara:
I'll conceded the point. I've altered the post and removed the whispers since people have no way of knowing that it was something that happened more than once and that gives off the wrong impression.
I'll also conceded the point that I allowed my frustration to let me be slightly snarky. Regardless of how rude or persistent anyone is, there is no need for that.
Like I said I do appreciate the input. This world is useless if I'm confusing people instead of clarifying things.
Also, I'm not above reproach. I'll apologize for it.
In the name of the tune I will punish you!
Allamorph
Spiritus Memorae (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 02/09/10 | Reply
I hate to say it, but I find this a tad extreme myself. And the unfortunate part of it is that your irritation is understandable, since you have to deal with the request over and over and over again. But unless one particular member is repeating the same request over and over again—and by that I mean multiple instances on multiple and numerous days—it's not reasonable to expect every member to 'get the memo', so to speak.
Most everything else I'd say right now would be an echo of Sara's comment below, so I'll save it for now. But I will say it's far easier (at least for me) to say "sorry, hun, I don't know it" and "I really don't have the right to spread around other members' passwords" than to kick off by informing them, however (intentionally) politely, that you're not their messenger, because no matter the intent that statement will come off as abrasive.
And that runs totally counter to our efforts to become more approachable.
SunfallE
Nyaa~ (ZE MEANIE) | Posted 02/09/10 | Reply
@Sara:
While it's understandable for you to be annoyed if this happens often, I think it's important to remember that while this may a common conversation for you, it's probably a one-time conversation for them.
I can see how you would think this, but no, it’s not a onetime deal. Most members simply say “oh, okay” and go about their business.
I think the whisper snippet you posted casts you in a poor light.
Someone with an honest chat-related question contacts you, a staff member and chat administrator. It's reasonable to expect 1.) that you know the answer and 2.) that even if you don't, you will reply in a helpful way.
You don't know the answer to their question (which is fine, and beyond your control), but instead of being polite, you throw in a passive-aggressive comment about being a messenger. This puts them on the defensive, and in their next two replies, they try to explain their action. You continue to be short with them.
Like I said, this is not a first occurrence, I don’t give people grief unless it’s something that happens many times. =/
Then they ask why you were being rude—and you were being rude. Judged as a member of the site, you were being impolite. Judged as a staff member, you were being unprofessional. Instead of checking your behavior, you ignore the question and talk down to them.
While their next reply was unnecessary, it was not unprovoked.
The fact that you kicked them from the room and temp-banned them from chat shocks me. I know I haven't been active on theOtaku for a couple years, but I thought it was a place with staff who did their best to be friendly and helpful to members—not one where they abused their powers to punish those who annoyed them.
(It's also unreasonable to expect that every chat user will read and abide by the arbitrary rules you post in this blog. If this issue concerns you that much, you should have the Community Chat blurb ["Welcome to our community's chat hub..." etc.] edited to contain the portions of ToS applicable to chat, and add this rule there as well.)
I’m sorry you are shocked and I can see that obviously I didn’t do a good enough job of properly explaining that I’m referring to people who continue to harass staff via whispers in this manner.
I appreciate the feed back since the last thing I want to do is to create even further confusion by not explaining my point properly.
In the name of the tune I will punish you!
Sara
Otaku Legend | Posted 02/09/10 | Reply
While it's understandable for you to be annoyed if this happens often, I think it's important to remember that while this may a common conversation for you, it's probably a one-time conversation for them.
I think the whisper snippet you posted casts you in a poor light.
Someone with an honest chat-related question contacts you, a staff member and chat administrator. It's reasonable to expect 1.) that you know the answer and 2.) that even if you don't, you will reply in a helpful way.
You don't know the answer to their question (which is fine, and beyond your control), but instead of being polite, you throw in a passive-aggressive comment about being a messenger. This puts them on the defensive, and in their next two replies, they try to explain their action. You continue to be short with them.
Then they ask why you were being rude—and you were being rude. Judged as a member of the site, you were being impolite. Judged as a staff member, you were being unprofessional. Instead of checking your behavior, you ignore the question and talk down to them.
While their next reply was unnecessary, it was not unprovoked.
The fact that you kicked them from the room and temp-banned them from chat shocks me. I know I haven't been active on theOtaku for a couple years, but I thought it was a place with staff who did their best to be friendly and helpful to members—not one where they abused their powers to punish those who annoyed them.
(It's also unreasonable to expect that every chat user will read and abide by the arbitrary rules you post in this blog. If this issue concerns you that much, you should have the Community Chat blurb ["Welcome to our community's chat hub..." etc.] edited to contain the portions of ToS applicable to chat, and add this rule there as well.)
Ace
Senile Hipster (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 02/09/10 | Reply
I gotta agree, and getting abrasive when someone doesn't want to pass on a message you could just as easily pass on yourself isn't exactly more likely to get them to listen to you. That's why I'm inclined to Put you in my Trollslum and change my mood setting to Rancorous over such slights.