[bksvol-discuss] Re: resigning from the volunteer list

  • From: "Melissa Green" <graduate56@xxxxxxxx>
  • To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:31:01 -0600

Very well said.
I completely agree with you.

Melissa Green
Without Christ I am nothing,  Without me Christ is still God.  It's because of 
Christ I am able to stand!!!  

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Denise Thompson 
  To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 1:34 PM
  Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: resigning from the volunteer list


  I admire Amber for being willing to give her opinion in the face of what 
seems to be overwhelming opposing sentiment. It seems odd that requests for 
folks to be civil are so blatantly shot down on this list. I've been avoiding 
stating an opinion because I was hoping people would realize that pretty much 
everything has been said and most have given their opinions several times and 
would recognize it's time to move on. Let those resign who feel that's what 
they must do and let the bookshare staff absorb the comments on adult content 
and suggestions about including phrases in the descriptions that might be 
helpful to some. Let's get back to scanning and proofing issues. Actually as I 
write that I can feel a bunch of attacks coming my way that this is all 
scanning and proofing related. So just let me say ok to that. Still the 
discussion has been going on too long and everything has been said. Let's move 
on please.  

  Denise
   


  At 03:03 PM 9/9/2009, you wrote:

    I have a question for you all to consider here.  Please do not think I have 
gone half-cocked here, for I assure you this is not the case.  I have spent 
hours thinking of the best way to put this and I put the question to the 
volunteer community as a whole.
    Let us say I'm a new volunteer.  I am excited about joining Bookshare's 
volunteer team, but I don't really know what I'm doing.  I decide to join the 
BKSVOL list to get some tips.  I write in with a series of questions. 
Meanwhile, I am also seeing messages from others flying back and forth across 
my screen.  I as a new volunteer may not know what it means, but I am smart 
enough to get the tone of the message.  Some people seem very friendly, but 
there are those whose messages seem rude, to put it frankly.  Then the answers 
to my questions start coming in.  Some seem OK but then there are others, like 
E.'s messages that we all know about.  As a new volunteer, maybe I now feel 
like I shouldn't write into this list anymore for advice.  After all, if I get 
a snarky response to my first question, what will happen when I submit further 
queries?  
    Let's face it folks.  We were all newbie volunteers at one time or another. 
 In fact, some of us still are.  Why are people not being treated as they 
should be? Are we saying it's OK for rude and "brusque" and I put that in 
quotes behavior tolerated? Aren't all volunteers afforded the same right to be 
treated with courtesy and tolerance?  Why is it that a few people can be rude 
and intolerant, scaring off dozens of volunteers over the years.. Why is that 
OK?  Because they proof hard-to-proof books?  Don't we as a community have more 
respect than that?  No matter how hard one works, or what books they tackle, is 
that an excuse for rude and off-putting behavior? Aren't we as volunteers doing 
a huge disservice to those who have joined?  Saying to a newbie, or heck, 
anyone, "Well you know what?  Their messages are rude, or brusque, but don't 
worry, they have gotten better, and you should just ignore the behavior"... 
That's enabling.  We as a volunteer community are enabling rude behavior.  We 
have ignored the problem for years.  Has it gotten better?  No, it does not 
appear as it has gotten any better.  The rude behavior is continuing, with no 
end in sight. and with the "ignore it and it will go away" attitude most people 
here seem to have, the behavior is being enabled.  Now the behavior has been 
addressed and you are begging rudeness to return?  Why?
    \      If this person were someone we worked with, and every time you came 
to their desk, if you got a "brusque" response, would you continue to come 
back?  Probably not, at least I know I would not. I don't know why volunteering 
is any different. Volunteers are being driven away, and this is OK? I beg to 
differ. If we are adults, as so many on this list have said, why are we not 
acting like it, curbing out words, thinking about what we say, and treating 
others with COURTESY and respect?
    Amber    
     
    Book blog:
    http://community.livejournal.com/book_cuddler/
    I have accepted a seat in the House of Representatives, and thereby have 
consented to my own ruin, to your ruin, and to the ruin of our children. I give
    you this warning that you may prepare your mind for your fate.
    John Adams
    E-Mail: amber.wallens@xxxxxxxxx


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