[bksvol-discuss] Re: resigning from the volunteer list
- From: Soronel Haetir <soronel.haetir@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 11:11:20 -0800
Amber,
Except what if that newbie is easily offended? I too have read the
messages and unless you are actively looking for hostility I just
don't see it.
Let me try approaching this from a different angle. You've seen the
typical sort of Nigerian scam email? Full of flowery and
over-effusive greetings and so on. Is including that sort of language
required in order to keep from offending someone?
I see no reason that someone should have to beg in order to grovel
that they might pretty please be allowed to ask a question.
On 9/9/09, Amber Wallenstein <amber.wallens@xxxxxxxxx> 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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>
--
Soronel Haetir
soronel.haetir@xxxxxxxxx
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