I just wanted to take a minute to acknowledge something. I participate in a couple of software forums - both very much work related. Both have some hobbyists and non-professionals. Both are professional software packages with a good dose of ease-of-use. Both are for-profit companies. Both forums are visible to the public, and therefore do matter to the companies sales efforts. Both forums are company supported.
This forum is much more heavily moderated than the other. On the other one, even a peer to peer "whoa dude" is immediately met with screams about censorship. Interpersonal spats are common. Cliques are common. Threads get hijacked to advance people's personal gripes or wish list items. From behind the safe veil of internet distance, people just go off track much more easily than they ever would in person. Not always - it's not complete pandemonium, but enough that the difference is noticeable.
I very very very much appreciate the professional atmosphere here. I think whoever the original moderators were, they must have established that solid standard right from the get-go, because it's a boat that's very hard to turn once it sets a course. And of course, the current moderators keep it on track. So - I just wanted to take a minute to say "thank you" for that. I know moderating other's posts isn't exactly the stuff we all wake up every day wanting to do, but it's a valuable service, and the results (a professional environment) show.
This forum is much more heavily moderated than the other. On the other one, even a peer to peer "whoa dude" is immediately met with screams about censorship. Interpersonal spats are common. Cliques are common. Threads get hijacked to advance people's personal gripes or wish list items. From behind the safe veil of internet distance, people just go off track much more easily than they ever would in person. Not always - it's not complete pandemonium, but enough that the difference is noticeable.
I very very very much appreciate the professional atmosphere here. I think whoever the original moderators were, they must have established that solid standard right from the get-go, because it's a boat that's very hard to turn once it sets a course. And of course, the current moderators keep it on track. So - I just wanted to take a minute to say "thank you" for that. I know moderating other's posts isn't exactly the stuff we all wake up every day wanting to do, but it's a valuable service, and the results (a professional environment) show.
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