Posting grievances publicly

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

:::Quietly adding::: I've sent Capt. PMs (not a lot; like 3 in over 3 years), even replied back to one sent to me, and never heard back (I just figured 'he's busy' or 'his mailbox is broken').. :::exiting quietly:::

Do I really miss this many? The biggest issue is that when you get lots of PM's in the forums there is no way for me to "mark" to reply later. Once I read something it shows read and I may miss a follow up. Also in many cases I do read the PM but simply do not reply with a "I got it" PM. The sure fire way to get a hold of me if you need something is via the contact us section (see bottom of any page on VJ pretty much). This goes directly to my Blackberry... and I am very good at following up promptly on these in most cases.

Oh one good point. If myself or a mod gets a reported thread/post and we review it. 90% of the time a response will not be sent regardless of if action was taken. We keep moderation of other members private (no public flogging) and we do not typically send back a PM saying "yes this was a TOS violation; no this is not a TOS violation; etc"... the issue is certainly looked at though regardless of if a reply is sent.

Everyone in this thread probably knows I wrote a comment towards Ewok a few weeks ago regarding PMs. One thing that he mentioned to me is if its an important topic make sure to have a good subject heading that will standout. That way he is more likely to see it. I haven't spoken to him much since then but now with strong titles I get replies.

Just a thought.

True indeed as I spot them easily .

[john & jean 37]

Charles! and I are cyber buddies, he does an excellent job with the new duties. I would not expect otherwise. when I need help with site instructions he has always helped!!!! SRSLY.......

edit to add

titles like:

red hot azz free

Edited November 12, 2009 by john & jean

[JVKn'CVO 11]

The times I used the report button I didn't get an answer...I didn't even know some people get answers when they report... I just stopped using it because I saw no results

Saludos,

Caro

[SuperDuper! 230]

Is no one going to address the issue about the postal service, either? It's incredibly important to us Brits.

Sure - I'll address it.

For anyone living in the UK - they have grown up with excellent postal service. 2 to 3 deliveries per day, even.

That's not the case in the USA.

If you want BETTER service at your local address in the USA, you must do 2 things:

1. make some weed brownies, give to your local postal carrier that's assigned to your route and

2. complain twice a week to the supervisor back at the station, in writing. Complaint letters are accepted free without the need for postage.

The Post Office was closed today.

Not in the UK !!

YOur response adds nothing to the thread.

[meauxna 15]

hahahahah mox, you're the new me!

Good luck, buddy.

[mox 298]

Ewok: I've said this before, nobody should be expected to handle that many pm's and still be effective. Delegation is your friend. Really, you should be handling appeals and the hottest topics. Everything else should be delegated out to a co-admin or your moderation team leader.

With regards to moderators telling members to take it to pm...if I understand you correctly, this forum was made for the kind of topics that the moderators are telling us to take to pm, and so we shouldn't have to listen to a moderator telling us to take a complaint to pm again. I accept.

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

The times I used the report button I didn't get an answer...I didn't even know some people get answers when they report... I just stopped using it because I saw no results

Saludos,

Caro

We do see and read them. We may not reply though but that does not mean it was not read. All the mods get the reports.... there is no black hole .

[Chica Yeyé 41]

I also was expecting the comment about the regional moderators, and glad someone brought it up. As you know Ewok, this week a huge faux pas was made by a global mod in MENA, thanks to the mod's misunderstanding and lack of knowledge of the dynamics and history of that regional forum. Like you and I discussed; you named charles regional mod for a reason; and if he is not allowed to perform his job, more and more eff-ups will continue to happen.

Shoemaker to thy shoes so to speak.

The "take it to PM" poses yet another problem that has not been addressed. New members constantly PM me asking for immigration advise, and I am always promptly tell them to pose their questions in the forums. Why? Because immigration advise on a PM is not very wise; and also because a forum response garners more responses, hence more info for the OP. Yet, if noobs/newbies continuously read the mantra "take it to PM" from the moderators, it might increase the number of immigratibn related PMs we receive.

Finally, I said this a while back, and got into a sad estrangement with a former mod; but I stand by what I say: mods are volunteers, yes. they have to deal with all kinds of crazy ####### from crazies like me, yes. They rarely get thanks, yes. Life is ungrateful bla bla bla, yes. However, they volunteered and can withdraw their consent to moderate at any time. Being a mod requires a thick skin - those who do not have it should perhaps acknowledge it and step aside. They will enjoy the forums much more.

[Ban Hammer 13,333]

I also was expecting the comment about the regional moderators, and glad someone brought it up. As you know Ewok, this week a huge faux pas was made by a global mod in MENA, thanks to the mod's misunderstanding and lack of knowledge of the dynamics and history of that regional forum. Like you and I discussed; you named charles regional mod for a reason; and if he is not allowed to perform his job, more and more eff-ups will continue to happen.

due to my work schedule (right now working 12 hour shifts at night) i'm not on vj during the day. global mods can respond to regional reports to fill in when i'm absent.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

I also was expecting the comment about the regional moderators, and glad someone brought it up. As you know Ewok, this week a huge faux pas was made by a global mod in MENA, thanks to the mod's misunderstanding and lack of knowledge of the dynamics and history of that regional forum. Like you and I discussed; you named charles regional mod for a reason; and if he is not allowed to perform his job, more and more eff-ups will continue to happen.

due to my work schedule (right now working 12 hour shifts at night) i'm not on vj during the day. global mods can respond to regional reports to fill in when i'm absent.

I know charles, and we talked about it. Of course you and the other mods have jobs; but when it coems to the peculiarities of MENA, they should have had the wisdom to wait it out until you - whop KNOW the what's what there- were able to deal with it after work bro. Otherwise, pardon my french, they just end up looking like... well, bad.

Besides, who told you you should work. #######, you should be here all day darnit

p.s. going for a ciggie and Dr. Pepper break

[Ban Hammer 13,333]

I also was expecting the comment about the regional moderators, and glad someone brought it up. As you know Ewok, this week a huge faux pas was made by a global mod in MENA, thanks to the mod's misunderstanding and lack of knowledge of the dynamics and history of that regional forum. Like you and I discussed; you named charles regional mod for a reason; and if he is not allowed to perform his job, more and more eff-ups will continue to happen.

due to my work schedule (right now working 12 hour shifts at night) i'm not on vj during the day. global mods can respond to regional reports to fill in when i'm absent.

I know charles, and we talked about it. Of course you and the other mods have jobs; but when it coems to the peculiarities of MENA, they should have had the wisdom to wait it out until you - whop KNOW the what's what there- were able to deal with it after work bro. Otherwise, pardon my french, they just end up looking like... well, bad.

Besides, who told you you should work. #######, you should be here all day darnit

p.s. going for a ciggie and Dr. Pepper break

nessa said i have to work.

but at least today i'm getting 12 hours of overtime plus 8 hours of holiday pay

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

One of the good things that has come out of this is how we can leverage the strength of having the local mods for each area (Charles is the first person so there is a learning curve right now). As we figure out the best way to make it work (defer/confer to/with the local mod for difficult local issues) I think this will help a lot. As I stated before, my hope is that this concept will shortly roll out to the upper forums. I would like pick the right people -- not an easy task. Also as a note -- no one will be perfect. I will need someone that can take my feedback and structure that in with their

"style" as well as (was previously stated) have thick skin to take some critique (we all get it and is part of the job for better or worse).

[Chica Yeyé 41]

One of the good things that has come out of this is how we can leverage the strength of having the local mods for each area (Charles is the first person so there is a learning curve right now). As we figure out the best way to make it work (defer/confer to/with the local mod for difficult local issues) I think this will help a lot. As I stated before, my hope is that this concept will shortly roll out to the upper forums. I would like pick the right people -- not an easy task. Also as a note -- no one will be perfect. I will need someone that can take my feedback and structure that in with their

"style" as well as (was previously stated) have thick skin to take some critique (we all get it and is part of the job for better or worse).

Pick me!

Pick me!

Pick me!

Hell no

[rebeccajo 14]

I think that if you do bring in a mod specifically for the upper forums that they have to have a working knowledge of the visa process being discussed in the appropriate forums.

I don't mean that they are there to only give advice (then you have that problem with legally giving immigration advice and not being a lawyer). But they have to be able to recognise wrong advice and correct it accordingly. They have to be up to date too. Someone who went through, say K-1, four years ago would probably find that a lot of things have changed. So, you wouldn't want outdated advice being given by a mod.

Outdated and just plain incorrect advice is what needs to be stamped out. Currently, the upper forums are a mess, filled to the brim with people wading in their tuppence when they don't know the answer.

For this job I think you would need at least 4 people. To only pick one would be overwhelming - the amount of wrong advice out there is shocking and too much work for one person.

It's a tough call to make, Captain. It's a huge job and I don't envy you.

I agree with Mags.

First of all, there is no ONE person left actively on these forums with that level of knowledge.

Secondly, there is too much traffic on the upper forums for one person to do the job.

[rebeccajo 14]

I would be interested in hearing from Ewok about this. Mox brings up a very interesting point, and so does becca.

But we aren't hearing anything but crickets now - are we?

You are not hearing anything (at the time you posted this) because I am not sitting at my PC 24/7 (reality check). I am more than happy to reply but please understand that cyborg Ewok does have to sleep, eat and do other work to take care of the Ewok family . I will reply to the above once I read all the posts in this thread.

Oh ok on that reality check.

I just thought that since you were on about 24 hours ago (24 hours when I made the cricket comment) that was the normal time you are on.

Or maybe it was just the situation at the time. Who can tell?