Technically, I guess this pitting will score for Skipmagic. But I would ask that the judges to consider the exigencies of the SDMB model, and extend at least a portion of these winnings to the Queen Bitch herself.
Okay, this is good, in my opinion:
That’s very good, in fact. A bit motherly, but that could just connote a nurturing personality. All the necessary facts are there — what you can do in that forum (and by implication what you cannot do), as well as what you need to do in that forum. It sounds professional, and is respectful to the customer who paid full subscription price to help fund the board. Not another word is needed, lest it be a helpful link to the Pit forum to assist the customer in doing what he was trying to do.
But lo and behold, she just could not constrain herself from demonstrating that the demand she just made does not apply to her.
Frankly, on first reading, I thought her “this” was in reference to that ugly and disputational portion of her own response. Like maybe she was extending the courtesy of demonstrating what ugly and disputational mean.
But then came her “Knock it off” imperative, which a drill sergeant might bark at a recruit coming of the bus with a smile, or the neighborhood old maid might scream at kids to punctuate her “Get off my lawn!”. It certainly is not the kind of thing a store manager would say when you mosey up to the 12 items line with 13 cans of green beans.
Like I said in my post to her, she has demonstrated (more than once, actually) that she can be nice. But it seems to be only after she has been humiliated in some way or smacked down by a deluge of Pit posts complaining about policy. And the goodness quickly evaporates, leaving behind the same old hateful bat.
Dammit Tuba, it’s time you stopped fancying yourself as a justice of the court, expecting the yokels brought before you to bow and kowtow beneath your glowing presence. It is not necessary to punctuate your rulings with condescending lectures and snarky imperatives. It’s like you think you have to out-nasty people in order to drive home your admonitions.
I think you do it partly because of habit — a carryover from the days when the Reader was doing us all a (begrudging) favor by existing. In those days, it was more appropriate to take the tone of, “Why you sniveling little ungrateful horseshit. Sit your ass down!” BUT THOSE DAYS ARE OVER.
The Reader has expressed an interest now in actually turning a profit, and has even said that the board is a vital part of that mission. You are not helping toward that end by acting like you own the place and we’re just bothersome riff-raff. Eventually, they may come to realize that your sort of heavy-handed administration may constitute an obstacle to their goal.
Now, two concessions: (1) I know it’s not easy, and I know that I’m snarky myself, and (2) I know that your offense in this instance wasn’t even close to the outrageous end of the scale — I mean, at least you didn’t peck out a direct dismissive insult and close the thread. But with respect to (1), I’m not in a position of authority, but am on the same level as the people (other than mods) who are about to rip into me for posting this. And with respect to (2), I’m trying to get you back to the place where you posted your mea culpa ATMB thread about the banners , attempting to align yourself with us as pretty much just another poor sap whom the Powers That Be ignores. Look how positively everyone responded in that thread!
It really isn’t necessary to act like a bad cop to get respect. In fact, I’d say it would in most cases work better if you were genuinely polite about these things. (You always have your ban button available when its needed.) Sometimes — especially coming off a debacle the magnitude of what we witnessed this week — people’s passions just run a bit high, and they go a bit overboard. And especially so when they’ve asked a question directly to staff only to find ten people running interference and giving their opinions before you even see the thread.
All I’m saying is to show some class. A gentle reminder is usually all that’s needed. Even a smilie wouldn’t hurt if you just can’t bring yourself to phrase things nicely.
Now, I realize you won’t apologize. You won’t even think you did anything wrong. And there will be plenty enough sycophancy to pump you up into full-fledged high-holy self-righteousness. You will likely look down on me, and with one brow raised toward the heavens, wonder “How dare he!” Or more likely, just a dismissive, “Meh, who cares.” After all, you’re too important to concern yourself with my opinions, and (if history holds) there will be a wall of “Oh poor Tuba, she did nothing bad!” between us, leaving you with clean hands.
But as **Skipmagic ** said when he stepped in on your behalf, “Criticisms about other posters, whether staff or not, don’t belong in this forum.” I had to double check to see whether he was talking to you or to me. It was to me, of course. People who talk that way to you end up on your shitlist wherein one ah-shit wipes out a thousand atta-boys.
Nevertheless, in the event that a miracle that will make you introspective, I’m just going to flat out ask you to be more professional in your dealings with us. Customers complain. It’s just the nature of the thing. Act like we’re customers, and not irritating gum wads on the theater floor, distracting you from the enjoyment of your personal diversion.
And finally, in the event that it is something like sickness or just plain being old and tired — both of which I can very much empathize with — I would advise you as the friend you used to consider me to be years ago. (Remember Christmas, 2000?) If it’s all too much now, step down. Be one of us in actuality. You’d be among friends. Let the young whippersnappers have at it. Who among us would not love to witness the first Pit thread started by you?
As you yourself used to say: all the best to you, my dear. (Somewhere near the end of this venting, I lost all my fire. But it took a long time to compose. The gist of it is still valid. And so I’m going to post it and hope for the best while expecting the worst.)
