Category: Getting to Know You
Hi, all. I've debated where to put this, but since I put up my bio on here when I first became a CL, I figured I'd put this up now that I've stepped down.
In short, the reason I have resigned the position is that I have become apathetic to it. Not to helping users. I liked doing that, and I stil will help any of you if you have questions that I can answer. I don't need to be an official CL for that. But I was no longer pulling my weight in the behind the scenes stuff that the CL's take care of, and honestly, I didn't care to start doing so again. I have no respect for people who maintain a position, but don't actually do the work the position involves. I've been that for a few weeks now, and don't want to continue it. I'm also looking to start a few other projects in my life. In short, now seemed the time.
As I said though, I'm still here to answer questions or help those who need it, though I'll no longer be able to do it in a staff capacity. Thanks all you guys for your support of me when I first became a CL, and over the two years I've been one. You are why I stayed as long as I have, and I really appreciate it.
I'm not sure why you've come up to a sudden decision and I'm confused why many cl's are resigning offlate. but if this is what making you happy, it's up to your decision.
Raaj
I understand becoming apathetic and getting tired of a position. I was on the board of a local nonprofit agency for three years and resigned because I was just tired of all the politics and nothing getting done.
I'll miss you as a CL, since often if I had a question or concern that I felt only a CL could do anything about, I would wait until you were signed on because I trust you and knew you would take care of the problem and answer my questions honestly.
Raaj, this was not a sudden decision, but one I have considered for several weeks. I just never made that public knowledge. And many CL's resigning as of late? No, not really. I don't think we've had a resignation in months.
Aww, thanks, Becky. In that sense, I feel like I've let a lot of users down. I did always try to be fair, and to help in a prompt manner. But I'm glad you understand my reason.
no no. I meant simon and q. I think within an year time.
it's ok if that's for your personal reason. I was trying to say that we, the zoners are missing a good cl.
Raaj
Well, I'm sad to hear it, but I certainly understand your reasons. If you can't really give your all to a position, why stay in it?
I think it goes without saying alicia that you have been a valuable member of the cl team. You were certainly very helpful to me when I first joined as a cl.
In terms of raaj's comments about cl's resigning of late (in the past couple of years?) I think what people need to bear in mind is that being a cl is a voluntary position, and that being a cl ties you to the site in a way you wouldn't be otherwise. If the drive isn't there, then nobody should feel obliged to stay on.
Alicia I wish you every success with whatever plans you have for the future :).
I can totally understand your decision. I was president of a local organization for about a year and a half in college, but I got burnt out and had to focus on other matters such as preparing to study abroad. I received very little support from the other board members when I gave my resignation, but my family and other friends helped me get through it. Good luck in whatever you do in the future.
I'll certainly miss you being a CL as well, but to me, it's much easier to respect someone for admitting to no longer having the drive to do a job like that, rather than keeping the position and not actually getting any work done. Therefore, I respect your decision, and totally understand why you chose to resign.
Alicia I know I said this in QnS but here's to hoping the extra time lets you go places with some new things. You mentioned new projects here. My wife has similarly had to do this as of late.
There are, after all, only 24 hours in a day and they go fast. So here's to your success with new projects.
And I've enjoyed getting to know you a bit over the last couple of years.
i eccho the sentiments of all the people who have posted here, and just to say that alicia you are going to be missed as a cl, you were firm but fair, and sometimes let us get as close to the edge as we could. we trusted you and we still trust you. i just hope you stick around on the site.
We have to respect you specially if you don't feel as if you were doing the job anymore. Smile. It shows tuck as they call it.
Thanks all for your support. It means a lot to me. In a lot of ways, I am sad to have stepped down. But it was what needed to be done at this point, but man is it weird! It helps knowing you guys understand and support it though, as the rest of the staff has seemed to. Yeah, I do still plan to be around the site, and in publics, so I'm not totally gone. Smile.
Sorry, I read this fred too late, but I was sad to hear about this, but happy you are still around. Good luck with everything.
You know, I find it kind of ironic that you have a disagreement on twitter with a zoner, then later that same day you've resigned as a CL. Then not two days later, you put her on ignore. those events kind of make it seem like that was part of it, don't you think? Wasn't it you who was saying you can only put users on ignore as a CL in very certain circumstances? I'm not necessarily calling bullshit on your resigning, but it'll be interesting to hear your take on it.
omg. why does it matter! She resigned and that's that. come on now... everything doesn't have to turn into drama!!! plus it was a while ago!! She really don't have to defend her decisions to anyone!!! my opinion of course!!
agreed why keep digging for more drama?
Hey, I'm just curious. If I never find out, I won't lose any sleep. besides, if she doesn't have to defend her decisions, which you're right, she doesn't, but then why are you bothering to post? Wouldn't you just want it to lay in the dust if you're not digging for more drama as well?
ignoring or unignoring is their own will and wish. but resigning due to a disagreement and ignoring people after resigning is really pathetic. she ignored me too. if someone's not ready to accept small misunderstandings, I don't think they can handle such a valid post. if she did resign due to that disagreement, I can say she did the right thing.
My opinion.
Raaj
basicly you could have asked her privatly if u were sooo curious. Not put her on the spot like that that's all.
Ocean, the Zoner in question had nothing to do with my resignation. I had been considering stepping down for about 3 weeks prior to that, had in fact talked to several of the other CL's about it. I finally just made up my mind that, given that I wasn't contributing as much as I ought to the work of running the site, I was not going to hold on to the CL title. Others have done that before, and it annoys me. That is why I stepped down when I did. Trust me, if I was going to step down because of any specific Zoner, it would have been done long, long ago.
Firstly, I don't see why someone's past disagreements on twitter need to be brought up here. twitter is not the zone and the zone is not twitter - what happens there is irelevant even if it relates to people who are also members here.
Secondly, there is no rule that says that cl's can't put users on ignore. Many of the cl's choose not to put users on ignore, but that is not the same. But if a cl stands down from being a cl and then decides to make use of the ignore feature that is their perogative. The features are there for everyone to use.
three things:
1. It could be rellavant if the user in question decides to make it as such.
2. Should every disagreement on a board topic be taken privately? if that was the case, topics would rarely ever have more than one or two posts.
3. this topic is a discussion topic. My points were an opinion, and I thank the one person, (possibly two people), here who were able to see it that way. If I had posted something like: Bullshit! You're a bullfaced liar! You stepped down because of a disagreement. End of story, and no other opinion matters...then I could've understood all these defensive posts. Honestly, ironically, I think alicia herself handled this better than most. As such, I'll leave my thoughts at this post. I was putting my opinion out here to contribute to the discussion. It has since been responded to, although quite a few of the responses are absolutely laughable. In any case, I've played my part. If anyone wants to post and accuse me of seeking drama after this, then go right ahead, but just remember that every time you post, you're perpetuating this topic a little further, so you can't say you've played no part in this drama, as you call it. the way I see it, everyone is going to accuse everyone of starting drama at some point.
"1. It could be rellavant if the user in question decides to make it as such." but it achieves nothing. After all if you fall out with someone in rl, on msn, twitter wherever and that user then puts you on ignore on here what does it matter? Most of the users here don't know each other personally; disagreements may be personal in nature but they are not personal since the users don't have a relationship to one another beyond here and the other means of communication. To think that one would have such an influence over someone that would cause them to come on here and change their position on the site is frankly rather arogant.
"2. Should every disagreement on a board topic be taken privately? if that was the case, topics would rarely ever have more than one or two posts." There's a difference between disagreeing with someone on a board topic, and bringing your disagreements with someone elsewhere on to a board topic.
I could go on to a board topic about any topic and agree or disagree with the sentiment of that topic, that's what discussion forums are all about. but on the whole if I disagreed with someone away from here, be that elsewhere on the site/msn/twitter/even in rl and then started coming on to board topics they posted in order to bring up our past disagreements then that is, IMO, pretty bad form.
I think this topic is growing up since the zone disagreement has reflected on her twitter.
I do agree we will discuss few important happenings with our friends. but I won't discuss publically or I won't post my disagreements in some other site. In short, I'm not a backstabber. I'm a person who will deal face to face, whatever it is.
As per the ignorings, I won't say cl's shouldn't ignore anyone. that's their own decision. But I do remember she was telling in publick after becoming a cl as she isn't ignoring anyone since as a cl, she wanted to listen everyone's opinions impartially. but after her resignation, she has ignored me for some reason which I dono at all. But that action making me to think probably it's due to my disagreements on her opinions anywhere in the boards?
As per the drama, what do you people naming a drama? Whether a person if he or she is disagreeing the majority is called a drama? or what? This is a discussion board, everyone can express their opinions. so Please don't name it as a drama.
Raaj
Raaj and Jess, it's refreshing to know others see it for what it truly is.
Claire, I thought you were a smarter person than this. you're contradicting yourself, big time.
The ignore feature is just a tool. If someone or something including me or anyone else is bothering you then ignore them: online that just means push the magic button. RL well, I grew up in a huge family so learned how to tune things out early. Online it's just buttons to virtually manipulate what we already do in real life, and if the alleged zoner from Twitter is in fact a zoner on here, then probably she wouldn't like them here if she didn't on Twitter.
People would get a lot less wrought up in things if they learned to tune things out in real life or use the ignore feature if they wish on websites. I have personally not done Ignore on here but choose to read or not read someone's posts. On Twitter we all unfollow people that spam or do stuff we don't want. Doubtless the origin of the topic is probably accurate: things come up, you end up having to cut out one thing because too much else crowds your time. Such is life, it's not personal to us on here or anywhere else.
Responding to SB: