by Phade » Mon Sep 01, 2003 9:32 pm
Hey All,
When I decided to attempt to allow more input into my decisions by holding a poll for the fate of SpPanda, I was doing many things at once. I was testing to see if anyone cared about the fate of SpPanda. I was testing if people thought that a voting thing was a good method of coming to a decision. I was testing if members are capable of intelligent thought and debate about such a subject.
When I put up the poll, I had already decided that SpPanda had done what he needed to do to be let back in. To allow more participation with the decision, I posed a question and gave four possible answers: yes, no, I don’t know, I don’t care. The reaction to the vote I was expecting was something to the effect of, “Hey, cool. Phade is letting us do more with the goings on of decisions here at the site. I’ll do my part to participate.” I expected the voting results to be 60-70% “yes” (especially since I put a link to the voting in the Off Topic forum) and the 30-40% the rest of the answers. I could then allow SpPanda to return, letting the forum members feel that they had done a good thing. If SpPanda went back to his old tricks of crapping up the forum, I could say, “Don’t look at me. You guys voted him back in.”
The actual reaction that was returned was not as positive as I had expected. Early on, there was a healthy debate (a real positive experience). But, the debate soon turned into name-calling. Some particularly harsh insults were thrown my way, which I can generally shrug off. But the insults turned into demands. I do not respond well to demands, especially ones from those who do not seem to influence the forum in a positive way. I, uncharacteristically, became angry. Instead of venting my anger at those who roused it, I decided to step back, take a breather, and return when I was calm. When I returned to the thread, it had gotten even worse. I decided to let the thread sit rather than respond in anger.
SpPanda, unfortunately, was now caught in the middle. I had already informed him that he was clear to return. However, his “friends” now made it difficult for him to do so. It also made me reconsider my decision to even allow SpPanda back in. If the people that want him back act this way, then perhaps it is better to let him stay out and take his followers with him. The reactions given by the people who want him back are not the kind of people I want to attract and keep in the forum.
So, SpPanda will be returning, but not because people have “demanded” it. It is my belief that any banning is temporary, though the time varies in length. SpPanda has finally passed what he needed in order to be able to return. The reasons for my banning SpPanda are really just between me and SpPanda. I feel greatly uncomfortable discussing them in public. I really don’t want to be put in the position of pointing out the faults of others, nor do I want to talk about them behind their back.
What I have learned from this experience is that is seems that the general forum frequenters who speak out are not capable of healthy, intelligent debate. Polls will not be used in the near future again for “serious” inquiries.
Phade.