Acquiring New Members -- Discussion

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Beyond the Sidewalks : One Thread

I am starting this thread to get the discussion off of the member list thread. I am moving all posts except the ones listing the names to this thread. Feel free to keep on discussing, just please do it here. This was my decision, so if there's flak, I'm the one to blame! :-P

-- Anonymous, August 06, 2001

Answers

Whoops! I asked about hendo on the map thread; I really thought he was here. Really, I did!! Can he come over and play too?!

Answered by Polly (tigger@moultrie.com) on August 05, 2001.

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O.K.........obviously I am confused........CRS??? Jim, you are back??? What happened to we were all going to have input??? Are we opening up for nominations now??? I know that it is your playground but just tell me how to play.

Answered by diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com) on August 05, 2001.

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Answers to Diane's questions: Phyllis was a previous member, introduced to us by Polly, who got overlooked when we were sending out passwords.

Jim is not "back" but does check his email once in awhile. Don Armstrong sent an email to Jim requesting the password, because Sharon had re-posted (with Don's permission) some of Don's comments in her "eureka" thread. Jim gave him the password and notified Cindy and me that he had done so.

Polly: I don't have a problem with Hendo -- but I am about to go visit Julie & rest of family for a few days, and I don't want to deal with it right now. If Cindy wants to poll the membership, that's fine with me.

Having input, however, does bring up a question that I have been wondering about: How LONG do we wait until we feel that everyone has had a chance to give their input? Some people don't get here everyday or even every several days, particularly in the summer.

Answered by Joy F [in So. Wisconsin] (CatFlunky@excite.com) on August 05, 2001. ----------------------------------------------------------------------

diane.... where did you get the "we are all going to have input" idea,anyway? My understanding is that someone we know we could recommend, like EM and Jim did,for instance. I didn't see this "we'll vote on them" criteria before. Where did that come from,I'm wondering? Did I miss it? That would be pretty strange and pretty unmanageable,frankly,don't you think? What exactly are you talking about? I am having trouble envisioning what you mean.Sounds like this needs discussed,as some are obviously confused.

Answered by sharon wt (wildflower@ekyol.com) from August 05, 2001.

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sharon: Went back and looked at the "input" thread and forgot that we had deleted it by choice so people would be free to make comments. Assuming is always a problem and I should not have assumed that we would continue with that format. That's why I asked the question and I appreciate joy answering. I just wanted to know how we were going to handle it in the future. There were people that I know asked for a password and were told wait and now all of a sudden someone that I didn't even know asked got one. Sorry my question disturbed you, will try to be more careful in the future.

Answered by diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com) from August 05, 2001.

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I'm with you Diane, I was under the same impression, but we cant go back and re-read it now of course. Jim said something about a consensus thing, and asked all of us for our input on anyone before giving them the password. I don't see how it would be the least bit unmanageable myself. If we are a "closed' family, if it were my forum I guess I'd ask everyone and if anyone had any objections to so-and-so being included to email the moderators privately, and if any one of us felt uncomfortable with a particular individual , I wouldnt include them.

But that's just my two and a half cents.......

Answered by Earthmama (earthmama48@yahoo.com) from August 05, 2001.

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I didn't think it was a problem about Phyllis, seeing as I HAD already asked before the forum was closed, and she HAD been on board and HAD been accepted - and welcomed by some of the very ones who are questioning her admittance. Now she's just been sent the password and I told her how to find us again; and she's gonna come in and see this...well, guess you all probably won't have to worry about it! And as for Hendo, what the heck do you think I was doing if not asking? Otherwise I would have just e-mailed one of the moderators. I haven't seen a thing about people who wanted to join since the posting asking about Patty and all those who had sent e-mails. If you guys have people you want to put up for membership, then put them up.

Or, better yet - never mind; I'll just go talk to them elsewhere.

Answered by Polly (tigger@moultrie.com) from August 05, 2001.

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Gee Polly, sounds like you're ticked off. I probably shoulda kept my mouth shut, cuz I think you misunderstood? Point wasn't that anyone has a problem with Phyllis being here; I know I don't! Point was that some of us were under the impression that we would be asked about new members, that's all.\\

Please don't be mad.......

Answered by Earthmama (earthmama48@yahoo.com) from August 05, 2001.

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I went to Tennessee yesterday and last night my server went down. I spent 3 hours on the phone with MSN, and they couldn't even get a page to load up from my dial-up in Etown. I got to post once and it quit.

We did all agree with the member referral idea. And as long as no one had any problem with that person joining, they could. We asked for input from the members on some folks requesting passwords, when we were swamped, because Joy and I and Jim just don't know everyone, and you all might know them from another forum. Remember many of the requests were from folks who never post. So how could we know them all? Many, many of the requests were for the password for LURKING only, and they came right out and said it. And no, we did not give the password to folks who just wanted to lurk.

On the Hendo question, all I saw was asking where he lived, not asking if he could join. Has he asked about joining? Does he want to join? I never saw a post about asking if Hendo could have the password unless it was posted Sunday while I was gone.

Joy allready explained about the 2 new members. Phyllis has been very busy and just hasn't been on the computer much since this all happened. And some of the members don't post hardly ever.

Answered by Cindy in KY (solidrockranch@msn.com) from August 06, 2001.

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And yes Emama, we did say members could just email privately to one of the moderators if they had a problem with someone, so they did not have to post it on here. That's what we did. And we got input. And we really must respect all of the members concerns. Our greatest concern was for the members here to feel comfortable. Answered by Cindy in KY (solidrockranch@msn.com) on August 06, 2001.

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Oh please Polly..........I didn't have a problem with Phyllis at all....sweet person and I have been wondering where she was!!! Here that Phyllis.....was hoping that you would show up here soon!!!!! Quite honestly Phyllis I had not looked at the list close enough and I guess I just assumed (there is that word again) that you were on the list. Even though I post here fairly often on my work breaks, I really have been very busy and not thought about stuff too much. Sorry my question upset people, really am..........all I really wanted was some clarification as to how we were going to handle people coming on to the board. It really was my assumption that no NEW people were going to be admitted until Jim got back, and I sure didn't consider Phyllis NEW. The other person never to the best of my knowledge ever posted here so I considered him new. Actually Polly I thought Hendo was here already.........I really do get confused. Once again...........so sorry I brought it up.

Answered by diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com) on August 06, 2001.

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Oh, I hope everyone's OK! This just seems like a misunderstanding to me. Remember we're all friends here. Let's not be upset. As for Phyllis, I'm glad she's here. And as for Hendo, I remember him as being very pleasant.

Answered by Denise (jhammock@cinci.rr.com) on August 06, 2001. ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks Cindy for your very good explanation.That was what I understood,too. And diane,you should bring up questions so they can be discussed.That's just good communication.

I did not know you had to post something on here before telling someone to email Jim for a password. That was not done in every case prior to this. Is it correct to assume that is the right procedure,now? I'm still not clear on whether this is the concensus or not.

EM,you're approach sounds too much like blackballing. I don't know what the solution is,frankly.My O.G. club is private bc I've been in public clubs where a big pain in the butt came and ran everyone else off. But I invite people based on recommendations from my members or folks I run into that sound like they would enjoy what we do....I do not run it by the membership for approval,however. That is way too much like DAR and Women's Club and other elitist groups that want to keep someone out bc they are different. Is that what you want here?

I didn't tell Don to email for a password anyway.He did it on his own. Jim made the decision, on his own. A decision I have no problem with Jim making,if he wants to have that perogative, BTW.

But since Don is familiar to anyone who's been on CS (and I've never seen him be disrespectful of people there,have you?) I wouldn't have expected it to be a problem.

Don could have asked me to give him the password.He did not.I wouldn't have given it to him either.He understood that the correct procedure to follow was to email Jim. Sounds like a decent fella to me.

Will he offer some opposing views from time to time? Let's hope so,or this WILL get about as interesting at white bread.Will he do it in a respectful manner? I'm sure he will.I explained to him in a private email who we are as best I could.... and why we are private. He has indicated he understands that.

Is there some other criteria one has to meet to participate here? If so we all need to know what it is. Just asking and appreciate your input.This is a sticky wicket and needs more discussion to find our way. And,no one should feel distressed for stating their opinion on this. I don't.(giggle)

Answered by sharon wt (wildflower@ekyol.com) on August 06, 2001.

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-- Anonymous, August 06, 2001


We figured no more passwords unless they were old-timers that were over-looked or they have *solid* recommendations by the regulars at BTS. A recommendation would be given to the moderators instead of posting it on the board.

This is still Jim's forum, IMO. I guess we need to discuss this a bit for everyone. There is nothing wrong with discussing it. But it isn't worth getting upset over.

In my personal opinion, and I am just one person, putting it before the members for input in the way of private email to moderators before giving out the password to someone new is allright. BTS is comprised of everyone here, and if one member had a problem with someone that was considered for membership, personally I would opt to go in favor of not letting that person in.

Isn't that why this forum is passworded? Isn't each members feelings important? I don't think there's anything wrong with putting it before the members, it takes the heavy burden off the moderators, we don't want to be heavy handed rulers, just keep the place safe. And we don't know everyone personally. Just my opinion, as a member.

-- Anonymous, August 06, 2001


You hereby have my ok to give the password to anyone who wants it. I can deal with anybody, I think.

JOJ

-- Anonymous, August 07, 2001


Thank you, Cindy. My stomach was tied in knots about this. You have returned my peace of mind.

Blessings,

-- Anonymous, August 07, 2001


Dear Dianne and Dear Polly, I don't think Dianne meant anything like the way you read it Polly. Life is such a piddle poddle, sometimes. It's hard to figure out which way is up. All I know is I Love all you guys and I think if we hang it out , after the storms we will be awashed anew.

We just need a good cooling rain, thats all! tren

-- Anonymous, August 07, 2001



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