Folks that require guidance in social situations probably won't find trained professionals here, much like anywhere else online.
I'll admit I don't really know what Hivewatchers is up to these days. I've seen complaints, I've seen them provide the services they offer as they should, and I've also seen characters like world-travel-pro completely blow things out of proportion. So it's really difficult to know what's truly going on.
That 'account death' goes in the other direction as well. It's a bit off topic but I just had to spend four days nonstop putting the foot down and telling a lifelong pest to leave me alone once and for all. Four days straight of asking to be left alone. Otherwise my experience here sucks, removing my ability to have fun, make some money, yadda yadda yadda. Finally I say to hell with it and downvote. Boom. Instant smear post.
I bring it up though because often, due to these disputes that lead to anyone using their downvotes becoming The Big Bad Scary Monster, the community as whole is becoming disempowered. It's becoming harder and harder to stand up for yourself; police your own space.
If Hivewatchers needs to shape up or go away, that means individuals have to step up to deal with the riffraff. Dealing with it is not fun, at all.
Being polite doesn't help either. I've made the 'mistake' of downvoting pure laziness stemming mainly from curators voting blind and enabling said laziness. Tried to be polite. Offered reasons. Still got smeared...
What happens to a neighborhood when everyone stops mowing their lawns?
So yeah. Hopefully this shit gets sorted out. But who's going to sort it? LOL!
I hear your points as well.
My position is if it is funded, it should also be professional and have clearly posted guidelines that are published and not arbitrary.
I guess these are the growing pains of decentralization.
And yes, the account deaths certainly do go both ways, understood and acknowledged.
I agree, professionalism is a requirement.
It's also important to note, they can be as polite and professional as humanly possible but will not be getting it in return. People will still be freaking out, regardless. Security at the store or bar is polite and professional. The people getting busted, are not.
I have trouble believing someone like that character up there I mentioned would have reacted differently had they been nice, gentle, offering good job buttons and sweets.
I feel it's really important to point that out. The attitudes can change, sure, but the response will not.
Even the folks taking it upon themselves to diminish instances of what they personally consider to be exploitative behavior put themselves in a position to be harassed nonstop. That includes community moderators. I can mention that particular character once again and point out threats made and intimidation tactics applied after he had been muted. These people should never have to fear running their operations how they see fit.
Decentralization is hard, sure. Regardless what system is in place, people gonna people.
I use that one character not as an insult but as a case study. That case is a prime example of what could happen when things fall apart. Something to learn from.
Yes, making threats is always wrong. :) funny we have to say it.
Yes, people getting downvoted over react and will often be mad even if it is justified.
Professionalism includes politeness, but it's way beyond that. For instance to your example.. de-escalation, fairness, consistency to name a few.
I think it's likely to get funded again, but my position is they should do a better job of defining their scope, being consistent and focus on education vs. power and yes some of those efforts will fail.
there are shitty people on the internet add money and it escalates at times, that is not unique to hive except the money factor plays a role.
Education. That should come before something goes wrong. People are entering the doors here and heading straight for the stage rather than the seats. People read before they become writers. People watch youtube videos before they decide to create videos. So very many issues this platform struggles to deal with nearly vanish the moment people enter and head straight for the seats, then work their way up to the stage if that's what they want to do. People say or think we don't have or can't have short form for instance, and don't even notice that's what we do in the comment section, which can still be a rewarding experience. And one learns a lot by observing others.
But I guess that's a story for another day.
Good talking to you.