Staff addition and update

[Nungali]

We could combine both    .....  

 

' Baby's dummy knuckle duster '   .

 

[Kar3n]

It has been an honor to serve as a moderator for this great community. I need a break. I will never not serve those that I love and those I love are inclusive of those who might prickle my skin. They get more love.

I value every bum. I read, or skim, every post daily. It is like taking the pulse. I will never not be here for you bums.

 

I would like to take a more behind the scenes approach as in setting up PPFs, changing names, whatever Tech type things that I already do. When my mod ship is over I am still here for you and I was still Advocate and help in any way that I can. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve you all and I thank you very much. 

 

Now, two people raise your hand before I nominate you. 

 

[Zhongyongdaoist]

I woke up yesterday to two unpleasant things, my computer display making reading and posting difficult, and reading Kar3n's post.  I finally got my computer stabilized, but Kar3n's contribution to the smooth running of staff was so great that it will take a while to recover, and we will probably never have someone as dedicated as she has been.  Unfortunately, you would have to be a mod to know all that she has done behind the scenes while keeping order on the front lines, but her dedication to the duties of her position was a powerful testimony to the truth of what she says about loving us poor Bums.  Thanks Kar3n.

 

ZYD

[dawei]

Karen is tireless... so I can just imagine how she runs her home too !!   LOL.   

 

1. Someone commented to me that Karen appears to be the most active mod... well, I think there is some truth to that but all the staff are engaged behind the scenes and pull a part of the machinery that I want done.   So I would rather think of it as different parts of a machine turning. 

 

2. Rene may not be back to bums due to an issue.  I at least want to say that but can't say more till I understand more.

 

3. ZYD is currently my main adviser.  he may not realize that but, oh well..  LOL... But I should say that I ask regular board members their thoughts to gauge issues.    

 

4. I talked with Apech today about a new staff structure that would include him.   He agreed.

 

So, here is structure for now:

 

Let there be One:  Admin (Dawei)

 

Then Two arise: Apech and ZYD

 

Then there is three:  Shift Karen as Tech.

 

For transparency reasons, I have tried to give each rotation more power and continue that idea with staff.   

 

In this cycle, Apech and ZYD can decide singularly to take action on an issue with a 3 day ban. Then the staff can talk if further time-off is needed.  We do this already now, but I'm making the board officially aware, if you didn't know this.  I want to move the forum to a balance that staff can act faster and yet can talk when needed.

 

Please do not report small stuff.  If your emotions are tweeted by a comment, that is not reason to report something.  If you objectively see something that you think the staff should review for action, then let us know. 

 

Here's the disclaimer:  almost 99% of what is reported has no action taken.  

 

Bums... post away... respect the other person in the discussion... engage in disagreements, as you feel comfortable...  don't take it personally...  

 

Admin out 

 

 

 

 

[doc benway]

Thanks Kar3n!

[Taomeow]

I second that.  Thank you, Kar3n! 

[thelerner]

Most of the time being a mod is interesting.. sometimes it gets sticky and unpleasant.   I think there's a fair amount of wisdom in taking a break after a long time.   So, another wise decision, Karen. 

[dawei]

3 hours ago, dawei said:

4. I talked with Apech today about a new staff structure that would include him.   He agreed.

 

Enough, already about Karen !   LOL

 

Let's welcome back Apech to staff.

 

I often ask past folks to come back because they understand the nuaisnce and insantity !

[Chang]

Welcome back Apech.

 

Although I find you effortlessly annoying as regards your Boring Buddhist and nonsensical Socialist idea's I always thought that you were a Moderator of great integrity and sound common sense.

[Apech]

2 hours ago, Chang said:

Welcome back Apech.

 

Although I find you effortlessly annoying as regards your Boring Buddhist and nonsensical Socialist idea's I always thought that you were a Moderator of great integrity and sound common sense.

 

Well .... thank you Chang! .... I think

[Marblehead]

9 hours ago, dawei said:

 

Enough, already about Karen !   LOL

 

Let's welcome back Apech to staff.

 

I often ask past folks to come back because they understand the nuaisnce and insantity !

Yeah, Kar3n has received enough attention.  Much more and her head will start getting fat.

 

Welcome back to the control center Apech.  I'm sure your participation will be greatly appreciated.

 

[dawei]

11 minutes ago, Marblehead said:

Yeah, Kar3n has received enough attention.  Much more and her head will start getting fat.

 

Welcome back to the control center Apech.  I'm sure your participation will be greatly appreciated.

 

 

Yes... let's get Apech's head fatter !  

 

As anyone can imagine... begging for staff help is only trumped (did I use the presidents name) by folks comfortableness with being on staff. 

 

TDB is  a volunteer staffing situation... only in extreme measures would we gag and mug someone to be staff again 

 

But I am reminded by something that Bobby Fisher said about chess openings... 'best by test'...  if it worked before, do it again.

 

I like to bring (or ask) past staff to give it a second, third or fourth go...  the board gets a benefit but I like that the current staff (including me) gets the benefit of some past wisdom.   I have asked several members on their thoughts over the years and appreciate the interaction. 

 

My sense at this point is, we are now looking at how to get more interaction, whether on the board or chat.  We have a few ideas... but we are open to hear your comments. 

[Marblehead]

6 minutes ago, dawei said:

 

Yes... let's get Apech's head fatter !  

 

Don't concern yourself with that, he is self inflating.

 

[dawei]

It is with a somewhat heavy heart that I announce the latest changes...

 

1. Rene send me a message saying she needed to take care of some personal issues and seemed to unplug herself from all social media.   I've known Rene for quite a long time, one of my first web buddies about three websites ago.  We have shared a common love for Laozi and all things that she dubbed such followers as , "Laoist".     

 

2. Kar3n is now also off staff but likely the most sorely missed in my history on staff.  She gave everything.  There is nothing more to ask or expect... one can just reside in that realization.  

[thelerner]

Hopefully Rene won't be laost for long. 

 

This is a good opportunity for those who use the board regularly to give back a bit and volunteer to be a mod.  See behind the screens; it can be fun and giri..

[Geof Nanto]

I wish Rene well and can understand her desire to take a break from all social media. It seems to me people participate here for many different reasons. Some come and go quickly; indeed, all too quickly in the case of those who I’ve felt an affinity with. Some stay long term and serve to give Dao Bums stability, continuity. To my mind, neither staying or going is good in itself. The balance between connection with community and the need for solitary practice varies from person to person, and individually it oscillates over time. 

 

There’s a saying that nothing in life is certain, except change. For those of us engaged with inner cultivation, the practice itself causes change and hence dictates changing needs. At least, that’s how it is for me. I must go where my path leads. In this sense inner cultivation means a curtailment of freedom, yet fortunately enhanced alignment with Dao results in an increase in contentment as life becomes more personally meaningful; more fulfilling in and of itself. But, speaking personally, the path has also meant continually moving into and through periods of feeling aloneness as my practice deepens its roots into Dao and moves away from social entanglement. 

[Bubbles]

Just checking in after some break from the TDB.

Thank you Kar3n for your time as a mod here but above all, thank you for being the loving person you are. I can't say more.

[dawei]

As Dao is reversal/cyclic... so is TBDums...  

 

Apech, on his third tour,  will go back to what he loves: posting boring buddhist posts.

 

Karen will come back for a second tour of punishment. 

 

We would like to hear from volunteers whether they can be considered for staff.   

 

All in all, we benefit from folks participating as staff.  Send me a PM for consideration.

 

Thanks all... and keep posting away

 

 

 

[zerostao]

Thank you Apech, 3 tours, wow

thank you Kar3n for tour #2

[cheya]

Apech and Kar3n, You both deserve medals!

Thank you!

[Marblehead]

Yeah, it's a dirty job but somebody has to do it.

 

Thanks for your service Apech.

 

Welcome back Kar3n.

 

 

[Nungali]

Holiday time again   .....

 

 

 

Edited March 1, 2018 by Nungali

[Zhongyongdaoist]

Well,  I see Kar3n's back!  You know what the worst thing about her was, she was always so hard working and dedicated that by the time I got around to thinking about taking care of something, she had already done it!  Thanks to her I was never able to learn to do my job!  Thank god she left for a while, I could actually teach myself how to set up PPDs and give people access to the Men's and Women's private forums, and even some other interesting and fun things.  Granted while she was working before, I was able to do a lot of work behind the scenes researching the mystery of V-Origin, and ferreting out double accounts by similarities in posting styles, but I was still often left wondering, why I am here and  for what reason exactly?  Of course that was also in the Golden Heyday when we had four people on regular mod duty, and dawei as admin, and a hidden "secret chief", who could all chime in, now it is down to us to the three of us, Kar3n, dawei and myself.  So I have to request that people give serious attention to dawei's request:

 

On 2/28/2018 at 6:02 PM, dawei said:

We would like to hear from volunteers whether they can be considered for staff.   

 

All in all, we benefit from folks participating as staff.  Send me a PM for consideration.

 

As for Apech's departure, I can only say that he is a wonderful person of high ideals and intelligence and learning too match, but I think that he simply did not click with the way in which dawei wanted to move staff and the task of moderation, it was a challenging time of transition, and innovation.  In the past Apech has made great contributions to the high standards of moderation on the Dao Bums.  In the back we have a set of notes on moderation which I humorously refer to as "The Golden Tablets of Apech", but which really are a set of Golden Rules for us moderator's, and if for nothing else than that he deserves the thanks and respect of all Dao Bums, and I am personally glad that I was able to work with him at all, even for such a relatively short time.

 

Zhongyongdaoist

[dawei]

5 hours ago, Zhongyongdaoist said:

As for Apech's departure, I can only say that he is a wonderful person of high ideals and intelligence and learning too match,

 

Spoken like a true gentleman and scholar... and with the handle of ZYD, very Confucian.

 

I think you need to post more along that lines, even at a Daoist site !

 

As a behind-the-scenes comment, I have tried to evolve the staff responsibilities, roles and flexibility over the years: In a word, 'change' or 'unfold' more and more.   It may be that what I see (or want) is harder to fit to on some level but I explore it nonetheless.

 

Some will recall the Steward staff position which seems good and well but it has not real function that was engaged.  I eventually created a Steward+ (Marblehead and Brian) who had elevated permissions and in-between Stewards and Mods.  We continue to explore the basic idea:  If someone comes to staff, at any level, what do we want them to DO...   We thought to try a 'moderator intership' which sounds maybe condescending but conveys an idea that you can observe what goes on before  you jump in.  

 

The real challenge is finding folks who will volunteer and fit with the staff system direction.  

 

Please PM a staff member you are comfortable with to discuss this further to understand the need.

 

 

[Apech]

Can I just say that in all humility I fully agree that I am wonderful.

 

Seriously thank you for kind comments.

 

Seems that moderation is not for me anymore - but thanks to Dawei for the opportunity.

 

Good luck and thanks to Karen.