iguanamon wrote:As one of the long time members here, I remember what things were like back at HTLAL- when the site routinely went down with no explanation given- for long stretches of time; when people were conned into paying for "pro" membership just to get an icon next to their user name; when said pro membership got you "enhanced" searching.
Rick emailed me, along with some of the other members about how he had created a new forum site for us to go talk about languages and language-learning. He and emk developed, paid for. and kept the site running- without ads; without fund-raising. They also keep the forum as a generally nice place to be.
Nobody flames here. Politics is generally not allowed- I have my own political opinions that I can express on any number of social media sites without making my fellow language learners thinking ill of me if I express them here.
So, I can understand Rick's frustration. I've deleted posts I've posted when, upon reflection, I probably shouldn't have posted... but not after they've gotten votes. So, given all that Rick and emk have done for us, I think they've earned some latitude in regard to their rules. Anybody who wants can start their own forum if they don't want to follow the rules. It doesn't take that much money to run a forum- it does take goodwill, effort, moderation, and caring to run a successful forum.
Let's cut the man some slack.
I appreciate that he has done that and this is a good community and I think great job on that front. It sounds like it was coming from a bad place and that he made something good come out of it.
I run a community off of my own back, but not language related, but a hobby of mine (RP) and a lot of my own money and time goes into it, and there are stresses and times where it feels thankless. But if people disagree with me on something and maybe not understand the full reasoning behind my decision, what was tried and the history behind it, I am happy to discuss it with them and listen to their concerns, it may still result in my decision sticking (as has happened before), and if there are suggestions intended to also make my life easier, I'd not dismiss them. The last thing in the world I'd want are yesmen.
Not that I wish to tell him how to do his job either, but I've generally taken the view criticism & feedback is good(which should be constructive) and it doesn't necessarily mean it has to be employed. But I also don't want to upset anybody or make them feel unappreciated.