Opinion Page
Town Meetings Make Me Shudder
Doppelganger
July 7th, 2010
Opinion Page
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Reading anything regarding the DS with the
phrase “Town Meeting” causes me to flinch and cold shivers to run down my
spine. Today the membership is vastly different. The issues are more external than they were in the days I had to roll out of bed every Saturday for weekly meetings, Acolyte, Caretaker (we did not use the title Oracle back then as Oracle’s were in-world personas and part of the mythology and mystic quality of the DS), and the dreaded “Town Meetings” on Temple Street. The issues were always the same and the members were very opinionated and in many cases unyielding to the ideas and wishes of others. “Parking” for example. There were those that demanded it be stopped or they would leave the DS forever. The extreme on the other side stated they would leave the DS forever if it was banned. Related to the Parking debate was Sellers standing on the street around the Temple Street Terrace area. The extreme on each side made similar demands. “It is my “right” to stand here and macro out what I am selling!” “I should not have to see all those sellers with their macros running! It is my right!” This is why we have the Private Elevator entrance on Temple. While it slightly appeased both sides it was not an immediate solution as no solution was possible at that time as both sides were unyielding and unwilling to listen to the other. The list of these in-world issues back then goes on, from certain “groups” being thieves and bullies to certain individuals being unable to get along and voicing it out on the streets, to others claiming certain game hosts cheated. In each case World Management was placed in the middle with demands from each side for impossible judgments. The world has matured greatly in this respect and outside issues such as the server problems have acted to bring membership together far more. Lest we have forgotten, let us review a methodology on being heard and listened to in presenting complaints in able to prepare ourselves for any potential “Town Meetings” <shudder> Complain about the right thing not about what is bugging you at that particular moment. This requires us to look at the situation and determine exactly what the problem is before opening our mouths to complain. By identifying the right issue we will sound far more convincing and justified in complaining. Complain at the right time not at every opportunity or when you are feeling the most annoyed. Identify when the time is right to be heard, when you will sound most convincing and when you have all the facts you need. Complain to the right people not to everyone. Identify who is best qualified to listen and act on your complaint. While complaining to all may make us feel better for a moment and let us vent our frustration doing so is most often counterproductive to being heard by the right ears. When complaining do not point fingers and accuse others this will always be counter productive to having your issues resolved. Do not just seek to blame, seek to offer directions for solutions. Do not dwell only on the negative aspects of your complaint, offer appreciation for what you feel was positive as well. Keep in mind, complaining is a tool or method for asking for change. In most cases the other party will listen only if approached in a non-threatening fashion. Does this have anything to do with the issues the DS is going through at the moment? In my personal opinion it would be wise for anyone to review what they post before posting it and review in their mind exactly what they are trying to say about any given issue. -Doppelganger AKA Rabbit DS WM (Retired) |
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