Board Thread:Off-Topic Fun/@comment-4839682-20131031001247/@comment-6195464-20131101021121

Great idea to do this poll.

My suggestions to the staff would be to try and remember that not everyone understand your sense of humor or sarcasm. I've become incredibly disillusioned with the wiki lately, particularly the chat, because of the negativity I've seen come my way and the way of other users, in the form of sarcasm, snarkiness, cattiness or just flat out rudeness. I watched two of the admins flat out attacking another user recently, and it offended me to the point of wanting to leave... and I love this Wiki, so that thought hurt.

Some of the things said are incredibly condescending, and I don't think that it's on purpose, but it's something you should probably be aware of. When someone asks a question, no matter how stupid/silly/vague you may think that question is, if you are an admin it is your responsibility to help that person find an answer... Or at the -very- least, make them feel welcome enough to ask someone else, if you don't know the answer. I've seen people in chat flat out ignored, or even mocked for asking questions and that just isn't right, at all.

Also - I know that you are also fans, and that you will have opinions of the show, but I've noticed on more than one occasion some of you stomping down someone else's opinion/idea/thought with such force that it's actually discouraged people from posting anything else. It isn't necessary, and as Admins you should be encouraging people to post their theories or ideas, or opinions... whether you disagree with them or not, because it keeps traffic on the wiki, which keeps things running. It's okay to have an opinion, as an admin, but please be careful that you aren't inadvertently squashing someone else's opinion with your own views.

We all have opinions and we all have different levels of values and standards and concerns about the show - no one should be made to feel like they can't express themselves, because someone else is belittling them. I recently got told by an admin that I should consider finding another show to watch, because of an opinion I had on one scene in a particular episode. It broke my heart, and my spirits, especially because I was trying my best to be respectful of contrary opinions. I didn't deserve the comment, and there was no apology made for it. And I've seen it done to other people as well.

And lastly... I know that the way wikis work essentially make it impossible for anything to be private... But can I recommend that if a user is having a conversation on their wall with someone else and it's clearly meant to be a private conversation that it remain that way? If something needs to be addressed, it can be done in a separate wall post, right? I don't like the idea that anyone can just "jump in" on any wall conversation I'm having... particularly if their doing it to post something negative. It feels very "Big Brother", which I don't think is the goal of this wiki.

I'm glad this poll was made, because I think it's important that you give the "people" a voice... I just really hope that you take to heart that we are people... and we have feelings, and those feelings get hurt when someone steps on us. There is a way to be an admin and do your job (and be tough at it) but still be friendly and inviting. The snark is turning people away, literally.