The Awkward Silence

2:00 PM

@SQB unfortunately, the most bizarre examples have long been deleted, but they needed to be seen to be believed.

user15026

2:10 PM

@Tinkeringbell unfortunately, no. There isn't really a silver bullet here. It might mean a core group of people doing the work until this place attracts more people.

user15026

But I think more people are trying than some of you are willing to give credit to - they just might not be as extremely active as you are. I dislike this insinuation you are making that it is just a problem of not caring enough, like there is this core group that cares and no one else cares enough or cares in the right way. And if there are people trying to do that that don't have the

3

user15026

needed privileges or support, then that's a direction to go in. You need to help those people get to the point where they can do those things, if they want to get there

user15026

(okay, I dislike that mobile chat does not tell you when you have made a message that is too long)

user15026

I think building up that middle ground, of users who might not spend all of their time and energy here, but who have come and have started contributing but just need some guidance on what to do might be the best place to start.

4

user15026

Encourage those people. Leave comments helping them, if they're in chat, point out the things they are doing that are helpful. People need to know what they're doing right just as much as what they're doing that you don't like.

user15026

2:15 PM

I get this site has some quality issues so people are really quick to point out what people aren't doing but I think there also needs to be more pointing out when people get it right.

user15026

Like okay, we have a problem with HNQ giving people faster access to tools than we'd like because they get tools before they get what the community is trying to do.

user15026

Then maybe we push to either get the Rep threshold changed if SE is willing and we make a good case

user15026

Or, we just go on a education spree, with the understanding that sometimes some people just will never get it. And knowing when to stop expending energy on those particular people trying to teach them is important.

user15026

There is no easy solution. I wish there was because I hate seeing people burn out.

Magisch

I still think we could benefit from the mods helping out with the stuff that takes too long to be done consistently

Like they do on TWP

But I'm already the Cato of IPS, and everyone knows my position on that, so ah well

Mithrandir

2:20 PM

Then you burn out the mods.

sphennings

@Magisch I think the mods on here are already pretty busy.

Mithrandir

The mods already have a lot on their plate. No need to add more.

user15026

Yeah, it has to be that they're helping, not doing it all.

Magisch

Yeah they're pretty busy

sphennings

Whether It's the mods or the dedicated users, you're having a small handful of people trying to solve all the problems of the site.

user15026

2:21 PM

This site already is taking its toll on users, I suspect it is doing the same for mods.

Magisch

@sphennings Only until we get enough people going to take that over

user15026

@sphennings exactly. No matter if the small group is diamonded or not, having a small group at the core doing all the things isn't good.

Shog's rules for IPS

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