The Whiteboard

Ampt

10:09 PM

bad question incoming in 3... 2... 1...

@LightnessRacesinOrbit good luck!

Ixrec

@Ampt it's been several minutes and they still haven't posted it, maybe we dodged the bullet after all

Ampt

@Ixrec maybe they're reading the FAQ... HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

user41796

Irony would be if they had asked here first and we had already closed it off

Ixrec

did anyone see what the question was?

user41796

I didn't and I don't have 10k on SO, so it just 404'd for me

user41796

10:14 PM

But I had clicked almost as soon as Duga had posted

user55340

how to break up user stories that require more work than can be done in one spri...

Ampt

Really the question never existed and Duga is just checking her click-through rate.

user55340

Autoincorrect strikes again.

Kit Z. Fox

Cupertinos.

Why do I suck at everything right now? What is wrong with me?

user41796

Not enough coffee. Or not enough scotch.

user41796

10:26 PM

It's usually one or the other

user55340

Or both!

user41796

This is true

user41796

Although I'm well past beer thirty, so I'm voting for the latter in my case.

Ixrec

why are people (non-sarcastically) telling me I should run for SFF mod?

this is weird

user41796

'cause you wanna be blue?

user41796

10:29 PM

Are you masquerading as a voice of reason on the site? That's a good way to get tripped up by those types of suggestions.

user41796

"Oh hey, you appear helpful. We should elect you to take out the garbage."

user41796

It's like when your boss at work comes up to you and tells you that the company has an "opportunity" for you.

Kit Z. Fox

I'm drinking rum. It doesn't seem to be working.

user41796

The only rational thing to do in that case is to run away screaming from the opportunity.

Kit Z. Fox

@Ixrec Because you should do it.

user41796

10:30 PM

@KitZ.Fox My expert sources (Captain Jack Sparrow) strongly suggest drinking more in that case

Kit Z. Fox

I can't even do that right!

Ixrec

@GlenH7 I'm sure our bosses would love to hear that advice

user55340

@Ixrec You've got reasonable rep other places. Your meta activity on other metas isn't crazy. You haven't gotten in trouble on the main site and asked to step down. You are reasonable in chat...

Kit Z. Fox

stomps around in a fury Somebody tell me I'm at least as good looking as Jack Sparrow.

user41796

@KitZ.Fox based upon your user icon, I'd say you've got Captain Jack beat.

user41796

10:31 PM

But I think foxes look cute

Kit Z. Fox

It's because I'm foxy, innit?

Ha.

user41796

And let's be honest, even though you're seeing him through a movie screen, you kinda know that Jack probably hasn't showered in a while

Kit Z. Fox

Yeah, but also who cares?

Because rum and Johnny Depp.

user41796

That's true too

user41796

@Ixrec - If you're interested in being a mod, give it a run

user41796

10:33 PM

But also realize that it really changes how you interact with a site

user41796

Mods don't vote. Mods decide.

user55340

@GlenH7 You've still got up/downs.

Ixrec

I'll think about it if none of the obviously more qualified people choose to run for some weird reason

user41796

And that means in a lot of marginal cases, you can't do anything because it's not clear. And then you have to trust the community to poke at it

user55340

SFF had an issue with a mod that was too active.

Ixrec

10:35 PM

hmm, by that reasoning it'd be better to be a mod on a site where I'm sort of tangentially involved and observing rather than a site like this one where I'm actively CVing everything that moves

user55340

Not sure all the story behind that, probably something that the other blues know of from TL fall out if anywhere.

Ixrec

I am very familiar with that particular mod...

user41796

@Ixrec yes

user41796

I didn't even know that someone had been removed. Who was it?

user55340

@Ixrec welcome to the "why gnat doesn't run" statement...

Kit Z. Fox

10:36 PM

You should run if others are suggesting it. It does change things though.

user55340

40

Q: Why was a moderator on our Stack asked to step down?

As we all know by now, Richard is stepping down as a moderator for this Stack. As Richard notes both in his announcement and in chat, he was asked to step down by a community manager. After speaking with the powers-that-be, I have been offered a stark choice; jump ship or get pushed. and ...

user41796

Ooops

Kit Z. Fox

The number one thing about becoming a mod is that suddenly you are 'them'. You're not friends with the rest of the community anymore. I imagine it's like what happens if you become management.

user41796

@KitZ.Fox It does

user41796

A few friends / mentors of mine back at mega-corp had gone from dev -> mgmt -> dev, and could relay that experience

Kit Z. Fox

10:41 PM

It's kind of rough, even if you expect it.

user41796

And a few went dev -> mgmt, never to return

Kit Z. Fox

And then you get bizarre accusations hurled at you.

user41796

I still mourn their loss

user41796

@KitZ.Fox That's quite true

user55340

@GlenH7 Oded? Adam?

user41796

10:42 PM

Engineering is still pretty young for a site, but we've already had our share of nutters

user41796

@MichaelT :-) No, this was back at mega-corp that I'm referring to

user55340

@GlenH7 SE is a megacorp...

user55340

and they stole our diamonds.

user41796

SE is a pittance in comparison to the size of the mega-corp I used to work for

Kit Z. Fox

I want to be in management because I think I would be good at it.

user41796

10:44 PM

@KitZ.Fox whereas I know I wouldn't be, so I have no interest in that path

Ixrec

SE is very small compared to the corp I currently work for

user41796

I'm pretty certain that the overall team I worked with in just my city was larger than the entire SE team.

user41796

The broader team was spread across a couple of cities too

user41796

I was going to compare revenues between that old team and SE. But all the answers I could find were on Quora, so ..... nevermind.

Ixrec

you don't trust quora?

user55340

10:53 PM

@ThomasOwens a less ambiguous licensing case (that I should probably do something about): programmers.stackexchange.com/a/195152/40980 (smack in the middle there...)

user41796

Not just that, but the answers didn't answer the question

user41796

It was a 2 part question "revenue and valuation" of SE. A few answers nailed the valuation part well, but none of them touched the revenue aspect in a meaningful way

user55340

OpenJDK is GPL v2 only, with a class path extension.

Kit Z. Fox

Thing is, I'm sure to a regular user, it makes perfect sense to assume that a moderator has some kind of plan to destroy you, but in reality, it's so freaking crazy to assume that I have time for that kind of nonsense.

user55340

@KitZ.Fox You blues just say that...

Kit Z. Fox

10:59 PM

Ha.

user41796

@KitZ.Fox So true

Ixrec

it never made any sense to me, because assuming a mod was out to get me required assuming that I or my actions mattered in some way

Kit Z. Fox

Right. Of course they do. We value everyone.

Ixrec

in a website where literally anyone can post anything without any barriers, that's a strong assumption

user41796

@Ixrec nutters know they matter. TO EVERYONE

user55340

11:00 PM

What is more likely the case is that two people have a difference of opinion about the philosophy of how the site should be run. I am certain that that would rear its head if I (or some from the other side of the fence) were to become a mod here.

Ixrec

it most certainly would

user41796

@MichaelT yep, that definitely comes up

user55340

Its not that I have it out for ${person}, but rather ${person} is looking for a very different site than the one that I see and have the call(?) to help guide it on the path that I feel would be best for its long term prosperity.

user41796

As a mod, you most definitely have the call on guiding a site

Kit Z. Fox

You get the "you're not doing it right" all the time.

user41796

11:02 PM

And the associated flags...

Kit Z. Fox

"Who do you think you are?" and "Mod abuse!!"

You either need a lot of patience or none at all.

There are days when I want to delete all the users, just to make them stop.

Ampt

@KitZ.Fox DID SOMEONE SAY MOD ABUSE?!

Kit Z. Fox

rofl

user41796

@Ampt well played

Kit Z. Fox

It's a rite of passage for new mods. Most get accused within a day or two of being elected.

Ampt

11:04 PM

Jan 10 '13 at 3:26, by Yannis Rizos

> Heh, the first time I’m mentioned in the SE blog, it’s for… mod abuse ;)

Kit Z. Fox

I remember the first time I was accused of abusing my privs. Actually, I don't.

Ampt

This is why I could never by a mod - I'd just sit around abusing myself all day instead of actually moderating.

;)

Kit Z. Fox

How is that different than now?

Ampt

@KitZ.Fox you guys would actually make me guilty about it... no wait that already happens

ummm the community would be upset with me? No... that box is checked too

@KitZ.Fox .... where you goin with this, fella

user41796

@Ampt How would a fox know? They don't wear socks.

Kit Z. Fox

11:07 PM

What? pfft I didn't. tch I gotta get some more rum.

user55340

user55340

@GlenH7 The Doctor would like to dispute that point.

Ampt

@KitZ.Fox SHIT THEY'RE ON TO US, RUN!

user41796

@MichaelT A few days ago, our resident fox sniffed haughtily at the thought of wearing socks and especially so at the thought of wearing just one sock.

user41796

And also mentioned that there was one, presumably famous, exception to that rule

user55340

11:11 PM

@GlenH7 Long ago there was a usenet post that I recall the resident cyclist was reading out loud to the lab. It was about cycling in the winter in the midwest and advised the wearing of three socks. There are some appendages that you just don't want to think about frost bite on.

Kit Z. Fox

I'm not a doctor...

user41796

Toes being furthest from the body tend to have pretty poor circulation, and frostbite could affect them in a pretty nasty way.

user41796

I'm positive that's what the cyclist was referring to

user55340

@GlenH7 Think about the typical riding attire for a cyclist and what could get cold.

user41796

I refuse to acknowledge other possibilities as it draws into question the sanity of said cyclists.

user55340

11:13 PM

In other news, looking at a folding trike this spring.

Ampt

trike or bike

user55340

Something like that.

Ampt

it has 2 methods of folding?

interesting

user55340

Folds into one bit and then you can do some more to get it smaller.

user55340

11:16 PM

Btw, on the subject of winter biking...

user55340

icetrikes.co/explore-our-trikes/full-fat

user55340

Or the "I want to go really fast" one:

user55340

But I'm more likely looking at something like this:

user55340

11:17 PM

user15026

I have a friend who uses a 'bent pretty much all winter. Not my cuppa, but that's more "I'd be scared to bike in my area because OMG cars" than anything else

enderland

@MichaelT I'm planning on biking to work even in Winter...

user41796

@MichaelT Just remember to wear multiple layers...

user55340

@GlenH7 Spring and Summer - not winter.

user55340

And I'm not going to buy a $5k trike.

user41796

11:19 PM

3 mins ago, by MichaelT

Btw, on the subject of winter biking...

user55340

(The one in Steven's Point is apparently the recumbent bike shop for the area - hostelshoppe.com/Recumbent-Recumbent-Trike )

user55340

And the 'tadpole' version with two in front one in back is better than the 'delta' version with one in front. Much better stability.

psr

11:44 PM

@KitZ.Fox I've always assumed it's more of a drunken lark than an actual plan.

user55340

11:55 PM

3

Q: Paycheck Keeps Bouncing

A friend of mine works at a small company, maybe around 50 employees. The company has repeatedly had insufficient funds in the bank to cover the employees' salaries, resulting in several of her paychecks bouncing. She gets paid eventually, but obviously this is a pretty big inconvenience. Once th...

salary united-states

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