What's our responsibility, anyways?

[Cindy C.]

Tom wrote:

> I was taking a gander through all of the various stuff that's 
> connected to the HPfGU portkey, and started to wonder: exactly 
>what are we updating, now, anyways?

Oh, good question, Tom.  

And Porphyria.  And Pippin.  And Amanda.  And Abigail and others who 
have posted recently.

In fact, several of us have raised important questions over the last 
days or weeks, and I feel a bit guilty about having failed to 
respond.  On the one hand, I did explicitly state that I was not the 
leader of the FAQ group.  On the other hand, I have been fairly 
active on this list, so perhaps folks were hoping to hear my views 
on things.

Oh, ugh.

If truth be told, I am in a bit of a tough spot here.  You'll all 
recall that I was a member of MEG until I took a break in April or 
so, specifically advising MEG that I hoped to return.  Several 
months have passed, so I recently asked to return to MEG.  MEG 
denied my request -- even though every Elf or Geist who ever left 
MEG and later asked to return was welcomed back with open arms, and 
even though many MEGs urged me to take that break in the first 
place.  

I anticipate that certain issues MEG will soon decide will impact 
the operation of this group.  Further complicating things is that 
MEGs consider MEG business to be highly confidential and not to be 
discussed with non-MEGs -- I would be unable to discuss MEG business 
that impacts the FAQ list with the members of MEG because I am not 
on MEG.  

After giving things some thought, I don't see how I can make a 
significant contribution to the FAQ list if MEG decisions in which I 
am denied input may be handed down at any time.  I also must admit 
to having some brand new trust issues due to MEG's decision to 
depart from established custom in handling my request to return.  
I'm happy to be a contributing member of the Slytherin team, but 
that is about all I can handle, I'm afraid.

I think the best solution here would be for us to come to some sort 
of consensus decision about how we'll move forward on this list.  I 
know, that sounds weird coming from me when I just told you all that 
I'm not in charge here.  But I think if I had simply remained silent 
when questions were raised on this list, the effect would be, erm, 
awkward, to say the least.  I figured you deserved an explanation.  

I must apologize to those of you who joined the FAQ list in the most 
recent group of new members.  I swear, I had no idea that the 
trouble on MEG would affect us the way it has.  I thought the thing 
was *over,* fer cryin' out loud.  Apparently, there is still a great 
deal of personal animosity on MEG, and I wish there were something I 
could do to help things get back to normal.  I can't, and I am very 
sorry.

Cindy