What's our responsibility, anyways?

[Cindy C.]

Pip wrote:

> Could I have your permission to post the email I recently sent to 
> you on this board? The one explaining MEG's decision not to re-
>admit you or any other ex-MEG to the MEG board at this time.

Absolutely.  I wasn't sure whether it would be OK to post it myself, 
as I assumed it was meant to be confidential.


> I would like your permission to post this letter because it will 
> show that the FAQ board was not mentioned. Your membership of the 
> FAQ board (and the membership of the many ex-MEGs who belong to 
>it) was not mentioned. Your leadership status on FAQ was not 
>mentioned. That the troubles on MEG would in any way impact on FAQ 
>was not mentioned.

Yup, all of that is true.  You mentioned none of those things in 
your letter.

I did, however, tell two MEGs that one reason I wished to return to 
MEG was the FAQ list (another reason being that I thought something 
needed to be done about list volume).  MEG never asked me *why* I 
wished to return, so the issue was not discussed with all 26 of 
you.  

I did not mean to imply that MEG had tossed me off the FAQ list or 
anything like that.  I hope no one got that idea, because it didn't 
happen.  

I was talking about what *I* decided to do as a result of, well, 
some obviously shabby treatment by MEG that makes it impossible for 
me to help lead this group.  MEG most definitely did refuse my 
request to return to the MEG list, and I simply do not think I can 
contribute to the leadership of this FAQ group in an effective way 
without knowledge of and input into policy decisions. 

 
> So I wrote to you and explained that I couldn't readmit you, that 
> yes, it was a change of policy, and yes, it is our fault, not 
>yours. 
> 
> The first sign of any response was when you posted to the FAQ 
board. 
> You did send me a note. After you had posted here.

Yep.  

I do not wish to argue whether MEG can or cannot bar my return to 
MEG, so I did not dispute your decision with a reply.  Obviously, 
you can do as you wish, and you did.  Case closed, I think.  I 
believe that I can't help lead this FAQ group under these 
circumstances, so I advised the group of that.  I see no reason for 
you to be upset or peeved.

I mean, really.  I'm not just blowing smoke here.  I have no clue 
what you all are planning to do about list volume and post quality, 
for instance.  But those things do matter to the FAQ list.  So I 
would have opposed the abandonment of the elfing system in favor of 
ADMIN notices of the elf of the day, for instance.  I would have 
opposed reducing the number of posts needed to get off moderated 
status, because the FAQ team can't work if the posts on the main 
list aren't "fantastic."  As it stands, I heard about these policy 
changes through the grapevine and through watching the lists (and 
for all I know, my information is flatly wrong), and I can't 
possibly think about long-range FAQ issues and planning if I have no 
idea what is coming.


 
> Like Melody, I am sick of this. I think it's apparent to everyone 
> that MEG has had a major bust up in the last few months, and I'm 
> truly sorry that our nasty series of arguments is spilling out 
>onto FAQ. 

Yeah.  Me too.  I really wanted to keep this a "Modgate-free" zone.  
I hope we still can.  'Cause I think it is way past time to, you 
know, get *over* it already.

 
> And Cindy - angry as I am with you right now (because you could 
>have written to me, and I would have told you this) - you are doing 
>an excellent job leading FAQ. It is a working list, and we have no 
> intention of changing it without the FAQ members input and 
> discussion. 


I am sorry that you are angry, Pip.  But your FAQ list message to 
which I am replying did not contain any information I didn't know.  

The facts are not in dispute.  I cannot be on the MEG list until 
further notice, if ever.  I feel I can't help lead this FAQ list 
unless I have notice and input into list policy matters.  I didn't 
want FAQ members looking to me for leadership I was unable to 
provide.  My hands were tied, so I advised everyone of what had 
happened.  I don't know what else I could do except reply to MEG's 
very polite and nice "Thanks, but no thanks" message and try to beg, 
grovel, whine and nudge my way back onto MEG, which I was unwilling 
to do.

Dang.  Even I have some dignity, you know.

Cindy