reply to post by intrepid
Wow! I couldn't have made my point better than this does. This is an absolutely perfect example of what I mean. Thanks! Just look at this post:
Strident, exclamatory, bullying, in-your-face.
You WILL comply OR ELSE. No exceptions!!! The entire tone is nasty. It's like someone is
standing in front of you slapping your face one hand after the other and yelling at you at the same time, like a Marine Corps boot camp drill sergeant
yelling at a hapless recuit standing at attention, the veins on his face standing out as he glares and yells repeatedly, the recruit expected to say
"Sir, yes, sir!" repeatedly, no matter what the subject, no matter what the alleged transgression.
There is an alternative. Not Exactly like, but Something like:
"Well, folks, the one line posts we don't like to see are those with a bunch of smileys and nothing else. If you make a solid contribution with a
sentence, you won't get dinged for that. And when you do complain make sure you have a case. You might want to actually read the T&C and make sure
beforehand. But overall what we would prefer is that you take care of your own posts and leave the rest to us. Concentrate on making a good and worthy
contribution. We'll see true abuse and take care of it. But we won't make a spectacle of it and sometimes things are being done and you won't
actually see it. So once again, concentrate on making good posts. Thanks."
Both posts say pretty much the same thing. One says it with calmness, respect, and (dare I say it) moderation. The other says it with emotion,
disrespect, anger, and what I interpret as an inflated sense of self-worth. Which post would you rather be on the receiving end of?
The more important question is why ATS condones this kind of behavior. Small start-ups often go through a period of wild growth where the original
partners scramble to keep up. When venture capital gets involved the company is kind of jerked to attention. Often, professional management steps in.
If the company wants to grow, it is forced to grow up and become more professional in how it handles its business, all the way from accounting to
PR.
One of the things that a company needs to do in this process is ensure that its 'face to the world' is seen as professional and mature, not wild and
unruly. Just like a small town out West that is growing into a bigger city. At some point it has to replace the tough old sheriff who kept law and
order by intimidation and a big gun with a more professional police force, one that is respectful and consistent, but still gets the job done.
Can ATS accomplish this? I guess we'll see.
. 