Gentles all,
I've been considering this for some time, strangely enough, although I was only moved to write this today. There appears to be a fundamental disconnect between the upper level administration of this board -- Lisa and Christian -- and the day-to-day administration, namely ourselves. This disconnect has put us in two fundamentally untenable positions: that of trying to enforce a policy [and interpretation of that policy] borne of ignorance of the actual state of the board; and that of being forced to choose between the policy and the health of the board we pledged to serve.
Bluntly, the board has degenerated into nothing more than a haven of hug threads and thinly veiled insults levelled by people so patently immature it's a wonder they're able to dress themselves in the morning -- the recent outpouring of bonhomie over this troll threat notwithstanding. And while I normally don't buy this rationale, I think it's absolutely warranted here: The failures came from the top.
Yes, Christian. Yes, Lisa. I'm talking to you.
Drew has repeatedly complained that there's a double-standard. As have enTranced, and Lil, and all our favorite little friends. And as someone who's read way more GenDisc threads than anyone should need to, I can categorically say they're wrong.
There is no standard.
Oh, maybe there is an official interpretation of the policy that sets some kind of standard. Fucked if I know. And that's the problem. Where clarity is needed, you revel in ambiguity. When clarification is asked for, you hem and haw and do everything to avoid actually providing specifity. [The clarification on the UA issue, though welcome, was too little too late.] The rewrite of the policy contained, as near as I can tell, none of our suggestions and became even less concrete than the original already-too-ambiguous document. You're fine with mods as long as they don't presume to have a differing opinion... but once there's a break in that precious conformity you seem to do everything in your power to squelch reasoned debate. And since you possess absolute power in this regard, your sandbagging [deliberate avoidance of a particular topic or thread in order to kill it] is alarmingly effective, patently irresponsible... and utterly disrespectful of those whom you have chosen to represent you and your ideals.
Well, I'm tired of it. I'm tired of enforcing a policy according to an interpretation I'm not informed of. I'm tired of enforcing an interpretation I don't believe in. I'm tired of the policy being used as a shield for the guilty instead of a tool for "justice", as much as an internet BBS can be said to be just. I'm tired of the policy being raised to the level of sacrament -- so much so that the new "rules" are virtually identical to the old ones, except without their redeeming qualities.
But most of all, I'm tired of not being allowed to make legitimate evaluations. I'm tired of not being given the powers to do my job. And I'm tired of uninformed judgments and snap decisions taking precedence over informed judgments and reasoned debate. This latest fiasco [added in proof: the enTranced one, now that we've just dealt with redcliff], although symptomatic and far too revealing of your thought processes, was simply the icing on the cake. I will not work for anyone -- either in real life or online -- who does not appreciate the work I put in, who dismisses my arguments out of hand, and who denigrates my objectivity without reason.
I'm funny like that, I guess.
I therefore tender my resignation, effective immediately. I will make a public announcement tomorrow once the troll furore has died down; I've no wish to give redcliff or his cronies another opportunity to attack. Should you wish me to recommend a replacement I'll be happy to do so, although I'm aware that my good word probably doesn't mean a whole lot right now. Rhys and Rov, I'm sorry for leaving you in the lurch like this, but there comes a time when a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. And this man's gotta go.
I leave you with one final thought, a paraphrase of a famous quote: We get the bulletin boards we deserve. And here's to hoping that, one day, we deserve a better one.
- Anarch
