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Very odd that. I've been reading this topic with interest. Teacher is the Editor, yet you guys all seem to want to pile on him. As editor, isn't it his job to make sure things are neat and tidy and done properly? Odd thing here is that everybody seems to want to slag staff off instead of thanking them for the site.
I always wonder about the way people complain about how the site is run. If you do not like the site, leave. No one forces you to remain. No one forces you to visit the site. No one forces you to post. No one forces you to register. No one forces you to read any post. No one forces you to participate in any manner.
There are plenty of other similar sites on the web. If you don't like it here, there is probably a site already established that suits your needs better than this one. If not, it's not that hard to start your own website that you can tailor to meet your own personal needs.
Now don’t get me wrong. The above statements are not meant to discourage those who want the site to be a better place. I know Jim has been open to suggestions and added abilities and content to the site. His willingness to adapt the site to the input of the general membership has brought the site to where it is today.
Some recent suggestions, like the chat room (both internal to the site and external of the site), have been tried several times and for various reasons, failed. Other recent concerns, like the search function, had to be downgraded because of the draw on resources. I’m not a web-guy, but that seems like a plausible explanation to me, just don’t ask me to explain what it means. Yes, I remember the days when I could type in a username, or add a few key words; select a forum, and presto! Pages and pages of posts appeared. Oh well, I can live with the current search function limitations.
If you do not personally like the individuals that are staff members, volunteer to take over their duties. If you do not feel like you have the capability to do the do the job as well or just do not have the amount of free time required, try to recruit someone you think may make a better staff member. If you can find someone who would do this, volunteer to be their assistant.
If you do not like the job that the staff member is doing, try opening a dialog with the person by using e-mail or the private message system. Address your concerns with that person one-on-one. You are more likely to succeed using this method than you would by posting a complaint in a thread. Again, volunteer to assist the staff member or try to recruit someone who can help out.
If you don’t like the job that Jim Starkweather is doing, I recommend opening a civil dialog with him. You have to remember that this is his site. It is his private property and we get to visit and participate at his discretion. He has the right to allow access, or not allow access to any person for whatever reason; hence my recommendation using the word “civil”.
The site is like his own personal night club. Like a real establishment, if he did not have a staff and members, it would just be an empty bar. We make the site community what it is. And like a real club, if a person or group of people starts misbehaving, expect the bouncers to step in.
Sometimes the fight is between different members and the staff must step in to break it up. Other times the fight is between the members and the staff. And just like in a real night club, a fight between the patrons and bouncers normally leads to the patrons being bounced. If you don’t agree with the outcome, then go back to the fifth and sixth paragraphs and try to work within the system to make them see things your way.
Again, much like at a real club, if the owner or bouncers hear you bad-mouthing their club after you've been booted, don't expect to be let back in.
