Wary New Members May Not Be Trolls
Today launches the beginning of my second week here at WA and I've noticed a trend of posts that are somewhat off-putting. At first, I thought it was just trolls stopping in to perhaps inflict pain on those feeling weary or perhaps it could be the manifestation of their own wariness, having found this site after being taken advantage of elsewhere.
In the last two days, though, I saw a number of negative posts from people who are long-time members. Notably, one such person has a very high ranking here, which is what concerns me.
The culture here seems very promising. We all have a similar goal and we can all help each other achieve that goal without the need to feel competitive toward each other as we are understanding that the opportunity that exists cannot be outnumbered.
It is that kind, accepting and mentoring culture that I wish to participate in here at WA.
This is not a social networking site. It is a business networking site and we would be better served to act professionally when writing public posts. This is, after all, your business and your words reflect on you.
It is easy for me to accept that there are internet trolls, truly negative, hateful people, who will show up everywhere to share their negativity. They are easy to identify as they are making statements that I don't agree with AND they are not identified as premium members.
New people like me ask questions.
If you are a premium member who can't tolerate questions, don't be so quick to network with brand new users, however, if you truly are an ambassador here, folks, you have got to be more tolerant of the questions you are asked.
I say this in all sincerity. I have not been attacked for questioning anything here, but I've seen it and I don't think it fosters good will.
Further, when you share your anger about being asked questions, it's like an infection that spreads throughout the community and beyond...to transients who are interested and probably have something to add to our community.
Recent Comments
17
Very well put, John! Please don't be off-put by a few bad apples. For the most part, WA is a very positive and uplifting community. I know that the owners are very diligent at maintaining high standards here and when negativity is found, it is dealt with accordingly. Stick around, friend, you will see that most of us are eager to help and welcome you wholeheartedly. I do! Welcome to WA! Ask any question you will. I will try to answer it, but if I don't know the answer, I will direct you to someone who does or where you can go for help.
Virginia
Thanks, Virginia! The writer of the post that was bothering me the most has removed that post. there were a couple other statements read over the weekend that contributed to my decision to write about it, but those statements would have flown under my radar had it not been for this one.
Like I said, the post is removed. I am happy that it won't resurface later to start this feeling all over again.
I appreciate your words of encouragement. People like you (and the original writer of the questionable post) are the reasons I have decided to call this place my home in such a short time.
Hi John
This is a Business Platform and I work for many hours within the community helping people and commenting on bogs.
There seem to be more and more personal blogs appearing and also links to personal websites
I did a blog recently about the Rules and I feel the rules should be where everyone can click on them up the top of the page as people don't go looking :)
I always consider my answer before giving it as I love people very much and do my utmost to help out and offer encouragement to everyone I connect with
We are all grown-ups and I have seen too much rudeness with WA and I agree with you - This shouldn't be happening here
Great post thank
All the best
Vicki
Thank you for taking the time to read my post and for leaving a note! As I've mentioned it has just been a few posts over the weekend.
I hope that if a person is too tired to deal with questions by the end of the week, that they will eventually be able to take weekends off.
I guess not my business but I see some contradictions in your text.
You write "they are easy to identify as they are making statements that I don't agree with AND they are not identified as premium members." So the problem is that you do not agree with them? This does not mean they are wrong, does it?
Further, you write "If you are a premium member" and "if you truly are an ambassador here". But in the first quote above you said: "they are not identified as premium members." I am lost a bit.
After 4 years here I can tell you people help each other here, so I do not understand your own anger.
Thanks for your comment.
My post was about premium members responding to questions from new members as though the new members are trolling.
All new members asking questions are not trolls. Trolls don't ask questions, they make comments that counter the conversations that they enter.
The combination of them not being a premium member AND making counter productive statements are the criteria that I use to identify a troll.
We all can act as ambassadors here. I did not use that word to reference the ranking system here at WA, but the word ambassador is the right word.
Hi John. Great post for someone who's still in the first week and yes sometimes the community can be a bit daunting and presuppose knowledge.
In any community there will be advocates and doom mongers. I just keep hearing follow the system and it will happen and thta's what I intend to do.
Good luck on your journey
Thanks for the encouragement and for responding to my post!
I can't say I'm "well on my way" down this road, but I've started, I'm committed and cannot be dissuaded this early in the game.
Good luck to you, as well, Hannah!
John,
Nicely said. Yes there are those who will be negative where ever you go. Hopefully who you are referring of higher rank here, just had a bad day. We all have them from time to time.
Don't let that discourage you. I have found this to be a very helpful and encouraging community.
Jim
Yes Jim, it is, and I am not discouraged.
I am worried that this behavior has the power to discourage all users who have not yet reached their goals.
Personally, I think I would have simply ignored a user that irritated me until I would then message them privately with my answers.
Hi John, fortunately the WA community is vast and for every negative comment that is unleashed, there are way more supporting comments to ensure you get past the bad ones. From my side, if I am reading through posts and see a negative comment, I will always try to provide a more useful comment to deflect from the negativity and to provide an answer to the question being asked. After all, there is no bad question. If 99% of us present positive energy, we will prevail!
Gary
Well put John! 😊 Thankyou for sharing, although I am a very new member myself, I must say that so far I have encountered truly helpful and genuine community members that reflect the professional nature of this platform. Looking forward to a rewarding and successful future here at WA and wish the same for you.😊
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Hi John, it was an unfortunate situation that unfolded due to a member giving expression to something that obviously caught him at an inopportune moment. He should not have been so vocal about it on a public forum but this realization hit home and he had the good sense and grace to remove the post.
Please be assured that these incidents do occur in whatever environment/internet space you find yourself in. The good fortune is that they are rare at WA.
Thanks for your post and all the best to you.
Brian
Thank you for not only reading my post but for taking the time to tell that one of the posts I read had been removed. I went back to see that for myself, in case you were thinking of a different post.
I am relieved to know that the post that bothered me the most over the weekend has be removed by the writer. What makes that so relieving is that, while I know we all have a bad day now and then, sometimes I see posts from a month or longer ago.
It would be unfortunate for such post to just continue to resurface.
The reconsideration of that post restores my regard for that person and shores up my faith in this community.
Thanks again, Brian!