Posted by Dinah on December 30, 2008, at 21:36:14
In reply to Re: trying to figger what works, posted by Dr. Bob on December 30, 2008, at 2:08:48
> Dinah, I consider your best to be better than good enough, and I request not that you step down, but that you stay.
Thank you, Dr. Bob. I do appreciate your saying that.
> I'm also concerned about lines being drawn between posters with and without deputy roles. Both have ups and downs, sometimes feel bad or put upon, want Babble to be supportive, can and do help Babble to be supportive, sometimes get more than they bargained for, and feel mystified by me. That's my impression, at least.
>
> I'm definitely still trying to figger what works. One challenge is that this place keeps evolving. The community evolves, and our roles -- my role, the role of deputies, and the role of posters -- all evolve. And change is hard. But can lead to growth and development, too.
>
> I do think I may have made it harder for the deputies -- which I regret -- by hoping that they would manage the boards like I did. Maybe that made sense when we started. But with the growth and development since, and with me stepping back, it may be time for me to try to empower them to be more autonomous. And at the same time to support them by backing them up.Well, I have mixed feelings about that. I hope I make the same choices you make as well, and I prefer to have you set the overall rules and monitor the deputy enforcement of those rules. I suspect that you're wanting us to feel more empowered to act without waiting for your input, which I understand from a practical point of view. However, I have always been happy not to be moderator of this site, but rather your deputy. I've never been overly fond of the evolving role of the deputy, and I would be more unhappy to think you weren't overseeing us to act as you would act than I would being given the freedom to act autonomously. I've always been relatively clear about that. If you wish to step back from day to day direct involvement of the board to more of a supervisory role of deputies, it's not what I prefer obviously, but I accept it.
I don't *think* you're proposing more than that, and I wouldn't be comfortable with more responsibility than that.
But yes, I do think there are times when a more visible show of support for deputy actions by you would be helpful. If only to show that you are aware of your responsibility for the board and for our actions, and that you are aware of our actions, and that ultimate responsibility and any blame involved lie with you.
My preference would be that if you are taking more of a supervisory than a direct day to day primary involvement role, that the traditional chain of command be applied to the Administrative Board. That you would check here periodically to review poster suggestions, etc. and that posters feel free to make complaints about deputies directly to you, with your agreement to take on the responsibility of reviewing and responding to those as you see fit. Because we are posters first, who have agreed to help you. Responsibility remains in your hands, which is where it belongs, and any changes that need to be made, should the deputy system remain, should be made in such a way to reflect that reality.
That's just my own point of view, and may not reflect that of other deputies.
poster:Dinah
thread:870417
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20081228/msgs/871526.html