talien
Community Supporter
> --- talien wrote:
>
> > User id: retromud
> >
> > SPECIFIC USER INFO SELECTED:
> > RM=retromudRetroMUD Webring
> >
> > SO=
> > Fav=
> > USER'S DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM:
> > Hi Gang,
> >
> > I keep getting snippy emails from the webring server
> > that chastizes me for not processing new people
> > added to the ring. However, I haven't received new
> > member email notifications in months. I've checked,
> > and I have that setting flagged. I've also checked
> > my virus filters, and the notification isn't there
> > either. Near as I can tell, I just never get the
> > join notifications, but I do get the reminders once
> > the submitter has lain dormant for awhile.
> >
> > Anything you can do to help would be greatly
> > appreciated.
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> >
> -----Original Message-----
> From: WebRing Support [mailto:webringtech@yahoo.com]
> Sent: Sunday, December 26, 2004 9:18 PM
> Subject: Re: Support Request: other
>
>
> You aren't going to like OUR answer any better. If you
> are relying SOLELY on notifications to "manage" your
> Ring, then you are very obviously not MANAGING it. You
> are simply processing new applications. That is not
> managing a Ring. Ring manangement entails so much
> more. You could:
> 1) Rearrange the order of the sites
> 2) Tweak the navbar (even if just the COLORS)
> 3) Change the navbar colors or update the description
> 4) Communicate current statistics to the members via
> email
> 5) Travel around the Ring using the navigation code.
> This will ensure there are no errors in the commands
> and that all sites display easily-accessible
> navigation. Not to mention, it will allow you to see
> if any of the members no longer qualify to be IN the
> Ring.
> 6) Check to see if any sites are asking to be Featured
> 7) Ensure there isn't a new category in the directory
> that may better suit your Ring's theme (or use credits
> to cross-categorize in the newer category)
> 8) Look at the global, join, and management settings
> to ensure there are no changes (resets to default) or
> new options added
> 9) Check all of management for new features and
> enhancements. We're up to things all the time here.
>
> But if all you want to do is process submissions, you
> aren't managing the Ring and should consider turning
> it over to someone who WILL give 100%. At the rate you
> are going, that may happen without your permission.
> Don't wait for notifications (whether they arrive or
> not). That "excuse" doesn't help if the Ring is
> adopted out due to lack of management. In fact, if you
> ARE managing your Ring regularly, between
> applications, you are less likely to get warnings when
> apps are pending. In fact, you will be MORE likely to
> SEE them before they've been pending for too long.
>
>
>
> =====
> * * * * * * * * * * IMPORTANT* * * * * * * * * *
> 1) If you must reply to any response from us, absolutely keep ALL
> MESSAGE HISTORY INTACT and DO NOT ALTER THE SUBJECT LINE. Altered
> subjects will be filtered as spam
> 2) Next time try http://t.webring.com/hub?ring=ringhelp or
http://t.webring.com/forum?forum=ringhelp for quicker assistance with any problem.
> 3) If your problem could be answered through one of our help pages or approved resource sites, we will refer you to those pages to solve your situation.
Dear WebRing Support,
You are absolutely correct. I do not like YOUR answer any better. Who are you, incidentally? You failed to sign the email with any name or correspondence.
The utter lack of professionalism in your response, the ad hominem attacks, and the threat of revoking web ring membership merely because I pointed out what I perceive to be a bug doesn't seem to be a good business practice. If this is your face to the customer (a service that, while free, supports advertising and elicits donations) it is clear that the WebRing team doesn't put customers first. Does SimpleNet know (or care) about your conduct? Does your domain name provider?
When the WebRing team asked for donations, RetroMUD donated $200 on 4/8/2004. The RetroMUD team has always supported the WebRing team and understands the struggles of dealing with the Internet, especially a free service. We have over 40 members on our web ring. Unfortunately, the below response reflects very poorly on you (whoever you are) and your company.
Thank you for the advice on how to manage a web ring. None of the suggestions explained whether or not the lack of notification is, in fact, a bug. Of course, the only reason I reported the concern in the first place is because 1) the notification code worked in the past, and 2) it's an option for the web ring. I didn't see any disclaimers that indicate "this notification code may not work some of the time."
To clarify, "all I want to do" is run a web ring. There is nothing in WebRing's terms of service (http://dir.webring.com/h?terms) indicating that running a web ring requires it to be actively maintained. All this time, I thought using WebRing services only required 30% of my time. Had I known that it would require giving my 100%, I would have gotten rid of my pets (+10%), quit my job (+30%) and moved out of my home (+30%) into a cardboard box with only an Internet connection so I could allocate all of my resources to maintaining the rigorous standards that a Webring Manager should aspire to.
Whenever possible, I try to avoid making "excuses" about the poor performance of my Webring. In this case, you caught me--it's clear that by pointing out an error in the webring management software, I am trying to make up an excuse for neglecting my webring. I would send alimony checks to the WebRing team, but I suspect that you would spend it all on drugs...because you are clearly smoking something if you think the shambling car wreck of an email you sent (EMPHASIS and all) is appropriate under any circumstances.
Since I cannot bear the thought of having anyone else adopt all the members I maintained with my measley 30% efforts for the past five years, I have taken the ring out back and shot it. My abusive and neglectful practices only harmed the web rings I loved. Fortunately, Bomis has a support group for folks like me.
Best of luck in recruiting future members to the WebRing Manager Cult (tm). I imagine few applicants are accepted with such rigorous standards.
Mike "Talien" Tresca
RetroMUD Administrator
http://michael.tresca.net
>
> > User id: retromud
> >
> > SPECIFIC USER INFO SELECTED:
> > RM=retromudRetroMUD Webring
> >
> > SO=
> > Fav=
> > USER'S DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM:
> > Hi Gang,
> >
> > I keep getting snippy emails from the webring server
> > that chastizes me for not processing new people
> > added to the ring. However, I haven't received new
> > member email notifications in months. I've checked,
> > and I have that setting flagged. I've also checked
> > my virus filters, and the notification isn't there
> > either. Near as I can tell, I just never get the
> > join notifications, but I do get the reminders once
> > the submitter has lain dormant for awhile.
> >
> > Anything you can do to help would be greatly
> > appreciated.
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> >
> -----Original Message-----
> From: WebRing Support [mailto:webringtech@yahoo.com]
> Sent: Sunday, December 26, 2004 9:18 PM
> Subject: Re: Support Request: other
>
>
> You aren't going to like OUR answer any better. If you
> are relying SOLELY on notifications to "manage" your
> Ring, then you are very obviously not MANAGING it. You
> are simply processing new applications. That is not
> managing a Ring. Ring manangement entails so much
> more. You could:
> 1) Rearrange the order of the sites
> 2) Tweak the navbar (even if just the COLORS)
> 3) Change the navbar colors or update the description
> 4) Communicate current statistics to the members via
> 5) Travel around the Ring using the navigation code.
> This will ensure there are no errors in the commands
> and that all sites display easily-accessible
> navigation. Not to mention, it will allow you to see
> if any of the members no longer qualify to be IN the
> Ring.
> 6) Check to see if any sites are asking to be Featured
> 7) Ensure there isn't a new category in the directory
> that may better suit your Ring's theme (or use credits
> to cross-categorize in the newer category)
> 8) Look at the global, join, and management settings
> to ensure there are no changes (resets to default) or
> new options added
> 9) Check all of management for new features and
> enhancements. We're up to things all the time here.
>
> But if all you want to do is process submissions, you
> aren't managing the Ring and should consider turning
> it over to someone who WILL give 100%. At the rate you
> are going, that may happen without your permission.
> Don't wait for notifications (whether they arrive or
> not). That "excuse" doesn't help if the Ring is
> adopted out due to lack of management. In fact, if you
> ARE managing your Ring regularly, between
> applications, you are less likely to get warnings when
> apps are pending. In fact, you will be MORE likely to
> SEE them before they've been pending for too long.
>
>
>
> =====
> * * * * * * * * * * IMPORTANT* * * * * * * * * *
> 1) If you must reply to any response from us, absolutely keep ALL
> MESSAGE HISTORY INTACT and DO NOT ALTER THE SUBJECT LINE. Altered
> subjects will be filtered as spam
> 2) Next time try http://t.webring.com/hub?ring=ringhelp or
http://t.webring.com/forum?forum=ringhelp for quicker assistance with any problem.
> 3) If your problem could be answered through one of our help pages or approved resource sites, we will refer you to those pages to solve your situation.
Dear WebRing Support,
You are absolutely correct. I do not like YOUR answer any better. Who are you, incidentally? You failed to sign the email with any name or correspondence.
The utter lack of professionalism in your response, the ad hominem attacks, and the threat of revoking web ring membership merely because I pointed out what I perceive to be a bug doesn't seem to be a good business practice. If this is your face to the customer (a service that, while free, supports advertising and elicits donations) it is clear that the WebRing team doesn't put customers first. Does SimpleNet know (or care) about your conduct? Does your domain name provider?
When the WebRing team asked for donations, RetroMUD donated $200 on 4/8/2004. The RetroMUD team has always supported the WebRing team and understands the struggles of dealing with the Internet, especially a free service. We have over 40 members on our web ring. Unfortunately, the below response reflects very poorly on you (whoever you are) and your company.
Thank you for the advice on how to manage a web ring. None of the suggestions explained whether or not the lack of notification is, in fact, a bug. Of course, the only reason I reported the concern in the first place is because 1) the notification code worked in the past, and 2) it's an option for the web ring. I didn't see any disclaimers that indicate "this notification code may not work some of the time."
To clarify, "all I want to do" is run a web ring. There is nothing in WebRing's terms of service (http://dir.webring.com/h?terms) indicating that running a web ring requires it to be actively maintained. All this time, I thought using WebRing services only required 30% of my time. Had I known that it would require giving my 100%, I would have gotten rid of my pets (+10%), quit my job (+30%) and moved out of my home (+30%) into a cardboard box with only an Internet connection so I could allocate all of my resources to maintaining the rigorous standards that a Webring Manager should aspire to.
Whenever possible, I try to avoid making "excuses" about the poor performance of my Webring. In this case, you caught me--it's clear that by pointing out an error in the webring management software, I am trying to make up an excuse for neglecting my webring. I would send alimony checks to the WebRing team, but I suspect that you would spend it all on drugs...because you are clearly smoking something if you think the shambling car wreck of an email you sent (EMPHASIS and all) is appropriate under any circumstances.
Since I cannot bear the thought of having anyone else adopt all the members I maintained with my measley 30% efforts for the past five years, I have taken the ring out back and shot it. My abusive and neglectful practices only harmed the web rings I loved. Fortunately, Bomis has a support group for folks like me.
Best of luck in recruiting future members to the WebRing Manager Cult (tm). I imagine few applicants are accepted with such rigorous standards.
Mike "Talien" Tresca
RetroMUD Administrator
http://michael.tresca.net
