I have been on this site since it�s infancy (2008) and we have always worked very hard to keep the forum a place where people feel safe and welcome to come and share. As I see so many of the people that helped build and were so active in developing this site slowly leave, it pains me.
Lately I see people more ready to attack one another, clique-up , and mob certain members than ever before. This makes me think that perhaps, the norms and values of this forum are beginning to drift from my own--this saddens me. I try to tell myself that people are stressed with the fearful situation and lock-downs we are currently facing all over the world and I try to be understanding.
I have spent many years building and studying teams and teaching team development. I know the danger of allowing a small thing to fester into something big, a good team leader identifies these things and addresses them before they can fester. I don�t claim to be a team leader, I am far from it here; however, I have always said something when I felt it needed to be said for the betterment of the site. Teams can change norms and drift to another set--regardless of what a team leader does. In the end the team leader is just another member of the team after all.
I do not need lectures on the definition of politics, I just don�t want this forum to become split and start shedding skilled and loved contributors because it no longer makes them happy or comfortable to be here. If the team here finds our old norms should change, as is very possible, I can�t do much about it but give my thoughts about it and evaluate if it is still a team I want to contribute to.
Douglas steps off his soap box and waits and watches....
