BigBlueBall 2.0 – What does the future hold?

I have a delicate topic to bring up but I think its important. Those of you that know me a little, know I thoroughly enjoy BBB, and because of that I want to see it be a successful site. There is no quicker way for a site to lose its good reputation than for anyone that carries the label of ‘staff’ to act rudely or inappropriately. The staff represents BBB and when a staff member makes a comment its naturally going to carry more weight than when a newbie makes a comment. A few weeks ago, I removed all my messenger contact information from my profile because a few members here made me feel uncomfortable by contacting me on yahoo, AIM, and MSN for personal chat totally unrelated to messenger topics or forum matters. This includes a staff member here who made me feel uncomfortable by revealing that he could ‘see’ which profiles I was reviewing because as staff, he had that ability. Because he could ‘see’ I was looking at his profile, he took that as an invitation to message me. Although this is harmless, it also seemed somewhat inappropriate for staff to do that. (especially repeatedly) I didn’t come to BBB looking for someone to flirt with, I came to learn more about messaging and solve problems. I remain because I’ve discovered a community of people with common interests and I love how people can rally around someone who has a problem and work to solve it. Its unfortunate, but this is one of those cases where one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch. My suggestion is that staff be reminded of their position as representatives of BBB in everything they do here and how it reflects on the way newbies will feel about the site. You guys ARE the site…without you its just a bunch of menus. (very nicely done menus, Jeff) By-the-way, I openly told the staff member that he made me feel uncomfortable by pointing out he could see I was reviewing his profile and using that as a reason to start sending me messages, he laughed it off with no attempt at all to make me feel less uneasy. I’ll remain at BBB, but I’m there in ‘invisible’ mode now and without the contact info that I enjoyed using at the site in the past. You don’t want this to happen to other newcomers.

I originally joined BBB, not because I IM, but because I wanted to see what my students (and kids) were up to, and to help them navigate the systems. I found here a great community of folks, very friendly, and a little clique-ish, but that’s okay. Staff should be together and have a good working relationship, and that sometimes appears clique-ish. Here is the type of forum I’m very familiar with, having been a communtiy leader (CL) at iVillage for four years. http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-sbfreebies is not my board, but one similar to it.

As you can see, there are only a few “folders” with individual threads in them. But the main thing we really tried to do was to develop that sense of community that kept folks coming back. Most of our clientel was moms searching for information on things to do with their kids, seeking advice on kid issues, and general venting of kid/family-related issues. Once they got some answers, we kept them around by get-to-know-you type activities and having the CL post questions to them to keep them coming back. The support system there is incredible, and after nine years I have some really good friends there.

My general comment (I’m not as thorough as some others) is that the main thing that causes confusion is terminology. That may be because I’m a newb at this forum and subject, although I do now have yahoo account :woot:.
I’ve had trouble commenting on news, and searching confuses me with the seemingly double search (one on the blue bar and one at the top). But everyone has been very helpful in helping me find what I need. And slowly I am learning the ropes. Everyone has been most kind, and provided just the assistance I needed when I needed it.

Thanks for a great forum! I look forward to continued improvement. But, please . . . stay the way you all are . . . friendly, helpful, silly.