All across the internet there are people who choose to spend their time running various forums, wikis, servers and other groups. Most of them work without pay as they put out the fires of conflict, ban trolls and make decisions to improve their communities. There’s not much glory in it, but they do it for the people they’ve come to know and the people they want to know. They do it so they can have a community that cares about the same things that they do.
So first of all this column is a tribute to them: this is for all the administrators and moderators and guild leaders out there who put in their free labor for the sake of others. I have enjoyed being a part of many internet communities throughout the years and a good online space requires a good online caretaker. Sometimes they have to ban people, sometimes they have to punish people, sometimes people take their internet talk spaces much too seriously! How dare you ban me, I’m speaking the truth!
The point is this — there is at least one person out there who is grateful for the things you do, even though it can seem like appreciation is in short supply.
Not so long ago former Sedalia City Councilwoman Vicky Collins started a Facebook page called “Sedalia’s Voices.” It seemed to catch on relatively quickly, both as a way to communicate directly with an elected official and a place to find other locals to discuss the issues of the day with.
“Mr. McMullen,” Collins asked one day, “Would you be interested in being an admin for the Sedalia Voices page?” It was my privilege to say yes.
And it was good, full of interesting thoughts and bad jokes. But some of the best moments were when someone got the help, advice or guidance they were looking for from another member of the group. They were quick to help each other, but they also weren’t afraid to exchange some heated words from time to time.
And that’s where Collins started having some trouble. She started a great discussion group, and did a good job running it. But sometimes the discussion threads got very heated, very nasty and very long. It can be difficult to strike a balance between “taking down things that are getting to be downright offensive and stupid” and “letting it all stay up in the pursuit of ultimate free speech.”
She usually took things down when they had degenerated into name-calling and other nastiness, or when they were no longer inspiring reasonable discussion. The complaints seemed to be endless, and the drama was thick. After a while I imagine she got tired of being told how she should run her Facebook page.
So she announced that in one month she would delete Sedalia’s Voices. Some of the people took the opportunity to make their own Sedalia discussion pages so that maybe they could get themselves a share of the impending Facebook refugee crisis. Others made it clear they did not want to see the group die, and begged her to let someone else take over.
Collins could have deleted the group, and I would not have faulted her for it. I like Sedalia’s Voices, but it was her group and she could take it out of the digital world just as easily as she brought it in. Her group, her decisions, that’s it.
But she graciously agreed to hand the Facebook keys to me. She didn’t have to, but I am happy she did and that Sedalia’s Voices can continue under new management. We just hit 2,000 members the other day!
So if you’re from Sedalia and you’ve got a Voice, then go ahead and submit yourself for membership at www.facebook.com/groups/616532405121942 or search for “Sedalia’s Voices” on Facebook.
I want to hear from you!
