[theme-reviewers] No More Private Off-listing Please (out of context)

[Sami Keijonen]

I admit it. It was me. I'm sorry but I didn't realize that I should not
write private emails. But now I know and lesson is learnt.

Could you give us a link to your theme shop site so that we can take a look.


On Sunday, 19 May 2013, Bryan Hadaway <bhadaway at gmail.com> wrote:
> I'm starting a separate topic for this because it's becoming an issue, an
issue I think that effects the whole community, but I can only speak for
myself. If you're not going to read the following and read it in full and
reply in-list, don't read it at all.
>
> Ironically, I got another off-list email of someone essentially agreeing
with me and saying they understand where I'm coming from (regarding recent
issues I raised in "Proposed criteria change for Commercially Supported GPL
Themes page" - I won't reveal their identity nor will I ever when someone
wishes to remain anonymous, though I don't agree with the off-listing).
Ironic because I didn't realize they went off-list at the time and my reply
was as follows:
>
> "Anything list related is fine by me being public, I think it's better
for the community because all these off-list private discussions is what
are in fact counter-productive in my opinion (within reason of course, but
I think this issue concerns others as well).
>
> Examples include people going off-list to take a certain tone with me
that they're clearly not comfortable doing "in front of others" as well as
several occasions where people went off-list just to agree with me because
they weren't comfortable doing so publicly.
>
> You hear people talk about ethics and other strong standards in the
WordPress community, but I see a lot of petty and unbecoming behavior.
Mostly if you can't stand behind your convictions publicly, those
convictions aren't worth a damn.
>
> I have no need to take conversations off-list because I have nothing to
be embarrassed about, I have a strong moral center and even if I'm wrong
about something that's fine, I'm very comfortable admitting when I'm wrong,
it's the best way to learn.
>
> Whether the WP community, my own business and online communities or my
real life family and friends, people always know where I stand. Tired of a
PC, beat around the bush, euphemism society. That doesn't mean that
politeness isn't important. But, it's because of our oversensitive society
that that line becomes blurred.
>
> Albeit, I should learn to pick by battles better, that's just the kind of
person I am, if I feel something needs saying, it will be said, even if in
vein.
>
> Yes, I had sent some inquires to themes at wordpress.org with no reply which
is why I initially raised the issue to the list a while back, to get some
community feedback, but never got any official resolution until now.
>
> I know what you mean, believe it or not, I skip about 90% of these
discussions. I really only chime in when I have something pertinent,
relevant or substantial to say unless I'm helping with a newbie question
real quick.
>
> I usually just go by the subjects of the email and delete every
subsequent email reply of those subjects that either don't concern me or
I'm not interested in/can't add anything to.
>
> Anyways, let's bury this dead horse. I raised some issues, Scott was able
to shed some light on them, back to refining the criteria for commercial
list eligibility."
>
> Anyways, now that that is out of the way, onto the...
>
> Bottom Line
>
> - If a discussion originates privately and want to go on to share it with
the list to get feedback, great.
>
> - If you want to contact me privately about something off-topic, great.
>
> - But, if a discussion originates in-list, agree or disagree with me
in-list, in context, publicly. That's how a community works. If you can't
share your opinion with me in-list and have to go off-list to share with me
privately so that no one else sees, I don't want it. It doesn't do me any
good in validating that my points have merit.
>
> If you agree with a peer in your community, speak up during the meeting
for the whole community to hear. Don't wait til it's over and come over and
whisper in my ear "Hey man, I appreciate what you said and get what you're
saying completely." That's counter-productive and the complete opposite of
how a community should work.
>
> I don't know what it is about the WP community, but people are so afraid
to speak their minds sometimes like they're going to get banned or
something. This is unfortunate.
>
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