Complaints

Make them where it counts.

I've been reading these forums for a few months now, and posting occasionally as seemed appropriate (or unavoidable), and I think perhaps some of us could use a reminder about a couple of things in regard to complaints.

First of all, there will probably always be something for someone to complain about. The two main categories of complaints I read about here are the sites performance and some newly released version of a Stardock product with problems. Much of the time the complaints seem to devolve into unproductive bashing, with lots of anger and drama, and righteous indignation.

Perhaps some people are just not particularly happy, and it spills out here, or are in need of releasing these kinds of feelings where it is relatively safe to do so (no one is likely to punch you if you are angry and rude).

If you are feeling upset and want to post an angry diatribe at "those site admins" or "those Stardock people" or whomever, may I suggest that it would perhaps be useful and productive to stop for a moment and ask yourself just what it is you intend to accomplish?

If there is a real problem involved, either with the site or with a particular piece of software, solving it may involve a little thinking on your part. For instance, who is most effective person to communicate with about this particular issue? And what is the best venue in which to do that?

It may be that a public forum is convenient and certainly many issues can be resolved with help from fellow users, but if it is a site issue then there are only a few people who can really do anything about it, and presumably they are busy attempting to do just that. It is unlikely that they are just cruising the forums to weed through and find the legitimate problems. An email to the right person can be much more direct, and is probably much more likely to get some attention.

The same goes for software issues. There is an established tech support email address for Stardock products, and I would guess that that is the most direct route to get attention to an actual (or presumed) defect in a release. Additionally, I think some people have forgotten that many of the releases that are available for download are BETA releases. That means they very likely could still have some problems. This is the nature of a beta release. If you are unwilling to deal with that possibility, then it is very simple to use the settings in Stardock Central to ignore them.

To summarize: If you have a complaint about a problem, and you want it to be effective, take the time to think about whom to address it to, and where, and it wouldn't hurt to give some thought to how (as in how would you like to be addressed).

Just my two cents.
8,611 views 15 replies
Reply #2 Top
  Well said.  Thank you. 
Reply #3 Top
Should be made a sticky .. (methinks)
Reply #4 Top
very well put, MD.....been saying much the same thing myself, just a bit differently.

Frustrating tho...the people who need it the least are the only ones who take note and heed the advice

Emails to the relevant area is definitely the way to go, but me still thinks a 'bitch tank' is necessary for those who, by nature must complain regardless and delve into the sordid. I for one would be a regular visitor....to vent my own frustrations with an anti-bitch
Reply #5 Top
Right on MountainDragon!
Reply #6 Top
One word explains it all ... drama.
Reply #7 Top
I couldn't agree more. . . . I also think think this should be made a sticky . . . of couse, we wouldn't want to start big ruckus in this article on that issue now would we
Reply #8 Top
~~I have been reading the past few days also. What I do is not LOG in ..that way, I have time to think over what I say. That way what angered me a few minutes ago..has not lost meaning.

One thing that disturbs me the most is the fact that when an inflammatory situation arises involving moderator(s) and a member, as things heat up to an unbearable amount of hostility...50% still continue to see which way the wind is blowing .

RE: Moderators reply...followed by 20 more " hell yeahs " and more insults tossed the way of the " other " party.

From what I've seen..Jafo , nor any other Adm or Mod need any help defending themselves. They do very well without help. The past few days , most could have been avoided if done in email.

Watching a hostile exchange between two people was painful enough. I found it disturbing because its escalated way too far.

Their comments were directed at each other...it would have been nicer to try to diffuse the situation instead of tossing more fuel on the fire.

Have a nice day all..
Reply #9 Top
yea i agree. take my article (Does Wincustomize need a make over) for example
Reply #10 Top

From what I've seen..Jafo , nor any other Adm or Mod need any help defending themselves. They do very well without help. The past few days , most could have been avoided if done in email.

Fairyy~  ....unfortunately, one of the quandaries we find ourselves in is the two options open to us.

1. we leave a public lambasting accessible to all...and therefore respond, again publicly for all to consider/appreciate..

or

2. we remove said 'issue' through comment deletion, and reply/resolve/argue privately...and attract greater venom through the process of 'censorship', fuelling the fire even further.

Damned if we do...damned if we don't.

Personally...as much as is practical, I've always thought public debate is more enlightening for all....[provided the gallery refrains from inflammatory interjection]

I always thought that public defamation requires public defence, and a private spat has no reason to be brought public.... so appropriate procedures are fairly 'clear'.

What is a clear reality of a public website of this size is that there is a huge diversity of people attracted to the community, each with different attitudes and standards, and the trick is to balance/juggle them all to 'fit' into their own niches, and hopefully not horrendously impact upon others to the latter's detriment.

By and large we do a fairly good job....I can think of a whole swag of places that are generally less amicable in a universal sense...

Reply #11 Top
Personally...as much as is practical, I've always thought public debate is more enlightening for all....[provided the gallery refrains from inflammatory interjection]


~I think that was all I really getting at. I agree that public lambasting should have a public reply. You know i'm not one to back down from my opinion...

But there are ways to add to the debate withoout taking a " side "

Sometimes a quick email or 2 or 10 can solve a problem before it escalates into name calling.

I believe our first public debate was rather nasty....since then you have shown me you are a gentleman and have always diffused a situation..in email. Not always to my liking..but..like you told me " sometimes its just the way it goes" Your right. Life isnt always a bowl of cherries.

But you can spit out the pits.
Reply #12 Top

But you can spit out the pits.

May I quote you?

Sheer poetry....

Reply #13 Top
[Jafo]

But you can spit out the pits.

May I quote you?

Sheer poetry...


Feel free...I make it up as I go along.

I think the entire USA has been in a heat wave. Americans don't fare well in temps over 90...

Suddenly I have this craving for fresh fruit.
gotta go...
Reply #14 Top
I think the entire USA has been in a heat wave. Americans don't fare well in temps over 90...


yes
need
..cool
....air
......need
........rain
..........bad
Reply #15 Top
yes
need
..cool
....air
......need
........rain
..........bad


I've been having the rain. It's 93F right now. I'm wilting.


I agree this should be pinned = but maybe with no comments and locked.

Last time I got in a 'discussion' with (unbeknownst to me {not that I always care}) some admins, Jafo's the only one who didn't yell at me. Gentleman... yeah, I agree.