Timeline for Firing Community Managers: Stack Exchange is not interested in cooperating with the community, is it?
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
82 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
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| Jan 29, 2020 at 9:16 | comment | added | Zhuinden | @user1271772 the trick is that this is not an answer. It might technically look like an answer, but it answers nothing. | |
| Jan 28, 2020 at 19:04 | comment | added | Selaron | Negative growth is some kind of growth. Good luck! | |
| Jan 26, 2020 at 20:29 | comment | added | Silicomancer | It makes me sick to read that post. I can imagine how sick you must have felt after writing it. | |
| Jan 24, 2020 at 10:50 | comment | added | BiscuitBaker | With absolutely no disrespect meant to Juan, who I'm sure is just the messenger here and doesn't deserve to take the brunt of the backlash, I wish I could downvote this harder. | |
| Jan 22, 2020 at 19:08 | history | undeleted | TinkeringbellMod | ||
| Jan 22, 2020 at 19:08 | history | deleted |
Sklivvz Travis J TinkeringbellMod |
via Vote | |
| Jan 22, 2020 at 7:03 | comment | added | Josh Grosso | Also, the last paragraph has virtually zero information content. I am insulted by that, and I suspect many others are too. | |
| Jan 22, 2020 at 7:02 | comment | added | Josh Grosso | "We’re seeking to align the company so that it can continue growing in 2020" At least they admit their #1 priority is growth, not community/quality/etc. | |
| Jan 22, 2020 at 0:40 | comment | added | Máster | I don't know if this is the propper way to say it in English but this is like "fire to whatever cross on the way" | |
| Jan 20, 2020 at 17:51 | comment | added | user1271772 | We also won't keep growing if you keep downvoting such a harmless answer by one of the only good CMs left! Way to discourage one of the last remaining good CMs! Thank you Juan, some of us still appreciate you. | |
| Jan 20, 2020 at 13:32 | review | Suggested edits | |||
| Jan 20, 2020 at 13:41 | |||||
| Jan 20, 2020 at 13:06 | comment | added | user401134 |
I'm truly wondered about how each answer from SE.inc on this matter is more insulting than the previous one. This statement here is on par with freedom is slavery and war is peace
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| Jan 16, 2020 at 18:02 | comment | added | Robert Ryan | But more importantly, rather than giving us words of assurance, start telling us what is going to change. And if you can’t articulate how it’s going to get better, then don’t tell us it will get better, because it won’t. | |
| Jan 16, 2020 at 17:21 | comment | added | Robert Ryan | Re the refusal to comment on the firing, it would be utterly irresponsible (and possibly put them in legal jeopardy) for a company to discuss the details of the termination with the broader community. That having been said, the last bit about “these changes are part of that process” is both insulting and generally ill-advised (you’ve now arguably publicly tied the firing to something specific, something you were previously trying to avoid). You should have replaced that last paragraph with words assurance and not tie it to the firing, e.g. “Regardless, rest assured we are committed to ...”. | |
| Jan 16, 2020 at 15:25 | comment | added | Lundin | @user56reinstatemonica8 I already dropped that link yesterday but Big Brother did not approve. I guess we shall meet in the place where there is no darkness... | |
| Jan 16, 2020 at 13:19 | history | undeleted | Journeyman GeekMod | ||
| Jan 16, 2020 at 13:19 | history | deleted |
Travis J jscs Journeyman GeekMod |
via Vote | |
| Jan 16, 2020 at 9:21 | comment | added | user56reinstatemonica8 | @bobjarvis check out codidact.org | |
| Jan 16, 2020 at 5:15 | comment | added | Jyrki_Shog9Supporter | JuanM You do realize that more or less the only community on StackExchange is the community here in Meta. I'm sure there are smaller groups communicating in chatrooms and such, but if you speak of community and exclude the crowd in meta... | |
| Jan 15, 2020 at 18:43 | comment | added | mxyzplk | You realize that they aren't going to show you any loyalty for continuing to carry water for their lies right? You could be next month's "tossed out the door for no reason" story. | |
| Jan 15, 2020 at 15:19 | comment | added | JonH | We should all move to codinghorror @jeffatwood's discourse tool. Maybe he can hire shog9? | |
| Jan 15, 2020 at 12:41 | comment | added | Doctor Jones | @JuanM, I'm so sorry that you're caught in the middle of this firestorm. It's a horrible situation that just keeps getting worse. I just cannot comprehend how SE manages to consistently keep making it even worse, it's truly baffling. Please know that the community is in a lot of pain right now, and none of this grief is aimed at you personally. | |
| Jan 15, 2020 at 12:17 | comment | added | ChatterOne | It's nice to notice that "out of respect for their privacy" comes from the same company that publicly shamed one of their moderators... | |
| Jan 15, 2020 at 12:16 | comment | added | Bob Jarvis - Слава Україні | Oooh! "Align the company"! "Investing in the community"! "Seat at the table"! "Keep moving forward"! And my favorite of favorites, "Part of (the) process"! These are fine examples of management newspeak, and I'm sure that SO's investors are thrilled to hear this kind of non-talk. KEEP.IT.UP!!!!! On a related note, anyone up for creating a public-domain version of StackOverflow? | |
| Jan 15, 2020 at 11:59 | comment | added | Raphael | I don't speak marketinese, but if anyone believes less Shog9 means better alignment with the community, I don't think they are very well aligned themselves. | |
| Jan 15, 2020 at 11:13 | review | Suggested edits | |||
| Jan 15, 2020 at 11:31 | |||||
| Jan 15, 2020 at 8:48 | comment | added | gerrit | @ChatterOne The socialist answer would be for the workers to seize control of the factory/company/means of production and bring them into public ownership ;-) | |
| Jan 15, 2020 at 8:44 | comment | added | Teemu | All this is unbelievable! Stack Exchange must have their own stephenelop inside the company ... Please find the mole, and give it to the community. | |
| Jan 15, 2020 at 7:59 | comment | added | ChatterOne | @Juan M You should visit workplace.stackexchange.com and have a look at how many questions there are about people complaining that the company they work for is treating them the way that SE is treating you. Usually those questions are answered with "polish your CV and go". | |
| Jan 15, 2020 at 6:50 | comment | added | Rob Moir | Please share with whoever sent you out here to face the pitchforks that claims about firing someone else for no good reasons are tough on the people doing the firing are extremely disrespectful to the people you’ve fired. | |
| Jan 15, 2020 at 6:49 | comment | added | geisterfurz007 | Juan, with all due respect: This only answeres one of the four questions given in the post above. Can the community expect answers to the other three as well? | |
| Jan 15, 2020 at 2:27 | comment | added | Scott Seidman | I've seen a lot of talk about making sure the community has a seat at the table, but very little evidence. | |
| Jan 15, 2020 at 1:12 | comment | added | jmoreno | I would suggest an edit: This is what I am able to share: As you have seen, today there were some changes on the Community Team. I am unable to comment on any specific current or former employees, other than to wish them well. | |
| Jan 15, 2020 at 0:54 | comment | added | EJoshuaS - Stand with Ukraine | Juan, I don't believe that you're behind this message, so please don't take this personally, but in all seriousness - is SE management trying to gaslight us? | |
| Jan 15, 2020 at 0:07 | comment | added | President James K. Polk | Please provide an example of "investing in the community", thanks. | |
| Jan 14, 2020 at 22:19 | comment | added | user651518 | @SebastianSimon True. I imagine he's taking a big hit with this. | |
| Jan 14, 2020 at 22:14 | comment | added | Sebastian Simon | @JL2210-SupportMonica Some of these users upvoting probably did so to signal “this is a useful post because it’s an official statement relevant to some of the concerns in the question”. A couple of the votes could even simply be cast to support Juan. | |
| Jan 14, 2020 at 22:08 | comment | added | NoDataDumpNoContribution | @JL2210 The upvoters just disagree with the majority. Maybe they even like the new SO. That's fine because a 100% vote would be a sign we are in a totalitarian system. Whatever one says there will always be somebody against it and that is okay. | |
| Jan 14, 2020 at 21:19 | comment | added | berry120 | "You all should know that this is very hard for us" - damn, leave at least some sympathy for the guys you fired why don't you?! | |
| Jan 14, 2020 at 21:10 | comment | added | code_dredd | "OuT oF rEsPeCt FoR tHeIr PrIvAcY, wE aReN’t AbLe To CoMmEnT [...]" The real reason is the same as why US companies in general don't provide employee references: liability. Companies seldom "respect" anything as a matter of good moral principles... and SE has shown it knows how to screw things over in spades, especially in the last several months. | |
| Jan 14, 2020 at 20:39 | comment | added | Jyrki_Shog9Supporter | You do realize that without Shog9 the StackExchange that I fell in love with is no more. If I had not given up my diamond earlier, this would do it. There's no way this place can thrive any more. I will complete a mission, and... re-evaluate. | |
| Jan 14, 2020 at 20:06 | comment | added | aparente001 | I would like to copy edit your post, but could you clarify, please -- when you say, "You all should know," do you mean we ought to know, as in, it should be obvious, or does it mean, "I want you to know"? | |
| Jan 14, 2020 at 19:06 | comment | added | C8H10N4O2 | "A seat at the table" like this? | |
| Jan 14, 2020 at 17:24 | comment | added | Trasiva | Damn @Juan M, they just made you punch yourself in the face and fall on their sword for them like that? They just played you dirty too, I hope that doesn't mean you're the next sucker on the chopping block. | |
| Jan 14, 2020 at 16:47 | comment | added | Boaz | @Juan We have nothing but respect to you and the rest of the team! You are the real heroes in this! The people at the "top" are the culprits. Sadly, the community has no way of talking to them. It's becoming apparent they prefer the scorched earth approach. | |
| Jan 14, 2020 at 15:36 | comment | added | CharonX | With "We’re seeking to align the company so that it can continue growing in 2020 " you mean "get rid everyone who dares to disagree with New Company Policy(tm)"... | |
| Jan 14, 2020 at 15:29 | comment | added | anaximander | "Align the company" being an age-old corporate euphemism for "make sure that everyone thinks the same, and remove those who don't". The nail that sticks out gets hammered down, I guess. | |
| Jan 14, 2020 at 14:57 | comment | added | JFoxx64 | Seeking to align sounds very strong handed. Take two long time employees who have helped through the disaster you continue to push and kick them out because they are not aligned with growth? That doesn't put you [The Corporation] in good light. But that hasn't really been your goal as of late it seems. | |
| Jan 14, 2020 at 12:52 | comment | added | Script47 | @DavidG that's precisely what it probably was. I highly doubt that both Shog and Robert did something so egregious that it deserved firing. They were probably looking to downsize and got rid of the folks who asked most questions or frequently pushed back with changes which would affect the community negatively. | |
| Jan 14, 2020 at 12:23 | comment | added | DavidG | What does 'align the company' even mean? It's horrible corporate speak that renders it meaningless without context. And without context, we can only guess that it means "anyone who disagrees with us will be removed" | |
| Jan 14, 2020 at 12:01 | comment | added | Tschallacka |
Translated: Symphatic opening, appear open, excuse about privacy so we can't indulge. Hopeful ending: change is afoot, we expect big profits and good growth and shareholder payouts to be bountiful. can be summarized in: Bla bla, standard managementspeak, we don't care, carry on being good money cows. But really we don't care, we're here for the quick buck, not for you the sheeple
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| Jan 14, 2020 at 10:08 | comment | added | Lundin | I'm not sure why everyone is surprised - with the community dead and buried since many months back, there is obviously no need for community managers any longer. | |
| Jan 14, 2020 at 9:39 | comment | added | user1306322 | The community is definitely going to have a seat at the table, it's just not going to be under the brand of Stack Exchange. I suppose there's a silver lining to all this -- through a series of actions, the company has inadvertently galvanized its user base to create a better alternative for themselves, ultimately serving the goals of the community in the second best way possible, despite ruining its own image and product. So a sad "Thanks for all the fish" to the company, and a sincere thanks to all the people who worked for the good of all of us! We'll see each other again on the internet! :) | |
| Jan 14, 2020 at 8:18 | comment | added | AliceD | Not that anyone cares about a Biology mod, or a Psych&Neurosci mod for that matter, but posts like this in the light of past events makes me feel I should step down as well. | |
| Jan 14, 2020 at 4:18 | comment | added | user2699 | "Out of respect for their privacy, we aren't able to comment..." - well, it's good to see one thing has been learned from this whole debacle. | |
| Jan 14, 2020 at 2:20 | comment | added | anon | That is the one of the most weasel-worded corporate statements I have ever seen. About as bad as "X has left the company to pursue other interests." Paid employees have to put up with stuff like that, but practically all of of SE's value is provided by volunteers. Do better. | |
| Jan 13, 2020 at 23:23 | comment | added | user152859 | I have one thing to say: you're growing in the wrong direction. Now I'm sure 2020 is the last year of Stack Exchange, and I'll be really sorry to see this company go. It was good. | |
| Jan 13, 2020 at 23:19 | comment | added | NoDataDumpNoContribution | Not sure if the departure of an employee and continuing to grow really fit together. My marketing speak detector went off on that. | |
| Jan 13, 2020 at 23:11 | comment | added | EJoshuaS - Stand with Ukraine | I'm completely baffled by this. | |
| Jan 13, 2020 at 22:30 | comment | added | Sklivvz | Nothing personal but this corporate approved copy is really unupvotable | |
| Jan 13, 2020 at 21:05 | comment | added | Ṃųỻịgǻňạcểơửṩ | Another batch of layoffs. Completely unfair treatment to the veteran staff out there. I will miss them all | |
| Jan 13, 2020 at 21:00 | comment | added | Makoto | I don't know enough about what's going on. My gut reaction is to disagree with this decision as both Shog and Robert have been, at times, the only employee we've been able to get within earshot at times. I don't know enough about what's going on to have a more logical response beyond bewilderment. I respect that you can't discuss more than this. I'll just...remain bewildered...for now... | |
| Jan 13, 2020 at 19:52 | comment | added | GhostCat | I agree with all the others: I very much doubt that a long term community manager would write such a message, especially that last paragraph. That is yet another excerpt from that book "The top 10 management styles to ruin your company and make you look like a soulless golem", written by certain other SE Inc. employees, whose names shall not be mentioned. So, downvoted for the message, not to humiliate the messenger. | |
| Jan 13, 2020 at 19:29 | comment | added | roberrrt-s | I'm sorry you're being used to convey this meaningless message. You deserve better. | |
| Jan 13, 2020 at 19:18 | comment | added | Luuklag | Also we can't blame you for non-existing employye protection in US labour laws. In Europe a "firing" like this wouldnt happen unless a hefty severance pay was included, which would make sure they didn't need a new job in at least 2020... | |
| Jan 13, 2020 at 19:18 | comment | added | NathanOliver | TBF we really aren't the community anymore. Meta/power users are a very small fraction of the user base and the community is now the horde of people asking for homework help. This is the meat SE is going after as they are generating the add revenue. That's the community they are building, unfortunately. | |
| Jan 13, 2020 at 19:16 | comment | added | mattdm | Is this the same "investing in the community" as this situation? | |
| Jan 13, 2020 at 19:15 | vote | accept | Anton Menshov | ||
| Jan 13, 2020 at 19:11 | comment | added | Luuklag | Thank you for owning up to your employers actions, very honorable of you to do so. | |
| Jan 13, 2020 at 19:11 | comment | added | Sam I am says Reinstate Monica | I'd like to reiterate that if you're just the messenger, there's no need to take the negative response here personally. But even so, you should, as the messenger, at least report the response back to SE management. | |
| Jan 13, 2020 at 19:07 | comment | added | laur34 | I'm no expert, but I have a feeling the vote count wouldn't be dropping like a hot potato if you wouldn't have included the last sentence. | |
| Jan 13, 2020 at 19:07 | comment | added | Pekka | It is all so mind-boggling. I mean, the firing was to be expected I suppose, some more flexing of the middle finger that's been extended to long-time invested users for a while now. No surprises there. But the scripted communiqués that follow these events are so bizarre, so obviously counter-productive and mean girls-style petty and antagonistic, part of me is expecting Jeff Atwood or Will to soon reveal everything that happened since October was a gigantic troll of epic dimensions | |
| Jan 13, 2020 at 19:03 | comment | added | John Omielan | @JuanM I echo the sentiment of the other people commenting here. I'm quite certain you're just the messenger, so please don't take the down-votes personally as they are against the message, not you. Also, I believe it would have been better to not say anything at all rather than what I consider to be complete nonsense like "we continue to be committed in investing in the community". I suggest deleting that entire third paragraph. | |
| Jan 13, 2020 at 18:59 | comment | added | Thomas Owens | I realize that this messaging is probably not coming from you personally, but I find it inappropriate and inconsistent. Removing Shog and Robert, who are very experienced and generally respected by the community, does not show commitment to "investing in the community". It shows the exact opposite. Whoever is writing this messaging come across as being very out of touch and, in my opinion, saying nothing would probably be preferable to this. | |
| Jan 13, 2020 at 18:58 | comment | added | Christian Rau | @Vogel612'sShadow That doesn't change the odd message people are criticising here. He's still an employee and, unfortunately for him, the one chosen to present that message, and receive its response. Otherwise make it CW or use one of these other SE tricks to mess around with the database if the legit complaints about this thing are too much for whoever. | |
| Jan 13, 2020 at 18:57 | comment | added | Rubiksmoose | I'm pretty sure you didn't write this, but this is a -1 from me and I'd do more if I could. The first paragraph I expected. The second is just insulting. If SE can ever come even close to finding a way to explain how these people leaving in any way helps "investing in the community", I will literally eat my shorts. | |
| Jan 13, 2020 at 18:57 | comment | added | Helmar | That's worse than "no comment". | |
| Jan 13, 2020 at 18:55 | comment | added | Mad Scientist | There is no way that firing Shog and Robert is in any way part of ensuring that the community has a seat at the table, it's the extreme opposite of that. I have trouble imagining a more cynical PR statement than this. | |
| Jan 13, 2020 at 18:54 | comment | added | Vogel612's Shadow | I want to ask the folks here to consider what position Juan is when they interact with this post. Juan is a valued member of the Community Manager team and Shog's colleague. None of this is his fault. Not even what he's allowed to say here. | |
| Jan 13, 2020 at 18:54 | comment | added | Anton Menshov | Nobody asked me: but being a VP in another company, I strongly recommend to reorganize marketing/legal/whatever team that writes or directs such statements. The decisions on community building – is another sad story. | |
| Jan 13, 2020 at 18:54 | comment | added | David DPG | Ya'll won't grow nothing without a community supporting you. If anything you'll get the remnants of which that community built. | |
| Jan 13, 2020 at 18:52 | history | answered | Juan MStaffMod | CC BY-SA 4.0 |