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    Yeah well, obviously the CMs were really good at one thing: keeping those volunteers who do all the work motivated and engaged. But probably one needs a PhD in sociology, or at least a Master in psychology to understand that. Commented Jan 14, 2020 at 8:32
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    The reasons laid out in this answer make sense and SO could have just said so, but the marketing speak posted instead is just unbearable. Also, even though it might be just business, it might still be the wrong decision. Without good community managers (and Shog was quite good at it) the community relation suffers. That might have long term implications, which might cost much more in the long run than they save in the short run. Commented Jan 14, 2020 at 8:59
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    @Trilarion Only "quite" good? Commented Jan 14, 2020 at 12:58
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    @AJM-Reinstate-Monica English understatement, even though I'm not British, I'm a fan of it. Means something between very good and spectacular. :) Commented Jan 14, 2020 at 13:11
  • @Trilarion Sorry, but being as I am British - the ordering is (quite < very < spectactular). Humourous understatement I get, but come on - Shog deserves way better than "quite". Commented Jan 14, 2020 at 13:16
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    @AJM-Reinstate-Monica Sorry, I can't edit the comment anymore. For the record: Shog was an outstanding, spectacular community moderator and I really mean it. And having made that clear it really fits into the argument I wanted to make here that community relations will suffer tremendously because of it. Commented Jan 14, 2020 at 13:21
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    If "just layoffs" is really the reason, as opposed to the Saturday Night Massacre that it looks like, it would really really behoove them to flat out say so in plain and simple language. It wouldn't help a lot, but it would make appearances a little better. Commented Jan 14, 2020 at 20:06
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    Then again, I don't know why I'm bothering to even think about improving the situation, let alone offering a suggestion. Commented Jan 14, 2020 at 20:48
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    @jscs they aren't going to want to provide any explanations that might hurt their buyout negotiations they're probably having right now. Commented Jan 17, 2020 at 15:31
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    There are organisations which exist today, which, if run as a conventional 20th century style business, would fail and fail rather quickly. Wikipedia is one very obvious example. Stack Overflow is not Wikipedia. But it's also not clear if the current attempt to transform it - apparently using some kind of shock therapy - into a conventional 20th century style business will succeed. Commented Jan 18, 2020 at 10:34