The fact that this discussion was even necessary is sufficient evidence that the company, not the community, is broken.

Users to this site should have absolutely no reason to even know that the company exists. The presence of a corporate structure to keep the site running and moving in the right direction should be totally transparent to the users. The fact that we are now discussing the company, because of actions that it took, and other actions that it didn't take, is a sign that the company itself is broken.

Back in the day before digital cinema projectors became a thing, I used to handle quite a bit of film. Film was tricky and finicky. If the humidity got a bit too low (happens easily in the winter up north), static electricity would cause it to clump together and get stuck. The inevitable projection system shutdown would ensue, often accompanied by a nicely-melted frame of film. This happened before the eyes of the audience. Their immersive movie experience had been disrupted by my failure to monitor and maintain steady control of the environment.

Needless to say, this ruins the movie. It's horrible when it happens. It's the worst thing that can happen to you as a projectionist. You had one job!

The company here is similar to a projectionist at a theater. If they do their job correctly, you won't notice that they exist. Conversely, if you have to think about the company, or pay any attention whatsoever to it, the experience has already been ruined. I would encourage the company, and its CEO to see itself this way.

It was not my job as the projectionist to engage with the audience. They didn't need to know I existed, and I preferred it that way. Doing my job competently, professionally, and with promptness ensured that their movie experience was seamless and immersive. It must be the same with the Stack Exchange company.

The fact that this discussion was even necessary is sufficient evidence that the company, not the community, is broken.

Users to this site should have absolutely no reason to even know that the company exists. The presence of a corporate structure to keep the site running and moving in the right direction should be totally transparent to the users. The fact that we are now discussing the company, because of actions that it took, and other actions that it didn't take, is a sign that the company itself is broken.

Back in the day before digital cinema projectors became a thing, I used to handle quite a bit of film. Film was tricky and finicky. If the humidity got a bit too low (happens easily in the winter up north), static electricity would cause it to clump together and get stuck. The inevitable projection system shutdown would ensue, often accompanied by a nicely-melted frame of film. This happened before the eyes of the audience. Their immersive movie experience had been disrupted by my failure to monitor and maintain steady control of the environment. Needless to say, this ruins the movie.

My job was to run the equipment. It was not my job to decide what movies to play, or what was in the movies, or to cut it down to save a few minutes, or not to play it because I deemed the content to be too raunchy in nature. My sole purpose as a projectionist was to make sure that the steady machinery of the film system advanced at 24 frames per second from the first frame of the first preview to the last frame of the MPAA logo following the end credits, so those who cared to view it could do so without thinking about me.

The company here is similar to a projectionist at a theater. If they do their job correctly, you won't notice that they exist. Conversely, if you have to think about the company, or pay any attention whatsoever to it, the experience has already been ruined. I would encourage the company, and its CEO to see itself this way.

It was not my job as the projectionist to engage with the audience. They didn't need to know I existed, and I preferred it that way. Doing my job competently, professionally, and with promptness ensured that their movie experience was seamless and immersive. It must be the same with the Stack Exchange company.