If you get it, share it
Approval???
I just tried to create an event here on the SMCDSM website for the Facebook Hack Night. I also just deleted that event when I got to the point where my event was submitted for APPROVAL FROM THE SITE MANAGERS. It turns out that we have our events moderated. I assume this is being done by whoever created the site?? I have an issue with this. I'm a grown up and I am perfectly capable of creating an event to promote my SMCDSM activities.
Social Media is our core topic. One of the core principles of social media is openness along with a do-it-yourself ethos. I wouldn't be making a big deal about this except that I have had at least 3 other conversations about this same sorta thing with other social media club folks and they have shared similar frustrations. The topic of those conversations centered on the activities of the group having a controlling flavor to them. Rather than have these closeted conversations that only serve to stoke negativity, I thought I'd try and have an open and honest discussion here on the forum.
I know of at least 3 other folks who share my frustrations - are we just crackpots? What say you?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Suzanne Hull on -
Guess I didn't know that events were being moderated. I think that if you're a member of the site, you should be able to create your own events and invite people to come...not sure why this is...seems like a lot of extra work to have these sorts of things moderated...
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Permalink Reply by Mike Templeton on -
Ben: I'm sorry the event creation process has been frustrating for you (and others) thus far. The moderation process was put into place when the site first started while we were still determining how and for what purpose the calendar would be used. At the time, user registration was also wide open, which led to some spam accounts being created.
Now that we've refined the user registration process, it should be easier to maintain a good flow of relevant events on the calendar. That was our only concern from the beginning. In a few of our planning sessions we had discussed allowing the calendar to be used to promote any type of social media-related event, and I think that continues to stand.
Given that event moderation is an issue for so many (though I would claim we've done an expedient job of approving events through), I will update the permissions so that any member can post an event. However, that being said, I'd also like someone to provide a short writeup on what constitutes an appropriate event for our calendar. It doesn't have to be anything extravagant, but just something we can use (perhaps as part of a club FAQ) that can help answer people's questions about what events will (and can) appear on the calendar.
Thank you for bringing this topic to the surface and discussing it in public where we can all be part of the discussion. My only wish is that the other three folks will see this discussion and trust that they can expose their views, opinions, dislikes, frustrations, suggestions, and anything else right here on the site so that it can be addressed. Afterall, this is my club, your club, and everyone else's club. We all have a say in how things are going down; the only controlling flavor present is that which comes from those who speak up about what they want. No one here can read minds. ;)
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Permalink Reply by Katie Ketelsen on -
Ben! on that note! share with us what FACEBOOK HACK NIGHT is! Is this tonight? I think I caught wind and am attending??
tks
kk
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Permalink Reply by Ben Stone on -
7 PM at Smokey Row we'll be hacking away at the Facebook Page for SMCDSM
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Permalink Reply by Ben Stone on
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I'm sorry for not explaining myself better. The folks I reference above that I have spoken with who have expressed concerns about control issues have not necessarily been talking about the event moderation. Rather, the issues shared with me have been about a broader overall tone in the club. The impressions they have formed of this group are not aligned with the open and collaborative nature of social media. These impressions have been influenced by many interactions and experiences. I share a few, but not all of these impressions. There is a balance between making things happen as an agent of change and stepping back and letting the group drive the direction of things. I think we could use more group drive now that the ball is rolling.
I was hoping that some of the folks who have shared those frustrations with me would have the courage to have an open and honest conversation about them and that was my intent with this post. If they aren't willing to step up, then the issue is dead and we move on.
Ben
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Permalink Reply by Trisha Hunter on -
Ben, I have a Ben to introduce to you at the event who is also an developer and engineer. This would be a topic for somoene not even invovled in the site if you want other feedback. I think as we move forward in the palnning stages we will be able to relese this.
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Permalink Reply by Claire Celsi on -
Hey all: I was in favor of opening up events from the very beginning. Sometimes the only time I have to post an event is Friday night or Sunday morning, and would like to see them appear immediately so I can cross it off my list. Mike, thanks for opening the event calendar, and I'm fairly sure that hardly any of it will be inappropriate. If something questionable appears, we can remove it and ask the person who posted it for more info.
Thanks, Claire
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