Wanda Asked a Question...My Thoughts

In  my humble opinion, some leave because blogging takes consistency. It's not an overnight payday. Others have little patience for change and transitions and throw in the towel. AR is very different than it was in April 2011, when I joined. However, for the most part, the friendships have endured and we still get calls and referrals thanks to our blogging efforts. As an ambassador, I would feel badly if someone left because they couldn't find the support they needed, but one has to ask for it first. 

Good morning Kathy! I see your point. I also see a small fraction of abusers in the rain. Perhaps standars of conduct or limitations of usage could be administered by AR itself. Such as bullying comments not allowed. Or abusing the right to post a blog by posting hundreds in a day. I have heard complaint s about both of these issues.  Unfortunately, all too often, I have heard back "we are making that a priority" or "we will get back to you" when in fact, nothing changes.

Our society in general used to be one of community and selflessness. Now it is more towards codependency and selfishness. There are great people like you that go against that grain. In fact most of the AR members here are selfless. The minority here are selfish.  So, yes, AR has let a great many down who have left us.  There may even be someof us that could have reached out more often to help.  Overall, it is the minority of our members that are highly self serving that let former AR members down. Until AR is willing to set and keep standards and guidlines, that will continue to happen.

Hello Kathy and Thank You for mentioning my name.   I try to make new please feel welcome and encourage them to blog and meet others in the rain .

The question was asked after several members wanted to end their ActiveRain subscription Kathy. The current infrastructure problems may or may not be part of the request. Hard to get reasons when one foot is already pointing out!

We have a large group of professionals who help members get the help they need. We are not enablers or clairvoyant to reach out to know when someone is struggling - people need to ask. It's a small part of being heard and successful here in the Rain.

People leave for their own reasons, whether personal or professional or through death. Some, during their time here never post one blog or leave because they want to be coddled or think others will do the work for them. Still others are bullies or consistent pot-stirrers and eventually the exit door is presented.

My plans are to stay and my nature is to help to someone when asked and will continue to do so.

I don't seek people out but boy do they seek me!

If I can help, I can. If I can't, I might direct them to someone who can.

If they are simply whining, I won't respond. 

I don't want help from anyone unless they truly are capable of helping me.

Many folks want to be helpful to those who really don't need it.

Often, it's not for helping but for feeling 'needed'. 

Sometimes it's better to let people do their own journey . . . make their  own mistakes. 

The best teachers, leaders . . . are via experience and example.

Hi Kathy, 

The best way to help other members is to comment on their posts and answer their questions in a sincere way.  I only wish I could spend more time on AR.  There are a lot of great people, posts, and learning opportunities.

Kathy, you are so right. I find AR members incredibly helpful. I'm sure many of us have had life events that have kept us from being as active as we once were. I know my life has been in a blender for about 3 years. Once 2021 is over, I may actually return to sanity, but I'm not banking on it. 

If people are getting out of it something that is valuable to them, maybe they have a different path they need to take. Different strokes for different folks. All good :

It is a great question and I agree with so many others that blogging takes consistency and dedication. Many just recognize it is not for them.

Thank you for sharing this post with us, it really made me think Kathy...

We generally get out what we make the effort to put in. I don't feel responsible for people who disappear and I don't think it's necessarily the fault of the community. As so many have said, people come and go for their own reasons.  I've been absent a lot over the past few months simply because othr things were getting in the way - I wasn't finding time to write anything worth posting.

Hi Kathy! While I agree with you, I still do hate it when we lose members because they did not get their questions answered or the help that they asked for. I do feel some sense of responsibility as an ambassador for this platform when I hear that someone left because they didn't receive the help they requested.

However, if we don't know they're struggling until they demand to be set free, there's really nothing we can do. Just today, I spoke with Casey (one of the developers) and he has a gameplan already in place to prevent this in the future. He has one person responding to our support email and promises to be more responsive and follow-up as tasks are completed.

Hopefully members will continue to hold off inviting new members until the site is up and running at its full capacity. Fingers crossed it won't be that long!!

Kathy, I think you were the very first person to reach out to me. I was surprised and thankful for your encouragement.

Gary

People join and start to read of the successes members have and all the new listings that get posted and feel this will happen for them as well. After a period of time they may fail to see the same results or any and get disenchanted and disconnect to try a different method.

I will concede that there are less challenges available now than many of us had years back when the site started, and even a run through ActiveRain university can be lacking.

We can and do reach out to new members to offer assistance, but not always will they respond. 

There can be frustration for Newbies that post good content but for the rules can only post to Members only which will get them next to nothing for web exposure.

As the platform attempts to rebuild, maybe there will also be opportunities presented for Newbies to be properly guided to making it work for them as well.

Well said, Kathy.  Many of us reach out, mentor, coach, help, call, email, and comment on other members. We also contact others when we see or perceive a concern.  

That being said...It is not necessary to set yourself on fire to keep the other person warm!

Kathy 

Great post it did take me about 5 minutes to figure out the new format on how to comment. I think we may lose some but then again many do return in time.

I believe there was someone participating heavily in Q&A that left this past week.  He'd been stirring up some bad feelings with his accusatory questions.  What made me feel bad was that many seasoned members went right after him in a bully sort of way.  Sure, he was being a jerk, but if we learn anything in business, it's don't respond in like kind when someone is doing that.  Can't imagine any of the members that antagonized an already bad situation as acting that way in front of their clients, but somehow felt it was okay to do in Q&A.  

The lesson to learn is to not be snarky or rude to those who ask pointed and accusatory questions.  Silence is golden. 

In the end, it's not the membership's fault if someone leaves here.  

Kathy I agree with you.  I have been here long enough that some members lose interest in the site, others get burned out, and some no longer see a benefit to the site.  I don't think there isn't any thing we could have done to change that.

Hi Kathy as I said on Wanda's question I think people leave for many reasons and I can understand why this past 3 years of platform uncertainty.  As for helping others out, absolutely. I've always believed in being of service when possible and appropiate.

Wanda always asks good questions plus she always makes us smile!

I enjoy Active rain for the people who are here! I dont get bogged down with the things I dont like and I always miss the squabbles.. must be the Alaska Time Zone difference. However,  I always know I can count on the people here sharing information, answering questions, asking good questions, providing technical advice or financial info...some even share the heartbreaks of life and death  Amazing group of people in this place. 

People come and people go... but there is always someone in the Rain to offer encouragement, information, recipes, flowers, humor.and sometimes a hand up or even a shoulder to lean on.  Its a good thing!!