The e-mail situation is resolved. I didn’t get my messages back, but I’m okay with the result.
I’ve been doing a lot of work lately in the the Canoeing and Kayaking category at ODP. As a kayaker, it was frustrating to see such disarray in that category. I decided to make cleaning it up a project, and I sent a proposal to the editors in the category above (Water Sports). Only one of them responded, but we exchanged e-mails and I got the go-ahead. I’ve been doing a ton of work and I was really pleased with myself.
Yesterday I got a praise-filled e-mail from a meta editor who has done a lot of work in C&K over some time, but who isn’t directly responsible for the cat. I was really delighted to hear something good and tonight I sent a message back saying thank you. I also mentioned that I had made some other changes, and I just got a response that sounded really angry and said I shouldn’t have done that, and ended with “Please do not do this again. I must not say any more right now.”
This is the first time in more than five years this has happened. I have never cried because of editing ODP before. I’m stunned and hurt. I love ODP dearly but I’m scared I may have to quit now. I guess that’s mostly because I still feel the changes I made were the right thing to do. And if my way conflicts with the right way, then maybe I don’t belong there anymore. I don’t want to stop, but I’m not sure what to do in the wake of this letter.
Heya, do you use a specific program or script to post to LJ and MT at the same time? I want to start posting to both, but I want to see if there’s an automated way to do it…
It really sucks to hear that. I wish they’d appreciate people’s work more and not overreact when they dislike how something is done. I let myself time-out there, mostly due to lack of motivation, but partly due to not enjoying some of the people in power. If you really do enjoy editing still, try and reach someone for mediation or just to vent (or even just to let another meta know of the situation). Otherwise if it’s just not going to resolve, don’t let them get to you.
Hey! had you wait for few more days you would have surely got one from me too.