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Salvius
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« on: August 30, 2005, 07:38:47 AM » |
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Hi folks.
So what is this all about. Well, through the years, I've been criticized for not being "accessible" and/or "understandable" to many people - as if I was on a pedestal somewhere and unreachable. I've taken steps in the past 7 years to correct this, but of course, the larger Double Exposure gets, the more difficult it is.
Double Exposure has TWO main strengths. One is the absolute way in which my vision permeates everything we do. The second is the way in which I and through proxy other senior staffers promote and encourage the community. I have seen many other groups who attempt to be "businesses" and never realize that it is the community of the group which will ultimately dictate its success of failure, never the corporate direction.
This latter policy leads to advantages and disadvantages. Advantages are obvious - for example, through the 17 years in which Double Exposure has been around, I am responsible for scores of close friendships, relationships, and even marriages - I'm very proud of that, and many people have fond memories of how they met because of me. The less-obvious disadvantages center around the democratic way in which the group operates - free speech allows for dissent and negative criticism. My goal has always been to address criticism, never to squelch it, as long as it is reasonable and has basis in fact. Sometimes I've failed at that, but most times I've succeeded.
Which brings me back to the point of this board. See, I have always enjoyed sharing my thoughts and engaging in debate with the people of DE; the problem is that there was no way to do it through Yahoo groups - Surely you remember the tone of my newsletters last year - it was done in such a way as to encourage feedback, but feedback was not practical. The reason for this is that a single Yahoo Group such as dexposure, or even avatar-ooc was linear - meaning that if I sent out something to the group, everyone would be forced to get it. And while I'm sure that there many of you who would have enjoyed reading my ramblings, I'm equally sure that there are many of you who would not, and be very tempted to leave the group to avoid them - hence giving up the important announcements as well.
And so we now have a forum. And this forum has one outstanding benefit over any yahoogroup - people can CHOOSE what they read. So I can feel free to ramble in this board and you can feel free to ignore it or read it at your whim. And nobody has to give up the important stuff.
My purpose here is very simple. To think out loud on whatever I am currently mulling, and to share those thoughts with anyone who is interested. I belive that this process will bring me closer to some of you, and make me more understandable, and in so doing, hopefully foster an even tighter community - no matter how big Double Exposure gets.
Feel free to comment on ANYTHING I post here, even to call me a raving lunatic. Oh wait, that would be a compliment.
Your thoughts?
>>>Vinny
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