Sorting

[weemumlessmngrl.livejournal.com]

I asked Kristi to let me post this on her behalf.

I know it was less than a month ago when this was last mentioned in the community, but guys? Can we make sure that when we're sorting people, we're setting a good example for the community? I've visited two of the four applications today, and both had some comment in there that I couldn't agree with. We're not those other communities, guys. We don't have to be mean to people - in fact, we're the nice guys, so it should be the other way around.

I know that seeing short applications is frustrating. As we requested earlier this month, tell them No Vote, then tell them what you'd like to see. Saying "No Vote" and a snarky comment does NOT cut it. It's not nice, it's not neccessary, and it needs to stop.

Also, yes, sometimes people might housebash in their application. If they've got the good meaning to go and remove it when people say something and the realise their fault, please do not harp on it. Especially if you're sorting well after the comment has been removed. Again - unneccessary. We all know that the comments get read better than the application when someone goes to sort. They're going to see what you said, and there's a good chance that they'll sort negatively because of it.

If you've got any questions, just ask us.

Thanks-

Meli

Comments

[princess-night.livejournal.com]

I had this problem when I was sorted a few weeks ago. My application was too short, and I fixed it. But before I had a chance to fix it, I got a few no votes. That I don't mind, its the comments that came with them that made me feel hurt. I couldn't reply to them (the no reply rule) so I felt helpless and stupid, with no way to defend myself. It was kinda like being tied down and having someone slap me across the face and then laugh at me.
Thank you very much for this post. I think EVERYONE needs to read it and understand that even just a few words can hurt someone. And only cowards do it when they know there won't be someone who fights back.

[weemumlessmngrl.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for commenting. I think people need to see that what they do effects people. We can't be brash and have people want to keep us around, right?

And I'm sorry that you were treated that way. This goes for you and everyone else in the community - if ever people make you unhappy, feel free to contact one of us officials.

[timydamonkey.livejournal.com]

Meli, do you think it'd be more practical to tweak the no reply rule for those occasions? I think that might help out a bit, if people can, well... not -defend- themselves (that'd probably turn into a flame war), saying 'I've fixed this, and what you said hurt my feelings, would you mind being more sensitive next time?' or something like that.

I keep bringing this stuff up to you and not Kristi, don't I? Oh, well, as long as it gets there in the end, and I just wondered what anyone thought on that suggestion.

[weemumlessmngrl.livejournal.com]

Haha, no! The suggestions you've brought to me are excellent, and I give them to Kristi. I know at least one of them actually got her to make a change. :)

I'll direct her to here, though.

[tangerinesidhe.livejournal.com]

Thanks Meli.

For about a week, people were actually leaving proper "No Votes" with explanation about what they wanted elaborated. And then they slipped quickly into old ways. I realized last night when I was casting a no vote that it was a bit of work to explain exactly what I wanted elaborated--but, hopefully taking the time to do so will result in someone making additions that will help me to sort them.

People sometimes suffer open mouth, insert foot syndrome. It's the internet, someone could write something with nothing but the nicest intentions and it gets misread. If they apologize and edit for any misunderstanding, do the right thing and move on. For real, we're not trying to be elitist in this community.

One of my favorite Gryffindors was someone who almost got banned from the community for making a mistake. Now she's one of our most enthusiastic members.

Sometimes we've got to look past the mistakes. If someone is bending over backwards to fix their slip, it shows that they actually care about being a part of this community. And that should be taken into consideration.

Destiny//Gryffindor Prefect

[weemumlessmngrl.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it was refreshing to see the helpful No Votes for the week that they existed! I think it made things go so smoothly and yes, they did go away, which is a pity really.

And I completely agree with everything else you said.

[karinablack.livejournal.com]

I think... and again- I'm new and I don't mean to step on toes by saying so, but I think the direct approach is going to be best, isolating and instructing people who are voting incorrectly or in an undesireable manner so there's no question "is it me she's talking about? oh god!!" *snurkle*

I've been putting reasons in with my voting, and so far I haven't "no voted" anyone.
Basically, I've listed the positive traits I saw about the person in the application, and which house I felt they best matched.

If I've offended anyone in my doing so, or if I've said anything that someone took offense to, PLEASE let me know. I would rather you gave me the benefit of the doubt and came to me assuming I didn't know I was being offensive than hating me and me never knowing why- Please.

I was talking to another new Ravenclaw, and we've both had EXTREMELY negative experiences at other sorting communities. I would &hearts to go into further details, but I'm guessing many of the same people on that community are also in this one.
I almost had a negative experience here with snarky comments followed by a no vote, but the majority of sorters were nice enough in explaining their no vote I went ahead with re-doing the app and trying again instead of walking away. I ended up contacting someone off list for more specifics and she was incredibly sweet and helpful :)

I hope I've done my house proud in my short time in this community, and I hope I've made it worth everyone's while with what little I've contributed thus far. :)

When I think that someone is going to get no-voted here, even if I can find cause to sort them, I've been trying to say something encouraging to get them to stick around and try again. It's so easy..too easy, to be bitchy and snarky. I honestly don't understand the communities that are so "3l33t" they push people away and discourage new members with what they have to say :(

Again, if this offends anyone, or if I'm going about this incorrectly, I would appreciate constructive criticism. :)

Karina~Ravenclaw

[weemumlessmngrl.livejournal.com]

Oh no, hon, you're fine. I wish more people would attempt to sort despite the shortness. That's what I do -- I hate handing out a No Vote, so I work with what they've given me. Might take a look at their journal if need be, just to make sure. It's a little more effort, yes, but it's worth it. Some people just aren't wordy, which might be why their apps are so short.

I think that it was your app that first got me to say something, actually! I remember seeing that and being a bit tiffed over it all. But it was just a post to my house, I believe.

Ravenclaw loves you, doll. Worry not, eh? :)


Meli

[karinablack.livejournal.com]

Worrying is what I do :)
I should trademark it *ponder*

Thanks Meli :)
@}->-`-,--

[amaelgreenleaf.livejournal.com]

I'm not one of the 'harpers' am I? I was just j/w. I don't want to offend anyone... =( Because I'm one the people who pinpoint what to elaborate on...and I think I leave a snarky comment here and there...sarcasm sometimes gets the best of me.

Mary//Gryff

[weemumlessmngrl.livejournal.com]

Oh no, you're fine. At least you were on the post in question. I think you phrased your response very, very well. :)

[amaelgreenleaf.livejournal.com]

Thank you. =) I appreciate & admire your honesty.

[nox-lumos.livejournal.com]

I feel that I may be guilty in this case, especially on the post I'm sure most of this is reffering to. But I did't want to list a lot of negative things in a comment, so I just told the applicant if they wanted to know why I voted the way I did, they could contact me and I would tell them. Is that an O.K. thing to do?

[weemumlessmngrl.livejournal.com]

Personal opinion - yes and no.

Yes, your comment was okay. Better than others, since you simply said for her to contact you if she wanted information on why she got a no.

No, because it's really not helpful. I can't imagine anyone actually IMing you for the information, because 1) it's a hassle and 2) they might feel uneasy with it. Would be much more helpful if you just told them, or, better yet, said "I agree with what tangerinesidhe said", or whatever, so that they at least have a clue.

[nox-lumos.livejournal.com]

mmkay, I will keep that in mind for the future :)

[tangerinesidhe.livejournal.com]

You love me so much that you're always using me in your examples.

XD

♥

[weemumlessmngrl.livejournal.com]

...I do that a lot, don't I?

It's because I can't get you out of my mind~~

XD