With the recent technical difficulties that seem to be running rampant here at our fair-weathered community site, my observations have left me feeling like I've been toxically overloaded. There have been few articles from the powers that be from Gather that have disappointed and left so many feeling like they have been caught in the crosshairs of a warzone, that it is literally making many of our "friends" here ILL.
Many choose oblivion to such matters, while others are in the thick of a great session in outing whom they believe to be perpetrators in these incidences, without naming names, of course as that goes against "our" rules of conduct. Some here are privately writing emails to one another, others are choosing off-site communications because they fear being reprimanded by those nestled safely in their offices in Massachusetts, who have chosen not to elaborate or admit to making some seriously bad choices in their managerial skills or lack thereof.
A failure to communicate with members of this 'friend', 'family' and 'colleague' community until forced with real life issues of copyright infringement, blatant thievery, defamation of character and hacking has been Gather's downfall and evidentiary to axing our "Guide" program, who actually performed some serious miracles in communicating with members, new and old, how to navigate the site (better than the FAQ pages), how to alleviate stalkers, unauthorized spammers, mass emails, blocking members, joining groups, connecting to people and more importantly became our friends, who actually cared about what we were experiencing whether negative or positive and made sure we were content with what they had offered as sincere advice.
The people that carry various 'titles' of administration here at Gather, based solely on my personal observations have appeared (not literally, of course) rather condescending, uncommunicative, dishonest, sabotaging, selfish, evasive, hypocritical, mean-spirited and duplicitous in what matters to our community and the importance of this site to so many that depend upon it to connecting, networking and finding real friendships that have inspired phone calls, face-to-face meetings and snail-mail exchanges. Apparently, smiling while being two-faced and stabbing people that have achieved what this 'community' is supposed to be about, are the intentions and goals for those simply watching from the sidelines of the East coast, while cashing their paychecks each week. Maybe they detest their positions of supposed service, maybe they feel superior, or could they be jealous or insecure because of the success of so many here that have created real bonds, friendships and family connections?
Nothing hurts more than to learn that you have been betrayed by someone you trusted, and as Confucius declared, "It is shameful to befriend someone while concealing a grudge", this is something that I would expect from other sites, and I most certainly did not expect it from here. I do not appreciate the changing of rhetoric or responses to members to depending upon what 'they' think we need to hear, nor do I particularly care for using confidences against others when the mood strikes or when anyone least expects it.
In closing, I'd like to know what is really going on behind the scenes at Gather, has the initial intentions behind the idea of this site changed completely, is it all about money, does management need a spring cleaning, is the company being bought out or taken over by a new corporation with a new agenda, are all these 'upgrades' for the members' benefit or to gain more advertisers, or to more closely monitor us?
And, since the Gather Guides are no longer available to answer these questions on Gather's behalf, I would expect those who sit quietly with salt in their eyes and sugar on their lips to produce some answers to the afore mentioned questions - I'm not looking for supportive or placating answers, I'm seeking the truth and some serious admissions with a sense of remorse for some really thoughtless and mindless choices that have deeply affected us all.
©TK Rosevear 2008
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Comments: 138
I just don't get that Gather cares too much about quality of service. I do get that they are ineffective and incapable, and someone else needs to be running the show.
Great Article and now we wait to hear the response...
"Halloo?"(calling into the deep pit).. "Halloo?" .Looks like nobody's home..<:(
Thanks Cheryl, I miss you guys' contributions...
Ernie, I have not even been here a year...
Jennifer, had I not been blasted to cyberspace consistently since the last upgrade/downgrade - it was difficult for me to ignore.
Thanks Kathleen ;) We shall see - the email was sent to pam & tom????
Judi - I am a "JUST SAY KNOW" kind of person and it disturbs me to no end when my friends are treated disrespectfully...
Thanks Vivian ;)
Thanks B Sparks for the support & connect ;)
Liz, Gather 'graduated' the guide program - LOL - then gathered interest for a new crew, then axed it all together - apparently playing with the idea of some "guthrie" program??? If I had a straight answer I'd tell you...
Rev Brad, thanks for pointing that out had not noticed - 'twas gremlins, have people appearing that I had not approved and just now noticing old ones disappearing???
Yes Maam Shiela, in the words of Pink Floyd - "Is anybody out there?"...
Mike, not much of a biter til someone messes with a friend or family member ;)
Michelle, if I get 'reprimanded' for this I do have some back-up, I also am (or was) comfortable with the format here - but, I certainly do not like being placated!
Thinks worked fine (and I have always been on DSL) at first, then many months ago this problem appeared ... I worked with the tech people (support) at Gather then but they had little to offer back, Kevin who I believe became later a "guide" did his best and then I never heard back from anyone during repeated requests for assistance ... I finally commented on an article that one of the front office people wrote and mentioned my plight ... then I suddenly heard back from the tech guy I had been dealing with who had a very nasty tone as if accusing me of getting him in trouble, "how dare I" ... but then he never bothered to help or communicate again either ...
Finally, months later, Chuck at Gather support took an interest and has been very nice and helpful ... but he must pass the required information up to tech dept heads ... and they seem to be not much help either ...
At xmas time I got on my son-in-laws computer in a different twin and everything worked fast just as it used to on mine at home. I came home and kept trying to get help wherever I could find it, even bought a new computer to add to my network to no avail. Tried everything I could think of and that was recommended ... I had one half of a day almost two months ago when all worked really good ... then back to bad.
Then about the time that we had all of the pictures disappearing problem (I had that also but no 'other' problems that so many were having) I was thankful because my ongoing "slowness" problem again cured itself ... I had one week from Sunday until last Sunday when my system on both computers worked wonderfully "speed wise" ... now it is slow again (and I even had a tech guy come out and tell me the problem was not my own ... it was somewhere between Gather and my local ISP (and both had been told just days before the problem had went away for 7 days ... now it has become a case of "pass the buck" again it seems ... I still have some faith in Chuck at Gather though as he says he is sticking buy me ...
But I will soon be taking my leave from here IF things do not get better ... I wonder if my near 10,000 points will still have any value by then ?
I cannot even picture how people with only dial-up connections cope ...
Thanks at least for the opportunity to rant a bit ...
You place so neatly on the table what so many have felt for so long yet unfortunately do not have your talent for putting into words what is within their hearts.....as my mother is fond of saying "you read my mail"....and you read every single word.
thank you T.K. for this article....I will be forewarding a link to this to my connections as I have a feeling it is an article that many will want to weigh in on. God bless and I echo what was said before by Kathleen M......", TK! You've said it all. Now will Gather listen?
I have been occasionally disappointed when I am so often asked to comment on someone's article to help them get a gift card knowing that I do not have the same privileges even though I put a lot of time into the site. I have run across articles by very upset members, lost and confused because their work has been stolen and wondered why Gather has not jumped immediately down the throats of the brazen perpertrators.
Worse, when I was blocked from Gather because of a glitch, although I wrote otherwise, I privately felt that Gather Support was not terribly interested until my American connections made a fuss about my situation. I felt that over 12 months of continued support of the site I deserved a little more respect than was shown to me.
I shall not leave Gather because I truly enjoy the site, but I also hope that management sits up and takes notice that when glitches, thievery and cyberbullying occurs that they lose the support of many of their members; without who, there would be no Gather at all.
I suspect that what is at the root of the troubles here is exactly as it was on the other site... The love of money.
As far as this site being here only to serve the people who come here, with no thought of profit, growth or business structure, I don't think that is the case at this online community or of many online communities. There are ads here and they are here for a reason. If people want to come here, the business realities are a part of the whole picture. Perhaps that is not how Gather started - again, I do not know, so forgive my lack of historical context and knowledge here.
But right now, this site is a community and communities do grow, change and evolve. The management of this site has the right to make decisions that people like or dislike. Members of the community can then choose to stay or go. I write this from the perspective of someone who has been a member of other communities, seen them change in negative directions and simply left. People support sites or not with their presence and posts.
I like Gather - still. I intend to stick around. At the same time, I grew attached to many of the Guides and will miss them. That is the reality of where I am coming from.
If you look at computer viruses as an example, it makes sense. Why would a nefarious hacker go to all the trouble to cause problems in the tiny Apple Macintosh or Linux community when there is the big old Microsoft Windows environment to mess with? The xanga blogosphere never had the problems that myspace and now gather seem to be experiencing. It always was a smaller community.
For the time being, I like getting paid to write, and having a place to write.
Also I wonder why my friend number sometimes changes several less in number at least every three days. I don't like to think that that many people have dropped me. Indeed I do occasionally have a former Gather friend write to me and ask why we aren't connected any more. I think it is another issue at Gather that is causing the friends to disappear from ones list of connections.
Also the reason most of my work is elsewhere, as well as most of my friends.
(ps) Is THIS is what its like to be grown up?
Now let's get down to the REAL issues. TPTB lied to the Guides. TPTB lied ABOUT the Guides. TPTB lied to us, the members, not only about the Guides but about a number of other issues as well. The only question is, what are we as members going to do about it?
I doubt that many people have noticed, but my choice has been not to use the site except on the rare occasion when I have been sent an email by one of my connections bringing something to my attention that I feel requires my presence here, generally something regarding this problem. I don't click on the ads as I once faithfully did every single day, and I try not to add to their "hits" stats any more than absolutely necessary.
Regardless of what anyone may think, these sites are created and maintained for one reason: to generate income. They do this by demonstrating to their advertisers that they can attract enough views by the public of their ad content to justify expenditure of money to keep the content on their website. When the number of "hits" sharply drops and STAYS down, the ad-driven income will drop. When the income drops, TPTB will start listening in order to insure their own survival. Until it does, they have no incentive to care what the members think. Until there is unity of the membership, which I cannot believe, nor do THEY believe, will ever happen, that forces them to listen I can tell you now that we can sit and bemoan our fates to the heavens and it will be simply something for us to do while we sit and wait for changes that will never come. They know that the chances are very, very good....overwhelmingly good....that we will never become a united group that demands change and has the muscle behind it to force said change. Meanwhile, they sit in Boston and collect their paychecks and pretty much do what they want because there is no one with enough muscle to force them to do anything else.
Wake up and grow up, folks. As Alison Pearce said:
"I shall not leave Gather because I truly enjoy the site, but I also hope that management sits up and takes notice that when glitches, thievery and cyberbullying occurs that they lose the support of many of their members; without who, there would be no Gather at all. "
Would any of you tell me exactly WHY TPTB would "sit up and takes notice that when glitches, thievery and cyberbullying occurs that they lose the support of many of their members; without who, there would be no Gather at all"? Better yet, tell me why, precisely, they possibly should?
Many of us have asked this question for years. When we received no answer to the question and it was obvious that the answer was yes, we asked for a statement of purpose and didn't receive that either. They've given us mixed messages all along. I don't expect that will change, because I think they want to be everything to everybody, even when those 'things' conflict.
Thanks for sending me your article... which was very pointed and well written. I see that you have multiple questions about Gather, Gather management, decisions that were made about the Guide program, recent technical glitches, copyright concerns, and so on... I don't really know where to begin. Can you help me out here? I'll try to answer point by point.
Come on sisters
Hear this Lady
preach the gospel...
Amen......
Do not the sweet lipped ones realise much of what were seeing today is just inertia... that if it were not for our true friends and connections, we would have moved on...
The watter is dirty, but my friends are still here... is the only reason I have for staying.
All in all I feel this site has benefited me a lot and harmed me none. I consider that a pretty good deal.
It's so easy to be captivated by this site and feel the welcoming nature of it. So no one wants to believe that behind the costume, underneath the pretty orange frills, lies a real live business who's goal is to make money like every other business.
I don't know anything about the guide program because I've been gone for a while, and from my vantage point I haven't seen all the bad things that everyone is talking about. But I know those things are out there - always have been ... and I also think unfortunately always will. I just take from the site what I can and not worry so much about it. That's what they get paid for.
I can only say that I just no longer give a good goddamn..
if it burns tomorrow it would be sad... but I'd live.
the "whiners" win next round, so be it, consider the gutlessness of it.
peace.
[and what Firesmith said]....
Lloyd
It's the (corporate) American way, isn't it? :-(
Or not.
More power to you.
It sounds like we need a community meeting.
I like what Lydia said,
"There is no such thing as perfection. If you find a site better than gather, do tell. So far I have not found one that rivals it. Other similar sites have tons of spam or other drawbacks. I like it here despite the controversial issues... it's all part of being human. They made mistakes, they should be forgiven at some point.
All in all I feel this site has benefited me a lot and harmed me none. I consider that a pretty good deal."
I have to agree with Lydia.
I'm a member of some sites where one pays for membership. Even so, members don't get to dictate anything to the site owners/managers. At one site, the owner tells people, "If you don't like it, leave. And, no, you don't get a refund on the rest of your membership fees."
Here, we don't pay for membership, but, in fact, are rewarded.
I wrote about this a while back: Nightmare on Complaint Street
Where is it written in any company policy that we will screw anyone who enters here??
Power begets Indifference to others. We as the public either allow it or try to change that which is unfair.
In the role you have been bless with the words to speak what many feel thank you from me for speaking them.
"As a company, they don't OWE us any explanations and, in truth, the less they tell the community, the better (in business, complete transparency equals takeover). All they are supposed to do is make this site run. They are offering you a free venue where you can publish and connect with others. While you're doing so, you have the opportunity to earn gift cards or cash. As you publish and connect, they bring in money from ads.?
The best thing I do for myself is to remember is that the internet is not a charitable enterprise. If it was there wouldn't be those internet overnight millionaires we hear about. Sometimes, they make sure they don't hurt those that provide the avenue to bring in the bucks and sometimes, they don't. I think this time, they don't.
Personally, I like gather and will stay on until they drive me off. But I do wish that they would just step up and clear the air.
T.K., your article was right on and well-written. I hope that TPTB listen up before folks start leaving in droves. Thank you. namaste
Then again, I know many people who only come here for the points (money). If that goes away, then they will be gone too.
It is a well thought out article. I don't know what to say on the subject, except it is Gather's house and they can do what they want in their own home.
The last thing I want to see is another family destroyed. Change is always going to happen, but I am with you one this one. I knew something wasn't right when friends told me that they could not talk about what was bothering them, and than our Guides got the ax.
Has Tom and the rest of his staff ever thought about the fact that there may come a point when too much water has passed under the bridge.
If I wanted Myspace, I would have joined them.
It's amazing; but Jeff is right and he is never at a lost for words.
However TK; I believe as you do as far as the Guides and TPTB do owe us an explaination and them an apology; for heaven's sake they were volunteers that sacrificed their time for this community and I am ever so grateful to them as they have helped me many times. What their (TPTB) actions does show is disrespect and that they are people with out integrity; however they are not the one's that truely represent this site. It is the community, you and me and everyone else that posts articles, images and comments on here, WE ARE GATHER.
Our "graduated" GUIDES know how we the community appreicated them and are many are thankful for their guidence and friendships that were developed.
We are a community with growing ties, where people with common interests can meet and critique each others work; helping each other improve our weaknesses without feeling put down.
This is a place where many connect to the outside world that is not other wise available to them, where friendships are developed and encouraged and I hear that some are planning a wedding and that they met here.
I do believe Gather Staff is working on things like getting Canadians and others outside of the UNITED STATES the same things we have for their points. They just haven't let anyone know.
As for the trolls that steal and other issues we the community must patrol this, by disconnecting from the offenders. Now just how do we let people know that someone is guility of the offense if the TOS says we can't post the information, Gather Staff any answer for this one?
TK never give up and if there is any reply other then PJ asking you to restate what you have already said and answer them one by one; I don't believe the answers you are given is going to be what you are looking for; it will be just like politics ( lip service ) with no action.
In closing I must state I will probably be around; but who knows? Just kidding; their are too many of you that I have grown rather fond of and love reading your wit and humor.
Blessings
Blessings
As for gather... yeah... as long as things flow and the money comes in... all's well. Once that slows down... the site will either be sold or left to rot. I doubt there's any "safe" online community that isn't there to make the holy dollar, as the bottom line.
I'll stick around. If they screw me outta my next gift card, like someone above says they're having trouble with... then I'll visit on ocaission... but it won't be quite the same, knowing that I'm just another nobody here.
Be nice to have sites like this, where the people actually care and it isn't all Corporate America. BTW... the site I mod on, was designed and made in Isreal. Corporate America is everywhere. Sad, but true.
I do understand people's frustrations though. It's kinda like people leaving here for boomer towne. Eventually, the same ole same ole will happen there. Any bets?
So... one day at a time. I'll just keep on doin' what I do...and that's visit and post on a half dozen different forums every day.
I understand the sentiment of your article... but I have no idea where to actually begin answering. If you ask me direct questions, I'll give you direct answers. What more can I do?
It's big business. Period. Tom is not your friend. He's here to make money! If you go into business for any other reason you might as well go to the top of a tall building and throw your money from it! LOL
There should be a balance between the need of the shareholders and that of the subscribers but in this day and age customer service is becoming an oxymoron.
If things haven't really gotten any better than they were in 2006, I don't think by February 2008 they are ever going to be resolved.
As far as the points program, if it's getting to a point it's costing the company more and more and they are seeing less and less in return, I can see where it would be to the company's advantage to end it. Does MySpace, YouTube or any of the top tier websites offer any kinds of rewards program? No, and believe me, Gather is NOT nor never will be one of the top tier sites so to maximize their profit they probabably will kill the program at some point down the road to increase profit and make the site more appealing to someone looking to takeover the site and make Tom and his family millions!
It's not about us at all and never will be. Let's don't forget that. :-(
I heard a rumor we get no points for comments now sounds strange that is like killing the goose that laid the golden egg. As to another Website let me know if you create one. I want to make one but don't know how. Ricky Fico did create his own and it is slowly growing. I am one of his original 7 that joined Monumental moments. I also belong to other sites. I can sent you referrals if you like. Any who ask. But I will stay with Gather to at least somewhat. Unless they get even worse. As to Gather Guides why can't we have informal Guides without the sanctions. Okay I know there are no rewards but why not? Or would Gather boot them off? So are we not going to get rewards at all soon? I do wish they would put a stop to the trolls I mean sheesh I wrote a small article for my husbands birthday yesterday and it got rated down to 7 what was that about?
However, in embracing these 'givens', rather than resisting them, I also believe in the liberation and discovery to the underlying roots of FREEDOM.
The intentions of this article were to ROOT out some integrity, whether on a corporate or personal level...Corporations are still run by human-beings despite what drives their agendas and I have nothing against someone's choice to make money/profit but on a WHOLE taking responsibility for choices that affect others negatively seems to be an acceptable practice to be justified consistently, as long as it hurts someone else and not you.
My personal 'freedoms' and choices are inclusive to the pain and suffering of OTHERS beyond my realm or sphere of influence and my purpose to questioning GATHER was not an experiment, to get points or asking for advice in the ways of the world. I am aware of my alternatives, if I choose to leave this site and I CAN and WILL go elsewhere if I am not satisfied with Gathers choice to answer the clearly defined questions in paragraph 6.
I believe we have the power and abilty to produce valid results, not in the capacity to possess control or command over others, but ascending to being effective in force and humane in our functions - BUT it has to start somewhere...Whether or not its HERE remains to be seen.
The points are a great bonus to me.
still have not made 3000 in a month, but that hasn't bothered me very much.
I have seen a bit of cliquish behavior and have backed away sat and read....
I look forward to my gather time,
as my EON time
Whoa! There's a Minnesota office!? Who knew?
I really have nothing to add, but I will check back to see whats said.
That is fine - since I am well aware that Gather 'powers' are not out to make me wealthy, etc. They couldn't care less about me and my pair of eyes since I never click thru any of their ads.
I am here solely for the people and interesting perspectives they bring to my attention.
I rarely used the Guides, but from mentions in various 'spaces' here they were appreciated by the gather community. Just not by the Gather corporate side. That is unfortunate - since we are customers as well.
As a support analyst in a VERY large complex corporation I can say the bul of the 'features' recently added are making very little sens - and drastically bogging the throughput down, since I frequently see it even with a cable modem connection.
Lots of little Gather-gimmicks (aka features or Look & Feel characteristics) fail to operate properly, so why keep adding more stuff on top, other than to hide the stuff that doesn't work in the first place.
Believe me - it won't hide the mess for long.
I check in periodically - and I hope my double-handful of contacts remain present and accounted for after this. I have been counting it as a minor miracle when I still see them when I do stop by.
Cheers..