Note to all techies that oversee online communities. Please, please, please do not down-grade, up-grade, back-up, back-down, change colours, fonts, add, takeaway or generally fiddle with any settings before first checking with, and sounding out, the Community Manager. Then once you’ve done that, and only once you’ve done that, you (or the community manager) should announce to the membership that at a certain day/time the site will be down for maintenance. That way we are all on the same page and whilst people may miss their community fix at least they were forewarned this would happen and could go and make a cup of tea, or read a book or something.
We always have to remember people are very loyal and territorial where their community is concerned, and they don’t like surprises like this. Not to mention the complete and utter plonker it makes the Community Manager look. A CM is supposed to have their finger on the pulse, not be the last in line to discover these things.
Thanks for reading my little rant.
I feel much better now I’ve got that off my chest.
Follow Me!