[Tim Skellett]

Originally Posted by EasyTarget

......If a member makes a public attack toward a staff member maybe a better response instead of getting defensive would be, "I'm sorry you feel that way, how can I rectify the problem?" or "I'm sorry you understood it that way, I did not mean for it to come across that way, I apologize", "You're right, we could have handled that better. In the future we will try to avoid this again, what can we do now to fix the problem?"

I've often seen this theory, but I can't say that I think it's valid. Demanding that staff bend over backwards in the face of what are mere personal attacks is a kind of "Blame the victim" POV that in my experience only leads to more attacks. It's also very unfair indeed; if someone -- anyone, including admin, coders, mere members --- makes unprovoked and unnecessary personal attacks, then they damn well out to be called out for it, IMHO, and as for a response from the victim, I am all for natural justice. The victim is human too and has just as much right to speak their own minds. No-one including staff is meant to be the whipping-boys of anyone having a bad day.

One thing that I have not seen here is routine dismissiveness, arrogance or nastiness from the staff here (I have seen suchlike on other sites), so personally attacking staff here just for the purpose of getting one's rocks off should not be allowed to pass by uncalled-out. Furthermore, making comments on their reactions that could easily be perceived as being patronising and condescending only adds to their frustration --- and to be extremely blunt, however important the coders are, the staff are absolutely vital. So senseless +++++ing and ragging at them only serves to damage this whole site and us all.

I am happy enough to see harsh criticism of wrongful staff and wrongful staff actions, but I don't see that here; just goal-less, direction-less hassling.