Ramble ramble ramble

[mitchy]

So I've got someone to take over or co-run the Mortals system and two temp Shifter STs lined up, so that situation is improved.

Sheesh.

My role as Site Admin is a funny one. I don't run scenes, so I don't do what is the most important work on the site. I'm not a programmer so I can't do much in terms of technical maintenance though at least it's set up so I can do basic stuff without making things fall over, go BOOM. For which I'm grateful to lithium_doll and she is likewise grateful for the lack of boom-y things.

But for all that, anyone could do what I do. Whether anyone sane would want to, is another matter. I think my main role is giving everyone someone to hate and bitch about, thus leaving the STs free enough of that sort of nonsense that they can get on with their jobs. A bitch magnet, if you like, a decoy. All the complaints come to me, all the problems. And that's about it. I don't, as an admin, get any of the good stuff. LD, when she ran the site, at least got oodles of worship and praise for her RP scenes. Still does, though she rarely runs scenes now. Which is a great loss, btw. But now I can see why that just wasn't enough at the end of the day.

Maybe I should grit my teeth and try and learn a system well enough to run scenes for it. I think I'd be a lousy ST though. I can't plot to save my life, and I think that's a talent you have to possess, I don't think it can be learned.

Hrm.

Anyway, at least I have some bodge fixes in place so that gives me some breathing space. For now.

In other news, there is no other news. Although mild gloating was heard from the direction of my sofa earlier when Man Utd lost to AC Milan and Chelsea beat Barcelona. Good match, that Chelsea game, it finished 4:2.

Comments

[therealsherbs.livejournal.com]

Believe me, running a system doesn't get you that much in the way of praise or even appreciation. Mostly it's just messages of the 'you promised to do X and I'm still waiting' or the 'I've got my character into a mess and now you have to deal with it' kind. However, I suppose at least you get the satisfaction of being able to say 'tough luck, like it or leave' to people occasionally (if a bit more tactfully) :) And anyway, I think you're wrong. Not anybody could do what you do. I don't think I could because I can't delegate. I'd be a terrible site admin and the ST's would all hate me.

[halcyon-shift.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid Sherbs is right - being an ST is not the barrel of fun and adulation it looks. For every person who says they enjoyed your running, there's three muttering in the wings with sharp knives. And, ultimately, it turns into a situation where you feel like you're being praised for running a treadmill uphill through sewers. It ceases to mean anything, however well meant. Unfortunately, that's not something that people who haven't STed always believe (but, but, the power! the creativity! the adulation of the masseeeees!!), so if you want to call me an ungrateful misanthrope, go ahead ;)

If you do want to ST ... it can be learned. Talent helps but it's not the end all and be all and will only get you so far - you get skilled STs, talented is really a bonus. The problem is that experience obviousy can't be learned and inexperienced ST on LbN would also go by the name "cannon fodder" :(

Admins are the hub. They keep they plates spinning however precariously and the sign they're doing their job right is, unfortunately, that no one really knows they're doing it. It is literally a thankless task.

I do wish I could think of something helpful to say but I, you know, quit. No one could quite fathom why because, wait, surely the Admin doesn't actually do anything, right? So on one incredibly selfish side, I'm sort of pleased because it wasn't just me, on the other I'm sorry that I can't think of any way to help. Well, I can offer to take over admining for a month or two to give you a break, if you want but I'm not sure that actually solves the problem. Maybe the site needs an annual admin appreciation day or something?

Anyway *snugs* Yay Chelsea and AC Milan!

[therealsherbs.livejournal.com]

Annual Admin appreciation day sounds like an excellent idea to me. As for ST-ing requiring talent or even skill, I managed to cope by substituting sheer time and effort as I have neither :)