Corvus
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Registered: 12-2003
Posts: 293
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 Grrrr!
This year, the Office of Letters and Light (the folks who organize and run NaNoWriMo) have gotten it into their heads that Municipal Liaisons have to download, print out, sign and mail in an "ML Agreement Document", which is nothing more than a hardcopy version of saying to them, "I accept my responsibilities as an ML and agree to these terms".
This is something which could be handled on their website. The document is nothing more than a list of "as an ML, we want you to do this, this and this". It is not a contract, and yet they are demanding that these documents be handed in by October 1st!
I refuse to take part in this officious nonsense. I've been an ML for three years already and never had to sign anything. I don't have a printer and I'm not about to ask someone else to go out of their way just to satisfy this sudden ridiculous bureaucratic urge on the part of Chris Baty and his people. This could mean I will end up no longer being an ML, but if they want to be that petty because I won't go out of my way to mail them a piece of paper with my handwriting on it, well, I don't feel like associating with that kind of stupidity!
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9/28/2009, 2:57 am
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Firlefanz
Lady of the Land
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Registered: 05-2003
Location: Germany
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Re: Grrrr!
Hmmm. That is annoying. Did you tell them so?
You're a good ML. They are stupid if they are ready to lose good MLs because of this retreat into formality.
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9/28/2009, 6:09 am
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QS2
Shepherd
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Registered: 03-2006
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Re: Grrrr!
Well it's quite stupid to retreat back in to a medium that's slowly dying in the first place as well...
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9/28/2009, 7:45 am
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Corvus
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Registered: 12-2003
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Re: Grrrr!
I decided to resign my ML status, not just because of this. There were a bunch of other things that I was "supposed" to be doing that I realized I didn't want to do, and frankly it's just not worth the stress.
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9/28/2009, 8:18 am
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David Meadows
Grand Master
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Registered: 09-2003
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Re: Grrrr!
It's a shame when a good thing is messed about with and in the process loses whatever made it work so well in the first place. "It it ain't broke, don't fix it." 
---
"A good idea will keep you awake during the morning, but a great idea will keep you awake during the night."
Marilyn vos Savant
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9/28/2009, 10:05 am
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tryingtowrite
Mini-NaNo Winner
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Registered: 03-2007
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Re: Grrrr!
Isn't that how it always goes.
---
I'd procrastinate now, but it would be easier tomorrow.
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9/28/2009, 11:20 pm
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Corvus
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Registered: 12-2003
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Re: Grrrr!
The thing that gets me is this:
"This agreement is new--and necessary--now that our volunteer program has grown so large. There is but one person (me) on a staff of only thee full-timers at HQ managing almost 600 people now. Growth is great, but can be a challenge! For both the MLs and for us, this agreement simply clarifies the responsibilities that the ML role entails, and makes it easier go forward with as little confusion or kerfuffle as possible." -- Lindsey Grant, on the NNWM forums
This does absolutely nothing to explain the reliance on an archaic paper format. It doesn't do anything to explain why the MLs have to sign the document and mail it back in. What this is really doing is threatening the MLs with, "If you don't do what we have on this list, I'll pull out this paper you signed and wave it at you disapprovingly!" This isn't about clarification. Clarification would mean encouraging MLs to print out the document for easy reference and perhaps hang it on the wall by their computers. This is about trying to make a whip to crack, and doing it poorly.
Essentially they're trying to get people to believe this document is a binding contract without openly stating it is. The document isn't worded as a contract in the first place. If it was intented to be a binding contract, they need to make that perfectly clear, not phrase it as an "agreement", and rewrite the document to be legally binding. This whole thing is patently ridiculous.
Last edited by Corvus, 9/29/2009, 12:01 am
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9/28/2009, 11:39 pm
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Reythia
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Registered: 11-2005
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Re: Grrrr!
You know, I'm just confused about the printing part. I mean, I can kind of understand why they're asking you to officially recognize what your task will be. Probably last year they had a couple of incompetent fools who were messing with the program and making it a misery for writers in some areas.
But posting a link that explicitly lays out the duties and limits of the MLs, and then just asking them to click a "yes, I read this and accept" button seems just as good as having them print out a sheet and sign it. I mean, it's not like they need legal proof, or anything! Alternatively, sending the duty list by email, and then asking for a simple emailed "I accept" reply would make sense. It's the pointless killing of trees and filling of garbage cans that seems so irrational to me.
---  -- YAR! |
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9/30/2009, 4:11 pm
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Corvus
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Registered: 12-2003
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Re: Grrrr!
I pointed out the whole "electronic signatures are perfectly useful" thing to them, but it just kinda bounced off.
We're getting another ML, so it's all good. I would have chosen this person as my successor, but she actually moved to take it up before I could talk to her. I can help out unofficially, and she can handle all the BS. I feel a lot better now.
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10/1/2009, 3:31 am
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Firlefanz
Lady of the Land
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Registered: 05-2003
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Re: Grrrr!
Corvus, that sounds like a very good solution for the situation.
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10/1/2009, 6:28 am
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Corvus
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Registered: 12-2003
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Re: Grrrr!
It's my friend Melinda, the one whose family I play D&D with. We met last year during NaNo, and apparently she liked it so much she wants the ML position now that I've vacated it. She's got experience organizing and herding cats (school libraries, Girl Scouts...) so she's perfect for the job. Plus, she's as dedicated to doing NaNoWriMo as I am, which is a big help. I think things are much better this way, actually.
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10/1/2009, 11:34 am
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Blitzen
Grand Master
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Registered: 12-2004
Location: falkirk
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Re: Grrrr!
So jealous that you get to play D&D. I haven't had a game in OMGs! an entire decade.
Didn't realize it had been that long.
Anyway, the nano thing is crazy but at least it's sort of sorted.
---
Quick! Competition! Vote for your favourite comic scripts
http://forums.millarworld.tv/index.php?showtopic=90564&st=20
It's not clicky, though, sorry
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10/1/2009, 1:51 pm
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