2020 - a good year for hindsight

RE: 2020 - a good year for hindsight

cstanton — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 13:41:14 GMT

Hi [mention:193ac2434c814a24b46635a2210baec1:e9ed411860ed4f2ba0265705b8793d05] ,

Finding the right ways to celebrate contributions by our members is a challenge that the element14 Community team regularly faces, and it's one that has taken different approaches over the years, and I can tell from reading your post here that although it's light hearted there's a pain and frustration behind it, whether that's a lack of transparency on the element14 Community team's part or poor acknowledgement for the hard work you've put into the element14 Community, and for that I am sorry.

[mention:44fa45702fda4d95b457f69505107f36:e9ed411860ed4f2ba0265705b8793d05] has done a good job of explaining part of the process taken for this year's member of the year decision, I feel there were good points raised in the top members thread discussing 'who were your top members' as well which I read as 'perhaps identifying one individual' wasn't the way to go, and maybe that's the case to avoid people feeling neglected.

When we have so many high performing, amazing members, it's difficult to find the right way to reward them, and we may be missing the mark in the approach here.

I also agree strongly with [mention:3bf627874ebf4e7ab0372b11f5098b75:e9ed411860ed4f2ba0265705b8793d05] , look after yourself, be careful of burnout, and engage in ways that suit you and are good for you and your health.

Any members are always welcome to message me to discuss the community, rewards, posting, engaging, problems, etc.

The team and I are always open to new suggestions, to better acknowledge people's input and efforts, and yours are certainly more than appreciated.

RE: 2020 - a good year for hindsight

colporteur — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 22:37:19 GMT

I would rather be just returning from the bar, at your favourite water hole, holding your preferred beverage before starting this discussion. The discussion has the risk of going off the rails real fast if the participants are unable to suspend judgement.

Let me say first, I enjoy your participation. At times your responses blow me away. My feelings boarder on envy. HTF would he know that! HS he also knew the other stuff. I've been in technology for 40 years and can't recall my password. He calls stuff out like he has a photographic memory.

In no way do I want to diminish what you are feeling. I understand disappointment. I have experienced frustration. I have wanted to resign.

Can you help me understand why MotY for Element14 would be of importance?

I once asked a friend, who was very faith attached, would he continue to do what he does if there was no heaven. My goal, in asking the question was to understand why he did things he did for his faith. He refused to answer the question.

I would be surprised to discover your contributions to the community were only done with the focus of MotY. Surely you got something out of your contributions? If you did not, I recommend you stop doing it. Unless you gain something from your participation, that is yours alone and not dependent on someone or something else, you will continue to hurt.

I see your response to not achieving MotY, similar to those people failing to secure a RoadTest Review. They resign to not participating because they can't figure out how to be successful. Success defined as being awarded the review. WGS! The journey was important wasn't it? RoadTest Reviews are just seed for thinking, who cares if you win. It would be nice but for a brief moment I got to dream of the wonderful thing I built using the free stuff.

RE: 2020 - a good year for hindsight

Sean_Miller — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 01:56:39 GMT

Doug, as other's have said - you're a great member, contributor, and very helpful. Peeking at the inbox here probably every couple of hours of the day this last year, you'd definitely be on my very short list - particularly, because you don't show up in surges and disappear, but are a steady daily contributor.

So, here's my take on it - a guy once told me, the difference between satisfaction and disappointment is expectation. I find that with the model at e14, the expectation can't be to hit a certain set of marks to achieve a given prize (outside of the points system).

I find element14 as a community similar to work leagues for sports. It's very much like my bowling league I was on a few years back.

Experienced players and the rookies all join together for fun. The experienced one's mentor the rookies - show them how to hit their marks versus throw at the "pins". The rookies get a handicap perk via the points system growth curve pumping them quickly up the ladder. If you participate in e14 challenges, you get trophies even when you don't win. Judging criteria is loose so you never know who will be on top due to the variety of judges' interests and critique styles.

The way e14 rolls has been the way organizations have grown and sustained memberships for centuries, I imagine. The experienced enthusiasts get their reward from the camaraderie of like minded soles versus the reaffirming wins. Often, when things start becoming too bureaucratic, the participants will narrow down to a totally different culture.

Such a shift in culture that might not hook the top 50 members that exist today. For instance, I don't chase Hackster, Instructables, or Stack Exchange. Those communities have very strict guidelines that prove out mojo - but aren't for me at all. For some reason, I enjoy not knowing what I'm doing, researching it, and then bestowing what I learned with the opportunity to get some swag.

In short, my assessment of the community awards, the points system, and the challenges, isn't about the winner here - more of a celebration of the traits of the community.

See ya',

Sean

PS. For the record - I've never scored a single road test - that segment of the site clearly isn't handicapped for the electronics rookie like me and you should definitely count those trophies.

RE: 2020 - a good year for hindsight

balearicdynamics — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 19:31:01 GMT

should I say something that is my absolute personal vision? Yes, but don't blame me if it is not too much inline with the common thinking. [mention:193ac2434c814a24b46635a2210baec1:e9ed411860ed4f2ba0265705b8793d05] IMHO (and for me) you are an expert, a real expert, I mean; the point is that I think – repeat, this is MY personal opinion – you should not care of what are the formal nomination. You write in this note that you think you have done wrong this and that. I think that the only thing you maybe are wrong is giving the wrong value to these things. The member of the year is one (over a few active uers, not over half a million of users or more). And most of the path from internal E14 staff discussion up to the nomination and the "election" has a meaningful component of casuality, Or maybe caos-related. But one year is long, and what really count is what you have done during the past year. And you have done a lot, with the right orientation, trying to support and be helpful to many other members. So if I can give you an advice, donàt care too much, many of the guys I know here, personal friend too on someone, deserve to be member of the year, and no one deserve it in the meantime. The real value, the recognized, is what you (or we if I can say) have done, what was the return, the support of the community and the stuff you got, participating to the initiatives. I agree with the consideration of [mention:4f57fc9d538949ad9eb336ddb9469bb8:e9ed411860ed4f2ba0265705b8793d05] [mention:b0bc65b9ecdc4307bd967592f00e340a:e9ed411860ed4f2ba0265705b8793d05] and others.

This is what I think.

RE: 2020 - a good year for hindsight

genebren — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 18:20:15 GMT

Doug,

As many of the other members have said, I see you as a 'Member of the Year' caliber member. You have created and documented some of the best project on the site as well as being one of the most helpful and encouraging members. There is not much that I could tell you about being recognized in this fashion, but I can only imagine, and eagerly await, the flood of great posts/projects that you will accomplish as you pursue this goal.

Gene

RE: 2020 - a good year for hindsight

shabaz — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 10:55:18 GMT

Hi Doug,

I'm sorry about this, and really hope you didn't feel like the photo. I'm surprised if you've not been nominated for Member of the year at any point, that's something many of us will feel sorry about, since we have experienced your hard work for many years.

As I understand the responsibility for nominations falls on us, we should remember to call out and recognise people, and there's no excuse. If it helps, it is clear that a lot of such awards are a representation, i.e. (hopefully one of many) examples of the work that gets achieved.

Your presence (not just content) is something there's no doubt we would miss if it wasn't there, in case you have any doubt at all (there shouldn't be I hope).

RE: 2020 - a good year for hindsight

jc2048 — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 09:29:11 GMT

You could have had my nomination last year if you'd wanted it!

I've got no idea why I was put up for it. I don't generally do most of the things you'd think might qualify you, like the design contests, roadtesting, and projects that you do so well, just a bit of occasional blogging. I certainly didn't want the attention. I thought it quite disrespectful too, nominating someone without their consent like that, but kept quiet and fortunately not too many people voted for me.

RE: 2020 - a good year for hindsight

stevesmythe — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 08:42:40 GMT

I have no idea what it takes to be nominated but your approach seems rational if somewhat synthetic. Don't take this the wrong way, but from what you wrote, it's a bit like you are saying "I want to become the most popular person at work", going round buying everyone coffee, asking how they are every day and then wondering why people don't invite you out for drinks on a Friday. Things just don't turn out how you expect sometimes, especially where people are involved.

We all know people who work hard all their lives and don't get the recognition that they deserve. It's part of life. Your track record is incredibly impressive, your contributions are prolific and always of the highest quality. You ARE recognised and respected by fellow element14 community members and you don't need a "trophy" to prove that. You get the feedback pretty much every day.

I think the answer is just to be true to yourself. Maybe next year is your year or maybe you'll never be member of the year but surely it is better to follow your own path. It's not a job, so you have no obligations to work at the parts you don't enjoy.

RE: 2020 - a good year for hindsight

Fred27 — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 08:38:04 GMT

You're definitely an incredible member of this community. I suspect that as [mention:050549436bd64f50a71d3db7750d1220:e9ed411860ed4f2ba0265705b8793d05] said, they can't let you win everything! [View:/resized-image/__size/16x16/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-b2dc2f5f-721a-44ae-ba7c-de670149ae4b/contentimage_5F00_3.png:16:16] (I'm reminded of how I recently explained to my young son that you can't get Man of the Match at football every week.)

One of the great things about the E14 community is there are so many people who are incredibly talented and helpful. You're a giant amongst other giants, so it's hard for us little people to judge who is the tallest.

I'd say you've more than proven yourself and you should just concentrate on participating on the community in the way you enjoy most.

RE: 2020 - a good year for hindsight

neilk — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 07:44:26 GMT

Hi Doug

All of your projects amaze me, even if I don't always understand the fine detail!

Your wealth and depth of contribution is, to me quite awe inspiring. You have the ability to conceive, implement and publish a complex project in the time it takes me to debug a simple piece of code for an Arduino!!

Don't despair, you have the respect of the whole community as evidenced by the award of founder of the year and influencer of the year.

Please keep on !

Neil

RE: 2020 - a good year for hindsight

neuromodulator — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 04:36:25 GMT

Maybe they didn't nominate you because you got selected as founder of the year and influencer of the year. I still would consider the selection processes to some extent random. I'm sure many of us consider you member of the year regardless...

RE: 2020 - a good year for hindsight

ntewinkel — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 04:25:49 GMT

Hi Douglas,

I haven't participated much over the last year or so, but I've always noticed your amazing projects and contributions here! (and on YouTube! love your cat too, btw [View:/resized-image/__size/16x16/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-b2dc2f5f-721a-44ae-ba7c-de670149ae4b/contentimage_5F00_2516.png:16:16] )

You would be getting my vote for sure. I looked up the 2019 MotY poll, and they are all excellent members too, but I really do feel you belong in that list too.

Does being Founder of the Year make you ineligible? I kinda don't think it should.

Tariq, [mention:44fa45702fda4d95b457f69505107f36:e9ed411860ed4f2ba0265705b8793d05], is it too late to nominate Doug into the 2019 MotY list?

-Nico

RE: 2020 - a good year for hindsight

jw0752 — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 03:34:55 GMT

Hi Doug,

Sometimes what we each do creatively in our workshops can be a bit lonely. My wife is always encouraging but she really doesn't understand like another tech does. Most of my endeavors are trivial compared to your projects and most of the other projects on the forum but I always feel understood and appreciated by the feedback from all my friends here on the forum. The wealth of blogs, projects, and just plain creativity that your quest for the holy MotY has truly been phenomenal. That is the true crown for your efforts and not the temporary and fleeting recognition. I have noticed that there is a life cycle on the forum that takes us through the stages of noobie, excelling, over participation, and finally burn out. When you think about how much the forum has evolved over the years it is quite amazing. Each member that is in the excelling and over participation mode adds a distinct flavor to the mix. When you first came on the forum I was very impressed with your knowledge and skills but you were kind of held back at that time not even responding to requests for contact. The popularity contests are not where the real measure is. Look who gets elected leader of some countries. I am currently in the beginnings of my burn out phase. I am the old man who just hangs around for the fun and probably won't do any heavy lifting. You are welcome to join me but the loss of your prolific input will have a profound effect on the quality of the forum. Thanks for sharing your aspirations. I hope my own professed wish to be more like you helps a little bit.

John

RE: 2020 - a good year for hindsight

fmilburn — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 03:27:37 GMT

Doug,

To be honest I was embarrassed to be nominated and your contributions are clearly higher than mine as are a number of other members (the polling confirms this). I am in awe of your skills and knowledge and even more so your willingness to convey it to others.

RE: 2020 - a good year for hindsight

DAB — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 02:35:37 GMT

Hi Douglas,

As a past MOtY all I can say is you are doing nothing wrong.

Being nominated and selected is just one of those end of the year comparisons where lists are made, names are selected and people end up with awards.

The first time I was nominated, I was leading the point track at the time. I did not feel I was doing anything exceptional, but in comparison to other members at the time I ended up with the award.

The second time I was nominated, I was a write in candidate from other members who thought I had contributed enough to warrant selection. I did not win, but just being identified as a contributor by other members brightened my day considerably.

So all I can say is you are definitely a contender in my book and if you have not been on the official list, then there has been a significant oversight.

I always enjoy your posts, you help and your contribution to the community.

Please keep up the good work.

DAB