been a while - cannon fodder perhaps then again it may not be

[Peter Garrett]

On Sat, 05 Sep 2009 22:39:04 +0100
"Paul O'Malley - gnu's not unix -" <ompaul at eircom.net> wrote:

[snip]
> If you are an op for more than a couple of years you should try to take 
> a break - I know this is needed - it is my own opinion you are fooling 
> yourself if you think it is not.

+1

[snip]
> in tech support 12 - 18 months is the normal turn around

+1

[snip]
> let me try to say what it is
> 
> Culture clashes.
> Culture clashes, combined with a lack of empathy for the other ops point 
> of view.
> Culture clashes, combined with a lack of empathy for the other ops point 
> of view, and if you are on the wrong side of an argument, then you feel 
> trolled not just by the troll, but by your own side as well.

Listen to Paul, people...

> Ultimately the reason you got involved with irc was to help your fellow 
> users.

This is too easily forgotten.

Compassion fatigue includes lack of empathy and compassion for other
ops, not just 'users'. Ops, funnily enough, are people, not computers ;)

Expecting accurate "debug" "error messages" about feelings from
*people* is, well ... What can I say? I wish you luck...

If you start analysing people's reactions and finding logical holes in
their statements about feelings, maybe it's time to find another place
to help, another personal project, or just an extended vacation from
IRC.

No, I haven't resigned my ops - but yes, I've had a very long extended
vacation, (more like a sabbatical?), after spending thousands of hours
doing it over a period of about 3 years. When you notice the steam
coming out of your ears on a regular basis... time to step away ;-)

You might come back, but don't think about that until the urge to do so
returns ;)

-- 
Peter Garrett <peter-garrett at ubuntu.com>
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