Opportunity Knocks! ... Welcome, Alice!
@owlwings (43915)
Cambridge, England
December 24, 2009 4:25pm CST
If you haven't read the latest alert, we have a new 'user' in our midst. She is called Alice and her username is GoAskAlice. She is (at last) an intermediary between the users and 'MyLot Staff' ... what we like to call 'Admin' but can actually mean anything from the janitor in the 'big black building' right up to 'Crash' (who has already said that he's fairly influential ... I think we might understand that to be a slight understatement!)
Alice's profile says: "I'm part of the myLot staff. It's my job to act as the go-between for the myLot users and the myLot staff. I start discussions asking for feedback from the myLot community, and then I take that information back to the programmers and developers and we all work together to make myLot better than ever!
I sure hope you take the time to read through all of my discussions, and I look forward to hearing from you!"
Yes, 'opportunity knocks' because it's a chance for every member to have a say in the appropriate place - when Alice posts relevant discussions - that they can be sure will be listened to and weighed on its merits. Many of us have been longing to put a 'name' to 'Admin'. Well, here is one. She's a lady, and it's also not HER fault if something is screwed up, so be nice to her, d'ye hear?
What do you expect from the Admin of a site?
4 people like this
17 responses
@PastorP (1170)
• United States
24 Dec 09
Yes, I just saw that alert and was thrilled about it. I'm new here, only my second week now, and like MyLot. I was giving it a test run so to speak before I bugged my relatives and friends to become my referrals. Imo, myLot has passed the test and will bug my potential relatives after things settle down past the holidays.
But I think this is great that a staff member will be actively a part of these discussion. Imo this is wise on their part and will lead to improvements I am sure. Imo, every forum should do this.
I just feel a tad bad about one thing--the lady is starting on Christmas. Not that I think that is a sin or anything since it's not a sabbath, but the lady is working on holiday. She could be with family instead of here. Of course, it does not mean she will be here all day.
Anyhow, I welcome this news!
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
24 Dec 09
My friend, - I feel moved to address you as such, even though this is our very first meeting - is it only priests and pastors who are allowed to work on the Sabbath (or 'holidays')?
Yes, the lady may have family - most of us do. I am not sure that she is necessarily an 'individual', though (and nor does it matter). The role of 'Alice' (like that of 'Santa') might be played by a number of people with good effect. What is important is that, at last, we (the members) are likely to have more of an 'ear' to the people who do the work behind the scenes. You haven't, perhaps, been here as long as I have, so you will not have known how earnestly some of us have desired a 'voice' from the powers that be. MyLot is a very small organisation (we can estimate between 15 and 20 people in total, from the CEO down), It therefore has had a policy of 'minimal' communication (which is both necessary and sensible) and a number of people have felt disgruntled as a result. This new announcement suggests that they want to address this issue in a practical and workable way.
Welcome to MyLot, anyway, and a very happy Christmas to you!
1 person likes this
@PastorP (1170)
• United States
25 Dec 09
Greetings Owlwings,
That'd be a good question to start a discussion with, but the answer is no. Others may work too. I gather though from the Holy Bible it depends upon what type of work and the motive for working. That is, Christ said though the Jewish Law forbid working on the Sabbath, it also permitted work to be done such as rescuing an animal from a ditch. Christ then applied it to healing on the Sabbath since He was accused of breaking the Sabbath when He healed someone. Logically then we can assume medical services are ok on the Sabbath along with things like police protection, national security and so on. However, other things in order to make a buck should be laid aside. And though one works on a Sabbath out of necessity, they need to endeavor to rest in the Lord at some other time.
Now, about Alice and myLot. Yes, I understand. Just a few years back I worked for a newspaper that was really cutting back on help. When you just have a few people running something big it's hard to be personable with those you serve and even somewhat depend upon. I just feel a tad bad she starts tomorrow, not because I think it is morally wrong. But I figure she has family too. However, it might have been her choice completely. Well, it's a nice Christmas gift from MyLot.
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
24 Dec 09
Snap! 
The bestest thing that I have read on here for a heck of a long time! 
The bestest thing that I have read on here for a heck of a long time! 1 person likes this
@sagnik42 (3592)
• India
25 Dec 09
I think I know about it a little bit.
On 22nd DEC(special offer), Lamb started a discussion and spent 9 hours on it, when mylot suddenly decided to delete his discussion. So he lost a lot of money and a great discussion and was pretty upset about it. Who wants to see 9 hours of hard work, getting deleted in a second? I would have been pretty mad, if it happened to me.
Is there any more reason for you being upset, Lamby?
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
24 Dec 09
A liazon has been something lacking here for a long time. Crash would do it once in a while but it was rae. I myself am looking forward to her participating here. It will be good to get some live feedback to them and some live answers to that feedback.
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
25 Dec 09
Let us hope that it works in the way that it's suggested that it will work.
@littleowl (7157)
•
25 Dec 09
Hi owlwings, the one thing I expect from myLot and the admin is to be 'heard' about things we complain about, things that need to be fixed here on the site and questions to be answered..hopefully 'Alice' will do just that to the best of her ability at the momjent she seems to be a very helpfulperson from Admin and also WANTS to hear what everyone on the site has to say...lets hope she will be able to do the things she says..anyways I have always found that a lady will do what she can to 'please' the people! lol ....Littleowl
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
26 Dec 09
I was quite startled that her first discussion came on Christmas Day (and that she also came back with responses)! I guess that, in a business like MyLot, it makes sense that somebody has to be there practically all the time, so why not use the time in starting a discussion and fielding the questions?
It seems as though we may see more of Alice than we did of Crash and that MyLot really do want to communicate with the users. Actually, I never doubted that and have always understood that a policy of 'minimal communication' is, perhaps, wise when you consider how much time can be spent (and wasted) in answering numerous trite questions and pacifying the interminable grouses ... it must be late! ... I seriously considered writing 'grice'!
It's odd, isn't it that, in Customer Support its often the ladies that one has most confidence in. I don't know how true it really is but one often feels that men will fob you off with promises but that the women will actually see that something gets done! I have done some Customer Support work in my time, so I do know how it really is, as a matter of fact ... 
!
!
@wonttakelong (3555)
• United States
29 Dec 09
what do I expect from admin of a site?
I expect that they will do what is in the best interest of the users
I expect them to communicate with their users when they are changing things
I expect that they respond to their users when there is a problem and the user has to contact them
I expect that they have representatives avaible to their users to minimize the problems
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
30 Dec 09
Interesting answers.
I would HOPE that they will do what is fair to the users; I would EXPECT them to do what is in the best interests of the site.
I would HOPE that the managers of the site would communicate (perhaps via the admins) any changes and improvements to the site. I would EXPECT that admins would mediate between owners and members.
@PeacefulWmn9 (10420)
• United States
24 Dec 09
I saw this, Owl, and yay! As to what I expect from an admin? Answers to a lotttt of questions many have mentioned, those that are a bit murky in the rules.
Karen1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
29 Dec 09
What do I expect?......in a word...... FEEDBACK.
If I report someone, ask a question using 'contact us' or any other method of contact, I expect an answer or confirmation that they received my query or whatever. Not silence...not a blank. It's so frustrating.
@rameshkumaar57 (5908)
• India
25 Dec 09
You are right about the point about Sharon Bucks, who have become everybodys friend. It seems, whenever a new member joins, the first friend he/she will have is Sharon bucks, and the second friend most probably would be Go Ask Alice. Vonmac have given some good suggestions in her response, and I think most of us will be giving some suggestions, some may be good and valid, and some may be down right silly. I hope every body gives their suggestions, and I also hope that no member critizes some members suggestions, even if they are down right silly.
The reason being once some body starts to comment on some members suggestions, others will just clam up. I hope this will be avoided.
Wishing you a merry Christmas.
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
26 Dec 09
There are certainly bound to be people who are 'downright silly', as you put it. That is one of the liabilities of taking on a 'user support' role and one of the necessary skills for taking on that job is to be able to treat every comment and suggestion with good humour.
I have to say that I'm impressed so far (based, as it is, on only one discussion) with Alice's diplomacy and genuine intention to find out what members' problems are with MyLot.
I could be wrong but I suspect that GoAskAlice is not going to be 'everyone's friend' in the same way that Sharon Bucks is. What she will be, I hope, is a very real 'ear to the ground' and a way of making sure that things that need putting right actually get put right.
Reading the responses to her discussion so far does occasionally remind me of the clamour of junior school children saying "Miss! Miss! Please, Miss! ..."
@rameshkumaar57 (5908)
• India
26 Dec 09
Let us hope she is the not the prim English Miss. I remember an English Miss of mine who was an Anglo-Indian, who was much more prim than the English themselves. She hated Chennai, and India, and she longed to go to England and settle there. Last heard she disappeared. Hope Go Ask Alice does not end up like her.
@BarBaraPrz (45498)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
24 Dec 09
Well, until I got the notification that you started a discussion, I was unaware of the alert. It wasn't there earlier in the day.
@BarBaraPrz (45498)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
25 Dec 09
Thanks. Wish we had a kissy smiley... I'd give you one in the hopes it'd make you feel better.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
25 Dec 09
It is a welcoming news from mylot and it shows that all complaints have indeed reached the admin table. It is high time mylot send a special 'ambassador' to represent them in mylot growing population. They can no longer afford to keep mum on the grouses of mylotters who needs someone to handle their problems which has in the past been neglected. Unattended complaints make them feel demoralized which resulted in the dwindling of mylotters. They left partially because of no support from mylot when they encounter problems here. I am glad that we now have someone in the name of Alice in our midst to be the intermediary. I wish with her presence this site will see many changes in the near future. One that needs priority is the earning here. It can be seen from the latest alert where people posted madly when admin increased the payment by double. In ordinary days not many are keen to participate in discussions or posting new discussions. Only the hardcore mylotters who are loyal members continue the challenge here.
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
25 Dec 09
LOL..I knew it wasn't out Aliceinwebland.. so people can dispel the rumors already. Our Alice is the genuine one.. and admin happens to have Alice for a name..that's sweet. But I took note of one of your comments, owlwings. Alice could be a lady, or an embodiment of a few people under that name. But whatever it is, at least now we can voice our concerns in future discussions that Alice will start. I understand that there are quite a few users upset with recent issues of discussions deleted and sometimes I wonder too. So maybe it's time we will get answers to anything and everything that we might have. Special note: Hope Lamby's mood will improve soon..
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
25 Dec 09
I immediately 'added' her, of course, even though there are some minor inconsistencies in her profile (which seems to be against the Terms) ... how could she have joined MyLot 71 years before she was born, and if so, wasn't she then under 16? Leaving those aside, however, we shall see. Sharon Bucks has silently become a 'Friend' to every new member. Why shouldn't Alice be the same?
I, too, thought of AliceInWebland (but I know she doesn't live in Kansas) and I also thought of Alice (of Restaurant fame) but I settled on 'Alice in Wonderland' or 'Through the Looking Glass' because there is Liddell we know about the internal workings of MyLot and there are constant Wonderings and frequent comments that things are Back To Front in the way things happen here.
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
25 Dec 09
I guess we can try... but she might be choosy and not add us 
1 person likes this
Oh, just wondering..can we add her too then..
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
25 Dec 09
Oh that is great. I saw an alert but when I tried to open it it was gone. Hopefully we will get listened to? Hooray!
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
26 Dec 09
I think we shall certainly be listened to, Dawn. Actually, I think we always have been listened to. It's just that there has been precious little feedback. I'm not sure yet what Alice's role is and whether it involves the kind of feedback that many people desire. I'm certain, however, that it involves getting really important things done and, perhaps, telling us when they are!
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
27 Dec 09
I hope so. Feedback is what this site has been really lacking!
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
25 Dec 09
I really don't know what I would like to expect from Alice. I am glad to see that there is going to be an intermediary between the members of the site and the administration of the site and I think that this could lead to this site being a lot better than it already is. I've been a member here for five months now and it is now my favorite place on the internet, but I do think that listening to what we as users have to say can lead to a site that is even better than the mylot that I've come to know and love.
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
26 Dec 09
I think that your response is possibly more sensible than my question! Yes, why should we expect anything specifically of 'Admin' (or, rather, Customer Support)? If we expect certain things to begin with, they will, no doubt, fill that specific role but might ignore other things which are actually more important.
Only by not expecting anything specifically (but, at the same time, expecting good in general) shall we get what we truly deserve from life.
@rainingdove72 (15)
• United States
25 Dec 09
Well, since she is new as admin. that would mean a new pair of eyes and ears to see and hear with. Not that the last admin. was bad. Just a new pair is usually a good thing because that means that things are "moving up".
Alice - just remember what it was like on this side of the fence (ha ha). I'm sure you'll do a wonderful job!
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
26 Dec 09
Your guess is as good as mine as to how 'new' she is. My impression is that she has worked for MyLot (or Waseringtech) for a good while. By the 'last' Admin, I suppose you mean 'Crash'. From what Alice says, he is very much still around. Some people, especially people very high up in the business structure, simply do not have the time they would like to have to be around the 'shop floor'.
I'm not at all sure that this Alice has ever been 'on this side of the fence'. MyLot is a very small organisation in terms of the people who are employed. I believe that they try hard to keep it that way so that we, as members, can get the most benefit from it that is possible (in terms of payment). I think that Alice may do several key jobs within the company. This is just another role which MyLot see as important but haven't found the resources to provide until now.
I certainly wish her every success!
@savypat (20216)
• United States
25 Dec 09
I think this is wonderful, new people often appear to be frustrated and I think having direct input to mylot will help us keep more of them. It's a great way to start the new year. Welcome Alice
@jambi462 (4576)
• United States
24 Dec 09
Yes it was definitely an interesting alert to receive today. The admin at mylot are somewhat mysterious but now it seems we have someone to talk to. I'm sure that mylot will be able to give us some good responses to our feedback on their sites and with the combined forces of both the mylot users and the mylot admin we could continue to help mylot become a better site. It's already a great site but just think of what it could become with all of the ideas of the mylot users. Thanks for the opportunity Alice and mylot staff!
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
25 Dec 09
Hello, Owlwings. Yes, I'm delighted we now have our very own intermediary. MyLot have finally done what I mainly expect from any site admin people - they've listened to their members and given them what they've asked for. Any site is only ever as good as its members, no matter how many bells and whistles and dancing girls flit across the screen, and I think admin have realised that, to keep the standard of MyLot up, they have to appoint an official, rather than leaving it to the usual suspects to try to put other members on the right track.
What Alice says comes from the top, and perhaps we'll see the end, or at least a great reduction, in discussions which we know as soon as we see them will be trash bin fodder. I think MyLot will be even better in the New Year, for all of us.
