What is the role of Rangers?

Question

I'm about ready to hang it up with WikiTree. I spend way too much time for too little thanks, and now it seems I'm badgered by Rangers. I do add sources when I have them. I do clean up merges after they're made. I am not a vandal. I try to be kind to everyone. I re-read the Honor Code & re-take the pre-1700 quiz periodically & thought that I was a good WikiTree member. Yet if I create a profile and don't add the sources within 5 minutes, I get a lecture from the Ranger on duty. I just did a merge & am actively looking for a better source while tidying it up - while it's open for editing - and I get a note saying "Now, please finish the task by combining all the text content into a single narrative." <sigh> I'm working on it! I'm sorry that I'm not as fast as expected.

The speed with which I receive cautions from Rangers really makes me feel like I'm being watched - specially. And that pretty much creeps me out.

Comments

Liz!

You know I think you are wonderful and the work you do here on WikiTree is wonderful.  You were here when I joined and you helped me to learn the ropes and...

If you jumped off one of our big ole shared limbs you might break something.  So don't.  Stay and understand that you make a difference everyday that you are here.  To me and to everyone else you touch.

Mags

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Hi Liz

Me too! to what Mags said.  You were so kind and friendly to me when I felt crushed during my first ventures out into the big tree.  I still have your email in which you gave me a hug and some very good advice about “instant forgiveness”.  Here's a big hug from me. Please don't go.

Maryann

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Thanks Maryann! I'm still trying to work up to Dad's "instant forgiveness" level! ("Instant forget" I'm better at LOL.)

Answer 1

Hi Liz,

You're such a wonderful contributor and important part of WikiTree. I hope you decide to stay and not hang it up.   I appreciate you bringing this up and I've brought it up with the Rangers so we can improve on how we do things.  As with so many things on WikiTree, the Rangers project is always trying to do better, and of course, welcome any feedback on how we can do that.

Comments

Thanks Eowyn! I wasn't fishing for a compliment, but I'm glad for it - I was beginning to worry that I was being watched as prelude to being banned for some reason. Reassuring to know that I'm not on a Ranger watchlist. Cheers, Liz

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Let me reassure you again - you are absolutely not about to be banned! :)

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I ban you from leaving.  There.  Mags

Answer 2

Hi Liz, 

I'm so very sorry you had a bad experience with our Ranger team.  I've not investigated the details of why you were contacted, but I'm quite certain you are no vandal.  Many of your actions you describe above are those of a model WikiTree-er.

Please check out this post I put up earlier today, it says a little about what the Rangers are trying to do:

http://www.wikitree.com/g2g/169847/whats-a-watchdog

Individual Rangers are human volunteers who are trying their best as they understand it to contribute to WikiTree in a positive way.  We do have Ranger Leaders you could contact to help when there are misunderstandings or other issues, and beyond that the Team.

Thank you for posting and letting it out here in G2G.  One voice often speaks the words of more than one person.

I'm sure we'll figure it out and get you back to WikiTree-ing happily as quickly as possible.

Comments

Thanks Keith - it wasn't the Ranger that caused me concern, it was Ranger activity (in general, not personal). The notices I've received have been polite & not out-of-line with what is being asked of the Rangers. I was taken aback at the greatly expanded scope of what Rangers were watching, and that I was being watched (apparently) so closely. I'm reassured & will carry on. Thanks for your reply.

Answer 3

Liz,

I am so, so sorry that you received a completely incorrect impression.  I'm the guilty Ranger here who left that message.

I was watching ALL merges at the time, to thank the people who cleaned up the bios afterward and leave messages on those bios that had (a) not been combined when the merge was completed and (b) were especially messy.

I wasn't paying any attention to who the profile managers were - my intent was to suggest that the person who did the merge (which, in this case, was NOT you) please make an effort to clean up the bio.

You are right that I did it very fast after the merge was completed - I was keeping up with merges as well as I could as they were happening.

Although you and I have never had any direct contact (as far as I recall), your name is very familiar to me as one of the most active, most knowledgeable, and most conscientious members here.  If I had not been rushing so, trying to keep up with the merge activity, I might have noticed that you were the manager, in which case I would have sent you a private message to let you know that somebody completed a merge on one of your profiles and left that clutter,

I feel absolutely awful that I have caused you grief by my brash action and promise to work slower in the future in the hope of avoiding upsetting anyone else here.

Comments

I'll admit to noticing Liz's good work last night during my own Ranger shift. I was keeping an eye on some merges and matches that were happening a little too quickly without good collaboration, and I noted that Liz was leaving very helpful notes on the relevant profiles.

I think we Rangers have eagle eyes for activity that could muck up our lovely global tree, and are very quick to send messages. I'll also remember to give folks some time to tidy up before pouncing on them with a reminder.

Thanks, Liz and Gaile, for all you do!

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Gaile - it wasn't anything you did personally. As a Greeter, I know how hectic watching a feed can be. It was the accumulation of Ranger notice/notices that I'd experienced that was getting to me. I'm all reassured now, so no worries. But... Just the nature of what Rangers do make it a teensy bit upsetting to receive a comment from one - it evokes a reaction similar to getting pulled over by a police officer. And if they're getting to me, I wonder what newbies feel like? Cheers, Liz

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Does this mean pepper spraying people that don't clean-up quickly after merges wouldn't be a very good suggestion at the moment?  :D

Answer 4

Liz, I'm a 7 day a week Ranger, just look at my badges. I know you do good work, so I'm not likely to leave you "clean up" messages if I see your name in the activity feeds.

Answer 5

It is a large red flag to hear how you're feeling Liz.

I've always respected you and your work and still burn with embarrassment when I remember how I rushed to caution you on a technical detail, when it turned out I was the one who was misinformed!

Although I resigned the Rangers earlier this year because of health issues (surgery), I recognize their vital contributions to keeping our wonderful tree secure from vandals, etc.

Thank you for bringing your concerns out for discussion. I agree the way Rangers work needs to be modified. We all need to think back to our early days here, and how we'd feel if someone popped up 'out of nowhere' to correct a technical fault. It would creep me out and I regret not being more sensitive to that while I was a Ranger.

WikiTree will continue to evolve and grow into what we all want it to be - an open friendly community with reliable profiles of our ancestors. Your question is vital to that growth. Part of that evolution will be learning from our mistakes, including learning how to be better Rangers.

It would be a great loss if you were to give up on us, Liz, and I would feel it personally very much. The special touches you give the profiles you work on have always delighted me. Please stay.

Answer 6

Liz,

Sorry to hear about your experience. Personally, I admire your work. Stick around. Don't leave us.

Bob

Answer 7

Liz, Your fantastic work is so valuable to WikiTree. I am the one who ought to be chastised. I take way too long to clean up after a merge because I get the merge request when I am browsing my emails - decide to check it out and merge it if it's ok and because I'm in the middle of cruising through heaps of emails I leave cleaning up until later.

Answer 8

Wow y'all. Just Wow. I am overwhelmed <blushing>.  Maybe I should complain more often!  Just kidding - sorta. I SO appreciate all the kind words! You never realize how much you need a pep talk until you get one... and to get so many. Wow. Thank all of you so much!