Tact Options

[fameONE]

Definition: Tact means that you can deal with people in a manner that will maintain good relations and avoid problems. It means that you are polite, calm, and firm.

Lets examine this a bit further, shall we?

An online community is definitely the place to hide behind a screenname or persona and get away with using as little tact as possible. But the importance of such a trait shouldn't be overlooked.

Life can be made a hell of a lot easier if one can properly communicate with another. Every individual reading this, particularly the mods (being they're in a leadership position) should understand how exactly to deal with people in such a manner. Why? Well, it would put a lot of these bullshit, petty and immature CB problems to the side.

Just a thought. This will, more than likely, go over many of your heads and it'll rot away in The Lounge with about 5 responses because most users on CB won't know how to respond to this, but thats ok, because as long as its read then thats all that matters.

[*Zatanna*]

At age 30, tact is still feels like something of an evolutionary process. At least for me it is. I say that because tact is relatively subjective to your audience, or your peers. Not everyone is going to be eloquent and not everyone is going to understand what it is you’re attempting to convey.

As someone who is relatively new to the Staff here, and also as someone who is more than marginally older than the general age of posters here, tact is something I’m perpetually thinking of when replying, closing, moving, et al. However – there are times when nothing you say, not matter how diligently you are trying to communicate will actually penetrate a reader’s mind. You try to explain yourself, you’re being too verbose. You post the bullet-point version of your thoughts, you’re not posting enough and could be considered to be potentially spamming. I think there are a number of cB posters that might find themselves in that frame of mind. I could be over-analyzing, but it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been accused of being too cerebral.

I also would like to reiterate that there is not one *exact* way to deal with people. There never will be. People are too different and not everyone will take one’s meaning the way one might intend. Online communities are wonderful, but a great deal of context is lost when not communicating face to face. You do your best, but that’s all you can do. I think if you make a conscience effort to be tactful, it’s noticed or at best, appreciated.

I do not think that all of the “these bullshit, petty and immature CB problems” will subside if all the moderators use tact. That is NOT at all to say that we shouldn’t make every effort, I just honestly don’t believe it’s a solve-all. There are a few posters here that just do not care. But I welcome them and appreciate them as well. Why? Because I do not think a Stepford’s Wives version of online community is the best scenario. I’m not saying that is at all what you are suggesting. I guess my point is to basically try your best to have those traits you mentioned in your first sentence and perhaps the overall mood and relations of the community will improve, but it will never be perfect.

And I believe that tact isn't something that's inherent, it's learned and applied.