Stack Overflow Inc.: radio silence continues

[cellio]

I've made some updates to my timeline post, but for those following me via the feed, some updates:

• On Oct 6, David Fullerton, CTO, posted a pseudo-apology. I say "pseudo" because while, on first read, it sounds promising, the post doesn't actually apologize for what they did to me, only for hurting me more than they would have otherwise. David admitted to the serious process flaws and promised to contact me to apologize and discuss next steps.

• On Oct 8 I received email, repeating the accusation that I violated the code of conduct and again without specific citations. David also claimed that I was warned and quoted two messages from Sara Chipps (that director) which do not sound like the warnings David says they are. The email said (as did the post) that they are developing processes for both removal and reinstatement and I could apply to go through the latter when it exists. The target for having that policy was Friday.

• I immediately responded to the email (1) asking for what specifically I said that was a CoC violation and (2) asking for a conversation. David ignored the first and declined the second. This is the last email I have received from SE. I updated my answer to David's post to report on the timing of the email I received, as I'd promised the community to do.

• Sometime in here, I am told, a community manager told moderators (via a post on the private team) that I have been told what the CoC violations were. This is not true.

• On Oct 11 (Friday), SE published those processes for moderator removal and reinstatement on the private team. The post was described to me as an announcement, not a draft for comments.

• As of Sunday afternoon, Oct 13, SE has not sent me any email about this process or how I can set it in motion. I sent email asking about it.

• Update: On October 15 22:30 UTC, I received a response saying they are finalizing the process this week and they'll share the final version when it's ready. I have more to say about this in this post.

By the way, the "body count" -- the number of moderator positions either vacant or suspended -- is up to 79 (from about 50 individuals; some are on multiple sites), including four on Stack Overflow itself. One moderator deleted his accounts entirely. This is sad. It didn't have to be this way. :-(

Comments

[doctajonez]

Hi Monica,

I'm so sorry for what has been done to you, and I'm outraged at SO's behaviour, especially the pig-headed behaviour of some of the SO staff.

I used to have huge respect for Sarah Chipps, but over the last few weeks she has displayed her true colours. For someone who has been held up as an exemplar of progressive values, I find it astonishing how ill equipped she is for such a role, and the attitude she displays. Her behaviour should have earned her a prompt ejection from SO for gross misconduct, but the fact that the company has doubled down on this debacle shows that the demons are within the walls, and there's nothing that can be done at this point.

I read an interesting unrelated post from one of the SO employees, which to paraphrase a little stated that the company now pretty much disregards any feedback from the meta community. They feel that all they get from meta is negativity, nobody wants to actually interact with the community, and casually dismiss feedback as too negative to be constructive.

I'd suggest that if they only tend to get negative feedback, that might be for a very good reason. It should be a huge red flag to the company, and a massive cause for concern. Alas, it seems that things are at a point of no return, and I worry that this marks the decline of the whole network.

I truly hope you manage to get justice, whether that take the form of re-instatement, an apology, or anything else that would satisfy you.

Please keep us updated, I've been following your progress daily, and have been keeping my fingers crossed for you.