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Sadly, it often happens with doing work on a volunteering basis, whether it is open source or organizing communities. I do put in as much effort I want or have
by stared 6y ago
Sadly, it often happens with doing work on a volunteering basis, whether it is open source or organizing communities.
I do put in as much effort I want or have committed to. But then, people expect more, even if I explicitly say I am not for that (e.g. discontinued projects, expecting free consulting, and getting offended for even a suggestion of paid options).
For example, I used to run the biggest Data Science group in Poland. It was a lot of effort to grow it from nothing to 14k participants. Yet, after explicitly saying that I don't answer questions about moderation (and even worse: messages pushing me to review a post right now), it keeps happening. If I don't (and I try to keep my boundaries), people get offended.
I think there should be a message (regardless of the context): if someone is volunteering, DON'T EVER push them to do more than they committed to. Pushing for more is as reasonable (and kind, respectful, etc.) as telling a stranger to go and clean your dishes. For free. Right now.
- hutzlibu 6y ago" if someone is volunteering, DON'T EVER push them to do more than they committed to" That should be a no brainer, but sadly people do it, becuse it works. People who volunteer have a tendency to help others beyound their own limits. And other people exploit that. Setting up your boundaries is extremly important, not just in open source.
- zimbatm 6y ago> Thanks for your request. Now that we are talking, do you mind swinging by and do my dishes? They have been piling in my sink as I was too busy fixing other people's lives. > Yours truly