Should I consciously protect myself from becoming too invested in the Stack Exchange community?

Question

It's happened to me before, with seemingly unimportant things, and yet it really did hurt. For instance... Feeling like a part of the community of a small, indy computer game; a vibrant community, made up of people who loved the game and supported each other beautifully. Then the game was sold off to some big company and taken in a new, flavourless but "easy", direction, so as to attract more players, even though the original spirit of the game and its community was lost. Of course both the old and the new owners wanted to maximise the profit from their product. I even still play the thing sometimes for kicks. But those of us who were emotionally invested in the game's community, and who had contributed to the success that made its expansion possible, were hung out to dry. Conclusion: don't invest emotionally in a product that will be managed according to profit-maximisation priorities.

The current kerfuffle on Stack Exchange has made me ask the same question about SE. I've only started being active since a few months ago, but I had started to become emotionally invested in being a part of the writing.stackexchange community. This even made me feel more at home when finding information on other SE sites, to which I'm not able to contribute answers.

And then SE Inc. shows that it really does not care about its community. I don't actually know what happened with Monica Cellio; perhaps she did exhibit some bigotry that I would find utterly unacceptable if I knew the details. But even in that (seemingly unlikely) case, SE Inc. has still treated all of us like low-value drones that make up a small, replaceable part of their product. At least, so it seems to me. No accountability, no communication with the community, violation of trust, and, most importantly, we have no agency when it comes to determining the future of our community.

Why should I engage with a community that is owned by a for-profit company that treats it as a part of its product and will always prioritise it less than its profits?

I'm kinda hoping somebody can provide a convincing counterargument...

[EDIT] So, the answer has been a rather clear yes, and after a few months of high SE activity, I'm mostly out now, just checking now and then to see if anything has changed (not hopeful)

Answer 1

Recent events make me (I believe) uniquely suited to address your question. I haven't talked about it much publicly, but I didn't resign as a moderator due to personal pain, nor do I think the events that led to my resignation preclude me from participating in the network.

The simple fact is that the new CoC, and the heavy-handed way the network has chosen to illustrate its use, appear to take away one of the most powerful tools available to any curator, which is the freedom to walk away from the conversation. I haven't waited for clarification from the company, because the company has already made it clear in so many ways that this is their new direction. Since any attempt at discussing the relevant issues is only met with forceful rebuff, I am left with no other options.

So those are my reasons. What are yours?

The calculus is simple. Do the benefits you derive from being part of the network exceed the risks and the drawbacks? Alternatively (if you're the more altruistic sort), does the good you bring to the world by participating in the network (imperfect as it is) exceed the potential harm being caused by the corporate overlords that host your work?

Only you can answer that question.

I'll leave you with this: it's always better for your growth as a human being to wrestle with something important and risk the pain of loss, than it is to wrap yourself in a cocoon that insulates you from all hurt but also deprives you of the possibility of experiencing true joy.

Answer 2

Why should I engage with a community that is owned by a for-profit company that treats it as a part of its product and will always prioritise it less than its profits?

To entertain yourself.

Basically, you should do just like SE inc., which treats you like a disposable resource: treat the network like a disposable resource too. Answering interesting questions is fun? Well, don't refrain: do it and have fun. You're doing it because you like to see your rep grow? Ok. You have a difficult problem that could be solved by asking here? Well, just take advantage of the network.

However, you probably shouldn't invest anything emotional here (or on any place else on the internet, but that's my personal opinion). Because you'll be bound to experience deception, whether it's right now or in ten years. Company's policy will change, community will change - or you will change - and at some point, you most likely won't find what you found entertaining anymore.

But it isn't really a problem, and there is no reason to avoid participating if you are just doing it for instantaneous benefits you gain from it. Also, binding some emotional relationships with other individuals you came to know here isn't that much of a problem: you don't take more risks in doing so than by making friends in the real world (and you can still keep that relation in case SE is taken down, provided you have other means of contacting them). But binding an emotional relationship with the network as a whole, or with SE inc. is definitely something I wouldn't do.

So, enjoy the moment, but just don't expect anything long term, and don't expect anything from the network in return. This way, you won't be disappointed.

Answer 3

I recommend you to research the term "intentional living".

The point is: living a meaningful life is (to a certain degree) about being in charge yourself. You don't do things because you can, or because they happen to you.

You lay out a (rough) plan what you want for yourself. And then you apply an "agile" mindset: you observe how things turn out in the real world, and then you make the necessary adjustments.

In the German language the term disappointment translates to Enttäuschung. Meaning: a disappointment is the ending of a deception.

In other words: one element of disappointment is about starting with unrealistic expectations. You basically lie to yourself about all the great things that should follow out of something you do.

Long story short: step back, and consider what you can get back realistically from engaging here. And then ask yourself how much that is worth to you. Then act accordingly.

Finally: I am not saying that should never trust others, or not have expectations. But you better be aware what exactly you expect, because only then you can do that self assessment to determine who realistic your expectations are.

Answer 4

... that treats it as a part of its product ... you are it's product, there fixed that for you.

Can you name one time in history that a unpaid workforce (even an volunteer one) ever being respected or acknowledged for their efforts by those that are financially benefiting from them?

That said, the last line of your question shows you already know the answer to your question, you just do not want to accept it.