Author Topic: Interesting developements...  (Read 268 times)

Offline Bear and Ragged

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Interesting developements...
« on: June 14, 2014, 11:13:56 am »
Seeing the subject of this weeks poll, it's 'interesting' that the most recent develpements with Groundspeak are:
Posted in the GAGB Facebook page.

Quote
Dave Palmer

It is with a extremely heavy heart [in fact over the last 24 hours, I've shed many a tear, as I've told people, ad read messages] that of Midnight GMT+1 13th June 2014. I ceased to be a Groundspeak Volunteer Reviewer.

Over the last few months, the gulf between how I work to provide the best support the community needs and deserves. And how Groundspeak expect me to work in a Corporate manner. Has widened to such a extent, that it became irreparable.

The recent incident, which because I achieved a perfect result means I bow out on Cloud Nine,

Has show that Groundspeak has lost it's way, it regards to it's customers, who are hobbyists. And now instead requires them to be treated as business customers.

So it was with a heavy heart, that I found that I could not meet Groundspeak's requirements to comply with a multi page document on accepted behaviour. Which override the needs of the community to comply with Corporate Ethos.

This issue being deliberately escalated to cause as much trouble for me personally, by a individual I will not name. Made me realise, just how much Groundspeak has lost it's way.

The company which started off as one Owned and Run by Geocachers, has grown into one so large. That people with specialised skills have had to be brought on board, these people not being Geocachers, but being turned into Geocachers. Means that the true understanding of the Hobby and the people who form it's community, has been lost to a Corporate Ethos. Where the Company comes before the needs of the customer.

Several months ago, Groundspeak were "requiring" a Cache Owner to post to a Cache Description, That is was "not" to be accessed, by RoW, because the Landowner of the property the RoW ran over, but not the property the cache was located on. Requested so.

Despite me sending 2 very polite and clear emails to Groundspeak, explaining that the "requirement" was illegal under UK Access Laws. I got the reply back "Groundspeak complies with all reasonable requests by a Landowner", this showed a lack of understanding of Local Law, and a total ignoring of what I had explained.

To block the "requirement" I was forced to send a strong worded email, pointing out, that if the "requirement" was posted to the Cache Page. It would open the Cache Owner and possibly Groundspeak for requiring it to be posted, to Legal Action under UK Access Laws.

But despite the fact I had first made two attempts to politely and quietly resolve the issue. Having both being ignored. I became the person at fault.

From that point forward, I knew that the gulf between what was best for the community, and Groundspeak's now Corporate Ethos was getting ever wider.

So I spent several months, dreading every direct email off Groundspeak, wondering when they came in, whether that would be the one to remove me as a Volunteer.

So when the current issue arose, and I did what I had to stop a small community from splintering to pieces. This was not taken into account, despite a offer to request those involved in the dispute, contact Groundspeak directly.

Instead I was informed that because I had failed to read the multi page document, on expected Reviewer behaviour, and comply. I had 14 days in which to resign or be removed as a Volunteer.

I chose the immediate option of resigning and set the cut off as Midnight GMT+1 13th June. Because I can no longer Volunteer for a Company, which has so lost it's way, and instead become like any other company in that it has become a Corporate Entity.

I would like to thank my former colleagues, who are special friends. I have been blessed and privileged to work with you, and watch the team grow.

Not working with you, will just like no longer being a Volunteer, leave a huge hole in both my life and my heart.

To the community I can only say that I owe so much gratitude for the last eight years, which have been so special. That now words can adequately express my gratitude to you

So with tears in my eyes, and a heavy heart, for the final time I sing off with

Deceangi

Link > https://www.facebook.com/groups/thegagb/permalink/776524675721325/


For those of us that have been caching for more than a year or two, there are shades of previous discourse from several years ago...
I have a Geocaching problem...
Work gets in the way!

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Offline Bear and Ragged

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Re: Interesting developements...
« Reply #1 on: June 14, 2014, 11:17:04 am »
And, if you're not on farcebook, link to the GAGB site > http://gagb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=71066#post71066
I have a Geocaching problem...
Work gets in the way!

Offline walktall

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Re: Interesting developements...
« Reply #2 on: June 14, 2014, 05:51:45 pm »
Thank you for that B&R. We talked about this at the Splash Mob event to day; TJ mentioned it to me as I hadn't heard about it.

Very sad, Deceangi has done some excellent work for the caching community and I think it's GS loose he has gone :(
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Offline Griff Grof

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Re: Interesting developements...
« Reply #3 on: June 14, 2014, 06:28:11 pm »
Thank you for that B&R. We talked about this at the Splash Mob event to day; TJ mentioned it to me as I hadn't heard about it.

Very sad, Deceangi has done some excellent work for the caching community and I think it's GS loose he has gone :(

Yes, thanks for posting this here B&R. I too was saddened when I heard TJ say this.

I think Deci's enthusiasm really did do brilliance for our UK community, he has organised the UK Mega account tender process since Harrogate, and he has really got involved with local caching groups, I believe he posted a couple of times on our old forum.

And I agree about GS losing such a great reviewer.
I really do agree with him with regards to GS heading in the way of corporate companies  :(
I really, really do hope GS can start listening to us and remind themselves of the hobby that is keeping their company alive - it is unreasonable to upset people over their own hobby.  :(

What do you think GS will do, now that Deci has brought his experiences to our attention ???
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Offline L8HNB

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Deci resign's
« Reply #4 on: June 14, 2014, 11:56:48 pm »
I'm sure you guys who are in the know have heard the news that Deceangi has thrown in the towel with Ground Speak.
Deci has been a stalwart for UK caching since we began and while the actions he has taken have not always gone smoothly or been popular we feel that he has been a fantastic asset to UK caching.
We have no personal interest here, We've never met him, but have respected the work that he has done over the years.
He has put a post on gc.com UK forum explaining his reasons for resigning.
H.

Offline Griff Grof

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Re: Interesting developements...
« Reply #5 on: June 15, 2014, 08:22:39 am »
@L8HNB thanks for posting this  :)

You may have missed B&R's thread, so I have merged both your topics together  :)
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Offline L8HNB

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Re: Interesting developements...
« Reply #6 on: June 15, 2014, 09:18:27 am »
Oops!  Thanks Griff...
 :-[

 


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