I really should have a form letter for this. I’m going to copy something into this as a reply and I’d appreciate it if people read this and keep it positive. I’m genuinely hoping for that outcome.
This is from my reply here from almost a week ago.
https://wordpress.org/support/topic/5-to-1-please-stop-this-while-you-still-can/#post-10581559
I’m getting very off topic but the thing with blogs is that they frequently devolve into a mess of either positivity (never saw that myself but I’m keeping an open mind) or negativity (OH YEAH, ALL THE TIME!)
The https://wordPress.org/support/ site is divided into sections for support of the WordPress code, support of plugins and themes, and reviews which is feedback.
When someone leaves a review here it is not a blog post. It’s their experience for that theme or plugin. Though as you know we’ve good software for blogging about that.
If someone leaves a review that is substantive about that plugin or theme then that’s fantastic. Gutenberg’s 4.9.8 callout had the desired effect. People are trying it and for the most part even their 1 star reviews have provided good feedback to improve it.
If someone just vents, hate posts, rage replies then that’s not for here. I don’t think you’re surprised that happens. Such behavior has a limited value and a short shelf-life here. These forums are moderated and no, that’s not censorship in case anyone wants to chime in that way.
You left a review of reviews. I commented about that as a moderator. You replied in an excellent fashion and brought it back to feedback about this plugin and editor. Much thanks!
*Drinks coffee, probably too much but here we are.*
The people who are coding Gutenberg, who are driving it forward, who support the users, who are doing this on their own time for the community are good people. These forums are 100% staffed by volunteers. I know you get that but others will read this and again here we are.
For their efforts they generally get a “thank you” but some disparage them, cast aspersions on their intentions and motivations. The whole effort gets accused by some and something negative and those users are occasionally downright mean and cruel. That may get tolerated on some blogs but that’s abuse and isn’t tolerated long here.
This applies to all the reviews on this site and it’s not a Gutenberg thing. The reviews have been moderated for years. These forums have been too and that should not surprise anyone.
If you are posting a review here and replying to reviews as if those reviews are blog posts then you’re missing the point about the reviews.
- These are not blog posts. These forums are no one’s soapbox.
- These replies are not blog post comments.
- 100% of the reviews here are about a user’s feedback for a plugin or theme.
- Sometimes when a plugin or theme has an upsell here then yes, that’s part of the experience and can be left in a review.
That’s not a complete list BTW.
When someone jumps all over the reviews and makes someone else’s review about their dissatisfaction then they’re not contributing to the reviews. They’re not helping the author of that theme or plugin. They’re not helping the reviewer. They’re just spreading unhappiness. That’s not useful and again, the reviews are not a blog post.
That person doing that does not get bonus points for @ing people repeatedly.
If you’re going to reply to a review, then please keep it about that person who left the review and their experience.
If you’re going to try to proselytize other people to your point of view then don’t. Leave your own review. Have that conversation there. That’s were it belongs and that’s why some people’s replies are archived.
*Re-reads*
Look, no one here is going after anyone. No one here wants to <INSERT NEGATIVE THING HERE> and that includes users who leave reviews and reply to reviews. Please keep that in mind when you read any moderator’s reply as well. The volunteers who support WordPress, the forums, Gutenberg, etc. deserve that consideration. Think about that before replying.
