Attn: @ae-omar @aniputapet.chain
As requested and promised - here’s my two cents for getting traction on Stack Exchange.
WHY, WHO, WHAT, WHERE, HOW:
The Stack Exchange’s forum post (linked above) starts off with stating that it is important to get aeternity / deapp developers “the support they deserve when they start to work with æternity”…
Ironically, this pivotal msg is undermined when ppl who are not part of the tech side of the ecosystem have their non-dev inquiries ignored and are robotically told to support the Slack Exchange. (ie: Getting the opposite of support they deserve.) Ditto re: the put-downs of entire audiences with continual mass msgs labeling all those just seeking answers (overwhelmingly to legit questions) complainers.
Instead — my suggestions (take any or none at all as you see fit):
-
Go thru sm, chats, forums, emails – and send a short, private msg to those that have asked questions about anything tech related. Intro yourself. Let them know their questions matter, that they matter - that you want to get them the support they deserve and empower the community to build better together. Give them the steps needed at this stage for Stack Exchange.
-
Follow up with every developer that participated in the recent hackathon. Write them individually and ask them about their project. Let them know you appreciate their participation and would like to invite them to continue the convo / learning / building on Stack Exchange and the steps to get it going.
-
Reach out to the startups that have built / are building on ae – whether that be via Ventures, proposals to the Foundation, or otherwise. Write them individually and let them know that you know they / their projects need tech and community support… And that Stack Exchange is a real effort to bridge those needed support gaps.
-
Have a global all-hands-on-deck virtual call (not mass email) with aembassadors / group leads in China, India, Africa – anywhere active groups are building on AE are - and talk to them openly about how to help each other develop on AE better. Talk about a Stack Exchange as the shared space to solve, share, disseminate new dev info / materials in a way that is streamlined vs each their own across dozens of platforms. Vow to take the 30 second effort to use an online translation tool if needed to try to understand what someone has reached out to ask or share. Stop the name calling and blindly banning – point them to a resource in their native language (quick way to do that: set up a directory of all resources / platform links by language…), @ an aembassador that could help them, or simply paste the translation below theirs for the community to be inclusive.
-
Feature a wkly blog story highlighting developers or community members (written in their own words!) from around the world and share it on the AE SM channels… Support community voices and encourage people to know about each other’s successes / perspectives / approaches. Start with asking a few ppl to do an blog story for AE on why they choose AE to build on, triumphs, hurtles, wants, how Stack Exchange could help… Publish them / promote developing on AE bottom up (community driven) vs top down (advertising pcs coming from AE)…
And general suggestions in response to the exponentially growing problem on the two SM platforms / groups I am a member of (the things that caused me to post the last month in a channel for the first time/s) —>
-
Answer questions openly and honestly… It’s better to say you don’t know or don’t have a public response than to reply with something completely unrelated or unfounded.
-
Be respectful… (ie: Don’t threaten to block someone for sharing a project they built on AE and are excited about - as was the case this morning on Telegram. Don’t use the clap emoji to support someone calling anyone else a troll. Don’t use the shrug emoji when someone is asking you a serious question about an issue that has affected him / her professionally or financially. Don’t argue with and belittle community members afar when they post about a 51% attack happening because you don’t see it on your side. Don’t have a bot telling the price every couple hrs and make fun of those that bring up the need to consider market / role market plays…) Support those in the ecosystem no matter where they are logging in from and support – support decentralization…
-
Don’t presume you know what others have / want / need or have done… Listen and/or ask.
What I say here and on the SM channel – I say bc I give a damn.
And with that – I am going silent again as frankly I am not sure I am helping and hurting in any way is not why I spent the time saying any of this.
