The woes of an archivist

[scottishlass]

Sometimes I really ask myself if I wasn't better off just being a writer. I mean as a writer I just have to worry about my plot and characters, and have others post my fiction and I can also bugger them to post my stories to boot. Oh what a wonderful life it would be ... but no - through some delusion of grandeur *snicker* I had to be an archivist as well. *sigh*
Stupid of me. Why?
Here is just one example of an email I received today (that was number 11 I got in the course of one week):

I had a story that I sent in over a week ago and it still hasn't been posted, even though you've updated several times. It's title was XXX XXX XXX. If you do not allow no [that should probably read as new] submissions and still work off old ones you should have said so on your web site. If you can handle the submissions let someone else take over your site.


Ahhhhh... wonderful, thank you, bad Una for not keeping her readers and writers happy ... and being clairvoyant enough to know ALL the stories on the site by name.
What they don't do is READ! Nedra is handling the new submissions and ever since the blackout in NYC I haven't heard of her. *Sigh* ... okay, now I go look for a puppy to kick .. or an archivist ...
Ta ta

Comments

[sg1padawan.livejournal.com]

*eg*

<bitchy!Sez>This is what your reply to the little prat should be.

Sure! You're volunteering to take it over? Want to do the job yourself? Just let me know where to forward XX MB worth of files, and which email address you would like me to send the 500 stories I have in my backlog. (Sez's note: Okay, it's probably not that many, but a little exaggeration to put someone in their place is okay ;)) Oh, and you'll need to contact the domain registrar so we can see about getting the domain name transferred. I hope you have your webspace all set up and ready to go?

Once you've got it all organised, let me know and I'll come visit.</bitchy!Sez>

*cough* Sorry, couldn't help myself.

Seriously, m'dear? Fuck 'em. I'd tell them to stick it fair up their arse.

And I'd archive your stuff. ^___^ You're welcome to bug me anytime you like. *hugs*

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

Ahh but Sez you are already archiving my stuff ... in fact you are the only archvist who is archiving it *grin* May I bug and kick you now? *evil cackle*

But seriously, I showed real restraint and told her and others to be patient. I mean I can't just hop onto a plane to NYC and hold a gun to Nedra's head, can I? :)
But some ppl are just too full of crap. They really don't know that an archive of this size takes up huge amounts of time.

Hugs,
Una

[http://users.livejournal.com/_sweetangel/]

Chère Una,

I'm sorry about those unhappy readers and writers. They can't even figure out how much time it could take to do your archivist work. They are complaining and whining without thinking about that and about all the time you sincerely give to that project. It can get really frustrating for you...

If you could ever need some help, by all means, I would be glad to help you.

*Hugs*
À bientôt,
Marie

[dragonamara.livejournal.com]

Seriously, m'dear? Fuck 'em. I'd tell them to stick it fair up their arse.

Hear Hear!

Don't let the morons get you down Una...they're morons ^_^

[sg1padawan.livejournal.com]

I'm the only archivist? Really? Coooooool! ^___^

And feel free to bug and kick me whenever you like. Just don't be offended if I tell you to go shove it. LMAO Kidding, kidding. <3

Dude, honest to god, you have WAY more patience and restraint than me. I couldn't NOT tell them to go and jump in the lake.

Re: plane to NYC - well, they probably expect it. *rolls eyes* If you're not flying halfway 'round the world, you're not trying HARD enough! ;)

And we know that they don't realise what a HUGE undertaking maintaining a site like yours is. But for those who DO understand, WE appreciate you. :)

*hugs*

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

Hi,

oh they won't get me down ... it is just slightly annoying .. like an insect bite that you can't avoid scratching because it itches.
But what really irritates me that I have been explaining the workings of the site again and again. On the updates, in the guestbook, in my rants and most of all on the submission pages on site. Ppl just click but do not read and think anymore. It is as if the whole transfer of eye - brain - understanding is totally switched off. *shrug*

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

Ahh yes, dedication ... like a mother to a child, like OB to his work ... *snort*

You even have my permission to tell me to bugger off, Sez, if I ever become an annoying little asshole. I expect no less from you :)
As for restraint. I have a mean violent temper, I normally don't have any restraint, but I have too often blown a fuse in fandoms that I try to keep myself in check. So don't get any ideas, I'm not rooting for sainthood, *lol*, I just don't want to get into trouble again IF I let loose.
But the overall stupidity of people is definitely grating on my nerves.

Did you, too, notice that all the complainers are bad spellers? One day I'll dissect one or two of their emails publicly on site just to show them off as the idiots they are. Double negations, wrong apostrophes and overall bad grammar; even I wasn't that bad when I was their age, both in my own language and in English.

[sg1padawan.livejournal.com]

You even have my permission to tell me to bugger off, Sez, if I ever become an annoying little asshole. I expect no less from you :)

LMAO! You have my word, not that I believe it will ever actually, y'know, HAPPEN. *G* You becoming an asshole, or me telling you to bugger off, I mean. ;)

So don't get any ideas, I'm not rooting for sainthood, *lol*, I just don't want to get into trouble again IF I let loose.

I still say bugger 'em. What are they going to do? NOT post their badly written, horribly spelt, non-punctuated teenybopper fic? Ohhhh noooooo....!! What a tragedy! </sarcasm> ;)

Did you, too, notice that all the complainers are bad spellers?

I did. It constantly amazes me how poor people spell. I can forgive some of it... but how hard is it to use a dictionary or a spell check?! Oy vey...