Disrespecting.
 

Ok, I know Harley is not about and that is causing PMs/emails to go unanswered and things not done, but without him we would not have this site. He gives so much to RYL and when he needs to draw back and concentrate on his own life for once (don't we all?) all he gets is a load of abuse and disrespect.

How about some sympathy? he's obviously working hard and wouldn't stay away longer than he had to. When he's about he is up til all hours sorting this place out. ever thought that he couldn't afford to put time and money into RYL unless he was earning it in the first place??

so leave off, give the guy a break, yes it's annoying when there are things and changes only he can implement, but would you rather he'd shut the site down until he could come back?

This is an appeal for less of the sarcastic posts about him being away. I personally find it not only irritating and disrespectful, but think its a childish waste of time writing these posts because they don't actually achieve anything and they're a waste of forum space.

mand x

I haven't seen any of those in a while mands! but yes, good points *nods*

well said mand, I couldnt agree more

glad i'm not the only one who thinks this. i've been browsing some 'new' forums recently, the forum questions one for example and fed up of seeing these kind of posts, people complaining that things haven't been done yet. Silly things like colour schemes, ok so they're nice - but they're a luxury and it hardly prevents RYL from running smoothly.

Not having a webmaster prevents RYL for running smoothly. So when the head goes missing with no explanation people are going ot make comments, good or bad, it happens, deal with it. People are allowed to vent their frustration at things that don't get done when he's been gone for so long, call me heartless and horrible, I don't care. But the boss can't just go missing and not expect a few to go "Hey hold on a minute" especially when RYL is something that so many people depend on, and yes, it wouldn't still be here without Harley, we know that, but that doesn't excuse him from this.
He might've got a bit sick of this place (Everyone does eventually) and needs a break, or he might never be back. Who knows?

have you bothered asking anyone??

I did and i've been told he is busy working. You can vent frustration and i agree it is annoying and frustrating when things don't get done, but there is a way to do it and that way is without disrespecting anyone, especially someone who has worked so hard for this site.

Imagine he came on and found all these posts? He's been working his bum off (i'll bet more than a little of that money will go to RYL) and he ocmes back to people moaning and complaning, I'd imagine it would feel like a slap in the face and I wouldn't blame him if he felt he didn't want to come back.

No-one can be here 24/7 all year, every year. He has never claimed he was going to be. He's put in place measures which at the time were sufficient to try and keep it going in hi absence. he hasn't just left us on our own. we have a mod team, and a community team and we're all trying to keep things ticking over until his return.

I guess that since he funds a lot of RYL himself the place would shut down if he wasn't given your permission to go and work from time to time. It's the first time I can remember him to be gone for so long, and I've been here since ruin.

Just please stop having a go at him. real life goes on, he can't help that.

I think the problem is mand, is that he has been gone a pretty long time. and he is the only one able to do some stuff. if somebody else could do that (james, typsee maybe) then it would be fine. but when you're waiting around for stuff to be done that hasn't been done for a long time then you get frustrated.

Mandimoo no one is saying he can't have a life or go and work so basically stop taking peoples comment out of context, and don't exagerate them.
You have no idea what it must be like for the mods of this place now that's just gone. He's left them with everyhing to do, and as far as I'm aware it was a tough job even with him, so I'd say if they want to be angry, they can be.

This site is incredibley important to a lot of people, and he just ****s off with no explanation? How do you know what you were told is even true?

These comments are being made now becuase he's been gone far too long to not raise any suspicions, come on.

I can't believe you're defending his actions, to be honest. Yes he created this site. No he should not have just ****ed off :/

And don't even try to guilt trip anyone by using the fact that RYL costs money, that's pathetic.

Guys, stay calm or this is just gonna end up locked!

Sometimes it does feel like a ship with no one at the helm.

But equally I think there's a fine line between constructive criticism and slagging off. But then, even something simple like giving the head mods the same power as the webmaster would allow RYL to adapt and grow and respond to people's needs instead of stagnating as it sometimes feels like.

I'm in agreement with Crumple...

Harley has every right to take time out of RYL, he has a life like the rest of this place. From what i've seen, everyone has the greatest appreciation and respect for the work he has done on RYL over the years, but sometimes it would be nice if he popped in to say hi and to let us know what's going on in his life (even if it's just a rough guide - work or home life for instance) so RYL knows what's going on.

I feel RYL is, the majority of the time, in limbo. Not everything can be done without Harley being present.
It can become irritating when someone is missing for months on end. Quite a few members here pay to sponser this website, i'm sure they would like to see him around on occasion, just to let us know what he's working on, how he's doing, if anyone on RYL can do anything to help, etc.

From what i've seen, the only comments that have been made are in a jokey manner. No one to my knowledge has disrespected him. It's just merely become a joke to say "If you can get hold of him" because he's rarely ever around.

I have not seen any comments slagging him off. It just seems to me that you are making a thread to have a go at people to make yourself seem better. Where are these so called bad people making all these bad remarks?

QFT.

I haven't seen any comments like this?...

CONCUR!

PS. Fi you're amazing.

I've seen a couple posts mentioning Harley's absence but I haven't seen anything dismissive. Harley himself as said his absence has been a problem so there's not a lot of argument to be made on that point. I'm sure he's busy with something and its admirable he pays for site and keeps it running but its too bad he doesnt enjoy the site anymore (Iv'e see a few forum owners just run out of gas - it stops being fun). Maybe that can be changed someday. He's a brilliant guy and was central to sites success but when a person like that drops off things disintegrate. Actually for the disintegration that has taken place things could be much worse. It's a tribute to remaining crew and members that things haven't been worse. I have some serious issues with the place but its still ahead of a lot of other places. With some attention an upswing is not out of the question at all. In this economy its fortunate places that don't make money can even stay open.

I have a general disrespect towards Harley but it has nothing to do with how he runs his site.

[&whatfisaid]
Pretty much.

Yup, pretty much. & what Fi said.

Well said. x