Basically I'm getting the feeling lately that I'm less and less suited to SLing. I'm not offensive to anyone (most of the time), but I find myself skimming over "help me" topics more and more. I'm just not finding the motivation. I haven't answered an eHelp for weeks, and that one was the first eHelp I'd answered for weeks.
On the other hand, I move topics and hide replies on a regular basis. I feel like I'm just using the SL position for those two things, really. I don't think I'm unsupportive, but I'm definitely not supportive, if that makes any sense.

I've given serious thought to resigning my SL position, because I don't think I'm worthy of it. At first I was enthusiastic about helping people here, but now I'm settling for chatting with my friends who I've met here, discussing issues (not personal issues, ones more like the kind you'd find in Race&Ethnicity, Political Teen and Religion&Philosophy), and helping people where I can if they ask a simple question.

I have zero confidence right now in my ability to be a proper Support Leader, so I'm honestly asking for my fellow SLs to rate me on it, and tell me whether or not I should just resign and go back to a normal member. If nobody tells me to remain an SL then I'll assume either nobody wants me to or that nobody cares enough, in either case I'll most likely quit.

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vote

But I don't know... I haven't exactly seen you do too much, as far as eHelps go.... But really, it's up to you... I'm just putting in my opinion and what I've seen you do.

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Well, it's gunna feel like you took a tray full of cookies and
BAKED EM UP IN YOUR ASS!! TO THE EXTREEEEEEME.

You don't detract from the overall eHelp system by not answering them. It's either neutral or positive. You'll find the motivation one day and contribute, lifting the "burden" off of other SLs. I'm not usually interested in most eHelps, but I read every new one in hope that there will be a perfect one for me--and those ones are worth it.

For that taking advantage of SL abilities, that's just not how I see it. Moderating Livewire isn't some sort of guilty pleasure, it's something that helps the site. If you were getting reckless with those abilities, you probably would've already had a talk with a mod. Just....don't think your moderation abilities are like your rewards for helping people. Don't think that you're part of some sort of machine where you put a little help in and get power out.

Every support leader is valuable no matter how often they contribute to ehelp. Because you can, and you will.

Post edited at 8:34 pm on Feb. 5, 2008 by hithere

Support Leaders aren't expected to be oozing with support at the seems.  I think you should keep the title.  You'll find motivation to go back to the eHelps and be supportive in topics soon enough.  

ps. for what it is worth, when I first started noticing you, the first thing I noticed was that you were very helpful to people.

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:)

Here's a frank confession: I don't answer eHelps. I used to, I used to do them a lot but now I barely come onto the forums, let alone the eHelp centre. I know school and life has been hectic for you and all of that, and no one expects you to be an eHelp machine. Like MariJani said, the most prominent thing about your posting is that you nearly always help in every topic, which is more than what could be said of many, MANY other support leaders on this site, myself included. This alone makes you eligible for the status of SL. It could be argued that we don't have enough support here on the forums anyway, so it's good that we have someone doing it. Don't feel guilty about it. I know you do occasionally answer eHelps, which is more than quite a few other SLs do.  The only thing to keep in mind is that when you reply an eHelp, you've helped that one person and lessened the load for others. It's not a matter of how many you answer, just that you do on occasion help someone, whether it be through the forums, the eHelp centre or just by 'doing things to keep LiveWire organised.' Things like topic moving and the deletion of inappropriate posts need to be done as well.

It's not a question of 'when' or 'how much'. You know how much I dislike it when people write substandard replies, and a lot of them.

Ignore the status - in a case like yours (constant help in the forums etc) there is no such things as being 'unworthy'. There will be some eHelps that you will be able and perhaps even want to answer. Save it for then and help that person as much as you can and when you can. For all the other times when you can't be bothered or don't have anything to say, it will be fine. Every little bit makes a difference you know. Giving up your status will only mean that in the future, you won't be able to look at the eHelps or answer them at all, even if you've got something to say. That would be a waste.

*NB - Grammar has gone to the dogs and I'm doing maths. Don't mind me and my bad posting. You get the gist of what I'm trying to say.

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When I get my love back, I will vanish.
Book, I wish to see your face.