Listen to them for they posses great wisdom.

[soul]

Every time I see a staff member post wether it be an administrator, Super Moderator, Chat Moderator, HelpLINK Mentor, Live Help Operator, Avatar Editor, or a Buddy I pay more attention to it almost as if I feel it is more important or as though it contains more wisdom. Does anyone else feel this way? Do you think their posts contain above average wisdom?

[Hyper Sonic]

I could have made this topic myself xD
I do not think their posts contain more wisdom but they are perceived to have more wisdom because they have the power to back up what they say for the most part

[Acheron]

On average, you're probably right: thanks to the selection process the staff can weed out the less helpful candidates. On the other hand, I wouldn't credit them with any kind of superhuman wisdom, and no more so than many of the non-staff members.

[soul]

I also think the fact that many of their posts are longer than average they tend to catch my attention more.

[Hyper Sonic]

This is true but all posts look short on my widescreen monitor and this is only 1440 pixels wide xD

Do not assume that longer is better though, many of my one line replies contain useful and helpful advice, plus nobody reads the essay of a post

[eunoia]

So uhm... bluntly, this thread makes me kind of sad/uncomfortable. I know that wasn't your intention, of course, it's not like I'm actually upset or anything. It's more of a "I wish people could see beyond the roles among us."

I just... I don't know. I think everyone here is such a valuable member of our community and I don't think post counts or the color of our names or how long we've been here matters, in the long run. What matters, to me, is that we are, and remain, a welcoming and diverse community.

I know, personally, I feel pretty darn special if anyone replies to a thread I make. And I read all of the replies! No matter how long they are or who they're from, I appreciate the time someone took to respond to me and I value what they have said.

I mean, sure, the people on staff are on because they love helping people and, after applying, they were accepted to do just that. But I was a "regular" member here for years, literally, before I ever applied to be on staff. Some of my closest friends here were never staff members, aren't staff members anymore, and still others are staff.

The best advice I've been given on TeenHelp came from another person. It didn't matter what their position was, in the community. The bottom line was always, to me, that they were a member of our community. I guess to me that's what TH is about. We're a community. None of us are inherently more special than another person simply because of the color of our user name. We are all wonderful. (I'm so cheesy, I know. What's worse is I mean every word. )

I guess that's all I'll say, for now, before I gracefully bow out. xD

[primus diddy]

Funny how Jess just provided a perfect example of what the OP is talking about :P.

Staff member posts tend to be great. If they didn't make great posts they wouldn't be on staff. I don't think the advice is always better or different from the average members', but they do usually take extra time to qualify and explain their advice.

[Katrina]

I agree with what's been said. This thread also makes me feel slighty..uncomfortable, I guess, would be the right word. Jessie is exactly right. I, as Katrina, and no other "categories" read every single word written by every single poster who replies to my thread. I love new replies. They make me feel special, haha. Now I have to qualify my opinion so I don't sound crazy. Oh deary.

Honestly, though, my name being bold and green doesn't make me any better than you with your purple name. [: It's just a color. We do *extra* stuff on here [ie: the LHOs operate Live Help, the moderators moderate the different forums] but it doesn't necessarily make our advice better. My advice could be "better" than yours and yours could be "better" than mine [this also all depends on what one means by "good advice"], but not because I'm a staff member and you're not, just because I am Katrina and you are whoever you are. We have different strengths and weaknesses, and there will be some forums where I'll be able to provide more to a poster, and some forums where you'll be able to provide more to a poster.

By the way, we all do this in the staff forums too; it's because we care about each other and because we care about you guys [or, I'll speak for myself here, I care and I'm fairly certain the rest of the staff members do as well]. Take care.

[soul]

I didn't mean to make anyone feel uncomfortable I was merely stating how I felt strangely drawn to your posts

[Toast]

For me it isn't staff members, but users you see around a lot. Especially if they have given intelligent posts before.

[Katrina]

Originally Posted by soul

I didn't mean to make anyone feel uncomfortable I was merely stating how I felt strangely drawn to your posts

Don't worry. I'm sure it's just me and Jessie being ourselves. xD Thank you for the sweet compliment.

And I agree, Katelyn. I highly respect users who have been around a long time and are very active.

[Hyper Sonic]

Originally Posted by Jessie

So uhm... bluntly, this thread makes me kind of sad/uncomfortable. I know that wasn't your intention, of course, it's not like I'm actually upset or anything. It's more of a "I wish people could see beyond the roles among us."

I just... I don't know. I think everyone here is such a valuable member of our community and I don't think post counts or the color of our names or how long we've been here matters, in the long run. What matters, to me, is that we are, and remain, a welcoming and diverse community.

I know, personally, I feel pretty darn special if anyone replies to a thread I make. And I read all of the replies! No matter how long they are or who they're from, I appreciate the time someone took to respond to me and I value what they have said.

I mean, sure, the people on staff are on because they love helping people and, after applying, they were accepted to do just that. But I was a "regular" member here for years, literally, before I ever applied to be on staff. Some of my closest friends here were never staff members, aren't staff members anymore, and still others are staff.

The best advice I've been given on TeenHelp came from another person. It didn't matter what their position was, in the community. The bottom line was always, to me, that they were a member of our community. I guess to me that's what TH is about. We're a community. None of us are inherently more special than another person simply because of the color of our user name. We are all wonderful. (I'm so cheesy, I know. What's worse is I mean every word. )

I guess that's all I'll say, for now, before I gracefully bow out. xD

Originally Posted by Katrina

Don't worry. I'm sure it's just me and Jessie being ourselves. xD Thank you for the sweet compliment.

And I agree, Katelyn. I highly respect users who have been around a long time and are very active.

That was very, very cheesy and has now made me feel uncomfortable.
I respect members who demand respect - this is either through being a all round good person and/or from having power over other users

[eunoia]

Originally Posted by soul

I didn't mean to make anyone feel uncomfortable I was merely stating how I felt strangely drawn to your posts

Like Katrina said, you haven't done anything wrong! We really appreciate your compliment. :]

Originally Posted by Hyper Sonic

That was very, very cheesy and has now made me feel uncomfortable.
I respect members who demand respect - this is either through being a all round good person and/or from having power over other users

I'm not sure what you're saying?

[Gaia]

I always liked the replies which related to me the best. When I wasn't staff, I found some staff intimidating in their replies... I can't explain it, perhaps it was just their colourful user name.
Personally, if I post a thread again, I will read every single reply, and love the one which does give me the best advice, and it's not always a staff member, though, since a lot are chosen for their advice giving abilities, it does tend to be.
I also, lovelovelove, getting advice from people I'm close to on here, and know well, they understand better, and know how to react to what I'm saying.
I'm kind of rambling here... I can't seem to make sense just now.

But I do agree with Jessie, no one on here is of more worth than anyone else.
We're all here to help, and be helped, perhaps some more than others, just because your name isn't lit up in lights, doesn't mean you don't contribute, you're part of something wonderful, just remember that.
Lou.

[udontno]

I'm not sure what to think of this thread either.

To be honest, I tend to read staff member's replies more thoroughly than other member's. I expect more out of the staff member's replies--such as good grammar, accurate advice, etc. But I don't think that makes me better than the average Joe user. Anyone can do the things that I do. Anyone can look up resources for someone, form an opinion, or write about something from experience. Can they do it as well as I can? Maybe, maybe not. Not everyone can type without errors, not everyone is willing to proofread or put the time into researching things to answer people's questions.

If it is a thread of mine, I'm happy with all of the replies I get. I don't care if the person's username is red, orange, yellow, pink, or purple! I enjoy reading all of them and taking all of the different views in. There are a lot of different people on this site and we have a wide variety of people on staff. It allows them to give different views on subjects. A Buddy can sometimes come up with a possible solution to a problem that I might not have thought of.

[Hyper Sonic]

Originally Posted by Jessie

I'm not sure what you're saying?

The first part is a cross between toeing the party line and your actual feelings. It's just feelings I'm having about the site in general - the big picture in which only the chat lobby seems exempt.
The second part is saying that I respect some staff and some members because they are good people and give good advice. However, the other part is saying that I have to respect some members because they have the power to ban me and make my life on here near unbearable and severely censor my opinions skewing them.

The only advantage to not being on staff is being able to be blunt and honest

[Power Cosmic]

Staff is staff really. We're all just people, and the issue of respect...well its a mute one. Staff are staff because they passed criteria when they applied, but that doesn't make what they say inherently better than others.
People are people, and my friends are amoungst staff and users, hell, I was a 'regular' user for years here and only became staff relatively recently.
Well...I would finish what I'm saying, but I'm guessing its the same as what Jessie, Katrina and Amanda said.
People are people, end of.

[Hyper Sonic]

Hmm, all the staff have said much the same thing... I suppose it just add's weight to my following the party line comment

[LucyLouWho]

I know what you mean about this. While everyone in the community is, indeed, important, I tend to especially respect and look up to the staff who I've known for awhile, have been around, and give great advice. But there are so many users who aren't staff that are just as special and helpful as someone on staff could be. What it comes down to is that we're all people here for a reason and each and every person on this site, whether they're on staff or not, are a part of our growing community. That's why I <3 TH.