I take my obligations pretty seriously. It’s just the kind of person I am. If I agree to do something, I do it. If I say I will, then I will.
Yesterday I got an invitation to join another Etsy team. This one was centered around Etsy shops’ Facebook pages. I do have a Facebook page for my shop- because I kept reading that I should. I haven’t begged people to “like” it because I don’t really want to clutter up my friends’ Facebook news feeds. That can be annoying. But 25 people have chosen to “like” my page. The team that invited my participation was all about Facebook. I assumed this was a friendly little “like me and I’ll like you” group, aimed at getting more Facebook Likes, which for whatever reason, is a good thing.
Before joining this group I was required to read the extensive list of Rules for the team- how to like other pages, how many you must like, but you must never post links on the pages you like, and so on. There is even a rule that only the Team Leader can start a conversation or discussion. Really? No freedom of speech here? There are also penalties listed for not following the rules. Oh my. After reading the Rules and before being admitted to the team I had been invited to join, I had to pass a test on the Rules, answering questions about what I had just read. At this point I had a feeling that I should just back away and not join the team, but I continued, passing the test with flying colors. I then minded the Rules and “liked” the pages above me, as required from my personal page, not my shop page. The Rules said to like the fifteen above me, but being the overachiever that I am, I went the extra mile and liked 18. I decided that maybe this would gain me some attention to my Facebook page and shop, and the more people who see my things the better, but I didn’t feel any desire to join this team’s Treasury Challenge or anything else. I would just sit back and wait to get 15 more likes on my Facebook Page, as promised.
Last night I got a convo from the Team Leader, saying that she had received a complaint that I had joined the team almost 12 hours ago and had not “liked” the pages above me. I took great offense at being wrongly accused, went through and made sure that I had liked all the proper pages, and then liked another 20 or so for good measure. I replied to the Team Leader letting her know that I had indeed done my duties immediately after joining the team. The next convo asked me to check specifically on a certain page and make sure that I had liked that page. I had. This time I made sure to comment on that page’s wall that I liked them. Sheesh.
Is it just me? I thought Etsy teams were for mutual support, not for long lists of rules and wrist-slapping. I will leave my info on this team’s discussion thread and see if it gains my Facebook page any “Likes,” but other wise I think I will keep my distance.
This is my second negative Etsy Team experience. I have joined a few other teams, and mostly my experience has been neutral. And I am a member of the 1000 Things Alpaca Team, which, especially considering this experience, is a total love fest, with members really supporting and encouraging each other. Thanks, Alpaca Team!
