I made the suggestion of starting a Sifter of The Month feature a while ago and I got the idea that a regular sift-talk interview featuring each member of the Sift might work just as well. Since I love to find out about the human behind the avatar, I nominated myself for the job of interviewer.

I figured if I interviewed a member a fortnight, it would take until 2315 to talk to everyone, assuming that membership stays steady at about 8000 and not taking into account that some members might not want to be interviewed.

So, feeling enthusiastic about a big job ahead of me, I have kicked off the event by chatting with our number one member, MLX I figured working down through the ranks would be the simplest approach to getting everybody featured. You can decline, of course. If you want to be interviewed sooner, you’ll just have to up your rank!

So here’s what I found out about MLX:

Marianne seemed reluctant to be featured in an interview, stating that she wasn’t interesting enough for it, but I discovered that her self-deprecation is a front for a gutsy, no-nonsense lady with loads of talent and skills.

She holds a degree in Communications, is a library personnel trainer, creator of training videos, mother of two teenage children and one of the Sift’s longest standing moderators. Her self-taught skills in IT helped her work her way up to Library Administration, starting as a volunteer.

Here’s how she describes her journey:

MLX: I'd quit work as a retail manager when my children were born and went to storytime at our little branch library a lot.
When the children’s librarian wasn’t there we couldn't have storytime. I thought ,"I could do that" and volunteered to sub.

Perseph: How did you get to do the training videos for work?

MLX: I learned hardware repair, html, CSS, networking etc from home. There was an opening in the IT department at the main branch of the library. I applied and was hardware specialist there for two years.

One of the departments got a video camera and I had to show them how to use it... then I became staff training and development coordinator and needed a way to get my courses to all the staff, not just the ones who could come into my class room.

It's a lot different than what I learned in school.
We used an old analog tape editor, of course everything is digital now. 10 years after college, when I stayed at home to have babies, I taught myself computer skills by searching 'online free tutorials' on that newfangled thing called the Internet.


Marianne was quick to recognise the potential of VS when it first started and had this to say about its early days:

Perseph: So you were there from the very beginning?

MLX: By the time I got here there were about 2 weeks worth of posts, so yeah, right at the start. I saw what it was going to be, knew what it could be and dug in.

Perseph: Were you excited about its potential?

MLX: Yea, big time. I knew the concept of web 2.0, that the users could really make a site great. I saw how James and Dag let users talk about and decide things. Seemed they wanted to be fair.
I liked being involved with a new community, a start up.

Perseph: What other web 2.0 sites had you seen at that time?

MLX: I'd been moderator for several BBSs but didn't want to be TOO involved. Mostly Digg and Youtube. I was hooked on Youtube from the start, (but) never got into the community aspect of it.
Buncha losers over there
I saw that VS had fairly intelligent people and might not put up with crap. I do remember when we got comments, nobody said anything for a coupla days and then everyone started talking at once. I thought, oh great, here it comes lol

Being there from the start probably gives Marianne a broader perspective of VS than many others. Like a wise parent, she’s lived through its teething stage and its changes, nurturing it along with her steadfast presence.

I wondered about how she was able to stay with VS for so long, without suffering the kind of burn-out that some people experience and maintaining her position as a key member.

I soon realised that the qualities that have maintained her are also the kind of qualities that serve well in the real world. Staying out of fiery debate that seems to be spiralling nowhere, not responding angrily to comments that bother her, keeping many opinions to herself, are all tactics that keep her out of drama. Her attitude about online participation is a balance of having fun, not taking any crap from others and remaining somewhat detached about other’s opinions.

When the subject of her avatar arose, it became obvious why she chose it and how it reflects her attitude about online personas.

MLX: You might not know that she is Greta Garbo in a scene from "Camille".

Perseph: I didn't know.

MLX: Greta Garbo was the first female movie star who pretty much told everyone to go to hell. I like that in a broad. lol

Perseph: Have you always thought that, or has that been a lesson along the way?

MLX: Um, pretty much all along. I don't mean to sound cold, but I really don't give a rat’s ass what anyone thinks of me. I'm just here to have fun, ya know. Maybe it goes back to my avoiding controversy, not sure.

Perseph: It's a trait many women could do well to acquire, including myself.

MLX: Let me just say that I'd learned that it's best not to get too involved in a net community. At one time I spent WAY too much time online and it's not good for anyone trying to have a real life,
especially with a family.

Marianne has observed many changes with VS, noting that it seems to have become more tolerant, with fewer siftquisitions, as well as growing enormously. She mentions that the diversity of people on VS now is incredible, making it an amazing place to be.

MLX: I think the community has changed in many ways like that...there's more tolerance over all. People bring sensitive issues out where they can be discussed

Perseph: Do you think it's because there are different people on board?

MLX: Yeah, the diversity is awesome and people realize that if you want to get your point across you've got to come across as an intelligent, fair human being, so most are.

When asked about where she thinks VS is headed, she explained that she feels it could become splintered into channels, but that wouldn’t be a bad thing, if it continued to be unified by sift-talk.

She raised the possibility of VS being bought out for lots of money and had this to say about the changes that this might bring:

MLX: Maybe if it could still be run democratically it would be ok. I guess it would depend what the buyer’s vision would be, and how much money they'd be willing to pay to make it their own.

I don't think they'd turn down a big enough offer. Reminds me of an old video of mine... 'How much would it take for you to kill a puppy"

Perseph God, what an awful question!

MLX:
It’s hilarious.

It stands to reason that Marianne would have an almost parental role on VS, since she has heaps of real life parenting experience.

She realises the need for balance between her online participation and her real life, she involves her family in her passion, asking for their input in her submissions, she protects her children from the negative influence of the internet, keeping a close watch on what they are watching (no computers in the bedrooms) and she limits them as to how they can participate in a site such as VS.

My experience with meeting extraordinary women, is that they are completely modest about their amazing abilities and Marianne is no exception. Here’s a sample of her humility when I thanked her for agreeing to be the first interviewee:

MLX: I don't know if I'm the right one to kick it off. It has been fun!

Perseph: Why not? You're an institution.

MLX: Ha. Just cause I post funny shit. Who'd have thought it possible?

Perseph: Yeah and cause you've been there from the start.

MLX: True, I saw potential and an opportunity to be a part of something that was going to be awesome. I'm very glad I did.

I really enjoyed talking with Marianne and I hope you’ve enjoyed learning about her too. I look forward to talking to as many VS members as I can. Stay posted for the next issue.