Re: AUGD: Hecklers/Unstable people at meetings
Re: AUGD: Hecklers/Unstable people at meetings
- Subject: Re: AUGD: Hecklers/Unstable people at meetings
- From: "Chris Hart, Pres, ctmac.org" <email@hidden>
- Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 17:17:48 -0400
- Thread-topic: AUGD: Hecklers/Unstable people at meetings
This is indeed a difficult situation, that I wouldn't wish upon any group.
"Open to the public" doesn't mean that you have to take anyone and everyone,
if they refuse to conduct themselves in a civil manner and within the
group's guidelines. You have a group to run and an obligation to help the
members learn in a comfortable and friendly environment.
Our MUG did have a member a few years ago who had issues with dealing with
group social situations and was on medication to control his symptoms. When
he was on the meds he was fine, but when he would forget, he could sometimes
cause tension.
As was said, setting boundaries is important. I would contact this person
prior to the next meeting and establish the guidelines for group conduct.
Ask him if he feels he can conduct himself within these guidelines and ask
for a commitment to do so. Don't hesitate to tell him that if he cannot
fulfill this commitment that you'll rescind his invitation to meetings and
refund his membership fee.
So that this person cannot claim that he's being singled out, I would post
your guidelines for conduct at your meeting space. Post it at the door, or
even at multiple locations. Print it in as large a font as possible, so
it's unmistakable.
-Chris
On 4/12/09 2:49 PM, "Dave G" <email@hidden> wrote:
> As a group open to the public, I've witnessed a participant "heckling"
> to the point of scaring people. We've gently tried to talk over him
> and politely asked him to respect other's but it doesn't seem to work.
> If someone is a paid member/pays for meetings, I find it extremely
> difficult to ask them to leave.
>
> Often times he'll interrupt the speaker saying they are "wrong" or
> making inappropriate comments. Sometimes, he'll just keep asking
> questions and blurt them out without being recognized by the meeting
> leader
>
> I'm sure the User Group veterans have a slew of ideas and past
> experiences on how to handle this, so bring them on. I guess I should
> be glad in 15 years or so in being involved with User Groups I've
> never seen this problem.
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