Am I The Only One???

[ATeam]

Greg,

Your arguement hinges on the acceptance of words like "true forum" "ideals" and "effectiveness." You have your idea of what a "true forum" is, I have mine, and others have theirs. My suggestions can be easily implemented without getting to philosophical disussions about truth and ideals.

As with the one that originated this thread, complaints about bickering and moderator actions or inactions are frequently made. My suggestions, if implemented, will produce less bickering, moderator criticism, and complaints.

 

[ATeam]

Regarding my two suggestions, let me add this. The changes do not need to be made in one fell-swoop. In any number of ways, the new moderator practices can be announced ahead of time and introduced into the forums. The new ways can be eased into, not jolted into.

 

[greg334]

But Phil,
Those big words I used are what a forum is about; sharing of ideas, suggestions complaints and otherwise.. er.. sometimes absolutely useless information.

Ideals, effectiveness and a true forum is what you have right here, and we both – you and I – are demonstrating the effectiveness of a discussion on what we both feel are the ideals of what a forum is with a different opinions.

When you get into to editing peoples’ post, it is as you are editing their thoughts and/or comments or ideas, whether or not one or two people feel it is part of a theme or thread, it goes to the bigger picture and behind the theory of, well you know... helping people. Helping people may not be a focus on specifics of a given thread but may be a multiple of tangents on a single question. Editing it is bad, and this is where the forum losses the effectiveness that forum members and non-members alike benefit and it is one the very, tiny tip, bleeding edge of censorship that can be so easily crossed over.

the example you gave, you choose to determine whether of not a person has experience or the validity of the answer in relation to your question. In truth a few of us, after reading the politically motivated comments, have taken away from those posts not the uninformed answer to your question but rather a tangent to see what they are saying in relation to the question at hand. In what I perceive is a correct answer to your question, you may not perceive it as anything close to what you are looking for so I can unequivocally state that the political answers that were given, were indeed something that helped with your quest in seeking the truth.

OH Yes I said it! The big bad C word.

to sum this all up, it is easier to follow Arlene’s suggestion and not go overboard with the editing or anything else for that matter.

 

[Critter Truckin]

Well stated. I, for one, think that over the top for anything is bad. Poker, drinking, baseball. Look what over the top did for Mark Fidrych. Four years in the Majors, and really nothing to show for it but a beat up arm, bad hair and a concrete hauling business. When we try to censor something to "fit" the perceived views of the masses, we start to lose focus on what's really important... The views of all.

 

[Moot]

Excellent idea Phil! First, all of the current moderators must go. That group is way too moderate. They don't know a tropical topic from a topical tropic!

We need a moderator who can take charge. Someone with vision and a plan. A person that is willing and even likes to take control of every aspect and minutiae of a project of this magnitude. We need the analist of the anal. The nitpickiest of the nitpickers. Someone bold and grand.
A person that can detect chit from chinola.

Does anyone know of a person with these attributes?

 

[jujubeans]

heyDD!

does it still fit? *lol*

Here's to Dieseldiva
NOT a damsel in distress
You can bet your bottom dollar
She won't give this a rest

Until she's got it perfect
Much to all our glee
I know I'll sure be looking
For this forum tickles me!





If you see someone without a smile, give them yours.

 

[Time Out]

MOOT! MOOT! MOOT! MOOT! MOOT! MOOT!

 

[Dreamer]

Moot, a philosopher and visionary!



Dreamer
Forums Administrator


--------------

"The present is what slips by us while we're pondering the past and worrying about the future."

- Ziggy

 

[buckeyewildman]

Moot you were doing so good now i got a headache from trying to follow you

 

[RichM]

MOOT you DA MAN

 

[ATeam]

>Excellent idea Phil! First, all of the current moderators
>must go. That group is way too moderate. They don't know a
>tropical topic from a topical tropic!
>
>We need a moderator who can take charge. Someone with
>vision and a plan. A person that is willing and even likes
>to take control of every aspect and minutiae of a project of
>this magnitude. We need the analist of the anal. The
>nitpickiest of the nitpickers. Someone bold and grand.
>A person that can detect chit from chinola.
>
>Does anyone know of a person with these attributes?

This is not an election. And if it were, I would not be a candidate. Also, I'm not sure the attributes you list are the attribues of the ideal moderator. I don't know what those attributes would be. That is a discussion for another thread, if someone wants to start it.

 

[TeamCaffee]

Moot you have that right!

 

[davekc]

Moot, you are hilarious.
That is the beauty of an open forum. Where can you go and have discussions of communism and comedy in the same thread?
I'm still laughing.









Davekc
owner
23 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[Moot]

>That is the beauty of an open forum. Where can you go and
>have discussions of communism and comedy in the same thread?
>I'm still laughing.


Dave you nailed with your reply! This is an open forum! This is real life, unlike all reality television. This forum for the most part allows responses no matter how bizarre to be seen. In the name of good taste, which is and can be a much debated subject, E.O. moderators, in my opinion do an excellent job.

If E.O. turned into another expediter forum where butt kissing and back patting are the norm, well then E.O's audience would dwindle. And so would it's value to anyone who reads it.

I'm no inter-net guru. My e-mail, E.O., google searches, music downloads and a few other on-line activities are the extent of my internet experience.

I first discovered EO about 3 years ago. I was turned off to find
who I perceived to be an industry know-it-all posting on E.O. I had read articles about and by this person in hard copy years before E.O.
After occasional forays back to E.O. and some particular post I felt compelled to reply to, I became a member.

Sure there are some members that post more often than others. And I have become one of them. Most of what I have to say is useless B.S., Unless you have a warpred sense of humor. On occasion I believe I have contributed a few nuggets of wisdom. But by far, I have learned more reading this forum than I have contributed. And as far as I know, most E.O. members are cool with that.

I don't agree with everything that is posted on here. Even though earlier today I stated something to contrary. How boring and useless would this forum be if everyone agreed and was of the same opinion?

Expediters On Line may not be perfect, but in my limited experience it is the best. Can if improve? Of course! And I'm sure all serious suggestions will considered.

Lets try and keep this forum an exchange of everyone's ideas and thoughts, no matter how much they differ from our own. This is what really makes E.O. great.

Phil, I still think your idea of an "off topic" sucks.

Hugs and Kisses to all,

 

[ATeam]

>Phil, I still think your idea of an "off topic" sucks.

Understood. You also said, "Expediters On Line may not be perfect, but in my limited experience it is the best. Can if improve? Of course! And I'm sure all serious suggestions will considered."

Do you have any suggestions of your own to offer?

 

[Moot]

Ya, you betcha! An "Off Topic" forum sucks.

 

[Dreamer]

Thank you all for your suggestions and contributions! We appreciate all the positive and thought provoking posts. Even the negative ones give us something to think about.

Phil,

I think you misunderstood my statement about change. The change I was speaking of does not entail turning our forums upside down, and turning them into someone else's vision of what they should be. We already have that vision, and it's progressing nicely. There has been much progress here in the past little while, and while noone is perfect, I am very happy with the moderators we have and the job they do. Of course they are human, not robots, and they have their own feelings and emotions.

My suggestion was that when a negative post happens, our members help by contributing more positive posts. This means not responding from an anger or ego driven point of view. If a little more respect is shown from all sides, and less baiting of each other, then things will go much smoother.


Folks, the only reason some people post the way they do is because they know they will get a rise from others, and by their own admission, they love to stir the pot. In this very thread we have been directly challenged by this type of person.

Controversy and debate will never go away, but we can ignore the people who thrive on it. If they refuse to let things die, then THEY will not be welcome any longer.







Dreamer
Forums Administrator


--------------

"The present is what slips by us while we're pondering the past and worrying about the future."

- Ziggy

 

[ATeam]

>Phil,
>
>I think you misunderstood my statement about change. The
>change I was speaking of does not entail turning our forums
>upside down, and turning them into someone else's vision of
>what they should be. We already have that vision, and it's
>progressing nicely.

Perhaps it would help if you further explained your vision for the Open Forum. If there is one described somewhere , I have not seen it.

I had no vision in mind when I offered two suggestions, and no idea to turn the forums upside down. I believe the forum would be more civil and user friendly if posts stayed on topic, and simply offered two suggestions as to how to achieve that.

I can see my suggestions went over like a fart in church. That's OK. They were only suggestions, made with the full knowledge that they can be accepted, rejected or ignored.

I may have missed it if it was posted before. But since you mention it, may I ask you to share your vision for the Open Forum? If members know more about what your vision is, perhaps we can better support you in achieving it.

 

[dhalltoyo]

Last year, a pastor that I know and respect, decided to shut down the open forum on that church's web site. He was fed a little skewed information from one of his kids and that led him to begin reading the threads of the forum.

He felt that there was bickering and back biting within the context of those posts. Moreover, he believed that those visitors to the web site would come away with a negative opinion regarding the spirituality of the church.

He is the pastor of that church and I support his decision.

If I were currently a pastor, and the church had an open forum on its web site, I would not be inclined to cease its operation. Why? I know human nature; mine in particular. Personally, I would rather folks know the complete individual. We are all going to say something in anger, disgust, frustration, etc.

An open forum allows us to reveal a portion of our character that is not displayed in a face-to-face meeting. How many times have we all inadvertently ran into someone and they asked the question, "So, how are things with you." Most of the time we respond, "Things are good," even though they may not be so good at all. 15 minutes later, if both of those same individuals begin posting on an internet forum, we probably would sense that things may not be going so well for one of them.

Just like church, we see each other for only a short period of time. Everybody can look decent having on clean clothes, being freshly bathed and shaved, sporting a smile and conversing in a pleasing tone of voice. We all shake hands, compliment each other and drive home. 15 minutes after hitting the front door we are on the internet and the other side of our fleshly nature, that side that completes the person we are, comes to light in a public forum.

I'd rather know who I dealing with when things get tough.

In the battle, when the command comes down to move forward, I want to know the real person who is in the foxhole with me.

Let em' rant. Let em' listen. Let em' learn. Let em' live.

 

[ATeam]

>One of the biggest divisions I see on any board is the
>tendency to have the 'New Breed' vs the "Old timers'. It
>will take respect going both ways to change it.
>
>Dreamer
>Forums Administrator


Point taken.