All,,,,,

[Indydirtfarmer]

On the subject of PM's, rules, and newly registered members....

Once we have to impose rules on decorum, things have gone so far over the edge, we don't have what makes this such a great site anymore.

This isn't "kiddie Korner"... If people can't behave on their own, then imposing rules just generates ANOTHER way for them to MISbehave.

Bottom line... Set a good example. Don't fall victim to retaliating against someone who does you wrong. Ignore them. I'd say that Birds 85/15 theory is more to the tune of 95/5 on here. That "other 5%" will either fall in line, or get bored and leave, should everyone just ignore their efforts to start trouble.

JMHO, and well worth what you paid for it....

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Kyle, I think you make some very valid points, but I have to go with BigAl on the point about PMs for new people. I get a lot of PMs, and I'd say that a large % of them come from people with 5 or fewer posts. I guess my posts are frequent enought that they feel free to ask me privately what they could just as easily ask publicly. I've even had people look me up and call me on the phone at my office to ask me questions. I'm happy to do it. PMs can be a double edge sword in a forum like this, but I think overall they are probably a much bigger asset than a problem. Again, there are a small number of trouble makers, but they seem to have a pretty big effect on TBN.

)</font>

Bob, the people who PM you with less than 5 posts should be posting publicly. I would think that their posts are related to purchasing new equipment and this is the type of info which makes this board invaluable.

It is a privilege, not a right to post here. The board doesn't offer the 1st amendment rights. New drivers don't get full privileges either.

We are losing too many key members leaving mad.

 

[bob19]

Although I have only posted twice, I feel imposing a limit on newcomers before being eligible to send a PM would not be in the best interests of TBN'ers. I have a B2910 and have followed closely the comments of other B2910 owners and in partucular, Bob Skurka. I would be dissappointed if I would be unable to send him a PM if there was something I needed help on.

I agree that the key to this problem is for everyone to have "respect" for others. Having had over 45 years experience in Human Resources (and particuarly the labor relations area), I found that being truly respectful towards those who disagree will eventually result in a change of attitude or an understanding that was not evident initially.

This is a "GREAT" site. It was a valuable source of help before I bought my tractor and I am confident it will continue being a big help in the future.

Semper Fi

 

[RedRocker]

Where to start, I've been involved in starting a board centered around Harleys. Now you talk about opportunities for flame wars, we lived through a real doozy when a control freak went nuts and all hail broke loose. We now have a board that pretty much polices it's self. Trouble makers usually move on if you don't feed their ego. I don't think we ever banned anyone and for the most part everybody makes an effort to get along. I hate to see good folks move on, but not everybody is cut out for BB's, you have to be able to let some things slide. If you think about it, it's pretty silly to get your BP up over something somebody typed on the internet.
If I wanted to do that I could check out moveon.ugh and really get worked up, LOL. I treat everyone as if we were face to face, some don't, you just need to ignore them and they usually go away. TBN is a great board with unlimited knowledge, the creme will rise and the bad apples will move on.

 

[kensfarm]

"I been around,on,under and inside tractors my whole life and continue to learn new things here all the time ."

If we were all so wise BigAl.. life would be simple.

 

[ejtaylor822]

BigAl,
My apologies for gettin' above my raisin' – don’t mean to get anyone riled up here. I too am one of the ol' country folk, actually mountain folk from the Appalachian mountains here in North Carolina. Guess my city life rubs off more than I realize and gets me a little uppity on occasion….

My daffynition in this context:
Pon-TIF'-a-cAte: verb; someone who has a little education that exceeds their common sense that enjoys talking about a subject in which they appear to be an expert. noun; someone who enjoys the sound of their own voice, or, the words they write and believes that everyone else shares in this joy as well.
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Sorry for being so silly this morning - have had about 2x the amount of coffee that I should normally have....

Seriously Al, I have learned a lot from this site. Like I said earlier, it comes from people like yourself and others in this thread that are willing to share that lifetime of experience from being under, on and in tractors and are willing to share and continue to grow.

Thanks.

 

[EddieWalker]

Interesting post.

I've notice that a few of my favorite posters haven't had any projects lately, but with so many new posters with fun projects, it never occured to me they had left.

I don't get into brand wars. What's the point?

I'm here for projects and advice for things I don't know or understand. I love to read the projects section to learn new things in areas I don't know anything about. Like old barns and ponds with character. Fun stuff with great solutions!!!

I've been flamed a few times, corrected even more times and critiqued quite a bit. It's all part of the fun. When I'm wrong, I will reply and say so. I've done it before from comments and I'm sure it will happen again. The good part of that is I learn something new!!!!

If you don't like what I'm doing, let me know. I love it. I will look at my project, evaluate your suggestions and go from there. Sometimes I totally change my plan. This happened on my entrance project. A better way was suggested, and I greatly appreciated it.

Requiring a certain number of posts to PM will just increase the number of "copy and paste" posts from those with no other purpose then to increase their posting numbers. It's the saddest thing I've come across on this site.

Just because I have over a thousand posts doesn't mean I know anything about tractors or oil or just about anything. It just means I like to post and reply. You all are the judge of wether I have anything valid to offer or not.

One thing I think might be helpful is to have a validation or a vote on members. Only positive votes, not like ebay. If you read a post from a member that gives good advice, you can give them a vote, a star or a whatever. Members with lots of these votes would stand out as somebody the rest of us respect and admire.

It would have to be one vote per member to avoid the American Idle syndrome of multiple votes.

Not sure how to do this, but I've seen it on other sites, and when I read a post from that person, it gives more weight to what they have to say.

Eddie Walker

 

[DrRod]

Actually, I find this an incredibly upbeat place. I came on the site knowing virtually nothing about tractors and within a month I can hold my own discussing options with a dealer. And the info about other facets of country living has been great. In fact, I spend way too much time here reading instead of working (its a personal problem /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif). I wish I could personnally thank all of the people who respond to my questions and offer advice.

 

[Mith]

On a slightly side note, I think ranking shoud be based on how long people have been on this site, therefore you wont get people trying to raise their status by posting junk. Also people who just talk alot, like me, wont be high ranking members when they dont deserve it.

I mean you cant have visited this site for a year and not know an awful lot about campact tractors

 

[_RaT_]

Oh man Eddie, I just learned something about myself. I'm pontificous. I will have to remember that the next time I put my mouth in gear without engaging my brain. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif