> > Wendell for president!!!
>
> He's been the president of a few Surveying organizations so...why not?? Plus he's cute!!! :whistle: :clap: B-)
I don't know about cute. Of course Wendell is just not my type.B-)
You do not have a "Constitutional Right" to be rude, crude or socially unacceptable. Before complaining about an infringement on your Constitutional Right to freedom of speech may I suggest that you talk to an attorney friend versed in Constitutional law? The Constitution does not say that YOU have the right to say anything at anytime to anyone. Read it carefully and be sure to note the differances between individual rights, the rights of the press and the rights of the state. Read the words, not what you have been told what they mean. You may be surprised. Ever wonder how the slander and liable laws are constitutional??
For What it's Worth
I don’t get all bent out of shape at what happens here. All of our lives will still go on, no matter what is written here (or anywhere else on the Web). And, it is Wendell’s site, to do with as he wishes. Nonetheless, it’s a sad day when:
1. People can’t control themselves or their emotions enough to act like adults instead of children.
2. People aren’t thick-skinned enough to ignore irrational and immature ranting.
Here’s something to ponder: Why is anyone complaining about a category you can TURN OFF????
I started out posting at RPLS.com back in early 2001, and at first, had a hard time reading some of what was posted there. It was the first message board/bulletin board I ever signed into, and as such, I guess I didn’t know how the whole posting etiquette really worked. Way before anyone thought about making a “P & R” category, I got into a few scrapes, ruffled some feathers, and, of course, had more than a few ruffled back.
But I stayed there, and kept on reading and posting. Why? Well, for one, I found myself learning things…..learning about other surveying methods, learning about a great variety of surveying problems, and leaning about other surveyors, all over this country and this world. Some of those posters are still posting there, as am I, occasionally.
But along with learning about the profession of surveying, I learned a lot about other surveyors. I learned little bits and pieces of their personal lives along with their professional lives, and I felt as if I actually knew some of them. One of the things that was great about that was we could expand our conversations from simply surveying topics to a broader range of ideas. One interesting thing was how, after a while, you began to know whose advice was most likely to be helpful, and whose opinions to ignore.
And, as a former political science major, it was intensely interesting to be able to hear first hand what people from other parts of the country were thinking.
And, as time went on, and RPLS.com got more popular, and more widely read, I actually started to meet some of the posters, at conferences, at seminars, on vacation trips, etc., etc. I’ve met guys from states like Washington, California, Texas, Louisiana, Maryland and others. Some of my best meetings, dinners and drinks were with people who ruffled the most feathers.
Of course, for a variety of reasons, RPLS.com kind of imploded. They “improved” their site, instituted a P&R category, and become an impenetrable maze of cyber cubby holes and rabbit warrens. They isolated their political posts into “The Lounge”, which 98% of the time deteriorated into “is not-are too” verbal (written) tennis matches.
Been over there lately? It’s barren. Lifeless. Over this weekend there were about six posts. Politics? They shut the lounge months ago. Posters? New people appear; you can see their names listed as new members. But they never post…they join, maybe they lurk, but a large number of them never post. More often than not, people are answering threads that were started months ago, and have been lying dormant for weeks, if not months.
Quite a few of the old RPLS posters are now over here, some using the same names, some using different names, but still posting, still either being agreeable, disagreeable, or both. And in general, it’s good to know they are here.
My sign-on M.O. goes like this: I’ll pull up the site and take a read down the list of topics, before signing in. And I pick and choose what to click and what not to click. Sometimes, I’ll look for certain topics.....other times for certain posters. Then, after checking out all the survey stuff, I’ll sign on and take a look at whatever else gets turned on. Again, cherry-picking the topics, cherry-picking the names. That’s the great thing.....you can CHOOSE what to read and what not to read.
Wendell has generously offered us a partial list of sites to peruse in search of political debate. “Since many of our members enjoy discussing politics and religion, we encourage you to visit the many sites on the internet devoted to these subjects.”
Unfortunately, this misses the point. “Many of our members” prefer to do it HERE, with their fellow surveyors. One can visit those other sites anytime, and have a fine ole conversation/debate/brawl with those folks. But for the most part (99.99% I’d venture), they’re not surveyors. Debating purely politics with a bunch of policy wonks or anonymous trolls is just as appealing as.....well, going over to the old POB Lounge.
Is there any one site where a group of us is going to move over and talk P&R? Doubtful. We come here to interact with folks who are, at least in one respect, our firends and our peers.
The P&R here is not so much educational as it is entertaining. It’s an interesting look at how otherwise like-minded professionals can disagree over a variety of topics. (Although “otherwise like-minded” may be putting too fine a point on it.) I don’t know about other posters here, but I’ve always looked forward to seeing P&R posts, even those I vehemently disagreed with.
As I stated at the top, I can’t fathom someone complaining about a category that can be turned off with two clicks of a mouse.
I think it’s our loss. See you all tomorrow......:-)
For What it's Worth
:good:
Kit
For What it's Worth
Thank you Angelo:
This is, fo the most part, how look at it too. I feel I can gain a lot of insight here; not just on survey topics, but all subjects, including politics or religion.
> Half my life; Is books written pages; Live and learn, from fools and From sages.....
> .....Sing with me, sing for the year Sing for the laughter, sing for the tear Sing with me, just for today Maybe tomorrow, the good Lord will take you away
-Steven Tyler
Its all fun and games until someone puts out and eye .
> I have a strong belief that free speech in this nation is under attack and seriously threatened. Do support banning those that make personnel attacks or threaten harm or death to any of our leaders. But those expressing their deep seated views about what is happening to this country should be able to express their views even when some do not agree. We see the threat of the loss of free speech supported by some in office especially when that speech is expressing any views they don't want to hear or could cause the people to ask questions. Because of my believe that we are losing our Constitutional Rights in the name of Speech and Political Correctness, you will understand why I will refrain from posting on this board at least until 8 November 2012.
> jud
I agree about free speech, but I do NOT agree with letting others voicing their "free speech" on this site to turn into what it has. You guys only see the SURFACE of what we deal with. You guys do NOT see the nasty, scathing emails and "threats" we get, way too often I must admit, because of the P&R postings and letting them have "free speech".
Why in the world does one feel that they must threaten to beat the crap out of us because of something someone posted on a forum that they did not agree with and did not agree with us not agreeing with them?? I just don't get it!! :-S
It's one thing to ask questions and have a CIVIL debate; its another thing when these debates turn UNCIVIL and then the obscenities and threats flow in and wind up backing us into a corner and leave us no other choice but to shut certain categories down.
We created this forum for you guys to ENJOY it, not DESTROY it. o.O
So, because of our belief that certain categories and posts are causing us undo stress, threats, etc... we are fine with you refraining from posting on this board, forever, if that is how you feel. 🙂
Carry on, Boys!!!! B-)
Angel
I would think that anyone that would send you a nasty email, would/should be banned for good.
There is no excuse for that.
I sometimes would get carried away with my own emotions and sorry for that, but I surely would never write you a nasty email.
Anyway, carry on and don't blame you for making the decision.
Keith
Thank You Angel & Wendell
I have only been here for 7 months, but REALLY ENJOY THIS board. I am shocked that anyone, let alone a professional would treat you guys like this. I pray that this BIG THANK YOU, :good: :love: 😀 will help wash away all the crap you have been dealing with. Good bye P&R, I hope you guys can have fun and enjoy this board as we all do.
Thank You,
Scott D. McLain P.S.
To clear the air, I do not approve of the things that seem to be happening with e mails, nor do I approve of personnel attacks on the board, some kidding or a good natured ribbing is not out of order. I made no attack against this board, I gave my position clearly and it was directed at a national trend and not the very small impact that this board would have nation wide, other than noting that to many small restrictions can accumulate. Somewhat surprised how some took it and just a little of personal attack seems to have crept in from a source unexpected. I assumed that there would be some understanding about why I said what I did, I am not unaware that the removing the P & R category is only one very small thing in the big picture, Oh well. Back to the self imposed penitently box until the 8th.
jud
Well, I hope you permanently ban anyone that harasses and threatens you via email. I think you guys have always been good and fair moderators.
Be careful Angel
> > Wendell for president!!!
>
> He's been the president of a few Surveying organizations so...why not?? Plus he's cute!!! :whistle: :clap: B-)
This is starting to sound like Politics.;-)
"A man ought to do what he thinks is best." -Hondo Lane
I guess I can't even comprehend the type of threats you speak of......at least not over an internet bulletin board.
Some people really need to get a life.
Sorry for your troubles....Angelo
Angel
> I would think that anyone that would send you a nasty email, would/should be banned for good.
>
> There is no excuse for that.
>
> I sometimes would get carried away with my own emotions and sorry for that, but I surely would never write you a nasty email.
>
> Anyway, carry on and don't blame you for making the decision.
>
> Keith
Thanks. Some of them have been banned but it does no good...they return like a toxic weed, both on here and in emails. :-/
Jud, Keith, Pseudo, Beer, Ben, etc...
> To clear the air, I do not approve of the things that seem to be happening with e mails, nor do I approve of personnel attacks on the board, some kidding or a good natured ribbing is not out of order. I made no attack against this board, I gave my position clearly and it was directed at a national trend and not the very small impact that this board would have nation wide, other than noting that to many small restrictions can accumulate. Somewhat surprised how some took it and just a little of personal attack seems to have crept in from a source unexpected. I assumed that there would be some understanding about why I said what I did, I am not unaware that the removing the P & R category is only one very small thing in the big picture, Oh well. Back to the self imposed penitently box until the 8th.
> jud
Jud was not one of the person(s)attacking us; neither was Keith, Pseudo, Ben or Beerlegs. Just wanted to make that loud and clear.
Thanks... ?
> Well, I hope you permanently ban anyone that harasses and threatens you via email. I think you guys have always been good and fair moderators.
Well thank you for that comment. :-$
I've been doing this "moderator" thing since 1991 so..I'd like to think I have SOME experience. B-)
For What it's Worth
yeppers, you hit the nail square on the head
:good:
Right on. I have been advocating for this from the beginning.
Amen.
