Forum Particpation for Dummies

[WISearchers]

This is not directed to anybody in particular. I’ve noticed changes in the mood of the board, most of which I don’t like. Don’t let this forum turn into Groundspeak forums. If you don’t know what that means, spend some time out there. It can be pretty fiery out there, flame-wise. I rarely go there anymore. Come to think of it, I rarely come here anymore. So I’ve come out with

Forum Particpation for Dummies, by Mr. WISearcher, Copyright, 2004. WGA PRESS.

Chapter One

How to read Forums,

Don’t read offense into anything, unless you are damn sure you should take it that way. Otherwise give the other poster the benefit of the doubt.

Written word is different then spoken conversation. There is no tone, no inflection, no ribbing, or sarcasm. If you write sarcastically or jokingly, put a disclaimer like “SARCASM alert” or “Tongue Firmly planted in cheek”

Read that post one more time. It may not be how you think. It may not be written with the meaning you think is there.

Chapter Two

How to post to the Forums.

Never Never, Never: write a letter or an email while angry, upset, or in swift retort to another post.

Don’t write anything that could be remotely construed as a flame or offensive, unless you are sure you are going to stand behind your opinion. If you are going to be a noodle, be an uncooked one, not a wet one.

Second, if you consider many of these people your friends (I do) then write what you would if that person, (friend or acquaintance) were right in front of you. Don’t hide behind the keyboard. If you want to say it, say it. But it shouldn’t matter that you’re hundreds of miles apart.

Epilogue:

This forum is for discussion and proliferation of everyone’s opinion. Take’em or leave’em. Great ideas come out of this group.

Don’t let this forum turn into Groundspeak forums. If you don’t know what that means, spend some time out there. It can be pretty fiery out there, flame-wise. I rarely go there anymore. Come to think of it, I rarely come here anymore. Be opininated, but be nice.

Hey, I love Geocaching, and have made some great lifelong friends here. But it’s ONLY Geocaching. If you want to get hot & bothered about something, how about politics?

Just my opinion too… take it or leave it.

[EnergySaver]

Well worded. I agree with 99% of what you said … I write on these boards for 4 reasons: 1. To get help, 2. To give help, 3. For opinions on my useless pattern of thoughts, 4. To have fun chatting with my geo-friends.

The 1% I don’t like … the use of the symbol … it makes me sneeze

[Pto]

Don’t let this forum turn into Groundspeak forums. If you don’t know what that means, spend some time out there….

I agree 100%.

Having left the mn boards due to a constant negative vibe over there (Maybe it was just me, or . . . ?) coming here was refreshing.

Ive only seen a small bit of the mood swing here- So i cant really speak to it much,other than to say PLEASE dont let it slide into a gc size problem.
If something is bothering you, take a break, get some air, do something outside – anything !

Dont become one of those “I am holyier than thou, just because I have a keyboard” types…..

Always remeber, you might one day meet up with the person on the other end of your comments. They might not forget….

[This message has been edited by Pto (edited 10-11-2004).]

[subterranean]

Great post, but in my opinion, most of it isn’t needed for these forums. It’s kind of strange here… I see people commenting about negative threads or posts way more often than I actually see negative threads or posts. Perhaps I am less sensitive to the negativity than other people, perhaps the comments about negativity are often to keep a thread from becoming more negative instead of directed at negativity that has already been seen, or perhaps I just don’t read these forums enough to truly gauge it.

The part of your advice that I would like to emphasize is that what appears to be a negative post/thread is often not intended to be. If a comment seems nagative, simply ignore it. In fact, actually pointing out negativity can, in a way, also be a form of negativity.

Assume the best, ignore the rest! (I just made that up now… pretty good, hey!!)

[This message has been edited by subterranean (edited 10-11-2004).]

[Mub Girl]

I am one of those ‘longtime ‘lurkers’, a person who does NOT post a lot for fear that my opinion will be blasted. Strangly, I think that I do that here out of habit only. It is no where near as bad as most of the boards I frequent. One in fact, had to delete the “number of posts” Tally under the usernames because it was getting to the point where if you were new, you were automatically flamed. On this board the main reason I don’t want to offend is two words : Event Cache.
Thanks for the tutorial though. I am a dummy in many respects myself.
Trish. The Mub Girl.

[Green Bay Paddlers]

LOL… I’m the dummy. I’ve asked to have my account pulled from the WGA forums. It’s just not worth the effort. Debates get ugly, humor is constantly misinterpreted, opinions vary, etc… I’m done with WGA functions and events. (Amy might still attend). I wish everyone the best of luck and happy caching. I’ve met a lot of great people through the WGA, but I’ve come across some very sour ones as well. Too bad… I’m sure another pancake flipper will arrive on the scene to take my place!

Be safe, be smart and keep smiling…

[The Snail]

Huh ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

Perhaps I was napping but what the heck happened here?

As a lurker by profession these are by far the tamest boards I’ve seen. The “How to Make Origami” forums for example are like the pits of hell.

[wzbt03]

Thanks for some wonderful thoughful comments Tony.
Wisconsin Geocaching is about the people. Whether it be people hiding them or people finding them makes no difference.
We all do it different and in our own way.

The forum is about sharing ideas and discussing a new sport where the rules are far from being set in stone.
Everyone should challenge what they disagree with but respect the opinions of others as they do the same.

I like sarcasm and others do not. I like a friendly jab , others may not. Ignore what you dislike and embrace what you do like.
I enjoy caching with some people and not with others.

All of these things are what make us unique.

Lets not have anyone quit posting in the forum. If we all agreed on everything, then something is probably terribly wrong.

I really do not know what everyone likes reading about on the forum but I leave lots of posts and some get replies and some do not.
I offer opinions and some are agreed with and others not so well received.

It is a lot like Cachew and his Chili Cheese Dog – he likes tabasco on it and some don’t. But in the end its still a chili cheese dog. Look at it, eat it and digest it. If it didn’t go down well, lighten up on the tabasco. If it was too mild – well its your dog, have it your way.

[Cathunter]

It’s actually good that we don’t always agree. We will always benefit when posts are made that explain why each of us thinks an idea is good or bad. When all the thoughts are brought out into the open, it becomes a lot easier to understand the bigger picture.

A negative comment without a complete explanation of the reasoning behind it is just that- a negative comment. It only tends to fan the flames.

We will also benefit by attempting to keep individual replies on topic with the original post. If you have a new idea, start a new thread. I doubt anyone will have any problem coming to the boards to find new threads. It also makes it a lot easier to search for a particular topic at a later date.

We have a great group full of great ideas- It’s up to us to make it even better.

[subterranean]

quote:

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Originally posted by Green Bay Paddlers:
I’ve asked to have my account pulled from the WGA forums… I’m done with WGA functions and events…

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That’s sad to hear. I hope you’ll have a change of heart.

[Linus4Cache]

quote:

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Originally posted by Green Bay Paddlers:
LOL… I’m the dummy…
…It’s just not worth the effort. Debates get ugly, humor is constantly misinterpreted, opinions vary, etc… I’m done with WGA functions and events…
…I’ve come across some very sour ones as well. Too bad…

---

Hmmm…sounds pretty “sour” to me! I don’t know the history on this because I only see what’s here on the boards. But from where I sit I know one thing: It saddens me to think that someone is turning away from the WGA because they seem to have gotten their feelings hurt.
FROM WEBSTER’S II New Riverside Dictionary:
Discuss: v. 1. To talk over : speak about. 2. To consider or examine (a subject) through discourse.
Forum: n. 1. A public square of marketplace in ancient Rome. 2. A public meeting place of medium for open discussion. 3. A court of law:tribunal. 4. A public program involving panel discussion and audience participation.

As I see it we are pretty much following the definitions above each time we post a note here.

Of course opinions vary! Why would we want everyone to think the same things, feel the same things, believe the same things. Even laughter is a choice, one shouldn’t be told what to find funny. Part of the greatness of our Country is that we are allowed to HAVE and EXPRESS our own opinions. It’s called Freedom of Speech people. It’s a gift which we should appreciate and enjoy.

Your opinion is different than mine, so what. I don’t like what you said, so what. You have blue eyes and I don’t, so what. You’re taller than me, so what. I’m smarter than you, so what. So what! So What! SO WHAT!!! This all sounds so elementary school to me!

If you don’t like what you see, turn away. If you don’t like what you hear, turn away. Shouldn’t we keep these boards general so that the masses can keep up? If you have an issue with someone, take it to them personally. We all have email addresses, right? All someone has to do is type in our name on the Groundspeak site and they can contact whomever they want. (If anyone needs help with that feel free to post a note here and I will email you with instructions.)

So I have a point here? No, not really. I just had some thoughts and felt like utilizing my right as an American by voicing them. Okay, well there is a point in there somewhere. I could tell you what it is, but you may see it differently than I do anyhow.

~Linus

[GrouseTales]

WiSearchers posted some good guidelines to live by. It’s very easy to misinterpret someone’s tone in a written message.

I always assume the person is happy and smiling when they send me a message, unless they specifically state otherwise.

We all have different opinions on matters. As long as we all keep smiling we are doing good

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“There are two kinds of hunting: ordinary hunting and grouse hunting.”
-Aldo Leopold, A sand county Almanac

Brian
WGA President
Grousetales at wi-geocaching dot com
KC9GMW

[This message has been edited by GrouseTales (edited 10-12-2004).]

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