We got to do something!

[perk]

RESPECT is the name of the game here! It must go both ways also, but I do understand the frustrations of the pros when they have explained themselves quite thoroughly and still have someone railing against them saying they are wrong, but not putting any substance or respect into their disagreement. I have disagreed with the pro-mets here openly in the past(and I am one of the people that recruits and approves them coming here), but I have NEVER told one of them they are wrong. I state why I feel they way I do about the system and ask them to explain to me why I am incorrect. I ALWAYS get a respectful explanation and/or answer. TRY IT!! RESPECT goes a long way!!!

VB i'm happy to see an executive moderater say that respect go both ways. I'd would never believe that the people in charge of this board would go along with fci's idea to give preferential treatment to one group over another.

[swimaster20]

One thing I see is that the Question/Answer Forum is very under utilized. Instead of posting tropical question in Talkin' Tropics, everyone needs to be made known that those questions go in the Question/Answer Forum. JMHO

[caneman]

RESPECT is the name of the game here! It must go both ways also, but I do understand the frustrations of the pros when they have explained themselves quite thoroughly and still have someone railing against them saying they are wrong, but not putting any substance or respect into their disagreement. I have disagreed with the pro-mets here openly in the past(and I am one of the people that recruits and approves them coming here), but I have NEVER told one of them they are wrong. I state why I feel they way I do about the system and ask them to explain to me why I am incorrect. I ALWAYS get a respectful explanation and/or answer. TRY IT!! RESPECT goes a long way!!!

Post of the day. I can certainly see how a Met would get frustrated by some of these posts I know I do. A met is still a person and can choose to rise above the crud. I really would love to call out a MET who does a awesome job with letting it roll off, patience , class, grace,etc.. And I'm going to just say it WXMAN57-Thanks!

[decgirl66]

That's why I'm suggesting, even though if you make a General Discussion thread, yeah it's another thread, but it leaves the official thread in Talking Tropics open to someone like AirForceMet to be more willing to post something and not worry about it getting buried 4 pages back.

I know that it would take a little time to get used to, but when we got a storm it's most of our primary focus.

So, what you are saying is, we need a General Discussion thread? Just kidding...I see this is about the third time you have suggested this and no one has seemed to respond! (I think one other person did)...I, for one, think it is a good idea....

[srainhoutx]

RESPECT is the name of the game here! It must go both ways also, but I do understand the frustrations of the pros when they have explained themselves quite thoroughly and still have someone railing against them saying they are wrong, but not putting any substance or respect into their disagreement. I have disagreed with the pro-mets here openly in the past(and I am one of the people that recruits and approves them coming here), but I have NEVER told one of them they are wrong. I state why I feel they way I do about the system and ask them to explain to me why I am incorrect. I ALWAYS get a respectful explanation and/or answer. TRY IT!! RESPECT goes a long way!!!

Post of the day. I can certainly see how a Met would get frustrated by some of these posts I know I do. A met is still a person and can choose to rise above the crud. I really would love to call out a MET who does a awesome job with letting it roll off, patience , class, grace,etc.. And I'm going to just say it WXMAN57-Thanks!

I agree totally. One reason why I, as an educated amateur, do not like to post is the lack of respect that sometimes abounds. I know that it is the nature of the "beast", but respect goes a long way. I am old enough to know when to sit back and keep quite, but knowledgeable enough to know when to speak. No one reaaly know what level of "amateur" another member might be. I personally have written SOP's for Fire and Rescue Services during Severe Weather and Tropical Weather "events" in the 80's that are still the base operations of those Municipalities I worked for. 50 years of a love for Meteorology and studying to understand it does stand for something. Just my thoughts about this.

[artist]

There are kids and I mean kids on here that are just down right disrespectful and condescending to the mets on here as well as to others. Yes, I agree we should be able to question them at times but in a way that shows respect. They end up losing it when the kids start being smart a**es back or toward their posts. I think I would feel the same, wouldn't you? Just my feelings about it as well as having seen several very good mets leave for this very reason. I want the mets here when the nitty gritty gets going. I wish we could see more of the threads that are questioning of them to be more on the line of "why do you think that" or "why am I wrong" rather than attacking. Then all of us could learn. I know it would get to me if I had studied hard to get that met degree and were questioned in the tone that some of the kids (and a few adults) throw at them. And the crow is what we have all had to eat (including the mets) sometimes making it less judgemental and fun rather than accusing. Just my humble opinion! Though 90 times (or more) out of 100 the mets are right.

Kids - if this upsets you, I am sorry, but I ask you to look at your behaviour and to look at whether you are here to learn or just for the excitement of following a storm. If it is to learn then ask questions respectfully and you will learn. If just for the excitement then try to contain yourselves in a way that is not condescending to others or trying to make a hurricane out of a wave that is only a wave! I see excitement as fine as long as we show it for what it is and not to belittle others. Just my 2 cents worth again! (sorry)

[artist]

I would like to add that there are some amateurs here that are incredible and when a met is not around I turn to their posts immediately. If we all were to sit back and just read sometimes all of us could become very familiar with who these individuals are.

[SouthFloridawx]

That's why I'm suggesting, even though if you make a General Discussion thread, yeah it's another thread, but it leaves the official thread in Talking Tropics open to someone like AirForceMet to be more willing to post something and not worry about it getting buried 4 pages back.
I know that it would take a little time to get used to, but when we got a storm it's most of our primary focus.

So, what you are saying is, we need a General Discussion thread? Just kidding...I see this is about the third time you have suggested this and no one has seemed to respond! (I think one other person did)...I, for one, think it is a good idea....

Just trying to look for solutions... this argument is going to go on for pages.

[la wave]

Whenever I post something, I try to be as succinct as possible. Some people including myself hate to type. Please bear with us. We are trying our best. Thank you, la wave

[TreasureIslandFLGal]

Are there any reactions or comments to the 2 solutions I posed back on page 4 about 3/4 of the way down the thread? I seriously think that those 2 things may help alleviate the problems. Any responses?

[artist]

I know I was trying to think of how it could be done myself. Maybe a thrad titled as you guys mentioned general discussion for an invest on up and maybe a synoptic thread for those as well for those that want to just discuss the environment, models, etc. I know this is a touchy subject and I for one wish there could be an easy answer.
I have kids (well- young adults) and absolutely love them but do know they can get pretty darn stubborn sometimes! And when there is no real threat out there it can be fun to watch their excitement if they think they see a swirl, even I do sometimes, but when the time comes for a possibly real threat I become concerned only with the facts from the pros and those amateurs I have come to respect. There are a couple of young adults on here that I have a great deal of respect for as they try to post an analysis of their own when posting and they are also willing to listen when those that know more than them speak. If they disagree they give their reasons why respectfully. They are willing to ask questions, find out where to research, learn, etc. and it shows.

[artist]

"1) Get rid of the "ranking" categories altogether so that people don't try to post just to obtain the class 5 category. Have designators such as: Pro Met, Met-in-Training at "school", or Amateur. -the only options. Folks can then also be S2K Supporters. (Maybe the Support Level could be shown as Cat1 -Cat5 if folks want to "look more important". -in fact, we never did get that shown even though we donated )"

I think some of this sounds like a great idea and maybe if they can't get rid of the post rankings then maybe make everyone that reaches 20 posts become a cat 5. or something along those lines.

You know there is nothing wrong with a heated discussion as long as it is an intelligent discussion and I think that that is what is mssing alot of the time and also think that is why sometimes some of the really good amateurs have left here. Trying to tame the uninformed posts makes it hard for everyone and I really thank s2k for trying so hard to come up with viable solutions. Last year when they put an even hand across the board then some of those that are good felt restrained and became unhappy, and thus why they have been more lax this year. There are so few options as to how to do this without hurt feelings somewhere. ( this is what I felt happened anyway) I would not want to be in their shoes!

S2K I salute you!

[Downdraft]

You know if you look at this thread now it really does work as it should. For the most part everyone has been respectful of each other's opinions, cleared the air and got something off our chests and worked together to find a common solution, if there is one. The key is simply to treat each other with respect and come down on hard when someone forgets that. Heated debate shows respect for each other's opinions while argument is nothing more than trying to enforce you will on someone else. I think it has been an excellent debate.

[harmclan]

I think Storm2k has sort of tried sorting out that problem. When ever I scroll through pages I always look for names in blue, orange, red, or green, for they tend to be sound posts. Let it be noted, there are other members who are very informative that don't qualify for these and you just must know who they are.

With that said, I think I can create a fix for this problem. Since this board runs on phpBB, a mod could be scripted to allow for users to either approve of a posters message, or disapprove of a posters message (sort of like what is found on Jeff Master's blog). The user is either added a point, or a point is taken away. In the User Control Panel you can specify with a filter what messages you want to see. Say you put a filter of 10, you will not see any user's posts who doesn't have 10 approvals.

[skysummit]

Yea, speaking of that, what do those different colors mean?

[RL3AO]

Yea, speaking of that, what do those different colors mean?

Red = Admins
Green = Mods
Blue = Pro Mets
Gold = S2K Supporters.

[tgenius]

Do we have a minimum age to have to belong to the forums by any chance? I wonder (as it has been awhile since I joined) if there is something outlined in the terms when you agree to join?

[harmclan]

I think you have to approve of being 13 or older. I run a similar site.

[GoldenTriangle]

Maybe there should be an official score keeper who keeps stats that would give credence to voiced opinions.

Major League..
Hits
Misses


Minor League
Hits
Misses

(Points deducted for all the "It could change tomorrow so we will wait and see")

[stormy70]

And your quite correct I started this discussion now before the storms do come because if it's just a "message" board than it isn't going to be worth anyone's valuable time when a storm approaches to read it. All I'm suggesting is people think before they write.

And that is why I pay attention to certain members and the pro mets and ignore the other jibber jabber.