We got to do something!

[jojo]

I must admit - I like it to be busier on here. Most things are kept on topic with just one thread on the go for each discussion, like 99L, even if they do run to 7 or 8 threads in total, they're easy to follow. There's still the pro-met forum to read for serious, educated opinion so nothing is lost here.

The rudeness shouldn't be tolerated though and I'm sure the mods/admin deal with that.

As for all of us, just think about what you post and whether it really is valuable - leave the talking to those who really want to say their piece. Less is more sometimes and I know I don't post much as I love to just read and learn. I think if we just leave the mods/admin to do their jobs and remove aggressive and argumentative things, then it'll be fine. I'd like there to be a 'thank the poster' button so I could say thank you to people who I learn from as I think it will encourage them to post more without bloating the forum unnecessarily.

Jo

[cycloneye]

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

And that is why we have the ignore feature,that works well for those who dont want to see posts from some members.

Great discussion going on here with some different viewpoints.We will continue to do our best to mantain storm2k as the #1 weather community in the net.

[Derek Ortt]

Where is the ignore feature... I cannot seem to find it (maybe because I couldn't fall asleep until 6 this mroning and woke up at 10, lol)

Another thing I have campaigned for for a while (and have been defeated EVERY SINGLE TIME and expect to be this time), is an 18 year minimum age, at least for replying to thread in tropical analysis. The reason why I would like a minimum age of 18 there is so that people can come to get sound information on the storms. The people that wold need the advice is adults, not kids (some advice that they may need from the mets are how strong would the winds be at their location for evacuation purposes... I can some e-mails regarding that topic so I know it could very well happen) for planning purposes. I know there are some very knowledgable high schoolers on this forum and I was once one; however, TA should strictly be for the best information on S2K, not a question and answer forum. We already have one of those forums. Just my .02 on the issue

[swimaster20]

I have to agree w/ Derek on this one. Tropical Analysis should just be used for our pro-mets/analysts to be able to give their own forecasts, analysis, etc. If anyone has a question, they should either PM a met with it or ask it in the Question/Answer Forum. I also would support a minimum age posting requirement in TA, but I don't know how it could be carried out b/c people could probably lie about their age and get away w/ it.

[wxmann_91]

There are some very intelligent people under 18 who know a lot about the weather. An age limit is one of the worst ideas, IMHO.

Nevertheless, the TA forum is extremely quiet 99.99% of the time. There just simply is not enough actively participating pro mets here to make it an extremely active forum.

The ignore feature = set as foe, BTW.

[cycloneye]

Where is the ignore feature... I cannot seem to find it (maybe because I couldn't fall asleep until 6 this mroning and woke up at 10, lol)

Another thing I have campaigned for for a while (and have been defeated EVERY SINGLE TIME and expect to be this time), is an 18 year minimum age, at least for replying to thread in tropical analysis. The reason why I would like a minimum age of 18 there is so that people can come to get sound information on the storms. The people that wold need the advice is adults, not kids (some advice that they may need from the mets are how strong would the winds be at their location for evacuation purposes... I can some e-mails regarding that topic so I know it could very well happen) for planning purposes. I know there are some very knowledgable high schoolers on this forum and I was once one; however, TA should strictly be for the best information on S2K, not a question and answer forum. We already have one of those forums. Just my .02 on the issue

Derek,go to User Control Panel at the very top right and in the left side go to friends and foes.

[Derek Ortt]

questions in TA permitted, but restricted to specifically about a storm and its impacts, or to ask for a clarification regarding something (or to point out if I make a major typo in one of my forecasts, lol like saying 150KT instead of 50KT). We need to keep the reply option there as there may be instances where a clarification is in order or for legitimate questions regarding impacts, which many may have the same question, but these should be asked by the adults, the ones who may have to act on the information.

Those under 18, there are some who are intelligent, but IMO, they should NOT be posting in an analysis forum. Post away here in talkin tropics

[southerngale]

I've seen several people mention that when there's a real storm out there, the "chit-chat" will lessen. Actually, the opposite is true. It becomes impossible for us to follow the threads and informative posts are buried in mere seconds. The staff (with possibly the exception of Regit and x-y-no as they've joined our staff since last season) can tell you how crazy it gets. We had some members who were posting at very rapid speeds, one right after another. I specifically remember noticing 3 posts in 3 minutes by one member and that wasn't all that unusual. Not only does it make it difficult to find pertinent information, we want to make sure the board runs smoothly so that we can ALL be here to get the relevant, important information we're seeking when there's a potential threat out there.

I saw where a few people mentioned that we didn't need a rule for this, etc. There really is no rule. We're simply asking you to please take a moment or two before you submit your post and ask yourself if it's relevant. We do have an Off Topic forum, and believe it or not, the chatroom is a busy, informative place to be, especially when there's a system out there. That might better suit some of the ones who post so rapidly.

As far as "I agree" (I'm copying this from a post I made last year) - Unless you have a weighty meteorological reputation, whether or not you agree is irrelevant to most people reading the post. What if everyone replied just to say "I agree" or "I disagree" - it would need its own forum.

And for those who thought this had anything to do with asking questions... NO, it does not! We want you to ask questions. That's how you learn. If you think that you receive a rude response, or are bashed in any way, please report the post. We DO want you comfortable posting and asking questions. Please understand there's a huge difference in that and what we're talking about.

Here's a couple of threads by staff regarding the issue from last year:

http://www.storm2k.org/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=85432

http://www.storm2k.org/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=88664

We want Storm2k to be a fun place to learn about the weather, but when the weather turns serious, the forum does (or should) as well.

[caribepr]

What if, as soon as a *serious* invest, TD etc. comes up, it goes to a different area? It's so easy to just post on the main forum, but how many people really do go to the analysis, current storms, prep, etc. areas? Maybe the lazy wouldn't go there? Ok, scratch that idea
One poster (and I'm not going back to see who, sorry) said, in essence, that when the caa caa hits the fan, posts tend to get more serious. And I think that is true, for the most part. Because I live in an area where most of the US mainland folks are still wondering how something big might impact them while it might be on the verge of impacting us, I am looking for different information (as are my island cohorts). Because our infastructure is fragile, we worry about the board crashing because of overuse, due to whatever reason, as we DO depend on S2K for serious, life pertaining information. So...mindless posts get us a little more crazed.
Example: I am known as the weather geek around here (and god knows I am not, but I do pay serious attention and people here know that and rely on me to give heads up a LOT). I depend on S2K for info in many ways. One, TWC doesn't give a damn about us because we are so tiny in the big commercial view. Two, if something huge looms, we have no evacuation, and we're out in the middle of the ocean...the aftermath is as big as any stateside impact, but it takes a lot longer (my humble apologies to Katrina and more victims, who are still suffering - we in the islands know and ache with you for the unfairness and sorrow - poverty isn't prime time stuff, we *get* it) to recover.
As for the pro met stuff - I have to laugh. We have a very unofficial contest in the islands called Stupid Questions Tourists Ask and are constantly given the chance to come up with the topper. "Is this the same moon as we have?" "How do the islands stay together?" "Why do all the boats face the same direction?" Sometimes...we, on the brink, want to snap "How did you get allowed into mainstream traffic?" One day a man came by my cart. The sun was shining, with a few clouds overhead. He said he wanted to go to a "pretty beach". I said, well, Flamenco is the other way. He said, I'm going this way. I said, OK, Soldiers Point is at the end of this road. He said...Do you think the sun is shining there? My jaw dropped. I was silent for a long moment...before I said...um...yes...I think the sun is shining there...but oh, how I wanted to say something VERY different. This is when I think the pro mets snap a bit, after they have tried to explain something the reader/poster has asked and argued about - and will not take the time to research a bit by themselves. Sometimes it's just...too much of enough.
Anyway, I am very, very grateful for S2K. And, as someone else posted, every "Holy Crap!!" makes me grin. Sue me.

[fci]

Just one member's opinion on things brought up in this thread.

- Great thread Downdraft and I'm glad it did not get locked

- THIS is why S2K works. A lot of ideas tossed out and as VB said; everyone treated with respect.

Ideas tossed out and my opinion:
- I do not like the idea of multiple places for discussion on a system. One place to look- one place to post is easiest. When you have a minute to catch up at work with what is going on, don't have to go to multiple threads to see advisories and analysis with discussion and views of many Pros and Amateurs

- Kill the post count. I remember last year S2K did this. Now they resurrected. Take away the motivation some get from running up the count

- My post was a bit mis-understood. I do not condone anyone being rude, Pro Met or not. I only suggested to look the other way when a Pro does it so as not to chase them away. Usually they do it out of frustration for the many reason stated in other posts in this thread. EVERYONE should treat everyone with respect. I think my post came across saying it was OK for a Pro to be rude. That was not my intention. But calling them out on the board is not the solution if they do

- I believe Pros can be questioned but that it must be done respectfully and not argumentatively!

- When ANYONE is rude or offensive; report it to a MOD using the red "!" button. DO NOT GET INTO AN ARGUEMENT IN A THREAD!!

- I do not support the idea of a limit on posts. Some post constantly and it is good with a great exchange of opinions. People just need to post only when they have something to add. Putting a leash on the number of posts I think is a bad thing to do. It squelches the exchange of ideas.

- Mods: GET TOUGHER. Do not tolerate rudeness and personal attacks. Warn via PM and then suspend!

Thank to everyone for a great discussion!

Oohh, after reading some more; one more thought:
- Please don't restrict posts by age. Some of these "kids" are extremely bright and seem to know more than a lot of the adults. I am specifically thinking of Daniel (MiamiensisWx). Some forget that they were teens too at one time!

[DanKellFla]

Man, I skip one day and all heck breaks loose.
My 2 cents:
I am pretty confident that when a real storm shows up most of the one-liners with stop. Not all, but most.
As for the chatroom aspect, so places of employment don't allow that durring work, so people use the boards that way. Maybe it isn't the best thing to do, but I can understand it.

[JonathanBelles]

There are some very intelligent people under 18 who know a lot about the weather. An age limit is one of the worst ideas, IMHO.

I was gonna stay out of this thread, but That idea set me off. I am 17 and I have been complemented a few times by members for forecasts, however few, that I made last year. I have to agree with wxmann_91 that the age limit is rediculous.

[Opal storm]

Sigh...I remember the good days when everything on this forum was so simple and ran smoothly. Now it seems like everybody wants to change everything about the forum.

[fci]

There are some very intelligent people under 18 who know a lot about the weather. An age limit is one of the worst ideas, IMHO.

I was gonna stay out of this thread, but That idea set me off. I am 17 and I have been complemented a few times by members for forecasts, however few, that I made last year. I have to agree with wxmann_91 that the age limit is rediculous.

You are a great example of another user who makes a rule against under 18's a BAD IDEA.

[dixiebreeze]

Back in the day, Downdraft, back in the day.... There was a time when S2K seemed like family. Good points in your initial post.

[margaritabeach]

wind up radio with weather band $25
hurricane survival supplies $200
New 35kw generator $500
6 pages already about trivial posting on storm2k Priceless

[smw1981]

OK, I too have been a member of S2k for nearly 3 years (since great ole Ivan), and remember when the threads were (for the most part) entirely informative. I agree with a lot of the posts in this thread about knocking out the "I agree"s, but I haven't seen something else that goes on a lot...when people copy previous forecasts over and over. On one of the pages in thread 5 (I believe) of 99, the whole page was the same forecast over and over by 10 different people. I understand that this message board is for people to say their opinions on storms, BUT, if your opinion is the same as the 20 people before you, is it really neccessary to but it next to your name? It makes no sense to me!

I would also like to say that I read on here that if something serious was threatening the US, the chatter would be cut out, but honestly, it seems to be WORSE during those times. I can recall two different times the board crashed (either during Katrina or Dennis, and maybe Ivan???), and it sucked because living in Mobile and calling the shots for an institution for mentally retarded children, that was when I needed information the most!

Lastly, I LOVE S2k and have relied on it for the past 3 years (under a different name) to help me make the right decisions for my job (so far, so good)! I ALMOST stopped coming to this site last year when a certain somebody wouldn't stop asking questions about el nino and la nina 50 times a day in the wrong threads (lol, surely yall remember him), but I got through it just as we can get through this little snag in the site.

MODS and PROs, you guys do an awesome job!

[docjoe]

drop the post count
have some type of time limit between posts. I have seen this used on other forums very effectively
please please please during a storm and especially at landfall minimize one liners. I lost cable before I lost power during Dennis. Dennis went right over my house. I was able to continue on S2K until the power went out. In that scenario I really didnt like having to dig through all the i agree posts.

docjoe

[dixiebreeze]

The recon "only" threads are the funniest. Must be an unimaginable amount of bandwidth used for all those numbers that only a few understand.

[Opal storm]

I like this place just the way it is. If time limits, age limits or stricter rules about what you say in the threads came in play I would probably not be posting very much in TT. I know that a lot of people just come here for the information, but this is also a place for people to DISCUSS. If all you want is the real information without being coated in personal opinions/conversation about a storm then I suggest going to the NHC website. JMHO