Discussion of Virtual Posting/Chasing Issues: Restart

[David Wolfson]

I'm a little older and more experienced at dealing constructively with "issues" than some other members. Being that I'm certainly part of the issues, I'd like to offer a restart of this discussion for the benefit of all. I'd suggest that mods then delete the other tangled thread.

Here are the discussion points as I see them:

1. There have been posts in Target threads recently that represent virtual chasing in the manner of chase cases. In particular they represent in real-time sequence location, movement, and to some extent visual signs as if from a field chaser's perspective, when the actual poster is not there. While not an apparent violation of the rules, the posts have confused, annoyed, or amused some members.

2. Many members have admitted to enjoying "chase case" scenarios and wanting more. Real-time virtual chasing has been suggested as one way of providing the hands-on education and experience of chase case scenarios.

3. Some members have been concerned about a lot of bandwidth
used up by virtual posters aka nowcasters, virtual chasers, large images, and uninformative observations. They suggest that the usefulness of the Target threads has suffered as a result.

Let's have another go at this, now that there's some down time, and I'll offer my apology for any Bad Things I may have done.

 

[MatthewCarman]

We need a sub board for chase cases and virtual chases so we dont clutter up the forecasting/now forum and the weather and chasing forum. Just my thoughts. I always had fun doing that sort of thing.

 

[Glenn Dixon]

We need a sub board for chase cases and virtual chases so we dont clutter up the forecasting/now forum and the weather and chasing forum. Just my thoughts. I always had fun doing that sort of thing.

Yeah, what he said.......

 

[Darren Addy]

I don't think anybody is arguing that virtual chasing can't be fun and educational (as a self-exercise). I have one simple question about a virtual chase: Why does it need to be posted at all? How does it add to someone's educational experience by posting their imaginary moves? Perhaps you are under the illusion that someone else benefiting?

Let's say ST has a separate forum for virtual chases: Are you telling me that someone coming in for educational purposes is going to choose to learn something from a forum for someone's imaginary chase postings (as opposed to reading the NOW thread that contains nowcast information and the observations of actual chasers in the field?) I sure wouldn't.

If the imaginary postings benefit no one but the poster, then why is it necessary to post to a forum at all? Why not just keep a notebook or print off radar images with time-stamps and where you would want to be on them. Maybe I'm dense but I don't understand where the value is for anybody outside the virtual chaser themselves. Yes, I can learn what you were thinking, but it isn't based on actually being in the field. So the bottom line is... your virtual chase isn't a virtual chase; It's a Virtual Nowcast. The only thing you need to do to make it a "real" nowcast is to lose all the imaginary chase stuff and just stick to real data and your interpretation of it. I think that is all anybody reading the now thread expects. Do that and people can benefit from your observations in the same NOW thread that other nowcasters and chasers in the field are posting to. No need for a separate forum that nobody will read, except for entertainment purposes.

The only reason anyone can say that the imaginary postings are "not technically against the rules" is because nobody dreamed that they would have to explicitly make a rule against making imaginary chase posts (call them "virtual", if it makes you feel better). The rules make it clear that NOW threads should contain real information and analysis (particularly information not already available from the usual sources — like watches etc.) and very little else is wanted there.

 

[Jeff Miller]

If I may make a suggestion, I really think every point has been hammered out to the point of exhaustion. Is it possible now that we can allow Tim and the moderators time for discussion as we await their decision on what is allowed and what is not allowed in the forecast and nowcast threads regarding this particular element. I never expected this to blow up into this sort of a debate when I mentioned this. It's just tiring to see the same comments drilled over and over again. Let's give Tim and the Mods some breathing room if you please.

 

[David Wolfson]

I think a lot of Darren's last post is right-on although others have different opinions about the educational value of chase cases; and a lot of the problems people have brought up are problems with the NOW thread and not particularly with the FCST thread. TTI the FCST threads have always had a pretty good share of virtual chasers making multiple posts. When severe develops and the thread rolls to NOW, some of these virtual chasers become self-apppointed nowcasters of varying quality.

So anyway, my own suggestions for the mods' consideration are some tightened guidelines/rules for posts in NOW threads, and guidelines/rules for virtual "chase case" posting which will be limited to FCST threads.

Posts in FCST may continue to talk about targets, travel management over one or more days, and "as if" visual observations (virtual chasing, really), within reason. That's little different from what many are doing already when they post virtual observations on radar, satellite, or surface obs. If the poster is not actually in the field or not planning to be when they make a post in FCST, then a good-practice guideline should be to indicate that in their FCST posts. A "[V]" indicator should be low-bandwidth and sufficient.

The member who opens the NOW thread should also make a closing post on the FCST thread. This has been only sometimes done, and unaware posters sometimes continue on for awhile in FCST.

Members who wish to continue their participation as a virtual chase case may do so in FCST by editing entries onto their last post. Note this implies that the member must have made at least one post before NOW opens.

NOW threads should have tighter rules/guidelines IMO:

1. Virtual chasing not allowed.
2. Posters to NOW should respect current guidelines, and strive to limit their virtual posts aka "nowcasting" in number and keep the quality up.
3. In-line images larger than __kb not allowed, and should be linked for optional loading. Members should respect the needs of low-bandwidth field chasers and limit the number of posts and their size.
4. When field chasers are reporting their own observations of significant wind/hail/dust, rotating mesos, funnels, or tornados, virtual posters should be especially limited and discreet to keep the band clear.
5. Virtual posts aka "nowcasts" should indicate themselves as such when there could be confusion. Again, merely including a "[V]" could do the trick.

 

[JR Hehnly]

People posting with 'virtual chases' don't bother me anymore. Anyone I find doing this has been added to my ignore list (view the person's profile to add them) and their posts don't show up. For me this and the other virtual chase thread looks one sided because of the many posts which say 'This message is hidden because ***** is on your ignore list'. Some days it really keeps the NOW thread clean. The ignore feature of this board is a beautiful thing.