Limit-pushing

[Connor McCrorey]

EDIT: Whoops, looks like Chris got in there before I hit send.

I'm SO tempted to say, "That's what she said." But I guess that wouldn't really be on-topic

I'm on board with trimming the membership down to just chasers, or even people who plan on chasing, but just aren't there yet. I haven't even been a member here for very long, but I had a full season of chasing under my belt when I joined and even then I wasn't sure if it would be enough to be a member. But it seems like ST has gradually gone downhill since I joined. I only wish I could have seen it in it's prime...

 

[David Draun]

I'm all for trimming the ranks as well. And I agree with keeping those planning to chase but haven't done it yet. When I first joined the forum in March 2004, I was nothing but a weather weenie with aspirations to forecast and chase. I had adequate knowledge and terminology to post in the Target Area, and I did on occasion. Of course not with the quality of say...Jeff Snyder or Nick Grillo, but I think I did alright. With education I have gotten better. I have learned so much from the more expert people here as well. I think trimming the ranks will improve the quality of the weather chase discussion a whole lot.

But no matter what way you slice it, B&G is fun for SDS time. And if those who object to some of the silly and suggestive stuff that is in there, then they just shouldn't read it. Kinda like reading the Nutrition Facts before you eat the food. That's what they teach the kiddos nowadays.

 

[Jason Bolt]

How bout as soon as someone publicly pisses and moans about the B&G it is blocked from their viewing?

Oh, and it looks like I left the chat a little too early!

 

[Tyler Burg]

I'm on board with trimming the membership down to just chasers, or even people who plan on chasing, but just aren't there yet. I haven't even been a member here for very long, but I had a full season of chasing under my belt when I joined and even then I wasn't sure if it would be enough to be a member. But it seems like ST has gradually gone downhill since I joined. I only wish I could have seen it in it's prime...

I'm in about the same boat as you, wasn't sure if I had enough experience to join, but now I see that I have a lot more experience than say, half the members here, since only half (or less) are chasers! And yes, I agree that it has gone downhill since I joined too lol. I think that's what needs to be done here, I think most of the chasers would agree that slimming down our population is in the forums best interest. Keeps things a little cleaner and more informative.

 

[Josh Morgerman]

Call me a crazy Californian, but, reading this thread, I'm totally at a loss. What "offensive content"? This forum is completely G-rated. Completely. If you think this forum is too racy and permissive-- whoa, man. Like, whoa. I guess you haven't been in any other weather discussion forums.

As far as online discussion groups go, I view Stormtrack as extremely strict and formal. Is it my style? No, not really-- which is why I only post here once in a while, even though I'm a serious and active chaser. Do I mind it? No, not at all. This forum-- like any other-- has a right to define its own atmosphere. And one can argue that its formality makes it unique.

Given this, I don't understand how on earth anyone could be offended by anything here. I've never seen anything remotely offensive on this board. Were the threads in question deleted?

 

[Josh Morgerman]

I am not a hater. I just don't agree with storm track letting people talk about the female body parts in a disrespectfull way. Some people need to show some respect to the female members here. I guess the Christian base here will start to diminish now that that thread will stay up and others like it may start appearing.

I'm not trying to sound dumb, but how have women been disrespected here? I've looked through the threads and I can't find anything. I just want to understand the issue at stake here-- like, what it is that makes you want leave-- because right now, I'm not getting it.

 

[Rich Long]

I'm one of the unlucky few that would go if you guys trimmed the membership like that. I'm new (Strike one), I'm heading up a spotter program(Strike two) for our city and I am a weather enthusiast (Strike three).

I came to stormtrack because unlike others there is experience here. I made a post in the storm spotter section and received a plethora of help in training opportunities and ideas for my volunteers. I truly want to have a world class program here since we are a Storm Ready community. I have bought a few of Tim's books to sharpen my skills and my first day here I logged into chat and found three chasers in my area. All were very friendly to me and Mr. Carter helped me with some ideas for the program.

I don't post in the forecast areas because I know I'm not at that level but I read them and look at the charts and try to learn. I hope you guys will take into consideration those of us none chasers with the best of intent who stay with in the rules and out of the way when you talk about trimming the membership.

 

[Jason Bolt]

Another thing since admin seems to be following this thread:

Posts being deleted with ZERO notification to the poster is crap.

 

[Tyler Burg]

I'm not trying to sound dumb, but how have women been disrespected here? I've looked through the threads and I can't find anything. I just want to understand the issue at stake here-- like, what it is that makes you want leave-- because right now, I'm not getting it.

It's just this one thread he's referring to... http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=21981

And Rich, When I became a member, there was talk about trimming membership too, but that never happened. I'm doubting that this time will be any different, so don't worry about it.

 

[Chad Cowan]

I'm not trying to sound dumb, but how have women been disrespected here? I've looked through the threads and I can't find anything. I just want to understand the issue at stake here-- like, what it is that makes you want leave-- because right now, I'm not getting it.

Matthew is offended by the word "boobies", or, well, thinks that women are:

http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=21981

 

[Josh Morgerman]

It's just this one thread he's referring to... http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=21981

Matthew is offended by the word "boobies", or, well, thinks that women are:

http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=21981

That's what all this angst is about? It strikes me as pretty harmless.

The only thing that offends me is nastiness-- like, when people are deliberately unkind to each other or threatening/promoting violence. Otherwise, I don't see what the big deal is. Maybe it's a regional thing. We all know that American sensibilities vary enormously from region to region-- yet we all live under the same flag.

 

[Jason Foster]

That's what all this angst is about? It strikes me as pretty harmless.

The only thing that offends me is nastiness-- like, when people are deliberately unkind to each other or threatening/promoting violence. Otherwise, I don't see what the big deal is. Maybe it's a regional thing. We all know that American sensibilities vary enormously from region to region-- yet we all live under the same flag.

Josh...yeah..it's very tame here on ST vs. EasternUSwx.com. I've posted a few times in these heated debates here for others to check out other sites.

On the flip side other sites that are way strict...like storm2k or stormvista that will likely band me from those sites from even mentioning they are strict. But hey...each site is a private entity and is free to decide whatever they want. Perhaps some folks here would prefer those sites.

I think the one thing that is lacking (but sounds like will be changing) is that the owners here have been busy and when available tried to be diplomatic in allowing the amount of discussion rather than being forceful and kicking people out.

I pretty much follow Josh's statement, this site is way tame and some folks need to see what other forums are like (including non-weather related forums) and you'll get an idea of how sanitized it is here, whether you view that as good or bad.

 

[Paul Hadfield]

I'm on board with trimming the membership down to just chasers, or even people who plan on chasing, but just aren't there yet. I haven't even been a member here for very long, but I had a full season of chasing under my belt when I joined and even then I wasn't sure if it would be enough to be a member. But it seems like ST has gradually gone downhill since I joined. I only wish I could have seen it in it's prime...

Seems like an easy fix but then you get into the whole quagmire of what defines a chaser... then of course how do you go about proving it? Application process? Panel review? References? Sponsorship? Equates to more time mods have to dedicate that they shouldn't need to. What do chasers do when it isn't storming? For one thing, they don't chase which is why the B&G forum is a nice change of pace. Best solution? Shut down the B&G forum altogether so no one's feelings get hurt. Maybe open separate forum for astronomy and earth science since those are two strong relevant themes associated with this forum? As for everything else off topic, oh well, just have to deal with it elsewhere. Activity will of course drop off but it will return ST to being a pristine forum for the purpose of meteorology and associated scientific discussion. All wx, no fluff will separate the wheat from the chaff as far as all the supposed non's and noobs that everyone wants to call out but no one wants to take responsibility for. I'd still pop in every day. By and large the bulk of my posts are wx related anyways even if I am not up on contributing forecast discussion material like some. Personally I am offended by all the beer talk, you people are alcoholics in denial, shame on you. Maybe open a self-help recovery forum? Call it "12 Step"

 

[Tim Vasquez]

Effective today, there are three topics that are categorically prohibited on Stormtrack: sex, religion, and politics. This is something we should have done from the very start since they're never discussed in polite company and we are very much a professional, quality-oriented forum.

We've fielded a pretty good pile of complaints about the "boobies" thread. We are not trying to make this a virtuous, Puritan sanctuary, but we do try to set a higher threshold of quality on this forum and things like "blow jobs" and indirect references to sexual acts really do not belong here and have no bearing on our primary reason for existing: meteorological discussion. Those threads are too controversial for mixed company and would be better left for Facebook and other social networking forums.

Tim

 

[Paul Hadfield]

How unfortunate that a harmless play on words/images pits chaser vs. chaser as if anyone who dare participate is somehow a perverted non-believer with no respect for others including women. The boobies bird joke is about as old as the name of the species. Next week it will be something else and the week after that, something again till we all might as well pack up and go be Mormons in Utah but whatever... Tim: isn't locking a thread yet allowing it to still be viewable the same as permitting the offensive content the move was intended to censor? So why not just delete it and be done?