Jason Boggs
I'm not going to name names, but has anyone else been getting hate mail from non members that are reading the lurkers thread?
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Lurkers will be removed October 1
- Thread starter Tim Vasquez
- Start date
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Shane Adams
No, but if anyone else is, send some of them my way. Always up for schooling folks in the art of the written heckle.
Jason Boggs
I did some heckling of my own when I hit the reply button.
David Conaway
EF0
Alright, here is my opinion on the subject.
Even though I'm one that probably does not have enough posts to keep my membership, and like many others I sure do not want to loose that privilege. However, I do understand the fact that at times there needs to be some house keeping and this includes deleting dead weight from the site. As well as keeping the site clean from those with malicious intent. I know there have been members in the past who use this site for advertising, trolling and even stealing photos from other members and I'm sure that this still goes on to some extent even today. Also, some of the regular posters on here have been receiving hateful private messages from those that disagree about this topic and this is pathetic.
I will say that regardless if I get to keep my membership or not that this is truly an invaluable site with tons of information available to help both new and the most experienced chasers.
I do not know if this has been proposed or or not, but would it be possible to keep your membership not only by the number of posts but maybe by paying an annual fee or even making some donations to the site. I would definately not mind doing either of the two just to be able to keep my membership. Especially since I will not be able to increase my post count enough by the 10/01 deadline. This can also be used to verify that someone is serious about their membership and not just someone that wants to create problems.
Anyway, just a couple of thoughts. Not trying to beat a dead horse.
David
Even though I'm one that probably does not have enough posts to keep my membership, and like many others I sure do not want to loose that privilege. However, I do understand the fact that at times there needs to be some house keeping and this includes deleting dead weight from the site. As well as keeping the site clean from those with malicious intent. I know there have been members in the past who use this site for advertising, trolling and even stealing photos from other members and I'm sure that this still goes on to some extent even today. Also, some of the regular posters on here have been receiving hateful private messages from those that disagree about this topic and this is pathetic.
I will say that regardless if I get to keep my membership or not that this is truly an invaluable site with tons of information available to help both new and the most experienced chasers.
I do not know if this has been proposed or or not, but would it be possible to keep your membership not only by the number of posts but maybe by paying an annual fee or even making some donations to the site. I would definately not mind doing either of the two just to be able to keep my membership. Especially since I will not be able to increase my post count enough by the 10/01 deadline. This can also be used to verify that someone is serious about their membership and not just someone that wants to create problems.
Anyway, just a couple of thoughts. Not trying to beat a dead horse.
David
J Robert Prout
Although I don't post for various reasons, I enjoy reading and trying to learn from the more credible members here. I like having the option open, that as I learn more over time and have questions worthy of asking here, that option is there. I am very much in favor of a membership fee to show my committment towards and keep my membership here on Stormtrack, and would do so in a heartbeat if asked to do so. My two cents worth...
Robert
Robert
Brooke Noble
Here is my two cents. I have not yet posted because i do not chase yet. I am hoping I will get to in a few years. As of right now I am Trying to get as much information as possible for chasing so I can do it safely.I totally agree with getting rid of lurkers and all the hate mail you all are getting, and i hate that they are going to ruin for the ones that are just wanting to learn. As for keeping my membership I will do any thing to keep it if you will just let me know. Thank You for letting me join.
Brooke Noble
Brooke Noble
Jesse Risley
Staff member
I guess I don't see what the big debate is about. I found the following statement in the FAQs/Rules tab:
10. Authority. The Stormtrack forum Administrator reserves absolute control over the forum, including but not limited to modifying operating policies and access privileges without notice; removing, editing, or closing any topic at any time; and suspending or deleting any user for any reason.
I think that about sums up any debate over whether or not this is a valid decision.
10. Authority. The Stormtrack forum Administrator reserves absolute control over the forum, including but not limited to modifying operating policies and access privileges without notice; removing, editing, or closing any topic at any time; and suspending or deleting any user for any reason.
I think that about sums up any debate over whether or not this is a valid decision.
Andrew Geil
EF3
I'll just toss my two cents in, for whatever they're worth.
I consider myself a seasonal poster. During the active periods, I'm more active on the board. During the lull of winter, outside of a freak snow storm, I rarely visit the board, let alone post. But during the active storm seasons, I'm much more active.
I don't know how many others are in the same boat, but it seems somewhat silly to throw folks out of the club just cuz they don't play all the time.
Just my two cents anyways.
Andrew, one post closer to not being nuked!
I consider myself a seasonal poster. During the active periods, I'm more active on the board. During the lull of winter, outside of a freak snow storm, I rarely visit the board, let alone post. But during the active storm seasons, I'm much more active.
I don't know how many others are in the same boat, but it seems somewhat silly to throw folks out of the club just cuz they don't play all the time.
Just my two cents anyways.
Andrew, one post closer to not being nuked!
Adam Boggs
EF0
can't we contribute in other ways?
I will admit that I did not read all however many hundred messages in this thread so this has probably already been said. What about folks willing to contribute in other ways? Say, financially. I would be happy to consider a periodic "donation" to stormtrack to be able to retain the option to post, check out the members-only areas, and feel like I'm a part of a group of people who I occasionally run into out in the middle of nowhere because I'm out there just like they are.
I will also admit that in my 3 years of chasing and dozens of trips out to the plains, I have only seen a night tornado and a landspout, and have yet to capture that sweet shot I've been waiting to be able to post to the reports section. I will find it some day!
I hope you will consider keeping folks who at least log in regularly to keep their accounts, and purge inactive accounts only.
Thanks,
-Adam Boggs
http://www.aircrafter.org/boggs
I will admit that I did not read all however many hundred messages in this thread so this has probably already been said. What about folks willing to contribute in other ways? Say, financially. I would be happy to consider a periodic "donation" to stormtrack to be able to retain the option to post, check out the members-only areas, and feel like I'm a part of a group of people who I occasionally run into out in the middle of nowhere because I'm out there just like they are.
I will also admit that in my 3 years of chasing and dozens of trips out to the plains, I have only seen a night tornado and a landspout, and have yet to capture that sweet shot I've been waiting to be able to post to the reports section. I will find it some day!
I hope you will consider keeping folks who at least log in regularly to keep their accounts, and purge inactive accounts only.
Thanks,
-Adam Boggs
http://www.aircrafter.org/boggs
Jeff Passner
EF1
This is my first post ironically.. I admit, I've been lurking from time to time. I promise to be a good boy and start posting. honestly, I tried to post a couple of times in the Spring but for some reason my posts were rejected. Hopefully, this one makes it and I'll become a good StormTrack citizen.
I don't really see a reason to eliminate the lurkers. Perhaps a message encouraging them to post more often or a warning, but in October most of the chasers are involved in other activities or are sound asleep. I don't think this is a good time of year to start throwing people off.
I don't really see a reason to eliminate the lurkers. Perhaps a message encouraging them to post more often or a warning, but in October most of the chasers are involved in other activities or are sound asleep. I don't think this is a good time of year to start throwing people off.
Jeff Miller
EF5
I'm not able to air my opinions here. So I have them on my blog. Feel free to read.
http://siouxlandweather.blogspot.com
http://siouxlandweather.blogspot.com
Shane Adams
Since Jeff posted his opinions elsewhere, I've pasted a portion of them here so my response will make sense:
"...there's no excuse for the controversy. It could have been avoided completely if the post had been firstly more specific, secondly, outlined the real reasons, and thirdly, if there was a problem with lurkers, a general announcement or talk from the admin concerning lurkers should have been issued before threats of account removal..."
Or, if people would've just accepted the fact this is Tim's forum, and membership is a privilege not a right. I'm not saying it was wrong for people to disagree publicly, but it was a little ridiculous after the first few days when the same stuff kept popping up over and over by different people, mostly those who rarely (if ever) posted before...which tells me they probably didn't read the thread before posting themselves, which is kinda the point to all of this. Blaming Tim for the "controversy" is a cop-out designed to justify the opinions of those who aren't in favor of the move. You don't have to agree, but saying he handled it wrong because he handled it in a way that you didn't like is pure crap.
I won't paste anymore from the source, though I have quite a bit to say about it. I'll close with this thought: controversy and opinions aside, this forum has out-lasted anything else of its type on the internet. There's a reason for that. And sharp criticism from others who've yet to pull off a successful forum of any type seems quite like the pot calling the kettle black.
Fred Gossage
EF1
This will be post number 50 for me, and I've been here since May of 2005. It goes without saying that I don't post much at all. My post count isn't "zero or near zero", but if Tim decides that my time on StormTrack is up, that's his decision. Why? Because he owns the forum. I understand where folks are coming from, but I don't understand the need for a debate or argument. As quoted previously, one of the guidelines of the forum that everyone has to agree to in order to have a membership here states that the forum administration reserves complete rights and control over the forum, with no exceptions. Honestly, I don't chase. I actively study and armchair forecast severe weather. I've been studying weather for over a decade... but I don't chase. I've been on two chases in the past five years. If this and my low post count, when compared to my join date, makes Tim decide that I'm on the "axe list", that's understood by me. There will be no hard feelings... I'll still buy his textbooks and Digital Atmosphere Pro when I renovate my office over the winter months. Color me confused...but I just don't see why there's a need for a big debate.
Steve Polley
EF2
Well here is my 2 cents on the subject. I finally just became a member over the summer. The reasons to remain an account holder for me are to have the ability to post in the post storm discussion and the target area. The last 2 years have spent alot of time and money stormchasing. It griped me to no end that I was unable to post in the post storm discussion to show what I had accomplished since I was still a junior member. I understand the reason for this. I now have regular membership status and I am now able to post there. I understand needing to "cleanup" things for technical reasons. I feel my account will get deleted also. I am still learning myself to chase and do not post as often because of my knowledge base and I am still learning. I think it is a shame to have more quantity than quality posts. People will be posting out of fear of losing their account. People do have lives they have to live and this is all secondary. I will post when I can and if my account gets deleted that is what will happen. I think there will be alot more problems created than it will fix. Ultimately, it is Tims forum and it is his decision.
Aaron Wesson
EF1
I agree with Tim's decision as he is the owner. As it could bite him in the rear, it is his decision. I am sure that Tim has reasoned with himself about this and that this decision was a hard one to come to.
I own a few forums myself and have also contemplated about killing the many members that joined my site but never posted (especially at theweatherboard {online since 02}). I found that these members are still active but do not wish to post as they feel that they are out of their league. Understandable, but why join a forum? The only reason one should join a forum is to gain access to members only activities or to see forums that are hidden. Most forums are not hidden and ones that lurk should see what they need without joining. Have I pulled the trigger yet? No, but still thinking about it as I would like to keep members that are interested in being a member of a community and not just there to lurk or SPAM. As an owner of a fourm we get hit by EVERY bot imaginable. Most of them sign up for an account and then when approved spam your site. Some don't get this chance and their accounts just lie dormant.
Now Tim I use VB on 2 of my sites and isn't there a way to say if not active in X days remove the account? If so I would set this to say 365 days and that should remove most of the inactive members. Then you have the spam bots that never posted either...hmm agian a huge decision to make but those settings should help THIN OUT your database.
As for me I have been a member of this site since Jan 07 and I only have 40 post. Yes very low count. To be honest with you other things took my interest (developed 2 new communities since that time and took ownership of Weather4PowerPoint. I also have 6 kids and well they take alot time from me along with my main and side jobs that I take on from time to time. Oh and did I mention my promotion to Management...that in itself takes many more hours of my days.
If my account is removed, I will simply resign-up as this community is FULL of great discussions, helpful individuals and overall a great atmosphere when it comes to talking chase of storms and the many tools thereof.
I own a few forums myself and have also contemplated about killing the many members that joined my site but never posted (especially at theweatherboard {online since 02}). I found that these members are still active but do not wish to post as they feel that they are out of their league. Understandable, but why join a forum? The only reason one should join a forum is to gain access to members only activities or to see forums that are hidden. Most forums are not hidden and ones that lurk should see what they need without joining. Have I pulled the trigger yet? No, but still thinking about it as I would like to keep members that are interested in being a member of a community and not just there to lurk or SPAM. As an owner of a fourm we get hit by EVERY bot imaginable. Most of them sign up for an account and then when approved spam your site. Some don't get this chance and their accounts just lie dormant.
Now Tim I use VB on 2 of my sites and isn't there a way to say if not active in X days remove the account? If so I would set this to say 365 days and that should remove most of the inactive members. Then you have the spam bots that never posted either...hmm agian a huge decision to make but those settings should help THIN OUT your database.
As for me I have been a member of this site since Jan 07 and I only have 40 post. Yes very low count. To be honest with you other things took my interest (developed 2 new communities since that time and took ownership of Weather4PowerPoint. I also have 6 kids and well they take alot time from me along with my main and side jobs that I take on from time to time. Oh and did I mention my promotion to Management...that in itself takes many more hours of my days.
If my account is removed, I will simply resign-up as this community is FULL of great discussions, helpful individuals and overall a great atmosphere when it comes to talking chase of storms and the many tools thereof.
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