Real names, again

[MatthewCarman]

Not about real names but...

Seriously can we do something? I remember when I signed up, I had to submit an essay and APPLY just to be a member of the board. Now anybody with a keyboard, a cool screen name, and an attitude problem can be a member. Seeing a newbie smart off to someone for politely suggesting using the search feature is just rediculous. I am serious about requiring a test, having an essay and a membership committee, something besides open cattle call.

Tim tried that before and it became to time consuming reading the essay for each new member as many want to join this site. It is to much work for the staff here to screen every single person that wants to join.

As for the snob remark from another member it was rude and uncalled for but we all make mistakes so why not give him a chance?

 

[Jason Foster]

Perhaps the name of their websites as a handle could work? I would be NorthernILStormChaser, Jason would be WeatherWarrior, H would be ExtremeInstability, Adam would be Aerostorms. etc. I would just hate to have to try to decipher posts from Rich Thompson or Tim Marshall with names like CrazyWildTornadoGuy1970 [In other words I like the professional aspect of it all and IMO it would be hard to take someone with a ridiculous alias seriously]. If that makes sense..... Most everybody nowadays has a web page with their own unique title.

I do use WeatherWarriorNet on almost any other site. Sometimes it's TheWeatherWarrior or WeatherWarriorMedia. Websites to me are the same as real names. That even goes the same for a ham radio call sign, which is a matter of public records in fact.

Privacy wise I understand for some, although I really do view ST separate and requiring of real names. Discussion about it is good, but for the moment I still believe real names are the best option.

 

[Ian Miller]

Jason:

I remember that as well. I remember writing my essay, then checking every day for about a month to see if I was approved for posting yet. Now, I spend a large part of my time here lurking around and trying to learn. Many know much more and I don't want to come off as a doofus when posting. I don't have any problems with making people here have to jump through some hurdles before giving them full priviledges. I also think real names add a little to accountability and credibility and prevent people from just saying anything they want under a veil of anonymity.

I agree with real names adding a little to accountability and credibility to peoples posts and i have no problem with using my real name, but as you say Tim the possibility of somone Googling your name/details and using the results to their ends is a possibility, at home and out in the field everyone calls me "Windy" and i have that as a user name on other forums but for the most part i know or know of the other users, the size of stormtrack makes it a huge community and unlikly that all will meet socialy or otherwise but i guess that is why there are proceedures to go through before acceptance to the forum.

 

[Wes Carter]

Does VBulletin have any kind of option that will hide the name of the person posting except for members? Maybe have a nickname that appears to the left sidebar, but if you are a registered user you can look at their profile and see who it is. But if you are a non-registered user all you will ever see is the nickname.

And with that, I agree with the test and/or the essay. I know it's a PITA, but I think we could get enough volunteers to help screen them to make it work. I know I'd be willing to give an hour or two every week to help with it. But then again, maybe I'm underestimating the number of applications.

But here's what I was thinking based on what I've read: Have a short test with fairly easy questions if someone really has an interest in storm chasing. If they pass that, then they can write a brief essay on why they want to join Stormtrack. The quiz should reduce the number of B/S essays that would have to be read.

A group of volunteers could screen the essays for the goofballs that manage to get through that are just wanting to spam and whatnot and cull the applications down to a manageable number for the administrators. This would also keep employers from getting in just to screen employees. I think it might be a bit too much trouble for many employers. Most H/R departments are busy as crap and don't have time to go through a process like that. Besides, most of them always go for low-hanging fruit anyways. That would put our fruit up a bit higher than most.

 

[Jason Bolt]

I volunteer to serve on a new member committee. Here's my idea:

Create a new room on the board. When someone applies for membership, they are given access to post only in that room w/ instructions to post an introduction and an essay of why they want to be a stormtrack member. Create a membership committee and give them posting access to that room. For the sake of transparency, let board members view that room but not post. Once the applicant posts their essay, let membership committee members ask questions of the applicant if necessary, kind of like an interview. The committee can then recommend to approve or not approve the membership request.

The default for the committee should be to approve membership unless there is an obvious problem or a committee member can offer concrete evidence that the applicant may be a disruptive presence to the forum (eg. applicant has a history of causing problems on other weather forums).

 

[Jason Foster]

The problem with essays and such is that many times Tim V. likely doesn't have the time to read all the essays or written out requests. This is especially true during active times of the year when admins are busy chasing.

When ST started years ago (previous to the current board) I submitted a few times for membership, like others waited but never got my membership completed. Even as far as a year ago, a friend was submitted to become a member never got his approval.

I even wonder if a referral only system would work. But I think either more information from Tim would help the discussion, or for him to simply say it is up to him and whatever he decides, we live with.

 

[Wes Carter]

The problem with essays and such is that many times Tim V. likely doesn't have the time to read all the essays or written out requests.

That's why we were trying to come up with ideas to get around Tim V and admins not having to read all the essays.

 

[MatthewCarman]

There has been alot of discusion on this in the past including poll's etc.

Open Membership with Poll Discusion: (4 pages long and discusses the essay)
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=14901&highlight=required+essay+join

Privacy, Real names and other thoughts discusion: (5 pages long)
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20679&highlight=real+names

The first "Real Names" Discusion: (2 pages long)
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=22018&highlight=real+names

There is other discusion threads but those are the most relevant to the topic.

 

[Jason Bolt]

Already linked on page 3 of this thread but thanks anyway.

There has been alot of discusion on this in the past including poll's etc.

Open Membership with Poll Discusion: (4 pages long and discusses the essay)
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=14901&highlight=required+essay+join

Privacy, Real names and other thoughts discusion: (5 pages long)
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20679&highlight=real+names

The first "Real Names" Discusion: (2 pages long)
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=22018&highlight=real+names

There is other discusion threads but those are the most relevant to the topic.

 

[MatthewCarman]

Already linked on page 3 of this thread but thanks anyway.

I missed Jason's post. Thanks for letting me know.