Spotter Network "Note" field

Joined
Mar 6, 2005
Messages
189
Location
Peoria, IL
There's been a lot of talk about bogus reports being sent in via Spotter Network (like the one John Wetter just pointed out from Dupage Co. IL last night). However, there's a new trend I'm noticing. What is up with people putting cheesy "one-liners" in their notes field on SN? They don't do any good for anyone. It does not help the NWS in any way, and if you ask me, it could encourage others to do the same thing (and possibly encourage more of this bogus reporting). It can be a useful field when storm spotting/chasing-relevant information is put in there. I'd think the NWS meteorologists who see these may not take the reports quite as seriously. I know I wouldn't. Just a thought.
 
Whoa boy.....is it the off-season already? :rolleyes: Probably not as big of a deal as one makes it out to be, but I can probably see somewhat of a point if people were mobile. I guess I use a "cheesy" one - liner, but that is only my base location. Never when I am out in the field or relaying reports, so I guess just because I have something written in my NOTE section, the poor little town wont get my warning because I am a yahoo with a cheesy one-liners written all over my SN ID. :p

I also fail to see the comparison between a couple non-chasing chasers having some fun on a day where they are at home to people thinking it's okay to post bogus reports?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
There's been a lot of talk about bogus reports being sent in via Spotter Network (like the one John Wetter just pointed out from Dupage Co. IL last night). However, there's a new trend I'm noticing. What is up with people putting cheesy "one-liners" in their notes field on SN? They don't do any good for anyone. It does not help the NWS in any way, and if you ask me, it could encourage others to do the same thing (and possibly encourage more of this bogus reporting). It can be a useful field when storm spotting/chasing-relevant information is put in there. I'd think the NWS meteorologists who see these may not take the reports quite as seriously. I know I wouldn't. Just a thought.

The NWS & Emergency Management has their own contact information that you don't have access to. The notes that you see are in the General Public form. How would my note field saying: "We've got cows!" encourage bogus reporting?
 
The NWS & Emergency Management has their own contact information that you don't have access to. The notes that you see are in the General Public form. How would my note field saying: "We've got cows!" encourage bogus reporting?

Actually, "We've got cows" would be passed through with your report. All comments are retained in reports sent in to a WFO.

--Al
 
Actually, "We've got cows" would be passed through with your report. All comments are retained in reports sent in to a WFO.

--Al

Really? I know there is a notes field within the report form but I didnt think the note that is attached to your SN icon would show up in a report. Are the two being mixed up maybe? I know allot of chasers also put any web adress theyre associated with in the note section as well.

Im guilty of the occasional one-liner myself but I never saw the harm, if they do show up on the reports I honestly did not know that and will remove it.
 
I think Jarrod is talking about when you scroll over a spotter network icon with your mouse pointer, at the bottom of the information box there is an area where you can add a "note". I also have noticed some crazy notes by a few people. If I were to add "I ate at taco bell and now have a RFD" under my note for an example and I submitted a Spotter Network report, then in a few cases the NWS may not take your report seriously thinking that you are not very mature/professional.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I think Jarrod is talking about when you scroll over a spotter network icon with your mouse pointer, at the bottom of the information box there is an area where you can add a "note". I also have noticed some crazy notes by by a few people. If I were to add "I ate at taco bell and now have a RFD" under my note for an example and I submitted a Spotter Network report, then in a few cases the NWS may not take your report seriously thinking that you are not very mature/professional.

Oops, I misread the the original post. I thought the discussion involved comments contained within the narrative portion of the reporting gui.

You are correct, the info contained within your user account "Note" is *not* appended to your severe weather report.

--Al
 
I think Jarrod is talking about when you scroll over a spotter network icon with your mouse pointer, at the bottom of the information box there is an area where you can add a "note". I also have noticed some crazy notes by by a few people. If I were to add "I ate at taco bell and now have a RFD" under my note for an example and I submitted a Spotter Network report, then in a few cases the NWS may not take your report seriously thinking that you are not very mature/professional.

That I can understand. Like I said before I only use something stupid like that when I am based, have no intention of chasing and/or reporting. If it really does ruffle feathers then forget it, just won't do it anymore. I know using the NOTE section on a chase is useful, in fact many more people should use the NOTE section to report the HEAVY LIGHTNING 30 MPH WINDS instead of actually submitting a report.

EDIT: Okay so now it will NOT appear?
 
I guess I don't see a problem with putting whatever you want in your 'notes' field that displays on mouse-over. It isn't getting in anyone's way, and isn't sent to the NWS. I guess I don't really see issue with that... I've put things in there. It's the bogus reports that really just bother me.
 
This is an ongoing theme in the weather weenie world: the dislike of any posting/text/whatever that shows personality, individuality, or otherwise anything colorful or stylish. Weather nerds want sterile, boring, to-the-point submissions. Look at WX-CHASE.

IMO this is all moot anyway. It's so much easier to hit a button and actually talk to the NWS. Takes less than sixty seconds and you don't have to look away from the road to do it.
 
The advantage to SpotterNetwork is that it's instant, it's distributed directly to other users, and it's plotted directly on a map. Nobody needs to interpret locations - your GPS maps it out perfectly.
 
This is an ongoing theme in the weather weenie world: the dislike of any posting/text/whatever that shows personality, individuality, or otherwise anything colorful or stylish. Weather nerds want sterile, boring, to-the-point submissions. Look at WX-CHASE.

I couldn't have said it any better. In the case of my comments on there, it is an ongoing joke and inside joke with myself and 4 others that if you talk "trash" to the storm it'll get mad and ravage you. lol as dumb as that may sound it is just a superstition!!!
 
Al and I are aware of the increase in bogus reports and we actually worked out a plan today to help combat that going forward.

What we believe is happening is that as more and more people learn about the SN, more and more "bad reporters" are joining the ranks.

We will be putting a much closer eye on quality going forward.

Having said that....Al is about to publish some statistics that over all, the reports have been outstanding...there just happens to be some really really bad reports every once in a while :). This is a general topic of discussion within the ranks of the NWS/EMA/etc. There is one side that would rather get no good reports if that means they have to deal with a couple bad ones...while the other side is willing to accept an occasional bad report in exchange for more good reports. We're trying to walk the fine line in-between.
 
I think the bogus reports have been on the rise for the last few months. I tend to think that some sort of system should be implemented before a user even joins Spotternetwork. Something along the lines of the short essay that you must author before joining StormTrack.....?

With the implementation of reports in IEM.....some offices will get tired of these useless reports that are entered especially if it is done on a regular basis. If these people were even trained in SKYWARN they would know that the NWS prefers only reports of severe weather *Hail of > .75" and winds of 58mph* and damage.....not just general thunderstorms. I'm sure you can get away with some of the more meager reports on days of pulse activity like we have here in the south during the summer.

This is certainly not something that should continue. I'm sure that Tyler and the gang are doing all they can to isolate the issues. :)
 
"If these people were even trained in SKYWARN they would know that the NWS prefers only reports of severe weather *Hail of > .75" and winds of 58mph* and damage"

That's when you are talking about regular communications methods... We all (including NWS) want non-severe reports, since it confirms that a storm we might be on the edge about warning is not doing anything at ground level.

It's the "lightning looks scary" ones that are the problem, not "pea sized hail."
 
Back
Top