The Social Network & Community JUST for Firefighters
Perceptions-
Not too long ago, we had a discussion among our union membership about an issue that our Union President brought up. This discussion was being held on our local's website message board. I came a bit late to the party and discovered that someone had made a post or two that didn't set too well with our President. So, without thinking about it, he had the webmaster remove those posts and then posted a message stating that he had done so. To make a long story short, I questioned him about censorship and the perception some guys might have that he was trying to silence critics of either himself or the Union. I received back from the President some long diatribe about he wasn't going tolerate any disrespect and would do as he saw fit. Not what I wanted to hear from him. I can understand deleting a post or two if a person on a message board is being threatening, vulgar, using profanity or is offensive in their comments. But well thought out concerns that may be opposite to the person who brought up the subject by no means deserve to be censored.
Which brings me to the actual reason for this entry. When I discovered FFN, I was sort of surprised at how everyone pretty much played nice here. Didn't see too much disagreement happening in either the Forums, or the Blogs. I think I may now have discovered why that is.
A couple of days ago, I was reading through Blog entries and made a comment about one of the Blogger's
post. I was being a bit critical, but not argumentative, nasty, vulgar.... you get the picture. I also offered with my constructive criticism a couple of ideas that, in my opinion, would have made what they were doing much more palatable to the casual reader. I've made a few comments on other people's Blogs and forum discussions and so far the posts had shown up right away. Anyway, after nearly an entire day, my comment on this one particular Blog hadn't shown yet. So the next day, I resubmitted my previous comment and this time a little box flashed that said something to the effect of “this comment will need to be approved”. I then knew why my comment wasn't showing. Someone afraid to deal with a little criticism. To those of you reading this, what would be your thoughts if someone had not approved one of your well meaning comments? Mine was, must have a really thin skin.
If you don't have a fairly thick skin in the Fire Service, you're going to have a huge target on your back.
So, low and behold, today as I'm reading through the Blogs, I see one entitled “Got a Blog, Get a Backbone” by FireSiren. All I can say is “Dittos”. If you don't have the huevos to take the heat, don't make the post.
All for now, AG
Add a Comment
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Comment by Captain Chaos on June 10, 2008 at 8:35pm
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Michael, sorry about the knee injury. My brother had the same thing happen to him on a Wildland fire about six years ago. He's had several surgeries now, hopefully you can get yours fixed the first time. It pretty much made him get off of the floor, he's a BC now.
Nice picture, been there done that!
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Comment by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on June 10, 2008 at 5:40am
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You have a nice perspective on censorship and the FFN... I'm new to this, never having the time to get into the learning curve until I blew out my right knee on a wildland fire. As I wait for surgery, a lot of time has been spent looking through the myriad of FFN posts and links. This has been an amazing experience for me so far, meeting firefighters from all over the world. I wasn't really sure about the intent of the FFN to be honest until about 5-minutes ago when I read through some of the stuff you wrote. My assumptions were that this was a fantastic medium for sharing training stuff. Whoever invented this thing did a good thing. I've already been in touch now with smaller volunteer departments that don't have the budget to develop whizbang training programs verses departments like mine that have an actual budget to develop training materials. It's a really cool thing to take the time and share things within the FFN. And the ability to couple words with photos and graphics... a picture is worth a lot of words...
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Comment by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on February 12, 2008 at 6:34pm
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Cool.
You would certainly know him better than I would.
But, iron fists went out with you know who.
TCSS.
Art
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Art, thanks for the comments. Just so you know, my Union President is really a good guy, it's just on this one issue where we disagree. I still consider him a friend.
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AG:
I notice that we share the same initials.
Anyway, WAY back, we bitched about this feature. I told everyone within earshot, that, if I responded and got that little dialog box that you spoke of, that I would drop them as a friend and delete my reply immediately. They wouldn't get the chance to "approve" it. Controlling comments and the ability to delete an entire discussion thread is plain wrong. WebChief is trying to get some of that resolved in the next release, but not at the moment.
Many people come here to get a pat on the back, sympathy, affirmation, whatever you want to call it.
Telling someone that you disagree with them, to grow up or to change their attitude will never be shared by those with "the power". Of all of the discussions that I have started, I have closed ONE. Note; CLOSED. I will not delete a thread or a comment. I take the good with the bad.
I know we are in for bigger and better things here at FFN.
Oh and before I forget it; your local prez is a mutt. Shame on him for thinking like he's back in the 50s.
Sounds like it might be time for him to go.
Good luck with it.
TCSS.
Art
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Exactly Justin. I'm pretty sure that the kind of people we're talking about here wouldn't recognized themselves in these words. I often wonder what color the sky is in their world.
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Comment by Justin Hill on February 9, 2008 at 5:19pm
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I feel that alot of people on this site treat it as a Myspace, facebook, etc. This was to be a place for others to seek help on issues, recieve verbal forms of training, or to express feeling they have. Now-a-days it seems that others just want to hear what they want to hear. It's like they are "Scared to face the music!". This is a webpage of discussion, not your actual work. I think other feel they will get in trouble and have something or someone backlash at them. This is not politics. If you are on here, you need to be very open minded to others. Nobody on here is intentionally going to " Hurt your feelings". So to all who "Wait to approve" all the comments and blog entries need to grow the F**K up.
Good Post AG
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Maybe those who are weak in the knees should at least put a disclaimer in their posts, something like... "If I don't like what you have to say, your comment will be deleted" or "I have a pretty low opinion of myself, so please don't be negative or criticize me if you leave a comment?
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