The Social Network & Community JUST for Firefighters
Whatever/ Whoever Nation
As FFN continues to rise in popularity, more and more people are coming to join the ranks. I get e-mails on almost a weekly basis saying things like FFN tops 30,000. FFN tops 35,000. FFN tops 40,000 and still growing strong. I read these and I think to myself "Hey thats awesome, the more FF's we have on the site, the more we can learn from each other, the more discussions we can have, the more brothers and sisters that we can meet and become friends with.
As I read more and more of these new member's profiles though, I'm seeing more things like--
Years in the fire service-- 0
Deartment Name-- N/A
Rank/Role There-- N/A
What you love about the fire service-- N/A
It seems to me that we have more people joining "Firefighter Nation" who have absolutly no relation to the fire-service at all then people who are actually FF's. Now I've met some great people on here who aren't FF's but they are married to a FF, or their parent is a FF, or they want to become a FF, or just have some relation at all to the fire-service. I mean after all... Isn't that why we are all here, to discuss things with other FF's.
Now I already know that some of you are reading this and already have plenty of things to say to me about how I'm wrong in one way or another. Thats fine, my posts usually do get a fair amount of negative feedback. I dont write them to be popular. I write them because its what I think.
Let me go further by saying that I am in NO WAY a racist or sexist person by any standard. This has nothing to do with anyones race, creed, color, sex, or religious beliefs. It's also not because I think firefighting is some glorious job and that FF's are better then anyone else. Sure firefighting takes guts and to a degree, some craziness but I know plenty of FF's that are some really fu*ked up as*holes.
The point I'm trying to make is that I joined this site to converse with other FF's/ EMS workers; People that know the daily grind of what goes on in a FF's life, what we have to deal with sometimes. Yet I find myself seeing more and more people that dont have a clue. I certainly wouldnt go and join a " culinary chef" nation or a " vetinarian" nation. Why??? Because I'm not a chef or a vet. Seems pretty simple to me.
As I read more and more of these new member's profiles though, I'm seeing more things like--
Years in the fire service-- 0
Deartment Name-- N/A
Rank/Role There-- N/A
What you love about the fire service-- N/A
It seems to me that we have more people joining "Firefighter Nation" who have absolutly no relation to the fire-service at all then people who are actually FF's. Now I've met some great people on here who aren't FF's but they are married to a FF, or their parent is a FF, or they want to become a FF, or just have some relation at all to the fire-service. I mean after all... Isn't that why we are all here, to discuss things with other FF's.
Now I already know that some of you are reading this and already have plenty of things to say to me about how I'm wrong in one way or another. Thats fine, my posts usually do get a fair amount of negative feedback. I dont write them to be popular. I write them because its what I think.
Let me go further by saying that I am in NO WAY a racist or sexist person by any standard. This has nothing to do with anyones race, creed, color, sex, or religious beliefs. It's also not because I think firefighting is some glorious job and that FF's are better then anyone else. Sure firefighting takes guts and to a degree, some craziness but I know plenty of FF's that are some really fu*ked up as*holes.
The point I'm trying to make is that I joined this site to converse with other FF's/ EMS workers; People that know the daily grind of what goes on in a FF's life, what we have to deal with sometimes. Yet I find myself seeing more and more people that dont have a clue. I certainly wouldnt go and join a " culinary chef" nation or a " vetinarian" nation. Why??? Because I'm not a chef or a vet. Seems pretty simple to me.
Add a Comment
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Comment by Dustin J. Millis on March 5, 2009 at 12:16am
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Well... I'm not totally sure what some of your comments mean but in anycase... thanks for the input
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Comment by Chad Furr on March 4, 2009 at 6:39pm
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I joined this site cause I am after training ideas, tips and general knowledge. If I wanted to caht to some lil punk who has seen firetrucks go by his house I would be on myspace. That is my 2 cents worth.
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Comment by Scott on March 4, 2009 at 2:56pm
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Just remember the posts and invites on this site and others are just like TV. You can always change the channel or ignore what is on.
I skip the great majority of questionable posts because they are a waste of my time. But every once in a while there are the ones that seem stupid like a gear color question or whats your favorite tool that once you get into it is much more involved. Some of these "stupid" posts have turned into very thoughtful discussions. One thing that bugs me is the elitist attitude that can come out when a fire buff/fan, new guy what ever you call them in your area asks a question or posts an opinion. Remember we were all there once. A newbie, cub, wannabe, probie whatever. Some never make it any farther, some go on to be dam good Chief officers.
There are a number of trolls out here. Ignore them, they will go away. If you feed them they stay and grow.
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Comment by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on March 4, 2009 at 1:49pm
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And speaking as myself, it is the personal attention that is most gratifying.
I have had issues that were promptly attended to.
My concern that this site would turn into another (ahem), has been unfounded.
Which is why I'm in and I'm staying.
And blogging ever once in a while.
New Jake and Vinnie.(shameless plug)
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Comment by Firefighter Nation WebChief on March 4, 2009 at 1:45pm
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Also as a percentage, the 'pretenders' if you will are a very small percentage .. but more than anything FFN opens up to show the full scope of firefighters across the world -- the great, the good, the bad and the ugly. And this is a social AND professional network ... again, as we move forward, we'll be more and more segmenting the two -- but not in such a way that it limits the social and professional interaction.
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Yes, we do know who the real bloggers are :)
As with anything that grows, some percentage of people will always be wannabees, etc. If you see a questionable profile, just report it and usually its dealt with quickly. The way the site is structured -- and the way we'll be expanding this year -- will make it even easier for us to highlight the 'real' content and make the nonsensical stuff be in the background.
Forums are a whole other issue -- here or elsewhere, peoples opinions sometimes get the best of them. Again, report it or ignore it. It's nothing unique to FFN and better moderated than most places :)
Dave
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P.S.
My SON, who is also named Dustin will turn 32 tomorrow.
Send me money. I'll make sure that he gets it.
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Dustin:
I will only say that WE know who the REAL bloggers are, now, don't we?
:-)
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Comment by turk182 on March 4, 2009 at 11:35am
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I get tired of those invites and people myself. Another thing that bothers me is when there are post were you can learn and people post there opinion on how they would do things and they get ripped apart about their idea.
That should not happened the right way should be explained and why so maybe they see what they did wrong. Making of hand comment and calling names is not going to help people learn.
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Comment by SMOKEnPipesJim on March 4, 2009 at 5:03am
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well, Dustin< i do agree with your whole point, Imight also suggest "some peeps" may be something (firefighters or emts) but are just to lazy to actually fill out anything too... I would go on to say while that maybe annoying, how about the folks that contact you with some what who when why info but throw in " hello, just like to see what is like inCT" this from a Volunteer LT. from Florida.... soIam sitting here justtryng to figure out just how to take this query, given the 12 inchs of snow and teens does he mean weather? does he mean the highest gas and sales taxes in the union? the cost of living does he mean are our fires redder then they'res ? I want to write back and say well, The best part about being in CT is our North /South Interstate highway (I-95) is actually east/west here ..:P:P:P I mean like ummmm ok..
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