My thread, so I'm gonna take up some bandwidth. (I don't have TV, in case any of you are wondering!) Also, sorry about the quote thing- I haven't really figured out how to use that feature.
Thanks for the responses. Seems to be holding reasonably steady at about a 1/3 to 2/3 split. So, I've got a question for the 66% of you: Why don't you post with your real names? And for the 33% of you: Do you still really think you're anonymous here?
I wouldn't be surprised if a number of people maintained 2 or more accounts one which people might know their identity and one carefully kept anonymous to say and do as they please.
See, I just don't understand that. I don't get the 'joy' some folks get out of just being a dick.
Geez, Tids, I was wondering when this was going to be posted!
Sorry, man. Busy pushing paper.
Ive known a few people who got in trouble on Avcanada I think being anonymous is the way to go
Were they the engineers of their own troubles? If so, maybe they should've taken a sober second thought before pressing the 'submit' button. If you're willing to write it, don't you think you should be willing to own it? Why should you have to fear being honest and fair? Unless it's to your wife or girlfriend (which is equally irrational)?
I think anonymity is important as it lets us express an opinion generically without being discounted by where we come from and who we are.
Discounting people because of who they are, or where they're from is recognized as being incredibly ignorant, and the intelligent posters would see right through that. As above, in order to facilitate
intelligent discourse, you've got to be able and willing to back up that particular opinion. Unless you're playing 'Devil's Advocate' (in which case it's usually clearly stated that's the role you're playing) if you're going to write it, shouldn't you own it?
A free forum is a valuable thing in such a diverse industry as ours where we are separated by geography and the type of sub-group that we are in. We need a way to communicate on matters that affect us all and find some common ground if possible.
AMEN BROTHER!! That is exactly what draws me to this site. I just find all the BS that goes on really detracts from such a valuable resource, and keeps it from becoming what it has the potential for.
I'm quite sure a lot of people on here enjoy the anonymity when they're flinging shit or talking out of their asses however.
My problem is that these actions seriously detract, and WAAAYYY too often actually destroy, any useful dialogue.
If you want the respect and the knowledge you impart to be taken seriously, then you should have no problem putting your name to it.
The problem seems to arise with the folks who are not here to impart any knowledge, just to smack down those who are making an effort. Without accountability, ego grows exponentially because there is no mechanism to keep it in check.
I don't think our on-line personas differ greatly from our public ones
Now that is a truly worrying thought
. I'd been taking solace in the hopes that the idiots in here were idiots because they were only role-playing on Avcanada!
We have a clause in our MANOPS which forbids us from expressing our opinions of, or divulging anything about anything we hear at work-wasn't an option on the poll.
Sorry sister, I should've included an "I'm comfortable with what I post, but my employer is paranoid" option.
Another aspect of posting openly, is that I tend to steer away from more controversial topics
And as a result, we all miss out on what might be some brilliant and insightful thoughts on any given topic- like spam filters, for example. (thanks, BTW)
But some have been alot of fun and some good info was passed back and forth.
As with Orsen: AMEN. This is what the site has the potential to be. It's when the slagfest takes over the dialogue that we realise we've just wasted a bunch of time and energy as Louis pointed out. When I come across those threads, I imagine how totally ridiculous it would be to watch the same discussion going on in the real world. Imagine a boardroom, or coffee-room, or heaven forbid, a flightdeck. IT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN because there is accountability for being an ass-clown in those environments.
When I came back to Canada from the US, a friend of mine took my resume into the CP of the operation she worked at. He looked at the resume and asked her "does this gal post on Avcanada?". Never got a call.
And this is why I asked the question the way I did. I am in the position of hiring pilots and other staff, and to be totally honest, I've turned people away because of the way they come across in here. I really don't want anyone who has that element to their personality anywhere near my clients or my operation. As for you, I know you're not looking for work, but I'd hire you in a second partly
because of the way you handle yourself here.
I've never made it a secret who I am, and have posted my name on here many times.
Twotter, I've even watched you get involved in a couple of slag-fests, and been impressed with how well you control yourself, and try and keep the discussion civilised, which promotes an open dialogue. It comes across very clearly that you would act the same way in the 'real' world.
Anonymity does indeed allow for unimpeded freedom of speech and opinion, however it comes with one serious drawback: A total lack of credibility.
Not to mention accountability.
I know I'm beating a dead horse here- this is, after all, the internet. I used to roll up my sleeves and go toe-to-toe with the idiots. Now, I just turn and walk. Debate is healthy, and differences of opinion are what make the world go 'round, but when people start throwing crap out there (that they may not even believe themselves) or hurling insults, just to see what happens, it kills the discourse, and results in a greater difficulty to reach enlightenment- Zen, I know. It frustrates me that the great tool that Joe has created for us here can't really reach it's full potential. Maybe it's just a flaw with this medium: lack of vocal tone and/or body language results in problems like crossed wires, mispercieved attitude or tone. I don't know. I do know that a couple of other forums I belong to (both aviation and non-aviation), don't have this problem. I see more "My dick's bigger than yours" in here than I do anywhere else, though. No offence, Flybabe!
