In an effort to improve your experience in our forums, we are seeking your input, opinions, and suggestions. Your feedback will help us to give you an even better forum experience.

We feel that our state-of-the-art forums have great potential. Already, the forums are proving to be a valuable online tool for military people. But, the forums can be better. To start the feedback, here are a few of our concerns and thoughts:

1. Posers (members misrepresenting their military credentials): There's no reason to lie about military credentials, but some people do it anyway. Service is honorable whether you served in combat or not. We view the misrepresentation of military credentials (for example, claiming ribbons and medals that were not earned) somewhat seriously. Not only is it illegal in some cases and an affront to military people, but posers are also disruptive to forums by creating controversy. But it is beyond the capacity of this forum, or any forum, to investigate both the alleged poser and accuser(s). Therefore, we will not investigate, but will encourage members who suspect a poser to contact an organization that exposes military frauds. If we receive confirmation from such an organization then we can take necessary action.

2. Karma Titles: There are two issues here. First, we used a common ranking system based mainly on land forces. But some airmen and sailors have felt left out. Second, the display of Karma title ranks creates confusion in that some viewers are confusing the Karma titles with actual ranks. We would like to develop a new Karma ranking system that would not use actual military ranks. Any suggestions?

3. Inappropriate Language: We realize that this is a "military" forum and there will be some salty language. But some members have gone too far, filling posts with expletive-filled tirades. The last thing we want to do is moderate messages, but we must maintain a modicum of decency. For every member who has contacted us saying that they should be able to post obscenities, we have many other members who say that such obscenities are unbecoming and unprofessional. So a middle ground must be found, and adhered to. This forum and messages posted in the forum are public. As such, we believe that the same norms applied to public speech should be applied here. For example, a person in a public place (restaurant, etc.) wouldn't normally use obscenity-laced speech for everyone to hear. We ask that you apply the same standards here.

These are just a few of our concerns, opinions and suggestions. We would like to hear yours!

TOW Gunner: I think you will have a good site eventually and I will root for ya! I took a few days off to get my head back on straight as this poser problem that has been going between two sites and all the threads has affected my wanting to be around.

I came back today and everything I see has her signature on it. I know it would be foolish for you to make a decision based on her actions at other sites.

I just can't stomach her being around. I have the problem not your site. So I am bowing out of being a member here for now. Please take my name off membership and good luck.

Tow Gunner there has to be one standard as far as the foul lan. if caught using it then 1 warning only after that you must think about using the hammer. As far as ranks go you should be able to find a system that will be acceptable to all branchs of the service that use this forum. As far as posers go, if you can prove that they are infact posers then you must hammer them. I would think that it would be hard to have everyone here now and in the future verify their service but there must be a good way to prove them as posers. Good luck partner

Well, as far as ranking goes, the mil.com rankings aren't too bad. Example: 0-49 = basic training. 50-2999 = member. 3000-4999 = experienced member. 5000+ = expert member. And at 10,000 or so you could have master member, or something similar.

An idea for a new forum would be computers. Advice for newbies (like me), on subjects such as basic operation, spyware protection advice, etc. Cool downloads, especially if they're free, games, to include strategies and tips, reviews, etc. Also hardware, peripherals, etc. Who knows, maybe we could get a member who is experienced with computers to write a weekly column.

Warhawk: Great ideas. Also, some people seem to be able to work Infopop better than others; that'd be great to be able to do the cool stuff like HAL and others.

Well, if most of you would just use Mozilla Firefox for your browser, half your problems would be solved. But what do I know ???

Most realise that there must be rules and terms of use and all that. This is a given at just about every forum military or not. I don't know of a single forum where there aren't any rules. Those that don't enforce existing published rules usually end up without members. This is a forum for crying out loud, not a cage match.

As far as foul language? If that's what it takes to get your point across, don't be too surprised when your peers stop responding to your posts. Have some respect for any that might come across your thread in the future. For all you know, it could be one of yer kids or yer mom. Is that how you want people to view you? If there's a rule against using foul language on this board, then great...enforce it, if not, then moderate it.

I only access forums from my corporate computer, so I'm in here while at work. It's tolerated to a point. My main job is to migrate all of the Navy and Marine users onto an Enterprise supported network, so it keeps me pretty busy.

I'd like to recommend that the current website not include Mozilla Firefox browser as a requirement to access the boards as it isn't available to DON and Marine Corps users on the new network. Any potential new members currently on (NMCI) Navy and Marine Corps Intranet would not be able to join, depriving you of any new members. I actually have three computers on my desk, one Navy seat, one Marine seat and one EDS/corporate seat.

Semper Fi
The Gunny

Mozilla is not a requirement, it's a recommendation for the end users. It has far less security holes and vulnerabilities than IE. I strongly urge the average home user to use Mozilla. No pop ups, no vulnerabilities to viruses and trojans, etc. If one simply cannot use anything but IE, then so be it. Enterprise solutions are usually fairly safe from exploits as the corporate router catches a lot of them.

As far as the language goes, I have a teenage daughter. She's exposed to more profanity at school than we use here at home. And yes, I swear like a Sailor !! Is there a need for it?? Probably not, but most boards have filters that will filter out and **** certain words. If people are THAT concerned, then maybe the filters need to be used ??

Agreed! I concur about the use of mozilla for those accessing at home. I just wanted you guys to know about the issues with the new Navy and Marine network, or at least consider it when making adjustments to the site.

He was asking for suggestions for a new forum. Maybe Mozilla is better, I don't know. But there are other things to talk about than spyware. I was just making a suggestion.

Warhawk, my comment was more directed towards Old AF Cop, not you. Using Mozilla does eliminate a lot of errors from the other place, but not all. As far as other forums, it's difficult to say. I had some ideas, but I think I'll keep them to myself.

quote:

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Originally posted by thegunny:
As far as foul language? If that's what it takes to get your point across, don't be too surprised when your peers stop responding to your posts.

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I agree. In my opinion, if you don't have more "education" to use words other than CONSTANT foul words, then something is wrong. Yes, foul language is used by many, many people, but if you have to use foul language to get your point across EVERY time, something is wrong.

How about adding a forum where the gloves can come off....without the fear of getting booted off the board?

Mods could take action by directing certain threads that are getting out of hand on the civilized part of the board , to the appropriate place, and just let them get it out of their system. Let em have a good old knock down brawl.

Just a thought.....

TOW Gunner had stated "3. Inappropriate Language: We realize that this is a "military" forum and there will be some salty language."

Excellent point!
I agree with the Inappropriate Language being monitored. Much of my time on this board (and other military oriented boards) is from my office. I spend about 12 hours a day at the VAMC where I am stationed by AMVETS. The VA computers have banned access to several sites due to the Inappropriate Language situation.
If people actually need help, why would the need to be grossly vulgar, be required to get their point across?

There is going to be a couple 'hells and damns' anywhere...that is a common thing.
But, just throwing it in as a part of routine conversation is something else.
If you want to launch/barge in 'with gloves off' is not allowed.
We can agree to disagree...but not to direct attacks or name calling.
We had that stuff recently by now not so 'dearly departed' members, who lived those moments.
The 'Open Discusion Forum' is running smooth enough without overloaded gutter crap...and will stay that way.