I like the reorganized ECF structure, but...

[DonDaBoomVape]

...Don used the Vietnam war as an example. While I'm not old enough to have participated in that affair, would someone that spent 2 months there, saw lots of action, and came home due to injury be any less of a veteran than someone who was posted somewhere and saw little or no action, yet was there for 2 years?...

I am quite comfortatable leaving decisions like this to SJ and rolygate (as long as I can put in my two cents, which I did).

But I want to acknowledge your follow-up to my Vietnam Veteran example. As a guy who spent a year there and came out unscathed, I am honored to be in the same company as that soldier wounded in the first two months.

BTW, I've been doing some temporary work for the U.S. Census Bureau. Their criteria for employee selection is: test score + veterans preference (5 points so someone like me, 10 points for a wounded or disabled veteran).

Mmm ... maybe there should be a test. How many suppliers of the 510 you can name in 10 seconds. Or a Family Feud kind of contest: Name a brand of KR808D-1. DaBoomVape Family: Vaporello? Survey Says: WRONG! Travis Family: Vapor King! Survey Says: YES!

 

[Travis798]

I am quite comfortatable leaving decisions like this to SJ and rolygate (as long as I can put in my two cents, which I did).

But I want to acknowledge your follow-up to my Vietnam Veteran example. As a guy who spent a year there and came out unscathed, I am honored to be in the same company as that soldier wounded in the first two months.

BTW, I've been doing some temporary work for the U.S. Census Bureau. Their criteria for employee selection is: test score + veterans preference (5 points so someone like me, 10 points for a wounded or disabled veteran).

Mmm ... maybe there should be a test. How many suppliers of the 510 you can name in 10 seconds. Or a Family Feud kind of contest: Name a brand of KR808D-1. DaBoomVape Family: Vaporello? Survey Says: WRONG! Travis Family: Vapor King! Survey Says: YES!

I don't think you took it as such, but I wanted to be clear that I in no way meant to imply that your service to our country meant less because you came back unharmed. I was trying to make a point that I felt you would agree with. Those that were disabled and fighting a much shorter time (perhaps even a day, or week) are every much a veteran as one that was there for years. Being there really isn't what makes a person a vet, it's the experience of being there that does.

However SJ wants to do it is fine of course. It's his forum. I was just trying to point out that it was better thought out than he thought. Someone can easily become a large part of this forum and more of a "vet" in 6 months here than others do in a year. I myself just believe that post should should come into play.

I realize that you can come to a forum and lurk, and learn tons without ever posting. I've been there and done that. You can be a forum member for a year, have 20 posts yet be every bit as knowledgeable as someone with 1,000+ posts, however a forum is a community, and post count, more or less, ties in with the desire, knowledge, and willingness to help others. That person with 20 posts obviously has no desire to help people, debate on topics, or improve upon the forum.

When you are new to a forum and ask a question or ask for advice, and someone replies, honestly, what is the first thing you do? You look at the post count of those replying, and you put more weight on the opinion of those with a higher post count. This is because those that actively participate are more likely to be correct. When it comes to forums, post count is king.

 

[greenie]

I've been a member of many, many forums over the years, and any special "veterans" board that I have seen is tied to post count. I believe the reason for that is simply because someone that has been a member for 2 months, yet actively participates is by far more of a "veteran" than someone that has been a member for a year and does not participate.

Don used the Vietnam war as an example. While I'm not old enough to have participated in that affair, would someone that spent 2 months there, saw lots of action, and came home due to injury be any less of a veteran than someone who was posted somewhere and saw little or no action, yet was there for 2 years?

Post count for a veterans board does not encourage random babbling, as far as I've ever seen. Post count for the sake of post count sometimes does, however. I can understand why some people would want so aspire to become a member of that board, however they are typically not what people think. My experience shows very little action on the boards, and it's typically just chit chat that, after say 1,000 posts of helping people, you simply aren't interested in. Typically after spending that much time on a forum, your interest leans more towards staying in the general areas and helping people than hanging out in a "private" forum.

For a forum of this size, 1,000 posts really isn't unreasonable. With the multitude of posts per day, it would be fairly easy for one to hit 1,000 post fairly quickly while doing their part to help the community. It was better thought out than you give yourself credit for SJ

I agree with Travis. A 1,000 post count says you've participated in enough topics one might know what they are talking about.

I am at 6 months but am in no way a veteran and my post count says as much.

My level of participation is low and that is because I don't know very much. I'm at the reading and figuring tweaking things stage and not at the point I can offer a LOT of advice from personal experience.
My experience is limited to what I have been doing in the last 6 months and I doubt a person can become proficient in more than one item in that amount of time. For instance I know much about the 901 but that is the limit of what I think I know and that is just barely scratching the surface of the amount of things a person could have experience with.

As Travis says," It was better thought out than you give yourself credit for SJ"

 

[Elendil]

I know SJ is hesitant to allow more people to have "Veteran" status becuase of the large monthly check that is bestowed upon we "Vets" and SJ doesn't wish to increase his paperwork at this time...........

 

[AngusATAT]

I know SJ is hesitant to allow more people to have "Veteran" status becuase of the large monthly check that is bestowed upon we "Vets" and SJ doesn't wish to increase his paperwork at this time...........

Besides, any more vets, and we moderators may have to take a pay cut. And in this economy, it would force me to sell one of my four Mercedes.

 

[greenie]

I don't need status but I do need money. Who doesn't?

lol

One of those private joke thoughts that don't make sense once posted.

 

[Sassyonemeis]

hahaha.. I would agree with this, but there's always an exception!

I read the stickies when I first joined, but then.. I am also an MCSE so these things are not a new or foreign thing to me.

You guys and gals do a great job here... keep up the awesome work

Rolygate's Principle of Invisible Forum Advice
Forum users will never read the Stickies, Announcements or News, no matter how prominent, and no matter how big their problem.

What d'you reckon?