I would also post more in the winter then in the summer. Not much time in the summer with all the farm work. See thats two posts already. Pretty soon you will be begging me to shut up.

LMAO..... I can't get a word in edgewise.

Hello everyone,

This is my third post, so that means it will be reviewed and approved... At the beginning of this thread an idea was suggested about minimum number of posts in order to remain active, then things got weird. Really weird. I have been mostly silent for about a week or so because I am a newbie, with little to offer. In time, my contribution will become more valuable as my knowledge grows. I have to say that putting restrictions on membership leaves a bad taste. I think that all members should be encouraged to contribute but that should be accomplished through a sense of community and intelligent conversation. I have a deep respect for all of the members on this website, even the kinda crazy ones, but I am not interested being on some "watchlist" just so I can listen to infighting. I need information to save my family's lives. I want to meet like minded people. I had hoped that this was the place. . . .

Is this type of thread normal?

PortAlberniPrepper

Hello Port Alberni and welcome.

Every forum has Trolls and people who get off by stirring up controversy. Some of us are working to change that, everyone who wants this site to remain helpful and active is working towards this.

New person or not, if you are over the age of 14, then you have something to contribute, some helpful info, knowledge or skills. Please feel free to step in and step up to share and help out, welcome.
WildE

Hello everyone,

This is my third post, so that means it will be reviewed and approved... At the beginning of this thread an idea was suggested about minimum number of posts in order to remain active, then things got weird. Really weird. I have been mostly silent for about a week or so because I am a newbie, with little to offer. In time, my contribution will become more valuable as my knowledge grows. I have to say that putting restrictions on membership leaves a bad taste. I think that all members should be encouraged to contribute but that should be accomplished through a sense of community and intelligent conversation. I have a deep respect for all of the members on this website, even the kinda crazy ones, but I am not interested being on some "watchlist" just so I can listen to infighting. I need information to save my family's lives. I want to meet like minded people. I had hoped that this was the place. . . .

Is this type of thread normal?

Honestly it depends on the subject to a large degree, some subject matter and area'a are rarely "hot"- examples, gardening, food prep/storage, EDC show and tells, BOB items, good deals or sales or questions about where to buy this or that, group get togethers or coffee dates or What did you prep this week are all good examples of posts that can have many pages of folks actively talking and sharing without issues while sharing their own thoughts and impute.

Having said that, there are other subjects that tend to degrade fairly quickly into what you are terming "infighting", and its a fairly small group of folks that tend to do the back and forth, some because they seem to like to "show the other side" or some because they truly feel that they are not being heard or don't feel they have gotten their point across in the manner they meant to and given how hard it is to get the meaning of your words to come out at times, it can take one or two or three or more to get just what you mean to say across as a clear point..

If you are reading the whole site for a week or two. It will become very clear quite fast which subjects will tend to be a more "of a push button" and you can choose to read or not read them as it applies to the knowledge your are seeking in terms of where you are at in your preps, and what you want to learn in regards to helping your family and their needs.

Hope you will find what you are looking for on the boards and just as you would with a good book, you seek out the chapters that are applicable to what you are trying to learn.

FG

Hello everyone,

This is my third post, so that means it will be reviewed and approved... At the beginning of this thread an idea was suggested about minimum number of posts in order to remain active, then things got weird. Really weird. I have been mostly silent for about a week or so because I am a newbie, with little to offer. In time, my contribution will become more valuable as my knowledge grows. I have to say that putting restrictions on membership leaves a bad taste. I think that all members should be encouraged to contribute but that should be accomplished through a sense of community and intelligent conversation. I have a deep respect for all of the members on this website, even the kinda crazy ones, but I am not interested being on some "watchlist" just so I can listen to infighting. I need information to save my family's lives. I want to meet like minded people. I had hoped that this was the place. . . .

Is this type of thread normal?

PortAlberniPrepper

I can see your concerns - but the 'approval time' was to weed out spammers and those who were trying to cash in - like the guy that made 2 or 3 posts advertising water leak repairs. I don't come on here for advertisements. And as I also take part in other forums - I have to say its frustrating to see the membership and only a couple of posters. That's my understanding - plus it gives you time to go through all the threads an read some first.
Back in my time in green we would have a quick unit meeting too exchange plans to tackle the next objective if conditions allowed - this was a useful resource as it was in essence a brainstorming session that was often high value as the experience within that group was outstanding - this would not occur if they all stayed there like mutant ninjas.
The object of these forums is to exchange information, tips, experiences - can't do this very well if 80% of the participants are mutant ninjas can you.
Criticism - constructive is useful - I don't like it either - but it shows were I might be wrong and may need a re-evaluation of that particular thing or idea.
The thing that bothers me most of all is that if those of us on this and other sites can't handle a bit of negativity - reality check time - what are you/we going to do when things go to shit.
We have no other options as that game is for keeps - some of us may need to toughen up a bit more to have a realistic chance at survival. I wonder how many have been on light rations and still given difficult tasks to achieve after weeks of being in the field - I can tell you it does drain you reserves a lot - you need to get the mental preparedness right or you will have serious issues down the track.
Hopefully we and our descendants will have the luxury of sitting at our computers and still debate this for centuries to come - but I don't think so.

Hello everyone,

This is my third post, so that means it will be reviewed and approved... At the beginning of this thread an idea was suggested about minimum number of posts in order to remain active, then things got weird. Really weird. I have been mostly silent for about a week or so because I am a newbie, with little to offer. In time, my contribution will become more valuable as my knowledge grows. I have to say that putting restrictions on membership leaves a bad taste. I think that all members should be encouraged to contribute but that should be accomplished through a sense of community and intelligent conversation. I have a deep respect for all of the members on this website, even the kinda crazy ones, but I am not interested being on some "watchlist" just so I can listen to infighting. I need information to save my family's lives. I want to meet like minded people. I had hoped that this was the place. . . .

Is this type of thread normal?

PortAlberniPrepper

PortAlberniPrepper,

Thank you for adding your input.

First, no this is not a normal thread. I was trying to figure out how to get more input from the members who have joined the Forum but have yet to post any posts. Then things got hi-jacked for some twisted humour. But I think we are back on track.

From a new members point-of-view you are saying that a minimum post requirement is a turn off to new members. Noted.

I whole-heartedly agree with you, all members should be encouraged to participate. How do we do that?? I am looking for workable suggestions/solutions.

As for a sense of community, truth be told, before I left for my cross-Canada tour this past summer I thought we were building a workable virtual community that was productive and helping each other learn more and get better prepared. Unfortunately, it would seem a select few have infiltrated the site and take extreme glee in throwing a wrench into the works at their pleasure. Hard to say what their motive is. Bored. Not cable TV. Plants. So, some behaviour you just have to filter out for your self. Ignore them and move on.

As for meeting up with like-minded people, you might want to touch bases with "wookie" he has been on the Forum for quite a while and is not too far from you. Maybe you can find a up Island meeting you can attend and meet more folks and learn more face-to-face.

Please, keep posting. Only through the decent behavior and co-operation of like-minded members can we build a stronger community. In the meantime, we just have to wait for the bad apples to show themselves and hope that the mods take them out of the game. Just weigh the input of any given member on any given topic. If the person posting does not seem to know jack or their post does not make sense, skip past it a read the posts that do make sense. IMHO of course.

Cheers,

Mountainman.

Farmgal & FNQer-1,

Excellent points. Good observations and recommendations in your posts.

Thanks,

Mountainman.

My biggest problem buying into conspiracy theories is the sheer level of resources, competence, and interest on the part of the Alphabet gang in whatever they're doing. Government offices look more like "Office Space" than "MIB."

Honestly, the post minimum over time is a turn off for more than just the new posters. I post very occasionally, but I check in and look at the site several times a week. The problem I see with an enforced posting minimum is that it's certainly not going to reduce the amount of spam on the site. If I have to post a one word reply twice a week to remain active, the only thing that helps is my post count.

The 3 post approval was intended to reduce spam. So far it has worked, as I myself have been able to stop several spam posts. As for a minimum posting requirement, I'm really not sold on the idea. The purpose of this site is to educate people on preparedness. This includes newbies as well as the more experienced. I think we could all agree that the more people that wake up to being prepared, the better off we will all be when it flies into the fan. A big part of convincing people is to show them how many people already do it. Pruning the membership of low end posters would reduce our membership, and thus be counterproductive. Is it a numbers game? Yup, you bet. But if it helps get even one more person to begin prepping, then it's one I'm willing to play.
On the bright side, since we have started moderating new posts, we can see how many new members are signing up and joining conversations right away, and the number is impressive. We even have some American friends joining us in the last couple of days, probably due to the IPN being mentioned in the American Preppers Network Newsletter (Thanks Tom)!

You can check out the latest APN newsletter here...
http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs194/1107826975065/archive/1111436197116.html

I fully understand why it turns people off to "have to" post, kinda makes it feel like another job maybe? I used to feel that way as well. There are many valid points thus far especially since it got back on track! I understand that having more people and more ideas, knowledge, experience...ect....is good. However this thread was just a way of trying to figure out a way of getting "new" people to talk, and to some extent it did, maybe we should put a link out to our respective provinces?
The whole spook thing........doesnt worry me at all! My worry would be more in place with people that know who i am that i am not close with. I dont need people knowing my business hence why i never fully introduced myself. ( Sorry )
When i first joined this site i was looking for people to chat with about prepping and other subjects along those lines. I posted to c5 about his mutual group. To this day i still chat with him, not on open forum though. This is a great website guys, even if there are those "troublemakers" (which i dont know who) as far as ive seen so far theres just certain topics that get heated. I know when im passionate about something ill argue till im blue in the face (or at least the air will be blue). Keep up the good work guys!

Evening All,

Well, from the small sample taken from this thread, I think even at this early stage that an enforced minimum quantity of posts per member is not going to have the desired effect of getting more folks participating on the Forum.

No minimum posts per day, per week, per month. I hear you. I believe the moderators will use the comments on this thread when they decide on the issue.

plainolme,

Thanks for your input and observations.

Cheers,

Mountainman.

I can't even read all this, I go away a couple of mouth and your all bickering. I'm with the OddDuck on this one. "post in winter then in the summer"

This is my 2nd try at getting an answer to post here.

When I ran my own group, the biggest thing was people felt like they could not express themselves because of the "core" posters. It made them feel like they only "allowed" to be on the side lines watching.

I can understand that. However if you don't stick at it you would not become a major contributor. Newbie's always feel on the outside I think that is natural.

OK I'm a newbie here - signed on date was - Fri Aug 17, 2012 4:18 pm
My current post count is 378

Most of which I feel has valuable content - there are a few were some friendly banter has occured.
But - what I am trying to say is if 'newbies' are hesitant on posting on here becase they feel they are not allowed - what will there attitude be in a crisis situation.
Some of my posts I feel go up unrecognised but many are recognised for the content I contribute.
If you are here to learn about preparing for events - and feel you cant post on a forum, Then you need to post, you can benifite others with your views - what are you going to do in a SHTF situation?