forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
WW1 Aircraft Modeling => What's New => Topic started by: Dave W on August 24, 2018, 07:41:16 PM
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As the Forum transitions toward the future I feel it's time to ask the members for your input on what you want to see on the Forum? What do you want more/ less of? What are we not doing that you want to see?
I would appreciate input from as many as possible to help make our Forum as good as it can possibly be and reflect your interests.
While we are at heart a WW1 aircraft forum, are you happy to see the inclusion of armour and vehicles too?
We have many boards here spanning a wide range of subjects. But are there more specialist topics or boards you would like to see?
What would you both like to see more or less of? And are there forum boards or topics that you feel we could drop?
Would you like more competitions? More tutorials? Photo features?
We used to have a Featured Modeller section. Would you like that revived? Or a featured model of the month?
This is not a poll as such, it's an opportunity for everyone to help shape the future direction and content of the Forum to make it as inclusive as possible and a true reflection of everyone's interests.
So please let's hear your thoughts, any and every idea welcomed!
Dave Wilson
Forum owner & Administrator
Gold Coast
Australia
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First of all, thank you Dave for taking the duty to run this excellent Forum. And also for giving us the opportunity to express our wishes regarding its future. So here are a few of my comments/wishes.
While we are at heart a WW1 aircraft forum, are you happy to see the inclusion of armour and vehicles too?
This was the forum for WW1 Aviation from the onset. I do not see the point to expand the topic to land or sea. There is "Time to relax" section at the end of the forum, where builds, models etc. not related to WW1 aircraft can be presented. Many of us, me included, do so.
We have many boards here spanning a wide range of subjects. But are there more specialist topics or boards you would like to see?
I am not for too specialised subdivision of forum threads. What we have is already detailed enough. Even more...
What would you both like to see more or less of? And are there forum boards or topics that you feel we could drop?
... in my opinion the split of modelling section into ordinary, resin and scratch builds is not necessary. I would prefer to have build logs for all types of material/techniques in one place and obviously a separate section for completed models, again without a subdivision into materials or techniques.
And here, I have one wish, regarding the thread title layout. It is not easy to find all specific builds related to the same aircraft model. It is all due to the quite free, non-uniform title layouts in the threads. Could we not introduce the common, even obligatory layout, for instance - aircraft name, kit producer, scale? It would very much facilitate scrolling and searching.
Would you like more competitions? More tutorials? Photo features?
Competitions, group builds are all fun. They could return, even on a regular basis. It is always an opportunity to participate even more in our hobby or to stimulate the choice of the subject for the next project.
We used to have a Featured Modeller section. Would you like that revived? Or a featured model of the month?
That was a great section, we could know each other better even without meeting in real. I understand Des's worries when the forum became wide open to not registered people. But instead of just removing the contents he could have simply asked each of the featured modellers if they wished to have their content removed or if they agreed - to have the files still available. Me, personally, I did not write anything in my file, that I would be ashamed of to expose to wider public. Yes, I would like to see that section back.
So, these are a few of my thoughts and proposals. And I surely wonder, what the others think about those issues.
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All great points by Przemol. One little addition is the "new replies to your posts" - I'm not sure I need to see everyone's reply to a person's introduction or a comment on a completed model (other than from the original poster) Sounds crankier than I want and I have NO idea how you would filter that but just food for thought. Let me say I love this place and everything you do for it.
Steve
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Would you like more competitions? More tutorials? Photo features?
Dave Wilson
Forum owner & Administrator
Gold Coast
Australia
I would LOVE to see more tutorials especially a step by step guide to rigging - explained as if one were a two year old - that would be me - especially interior rigging, cockpit, etc. I have a few Wingnut Wings kits and this may sound silly, but I'm scared to even attempt one not having built a World War I aircraft before.
What I think would be cool would be a World War I aircraft, unit history, etc. book review section.
James
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While we are at heart a WW1 aircraft forum, are you happy to see the inclusion of armour and vehicles too?
Not for me, allthough I'm happy to see this kind of thing in 'Time to Relax'. This forum is unusual because it's WWI aviation, and that's what makes it special to me
We have many boards here spanning a wide range of subjects. But are there more specialist topics or boards you would like to see?
What would you both like to see more or less of? And are there forum boards or topics that you feel we could drop?
I think there are far, far too many sections. Without some thought I'm not sure how to rationalise them but I'd be happy with half the number, even a third. I don't think the posts here need to be so finely categorised
Would you like more competitions? More tutorials? Photo features?
We used to have a Featured Modeller section. Would you like that revived? Or a featured model of the month?
Not sure either way about these. Competitions and group builds can be a good way of making deadlines to finish model. On the other hand, there seems to be a well motivated bunch of modellers here already.
What I would really, really like to see is some sort of software upgrade. I'm finding it challenging to remember the html codes I used to use all the time ten years ago on other forums. And there are a lot of modern features I'd like to see here. Nothing flashy, just something a bit more current
Richard
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All great points by Przemol. One little addition is the "new replies to your posts" - I'm not sure I need to see everyone's reply to a person's introduction or a comment on a completed model (other than from the original poster) Sounds crankier than I want and I have NO idea how you would filter that but just food for thought. Let me say I love this place and everything you do for it.
Steve
It must be possible to do, I don't get this problem
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Video tutorials would be cool!
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Hi Dave
I'm in agreement with Przemol. Especially condensing the "Under Construction" to include all types of build. I'm also keen to keep it to aviation with land and sea in the "Time to Relax" section.
Also agree that more tutorials would be good but that takes someone time and commitment which may not be forthcoming?
Anyway it is good see this discussion taking place.
Thanks,
Alistair
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i'm very happy with what we've got here and the sense of community. thanks for taking the reins and keeping it true to Des' legacy. i don't see much i'd want to change, but i'd welcome a few very minor tweaks.
i also very much appreciate the tone: everyone's supportive and if anyone gets snarky they get shut down (a part of Des' legacy).
i have no problem with armor etc as long as it has its own section. i have zero interest in armor, but i have a big interest in 1/72 submarines, and will eventually do Max Kennedy Horton's E9. that'll have to be a scratch build, there isn't even a vacuform kit of it.
i like the idea of splits, but by subject matter not technique. if you think further subdivision's a good idea, maybe hashtags are the way forward?
I like Przemol's point about a recommended format for thread titles. i'd also like it if build threads MOVED to the completed builds section instead of requiring a separate thread.
one thing that irks me... i use "unread threads" a lot... and stuff drops off there even if i've not read it, just 'cause i have that tab open when i launch Chrome. not a big deal but would be nice if it can be set to stay open til i actually SEE the threads.
i like the idea of tutorials and stuff but that should be on the site not the forum. and there are plenty of worthy builds up in here already that can be 'promoted' to the site.
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Hello Dave,
at first I would like to express my gratefullness for asking the forum members about their input. This is another of many points that show clearly that this forum is in very good hands.
As the Forum transitions toward the future I feel it's time to ask the members for your input on what you want to see on the Forum? What do you want more/ less of? What are we not doing that you want to see?
I would appreciate input from as many as possible to help make our Forum as good as it can possibly be and reflect your interests.
(http://While we are at heart a WW1 aircraft forum, are you happy to see the inclusion of armour and vehicles too?)
When I understood Des' view on his forum propperly, it was (and of course remains) mainly an aviation forum, but it was and should remain also a WWI forum. Des always was intersted in vehicles, tanks, guns or similar wwi stuff, he even built much of it for himself.
Dear fellow modellers, Just have a look at scalemates and search for any WW2 kit and you will see several injection molded kits of the same aircraft/vehicle/armour type and many many aftermarket articles like resin or PE parts. They even start to kit paper tanks, tanks that never were build in reality, just because the whole real stuff is already made as a kit. Their world is huge, the kits count by the thousands and it is only logical to focus on airplanes or tanks or whatever.
But this is simply not the case with WWI. In our beloved WWI world not even the half of the most important war machines are produced as a kit, e. g. " -- insert your favoured aircraft here --".
What I want to say with that is: WWI modelling is an absolute niche. WWI enthusiasts of all disciplines should therefore stick together and keep on thinking outside the box.
Everybody should have his or her own opinion, but I must say that I absolutely can't understand why vehicles and armour should be banned into "Time to relax" here. Let's not decrease the quality of this forum! If someone is not interested in WWI vehicles or armour/ guns -- just don't look at these posts. I personally would never touch a WWI ship's kit, but if anybody does and would show it here, why not? I would love to see it, as long as it's WWI.
[img]We have many boards here spanning a wide range of subjects. But are there more specialist topics or boards you would like to see?
What would you both like to see more or less of? And are there forum boards or topics that you feel we could drop?
I like how it is.
Would you like more competitions? More tutorials? Photo features?
I personally prefer the cooperation thing in modelling, not the competition thing. But groupbuilds are fun imo. Tutorials are great and highly appreciated.
Best regards
Andreas
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Thank you so much, Dave, for stepping up and keeping this unique and wonderful forum alive.
I agree 100% with Andreas on all points. Des was a champion of all things WWI related and in his honor and memory I'd like to see thing remain as they are. He was very much into group builds and I would like to see them return. Also, the Featured Modeler section was a nice feature that Des introduced. I'd like to see it back on the forum.
Thank you for checking with us, Dave. You're a Prince among men.
Cheers,
Bud
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Thank you so much, Dave, for stepping up and keeping this unique and wonderful forum alive.
I agree 100% with Andreas on all points. Des was a champion of all things WWI related and in his honor and memory I'd like to see thing remain as they are. He was very much into group builds and I would like to see them return. Also, the Featured Modeler section was a nice feature that Des introduced. I'd like to see it back on the forum.
Thank you for checking with us, Dave. You're a Prince among men.
Cheers,
Bud
I AGREE COMPLETELY AND THOROUGHLY with Andreas and of course My Amigo Bud. Andreas just beat me to the trigger on posting very similar thoughts! Yes I was shouting my reply!
RAGIII
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Perhaps as a concession to us MCAs, Metrically Challenged Americans, the conversion factor from mm to inches, (0.03937) could be added to the tutorials. It would help Newbees to order the correct size line, wire, tube and bits.
sp
The proud owner of a recently delivered spool of 0.12 INCH Maxima Chameleon line for which I have no immediate use :-)
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Perhaps as a concession to us MCAs, Metrically Challenged Americans, the conversion factor from mm to inches, (0.03937) could be added to the tutorials. It would help Newbees to order the correct size line, wire, tube and bits.
sp
The proud owner of a recently delivered spool of 0.12 INCH Maxima Chameleon line for which I have no immediate use :-)
OK, I will concede on this one :-)
RAGIII
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The proud owner of a recently delivered spool of 0.12 INCH Maxima Chameleon line for which I have no immediate use :-)
I'm still chuckling, too funny! :) ;D ;D As an advanced age Canadian who tolerates our (imposed) metric official system I can relate! Couldn't agree more, my brain is already challenged by the effects of aging and this proposed addition would allow me to remove my constant conversion function from the equation!
Cheers,
Lance
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Thank you Dave for asking members for inputs. I like the forum as it is but I agree with Przemol about making a format for builds titles, to standardize and make easyer to search topics. And also I think it can be easyer to handleforum maintenance if grouping all builds in one section without distinction of resin, paper, metal etc. As other pointed despite being "...aircraftmodels..." forum I like vehicles, miniatures and other WW1 stuff appearance in the "time for relax" section; these add great value to the forum. Best regards everybody.
Ciao
Giuseppe
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I completely concur with Andreas, Dave, and what Bud said about Des' residual influence is spot on...but if any minor tweaking and/or streamlining is deemed appropriate, your discretion is fine by me....I also agree with the Prince Dave bit. -M
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At first I have to say thank you for your work on this forum.
I agree in the most points with the other fellows and must say: It is great as it is.
I would like to see the featured modeller section to be revived, because it brings us more together and shows something of the human behind the nickname and the small picture.
I think it would be nice to add 2 more topics for ships and land vehicles. Lots of us get their fingers on a MKIV, a howitzer or an other land based vehicle/ gun. So it would be easyer to browse throug the content.
Bye,
Manni
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I'll just reinforce some of the points made already and add a few of my own:
- Stay focused on WWI aircraft. This is the "USP" for the site and you don't want to lose that. There are other sites like Landships II and Planet Figure that focus on armour and figure modelling.
- However, don't make this solely about aircraft. Aircraft modellers sometimes need to know how to make figures and vehicles, and some modellers (like me) make a bit of everything, so it's nice to have these as a secondary focus. You have the "WW1 Armour, Artillery, Vehicles, dioramas, associated figures and Ships" sub-board as a good catch-all, so keep that as it is would be my recommendation. Although I suggest y ou split figures and dioramas into to separate sub-boards (see below).
- IMO there are already too many sub-boards that make the site complex to navigate. Sub-boards with limited traffic don't add much value IMO. I always access the site using "unread posts since last visit" because it is too time consuming to go into the different sub-boards. It also means some areas will get very little traffic (like card and resin models sections).
- I would suggest just having "Completed Builds" and "Under Construction" as the primary modelling sub-boards under WWI aircraft. That will increase traffic and not make the card modellers (for example) feel a bit left out.
- I would remove the WWI aviation figures, WWI aircraft dioramas and WWI Vehicles and airfield equipment sub-boards. Have a single sub-board for all WWI figures, a separate one for all WWI dioramas and a third for all WWI armour, vehicles and equipment. The techniques used for a WWI aviation figure are largely the same as any WWI figure, so why separate the boards and reduce traffic? Same goes for dioramas and vehicles.
- Final recommendation - keep up the good work! IMO you can leave everything as it is and it will still be a fantastic resource. So don't make a rod for your own back by trying to make "improvements" that may not be that necessary.....
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Unlike others I would like to keep the many subdivisions of topics, especially for media. Sometimes I enjoy browsing through all the recent posts on any WWI subject, but at other times I appreciate being able to quickly access posts for just vacs or decals, for example. Apart from the incredible amount and quality of the content, the clear distinction of topics was one of the most welcome and impressive aspects of the site. Tutorials on techniques would be great - is there a way of tagging existing info from the build posts? I find the search function to be erratic in usefulness. WWI subjects other then aircraft are welcome to me, not just aircraft, even if I personally have little or no interest in them. I'd like to thank Des, wherever he is now, for creating such a great site.
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is there a way of tagging existing info from the build posts?
Not in this software, it predates that kind of feature
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Thanks Dave for continuing on as administrator of the Forum and putting it up to the membership as to what they want to see. I agree with all the points that Prezmol introduced. I think as the mast head states. ww1aircraftmodels.com, that is the way it should stay. As mentioned, I support the other aspects of the hobby in the time to relax section where the modelers can post whatever else they are working on, being WWI armor to Gundam, that would be the place for it. Keep the forum WWI aircraft models. Streamlining some of the topics or combining would be helpful. Bring back the featured modeler, a nice way to put a face to a name.
Links to tutorials could take the place of a member doing a tutorial. Flory models, Andys Hobbies and others all have You Tube videos with how to and some step by step. I think this would be better than a lengthy text with photo's on how to rig a model.
Thanks for the opportunity.
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Thank you for what you do!
I'd like to propose more often and more varied group builds.
I think it will stimulate for a more interesting builds, technics and communication
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One further comment. I have No Objection to consolidation of some of the Subforums… As long as we don't lose a single thread! I also enjoy going back and looking at some of Garys. Paper builds, Mannis Artillery pieces . etc. JMHO,
RAGIII
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I'm in the camp for inclusion of land, sea, and figures that pertain strictly to WWI. Some select editing/streamlining of catagories ought to yield an easily navigable forum, and draw more WWI enthusiasts. I completely agree that WWI is a niche market, and the ship, armor, and figure guys are just as enthusiastic about their niche.
WWI ships-all content/scales
WWI figures-all content /scales
WWI vehicles-all content/scales
I also would like to see the forum remain as polite as it has always been.
Last, thank you for all the great work.
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I haven't heard it mentioned, and if it is unmentionable here, please correct and forgive me, but what about Russian Civil War aircraft? The vast majority of which were WWI aircraft. It opens up a whole raft of interesting markings.
sp
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I haven't heard it mentioned, and if it is unmentionable here, please correct and forgive me, but what about Russian Civil War aircraft? The vast majority of which were WWI aircraft. It opens up a whole raft of interesting markings.
sp
yeah i'm in the WWI-ish camp too. i think the wars after and around the war are fair game, WNW even includes Freikorps markings in the Junkers D.1 kit.
for ships, boats, landships, non-aviation figures, i think they should get an "other WWI" section. everything else can go in "time to relax."
this would keep the structure simple enough but also put all the non-aviation WWI in one place for people that are into that stuff...
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FWIW.
I think WW1 Aviation should take up 90% of the forum with the other 10% for land and sea.
Just my 2 penny worth. ;)
vB
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First of all, many thanks to Dave for keeping this forum running and giving us the opportunity to express our wishes.
One functionality which could be helpful from my POV would be filter for my own posts. Currently I only have the possibility to click on "show unread posts since last visit" or "show new replies to your posts".
That means, when I want to take a look at my older builds (where there are no new comments), I have to look for them manually or search via fulltext, which is rather difficult in case of threads 4 years old.
Cheers
Ondra
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First of all, many thanks to Dave for keeping this forum running and giving us the opportunity to express our wishes.
One functionality which could be helpful from my POV would be filter for my own posts. Currently I only have the possibility to click on "show unread posts since last visit" or "show new replies to your posts".
That means, when I want to take a look at my older builds (where there are no new comments), I have to look for them manually or search via fulltext, which is rather difficult in case of threads 4 years old.
Cheers
Ondra
Just a bit of advice on your problem - you can sort the threads in a given section by "Started by" category just clicking it in the section header - this puts all your threads together - just assess where "o" is in the alphabet to localize the appropriate subpage. :)
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My sincere thanks to everyone who has provided feedback on the future shape of the Forum. I really appreciate your input and ideas and a number of the suggestions will be implemented over time.
At the moment I'm still learning the technical side of how the Forum works but I'm also acutely aware of the importance of retaining Des' "signature" here. The content and the many boards were set up by him and while change is inevitable, I'd like to regard changes to the Forum as an evolution, rather than a revolution.
So please be aware that it may be a little while before you see major changes but those who have responded have given a very clear indication of how you want the Forum to look and to run.
Thanks to the kindness and generosity of those who have donated funds to the Forum I will be engaging an IT person to help us make some necessary changes that are way beyond my expertise. One of the first tasks is to access the archive and if possible retrieve the Featured Modeller files, then upload them again as a starting point for a new Featured Modeller section.
The Forum's major strength though is not in its technical side but in the regular interaction of the members. We are really a global modelling club inside your computer or tablet and we are at our best when members are chatting, showing their work, reporting on local model shows, sharing news of new releases and generally engaging in regular and ongoing discussions about our shared passion for WW1 models.
Please keep this thread going with your ideas and wishes. Everyone's wishes are being noted and I'm confident over time we'll have a Forum that not only preserves the legacy of friendly co-operation that Des instilled, but also a vibrant Forum that reflects the members' interests and draws people back every day to catch up with the latest posts.
Dave Wilson
Forum Administrator
Gold Coast
Australia
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glad you're on the case, Dave. the forum is in safe hands.
i'll keep the opinions going because i never run out of opinions:
a "like" button on posts would be a great addition. kinda like what they have on the britmodeller forum.
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-No armour. if people want armour, there are plenty of armour forums.
-Modeller of the month. Not needed.
-Sub-Forum. There are already too many sub-forums. Just a "Models", "General" "Builds" & "Traders" forum would be sufficient, because there is not really a high volume of posts to necessitate so many sub-forums, which take a lot of trolling through. LSP has it about right.
-Tone. I'm probably in a minority of one, but I'd like the tone relaxed just a tad. Competing opinions should not be shot down so easily and classed as "snark".
-Competitions. Not required, it's all about WWI aeroplane kits, not winning things.
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"Tone. I'm probably in a minority of one, but I'd like the tone relaxed just a tad. Competing opinions should not be shot down so easily and classed as "snark"."
Dekenba, your quoted remarks above have me a bit baffled as I don't believe our forum "shoots down" competing opinions and we certainly do not practice "snarky" behaviour. I am concerned that you think this happens because, from Day One of this Forum, the rule was to treat everyone fairly and equally in a spirit of friendship. That is certainly still the guiding policy.
If you believe people are "snarky" and quick to shoot down differing views, please PM some examples to me to follow up on.
I've always felt this Forum has been the friendliest WW1 model site on the Net and I want it to continue this way.
Dave Wilson
Forum Administrator
Gold Coast
Australia
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"Tone. I'm probably in a minority of one, but I'd like the tone relaxed just a tad. Competing opinions should not be shot down so easily and classed as "snark"."
Dekenba, your quoted remarks above have me a bit baffled as I don't believe our forum "shoots down" competing opinions and we certainly do not practice "snarky" behaviour. I am concerned that you think this happens because, from Day One of this Forum, the rule was to treat everyone fairly and equally in a spirit of friendship. That is certainly still the guiding policy.
If you believe people are "snarky" and quick to shoot down differing views, please PM some examples to me to follow up on.
I've always felt this Forum has been the friendliest WW1 model site on the Net and I want it to continue this way.
Dave Wilson
Forum Administrator
Gold Coast
Australia
Dave, let me reassure you. This is the friendliest WW1 model forum on the planet.
If forum members feel like they are not being heard or their point of view is worthless then please contact our Admins.
Keep up the great work.
Bob :)
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Well, in all honesty, I believe I can be a bit snarky at times, however it's usually couched in gibberish.
Cheers,
Bud
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Tone. "A style or mode of expression" according to Noah Webster.
I am a firm supporter of healthy debate and dialogue, and greatly encourage it with the caveat that it is respectful of others and non confrontational in nature. I often use the expression "the only thing we are sure of is ............ were not sure". There are very few "absolutes" in the subjects we pursue, debate, and study in this hobby we share here thus some disagreement is inevitable. As long as that debate is respectful of the other it's a symptom of a healthy forum of discussion, and we all learn from it. As Bob has so clearly stated this is a friendly, if not the friendliest Forum of all associated with the hobby. As your Moderator I'm pleased to say that 99.9% of the posts I read (and I read them all!) are not only interesting and enjoyable but, importantly, knowledgeable, polite, and considerate in tone and presentation. As a group of like minded individuals with common interests and values we would not want it any other way methinks.
This Forum is one of my "happy places", I truly enjoy the privilege of sharing my passion for WW.I Aviation and all that subject holds with the great bunch of folks here whose company I value and respect. We don't often meet directly but when we do I've found the experience is always positive and enjoyable.
Des founded this site on the principles of fairness and friendship and our new Administrator has maintained that as our guiding principle, with that in place we cannot go wrong. I think we are in great shape!
Cheers, :)
Lance
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Thanks for that beautiful post, Lance.
Gene K
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This Forum is one of my "happy places", I truly enjoy the privilege of sharing my passion for WW.I Aviation and all that subject holds with the great bunch of folks here whose company I value and respect. We don't often meet directly but when we do I've found the experience is always positive and enjoyable.
Des founded this site on the principles of fairness and friendship and our new Administrator has maintained that as our guiding principle, with that in place we cannot go wrong. I think we are in great shape!
Cheers, :)
Lance
So true!
I'd like to add one thing: If we would share our ideas on solving the world's hunger problem or on the best cure against AIDS or any other mortal disease, then a "burning" exchange of arguments would be vital. But this is a hobby, it's something we chose for pleasure, joy and relaxing, not for fighting each other...
Andreas
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Well, in all honesty, I believe I can be a bit snarky at times, however it's usually couched in gibberish.
Cheers,
Bud
+1 on the gibberish, Bud! Not you, but me! ;D ;D
I wouldn't have it any other way.
vB :)