TBN and civility

[Rch]

Certainly one of the strengths of TBN has been it's civility. I am always impressed with the lack of flaming, insults, swearing, and bad-mouthing on TBN compared to other sites and I wonder why is that. I remember an insulting post about 6-8 months to the affect that the great thing about TBN was it " kept yuppies with your toys off serious sites as 'Machinary Talk"...." It was ignored for 2-3 days and Mark Chalkley then made a passing comment to do just that, and it just died. I imagine Muhammad is a major factor with some selective editing but that doesn't account for the fact that we rarely see even transient inflammatory posts. The category "Off the Subject, Just for Fun" flirts with politics and life style, two notorious subjects that can degenerate into verbal fistycuffs but that doesn't happen.
Are compact tractors more mature and respecting ? I think there is an element of that. Related to that is a self policing TBN culture and, if I was a Webmaster, I'd be very interested on how that is fostered so that all my good work doesn't go for naught as the forum turns into a verbal slugfest. I personally think a poster like Bird Senter is a gift from heaven for Muhammad and TBN. As Mark Chalkley noted here is someone always willing to help and usher newbies into the fold plus ask the right question ("Tip & Tilt" is an example) and then give it back.
My question to Muhammad is there must be some studies and analysis of " the sociology of good/bad web site culture" and how do you manipulate things to emulate TBN. Is it hit or miss? How much does size play as a factor ? Certainly content is a factor. I still remember Harv's contribution with "Nubond" and gluing polypropylene as the Chalkley cup played out-- I didn't even know what I didn't know AND it was really helpful ! The recent additions of photos is super helpful- Larry's photos of mounting a tool box along side the engine on the FEL frame is clear with a glance; Bird's Tip & Tilt photos, especially the unique Kubota part to tap into the hydraulic system, are truely worth a 1000 words. As Harv says, " give us photos".
Is this Marshall Mc Cluhans "Global Village" ? The REAL question is, Why are some villages BETTER than others ?

RCH<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Rch on 01/28/01 01:40 PM (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Thomas]

Rch,
If one doesn't have respect towards others, {certain degree} than there a good chance he doesn't have much respect for himself.

I for one glad to see so many different personality for it makes the pot of knowledge & friendship more interesting....we all still put our pants on the sameway and hope for another day of life.

Darn good post!!


Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[TWINKLE_TOES]

RCH,

<font color=blue>"Bird Senter is a gift from heaven"</font color=blue>

Bird authored my favorite post on this board. The subject was taking a grandson for a tractor ride in the snow and strapping the little fellow to the fender. Bird's response was:

<font color=blue>"......we won't blame your daughter-in-law if she doesn't let you see your grandson again until all the snow's gone."</font color=blue>

The eloquence of posts like that set the tone of discussions.

The point being, we have a lot of pretty good role models. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Al

 

[Muhammad]

It has to do with many factors, but the type of people here, and the great members we have that have been here for a while do help a lot, for sure...

As for those few threads that don't serve any purpose... yep, we end those asap... but there are very few... and we rarely, if ever edit content of a post... you would see the message marked as edited by me or 'Administrator' ... usually when we do, it is to correct formatting problems, or fix broken links, etc.

 

[Bird]

Thanks for the kind words, Al./w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif Of course, I just have a lot of fun on the forum. And I've learned so much from the rest of you that I feel obligated to help others when I can (besides the fact that I enjoy it). I guess you could say the reason for the civility on this board is that the members are just a bunch of good folks that we like to be associated with. And maybe that starts with the guy who runs this operation, huh?/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Bird

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I'd like to think not too many posts are deleted, keeps me hopeful that humanity is heading this way! Some boards or bbs's are very restrictive, if you go off topic it won't be posted.I'm guilty as anyone of mental wandering, using the tractor folks as sounding boards (no pun intended!) as I find a fair amount of like minded folks here. That's not to say I don't see differences, but it seems that some boards take advantage of the anonymous factor and just start blasting.

I think it was one of the lawn mower boards I was looking at before deciding I wanted something smaller then the BX to use on the lawns, and man people would say something and you were hit with all kinds of crude remarks.

(I really know what the TRUTH is, tractor folks, (owners of just people looking in) are just intelligent NICE people!

del

 

[TWINKLE_TOES]

del,

What part of the great Northwest do you call home?

<font color=blue>"...take advantage of the anonymous factor"</font color=blue>

Is this why you haven't registered? /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif Just kidding.....
Al

 

[caddison]

RCH,

I am fairly new to this board and find it to be a wealth of information. I really think that folks that enjoy compact tractors are a more relaxed group of people. Perhaps we enjoy the simpler things, " cutting edge tractor toys and attachments being the exception of course" /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif ! I know after just coming in from pushing out all my elderly neighbors drives by the light of my new rear utility light /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif , it gives me a calming effect. I appreciate all the knowledge and opinions shared on this board.----Cliff

 

[jyoutz]

This is a great post, and I want to add that when I first discovered this board, I was very impressed by the willingness of strangers to go out their way to help someone on this forum. But now that I've been a member for awhile, I can see that we're not really strangers at all, just far-flung friends with like interests.

 

[ronjhall]

Not much else to add other than this place is addictive for all the stated reasons.

 

[RobS]

I have to agree with all these posts. I frequent a number of boards on a number of different topics and this one wins hands down for civility (great choice of word, RCH!). I'm not sure why, but it sure makes it a pleasure to participate. I suspect some of it has to do with registration and the accountability that goes along with that. Whatever the case, let's all keep this the friendliest board on the net /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Rob

 

[putty340]

I would like to add why I like this board. Experience , I dont know if anyone else has noticed, but there is alot of experience on this board. You can tell right away the diff. in people who just need to be heard ,from the ones who have the experience to answer a question about a problem they arent standing in front of -I like to hang around and learn.~~~~translation= I have no experience! It also has occurred to me that this is a honorable and courteous board, I think that comes from the top- the people who started it ,set the tone for how its run. In my job I see many diff. groups of people a day,you start to see a pattern of leadership, which I saw displayed here the first day I found this sight ,when a post was edited for a curse word even when it was used in a happy context. Eric

 

[shade2u2]

I agree with all regarding the pleasentness of this board. Like Putty, I generally observe & learn more than offering opinions due to having less experience with tractor issues. Occasionally, my 1 year of experience leads to an attempt to offer information, but generally I leave that to those that REALLY know like Bird. Persons on this board due offer alot of knowledge, but as important, perspectives of living that appeal to me. I've purchased country property, tractor, etc in the last couple of years to try to get to a simpler life & this board has contributed in a way that our generation sometimes missed due to changes in our society. I know of 1 (of probaby 25-30) farm boy that I grew up with that actually still farms & common sense knowledge about real things (barns, fixing this or that) is not being passed on like in the past. - Today, society tries to organize mentoring in it's place... If I could move to Texas, I would probably pay Bird to adopt me- LOL - thanx Bird for sharing your wisdom.

 

[Bird]

<font color=blue>those that REALLY know like Bird</font color=blue>

Whew, I'm a better con man than I ever thought if I've convinced anyone that I REALLY know. I'm still just trying to learn./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Bird

 

[shade2u2]

Bird,
You are much further down the path of "really knowing" than most... some days are spent digging through the briars in effort to find the path...

 

[ronjhall]

Bird:
Take the applause when you can get them. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gifI had to go back a couple of days to find this quote from one of us giving you applause today.<font color=blue>
I like what you've done here Harv. With all those blue outfits it looks like a lineup of "jail birds"/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif, I couldn't resist. No really Bird, which one is you? Last on right or 1 over from right, and what did you get busted for? </font color=blue>

 

[Bird]

Oh, I do appreciate all the kind words, and I'm very glad if I'm able to help someone else; just as I've been helped many times on the forum. There are so many who've help me that I'm almost afraid to mention names because I'd be bound to leave out some. But to start with, Mark Chalkley and Wen provided me a lot of information about tractors, Harv's provided information about computers and digital photography, LarryT provided photos and information that I used for the tip 'n tilt, Harv and PaulB have provided me with many laughs, and well . . . ., you get the idea. I wouldn't know where to stop.

Bird

 

[LarryT]

I agree with everything everyone has said on this subject, especially that virtually everyone here is a valuable contribuitor. However, I'd like to add one more kudo to Bird. Bird is the quintessential "model citizen" of this forum in my opinion.

'nuff said!

Larry...

 

[RICK R]

I hope to think that anyone that likes (loves) tractors has to be good hearted people.

 

[PaulB]

I hate to sound like a broken record here (will my kids even know what records were when they are my age???), but I for one would not have a tractor if it wasn't for the help I received on this board (and its predescessor, the Kubota tractor source). Three years ago I bought a farm, and proceeded, with hand tools only, to work my muscles into jello, and my mind into clay. I one day fired the word "compact tractor" into a search engine just because someone at work told me such a thing existed, and viola... I ended up at this site. I started asking questions like "what is a compact tractor", then progressed up the ladder of knowledge until I now know enough to actually use my tractor to advantage in getting work done, and doing so safely. Never, not once, did I get the impression from anyone on this baord that I was asking "stupid" or "newbie" questions that were not worthy of their time and effort to answer, even thoouhg some of these same questions must have been asnswered a dozen times before. I have offered my thonks many times in the past, and gladly do so again, to Muhammed, MarkC, Bird, Bud, Wen, Gordon, Del, and many many other fine folks I have "met" here at this great site.