WIX problems and civility

[oscardeuce]

Like I said I suggest to my forum posters to use real names. It has nothing to do about protection. It's more about keeping the place friendly and helping out to remember names. I have never had a problem and my full name has been on thousands of posts and several forums since 2001. I have never heard of any problem using your full name.

Cheers,
Nathan Milarta

A guy around here went on Craig's list, and found a young lady to $ape and murder. It happens.

All ryan's info is listed under his FAA tickets.

Maybe I'm paranoid, but i'd prefer to give you all my name when we meet at a show, or for some tall tales and brews. I would not do it, but if you want, go ahead.

[Jack Cook]

and poor Eric Downing..........he's got anaroks showing up at his hanger with parts lists
my things to do list............
1. make list of AD-5 parts
2. visit Eric
3. go noodling

[oscardeuce]

I do know of at least one airshow circuit pilot who was stalked by another WIX member... Please don't do that to me. Neither of us will enjoy it.

Ryan

Now Ryan, no threats of violence in a discussion of civility.

[muddyboots]

*stalks Ryan*

[RyanShort1]

I do know of at least one airshow circuit pilot who was stalked by another WIX member... Please don't do that to me. Neither of us will enjoy it.

Ryan

Now Ryan, no threats of violence in a discussion of civility.

LOL! I guess I did leave that kind of open ended. Fair warning, though, it's Texas! I will say that a couple of ASB types really made me uneasy at an airshow once. That was kind of weird. Every WIXer I've met so far down here has been OK. You can't expect to use WIX for promotional purposes (Like for the Alamo Liaison Squadron) and stay anonymous indefinitely. Sooner or later your cover is blown, in which case, it doesn't matter, screen name or not.

Ryan

[avenger2504]

Yes I see the reasoning behind using areal name. (Mine's Barry Tod) I use avenger2504 because its the first aircraft I ever worked on (TBF-1 Avenger NZ2504 on display at the Air Force Museum here in Christchurch New Zealand.

[Randy Haskin]

I will say that a couple of ASB types really made me uneasy at an airshow once. That was kind of weird.

Oh, you've gotta spill some details on that one.

[Randy Haskin]

I'm a little undecided on Gunny's proposal for a real-names-only WIX 3.0.

On one hand, he's completely right -- requiring posters to use their real names precludes much of the drive-by idiocy that annoys people on many web forums. Because peoples' behavior on a web forum is suddenly now reflective of (and directly attributable to) someone's identity in 'real life', it means that people are less likely to poke sticks in the cage or toss hand grenades in rooms just for sport. It actually does work.

On the other hand, the anonymity that the internet provides also allows for discussion and exchange of information that is sometimes hindered by, and may not otherwise exist in, "real life". The same anonymity that allows people to make drive-by comments also means that some are more willing to discuss honestly when they don't fear the negative attribution to their real life identity. There's definitely something significant to be gained by it.

Obviously, I use my real name (and at some risk to my real life duties, to be honest) here and elsewhere (although I'm sure there are people that would think that the tactical callsign nickname I use as my log-on elsewhere is some form of not using my real name). I'm not afraid of standing behind the things I post.

So, I see benefit to both ways.

[Dan Jones]

With a name like mine, most people just assume it's an alias anyway. And until a car accident in January took him out, I had a very good friend named John Smith.

[RyanShort1]

I will say that a couple of ASB types really made me uneasy at an airshow once. That was kind of weird.

Oh, you've gotta spill some details on that one.

Not sure that would be a good move. Maybe via PM, though.

Ryan

[airnutz]

Not sure that would be a good move. Maybe via PM, though.
Ryan

Too bad you don't have the anymouse factor going for you, Ryan....you could share with all of us then.

[gunnyperdue]

Good discussion.... good points.

I gotta say that if Bill Greenwood has the courage to put his name on his posts, we all should. He knows that some folks don't like what he says.... but he says it anyway.... good on him.

The worst topic in the world: Politics and politicians..... and might even be worse than that is arguing about them )I never talk religion, even with my own sister)..... when we've got airplanes, blue sky and crosswinds to talk about.

Here's a good warbird topic for a new thread... should we fly these things in the weather... and if not what good does a slaved HSI and a Approach Approved GPS do you?

gunny

[LadyO2Pilot]

Ryan and Randy have good points as well as Gunny's and Muddy's....

Having an alias in other forums can provide "cover" but maybe not as much here.

Although my screen name is not to remain anonymous, it's just what I use. I was "outted" within several hours of my first post on WIX by my IRL friends who were already members. I will not put my first name in posts but others do; I will in PMs though. Reason is, I have been a victim of cyber-stalking in years past prior to my airshow days. It's not fun and it became a criminal matter. Unfortunately....or fortunately...those people who go to shows in the South may (and can) recognize the picture in my avatar and put it together with the screen name and pretty much figure who I am without much trouble. Regardless, whatever I post I stand behind whether the universal "you" out there know my real identity or not.

[T33driver]

So far this thread has focused on screen names as a means to improve civility. Perhaps Scott might consider reevaluating enforcement standards for poster misconduct and direct mods to be quicker to intervene or lock threads and deal with offenders swiftly and aggressively. The current forum rules apparently aren't enough to deter the flamin' and misbehavin'. This is a great forum, but lately there's been too much mudslinging and nitpicking and I'm convinced it's keeping a lot of interesting posters on the sidelines. I want to hear more from folks on the WIX sidelines who are mixing it up with warbirds--operators, historians, photographers, writers, maintainers, restorers, owners. We have folks of those persuasions posting now, but I'm certain we could have so much more if enforcement was ratcheted up and b.s. was smacked down swiftly and decisively. I'm a warbird owner but also an armchair history buff and aviation fanatic so getting all these diverse perspectives is what I love about this forum. I'm all for vigorous discussion and disagreements, but the moment a thread degenerates into incivility, politics, religion, name-calling, etc., mods need to quickly and aggressively lock it down, delete the thread, sanction the offender and ban them if they can't play nice. I see some merit to using real names, but the negatives outweigh the positives. IMHO stricter enforcement by mods would go a long way to improving the environment here.

Last edited by T33driver on Mon Mar 28, 2011 8:40 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Tiger Tim]

What if I signed up under the name of somebody I didn't like? I could say all sorts of nasty things then...

Just saying, there are downsides to the 'use your own name' idea. Besides, my last name is so long it would never fit in the little box given.

-Tim