Where are the EC Members hiding ?

jamie_duff · Post by **jamie_duff** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 11:00 am

It's not about moderation Brian - two of the highly dynamic forums with regular real-life meets hardly ever need intervention by a moderator.

I don't know what's wrong with people on here but it seems that most of the membership have either no idea what a forum is for or have arrogantly decided that it is below them.

Even when somewhat silly questions are asked on other forums (full of what some might regard as lower calibre people) the answers are friendly and civilised. On here people seem to forget themselves and post presumptious, condescending and plain rude responses.

I always remind people using the other forums I moderate that they should treat a forum like a pub and be mindful that the other screen names are real people with real feelings. Tones and expressions don't always come across well and the PFA/LAA membership seem particularly bad at it. They seem to treat emails and forums as though they're still writing telegrams - paying by the letter!

There are smileys - use them! If you're joking - use the wink or laughing smiley!

What one definately shouldn't do is bulldoze into a thread hiding behind a keyboard and say things which one definately wouldn't say to a bunch of strangers in a pub - which I feel is something which happens rather a lot here.

Lastly - although most of the membership probably look fondly on their days in the Royal Flying Corps - the new generation (the ones this LAA name change was supposed to be appealing to?) like things online.

There is absolutely no sense of community here - why not? Mach2 I completely understand what you say - "proper" forums should be real communities - why does no-one want to be friendly here? I'm truely baffled

Phil Burgess · Post by **Phil Burgess** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:50 pm

Some other forums have areas that are veiwable by anyone and other areas that are veiwable to members only. Why not keep the section labled as hangar chat as a members only area? This seems to be where most of the moaning goes on and might help present a better image to interested non members thinking about joining.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 9:05 pm

take away the hangar chat, not much is left

ChampChump · Post by **ChampChump** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 9:04 am

I could post this reply on at least half of the threads currently showing on this board, because the site is new and initially, we've all been concerned about access.

I am hopeful that the forum will expand to become a more useful tool for all: a source of support, information and socialising. Hangar chat, indeed. It's just taking a little while for many of us to get into it; I'm sure many experienced the same problems as I did and vowed to wait awhile. Whether some were E.C. members remains to be seen, but I'd have thought it reasonable to believe that the cross-section of LAA members use the magazine as the primary source of information, backed up by the BB. Yes, the technology allows faster dissemination of news, but (sweeping generalisation) at present only the younger generation has the mindset to use the technology in that way, as primary source. GPS arguments may apply here.....

Captain Pulsar has it right in my opinion.

Let's get the balance of subjects back to what matters, now the site is functioning more efficiently. As said elsewhere, you can tell when the weather's bad, because the forums are so busy....

Rod1 · Post by **Rod1** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 9:33 am

Interesting how the concept of flying forums has changed the media approach to incidents. Just listened to “Danny” who runs PPRUNE being interviewed on BBC national radio regarding the BA 777 incident. PPRUNE is running at 6000 visitors at one time, which is a lot of potential members!

Do the members who dislike this BB also dislike PPRUNE and Flyer. These two are the benchmark for UK forums and both have very large numbers of posters. You may believe that this BB is unrepresentative, but if you want to find out what the rest of the aviation community thinks of us they can provide a very quick benchmark, with 2000 people viewing a single thread.

Rod1

Dave Hall · Post by **Dave Hall** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 11:17 pm

I've just taken a quick look - but the server is too busy for more than the page I read. Can anyone please tell me what a RAT is, in connection with the APU I think?

Mike Mold · Post by **Mike Mold** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 11:59 pm

Ram Air Turbine

Dave Hall · Post by **Dave Hall** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 1:32 pm

Thanks, Mike.

Nigel Hitchman · Post by **Nigel Hitchman** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 3:38 pm

Rod, I agree that Pprune and Flyer get many more viewers to their sites probably a lot to do with that is that Pprune was the first and has a good reputation in the airline world, at least to get rumours, maybe not the facts! Flyer also seems to be succesful in that it generates quite a lot of traffic, helped a lot that its promoted by a national magazine, althought Pilot dont seem to have one, I think they did once.

I would guess that a lot of the people who look at this BB also look at the others and the majority of membership who dont look at this, dont look at the others either.

I look at the others now and again and post very rarely. However, looking at the posts particularly Flyer which I look at more often, its nearly always the same people posting, probably just like here. It was amazing that they had got up to 19 pages on the LHR crash when I looked (that evening) but of that about 5 posts had anything useful to say and there were the usual slaging matches too, just like we get on here sometimes! So although there is a lot more traffic, maybe the content isnt much better! At least here its easier to read quickly!

Perhaps LAA members are too busy flying or building their aircraft or out doing something, rather than sitting infront of the computer! Which reminds me I really ought to be doing something else right now!

Phil Burgess · Post by **Phil Burgess** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:53 pm

I'm too busy flying and building but I still find time to post on here. Perhapse I should get a life!

Bill McCarthy · Post by **Bill McCarthy** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 4:02 pm

I note the "Star letter" in the Loop edition that arrived today gave the LAA a thorough lambasting regarding the name change. He obviously has a real gripe against the association.

As an aside, does anyone know what effect the TV programme - "Build A Plane" had on membership numbers. Did it attract new members. It's time we had another TV build with more emphasis on LAA involvement.

leiafee · Post by **leiafee** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:48 pm

Bill McCarthy wrote:As an aside, does anyone know what effect the TV programme - "Build A Plane" had on membership numbers. Did it attract new members. It's time we had another TV build with more emphasis on LAA involvement.

I saw a repeat of that not long before joining. ae me very thoughtful

Roger Partington · Post by **Roger Partington** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 9:09 pm

I confess to being one of those that spent too much time moaning when I first discovered the BB but it felt like the first real opportunity to express some of my frustration with certain aspects of the PFA (LAA) in the hope that someone might hear.

That doesn't mean that I don't appreciate what the association does on my behalf at all but its just that as a mere member, I often felt completely powerless and the forum just gave me an opportunity to express my feelings.

I suppose I was also curious to see if it was just me who had the problems I experienced and the mixture of responses were very interesting.

I would like to think that some of the "moaning" that went on about modification system by a few of us (which also included some suggestions) helped to push on some of the changes that are being made now - but maybe that's just wishful thinking.

I spend far too much time travelling with work and I've got to say that when stuck in some hotel room somewhere, I am quite amused by some of the bickering that goes on (although maybe it gives the wrong impression, especially to those outside the organisation) but it seems to me that we are all on the same side really.

Roger

Simon Smith · Post by **Simon Smith** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 12:18 am

Welshman,

If you watch the whole series you will see that the first episode features Graham Newby putting the PFA in good light and during the rest of the series there are 2 inspectors featured at various points, one of whom now works for the LAA.
I agree that to those who are involved in aviation the program does not hve too much to offer but you have to remember that we are not the target market. If the program attracts "non aviation people" to look further into home building etc it has done its job. The media are renowned for "getting it wrong". Go and see the uproar on PPRuNe anytime there is another headline in the papers mentioning pilots grappling with the controls, plunging toward schools etc etc. The recent "three men in a boat" program got just as much criticism on the sailing forums.

I agree with you though that it is time for a repeat. Anyone for "An RV-9 is born"?