The purpose of this thread is to establish etiquette guidelines for the USMS Discussion Forums. Most of the nearly 900 forum members use common etiquette when posting. Unfortunately this is not always the case. Please use this thread to list suggestions for "netiquette guidelines" for posts on the discussion forums.
Hugh Moore
USMS Communications Committee Chair
Former Member
I said, read the second part of my second sentence...and move on.
I think it would help if there were LESS use of the "quote" feature. In fact, I wouldn't mind at all if Jim could find a way to disable it. I would rather see posters simmply summarize the issues they want to address whenever possible.
The "quote" feature makes it too easy to take someone's words (inadvertently or not) out of context and, in effect, challenge them with it. It also allows multiple, almost simultaneous, challenges that seem directed AT a specific person (even if that's not intended). It may be a weakness of mine, but I for one find it difficult to ignore a comment that seems to be directed at me -- I don't think I'm alone in that. The result is that a discussion can quickly turn personal, and become a fight.
I realize that quoting can make it easier to let readers understand a comment. Just understand that it can be misused and use it only when it's needed to make your comment understood.
Ion:
I DO NOT write this as a criticism toward you. I am not shooting arrows at you here. I am simply attempting to share what Bert may have meant in his post regarding "YOU".
It is readily apparent to us all that you have overcome monumental obstacles to be where you are today. In fact, I have been told by others how difficult your life was in Europe and during your immigration to this country via Canada. You suffered great adversity and overcame this to become a very positive citizen of this great Country. This is admirable to say the least!
Having said that, perhaps your delivery and underlying motivations on many of your posts could use a little self evaluation. Your horn has tremendous validity in being blown. YOU ARE A WINNER to have survived what you did. But, when a horn is continually blown by the owner...often it becomes an irritant as opposed to a positive attribute.
Some of the posts suggest you take a more mild approach. What I think they mean by this is an approach that is less inclined to bringing praise to you from your own horn blowing efforts...as opposed to having the praise come from your humble, quite, and less self-serving efforts. Again, I HUMBLY say this to help you..and to help others perhaps deal with some of your posts.
I know well of what I speak here Ion. I have made a serious jerk of myself on a few occasions on these posts being to passionate or single minded in my views on a few posts. Many, many Masters Swimmers admire your tremendous accomplishments that overcame horrible conditions. Give others time to get to know you before your posts nudge them away from you. Often, people put up shields that prohibit them from getting to know you before you had a decent chance.
Kindest regards,
Tom Ellison
Ion, I think Tom has done an incredible job of communicating what others perceptions of you via a forum such as can be and given some good advise.
Early on in the old forum you defended yourself and told of your relationships with teamates which is very different than the somewhat hostile ones you encounter in these one way exchanges. I've meet you and agree that you are very different in person than your posts imply.
Part of this I beleive is cultural; I worked for a French company for 5 years, have been to Romania twice and continue to go to Europe once or twice a year, all in all I've had the pleasure to visit over 30 countries around the world.
What I have found is that often times the humor that exisits in many folks with english as a second language (particularly Europeans) is often taken very poorly by Americans who haven't spent much time in Europe or other parts of the world (Aussies and Kiwi's have made sarcasm an art form!).
I'd also say that it goes the other way as well, particulalry when communication is via email, letters of forum boards where a subtle smile that lets the other person know that what was said was "tongue in cheek" is missed, something I've seen you do!
Train Hard, Rest Hard!
Originally posted by Tom Ellison
Ion:
...
Having said that, perhaps your delivery and underlying motivations on many of your posts could use a little self evaluation.
...
Kindest regards,
Tom Ellison
I see what you mean here, and in your entire post.
Alright: I will do this "...self evaluation." before posting in the future.
I love the USMS discussion forums, but not when they degrade into personal attacks. I think that proper "netiquette" should include stimulating conversation and argument, but not personally insulting any one individual.
Also, remember that we all have an "ignore list". Go to "Account Info", and click on "Edit Ignore List". The "ignore list" allows you to enter an individual's name. From then on, it will block all posts by that individual.
For example, if you don't want to view posts by me, go to your "ignore list" and enter 'Anna Lea'. My posts will magically disappear from all discussion threads when you view them. (I wouldn't recommend doing this if you're a Registrar, however!)
The second part of your sentence is about this:
Originally posted by Bert Bergen
...
The common denominator in your issues with training/swimming/culture in NY, San Diego, and now (the taper issue), is YOU.
...
My part in a "...common denominator..." when I came to US and when I moved across US, is to:
1) be in demand professionally so that I am in US, when only a list of professions with shortage of skilled workers are allowed;
2) manage to be in demand professionally in US in a favorable training environment, like the city of San Diego is.
3) train in the hobby of swimming without affecting the demands of that competitive profession, which could easily import others than me;
4) in my training hobby, do more workouts than others, under the coaching guidance that has the blend of conditioning and technique in it;
5) go to swimming races.
1), 2) and 3) are not as ordinary as being born here.
The swimming coach part in the same "...common denominator..." in US, I see it like this:
A) coach me with 'Aerobic', 'Anaerobic', 'VO2', 'Sprint Race' and 'Explosive Speed' with competence matching 1), 2), and 3) above, and with a positive etiquette;
B) taper me for races;
C) take charge of A) and B) when races' results show up, with adjustments.
Today, I had had a workout under the coach who trained and tapered me for the 2001 Short Course Nationals (where I overachieved after two surgeries in the late 2000), and for the 2002 Short Course Nationals (where I was well prepared but I bonked nutritionally, I think).
This coach will take charge of A), B) and C), we have a deal today, so that I will indeed "...move on.".
Originally posted by MetroSwim
I just wish the forum software could be tweaked to get the "Ignore" list to apply to e-mail notifications.
Great idea. I have a VERY small ignore list, but I find that any thread I have contributed to in the past comes to me as an e-mail which includes posters on my ignore list. This, of course, makes the ignore list ineffective to say the least.
