A forum member being chased away!!

Jim, there are 4 moderators that approve new members, JKP (Joe), Adam, Josef (Walt) and me. I’ll explain the process and why JKP and I approve the most requests and start the most welcome threads as succinctly as possible.

When we get a membership request we check the email and IP address for spammers. If both are clean we send an email from our OGF address asking the applicant about their interest in the hobby. This is to see if the email address is legitimate and if it belongs to a person. If the applicant responds we approve his request and start a thread welcoming him to the OGF.

The reason that JKP and I do this the most is because of our schedule. Adam handles new members on Monday, I do Tuesday and Wednesday, Josef does Thursday and JKP handles Friday, Saturday and Sunday. JKP and I handle 5 of the 7 days each week so we are most likely to receive the emails from applicants. On top of that it seems that most replies come in on Tuesday, Wednesday or on the weekend.

I hope this answers your question. If not, ask again and I’ll do my best to answer.

Yes. A good number of our new members are refugees from OGR.

I am a newish member who joined a little over a year ago. I enjoy reading what others have to say and haven't participated a whole lot to the discussions posted mostly because I'd like to feel out the temperament of the members on a forum for a while first. I am a member here and on MTF but notice that everyone avoids mentioning the name of the "other forum" like the name Voldemort! But reading the posts over there and some of the reactions by moderation seems like those folks are always walking on egg shells and you may never know when you hit a nerve. I too believe a lot can be lost in translation between the keyboard and the intent of the message typed. while my participation is light niw, I do like reading what is happening and I think joining forum shows support to that effect.

I think this is my longest post ever here! but slowly over time, more will follow.

This forum reminds me of a small local train meet typically held at a local Volunteer fire House.  At some point breakfast or lunch may be prepared by the firehouse auxiliary and attendees wander in to order and eat their meal at the area tables provided.

The conversation can range from the technical, to the trivial as friends and new acquaintances discuss all matter of model trains in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

Sometimes we get on each others nerves; and as we are in the same physical space the conversation could get a little salty.  Someone might even get so annoyed that they would hurriedly finish what they were eating, take a last gulp of their soda and stomp off.

But if you saw them again in the hall you could just as easily take up a discussion of whether or not this that or the other thing was a good deal as though nothing had happened.  Because in reality nothing did happen except a difference of opinion.

This is how I think of OGF.

Come on in and have a good time!

 

Unfortunately, I do know otherwise. The person may eventually choose to return, but I have the feeling he came here looking for share stuff and it didn’t quite work out. He wasn’t interested in the bull shit.

He bailed from that thread well before I mentioned the fact. After that, I am sure he didn’t give a damn if the thread continued or dragged on and on. 

I have seen quite a few good contributors leave and I have seen many good contributors stay. I come here and look for post by those guys that stayed and provide interesting reading. 

This forum has a unique feel of its own and I appreciate that, as long as it constructive and overtly opinionated. 

Tom

Honestly, new members should pony up some (hitching) posts. 

Time and tide heals all wounds as the saying goes, unless it is high tide and you drown. As Tom indicates perhaps time will do the trick. mrmeep has a good idea if this person is still checking in from time to time and signs into his account.

On occasion if I want to be certain that my response post is not taken in the wrong way, or I am uncertain if the poster meant to convey the meaning or tone the post conveys at least to me I send an IM first. Yes it takes a little extra time and yes the person may not get back to me right away but sometimes this lag time can be beneficial as it allows you to reconsider not only your interpretation of the post you are responding to, but what you response will be.

Anyone who posts on any forum (unless they are hopelessly narcissistic) has something to share which they believe others will find interesting, useful, or thought provoking. They also post because they are interested in the response and the opinion of others or the desire to help someone solve their model train issue.  That is pretty high minded stuff when you think about it.  People helping people.

I have no profound finish for this post except to say that even though a thread may be civil it can still hurt feelings and feelings matter.