EVERY user, please read this thread NOW

You guys are not kidding...

Seeing that this thread existed before I came on here shows that at least its not JUST me. Having been on many online forums over the years this goes on on every forum no matter what the subject or how good the moderation.

I admit I made one post that was angry and I should have worded it more carefuly but the anger was directed at my situation and not at another person. I tried ignoring the attacks so I can get the info i need then I dug myself deeper in the hole by trying to "save face". I wont even look at the politics section I'd hate to see what it looks like.

Some people just take so much pride in "I tell it like it is" but the hard, bubble bursting "truth" that they dish out they probably couldn't take. (and that unvarnished truth is usually just their opinion)

I must give witness that most forums are like this though. The internet is so impersonal and anonymous that people use it as an outlet for their riteous indignation. I have seen on other boards the most INNOCENT, benign subjects imaginable turn into diviciveness. Human nature I guess...

 

I just thought of something else (maybe this will help)

I was just thinking, one of the problems with online communication is that many of us, me included, forget that as we type (visualizing what we are thinking in our head)- MANY of us forget that the reader not only cant see out body language BUT ALSO cannot hear the intonation of our voice!.

This may sound minor but it makes a BIG difference and causes a reader to take us out of context.

A few times for example I have used caps on certain words to ensure that I make a point properly, and a reader will interpret that as me yelling at them.

Many times also people will say something sarcastic or as a joke, but since the reader cannot hear the tone of voice, they may take the comment more seriously than intended. It's not easy and I always had a hard time myself trying to figure out how one of my comments will be taken, or how to take someone else's comment.

Once someone takes something the wrong way, insults start flying (and its so easy to "speak your mind when anonymous.)

I guess it helps to re-read what one writes when discussion is on a stick matter. BUT then again, on this board and many others, there are people that can get into a divisive, HOT headed debate from a discussion about the weather or gardening.

 

There should be a policy that we should follow here. This forum is supposed to help people !!!

 

trust me, there are plenty of people being helped here.

i know, i'm one of them.

 

thank you!

Chip, well said. You have been most patient.

 

Re: Re: Back up as much as possible with facts....

To quickly answer some of your questions:

1) I'm an AME (aviation structual mechanic on egress systems).

2) They look at 'DL degrees' the same way as 'Traditional Degrees'. Remember it's the accreditation of the institution that matters most. Once you graduate, your done, regardless of HOW you fulfilled the requirements. Your transcripts and diploma will say "Excelsior College", not "Excelsior College, Distance Learning" The same with Colorado Tech: transcripts will read "Colorado Technical University" NOT "Colorado Technical University Online" regardless of whether you solely went to the ground campus, the online campus, or any combination of the two. The same with every other school.

BTW, many colleges with distance learning programs (including Excelsior) have a partnership with the NAVY and other branches of the armed service. See https://www.navycollege.navy.mil/ncp/socnav.html and https://www.navycollege.navy.mil/storefront.cfm .

There is another thread, http://www.degreeinfo.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16710 that goes into the OCS thing with more detail.


To also comment on some of the other posts here, the best advise I can give is to be as polite and candid as possible in all your replies, even if the other person was wrong, impolite, or 'started it'.

 

22 years old with almost a Master's degree. I can see that you have your sh** together. Congratulations. Keep up the good work and good luck with OCS. I heard it is a tough program but it looks like you are on your way.

 

Agreed

I certainly agree. No forum that exchanges this much information should have to deal with insulting or condescending remarks. Congratulations to you guys that run this forum. As a practicing engineer, I have participated in other forums related to engineering. However, in terms of overall participation, none of them are even in the same galaxy as this one.

By consulting this forum, future or current DL participants can not only save countless hours of research, but a considerable amount of money as well. The benefits of this type of information exchange are remarkable. Great job, and thanks!

 

I agree. Opinions: YES Personal attacks and flaming: NO

 

Dangerous Quote

Being a new member and peaceful like a Swiss from Geneva,

I respectfully think that the above quotation is dangerous and could lead to personal attacks. "Extreme" is difficult to objectively assess and "Frustration" leads to anger.

From the Leman Lake.


Respectfully,

 

Dangerous Quote

Being a new member and peaceful like a Swiss from Geneva,

I respectfully think that the above quotation is dangerous and could lead to personal attacks. "Extreme" is difficult to objectively assess and "Frustration" leads to anger.

From the Leman Lake.


Respectfully,

 

I concur that there needs to be an end to these personal attacks. I would appreciate it Chip if you would take a look at the political discussion board, as many there have begun to attack the arguer, and not the argument.

Also, these attacks against Rich Douglas are abhorred. People attack Rich all the time whenever he makes a statement and attacks Union, where he earned his PhD.

 

This is a very nice sentiment, and I thank you. I'm certainly guilty of fighting back, but I never initiate the ad hominems.

John Bear once told a colleague when recommending me for something (I forget what)--and I'm paraphrasing here--"He has all the right people (at Degreeinfo)mad at him." I like to think so.

 

That's really immature & silly of people to be doing that. Especially on a DL school site. But I understood & read it

 

That's really immature & silly of people to be doing that. Especially on a DL school site. But I understood & read it

 

Distance Learning

Couldn't agree more.

Hopefully one would think since we are discussing "education issues", and attest to hold academic degrees ourselves, we can "defend" or "attack" a position based on fact, versus resorting to personal attack.

I personally have no problem with having any statement I make on this forum being "attacked" and will "defend" strongly as long as it is the facts of my argument that are being challenged.

Lets face it, one of the best methods of learning (IMHO) happens while "defending" what you say and believe in. Sometimes, at the end of the process, you find out you really believe much differently than what you originally thought you did.

I also enjoy, and see nothing wrong, with posting a controversial position to see what others think of it.

However, to descend to personal attacks and character assasination is too much. My best advice to those who enter into this behavior is "GET A LIFE, AND SOON, PLEASE!!!!".

It's too bad this thread had to even be started by the moderator.

Regards,

Rebel

 

Couldn't agree more.

I have almost given up on the forum, but this post has encouraged me to contribute more.

Blessings,

Chris

 

I posted fairly early on in this thread and here I am again. My initial posting related to an attempt to look at the numbers of readers of this thread and to try to discern the number of active readers of the forum. This posting has a different but similar purpose. By my count, approximately 70% of the respondants in this thread were "small number respondants" which I defined as being members with fewer than 200 postings. Some responded more than once within this thread. It seems clear that the majority of members (one person, one vote) are asking for civility. I, for one, will try to comply but I request something in return. If you want your vote for civility to really mean something then you need to speak up in regards to other issues. If someone is posting about a suspected degree mill or some other controversial subject, then you should post a message, even if it is simply "I agree with X about Z."It seems clear that there are thousands of people reading this forum everyday. I am not attempting to prescribe what you say, I am simply asking that you say it. I know that time is scarce, but this has merit. Find your voice.
Jack

 

I'll bet more and more people will stick with this board and become consistant contributors if respect and civility become the rule. There's a lot of good info. here. I've gotten especially annoyed with this board when I have been insulted and grilled for not answering questions exactly the way somebody else wanted to hear it. I'm thinking people just need to think a little bit longer before they hit "submit reply."

 

Wonderfully perceptive and eloquent. Thanks, Jack.