Your opinions are wanted.

[Spearmint]

To be fair I've lost track of the folk who at work have no idea about E-goat.

Coupled with the facts that IGS accounts are only available to SNCO's and above or for those with special reasons such as Licences etc and also the fact that today's breed of young airman / woman are only interested in PS3's, getting laid and going out. I can't see that lot wanting to sit in their room and talk shop.

Advertising it a little with posters to put up in Crewrooms etc may help.

 

[R_Squared]

That seems about right to me. Anybody I have spoken to about readily admits to having heard of PPRUNE, but most have never heard of the Goat. It's certainly not something I've seen being looked at by anyone, but then most don't have time to be on a forum in work time.

I used to print off some of the more amusing, or interesting threads and leave them in the crewroom, but not so much anymore.
It did seem to spark some interest though at the time.

Word of mouth is important though, if people enjoy it, they'll tell their friends, but the opposite is also true.

 

[Dave-exfairy]

To be fair I've lost track of the folk who at work have no idea about E-goat.

Coupled with the facts that IGS accounts are only available to SNCO's and above or for those with special reasons such as Licences etc and also the fact that today's breed of young airman / woman are only interested in PS3's, getting laid and going out. I can't see that lot wanting to sit in their room and talk shop.

Advertising it a little with posters to put up in Crewrooms etc may help.

When I was a young airman, the internet was only just becoming reality and we were only interested in going out and getting laid!!!

 

[MrMasher]

Agreed with Little Tronk about the attitude of some. Try and have a civil conversation about something and you are shot down in flames by experts in that field.

Try and pass on some expertise (even aplogising by pm if it appeared offensive) and you get ridiculed. Swings and roundabouts my friend.

 

[Max Reheat]

Try and pass on some expertise (even aplogising by pm if it appeared offensive) and you get ridiculed. Swings and roundabouts my friend.

Not just aimed at you, plenty of shineys come on here preaching about JPA. The apology was very much appreciated

 

[MrMasher]

Not just aimed at you, plenty of shineys come on here preaching about JPA. The apology was very much appreciated

In that case, thanks, I think!

 

[Entropy]

I have been a goater for about a year and I can agree with the previous posts on this. The pedant police are so often on patrol that you don't want to post, especially if your rather lubricated as most of us are after 20:00.

I think the forum had a wake up call after one poor woman posted an inocent question and was jumped on by numerous people who were quite agressive in their responses.

I've stuck with it but only post if I feel I won't be jumped upon, who's loss? My mate only trawls through the posts periodically as he has had a painful experience after posting a basic question and being rather verbally brutalised.

Finally I think the experts in various areas need to put up some stickys in the recruiting forum as you often see people (potential forumites) who don't search properly on their topic and post a question only to get a terse rely (I know that these questions are often repeated therefore the response).

If the goat provides the best info in a quick and friendly format then newbies will join and potentials will come back.

 

[True Blue Jack]

I came back to the goat after a temporary enforced absence and, to be honest, after a few days I came to the conclusion that the site had lost its mojo.

Time was, I would log on just so I could waste an hour deciphering what the hell Penguins Suck had been up to, or to read the latest instalment of Little Pob's adventures, or to see which newbie had bitten Brucie's bait, none of which seems to happen any more.

We've also lost a few 'characters', some of whom were not universally popular but who were guaranteed to brighten an otherwise dull day.

Looking at the "new posts" page right now shows the perennial shiney bashing thread, a poor attempt at a fishing trip, some requests for help with computers, etc., and a few current affairs. Not a lot there to inspire new members, unfortunately. And when a good debate does get going the playground bullies are all too keen to jump down the throats of anyone who dares to disagree with the popular view. I guess people eventually get fed up of being told they're entitled to an opinion as long as it's the same as everyone else's.

What's the solution? It might sound pink, fluffy and overly-PC but I think tolerance is the answer. Don't slam people for using text speak -educate them, of course, but those of us who were married before we sent our first SMS should remind ourselves that an increasing number of people actually say 'lol' and 'OMG' in normal conversation. If someone wants to run a poll on people's favourite colour then let them, the thread will soon die if no-one is interested. And bring back Kevin/Dale!

 

[Killer Queen]

Wobbly & others

Having been a member for just over two years, there are seasonal ups and downs which account for some dropage in visitors to the site.

I have to agree that a few of the charachter's have dropped off be it there are travelling the world. Also given the changes to operational requirements are there techinical issues we need to look at?

I will admit to feel inimidated at times when having posted items however I have taken it. Maye be goaters need to be open minded and think about replies before posting, (I am guilty of this esp in F1 forums) over excitement.

Best things from the goat advice on specialist subjects and the ability to let it all out in what grips forums.

Hope this helps

KQcup of corrrfeee

 

[wally375]

I have been a goater for about a year and I can agree with the previous posts on this. The pedant police are so often on patrol that you don't want to post, especially if your rather lubricated as most of us are after 20:00.

I think the forum had a wake up call after one poor woman posted an inocent question and was jumped on by numerous people who were quite agressive in their responses.

I've stuck with it but only post if I feel I won't be jumped upon, who's loss? My mate only trawls through the posts periodically as he has had a painful experience after posting a basic question and being rather verbally brutalised.

Finally I think the experts in various areas need to put up some stickys in the recruiting forum as you often see people (potential forumites) who don't search properly on their topic and post a question only to get a terse rely (I know that these questions are often repeated therefore the response).

If the goat provides the best info in a quick and friendly format then newbies will join and potentials will come back.

Your point about terse replies is spot on!DT_Xtremez_30:

 

[vim_fuego]

Hits on personal attacks have been noted and recently we've been working hard to eliminate them...I don't think we'll ever fold on 'lols and rofls' as we believe there should be some standard of comms between serving and ex-serving and their significant others and the wannabies can learn from us...

From my own personal point of view if you are nervous of posting don't be...get bashing the keyboard as we are looking out for inappropriate or harsh behaviour....This doesn't mean to say that a good old toe to toe can't happen in the right forum but think about things before you go at somebody...Its a crewroom after all and that is what you would do in real life...

Don't forget any of you can hit the report post button...

 

[hobbes]

If you want more people to contribute, open it up to all trades in the RAF.

The bollox replies of 'I didnt realise there were trade groups under TG1' and 'if you dont work on aircraft, your not worth talking to' get really fecking thin after a while.

Unfortunately some of the moderators that are the most vocal with this sort of tripe, whatever the area of the forum. Make your minds up, is it an aircraft techie forum, or one for everyone?

 

[SirSaltyHelmet]

If you want more people to contribute, open it up to all trades in the RAF.

The bollox replies of 'I didnt realise there were trade groups under TG1' and 'if you dont work on aircraft, your not worth talking to' get really fecking thin after a while.

Unfortunately some of the moderators that are the most vocal with this sort of tripe, whatever the area of the forum. Make your minds up, is it an aircraft techie forum, or one for everyone?

How about you tell them to "dry their eyes sweetcheeks", everyone is entitled to an opinion; let them know you have one.

The moderator's view is their own, unless it is PERSEC, OPSEC etc or are following current goat policy. If that is the case then you should be able to speak your mind, moderator or not.

 

[Little Tronk]

Text speak for me, although annoying isn't an issue as i try to right proper england always.

 

[Entropy]

Its a crewroom after all and that is what you would do in real life...

Unfortunately not everyone entering the forum has experience of this type of environment. I was lucky as I work in company that is comparible in size to the RAF, so I know what to expect from a crewroom of this size.

 

[vim_fuego]

Unfortunately not everyone entering the forum has experience of this type of environment. I was lucky as I work in company that is comparible in size to the RAF, so I know what to expect from a crewroom of this size.

Isn't that the case in the RAF years ago up to today? You walk in as an LAC not knowing your ar$e from your elbow...punch the second person who talks to you then take advice from those in the know...There is plenty of members on the Goat who have 1000's of posts under their belts who know how to send a PM to someone who could be struggling on the forums...

 

[Little Tronk]

Unfortunately not everyone entering the forum has experience of this type of environment. I was lucky as I work in company that is comparible in size to the RAF, so I know what to expect from a crewroom of this size.

Do they have crewrooms in ASDA?

 

[RAF Bird]

I dont see your points about the different TG's. I'm a stacker and I for one know that any of the 'your not even properly in the RAF as your not TG1' comments are only banter.

Vim is one of our few 'Aircrew gods' who regularly post and he manages to hold his own on the banter front...... as for the gym queens.... well they are too busy doing their hair to post. DT_Xtremez_42:DT_Xtremez_42:

 

[he_who_dares_rodney]

I try and pop in when I can
However not every thread is for me particuarly as I have been out of the RAF for a few years

I can see the point about it being Techie based
Most of the threads about other trades seem to be in fight club - why do MT / Mirror Tech / Clerks etc exist do their job blah blah blah
I washed a windscreen on a hawk once why do I need a test to drive a tank transporter etc

Alot of the posters / members seem to know each other or work together so sometimes you feel a little bit on the outside looking in
It can feel a bit more cliquey and less anonomuse than say Arrse for instance

Also alot of recruitment questions asking the same thing over and over

However a quick scan at the home page tells me that there are 5 users plus 48 guests veiwing right now
Plus most of the threads have far more views than posts - this thread for instance has 39 posts and 800 views
The Incompotent Clerks thread again has 39 posts but 1,241 veiws

So the people are out ther but whay aren't they posting?
If only half of the people that viewed it had posted you'd have almost 700 posts just on that one thread

So what's holding thenm back they must have some opinion?

 

[amfortas]

""The Incompotent Clerks thread again has 39 posts but 1,241 veiws""

'Views' include a myriad Bots that trawl all over the web like an LAC airframes with a screwdriver. (whoops, sorry - make that an ops clerk with a chinagraph)