well said Doug. I think folks here don't realize how level headed the mods are. I've been elsewhere and seen mods not quite as nice or forgiving. And just like the guys that pop in and want to know about a military career, the mods will move that thread to the military section.Well here's the deal.
Without requiring some sort of (easily defeatable) litmus test, it's very difficult to create and "industry only" forum. I really don't want to get into the business of asking folks for credentials and crosschecking them with the FAA because that would require a lot of manpower which we really don't have.
I think the best way is to participate.
Let me speak very frankly. This might be a little raw because I'm a little loopy from screwing up my sleep cycle on this trip.
Some people absolutely bitch to no end about the website. However, when I click "show all posts by...", most of their posts have been negative, sarcastic and such, but then they write me an email or a PM about "Your website is negative, erase my posts, I'm gone forever!!!!!". Well, a whole freaking lot of their posts were negative! What have THEY said, or offered, positive? Hey man, I'm just the highway overpass and y'all are painting the graffiti. Sorry, I don't hate my job, I've had a "renewal" of sorts when I started flying international. I don't have any more or less opportunity than anyone else has on the website so if you're "in it to win it", improve your position. No one's going to hand you career satisfaction on a silver platter.
Conversely, inherently negative people bitch about the koombayah environment that the positive people are living in. Then they say insipid #### like "Oh, it's just a bunch of kids that don't want to hear the TROOF about the profession, I'm gone!!!111oneone". The truth according to who?!
And inverse of the converse, there are those that bitch about the negativity of the website and scream "inner circle! inner circle! if I'm not bitter about the profession, my input isn't welcome!"
So I ask, not directed at you Brian (fo sho!) or anyone in particular, but just a shot in the dark, what have YOU done to improve things? What insight are you providing? Remember, I'm just the highway overpass and you guys are the taggers with the spray paint. You all know what I'm trying to accomplish here and how many of you are helping foster that? Or how many just log on to bitch about things that are absolutely out of our control? How many volunteer? How many show up to meet 'n greets? Hell, how many of you talk #### about the website, exclaim how they're running off to otheraviationwebsite.com, only to come back, meld back in, rinse and repeat the cycle?
And on the other side, kool aid will give you a hangover nastier than mixing cheap beer with scotch chasers.
But what do we do?
"Dough, I want the new posts button to only show new posts that ***I*** care about!"
"Dough, what's up with the people that aren't like me that are on the forum?"
"Dough, I'm tired of the political threads in the lavatory (dude, it's not required reading!!! HellooOooOOo?!?)"
"Dough, I want that user on my ignore list, how do I do that?" quickly followed by "That thread don't make no sense!"
Come on folks, we're pilots. We're on the cool side of the locking cockpit door. Take personal responsibility. Foster the environment which you want to work in.
I ain't yo daddy.
If you're bitching, you're failing.
There are a lot of careers in aviation, that involve jets, that may never have a union.
We have a lot to owe to ALPA in regards to safety and advancement of this industry.
If you don't like talk by guys like myself, PCL or Surreal, well add me/them to your ignore list.
Really??
For Example (and I'm not accusing you of anything)
Johnny private pilot joins JC and decides to test the waters with a new post.
"How can I become an airline pilot"
9 times out of 10 here are the responses verbatim.....
"use the search function" (has nothing to do about unions, but a very annoying response"
"This is a crappy industry, you should think of a backup plan" (even though I'm an airline pilot and was in your shoes less than 6 months ago.)
"Make sure and work for an ALPA represented airline. (even though I don't)
"don't be that tool that carries a backpack or listens to an Ipod" (who cares)
"SJS is what brings the this industry down" (you had it at one point, everyone does)
"You know how much regional FO's make right?" (I do because i'm one myself and management told me before I signed the dotted line.)
"seniority is everything" (no its not, QOL is)
"you only have 250 hours dude! you have no business flying a jet" (even though I got a job with 300 hours)
"I work for the regionals so I can make it better for the people to follow" (hahaha...this is my favorite one.....BS!)
I just realized that most of my complaints have nothing to do with unions at all. Just a Makers on Ice rant.![]()
ASpilot2be said:I personally think its a good idea. I come to this section to learn things on how to improve my flying through tips and tricks from people all through the industry. I dont come here to be told to bow down to this one union, and bash others.
Seggy said:All right time for me to go off on a little rant here. I really don't care at this point in time, I am a tad wasted so please bear with me.
If you don't like or are afraid of union talk, tough cookies. It is and will be out there.
If you don't like talk by guys like myself, PCL or Surreal, well add me/them to your ignore list.
We have a lot to owe to ALPA in regards to safety and advancement of this industry. If you guys are 'bored' of the union talk, well understand that without someone pushing for enhanced safety measures and a desire to raise the bar, our jobs would be a lot more dangerous than they are today.
To separate this into a subforum is ludicrous.
All right time for me to go off on a little rant here. I really don't care at this point in time, I am a tad wasted so please bear with me.
If you don't like or are afraid of union talk, tough cookies. It is and will be out there.
If you don't like talk by guys like myself, PCL or Surreal, well add me/them to your ignore list.
We have a lot to owe to ALPA in regards to safety and advancement of this industry. If you guys are 'bored' of the union talk, well understand that without someone pushing for enhanced safety measures and a desire to raise the bar, our jobs would be a lot more dangerous than they are today.
To separate this into a subforum is ludicrous.
Ignore lists? Ridiculous. I can understand it on FI where the site is filled with constant flamebait, but it is completely unnecessary here. It's nothing short of an adult version of sticking your fingers in your ears and screaming "I can't year you, nanny, nanny, boo boo!" Grow up.Done.
So which Union bully has a gun to your head, forcing your eyeballs open across the message board? Don't like the Union talk, than don't read. If you really think you are being told to "bow down" to a Union, than WOW, you're in for a real treat when you're company tells you to "bow down" with yer "pants down". Give us a break....the union discussions here should be read by any aspiring Airline pilot. If you don't like unions, this is the wrong career!
skydog, it seems that you only like the kind of education that you personally agree with. You provide your idea of education, and Seggy, Surreal, Airdale, myself, etc.... will provide our idea of education. I don't try to get your pro-management posts relegated to a new "Kool-aid Drinkers" sub-forum. Why do you feel the need to censor those that you don't agree with? Seems rather desperate to me.
But thanks for making my point for me. I stated a view about unions that you disagree with, and here you come ready to knock me down for it.
OK, maybe I was abit extreme. I just dont like how threads get completely derailed into union talk. There are threads where it fits perfectly,but it doesnt belong in every thread.(I know, there isnt union talk in every thread)
At my point in training I am not interested in knowing every detail about unions. I already know that unions=good. They have already saved my dad and his fellow employees at his job.
Maybe I should ignore this section and start residing in the Techical Talk section. That interests me far more.
Cruise said:100% against separating to a sub-forum. Unions are intertwined w/ the industry. This is exactly what's wrong w/ the US these days. People aren't able to apply common sense to anything. Look, if you don't like the topic, or the direction, a thread is taking......don't read it. Simple as that.
This website was started operated with the idea of being a resource for people who wish to educate themselves about an aviation career. The key words there are "educate themselves." It's not up to us to "educate" the new person. That makes us sound like the secret police ("Come with me for re-education"). It's up to us provide the information and let the newbie take what he wants from it.
we do.. it's call the lav.We should have a sub-forum for people who post off topic. That would be a great idea.