Thank you all!
Posted by Last Chance Rand on April 22, 2004 at 14:45:09:
In Reply to: Message posted by Sharon on April 22, 2004 at 06:37:57:
Thank you for your observations, Sharon and others. Believe it or not, I'm in agreement with your findings. I only disagree with your conclusion. Old Fart, my partner, well, he can speak for himself -- below are my words only; please don't take it out on him!
As administrator, I pretty much HAVE to read all of the posts. But if I were a regular visitor like you, I'd only click to read posts by those who have dignified themselves with positive contributions in the past.
I think that over time a reader develops a good eye as to who are the most helpful contributors, and who are not. It is kind of like filtering email spam by eye -- one shouldn't have to open every email one receives in order to determine which are spam and which are legit. I believe that the same technique can be used here.
Most of the mean spirited posts are from one time usernames. Those who use the same alias repeatedly have built their own reputations via their own words. I won't name names of who I believe are the most helpful contributors as I'm bound to forget some and don't wish to overlook any of the excellent posts of the past, nor discourage same for the future.
Although from time to time one can learn and gleen good information on this forum about Death Valley and its surroundings, it's mission statement is simply "the cyber equivalent of a desert campfire chat". This was never intended to be a place to get all of the free answers to any question that comes down the pipe -- there are thousands of research oriented web sites with specific and technical info, as well as the National Park Service, whose mission is party to educate the public. This forum is intended merely to facilitate the exchange of ideas among those who frequent and enjoy the greater Death Valley region. Period.
Although we have no problem with posts asking "what kind of snake did I see", understand that in under 10 minutes at Google, using a few good keywords, one could easily find out for themselves what snake that they saw from any of the hundreds of web sites dedicated to snakes.
In fact, you'll find that 90% of such questions are usually answered with a link to a URL that one of our readers took the time to find -- by going to Google and using a few good keywords. Now, even I ask such questions of our readers -- recently I asked for a photo of the Lane Mountain milk-vetch. But first, I searched the web and looked for myself. Obviously I overlooked something, because some kind contributors DID find pics for me on the web, again, probably by using Google with a few good keywords. If you have a question that needs to be researched, you can either go to the stacks of books in the library, or ask the librarian. Well, the librarian is being paid. And even then, they'll likely still simply direct you to the stacks.
But our readers are not librarians, and they certainly are not paid to answer questions. Could several of them simply exercise good manners and not say anything if there is nothing good to be said? Sure, you and I both wish they'd hold their tongues rather than spit their venum. Yes, there are a**holes that visit this forum, but there are a**holes that visit Death Valley, too. Nice folks have to live among them, so if you pay no heed to jerks that you meet in life, you should pay them no heed to them here as well.
As the internet become more regulated and restricted, (some may feel for better, others for worse) there are fewer and fewer venues that continue to support the great American tradition of anonymity. Because the lands that are generally the subject of this forum's posts are owned and managed by "the government" there are legitimate criticisms that can be best leveled under a veil of anonymity.
Although this certainly brings out more than our fair share of pranksters, we have also enjoyed whistle-blowers, received insider information, and honest assessments that might not have been posted if their identity was known, even if to only the web site's administrator. Don't think that I haven't been phoned by government staff seeking the idenity of a poster, but since we don't even collect your IP address, there is nothing I can do. But what would administrators of other registration-based web sites do if they received the same call?
I think that I can speak for both Old Fart and myself on this point: regardless, we are grateful for your visit to this web site. We are disappointed when visitors offend and attack each other. We hope that the cream will rise to the surface and that most find value in what is here. Much like Death Valley itself -- some dust and dirt, but we see past that and reap its rewards.
Given that this site now receives 1/3 million visits per year, we both have much for which to be thankful, including your frank comments.
Thanks to you all.
Last Chance Rand
Editor