I vote to leave Interchange unregulated. Here's why.. maybe there are "potshots" but the cover of anonymity (or in my case pseudonimity)..has been useful..

There was a lot of stuff earlier this summer about Steamtown and some of it was really nasty, but much of it was deserved. Apparently, the Feds have heard the outcry. I know for a fact stuff posted here was read by the NPS. Now changes are coming with the mandate.. "MORE STEAM". You can bet the anger, the ridicule although at times excessive made this happen!! Make this Emily Post and something will be missing. I couldn't use my real name, or else I might compromise my sources.

Nothing is perfect. Trust your readers Hume. There may be a couple of whack-jobs here and there but I think most of them will stick out like sore thumbs and are easily refuted. If its really out of line, contains profanity or such, you still have editorial discretion.

By the way, I think we all owe you guys kudos for the time and trouble you put in this endeavor.

Find myself in agreement with the widest most libertarian approach.

Idiots and emotional reactionaries are easily percieved as such by the majority of reasonable, responsible contributors to this board and their postings are easily ignored. The real surprise is the relatively small number of them in this subset of society compared to society as a whole.

Defining "offensive" is a judgement call and leads into some uncharted waters I wouldn't want to have to find my way through. You guys are working hard enough. I am offended by the notions that 1. you need to work harder and 2. you need to protect me from someone elses definition of "offensive".

The acceptible etiquette of the shop floor and that of the sunday womens methodist sewing circle are very different and we have people who are fine people from both POVs contributing here. Language used is also different but shouldn't, providing we are all grown people, get too much in the way of effective communication.

Let's assume we all have thick skins and try not to test that theory too much.

Dave



irondave@bellsouth.net

As somebody who initiated a popular discussion about Steamtown earlier in the summer (specifically, about building stronger relationships with regional preservation groups who have preserved and restored diesels without a place to operate them) I think it important to preserve the anonymity of this board in order to allow the widest possible range of viewpoints to be presented. In the discussion(s) about Steamtown many of the most articulate viewpoints (whether or not you agree with them) came from those who posted without using their real name or e-mail address. The ability for someone to make their views known anonymously to a wide audience is one of the great abilities of communication over the internet. On this board it has fostered the expression of a wide range of viewpoints over a wide range of topics. The other formats proposed, through reducing the anonymity of posters, will the range of topics and viewpoints discussed. In this discussion, as in any, the ability to be exposed to a wide range of thoughts and idea will invariably increase the quality of the conclusions reached.



rrhistorian@hotmail.com

I think the reasoning to leave well enough alone as articulated by Mike Pearl is just fine. This site is by far the best and the most useful of any of the RR sites that I have bookmarked. The anonimity is well deserved when needed to illustrate the folly of some of us, and it allows for an honest expression of a different viewpoint without the fear or reprisal.

By reading the posting one can easily determine if it is for real or if it is the work product of someone "a few ears short of a bushel".

This site with its generally facutal and free wheeling discussion really cannot be improved upon. It really serves a true need and probably does more to help the preservation community than you can imagine. If it means that some stuffed shirt or boorish personality takes a poking, then so it be it. I fail to find anything mean spirted in the postings or presentations.

Keep you the great effort.

Bennett Levin

I vote to leave Interchange unregulated.
> Here's why.. maybe there are
> "potshots" but the cover of
> anonymity (or in my case pseudonimity)..has
> been useful..

> Nothing is perfect. Trust your readers Hume.
> There may be a couple of whack-jobs here and
> there but I think most of them will stick
> out like sore thumbs and are easily refuted.
> If its really out of line, contains
> profanity or such, you still have editorial
> discretion.

> By the way, I think we all owe you guys
> kudos for the time and trouble you put in
> this endeavor.


v-scarpitti@worldnet.att.net

> I vote to leave Interchange unregulated.
> Here's why.. maybe there are
> "potshots" but the cover of
> anonymity (or in my case pseudonimity)..has
> been useful..

> There was a lot of stuff earlier this summer
> about Steamtown and some of it was really
> nasty, but much of it was deserved.
> Apparently, the Feds have heard the outcry.
> I know for a fact stuff posted here was read
> by the NPS. Now changes are coming with the
> mandate.. "MORE STEAM". You can
> bet the anger, the ridicule although at
> times excessive made this happen!! Make this
> Emily Post and something will be missing. I
> couldn't use my real name, or else I might
> compromise my sources.

> Nothing is perfect. Trust your readers Hume.
> There may be a couple of whack-jobs here and
> there but I think most of them will stick
> out like sore thumbs and are easily refuted.
> If its really out of line, contains
> profanity or such, you still have editorial
> discretion.

> By the way, I think we all owe you guys
> kudos for the time and trouble you put in
> this endeavor.

There has been some of inappropiate behavior on this board. But when compared to some other RR boards,The RYPN Interchange is a shining example according to the of respect among its members, interesting and thought provoking discussion.

Trust me, I have seen the worst of annonymous internet sniping and bickering in the form of the Chaski Board before Brian Wowak (sp?) took over moderation there.

I think that some moderation is desired here. But mostly our posters are well behaved. If it would compromise the ability of some of the posters to talk freely about their ideas by changing the way this boards is run, then we also face seeing a demished quality and quanity of posts on this board. And I think no one wants to see that considering what a valuable resource RYPN is. We are very lucky to have this place.


terry_dempsey@hotmail.com

> Trust me, I have seen the worst of
> annonymous internet sniping and bickering in
> the form of the Chaski Board before Brian
> Wowak (sp?) took over moderation there.

As some of you know, I am a regular on Chaski, and on Trainorders.com. Both had major flame problems a while back. Trainorders now requires registration. While I do not work in the industry
and have no reason to fear reprisals from anyone who reads this board, there are those who do need to post anonymously. By and large the commentary on this board is very civil, and yet opinions run the total spectrum. Right now, I don't see the need for registration, and do not think it would improve the quality of the board.


kevingillespie@usa.net

There is nothing wrong with point out problems even if they are negative. There has been problems in the past on this board with some here getting upset because someone has made a negative observation or put light on a negative or considered to be a negative problem. If we shy away from Steamtown's problems and yes they do have problems as do all RR Museums and Tourist Railroads, then bigger problems will ensue.

We should not worry so much about the truth being negative or unpopular or raining on someone's picnic. Sometimes the truth is negative and we don't always want to hear what is negative. If there is a serious problem be it at Steamtown or anywhere else, the first step to solving the problem is getting the word out and that is where boards like this help a great deal.

But some who do not like any criticism or pointing out anything wrong cry the loudest and they cry unfair.

Criticism and pointing out problems and making observations can be done in a civil way without the putting down of others. But sometimes pointing the finger, in this case the government is needed. If someone messes up, they need to be ready for blame. However, I have not seen hatefilled words on this board nor has there been a real fight here. And that is how it should be... Nice and clean.

But lets not forsake the truth or serious problem pointing for clean and nice.
There will always be someone out there who will accuse those who point out the truth as being a hate monger or negative or what ever.

This board has been very fair and continues to be a great source of information. But remember, the only shame here is not reporting the truth and looking for ways to solve problems. This board is not a crying towel for those who don't like criticism of their favorite stop. No major problems get solved here but getting the word out, does more than most here can imagine.

Thank You and keep up the good work folks.
Regards,
Andrew J. McKernan