TAY Atmosphere

Interesting discussion. Only been here since 2004. Amar has articulated most of the same thoughts that I have had on the subject. Thank you for your well written post. I will only add that among my friends up here in B'ham who ski hard (as hard as folks with jobs and families will allow) and are very active, TAY has become a bit of a joke. The level of discourse in the past few years has diminished the stature of the site with a significant group of backcountry skiers. It used to be a pretty friendly place with lots of good information. To me it often takes on the tone and hunger for attention that is common on other user group sites. Mainly because you have a bunch of males elbowing each other for stature and the spotlight.

Skiing is a wonderful activity. Our discussions and the information we provide one another should reflect this and underlie the words and the thoughts that inspire them.

Peace
Gregg Cronn

One of the nice things about the TAY software is that the displayed name on posts is user-changeable (unlike many other forums where it is not), without having to change the username itself. Currently anonymous members could simply change the displayed name in their profile, or they could add their real name in their signature, if maintaining the currently displayed username is important to them. Either of these changes would be visible immediately on all of their previous posts, but could also be removed equally easily if there is later a need for more anonymity for some legitimate reason.

[size=small](Edited to add an "a".)[/size]

Thanks for the info.  I had always considered the names were more of a fun aspect to this and usually sign by my first name anyway.  But I am giving this a try.  I may revert to the BigSnow and make a signature instead.

Anyone who actually knows me knows what my old username was, but in fact I realize that I may actually meet more people in the real world more easily if they know my real name.  Thanks for the suggestion.

Alan

Edit: Just to add some info for anyone making the change, I found that I could not do it in the beta version of Firefox (4). Had to go to Internet Explorer. On the other hand I couldn't do this simple edit on Internet Explorer, the window had a odd behavior.

It is nice that all my posts in the past have made the change, I think. Maybe a signature would be best. Will all the past posts include a newly added signature?

I've been following this thread in bits for the last few weeks, trying to piece together some coherent response.... from Singapore (It's a damn nice place to live, minus snow, BTW).

I think the key attribute of TAY is that it isn't TGR or cc.com. Relaxing all the moderating will just form a PNW-specific version of TGR, which will be a great loss to everyone. Isn't it reasonable to have different portals for different audiences, purposes, and demographics? The brah-uber-gnar noise at TGR etc is just that, noise, IMHO. Which is fun on occasion, but not the role I see TAY playing for the vast majority of posters.

That said, the growth from a small, homespun effort to a much more comprehensive site might mean that some changes are inevitable, but I think it is well within the moderator(s) rights to shape that as they see fit, assuming they don't become arbitrary, petty, or vindictive. 

Maybe everyone should just go do a few sweet laps to remind themselves why they are doing it? 

"Then for four miles downhill running, carefree and as happy as the winds that flew with us. Not even the beasts of the forests trespassed upon this ground we were skimming. Forgotten were all the petty, sordid things that surround one in this greedy rush to exist among the smokestacks of the city. For here, in the covert of the towering, unchanging mountains, we lived.”
('In The Northwest' American Ski Annual, 1934).

Maybe I should reply since I am pratically spawnd from here.

Most times I like the atmosphere here. I have no problems with scotsman and like his blunt attitude, and seeming ability to not take himself to seriously... mostly. I think any general negative vibe being blamed on Chris is unfair. While his brand may be easy to recognise, it's no more corrosive then the clever passive agressive attempts at bringing someone down.


This was Charles's baby, and he chose his successor. Live with it. IMO, he made a very good choice. Marcus is a model citizen in the backcountry community, and maybe more so in the bad times then the good. I don't know of anyone else who puts more time and effort into activities geared towards helping others. That's the type of selfless individual I would like to see retain sole ownership.

It shows in that he cared even to bother asking. What kind of dictator ask his people how they feel?!? I think that Marcus should honor Charles, and do what he thinks is best. Don't worry about everybody and their agendas lobbying for this and that. No body is ever happy in politics.

sincerly,

me

Member of NoFOTAY

There's no way I have the time to read, digest and respond to the many issues in this thread. My God! (who happens to preside over the church of the great blue dome). I am a lawyer originally from NYC who can claim to being a great heckler. But I know when and where to bring it.

My boys are 4 and 6. Teaching them teaches me. We are working on and struggling with this one, my opinion that Manners are a way of telling others that you respect and care for them, of making them feel welcome and of nurturing community. That applies here too. Manners is the answer.

I have an old saying "it is always good to live in the noisiest house on the block." But maybe not so nice to live next door. If I move into the U District next to frat boys or into Belltown above a bar I should expect frat parties and closing time noise. But otherwise not. If you get my drift.

As an aside, technical improvements to the site are plausible and possible but really have little to do with the core issues here. That being said, I prefer the quicker triggered moderator. There is actually virtually no individual morsel of content on this site whose loss would be tragic. But a rip in our fabric of community could be fatal.

My bottom line: it is possible to disagree in substance with someone and to tell them why without being insulting or self-aggrandizing. Be respectful (and not just "with all due respect") and all voices in this thread will have room. Try to use humor instead of scorn (and not the "can't you see I was riffing on Eminem" humor, I'm talking about warm humor.) Harsh language and personal attacks add nothing of value. I am truly astounded that the people who are deemed too harsh and negative here can't channel better. You all have such a great treasure of shared interests and experiences with the "positive" parts of this community. Focus on that. Respect the enormity of the task Marcus has taken on and rest assured that his very posting of the query that opened this can of worms proves that he is the right person for the job.

Thanks to all who have taken this so seriously. Please now give Marcus some room to breathe. And send him your thanks.

Jim O'Donnell

Semi-random thoughts after a busy day away from TAY...

I'm going to keep an open mind about Scotsman's suggestion about making TAY more of a "community-owned" site (for lack of a better phrase). Of course Marcus would have to agree with this. Creating a panel of moderators has some appeal (at least superficially). But when I think about this a little more, I return to the fact that it hasn't been easy for Charles and/or Marcus to get moderators to volunteer. Where would a new panel of moderators come from?

Who would be willing to step in and really become involved if we tried to relaunch TAY with a more community-based ownership? Color me open-minded, but skeptical.

Thank you for keeping an open mind Lowell. Your "Termite" response to my initial suggestion both impressed me with it's vehement negativity AND creativity and now this post impresses me with your positive side. You have many talents.
But seriously, I am grateful to both Charles and Marcus for the creation and upkeep of TAY and I recognize in both exemplary human beings who are willing to put it out there for their community.
However, we can't keep on going along with the situation where any time there is even constructive criticism of TAY ( I'm not not characterizing mine as)or it's moderation ,we are constantly told we should just be grateful, that it's time consuming  and thankless etc, etc. Or that it could be closed down because the SOLE owner decides to ( Which He can for whatever reason at present). Too much power in one place, no matter who it is or benevolent they are.

The model needs revamping to share the load ( plus it will have added benefits of making it more diversified in IMHO) and the time to do this is now. I bet you that if you called for volunteers for boardmembers/moderators of a FOTAY to manage  the site and raise funds for it, you would get them.

If the members/ lurkers of this fine website as so apathetic and willing to just site back and let others do the hard work then they aren't quite so "community" oriented as they like to think they are. YOU TALK THE TALK BUT DONT WALK THE WALK.

So you Freeloading TAYers just sitting back there allowing Marcus to do all the hard work, sack up, get off your couches, volunteer to be a Boardmember/Moderator of TAY or FOTAY. Think of the kudos, the  reaction of that cute telechick when you tell her you are a boardmember and have been chosen to be a moderator because of your superior diplomatic skills and enhanced empathy as a human being. You'll come across as Clintonesque and we all know the chicks love Bill.

Edit to add:  I repledge $1,000, hell... lets call it $1500 for the formation of FOTAY or whatever organisation is developed for the community purchase of TAY from Marcus. No strings attached.