Negative posts

[maxburton]

I'm a new member, only a few posts, but I read everything here. It's really disappointing to see how a great discussion can be violently derailed by negative posts. It seems like every thread eventually gets insulting and intolerant posts in it. Worst of all, a lot of these inflammatory posts make good points, but usually end up starting arguments and killing the conversation. Like I said, I'm a newbie here, but maybe I'm out of line by even making this thread, in which case I sincerely apologize to all. But is there a strategy for dealing with folks who start posturing and insulting without adding to the discussion?

 

[clearance]

Yes Max, I understand your concern, as a man who has been ridiculed, insulted and disrespected on this site, as well as being a man who has sadly stooped to the same. If people just insult and are negative without any contribution to the topic, I feel this is wrong, if people point out inconsistencies and are sarcastic in thier adding to a topic, oh well. My biggest problem is with people who insult away and can certainly give criticism but who cannot take what they dish out. Some, such as Treelo, and I am sure others have tried to ban me, I have never ever reported a bad post, complained privately or given a good rating to anyone, what I have to say, everyone can see. I distingiush also between the treeguys (I dislike the word arborist) and the weekend warrior/non pros on this site. If you have never climbed or run a bucket even, speak up but also stay in the truck, so to speak. I dispute your contention that most threads tend to descend on a negative path, they generally don't. I think many of the problems here happen when certain people claim that they have all the answers and are fixed on certain methods, tending to over intellectualize things and fixate on fetishes regarding work practices.

 

[treeminator]

Clearance, it's so ironic that you would be the first to reply to Maxburton's thread. he was most ikely talking about you to begin with.

 

[mikecross23]

Clearance, it's so ironic that you would be the first to reply to Maxburton's thread. he was most ikely talking about you to begin with.

True that

 

[diltree]

oh yes...just what we want: a boring forum with no controversy and no negative feedback. Lets just stroke each others egos and help build self worth and self esteem within the arborist site community. If someone says something idiotic: spare their feelings with positive reinforcement in hopes "emotionally" they will feel better about who they are after posting, regardless of what garbage they are submitting to the forum.

 

[antigrassguy]

I dont know of another more testosterone laden occupation. Now when its to dark to run a saw we can "talk" the talk thanks to the web. And youll get all kinds.
Clearance, I am an arborist, and I think you are as well. Come on say it with me "hi my name is clearance and Im an arborist". Dont fight it dude, just open the closet door and come on out.:biggrinbounce2:

 

[hobby climber]

Hey Max, a very good point you make! As I was learning (not all that long ago), I too had to sift through a good number of posts to pick out the right information. AS.com still is a good place to learn...the trick is to learn who the folks are that can teach you the right way!!! Even the jerks can offer good info at times so try not to have a closed mind. Here's a trick, if I don't know the poster very well, check out there profile and look at all the threads & posts they made & get an idea as to what question or answers they make. If is crap...ignore it. If its positive, learn it. Its sad but thats the way one has to obtain info from AS.com. Another problem is some members just don't know enough to STOP and let others have an opinion once in a while without arguing to the point of stupidity. You'll notice that I don't post here that much. My tolerance to BS is not as high as it use to be. I believe that if AS.com wishes to get back its rep as the leading Tree Care site, it needs to put a leash on some of the folks that enjoy argue "Moot Points" & dominating threads. They should also try to encourage some of the newer members to post there Questions, Thought & Ideas!!! Yes, I'm a bit disappointed with this site but like yourself, I wish to learn more so that I may be able to provide the best tree care I can. I do a lot more lurking than posting. Good luck with your quest for greater knowledge and clearer answers! HC

 

[hobby climber]

Oops...

...My apologies Max, forgot my manners. "Welcome to Arboristsite.com" ...just sit back and enjoy the show! opcorn: HC

 

[foodforests]

I don't agree with everything Clearance says or does even, but he is an incredibly valuable contributor to the forum. To those who would exclude him, I would say that if you can't percieve his value, then perhaps the sarcastic comments he makes here, (which should be like water off a ducks back to anyone with an ounce of self esteem) are maybe just a little bit true...
Hell, I love a good argument. Its what democracy is all about my friends.

 

[Tree Frog]

I compare some of the responses to the person that yells insults from their car. They feel safe as if no one will stop, get out, and kick the living :censored: out of them, right there on the spot.

This goes the same on this sight. I am disaponited that the moderators do not draw the line on things when they start to degrade. When any business holds a meeting, things are kept in line from the person in charge.

Democracy is one thing but having people redirect the topic to meet their own personal gain not only wastes a persons time filtering out what is relevant but in turn drive business away from this site towards their compediters sites.

Imagine if you showed up on the job with the crew and you spent the first 2 hours arguing how to complete the task.

This display of a pecking order is not necessary since most people will never meet face to face or ever work together.

People in general are going to do what they want to do and conduct their business they way they want to either for the good of the consumer or for own personal gain.

This forum is a great place to learn if people treated it just for what it is, "A PLACE TO SHARE, THOUGHTS, IDEAS, AND TECHNIQUES FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE BUSINESS AS A WHOLE". This does not include an ego trip that will not help them better the service to their customers or businesses that they work for.

When ever a person answers a post or directs a comment toward another person, they should first ask themselves if they would say that if that person is standing in front of them.

Personally , I have found the tree industry to be one of the safest jobs that I have had the pleasure of preforming and considering that I am building my own business from the ground up, I try to soak up as much information as I can.


Welcome to the site and good thread.

 

[Locoweed]

Start adding folks that you find to be negative posters to your ignore list.

 

[oldugly]

Max,
Welcome to the sight. I too do not post that often, and read alot more than I post. There are some very intelligent people here, and some over-educated idiots, and there are some who think themselves to be better than they are. There are some with the education, experience, and common sense to contribute very highly, and some with experience without education, and some education without experience, all of these can have something to add with if it includes an open mind, and an attitude that is willing to listen AND speak.

As stated before, this is a heavily laden testosterone, and adrenaline based business. People who are attracted to it are usually adrenaline junkies, or (for lack of a better word for it) show-offs, (or drunks who can't get a real job). Using this as a baseline, the input that is received is going to be very heavily laced with the "look at me", and pretty scarce in the "how did you do that?" categories. Either way, I agree that some threads degrade rapidly, some gradually, and some just die a disgustingly quick painful death of ridicule and insult. We could use alot more positive input, but most of us are pretty negative people with a complex that cries for attention, and asks the world to notice them.

So as you read, think about yourself honestly, and think of these irresponsible souls that generate this negativity, and realize that we all aren't that much different. Some are just too stupid to realize the similarities.

 

[Trinity Honoria]

oldugly, pretty interesting analysis...

to max, just gotta decide if you have the cojones to weather the garbage and absorb the wisdom, the guidance, that's available here... AS, like everywhere else, is abundant in the human factor which includes charming traits and toxic traits... :biggrinbounce2:

 

[rebelman]

I have an agenda. Here in Arkansas and surrounding areas most veteran residential tree companies use spikes for pruning and do topping, stubbing, or flush cuts. I would like to see the quality go up. If a new business climbs spikeless and makes collar cuts they are better than a forty year company that refuses to adhere to minimum standard. These people scoff and ridicule with such confidence and braggadocio, the general public tends to follow along. Some have seen real residential work and realize it's not "******* around."

 

[diltree]

I have to send a shout out for Clearance.....Although he can be controversial, he contributes more then about 90% of the members, and based on my observation he has some of the most extensive knowledge base pertaining to working around the electrical wires. A knowledge base that is more valuable to newbies then anything else, considering most tree care related fatalities are associated with electrocution. He may lay it all out there in his posts, and some of his posts may be received as negative, but he is a huge contributer. I also have respect for those who "Say it Like it Is" even if it is their opinion.

 

[userdude]

Clearance, it's so ironic that you would be the first to reply to Maxburton's thread. he was most ikely talking about you to begin with.

It seems he may have been talking about folks like you....everything going fine and then you have to come and post a smart ass remark.
BTW Clearance is good to go in my book....knows his stuff...except when it comes to politics

 

[Newfie]

Negative posts can be almost as bad as whiny threads.

Its just the internet. If you can't hang behind a screen how do you possibly deal with people face to face.

I would rather have someone tell me something frankly and honestly( regardless of the negative or positive vibes) than blow sunshine up my a$$.

Can we all hold hands and sing cum-by-yah?:hmm3grin2orange:

 

[diltree]

I agree

 

[Dadatwins]

There are negative posts on this site???? and people disagreeing with each other????, I will have to pay more attention, I have not seen that around here that often but now I know what to look for. opcorn:

 

[maxburton]

Lots of great posts. I agree that a lot more learning can come from disagreement than from everyone agreeing and patting each other on the backs. We can all talk about how great we are for not doing flush-cuts till we're blue in the face. I also probably need to accept the fact that if you fill a web site with tree guys, you're not going to get a lot of folks tiptoeing around.