The survey

[Anonymous]

"And why would the commentary be only via the support forum? Wouldn't you prefer a healthy debate (even if it were moderated) that would generate something everyone felt they could take ownership of, rather than create something only be exception that nobody will be happy with?"

Building on Curtis B.'s insightful comment, I would like to add a few words of my own regarding the Formum Guidelines Survey.

While I am not opposed to the idea of gathering member opinions via a survey, I am very wary of seeing them disappear into a survey, only to emerge as components of a bar graph or some such analytical tool, stripped of individual nuance and shoehorned into a series of categories defined solely by Mr. Jordan, reflecting his personal worldview and value system. Ultimately, it is his right to do so, but I feel that before that comes to pass, there should be an opportunity for a community wide discussion wherein all views are given a chance to be expressed and for each and every one of us to become aware of the diversity of opinion that exists on this site. Perhaps some consesus would emerge as to what the behavioral guidelines should be, thereby offering an opportunity for self restraint or peer group pressure to come into play, without the specter of "Big Brother" hovering in the background, ever ready to impose penalties of varying severity for rather ill defined transgressions based on what appears to me at this point(it is, after all, a first draft) to be a modern version of the Boy Scout Creed, redolent of a political correctness that would pass all comment thru a filter from which would emerge a tasteless, odorless pablum severely limited in its ability to convey anything beyond an exchange of technical information. Perhaps that will end up being the will of the majority, or perhaps that is what Mr. Jordan is determined to achieve regardless of community opinion, but if that is the way it is to be, I would at least like to see all the options laid on the table and all opinions given the opportunity to be heard.

I will start off by expressing my own feelings on the subject. It is clear BPL is composed of a very diverse group of folks from all walks of life and parts of the world. For the most part there is an admirable atmosphere of tolerance and accommodation, but differences do inevitably arise, and conflicts will emerge. Again, they are resolved for the most part amicably, or at least with a minimum of animosity. The problem becomes what to do when things start to get hostile, and at what point in the process. My own predisposition is not to attempt to head off such disagreements before they even start, as this will end up severely stifling freedom of expression across the board. Why not simply move such discussions to Chaff, and let that be an implied warning that it is time to start exercising a modicum of restrain, with the implied warning that the next step will be an escalation to deleting comments, threads, and ultimately other penalties as specified in Mr. Jordan's initial draft of standards? I also feel strongly that Chaff should be preserved as a forum where folks can get to know one another as more than just experts on one technical aspect or another of backpacking. It is the only was I can think of to find potential hiking partners for those of us who will not hike with a person "sight unseen". It is also an excellent venue for the exchange of views that is the lifeblood of a democratic society. That is basically all I have to say for now. I hope others will contribute, especially those who disagree with me, dislike my forum presence, or otherwise take issue with what I have said, here or in other threads.

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