Getting more friendly on the FOG

[Stone Message]

Hi Everyone

One of the things that attracts some people to the internet is the way that they can go about their business with almost total anonymity and this can be really useful for shy people, bad guys or people who want to pop up and have a rage from time to time.

I fully respect those people who want to use a non de plume for their forum ID. I appreciate that using a last name might, in some cases, be rather awkward but I think that it would make the FOG a friendlier and more welcoming place if we either signed off with our first names after each post or at the very least put our first names in our signature area. That way, when replying to or referring to someone, we can use a first name and I would hope that this would remind us to be respectful - it would not restrict critical comment nor would it turn the FOG into something different from what it is now.

If you agree with me then please reply using your first name and add it to your signature block. If you disagree then you do not need to worry - just carry on the way that you are - you will not lose any respect or credibility whichever way you want this to go.

Peter

 

[Roseland]

I agree.  I also think it's helpful when folks say where they live to a reasonable degree of accuracy; there may be times when a member wants to PM another who lives nearby for a get together.  My username, Roseland, is where I live in Cornwall.

Andrew

 

[bobfog]

Personally Peter, I think the forum is already a bit too vanilla and doesn't need any further pleasantries.

We're not allowed to discuss politics, religion, gun ownership, etc in the name of it not being appropriate for a powertool forum. However, there are plenty of other equally or more specialist forums on the internet that manage to allow lively off-topic discussion of current affairs in a constructive manner without knee-jerk reactions to blanket silence the issues.

 

[Michael Kellough]

Personally Peter, I think the forum is already a bit too vanilla and doesn't need any further pleasantries.

We're not allowed to discuss politics, religion, gun ownership, etc in the name of it not being appropriate for a powertool forum. However, there are plenty of other equally or more specialist forums on the internet that manage to allow lively off-topic discussion of current affairs in a constructive manner without knee-jerk reactions to blanket silence the issues.

I'm voting to continue the prohibition of discussion of gun ownership on religious grounds.

My name is Michael and I approved this message.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

I saw a spot-on post on Facebook "There's nothing better than an election to trim down your friends list."

In that spirit, I'm glad we don't do politics, religion, etc.  I've seen it kill several other forums that I enjoyed.

Nonetheless, Jesse is my real first name - my grandpa's too.

 

[Stone Message]

Please do not allow the mention of politics, ice cream flavours or guns distract anyone from what this thread is about.

I have been shot at, met several politicians and love Purbeck Honeycomb Hash but all I was asking was for people to be a bit more open and friendly.

As I said, if it is not for you then fine.

Peter

 

[bkharman]

Great post Peter... I expect a video of it someday soon!!  ;^).

I think most know, but my first name is Bryan as I sign off all of my posts this way.

As usual, I don't agree with Bobfog and his ways but to each their own.

If you weren't raised to be a pleasant person, in REAL life, then I suspect it won't be the same on this or any other forum.

I have made a fair number of friends (and enemies) on this forum and of course Peter you are on that list!

Thanks for trying to bring a spot of civility to the FOG...

Cheers. Bryan.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bdiemer]

Hi Peter
                  Barry

 

[GarryMartin]

Hi Peter.

I'm Garry Martin in real life too...  [wink]

Garry

 

[DrD]

Wow Peter, I too have been shot at (more than once), love good old-fashion Butter Brickle ice cream, am a Southerner directly related to Robert E Lee, an evangelical, a conservative, a model railroader, and would like nothing better than for this board to be a friendly place of discussion and exchanges ALL related to woodworking for no other reason that it is the ownership and use of Festool woodworking tools which brings us here in the first place.  So I totally support your premise.

Don Goodman, proud resident of the State of Mississippi

 

[Brian Livingstone]

Hi Peter,

What a nice post !  I agree, I think we should all use our real names.  Also, I find some of these "avatars ?"  quite dysfunctional, and a tiny bit disturbing. 

Thank you for bringing up the "call to civility".

Brian

 

[Wooden Skye]

I have my name in my signature, I do so because I think no matter what a persons avatar may be, knowing that persons name makes it more of a community.

 

[Tinker]

I sign with my last name only.  There have been three stages to my name thru out my lifetime.  The three stages are intermingled so that i sometimes have to stop and think about how long the peson has known me.

When i was a kid all the way til I first, second or third time I was 39, my family, close friends and sometimes not so close, have all known me as "Tink"  Those who first knew me from school and until forever, have all called me "Tinker"

And then I met a very proper young lady who insisted on calling me "Vayne"  All who have known me since that fatefull day have, after teaching my lady the proper pronunciation, have called me "Wayne"

I am really not so particular how my name is pronounced just so long as I am not called late for dinner.

When I was still in high school, my mother was working for a contractor who happened to have been friends from a time before I was in kindergarten.  I had been offered the use of his truck to get something for Mom.  When I went to the office to get the truck, my mom had told me her boss was a very proper type person and that i should, even tho i knew it was ok to take the truck, go into his office to ask for permission and to tell him the purpose for which i needed the truck.

I walked into the main entrance and greeted Mom.  Mom dialed Mr. Boss and informed him that "Mr. Tinker is here and he would like to speak with you." 

Mr boss spoke over the intercom and suggested to "Ask Mr. Tinker to have a seat for a few minutes while I finish talking with Mr. Soandso."  After a few minutes I hear, "Could you please ask Mr. Tinker to come in."

My mom then said, "Mr. Tinker, Mr. boss is ready to speak with you. You may go in now."

As i walked into the man's office, he looked up with a big smile, stood up to shake hands and said, "Welll Tinkie, how are you and what can I do for you?"  I nearly split my drawers trying not to laugh.

Tinker  (you can look below to find my whole name.  Just don't call me "Tinkie." or "Late for Dinner")  [wink]

 

[nickao]

I prefer Dovetail or dovetail65. I actually feel a nickname is more personal on a forum than a first name, it definitely more unique.. Otherwise we have 25 Jim's, Jim S, Jim J , Jim T,  etc etc.. This was the reason I started using dovetail65 in the first place.

Now across 4 forums I am dovetail65. If I used my first name it would be much more difficult for people to track across one let alone 4 forums. Yes I could sign my first name and use my handle as the forum name, but people are far more likely to remember a post when a handle is signed rather than a common name.

You get my first name in PM's and emails, the guys that have been here since Matthew days know my name, as it is in some posts. I prefer people not use my name in the posts at all and use dovetail. It's as friendly as a first name in my opinion, even more so.

 

[RKA]

I agree Peter.  I use the screen name used in many other forums over the past 15+ years.  I've bumped into people I've known from other places, and so, I prefer to keep it when possible.  Not long after I first posted here and received a warm welcome from Seth, I quickly got the impression that this site was a little different and most were on a first name basis.  I've added it to my sig since then.  So for whatever it's worth, your observations mirror mine. 

 

[tony_sheehan]

"I have made a fair number of friends (and enemies) on this forum and of course Peter you are on that list!"

The former rather than latter list, I trust?!!!

Good on ya, Peter!

 

[AlexThePalex]

I think it makes no difference if you use your real name on a forum or a nickname. With a few exceptions, 99% of the participants will never meet in real life and to others, your personality will be nothing more than pixels on the screen.

The words you use towards other people on the forum will be what define your personality to them, and the tag you use will only serve to link one post to another. It will make no difference if that tag is Jimmy Johnson from the UK or blartiflap79 from planet Earth.

My first name is Alex and I never have a problem to tell people on the internet my first name. Though this is the only forum where I use it, on others I use a nickname. But I have serious objections against using my full identity, because it can be abused for so many things, identity theft, phishing, bullying, stalking, the list goes on and on. And don't forget, something you put on the net never gets erased. You could say something silly one day, and be slapped around the ears with it 30 years later.

 

[Scott B.]

There aren't many forums really left on the internet. While they are nice for archiving purposes, they are snail mail compared to other social forms of communication. Forums are kind of 5 minutes ago. I hope this one lasts because it is one of the few remaining good ones, albeit loaded with more debate and divisiveness at times than I am looking for.

My name is Scott.

 

[Zacharytanner]

I use to be on here daily and post quite frequently but a while back the tone changed on this forum. FOG was once my Favorite place to be but a few rude members changed that and now I only drop by once in a while and rarely post.
Peter P. You are one of my favorites and I love your insight and videos!

Best
Frank

 

[Xoncention]

The words you use towards other people on the forum will be what define your personality to them, and the tag you use will only serve to link one post to another. It will make no difference if that tag is Jimmy Johnson from the UK or blartiflap79 from planet Earth.

It is impossible to call back a comment once it is made, albeit a well thought out one, or a rude disparaging one.  Whatever is said in public is just that.  If you use your real name, or some other reference, in the mind of those offended by a comment, those who use their real names are in essence more vulnerable sociologically than those behind a handle - that is not easily traced and used towards identity theft.