Identify Country of Origin, More Festool International?

[Matthew Schenker]

  I have mentioned this before, I'd like to know where a member is from. In light of the "very unhappy" thread, it would have been nice to know he was in the UK while offering advice, and I'd bet Christian O would have liked to know that guy was referring to Festool UK. With the site becoming more multi-national I move we make location a requirement, the country, I don't see a need for more info than that.

You make a very good point, one that I've wrestled with since the beginning of this forum.  How much information should be required from members upon sign-up?  For example, early on (when the forum was just two days old), we had a debate about whether members should be required to use their real names (click here for discussion).  We also discussed revealing locations, at least countries (click here for discussion).  Now that the forum has grown, these questions are more pertinent.  As always, it's an issue of balance: how do we require enough to improve things, without impeding freedom?

This whole discussion leads to related point.  Festool USA currently bears the full weight of member comments.  The majority of members here are American, but international participation has expanded a lot, so maybe it's time to bring in representatives from the countries with growing memberships: UK, Australia, Germany, and Canada.  In the recent example, a member was posting about a service issue in the UK, but it was Christian Oltzscher, the Festool USA CEO, who responded.  This is a problem.  To get a rough sense of international representation, click here.

Back to the original question: I think it would be worthwhile for members to be identified at least by country, since that is what matters most regarding tool availability and service responsibility.  There are various ways to require this information: I can install a module that asks for it during registration.  Also, there is a module that displays a country flag for each member.

I'd be interested to hear what people think about these two related questions on international identities:
1. Should we require country of original upon registration?
2. How do we bring in CEOs or reps from other countries?

Matthew

 

[jonny round boy]

Also, there is a module that displays a country flag for each member.

I think that'd be good, I'd like to see that added.

On the registration page, why not have a drop-down listing all the most common countries, with a choice in there for 'other', and make it a requirement to put something in there. If someone for some unknown reason doesn't want to put their country in, they can just put 'other' as their choice.

I don't see why anyone would want to hide their country of residence, I think it's just that they don't think about filling in optional information. Make it compulsory, and they then have to think about it. Having an 'other' category as described above gives them and you get-out from any freedom issues.

 

[Brice Burrell]

  Jonny, an "other" option is a good and bad idea. I would perfer to know where a member is from, I'm afraid giving people a choice that too many would opt out. However, your "other" idea is a fair one for the reasons you mentioned.

  Also, I happen to believe that using real names helps to promote responsible posting be the members. It's too easy to hide behind a user name like "SuperBadAss357" or "UnwashedActions". 

 

[jonny round boy]

I happen to believe that using real names helps to promote responsible posting be the members. It's too easy to hide behind a user name like "SuperBadAss357" or "UnwashedActions". 

Or Jonny Round Boy? ??? ;D

 

[Anthony]

On another forum I frequent, 'location' is a free text field and people can insert whatever they feel is reasonable information to share. Like your sign-up is now. Then add that info under peoples user names in the forums.

Alternatively, I don't see a problem with mandatory 'country' field in sign-up, and optionally city/town. I think it would be cool to see a little flag icon under the user names, with flag, country name underneath, then city/town if provided.

 

[Eli]

I don't mind being identified by country, but I don't want a flag. Unless you want to give me two flags.

 

[Anthony]

I don't mind being identified by country, but I don't want a flag. Unless you want to give me two flags.

Fair point - people could prefer their national flag to their country of residence. Kill the flag idea.

 

[Forrest Anderson]

I think it would be a good idea to indicate a member's country, either by text, flag, or both. However there might be various problems with implementing it...

As pointed out by Eli, does it indicate nationality, country of residence, or something else?

Setting up a pick-list of countries to choose from can lead to "Nationalistic" problems. For example, if the list only gave "UK" as an option, then those who were Scottish (or lived in Scotland) could well get upset that "Scotland" didn't have its own entry. The same applies to flags, where some Scots might refuse to have the Union Flag/Union Jack, and demand the Saltire/St Andrew's Cross instead.

Perhaps an alternative to stating the country might be something more general, like Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe and Australia.

I have always been of the opinion that requiring members of a forum to provide their real names promotes people to be more careful about what they say, and be less argumentative. Of course, there is nothing to stop someone signing up under a completely false name like "John Smith"!

How about creating a poll?

Forrest

 

[Anthony]

Perhaps an alternative to stating the country might be something more general, like Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe and Australia.

If this was called "region", there could be: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe, Australia. Should UK be separated from Europe? Australia could be Australia/NZ. Or maybe not.

I am still thinking the free text (country/town) idea is still workable.

 

[Joemac]

Unless we are worried about the FBI, CIA or some other lettered government bureau,why don't we stuff the paranoia and give at the minimum our state if US, and our country if not US? 

Often times your geographical location frames your perspective on an item or issue.

 

[Anthony]

Unless we are worried about the FBI, CIA or some other lettered government bureau,why don't we stuff the paranoia and give at the minimum our state if US, and our country if not US? 

Often times your geographical location frames your perspective on an item or issue.

It depends on the direction Matthew (and/or members) want the board to take. Matthew was trying to make or cater to international members. So maybe this is not good if it is to become THE international FOG. Having said that, NA is obviously showing the initiative in setting up and participating in Festool discussion, so keeping is US biased doesn't bother me at all.

 

[Ned]

I'm generally curious where people live, but the reason to add this information is primarily to show what Festool market a member is in.  Not only would that be easier for Festool, but it also allows a reader to know whether or not a poster's experience with Festool (special deals, etc.) would apply to him.

Free text is problematic for a number of reasons:  First, the quality of the data is shaky at best ("Planet Earth", or different spellings of a place's name).  Second, because the data is not regular, it will be more difficult to do a sort on the country.

If we use Festool Marketing's structure as a guide, the rules become simpler and some objections disappear.  The Country field is simply which Festool branch handles your area.  It's not about nationalism or allegiance.  I think Forrest, though he lives in Scotland, deals with Festool UK.  And Eli's definitely in Festool Australia's region.  If Greenlanders are served by Festool Denmark, then that's their Country.  If Festool Marketing has a marketing area bigger than a country, then a name like "North America" or "Africa" would be correct.

Anyone who wants a flag displayed could use their avatar for the purpose, and show any flag they want.  If there's enough interest in showing flags, perhaps a second avatar field could be created.  Since flag preferences may differ from marketing-area-of-residence, it's probably best not to tie a flag display to the Country.

We could call the field Market rather than Country if that's more palatable.

Ned

 

[Anthony]

...which Festool branch handles your area...call the field Market rather than Country ...

Ned - I think you're spot on!

 

[semenza]

Hi,

      I think Ned has got it for the Festool purpose. Since this site is dedicated to Festool, make it a REQUIRMENT to indicate the Festool Market Region (and call it something like that)  that you are in. And make it just text.  But I like the flag idea as a seperate  OPTION not connected to the FMR requirment (with a selection list) for country and or region.  I just think the flags are kind of cool. I am on a Chess website that uses them, and they look nice.

Seth

 

[jonny round boy]

I agree on the 'market' idea.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

I think it would be very helpful to see "Market" as a minimum.  I feel silly when I tell someone to go to Home Depot for something and they explain the nearest one is a thousand miles away ;^).  And, of course, it clues us in when we have differences in electricity, product availability, etc.

I can see how it could be a problem for Christian O and other Festool staff, but I hope the forum doesn't loose its international flavor.  I know I learn a lot from those who have had a little more time with Festool than we have.

BTW, I just looked at my own profile. I had already filled in the location field, but I don't see where it shows when I post?  Did I do something wrong?

 

[Ned]

I had already filled in the location field, but I don't see where it shows when I post?  Did I do something wrong?

No.  The Location field doesn't display on a post.  Those of us who appear to have the location displayed did it by usng the Personal Text field, which displays underneath your pic.

Ned

 

[jonny round boy]

I had already filled in the location field, but I don't see where it shows when I post?  Did I do something wrong?

No.  The Location field doesn't display on a post.  Those of us who appear to have the location displayed did it by usng the Personal Text field, which displays underneath your pic.

Ned

Damn, you're spot on there. I hadn't noticed that! I've now amended mine to show my location.

Also,whilst changing the above, I noticed that one member has chosen to 'ignore' me. I feel so hurt now.... :'(

;D

 

[Matthew Schenker]

Everyone,

So far, I think the best solution is for members to choose from a menu of Festool-designated international sales regions.  I'm experimenting with a system now that would do this.  Let's keep the discussion going a little longer before I implement it.

And I have decided against flags, as I certainly don't want to be sorting out international and intranational conflicts here in the forum!

Matthew

 

[Dan Clermont]

I am okay with Country of Origin but to due previous conflicts on other forums I don't want or feel people should be forced to list the city they live in.

I'd love to see a rep from Canada on the forum so we can ask questions and/or he could deal with Canadian specific questions.

Dan Clermont