"I'M BEING MONITORED!"

[Matthew Schenker]

Good Morning,
As you all know, we have a few membergroups identifying people and their contributions here in the forum:
Festool Employee
Festool Dealer
Related Retailer
Administrator

When someone belongs to one of these groups, the group name appears below the name and is displayed in a unique color.

This morning, I added a new membergroup:
I'M BEING MONITORED!

You're probably wondering, how you get to belong in this membergroup?  The answer: by garnering at least 20 complaints from other members (reported posts) in a two-day period!  It's kind of my way of not banning someone, but issuing a warning, letting everyone know who's causing trouble, and giving the member a visual reminder that his or her activities are angering a lot of people.

This is not permanent.  If the complaints stop, the I'M BEING MONITORED! designation goes away.

At the moment, we only have one member in this membergroup.

Matthew

 

[joraft]

This morning, I added a new membergroup:
I'M BEING MONITORED!

You're probably wondering, how you get to belong in this membergroup?  The answer: by garnering at least 20 complaints from other members (reported posts) in a two-day period!  It's kind of my way of not banning someone, but issuing a warning, letting everyone know who's causing trouble, and giving the member a visual reminder that his or her activities are angering a lot of people.

This is not permanent.  If the complaints stop, the I'M BEING MONITORED! designation goes away.

At the moment, we only have one member in this membergroup.

Matthew

Matthew,

I've been participating in forums of various interests and industries for over 14 years, and I immediately noticed two things when I landed here a couple of months ago. First, just like all the others, thousands may come to read but only a handful will participate on a regular basis.  Secondly, and unlike most of the others, there appears to be a great deal of respect and friendliness among the members, and I find that very refreshing.

I'm little surprised that that you're having to monitor some members, because I've seen no evidence of trouble, but if that's what it takes to keep this place as nice as it is, I'm all for it. 

I want to thank you for doing such a great job with this site. I have already picked up so much in the way of advice and tips, I see it as a valuable resource, and not just for Festool products. I hope I'll have more to contribute as time goes on. 

John

 

[Matthew Schenker]

John,
Thanks for the response.  Yes, we take pride in the great atmosphere here in the Festool Owners Group!

I have not had to monitor anyone, until yesterday.  And even that has only happened because of so many members writing to complain about a particular person.  Hopefully, this new moniker will not appear too often.

Matthew

 

[Eli]

That's a good one. Did you consider other user tags, like:
"I have Poor Impulse Control", or
"I had too much syrup on my pancakes this morning", or
"Warning - Object in monitor may be unfunny"?

 

[Matthew Schenker]

That's a good one. Did you consider other user tags, like:
"I have Poor Impulse Control", or
"I had too much syrup on my pancakes this morning", or
"Warning - Object in monitor may be unfunny"?

Eli,
I like those suggestions!  I came up with "I'M BEING MONITORED" this morning, as the 23rd and 24th complaint rolled in.  I was on my way to the classroom and figured I'd better do something to calm things.

"I HAVE POOR IMPULSE CONTROL" is a good one!

Matthew

 

[The Dude]

That's a good one. Did you consider other user tags, like:
"I have Poor Impulse Control", or
"I had too much syrup on my pancakes this morning", or
"Warning - Object in monitor may be unfunny"?

Eli,
I like those suggestions!  I came up with "I'M BEING MONITORED" this morning, as the 23rd and 24th complaint rolled in.  I was on my way to the classroom and figured I'd better do something to calm things.

"I HAVE POOR IMPULSE CONTROL" is a good one!

Matthew

With my children at home, it is just one word......Dude!!! 

 

[Dan Clark]

Matthew,

I think your response was measured and appropriate!  Excellent job.

What I find fascinating about FOG members is that, while we may like Festool, most of us maintain a relatively balanced perspective.  Most of us have and like other tools.  Most of us choose the tool based on needs and not based on some misguided fan-boy enthusiasm.  This makes the comments of the member in question doubly uhmmm...  odd! 

While my heart goes pitty-pat when a new tool comes out, I look at each one and evaluate whether it is the best tool to meet my needs.  It's the only rational thing to do.

Regards,

Dan.

 

[dltflt]

You were spot on Matthew.  Keep up the good work!!

 

[Ned]

While my heart goes pitty-pat when a new tool comes out, I look at each one and evaluate whether it is the best tool to meet my needs.  It's the only rational thing to do.

And then you buy it.

 

[festeringtool]

Well put Dan Clark - shame others on here don't have the same balanced approach -  anoraks we call them but Festool junkie is fine!

 

[John Stevens]

Oh, okay, so it's not me.  Whew.

Regards,

John

 

[joraft]

... shame others on here don't have the same balanced approach 

Shame? Where's the shame?

Balanced approach? Balanced in whose judgement?

... anoraks we call them but Festool junkie is fine!

Who is "we",  and why must you call them anything at all?

Festeringtool, I can't see where you have added anything to this forum so far but snide remarks. Most come here to share common interests, but since your interest seems to be limited to criticizing others, you may not find too many here that wish to share it.

John

 

[Daviddubya]

...anoraks we call them...

OK - I looked it up.  Anorak, according to Webster online, "a usually pullover hooded jacket long enough to cover the hips".  Hmmm.  So I googled it and found this on Wikipedia:

"In slang an anorak is a person, typically a man, who has unfathomable interest in arcane, detailed information regarded as boring by the rest of the population, and who feels compelled to talk at length about this information to anyone within earshot."

Seems it is an expression used in Britian.  I have never heard the term applied to people in the USA, only clothing.  So now we know.

 

[joraft]

"In slang an anorak is a person, typically a man, who has unfathomable interest in arcane, detailed information regarded as boring by the rest of the population, and who feels compelled to talk at length about this information to anyone within earshot."

Seems it is an expression used in Britian.  I have never heard the term applied to people in the USA, only clothing.  So now we know.

Most people have a strong interest in SOMETHING, and they often form into groups with others that share that interest. And of course there will be the REST of the population who find that particular interest unfathomable and boring. So, most of us obviously have the potential for becoming an anorak.

Then there's those with no interests at all, so they have a lot of time to spend looking for others to criticize.

John

 

[ROb McGilp]

"In slang an anorak is a person, typically a man, who has unfathomable interest in arcane, detailed information regarded as boring by the rest of the population, and who feels compelled to talk at length about this information to anyone within earshot."

Seems it is an expression used in Britian.  I have never heard the term applied to people in the USA, only clothing.  So now we know.

Most people have a strong interest in SOMETHING, and they often form into groups with others that share that interest. And of course there will be the REST of the population who find that particular interest unfathomable and boring. So, most of us obviously have the potential for becoming an anorak.

Then there's those with no interests at all, so they have a lot of time to spend looking for others to criticize.

John

Wasn't there a film about these people invading a town? I think it was called Anoraknophobia. ;D

 

[Dan Clark]

Just wondering...

Assuming that an Anorak is someone, "...who has unfathomable interest in arcane, detailed information regarded as boring by the rest of the population, and who feels compelled to talk at length about this information to anyone within earshot."

One could raise the question...  If someone has a detailed interest in "fan-boyism" - like Festool Fanboys - and wants to talk at length about Festool Fanboys, might that person be considered an "Anorak"?!?  Hmmm??  Anyone?  Anyone?  Buehler?  ;D

Inquiring minds want to know!

Regards,

Dan.

P.s., one could also raise the question that a person who has a detailed interest in persons who have a detailed interest in Festool Fanboys might themselves be Anoraks!  8)  (My brain is straining, so I'll close for now!) 

 

[festeringtool]

Q.E.D.

 

[The Woodentop]

Does this warrant a conversation?

I have been subjected to criticism on here before now for voicing my views. Personally I prefer to hear a persons view (unfettered) than to hear the more usual mutual appreciation. Whilst not condoning anything Festering Tool has said or done I can't see why we should be worried about his errant comment made here or there.

I don't like profanity but as long as he/she sticks to criticism I, for one, think it's quite healthy.

It's just my view.....please don't attack me for it!

 

[Matthew Schenker]

Does this warrant a conversation?

I have been subjected to criticism on here before now for voicing my views. Personally I prefer to hear a persons view (unfettered) than to hear the more usual mutual appreciation. Whilst not condoning anything Festering Tool has said or done I can't see why we should be worried about his errant comment made here or there.

I don't like profanity but as long as he/she sticks to criticism I, for one, think it's quite healthy.

It's just my view.....please don't attack me for it!

He's allowed to criticize, and we have several members who have voiced healthy criticism here.  For the most part, I definitely agree with you that heathy criticism makes us stronger.  However, when someone causes my message box to be filled with complaints, I need to do something about it.  For me, this community is organic, in the sense that the community itself suggests the right path: one or two complaints might not be cause for alarm, but 20 or 25 complaints tells me, for sure, something is being distrupted.

This does not happen very often (again, this is the first time, and I hold back on administrative action in 99% of cases), so I've had the luxury of trying something rather mild.

But it's good to have a discussion dedicated to this topic, and this is a good place to do it!

Matthew

 

[The Woodentop]

OK. Well explained and I suppose justified. I just ignore people who I don't like and it seems a pity that you have to expend time on this type of thing.

Larry