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Post by Sharon Faulkner on Sept 6, 2005 15:07:25 GMT -5
Hey Richard, The U.S. Cavers Forum will still be available for discussion by anyone wishing to participate. There are no plans for it to go anywhere as far as I know. There may come a time when it will be needed to discuss issues that might not be acceptable elsewhere. I can't imagine what issues that might consist of right off hand, but one never knows what others will deem to be unacceptable topics for discussion. <shrug shoulders> I noticed that a joke posted on the new NSS DB yesterday was deleted/removed already. Anyway, as Lynn stated, the U.S. Cavers Forum is developing something of a "family" atmosphere between NSS members from across the country. I see no reason that should be disrupted.
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Post by madratdan on Sept 6, 2005 19:36:16 GMT -5
I noticed that a joke posted on the new NSS DB yesterday was deleted/removed already. Darn, I missed the joke!! Was it a good one? It must have been if it was deleted already. ;D I see no reason to wipe out this forum. If people don't use it, then it will sit here on idle until the NSS discussion board disappears again. It's a communication tool for all of us to use and enjoy. So enjoy!!!
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Post by Azurerana on Sept 6, 2005 21:06:06 GMT -5
Yeah, Dan,
I've been scratching my head myself about how one can find a joke that is hilarious (assuming you are over age 10) and concurrently have it be so plain vanilla and politically correct it could be told from a church pulpit.
I don't go for ' screaming blue' humor, but if the situation doesn't involve someone or something being compromised or mocked in an unusual fashion, it taint funny...I'm surprised the Jeff Foxworthy Anti-Defamation League didn't jump all of us what with all the Southern humor around prior to Huntsville.
I'll hang around here for a while. Jo
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Post by Sharon Faulkner on Sept 7, 2005 14:38:59 GMT -5
Darn, I missed the joke!! Was it a good one? It must have been if it was deleted already. ;D Hey Dan, You didn't miss the joke. It was the joke posted below in the Humor Section.
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Post by madratdan on Sept 7, 2005 18:11:08 GMT -5
Darn, I missed the joke!! Was it a good one? It must have been if it was deleted already. ;D Hey Dan, You didn't miss the joke. It was the joke posted below in the Humor Section. Well FRY MY HIDE!!! Glad I didn't miss Mike's joke after all. ;D And the punch line didn't even have a four letter word in it. Isn't censorship just grand, when left in the hands of just one man.
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Post by Jennifer on Sept 8, 2005 8:44:02 GMT -5
Glad to hear this board will stick around! I've been poking around on the new NSS DB and it seems to have pretty skimpy information. I like the idea of having a board that isn't under the direction of the BOG. Having you guys run it will cut out a lot of the political BS! ;D (what, there's political BS in the NSS??? Nooooo....) Ha ha!
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Post by Andy on Sept 8, 2005 12:18:39 GMT -5
Folks - the new NSS DB appears to have a problem. I am getting this message today (9/8) at 1:19 EDT:
phpBB : Critical Error
Could not connect to the database
Click here to go back
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L Roebuck
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^V^ Just a caver
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Post by L Roebuck on Sept 8, 2005 12:26:24 GMT -5
I have also been getting that same message. Plus I can't get the preview button to work. It just goes to show - all that glimmers is not gold. ;D
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Kelly
Beginner
Posts: 129
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Post by Kelly on Sept 8, 2005 12:49:46 GMT -5
Sharon, I finally got on. Had to use a different email, though. Any reason why AOL does not work with it?
Well, I think I will also be joining you on this DB. Nice people, no political stuffs, and the people in charge are ACTUAL users of the forum!
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L Roebuck
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Post by L Roebuck on Sept 8, 2005 13:03:03 GMT -5
Welcome Kelly. It's a nice hangout for us cavers.
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Kelly
Beginner
Posts: 129
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Post by Kelly on Sept 8, 2005 13:18:27 GMT -5
So what the heck happened to the mods on the NSS DB? Wayne seems to think that some of the mods wanted to take his position as Admin, and that's why all the mods were 'fired'. While I have no doubt that they are really thinking that, I wonder what really happened?
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L Roebuck
Technical Support
Caving
^V^ Just a caver
Posts: 2,023
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Post by L Roebuck on Sept 8, 2005 14:03:36 GMT -5
So what the heck happened to the mods on the NSS DB? Wayne seems to think that some of the mods wanted to take his position as Admin, and that's why all the mods were 'fired'. While I have no doubt that they are really thinking that, I wonder what really happened? Understand the following is just my view point on this and other Moderators may have a different perspective. Following the NSS discussion board crash some of the mods and a few other participants were involved in well... shall I say... a very "lively" email discussion in which emotions seemed to be running at an all time high due to the crash of yet another NSS discussion board (#3), the loss of cavers history, etc. Anyway to cut to the chase, one email in that discussion was merely pointing out the commitments and the hard work that all the Moderators had done on all the crashed boards and it went on to say that some of the Mods (who were so committed to the well being of the National Speleological Discussion Board) had taken time to compile and submit a group application for the NSS DB Administration Position which - as luck would have it - turned out to be the same position that Wayne Harrison also submitted an application sometime afterward. Myself, I feel some parts of the "lively" email discussion somehow have become misconstrued since I did not at any time perceive that any one was trying to take Wayne's Administrator position. I do not understand why all the Mods were removed. Maybe it was because Wayne suggested it when he resigned? Maybe more control over the new NSS DB (cavechat.org) can be established with just a few moderators and it was just a convenient way to dispose of us all? Ah puey...who knows? But from what I see and hear all indications seem to be that the Mods on the last board were doing a great job in the volunteer positions - so hummm...I fail to understand the reason to remove all. Perhaps the new Ad Hoc Committee, Wayne, Tom, the NSS BOG, etc could provide more information?
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Post by Jennifer on Sept 8, 2005 14:58:16 GMT -5
I just read the thread on the new DB about the moderators. What? The moderators were doing a great job. I have to wonder if some in the NSS got annoyed about this board. Which, incidentally, I think was a great service to NSS members while the crashed one was getting fixed. The NSS should be happy to have proactive people doing things like this.
I gotta say I find it discouraging that most of the folks evidently on the discussion board committee were not ever active on the old board. How on earth could they know what is best for this particular online community?
Good grief.
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Post by Sharon Faulkner on Sept 8, 2005 17:34:37 GMT -5
Sharon, I finally got on. Had to use a different email, though. Any reason why AOL does not work with it?
Well, I think I will also be joining you on this DB. Nice people, no political stuffs, and the people in charge are ACTUAL users of the forum! Hi Kelly! Glad you made it on here. The problem is on AOL's end. I suspect AOL has it set as some sort of security feature to prevent spamming and it has the unfortunate side effect of catching other emails where it cannot readily identify the sender of the email. I have been at work all day and missed the brouha going on at the new NSS DB regarding the old mods. My perception of the issue is similar to Lynn's. At one point during the crash aftermath, there was a great deal of behind the scenes oddness/paranoia/anger that took place, and Wayne resigned as the DB admin and his suggestion was that the next admin should not use the same moderators, with the exception of a select few. There were a whole horde of folks (including NSS directors) on the email lists going around at the time that know what took place behind the scenes and since none of them are telling all (at least not in public), I'm not going to be the one to do it either. ;D
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Kelly
Beginner
Posts: 129
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Post by Kelly on Sept 8, 2005 18:10:42 GMT -5
Hi Sharon! I figured it was something like that. Sounds like a big misunderstanding to me. But I am surprised that Wayne would recommend only the mods that agree with him (on whatever the issue was) should stay on. I thought he was above all that petty 'if we don't agree let's try to get rid of them altogether' attitudes that some of the EC has.
Tim's statement on the DB was all telling. I know Tim, and he is not the type to complain. If he is complaining there is something REALLY wrong! Between Avis' firing, the underhanded hiring of her replacement, the continuing library issues, and the discussion board controversy that has been going on now for two or three years behind the scenes, I would have though the BOG would have noticed the link to all of these - OVP.
I'm not going to worry myself with all this, though. There is only so much longer that the rest of the EC can make excuses for someone who inspires nothing but anger in all the NSS members, whichever side you are on.
Now, on to pack for caving this weekend.
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L Roebuck
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Post by L Roebuck on Sept 8, 2005 18:20:34 GMT -5
I have been at work all day and missed the brouha going on at the new NSS DB regarding the old mods. My perception of the issue is similar to Lynn's. At one point during the crash aftermath, there was a great deal of behind the scenes oddness/paranoia/anger that took place, and Wayne resigned as the DB admin and his suggestion was that the next admin should not use the same moderators, with the exception of a select few.
There were a whole horde of folks (including NSS directors) on the email lists going around at the time that know what took place behind the scenes and since none of them are telling all (at least not in public), I'm not going to be the one to do it either. ;D
Hey Sharon, I was just wondering if the "select few " you mentioned were the one's that were posted on the Colorado Cavers forum under NSS Discussion?
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Post by Sharon Faulkner on Sept 8, 2005 18:25:00 GMT -5
Hey Lynn,
Yes, the names are posted on the Colorado Caving forum are the ones Wayne wanted as the new DB moderators.
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L Roebuck
Technical Support
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Posts: 2,023
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Post by L Roebuck on Sept 8, 2005 19:05:55 GMT -5
Thanks. Hummm, yes I saw that post but I guess I didn't waste any brain activity on it since I wasn't contacted. ;D
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Post by Rick Rhinehart on Sept 8, 2005 22:29:35 GMT -5
As I recall, the Society's Board of Governors had two candidates from which to choose a new OVP this year. For whatever reason, they selected Tom Rea, despite the negativity he brings to the Society.
Several weeks ago, I sent a request to Hazel Barton to ask the Board to seriously investigate the varied problems with Mr. Rea's management style, but haven't received a response.
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Post by madratdan on Sept 8, 2005 23:32:03 GMT -5
If people are wondering why I'm not signed up for the new DB yet, it is mainly because I'm just too busy in my business and personal life right now to be playing on the internet. I hardly have time to read this board during the day, let alone the two or three other ones I keep tabs on and post to. I did receive a nice letter from Tom Rea thanking me for volunteering. It didn't mention anything about being fired. As far as I know, I am welcome to reapply for a moderator position on the new NSS DB. For now, my volunteer days are over with the NSS. Besides, I've caused Wayne enough grief for a while. If I'm not posting on there, I can't get into trouble. On the second discussion board, when I signed up I was in the high 900's. Last discussion board, I was one of the first to sign up. This time I think I'll wait and be in the middle. And to top it off, I just got a great deal on some car insurance, and gas prices went down a little bit today. (I found it for $2.90 with a City Market card discount.) I'm leaving for the Madrat Rat Romp party in the morning. This is the Madrats 10th annual party!!!! Everyone play nice now, .............you hear. ;D
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Post by Jennifer on Sept 9, 2005 7:42:44 GMT -5
Several weeks ago, I sent a request to Hazel Barton to ask the Board to seriously investigate the varied problems with Mr. Rea's management style, but haven't received a response. Good for you! I hope she responds. You're not the only one disturbed by the negatively he brings to the society. You know what, I wrote an open letter to the entire BOG and EC last year after Avis got fired asking some very pointed questions about his actions and asking the BOG to investigate very specific things that many of us here in Huntsville felt were VERY unethical (since we live here, we know a good bit of what goes on at the office). They didn't do anything, and hardly even said anything. So I've dropped my NSS membership after 23 years. I wasn't even an NSS member during the NSS convention, even though I was on the staff! Ha ha ha! I guess I owe the NSS $36 for my registration fee. I'll think about joining back up again when we have some new, accountable leaders in place.
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L Roebuck
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Post by L Roebuck on Sept 9, 2005 7:54:18 GMT -5
Let's face it the caving family type atmosphere that we all loved so well and that apparently was part of the NSS long ago seems to have been replaced by Corporation. As far as Tom goes well...don't all corporations have an axe man?
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