When someone is mistaken or off base...What should a CAP Officer do?

[Flying Pig]

I have been involved in a pretty heated back and forth on this site, and looking back it was pretty silly.  The thread got locked, etc.  The other person and I PM'd each other and basically said "Wow....truce?"  and both agreed we should have never let it get out of hand as it did.  Discussions are one thing, but your right, many of us know each other, many of us have our names and units on our signatures.  Also, we are an example cadets and future members who come here. 
I believe also, that as Officers, any "arguments" should you have them, should ever "knowingly" involve cadets vs Officer.  I had  a few discussions where someone blatantly attacked me for being a law enforcement officer and said that all cops believed they were better than everybody else.  Come to find out this was a 15 year old cadet who was hiding behind the anonymity of the internet.  One of his buddies dimed him out to me.  People tend to get very bold when they are 1000 miles apart.

I have been to a few unmoderated sites, and they are completely useless.

[ZigZag911]

If someone lists incorrect material, for the sake of clarity (and not misinforming the less experienced), a simple reference to the regulation concerned, or a plain statement of facts (without attacking the original) may be needed.

beyond that, discussion or disagreement that becomes heated should be moved to PM.

[Major Carrales]

It seems this thread still has some life to it after all.

Much of the theatrical displays that once dominated the CAP forums have been a bit tempered lately.  However, knowing how to deal with an "issue" between CAP Threadsters is as important, at least, as the greater issue's subject itself.

Fact is, for lack of a truly OFFICIAL CAP forum, this is among three sites outsiders find when searching for CAP materials.  When we act like fools simply to "one up" someone we may not know infront of the largest CAP on line communities more damage is made than anticipated.

Professionalism is more than just a cool buzz word.  We can all be wrong, many have come to fess up to their mistakes and appolize.  Please, resist the urge to "DOGPILE" on people...we have PM and regular e-mail.

[Eagle400]

It seems this thread still has some life to it after all.

Much of the theatrical displays that once dominated the CAP forums have been a bit tempered lately.  However, knowing how to deal with an "issue" between CAP Threadsters is as important, at least, as the greater issue's subject itself.

I agree, sir.  I used to be terrible at letting my emotions get the better of me when posting.  I would act in ways I'd never dare to in public, and that has led some forum members to automatically assume I will forever be a troll who posts only to cause debate and stir the pot.  Because of that, I'm now in the process of rebuilding my reputation on this site.  I am very open about this, because the first step in solving a problem is recognizing it exists.

You see, one big problem is that written communication only conveys about 15% of the whole picture.  The other 85% of communication (nonverbal) is hidden and it is very difficult to see someone's intentions if you can't see their body language. 

One of the reasons why meeting people online and developing friendships with them is not as effective as meeting them and being friends with them in person is that a huge chunk of communication is absent, and it is impossible to define relationships without having met the other person face-to-face.  That's interpersonal communication 101. 

So what we have here is a forum largely made up of folks who have undefined relationships with people they've never met, and have the expectation of conveying full communication with each other when really only 15% is present.  I am writing a paper on this right now.   

Fact is, for lack of a truly OFFICIAL CAP forum, this is among three sites outsiders find when searching for CAP materials.  When we act like fools simply to "one up" someone we may not know infront of the largest CAP on line communities more damage is made than anticipated.

I agree.  I just got "one upped" by someone on this site in another thread, and it served absolutely no constructive purpose.  Fortunately, it came after the initial question was answered so the likelihood of the mean-spirited and unsubstantiated comment directed toward me turning into a thread derailment is unlikely.     

Professionalism is more than just a cool buzz word.  We can all be wrong, many have come to fess up to their mistakes and appolize.  Please, resist the urge to "DOGPILE" on people...we have PM and regular e-mail.

Yes, but some people don't want to use PM or e-mail.   They would rather trash other people's reputations in front of everyone else just for gratification.  I know their mindset and believe me, they are in it for themselves.  They also don't have very high self-esteem, either.   

[A.Member]

If someone is mistaken then they should clearly be called out publically humilated and mocked until they're huddled in a corner like a small child calling for their mommy.  But maybe that's just me.  

[CASH172]

Fact is, for lack of a truly OFFICIAL CAP forum...

And that might soon change depending on how the NCAC does things. 

[gistek]

My policy depends on the error.

For a typo, if available, I PM or e-mail the writer.

If it's an urban myth, I usually post a reply beginning with, "I checked this out on Snopes and found . . ." I feel this type reply is the best way to quash rumor without belittling the poster.

For regulation issues, I check the regs and post a , "My interpretation of . . ." reply. This places the discussion in more of a debate on interpretation rather than a, "You're Wrong!" type situation.

I respond to other types of misinformation similarly, based on the specific situation.

On several forums my method has turned a budding flame-fest into a lively and informative discussion.

Although I am not as regular a visitor to this forum as I would like, I have noticed that, for the most part, forum members are polite and non-judgemental in their replies.

[tribalelder]

 As Major C- pointed out

Noted, but we can be civil.  I want to be civil.

We may not always agree and we should not always agree.  If we always agree, or act like we always agree, people with better ideas are failing to teach and others are failing to learn.  One of our strengths as an organization is that we didn't all go to the same school, so we all know how to do something different.  If we care about CAP, its members and our missions, sometimes our discussions will be animated, but they should always civil – after all, it's in our name. Public discussions and discussions when cadets are present will be calm.