Dealing with CAP's "reputation" when Online

[CAP.is.1337]

I'm a member of a very popular online message board, and recently the topic of CAP came up in the Aviation forum.

Well, as you can imagine there were of course horror stories of the grumpy old guys who are salute hunting with The Real Military, the Good O'le Boy club, etc... (basically, members who make us look bad.) There were a few of us who tried to emphasize the good that we do and that there are always bad apples in every bushel, but I don't think that helped any.

I'd just like some opinions on how to deal with a situation similar to that one.

BTW, if any of you would like to jump in on the discussion I'm talking about, let me know and I'll IM you a link.

[Major Carrales]

I'm a member of a very popular online message board, and recently the topic of CAP came up in the Aviation forum.

Well, as you can imagine there were of course horror stories of the grumpy old guys who are salute hunting with The Real Military, the Good O'le Boy club, etc... (basically, members who make us look bad.) There were a few of us who tried to emphasize the good that we do and that there are always bad apples in every bushel, but I don't think that helped any.

I'd just like some opinions on how to deal with a situation similar to that one.

BTW, if any of you would like to jump in on the discussion I'm talking about, let me know and I'll IM you a link.

We do what we do for the good of the community, to improve out "Community, State and Nation."  What anyone says...based on the uninformed picture, is moot.

Carry yourself in a becoming manner (in reality and in cyberspace) and you have done more for the organization than a dozen forum topics, act unbecoming and you tarnish the organization a million fold.

[Johnny Yuma]

The sad fact is that they're right.

This organization is chock o block full of wannabees and Bozos whose only professional development skills are to set back CAP relations with anybody to about 1932. Yes, I'm fully aware that's 10 years before CAP was founded, that's my point.

Then there are 2 types of folks who left CAP: Those who needed to go and are sore about it, and those good eggs who couldn't deal with the wannabees and Bozos anymore. The former are more vocal about their hatred of CAP, the later will express it in varying degrees.

Bottom line: Be the best representative of the organization you can, don't argue the point and move on.

[James Shaw]

I prefer to take a proactive approach to this topic. I am sure that you have heard that it only takes one bad apple to ruin the bunch. This could be compared to those who consistently degrade the CAP through their individual actions whether in attitude or uniform.

I would say that if you provide that single positive attitude in the bunch than it is bound to have a good affect. I can only change my attitude and approach and hope that others could do the same.

[jimmydeanno]

This topic is more than just our reputation online, it's really about dealing with CAP's reputation, no matter where it becomes present.

Sometimes that is easier than others.  For the majority of folks, CAP is viewed as a fantastic organization that has greatly helped many people over the years.  That reputation is easy to deal with and makes it easier for us to point to what we do and say, "This is good" and mimic it.

However, as you pointed out, there are times and places where one person has cast a shadow over the reputation we had before.  They go salute trolling, ignore sound experience and advice, don't hold themselves to a high standard of integrity, etc.

In my experience, I can tell you that the best defense against that negative image of us it to reverse it.  I've had people tell me that our organization is a bunch of blow hard, has beens who couldn't lead their way out of a paper bag.  This usually brings up some sort of story about how the person was working with or was a member and was wronged.

What can I do?  Nothing really, I can't fix their situation - but what I can do is apologize for any negative behavior and offer to show them what our organization actually is.

If you've ever worked in anything customer focused, you'll probably have heard that when a customer has a good experience somewhere, they usually won't tell anyone and if they do it's only a few people.  However, do that customer wrong and they'll tell a hundred friends, who in turn will tell their friends.  Despite what you have done good in the past and how many people you have pleased, you just earned the negative stigma because of one mistake.

Another problem people have is that they stereotype.  They assume that the few people in our organization they've met that left a sour taste in their mouths are representative of the entire organization.  It's like that in every organization though, the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Red Cross, ACA, Boy Scouts, etc. 

I'm sure that you could find several examples of "negative traits" in every single one of those organization.  But, many of them are bigger than we are and have a little more depth to absorb those shocks.  Nobody sees a fat soldier and thinks "Boy, the Army is a bunch of fat soldiers."  No, they think that there is one soldier who needs to do work, but the rest of the Army is good. 

It is discouraging when people form such strong opinions based on the actions of a few individuals, when in reality, the majority of those involved do good things, everyday.

So my advice, do not perpetuate the rumors and negative feelings.  Do not get combative, argumentative or angry.  Just offer to answer questions people might have.  Don't embellish, just be proud of what you do each day.  "The truth shall set you free."

[isuhawkeye]

The sad fact is that they're right.

This organization is chock o block full of wannabees and Bozos whose only professional development skills are to set back CAP relations with anybody to about 1932. Yes, I'm fully aware that's 10 years before CAP was founded, that's my point.

Then there are 2 types of folks who left CAP: Those who needed to go and are sore about it, and those good eggs who couldn't deal with the wannabees and Bozos anymore. The former are more vocal about their hatred of CAP, the later will express it in varying degrees.

+1

good analysis

[sparks]

An old saying comes to mind, "don't wrestle with pigs, you just get dirty and the pig likes it". You have no control over the past or the rumors and half truths another current or former member may spread. You can only have an impact on the here and now of the persons you are encountering. As mentioned above make it positive and up beat as possible, do the best job you can while serving CAP.

[Smithsonia]

By pointing out not just the good works but the hard training to achieve the good works is an important emphasis.

I've taken a Mountain Flying course, a G1000 class, studied for and taken the ECI-13 test, seven hour Mission Observer review, 4 hr first aid class, 4 hr CPR class, flown an exercise, done 2 ground exercises, lectured on AF history, saluted former members graves for Memorial Day, gone to 2 squadron meetings and one staff meeting... and that's in just the last 30 days. I don't think I do more than many others.

If we are thought of as an American Legion Flying club... then people will denigrate what they don't understand. Only by discussing the training AND the missions do we get any respect. It is no different for Volunteer Fire Dept. National Guard (until recently as many people now know of their many deployments) Volunteer Sheriff Posses, etc.

[RiverAux]

When something like that comes up in a non-CAP board, I would suggest that you not try to answer the specifics of any charges they make since for all you know they could be true.  No good will come of trying to "defend" CAP in that way. 

But rather than just let them go unanswered, respond with a paragraph about YOUR experiences in CAP and what it has done for you and allowed you to do and then provide them a link to the CAP web page and invite people to check it out to see what CAP is doing now. 

[openmind]

When something like that comes up in a non-CAP board, I would suggest that you not try to answer the specifics of any charges they make since for all you know they could be true.  No good will come of trying to "defend" CAP in that way. 

But rather than just let them go unanswered, respond with a paragraph about YOUR experiences in CAP and what it has done for you and allowed you to do and then provide them a link to the CAP web page and invite people to check it out to see what CAP is doing now.

+1

I can't add anything to that.  RiverAux said exactly what I was going to say, and more eloquently than I would have.

openmind

[es_g0d]

Demonstrating competence is the best most of us can hope to do in helping CAP's reputation.  This goes for whatever it is that you do to help our organization.

We've got public information experts to help us, and we should heed their advice.  In the meantime, just do the job and do it well!  The rest (almost) takes care of itself.

[Lt Oliv]

Aside from being in CAP, I'm a Mason.  Guess what?  We have bozos and wannabes.  We have people who are driven by ego rather than altruism.  We have people who are there for titles, medals and awards rather than for improving themselves.  In short, we have people who want recognition, even if they didn't really do much.

So why is CAP any different?

When I was on active duty in the Navy, I had shipmates who put themselves in for Navy Achievement Medals for doing their jobs, and nothing more.  I had other shipmates who worked in my division (Supply) tell their family and friends that they had "special forces training" and were going on "secret missions" whenever we deployed.

Now I work for a labor union.  I have people who started out as janitors and are now union leadership who take great pride in strutting about in Armani suits.  Some of them also nominate themselves for awards, or even create new recognitions to nominate themselves for. 

I belong to a synagogue.  Some people show up just to be seen.  They also love it when dinners are held in their honor to commemorate their years of "service."

The point is, whenever you have people, you are going to have jerks.  Period.  You are going to have wannabes everywhere.  Any time a title, position, medal or certificate is offered, you are going to have some ego driven jerk who joins for those things and only those things.

When I was in the Navy, I dealt with people all the time when I was home on leave who thought I was wasting my life, or who thought I was too "conformist" and that I should be "enlightened" (and unemployed) like they were.  They told me that what I did didn't really matter and that the Navy was just using me for their selfish purposes.

The way we build reputations is that we carry ourselves like professionals and do what we do best.  That's it.  Arguing the point with people who don't like us (whether by experience or reputation) is a futile effort.  Those who came and had negative experiences are not going to change their mind, no matter how positive your experience is. 

[FW]

^ Wow!
I don't think there is anything else to add.  Well said.  :clap:

[Nomex Maximus]

By and large, I avoid posting on any message boards anymore, in particular, I avoid the AOPA "red" board - the people who post there are generally not the type of pilots I wish to associate with. When I did post there, CAP's reputation frequently came up, with the usual complaints about uniforms, saluting, military wannabees, etc.

If I were to waste my time on such a board again, my response would be something along the lines of, "AS IF I need YOUR approval to... <be in CAP or to do the things that CAP does>". I really don't think I need to be embarrassed about wearing the CAP uniform - I am a member of a congressionally mandated organization and am authorized and required to wear the uniform. I have spent hundreds and hundreds of hours training, attending meetings, missions and flying in order to be ready to rescue or respond to emergencies. It's not my fault if someone doesn't understand what CAP is or what it does, and I certainly don't need any message board poster's approval. I also don't really need any red board poster to give his blessing on what we do or how we do it - our history an reputation speaks for itself. 

I have found that the type of people who bash CAP are the kind who probably bash their local fire and police volunteers as well.

[Orville_third]

For the most part, the people I've encountered have had a neutral or positive experience regarding CAP. (Partly because CAP is so low profile these days...)