Discussion vs Soapbox; Do you know the difference?

2015-04-21T16:49:00-04:00

Some of us here are seeing this open format discussion being twisted into something else. By leaving it open those of us using RP have a lot of free reign in what we can say. This can tend to be a bit much for some and really turns into a closed discussion and those of us that venture into such a place will find it was never really about having an open discussion in the first place.

Soapbox: an improvised platform used by a self-appointed, spontaneous, or informal orator; broadly : something that provides an outlet for delivering opinions.

This is not a Soapbox. If you would like to vent then you should maybe you should pet goldfish that will never question you. RP is not your chance to become some self proclaimed champion of a cause or to launch your political career. Maybe you may want to look elsewhere if you would like to do that. This isn't a shouting match either. The more you say you are right the less profession you appear. Now with that being said how can be maintain what we have here? What can we all do to keep this a professional environment that is a place where we can interact and learn from another, or share a funny comment about an experience in the past?

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2015 4:50 PM

2015-04-21T16:50:18-04:00

Brilliant!

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Apr 21 at 2015 5:52 PM

2015-04-21T17:52:58-04:00

Sooo... I can't just wait 6 months then ask if god is real or if we need to disband the Marine Corps, or if we need Officers or if 2ndLts should salute 1stLts to build a pile of controversy points after everyone forgets the last thread on it?

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Apr 21 at 2015 5:57 PM

2015-04-21T17:57:00-04:00

Seriously though, the way we do this? Hold people to the standards. Make them comply with the TOS they agreed to and keep it professional and appropriate. Enforce the compliance with RP 3-1 and military customs and courtesies. Participate in the good worthwhile topics, ignore the ones that need to die off but aren't inherently in violation of the TOS.

In a phrase: Ductus Exemplo. Set the Example.

Response by CSM Michael Lynch made Apr 21 at 2015 6:00 PM

2015-04-21T18:00:49-04:00

I come here to interact, network, learn and quite often inform folks on what is going on in the civilian world for employment and other areas. Job fairs, tips for transitioning and the such. Sometimes I'll post articles on the VA and that gets me as hot under the collar as many of us on here. It isn't to get on a soapbox though. It is to make all of us aware what is going on in a system that many of us will need in the future.
We all try to keep it as professional as we can but their are certain items that will heat all of us up and if it is one getting to far to either side for me, I can walk away from the computer and RP for a while and regain composure.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2015 6:22 PM

2015-04-21T18:22:32-04:00

CPT Private RallyPoint Member Sir, I actually read more here than I response. This has been a learning tool for me and also socialize with soldiers that either because of rank, duty station or position I wouldn't get in contact with or get good advices from. I've posted questions, some more serious than others but, I think, all between the lines of what this network was set for. Lately, I've been using that great option of "Hide this discussion" because I don't want to get into a rant of somebody that is just pissed with his or her Command team. At the end, the decision is our on what to comment or not. At this moment in my short career I have to be the smartest I can be and set me apart of what doesn't help me. We set the standards by commenting or not in X or Y discussion. Those where my .05 cents, I said more than I thought I was.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2015 6:36 PM

2015-04-21T18:36:55-04:00

I just avoid the conversations. I'm on the mobile app so I don't have the option to hide discussions (hint) but my finger works pretty well at sliding past potential "problem" posts. I like it here for the range of discussions and range of experiences. I'm not here for soapbox/echo chamber threads about anything. Although, it does highlight the fact that even service members and veterans are still humans...

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2015 8:12 PM

2015-04-21T20:12:37-04:00

Well, one person's soapbox may be another person'a discussion. It is hard to truly know the intent of what another is saying.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Apr 21 at 2015 9:17 PM

2015-04-21T21:17:04-04:00

There are members on here that are well known as troublemakers. I respect that the owners have the patience of a saint and work tirelessly with these members but we have just grown tired of the repeated violations, disregarded warnings from admins on a daily basis, and using RallyPoint as a soapbox for wild conspiracy theories. We have already lost enough senior members who have left us because of the direction we are heading. If we are just going to allow this behavior month after month, let's drop the word professional from the RallyPoint moniker and add dysfunctional. It's getting to the point where I just want to take the dear friends I have made and start a forum elsewhere and watch History Channel. I am sick and tired of hearing the same names day after day. RallyPoint is losing the very thing that brought me here. I can get all the crazy I need from the dysfunctional vets hanging on for dear life on the barstools of the VFW and American Legion.
CPT Private RallyPoint Member , CW5 Private RallyPoint Member , TSgt Hunter Logan , MAJ Private RallyPoint Member , PV2 Private RallyPoint Member , and all the members who have had enough.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2015 10:22 PM

2015-04-21T22:22:44-04:00

Now that this is a confirmed source to " Trouble Maker Beware", let's have a brew and talk about something else.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2015 10:44 PM

2015-04-21T22:44:06-04:00

Capt Richard I P., PV2 Private RallyPoint Member, TSgt Hunter Logan, SSG James J. Palmer IV, CPT Private RallyPoint Member, I don't know much about the Admins' powers, but I know about this issue. It seems to me that if you take away the incentive, the problem will go away by itself. People who use RallyPoint as a soapbox get three things out of it; validation (or the ability to denigrate someone), shock value and the accompanying attention, and influence points. You take away the lasting validation by deleting the discussion, but are the points erased?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2015 11:03 PM

2015-04-21T23:03:57-04:00

I used to like engaging in good healthy debate. But to often some topics jut seem to go awry. Even though I may have something poignant to say, I feel it would be a fruitless effort in energy wasted, so I refrain from comment.

Too many conspiracy theories, religious topics, you've all seen them and I will just simply just avoid them now. A topic may get a response, no response, up vote or down vote all depends, so we'll see happens next.

Response by CW2(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 22 at 2015 3:02 AM

2015-04-22T03:02:49-04:00

This is kind of an ironic way to make this point, isn't it?

No disrespect. Just humorous that you get on a soapbox to make a statement about not getting on a soapbox.

Is standing at parade rest for another SSG the same as LT's saluting eachother?

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 22 at 2015 3:26 AM

2015-04-22T03:26:03-04:00

What just happened?

Response by SFC Michael Jackson, MBA made Apr 22 at 2015 3:57 AM

2015-04-22T03:57:08-04:00

I disagree, I don't think we have a soapbox issue. I'm concerned that post like this one discourages open, honest, candid dialog. One of things I like about RP is that's a place that embraces the voices of all service members, retirees, and veterans. It's is place everyone can be heard. Admittedly, we have a couple of trolls that come through. Our admins do a good job of policing them. I don't think we need anymore than that. Although we keep things professional, I don't want RP to place we feel censored.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 22 at 2015 4:00 AM

2015-04-22T04:00:26-04:00

My soapbox is too small my feet are too big to stand on it . So I will just say well done and two thumbs up :-)

Response by CW2(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2015 5:39 AM

2015-04-23T05:39:02-04:00

I agree. People have three things; experience, mistakes, and opinions. I have made a few comments on questions and have been voted the thumb down. If you are going to thumb someone down, you should leave a comment with the thumb down. I personally do not like the thumb down because if you pose a question my answer is my opinion. Who are you to say it is right or wrong. If I am stating "fact" then discussion can insue on the fact. The fact it does not require a comment to be attached or associated with the thumb down is useless. What did you not like about my opinion? I don't know because you did leave a comment.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Apr 23 at 2015 9:07 AM

2015-04-23T09:07:15-04:00

This is the basic principle of RP that separates us from the Facebook and Twitter trash talk. I freely admit I am less professional in those forums, well FB any way as I don't Twitter, than I am here. I have too much respect for RP and really believe that this decorum must be maintained.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Apr 23 at 2015 8:27 PM

2015-04-23T20:27:31-04:00

Response by SGT James Elphick made Apr 24 at 2015 7:49 PM

2015-04-24T19:49:18-04:00

Like many things happening these days I think this stems from a general failure of our society as a whole. Add in to that the advancement of technology to A. know just enough to get yourself in trouble and B. be able to spout off without any real recourse and our ability as a society to have appropriate discussions is quickly withering. I have spoken of this before that many people post in the discussion thread not to hear others thoughts but to validate their own opinions.

The only answer is to ignore those threads (which has been mentioned) but unfortunately they draw a good deal of attention from people with similar points-of-view. I think maybe the moderators should be given more power to remove or block people deemed inappropriate or disrespectful.