Kiteforum.com

I'm only speaking for myself to say that I view the forum for information in an interest for an environment where all riders have equal opportunity to share their experiences. A culture that includes disrespect and politically motivated lies falls hugely short of its potential for me. Even if the purpose is only for entertainment I don't see any value in a lack of accountability. Am I alone in thinking transparency would be nice?

(I'm not suggesting any change needs to be dictated by administration. The choice is with all of us that participate here, no?)

There are pros and cons about it.

Every user can come out of the dark and make himself public. Their choice.
Remember, Google finds everything. I have people asking me to remove certain posting since they would be a problem to get a job...some stuff is really ridiculous...

Look at facebook...lots of problems because people posted with their names...

Personally, I think the solution is Facebook.

I think in general the discussion is very useful and informative regardless. Occasionally it gets out of hand, plus it is obvious when someone is trying to push a certain piece of gear or a certain point of view. I feel you need to view the forum with a certain detachment, have fun and don't take yourself too seriously. Interestingly our local forum even last year got really heated a few times especially as its the australian way to 'pay out' even on your best mates. Infact this forum is quite tame compared to what I've witnessed and ashamedly been involved in...but I have found a level of courtesy has stepped in lately, might need to change that. Lol.

True Toby the electronic footprint last forever now. All the business owners I know the first hung they do when they have job applications is to mine the net for information. For all you y gen, becareful in general what you put on the net!!

Westozzy wrote:I feel you need to view the forum with a certain detachment, have fun and don't take yourself too seriously.

That. Even without avatars and anonymity, you'll get trolls. So no matter what you do, the end result will be having to thicken your skin to deal with the reality that is people.

The other alternative is to keep to the high road, and hope that other people follow the example. I see a lot of people doing both on this forum - it's actually a pretty typical place, I've seen better and worse.

Transparency in windows, eyeglasses, etc. is great.
On the internet, it's networking, dating and PR.
There's a place for that.
Social networks are quite useful...
...even to the FBI, and certainly to facebook execs....
Not to say they haven't helped my social life here and there.

For internet forums, mutable identities let the ideas flow a little more freely.
The truth will speak for itself, generally.
Trolls become obvious...

on another level, "transparency" itself is a bit of Orwellian newspeak imo....

I think its nice that on forums people can be anonymous to an extent. Its a form of freedom.

There are downsides but they are part of the deal and have to be taken into account.

I maybe spend too much time on forums but it does mean you get a feel for what to 'believe' and what is suspect. Usually enough people are interested in the truth for some sort of filtering to work.

You have to take forum posts with a grain of salt and laugh through them crazy closed mind and angry posts. After all think about out depressing that persons life must be that they can be enraged by so little.

I once fed into the madness.

now I laugh it off and snigger at anyone who looses it. they are missing the point of life. that is to enjoy.

Now lets get out there and do some kiting.

Yeh I also have been involved and helped a raging post or two. Now I don't bite and move on, not worth the angst as the truth is always dependant on the observer and indeed generally lies somewhere between the argument extremes. Those who think they are right are in the end wrong.

I think transparency would be good when there is a group sustained attack or when a first time poster has a very strong opinion that looks and sounds like someone else just trying to further their point or stir the pot.

As I bet people would be very interested to see what the real motives are.

I hate those kind of everything is sh@t people that have nothing to say but negetive comments.