Appraisers' Free Forum

I wasn't sure where to post this, but decided on here... lol. Mods... fell free to move it to the Battleground if you feel that is appropriate.

My theory: This site is so great because free speech works!

Has anyone else noticed that people on this site are friendlier and nicer, even when they don't agree. Even some of the people who could be really testy on AF (no, I'm not naming any names) are well behaved over here.

Today, a response to one of my posts had a comment added that said: Not aimed at Steve Owen.... (And no, I'm still not naming names, for those who figure out that it was Mako who posted that... I'm not saying whether I think he is one of the good guys or one of those others... ) The point is, he posted it as a way to try and be nice to me, even though we were maybe not really agreeing on the point being discussed.

Why are the posters here so well=behaved?

IMHO, it's because they know that there isn't going to be any moderator pulling their stuff or doing anything else to try and support someone else's point of view. That not only causes the good guys (like myself ) to behave well... it also causes the bad asses, like ... oh yeah, I wasn't going to name any names ... to behave well.

Free Speech Works!

We get censored in so many different venues. It only makes me wonder how great some other areas might be if people felt free to speak their minds. Of course, our government is supposed to be dedicated to the First Amendment and not censor speech. But, many of our institutions do... and people often become self-censoring to try to fit in.

Anyway, I always felt like if you were going to play the game at AF, then you had to play by Wayne's rules. It is his Forum. Part of the reason this is so great is that it doesn't feel like it belongs to anyone. It's mine. Thanks to all who made this possible.

i agree, but i usually agree with any sound logic.... and So, why aren't MY POSTs getting responses?

Is It My Dang Tagline?.,...... those darn Monkey's

Shut up Steve. You're such a jerk sometimes.

Christine Marie wrote:i agree, but i usually agree with any sound logic.... and So, why aren't MY POSTs getting responses?

Is It My Dang Tagline?.,...... those darn Monkey's

Okay... I'll try to respond to your posts more often...but not to Joker's!

What seems different to me is that there is not so much of the last man standing kind of argument over here. People seem better grounded in their opinions here and willing t listen to eqach other. Also, there is not the scent of blood assciaed with asking a question here. Those two things coupled with the lack of judmental oversight make this place refreshing and relevant.

The guys on here who know what they are doing don't lord it over those of us who do not know alwasy what we are doing. I don't think I yet have seen anybody play the competency card to try and win an argument here.

Thee are a couple of regulars over there, I hope to never have to deal with again. Their professional contribution is dedicted to making a mess even messier. They could be eliminated from the profession and thereby make room for somebody with something valuable to offer the rest of us. That s the oly use they have reamining that I can figure out.

In short this place is superior, filled with superior and competent people and is making a significant contribution to my professional development.

Even the speller TC is good.

I like this forum because there is less complaining and more discussion. I've learned a ton by reading about other's problems, how they addressed a situation, and seeing new ways to analyze data. Yeap, much more learning here online than in any of my yearly 14 hours CE cat naps.

The guys on here who know what they are doing don't lord it over those of us who do not know alwasy what we are doing. I don't think I yet have seen anybody play the competency card to try and win an argument here.

But there also seems to be an absence of newbies asking stupid questions hiding behind "a handle", then become offended when they learn it's not Kosher to appraise the deals your LO sister brings into the office. Oh and BTW, since we are all wrong and doing nothing but gripe, we should leave the biz to make room for the newbie who can't find a mentor.

Actually, I think that Joker made my point. (Even if it was a joke.)

Because there is no prohibition of personal attacks, people fee free to say whatever they want... and those attacked, generally do not get offended. Over there, there was always a lot of sideways personal attacks, that is, people doing whatever they could to slide by the rules. Often it became a matter of trying to prove you were a better debater within the forum rules... and, I often felt that they were not enforced uniformly.

Case in point. On another thread today,

http://appraisers.freeforums.org/viewto ... highlight=

I read someone infer that Greg hates Mormons. Greg did not get offended or go running to the mods... he simply restated and explained the point he was making. Now, the person who made that accusation was wrong to do so, IMHO, but I would not prohibit it. Freedom works and protecting free speech means that you also have to protect speech you don't agree with.

I didn't really start out to draw a comparison of this AFF with AF, my intent was just a dialog on freedom of speech. But, I guess, the comparison is inevitable. I didn't even get through my first post before I had made it.

Edd said:

Thee are a couple of regulars over there, I hope to never have to deal with again. Their professional contribution is dedicted to making a mess even messier.

And, you know, at first I felt the same way. But, I have already experienced with a few people (probably including myself) that they act differently here. Why do you think that is, Edd? My guess is that there is not so much need for one-upmanship when everyone is free to speak their mind. I know that, for myself, there were times when I thought "Man, why doesn't someone come to my defense... this has to be right." But, I think that often, no one wanted to get involved because of various reasons... fear of being ridiculed being near the top of the list.

Anyway, this was not intended as a bitch session about AF. Those who remember my past pronouncements know that I still think highly of them. What it was intended for, instead, was praise for the guys who had the foresight (desperation, or whatever) to create this venue... and thanksgiving for the Freedom!

"Nothing is better than the Freedom." - Colin James

[quote="M L"]I like this forum because there is less complaining and more discussion. I've learned a ton by reading about other's problems, how they addressed a situation, and seeing new ways to analyze data. Yeap, much more learning here online than in any of my yearly 14 hours CE cat naps.

I agree. I also have learned a tremendous amount of "new knowledge" just by reading all the posts and looking at other peoples situations. I rarely post w/questions about jobs simply because after lurking over the multitude of other posts, I am usually able to step back and look at my situation in another light. Then presto! Like magic! The light bulb will go on and the problem solves itself. I am in great awe and admiration of the more experienced appraisers who are willing to share their experiences and though I may never meet them in person, I have mentally hugged so many of them it's surprising that they aren't bruised. It has been any eye-opening experience over the past 16 months for me since I left my mentors shop. In so many situations, I find that I have learned more from the forums than what I was ever taught in person.

I appreciate the forum and all contribute to it! Thanks and many blessings to all!!

Steve, I am a lot more prone to ask a question here and expect an honest, civilized answer. The old location it was like blood in the water, and not worth the abuse you had to accept to go through to find the one decent answer, if there even was one. I think a lot were scared to give a true answer for fear of getting ripped apart as well.

Steve Owen wrote:Why are the posters here so well=behaved?

I for one am afraid of Annemieke.

Admit it ... you all are only here to see if I am really a jerk or if I was Wayne's automaton

.... and I HOPE the answer is obvious ....





(Ok ... so I am a jerk ... but at least I am my OWN jerk .. and not someone else's... :) )

This is a great place! No innuendos and fewer helicopters.

DB wrote:Admit it ... you all are only here to see if I am really a jerk or if I was Wayne's automaton

.... and I HOPE the answer is obvious ....





(Ok ... so I am a jerk ... but at least I am my OWN jerk .. and not someone else's... :) )

Nope, and i think there is some saying about flattery or flatuence, can't remember but....

This place is different, dont' totally know why, it might be attributable to a lack of attitude amongst the I am a more experienced peer and those darn pesky newbie attitudes, and or the Resolve that we have, as to not immediately SHOUT IT OUT as far as our credentials, when someone asks a question in earnest... Regardless, and AGAIN, like my nose needs to get any brownier, this place is functioning great, may it continue to ?:aka:

Alright all you trouble makers - you're getting a vacation (wish I could).

It really is amazing that Whyne hasn't seen the light. There is a lack of newbies here asking the constant "what's the answer to the FHA question 2" and what should I charge to appraise the First Nasty Bank of India? Even if they did, I doubt seriously that even Joker would be the PITA that he attempts to show.

We're professionals, even if we have different points of view, opinions, ideas and beliefs. The fact that we can all ask questions and take feed back on the basis that it was asked proves that threat of some sort of punishment isn't needed or required to get along. It also goes to prove that adult professionals can be open to a different point of view.

Otis wrote:It really is amazing that Whyne hasn't seen the light. There is a lack of newbies here asking the constant "what's the answer to the FHA question 2" and what should I charge to appraise the First Nasty Bank of India? Even if they did, I doubt seriously that even Joker would be the PITA that he attempts to show.

Hey---I never got banned or booted from there (or here)....yet.