FireLink

Well what's so wrong with us making conversation about things other than firefighting? We still have plenty of conversation about the job, but there should be a place for firefighters and alike personnel to come and just hang out and talk about anything, and this is the perfect place!!! It was my understanding that this was also a place for the service personnel to come and relate to eachother on all kinds of issues. It would be VERY disappointing and upsetting to me and I'm sure many others if you stopped the conversations.

Frankly, I am confused why you would want to shut down our conversations..........

Agreed Engine5, that is the sentiment here, and the feeling of the working personnel that do, or used to come to this site daily. To use it for its intended purpose, and not have to wade through a bunch of Myspace type off topic discussions. It was built with a specific purpose in mind, and has strayed from that purpose.

Weigl, as i said, SOME off topic stuff is ok, but it seems to have become 90% off topic. Take a look at the recent discussions box and tell me how many of them are FF topics. When it is detering the actual working emergency personnel from using the site for its intended purpose, it is out of hand. Also, I am merely relaying the info.

That is my best suggestion, is to make a group for the off topic stuff,but it must be set as private. The public vs private is what delineates whether or not it shows up on the front page. Public does, private doesn't. I think maybe all groups should be set to private.

I agree. As you can see, the people that need to read this are ignoring it and continuing on.

The specialty things you mention can only be done by the Admin team that hosts the site.

I agree with having an off duty or off topic area, but it needs to be either a seperate site, or a seperate private group, so it does not swamp the recent discussions box. Also, there is a fine line (that I am trying not to cross publicly) between off duty/off topic stuff, and a bunch of crap. There may need to be several private groups. However, I do not know how the owners feel about this, and server space is not endless, and they may not wish to promote the groups idea and use it up with this stuff. I will know more in a day or two.

What I can suggest to everyone is that we do not own this site. We use it free of charge.  Anyone wanting to make a big stink or protest against the rules and wishes of the owners will likely not fare too well. It is not anyone's place to bitch about how it is run. It is here to use as its intended purpose, within the rules they have set forth for it. Take it or leave it. 

I might also remind folks about the Terms Of Use regarding respect and priority considerations between actual personnel / rank, and newbies, fans, civilians, etc. Just as in a department, public disrespect is probably one of the quickest ways to hang yourself here.

But I agree with you froog, and will advise further when we know more. Thanks.

firstly let me say that i'm a non firefighter but i am vp of the fire aux. my wife who is a firefighter introduced me to this group and said i would enjoy it. well she was right. i understand the views of on topic ie fire stuff and off topic and my thaught is there should be a happy medium of both afterall firefighters are poeple too with other activities outside and imo they should be able to discuss this with other ff's who share or want to know about other interests. i will say i have learnt so much from the people on here just reading and watching bits and pieces and along with my wife who is a willing teacher helping me sort out ghosts from my past, there is a time in the future where i will go for it and volenteer which is something that was unthinkable a few months ago. however my point is that this forum has made me as a non firefighter welcome and surely that idea should not be lost--------maybe if on and off subjects could be seperated so people can see seperate lists and not a combined one. when i've posted i've tried to find news videos from england and fire related as i thaught that would be acceptable,also i by being on here want to show my respect to you to. sorry if i've rambled but i think it would be a shame if a compromise cant be found------as always you all take care and stay safe

first i would like to say that while i may not talk on here alot,  i've gotten the chance to talk to some of the most intelligent and professional people in the world.  like i said,  i don't say a whole lot,  but i do a lot of reading.  i've made some new friends.  it is nice to know i can get someone's opinion on something, fire related or not,  from someone who has a view from the "outside", half-way across the country.

having said that,  i would like to point out that i do not have a myspace account...... to much drama.  i hate the fact that my wife has one.  so it is my opinion, that if the moderators/creators of this site, don't want this site to become like myspace, then i have a solution.  take away all the photo spots,  take away all "about me" stuff, and immeadiately remove any non-fire related topic(s),  my profile included.   or have a special private section as said previously.  one more thought would be to send private messages to each "buddy" and include email addresses so he/she may talk back and forth off of this site. 

i can relate with the frustration of the moderators/creators,  however,  if this is going to be regulated by a private club, for a private club,  then a membership fee should be charged.  i personally don't want to see that happen,  but if you're gonna restrict one person or group,  you must make it fair and restrict everyone.  those that truly want to discuss topics related to anything fire or ems,  will stay.  those that don't....won't. 

my friend runs our local county fire/ems forum page.  let me say i have seen a lot worse on their than i have on here.  for all types of topics.  and unless someone complains, for whatever the reason,  it is game on.  i am talking from experience.

just my opinion.

As I stated before, it is ok to have SOME off topic stuff. But when it is 90% of the activity any more, it is too much. This site was designed for fire professionals to use as a forum, and for those with interest to come and learn from the resources it provides. That much is a fact.

Beyond that, I must refrain from stating my personal opinions as much as possible. However, I can tell you that my opinion does reflect the purpose of this site, it's Terms Of Use, and it's continued success and purposeful use by the professional fire community that it was built to serve, both paid and volunteer.

iam really not sure what is happening sorry jeff  can you let me know

Well I think it is a smart move on Firelink part. Chating is fine it's just that it should be controlled but I realize that is almost impossible to do, I mean there are sites for chating and what not. This should be just "Fire" related. This website is full of information for those who are considering joining and for those who just share their common interest in firefighting. I think it is a way to go but if you don't mind what would be effected such as in forums and what not?

I can't help but think that some of this is directed straight at my forehead.  when i got on here, there was a total VACUUM where discussions about hazmat belonged, and i like to think that i FIXED that.  also, there wasn't anyplace to talk about animal rescue until, wow, i created that as well, and many, many people have thanked me for it.  i don't see that the site is getting "clogged up" with off-topic stuff...there seems to be plenty of room for serious discussion, and people still ask me relevant questions every week.  this is a, get this, STRESSFUL PROFESSION,  for us hazardous-waste cleanup people as well as for those who put out fires.  i deal with chemicals where one whiff can kill ya.  some of this stuff may go off the deep end a bit, but people who don't want to play, well, just don't  have to participate in those threads.  MAKE SENSE?

the wild & crazy stuff is a legitimate way for people doing this kind of work to BLOW OFF SOME STEAM.  hmmm?  they certainly need to somehow, and so many people tell me that they love FireLink precisely because it IS so informal.  if we are going to start restricting free speech on a free site, then i will be the first to bail out.  my e-mail address, for anyone who still wants to ask me questions, is methylisocyanate@hotmail.com.  maybe the marketing people aren't making as much as they thought they would from advertising when they created this site?  chase1, who used to be cool, maybe has been suborned by the gurus who run the several sites and is now having to scold the rest of us?  sorry, but if true, that's totally messed up.  i don't do MySpace either.  this is my only refuge, but if you want to take it away, and replace us all with consumers that have a "Terms of Use" microchip implanted in their frontal lobes, then go ahead.  Take an informal poll, and you'll find that most of the people on here can find all the professional information that they want (and way more, even, and have a good time while doing it), but still really appreciate the site because of its wacky characteristics as well.

but OK, do what thou wilt; yer gonna anyhoo.  But "moderators" should be "moderate,"  not extremist.  this whole thing makes me extremely upset, and if Jeff regrets what the clones in my hometown are telling him to do, then i apologize, but  don't fix what isn't broken.  if you read my Tarot cards anytime soon, the Hermit will keep coming up.  i'll post that one last photo tonight, and then i'm maintaining radio silence unless someone contacts me.

FireLink was cool while it lasted, wasn't it?  Perhaps the moderators are just upset that they didn't get invited to the alien wedding...

Bingo Fire238 and firedwg. I am not able to make this my opinion, but it is the opinion of many on here that these useless discussions do not belong. I see no problem with anyone that is truly fire related, be it a spouse, family, or whatever, and will support anything they do to a reasonable extent. The issue seems to be the people who are posting tons upon tons of useless, non-related things that don't belong here. I can see a discussion posted by a wife on the difficulties between her and her husband (or vice-versa) due to the job. I cannot see posts concerning match making, unrelated rants and raves, favorite food-color-song, etc.

I think, but am not sure yet, but I believe the fix will be to allow a few groups for these topics. They will need to be private to stay off the main page. Again, I am not sure yet. There will be resolution this week on alot of this and it will be announced. It is not my place to decide these things. I can only relay the information (for those of you firing back at me).  The Moderators (myself and 2 others seen above) are basically like the Police of the site. To observe and maintain peace, and occassionally deliver a verdict or punishment. We do not have control of the site rules or decisions therein. We only enforce the rules that we all must abide by, and do what we are asked to do. We do not have the power to alter how the site works, or looks. We can only suggest.

To anyone that is concerned if their posts are in question, so long as they are related to emergency services in some form, and serve some purpose of discussion and assistance to members, it should be fine.  No Gwyd-not aimed at you.

Lets set it straight and move on! I know i joined because i wanted to meet different departments... how there SOP's work, techniques... etc. i joined to learn more about fire related incidents, news, events, etc. some side chat is fine, but yes... were here cause we love this profession. lets keep the main focus.

I understand that some feathers are going to be ruffled, but that's part of the growing process.  There are going to be growing pains as more members join, more features are added, and fat trimmed.  We as the emergency service community need to be patient.  I was not trying to single anyone out, but if you have a guilty conscience...then maybe you need to change your habits.  We want this to be a fun place to network with other rescue personnel.  That was the original intent and that is what we need to get back to.

I am not trying to specifically aim anything at anyone. I don't keep track of who starts posts. As I said, it is not up to me what happens, I am merely conveying the feelings of the majority. The owners will decide what is to happen. Hopefully it will be that the private groups will work out, which will unclutter the home page, and all will be happy. Regardless, I am not the trigger man, I am merely the voice of the majority, My opinion is merely one voice, as is everyone elses. Everyone just needs to sit tight and see what happens. Whatever the outcome, it is the wishes of the owners on how they want the site run, and input from the membership. There is no one person or group to blame for anything. We do not own the site, and must comply by the wishes and rules that go with the use of it.