Some collective ideas for our new forum members?

[DwayneEMTP]

It seems like we've been seeing a lot of new faces lately, and from them gaining a lot of strong, smart new members. In the spirit of the City I thought maybe we could throw out some ideas on how to be successful here? Here are a few of mine.. 1) Welcome. We're glad to have you no matter what your certification level, experience, education or what type of service you happen to work at. The fact that we're glad to have you doesn't mean we don't argue these points, it simply means that we value thoughts, and the people brave and kind enough to share them, from every point on the compass and political spectrum.

2) You can gain very little here if you don't participate. Learn here, where it's safe, to air your ideas and encourage constructive criticism. If you can't push yourself out front here then you need to question if you'll have what it takes to push yourself to the front when people are suffering. Also, doing so causes most of us some pressure, allowing you to learn to think with that pressure and accept the consequences of those decisions.

3) No one here, regardless of how it may sometimes seem, wants to see you fail, here or in your career. Too often it seems that criticism is considered derision when in fact the exact opposite is true. We thrash each other's ideas to make each other stronger, not to try and prove our superiority. There is nothing that makes the smartest people here happier than to see those that have been mentored here succeed and even surpass the high standards most often expected here. I'm always very aware when someone has commented on one of my thoughts that this is a smart, successful person that had better things to do, yet made time to help me try and get smarter. I try and remember to be grateful for that. Nothing makes me happier than to lose an argument, because it means that I've fought with every tool in my toolbox to defend something that seemed perfectly logical and evident to me, yet...I was wrong. And now, thanks to someone smarter, that fought harder, I don't have to continue to be wrong tomorrow.

4) Do not Google your answers and then pretend that they are yours so that you don't feel stupid. Being wrong isn't stupid. Being afraid of being wrong, and so allowing yourself to remain wrong is stupid. Give answers from your head, use your own brain, create your own logic trees, that is how you grow and become stronger. Think I'm kidding? Follow my posting history and you'll see some of the most idiotic thoughts you can imagine, but many didn't remain idiotic because I was allowed to work them out with help from my friends here. And when I say friends? I'm talking about some really smart folks that left my ego bruised and bleeding at the end of some gnarly discussions.

5) Please understand that when we critique your spelling and grammar that it is not to belittle you but to help you grow as a professional and separate yourself from the significant number of your peers that everyone else is laughing at every day. Hanging out is fine, but use that time to improve yourself. We all make mistakes. We're looking not for perfection, but for the effort that says you're trying. Spelling and grammar are a practiced skill. We all make mistakes, that's why we push each other to constantly keep practicing.

6) Chat is chat and the forums are the forums though often the two overlap. Please don't bring your playful chat dialog and insert it into forum conversations. Not because 'chat is stupid' because of course it's not. It's just easy sometimes to take the fun, carefree familiar attitude of chat and allow it to distract from conversation in the forums. Besides, most of the people reading the threads won't get your references anyway. One's not better than the other necessarily, they just don't often mix well.

7) Have fun, be brave, make friends, find mentors, ask for help, help others…but most importantly, use this as a resource. This isn't a place that you come to prove how smart you are, but to prove that you want to be smarter. Almost everyone here respects that. Some of the most intelligent people I've ever met I've met here and my life will never be the same because I was gifted with their patience and advice. Use them, but as you do, remember to be grateful and give back.

And in case I was somehow not clear...If you see my posts, and you find a bad idea, wrong thinking, bad attitude, poor logic, spelling, grammar, and choose to ignore it to 'be nice?' I will never thank you for that. I will never be grateful that you allowed me to be weaker today than I needed to be..Just sayin'...

I'm hoping that many here will add to my silly little list…what do you think guys and gals?

Dwayne

Edited about a gazillion times because, for some reason, the text I see in my edit window isn't translating well when posted. I don't think I'll cut and paste from Word next time. No contextual changes made. Formating only.

Edited February 28, 2010 by DwayneEMTP

[TylerHastings]

This is a great idea Dwayne I wish there had been something like this back when I was newer. I am still new and there is great advice in your post.

[HERBIE1]

Well put, Dwayne, and I think your post could even serve as a reminder for those who are not new to the forum. I'm a relative rookie here- lurked occasionally for years but never started posting until a year or so ago. I know we are supposedly educated here- at least to a point past a HS diploma. Yes, some have advanced degrees, some have professional degrees, but you certainly do not need to possess an alphabet soup behind your name to present a coherent opinion or argument.

One of the things I like about this forum is that there are literally people from across the planet, with experiences, work environments, and histories much different than my own, yet in some way, we all fall under the EMS umbrella. The only way I would ever be exposed to many of them is on a place like this forum, and I consider myself a richer and more well rounded person for it.

Clearly there are hot button issues that can degrade into degrading attacks and insults, but thankfully those incidents seem to be cyclical as well as infrequent. Everyone has their own "deal breaker" opinions on certain topics, and the trick is to be able to see the other point of view in those situations. Not always an easy task, I admit.

Again- kudos for the well thought out post.

[Lone Star]

Some very good advice here!

A couple other things to add:

1. Intentionally 'stirring the pot' is a good way to start collecting frowns from the general membership. We're each entitled to our opinions, but to go out of your way to 'stir things up' is generally not well received.

2. Please try to refrain from digressing to name calling. It usually proves nothing, and it more often than not precludes others from wanting to try to see things from your perspective.

3. Your homework is your homework. We don't mind helping you with it, but please don't expect us to do it for you. We've already done ours.

There are some very bright minds here (I'm still wondering how that happened!); take advantage of them, you'll be surprized how many are willing to pass on what they know.

4. A little logic and common sense go a long way around here. Want to really bring the wrath of the gods to bear? Defend an action with 'because the book says', as opposed to logically defending your point.....

4a. Don't be afraid/ashamed to admit that you were wrong. You'd be surprized how far that goes toward 'credibility' and respect!

Above all, jump in; the water's fine and the piranhas have all been fed (for now)!

[ambodriver]

Be ready to be belittled and criticized for every tiny thing you may mention. The attitude here is "you are wrong, so we will trash you for it" no matter what. Ignore those people, some of us here are friendly and understand.

[Richard B the EMT]

As mentioned, don't trash someone due to what they say. It is better to say to anyone else, even me (the admitted legend in his own mind), that something stated is incorrect, but back it with facts. Do not say "You're wrong because you are a dunderhead", but instead, say, "You are wrong for the following reason(s)", and explain your reasoning.

A personal peeve of mine is, never presume that everyone else will understand something indicated locally by wherever you're certified or licensed as an emergency medical practitioner by initials. I was once confused by some folks' usage of "Con-Ed". By me, that's the electric company, Consolidated Edison, here in New York City. I returned the confusion with "C.M.E." Is that Chief Medical Examiner, or Continuing Medical Education? If you must use initials TRANSLATE the initials.

NEVER USE ALL CAPS! Even in non-EMS related areas outside of EMT City, that is considered to be shouting, and impolite even at best.

Remember that the search, and the spell check, functions are your friends. We really don't need a gazillion separate strings on the same topic, and either the administrator will shut a string down, or one of the moderators (which I am not!) will. Spelling is considered to be a function of good intelligence, even when I, and others start typing in dialect, as sometimes we Noo Yawkahs from Lawn Gyland might do wit youze guyz (Ya wanna make sumpin of it?).

Yes, we play (some even more than I do, if you can believe it) but we keep it within the context of EMS work.

Be advised that there is always going to be a battle primarily between the hospital based, and the Fire Department based, EMS systems, as well as the paid and volunteer service providers on the site. Opinions are like noses, everyone has one. No matter how well you state a position, someone will have an equally well stated opposition opinion. I may have a different opinion than you, but I'll defend you the right to have that opinion; you might even sway me to your view. (Who'da thunk it?)

Newjacks and Newbies, be advised: Welcome Aboard!

Edited March 1, 2010 by Richard B the EMT

[46Young]

Good stuff. Real good stuff. I think you rep wil be around 8526 give or take after this, and deservedly so.

[brentoli]

I just have one thing....

(This is an old picture if you look at the layout of the page!)

[ambodriver]

Good stuff. Real good stuff. I think you rep wil be around 8526 give or take after this, and deservedly so.

Funny because after my post in this thread my "rep" went to negative something. Funny, the popularity contest. Another reason why this site can suck sometimes!

[Happiness]

Grow some thick skin, have a sense of humor, use spell check (i get slammed every time) and make sure that when your posting to the forum it is staying on the topic of choice (again been slammed lol).

If you show respect to those that have the knowledge you will be given respect for learning in return.

Alway pick your battles as you may think your right (and you maybe) but there are those that will just carry on the fight.

I have to admit I have learned alot on the forums and i do try to read them everyday. I dont always agree but I do try to learn.