Bogley

accadacca · Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Posts: 7405 Location: On Your Screen

Sure offensive comments are made on uutah.com. I can see, read, or hear offensive comments everyday, anywhere. Pick a medium, TV, radio, magazines, or even on the street, at work, at church, even on the Internet. I learned a long time ago that we actually make the choice to become offended. Unfortunately, users on uutah.com make this choice on occasion. They get run off, leave the site, get thrown under the bus, etc. This sucks! I hate to see it happen and it’s obviously not the purpose of the site. Its just part of life and it can happen anywhere. On TV I flip the channel, same on radio, works the same on uutah. Sometimes I hear things on KSL radio that I really disagree with and they make me mad. I flip the channel and listen to something else, yet I flip back to hear the next discussion later that day. We all make these choices.

I don’t read everything on uutah, if I think I will become offended or become upset, I don’t click. Although, I have learned to just let things roll off my back. I surf uutah for trip reports, information, and to keep in touch with all of you. We have a great user base and I enjoy your witty comments, as well as the vast knowledge that you all have on Utah outdoors. I don’t agree with every comment on uutah and we all put a (in my case) size 11 in our mouth at times.

However, the content on uutah.com is 99% outdoors. I would argue strongly with anyone that disagrees. From our trip reports with pictures and video to the questions that are asked and answered daily. I have 4 GB worth of files (images, video, etc) on the server with 180 MB of pure text. Sure things stray at times. Topics get out of hand, users flair up, members become concerned, offended, etc. This is life in an online community anywhere on the Internet. They ALL have issues from time to time, none are perfect. UUtah is far better than many communities that I am a part of and a great resource for Utah outdoor enthusiasts. The goal has been and will always be to keep this tradition going strong. The question is, are you going to choose to become offended over 1% of the comments? Or do you simply choose to not click? Your choice.

acca

Scout Master · Joined: 29 Jan 2007 Posts: 308 Location: Kaysville

Quote: uutah.com is 99% outdoors.

I disagree
I see about 40 new posts today. 17 of them have NOTHING to do with Outdoors.
Not to mention 5 PAGES of discussion on Gay stuff TODAY
Count them for your self

rockgremlin · Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 3922 Location: Hotel California

Scout Master wrote: Quote: uutah.com is 99% outdoors.

I disagree
I see about 40 new posts today. 17 of them have NOTHING to do with Outdoors.
Not to mention 5 PAGES of discussion on Gay stuff TODAY
Count them for your self

I think he was referring to the General Discussion section. But for sure his comments apply to 99% of any other section on this site.

JP · Joined: 04 Jan 2007 Posts: 4689 Location: Shelton, CT.

Well said Acca :2thumbs:

hank moon · Joined: 16 Mar 2007 Posts: 840

Accadacca

Great editorial - it's good to hear a little truth in the morning.

A few comments below.

accadacca wrote: I learned a long time ago that we actually make the choice to become offended.

In order for choice to occur in the offended, there has to be a period of reflection in order to consciously make that choice (or a good habit of using a mental/emotional "click-safety"). That period can immeasurably short or last for days. More often, the 'reply' button is clicked w/o reflection or consideration and junk appears. Of course, I include my own junk in that statement!

accadacca wrote: UUtah is far better than many communities that I am a part of and a great resource for Utah outdoor enthusiasts.

Agree completely - thank you for the great service to the Utah outdoor community.

.............................................................

hank moon · Joined: 16 Mar 2007 Posts: 840

<pdba>

accadacca · Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Posts: 7405 Location: On Your Screen

Scout Master wrote: Quote: uutah.com is 99% outdoors.

I disagree
I see about 40 new posts today. 17 of them have NOTHING to do with Outdoors.
Not to mention 5 PAGES of discussion on Gay stuff TODAY
Count them for your self
UUtah.com has been breathing for nearly 1000 days. Taking one days numbers doesn't break the equation. And while your counting "conent" be sure to include outdoor related pictures and video.

Iceaxe · Joined: 07 Mar 2005 Posts: 7758 Location: Local Bordello

accadacca wrote: UUtah.com has been breathing for nearly 1000 days.

:banana: :banana: :banana:

Jaxx · Joined: 16 Jan 2007 Posts: 1659

Mabey this is a good spot to tell you thanks for all the work you do for us. Everyone from Admin to Mods. I bet you don't make much money, if any at all. So a big thanks to everyone who puts their time in on this site. Screw Maddox, THIS IS THE BEST SITE IN THE UNIVERSE!

JP · Joined: 04 Jan 2007 Posts: 4689 Location: Shelton, CT.

Jaxx wrote: Mabey this is a good spot to tell you thanks for all the work you do for us.
x2 :2thumbs:

MY T PIMP · Joined: 10 Dec 2004 Posts: 442 Location: Layton, Ut

The thing we have to appreciate is the diversity of this site. Being able to cybermingle with all types of recreators with different opinions. I may think differently than some of you, but when we meet you can consider me a friend. And the way this country is heading we could use more sites like Uutah to curb the hate. I've enjoyed this site. Thanks

TreeHugger · Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 966

Well, I debated on replying to this for quite a while, and of course, decided I needed to because I'm quite sure it is primarily directed to me and perhaps one or two others that expressed our offense at recent thread content.

First of all, the click it choice is well utilized with me, I can assure you. I rarely open anything in the General Discussion. The only reason I opened that particular thread is because Stefan started it and I always find what he says intelligent and thoughtful. Yes, I am offended by it, and, believe it or not, I do not offend easily. I take offense when humor is generated at the expense of various groups of people. Would you all be carrying on a thread with black jokes? I doubt it.

The thing is, I feel that people here are representatives of Uutah every time they post. (forgive me that I care) Sombeech, Acca and others put a lot of time and energy into this sight, it's not a national site, it's a local site run by a handful of, I believe, good people. I have always felt that they try to run a classy operation, giving good beta on Utah outdoors, provided some fun entertainment, and even some interesting political debate. Is it OK to promote prejudicial diatribe here? Was that part of the intent of this site? Do the orginators care? Do they not? Is that acceptable? If the creators of this site do not care, and obviously, those that post that stuff do not, then why should I? I would think, though, that is not how I would want people to view my website - prejudicial. Perhaps I'm wrong. (and people can justify it any way they want, declare their nonprejudice with all their examples of their gay friends who find it funny, etc. but that still doesnt make it right)

I imagine I will lurk around still, find a ride to join or take advantage of the great trail reports. I will not, however, recommend this site to others anymore, as I said, because I dont want to be associated with prejudice. I'm sorry if you think that makes me... whatever, so be it.

Yours,
Karen

accadacca · Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Posts: 7405 Location: On Your Screen

I am sorry to hear that Karen, you will be missed if you choose not to participate. Again, your basing your opinion of the site on a few select posts of the thousands and thousands (74921 total posts). Please don't take this wrong, but you really cant expect every member of the forum to be a representative of the site. Its just not reality. :ne_nau:

Also, if you had experience managing one of these sites you would understand that, "you cant please everyone." I was told this phrase in high school. The minute you shut down one party, you upset another. It is not an easy job walking that tightrope. I would hate to be a politician. You take these risks running ANY type of online community. It is not all within your control, you simply become a passenger and you cant steer the Volkswagen if your not in the drivers seat. The comment about us not caring is a low blow. My advice is to take a week hiatus from uutah. I have given this advice to others when things have flared up, worked for them.

Your friend,

acca

Alex · Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 2469 Location: SLC, UT

Karen, I personally enjoy reading your TRs and your posts, don't let it upset you and make you leave a forum. If you only concentrate on the negative issues, you will never find anything good. Any online forum you are going to visit, you will find something that offends you or your beliefs. Just don't participate in the offensive discussions and stay away from none-outdoors threads.

Even though a lot of us don't have the same religion, views on life, or work, I found a lot of cool people to share my outdoor time with and learned from a lot of you about different sports and hobbies. That's why I think this site is so cool. I come here for the advice and help in the outdoors, I get plenty of politics to deal with at work and I chose not to participate in any discussion that goes on these forums.

sparker1 · Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 9:47 pm Post subject:

Acca, I want to join the others in thanking you for the job you do, and for the mature viewpoint you have expressed in this thread. I couldn't agree more. None of us comes here expressly to cause trouble, but to share our common interests. It's only human that a little humor goes too far and others take it too seriously. Hopefully, all these issues will settle down and we can get back to our normal good stuff.