Quiet Forum

KP2013dramamama

10-Year Member
5-Year Member
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Jul 11, 2009
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Wow! 4 years ago this forum was buzzing with parents asking questions and many of our professional mariners providing important answers and insights. I found others' questions enlightening to me, provoking other questions. Coming onto this site still teaches me, which of course it will do till whenever! And I believe anyone looking for information on USMMA received a great 'education' on this forum. My concern is that those perusing this site for what it is like at KP will not experience all the information that is now being exchanged on each graduating class years' Facebook site. These facebook sites are often closed to anyone not in the class. Our professional mariners have much to impart on many newbies (and oldies still)! Clandestine Ops are needed!:biggrin:
 
Agreed Dramamomma,
There is something here that Facebook doesn't have. I am not just talking about the handy way of archiving information and the easy search feature either. Even though things do get heated from time to time here it does not seem to be as personal. I feel the mass jump to Facebook has not been that helpful. I do think both have their place. Facebook is for personal sharing and discussions regarding subjects such as, Tide To Go pens for Indoc? And Holy Cow look at this cool picture I found online of my kid! This forum however is better at sharing wider information and opinion. Facebook is great for sharing with a limited audience photos of what the M/N are doing and giving Mom amd Dad a glimpse of them along with the commoraderie us new parents need in the beginning. SAF seems better suited to debate the finer points of academy affairs as it effects alumni and current M/N. It is better at giving information for the new kid or their families who just may be interested on applying. Information in the category of the industry seems better suited here. We have so many narrowly segmented Facbook pages that the pool of experience is somewhat limited and that is really narrowing the conversation to a few with seniority within the parameters of the Page it is debated on. There is one page that has opened up that was previously for the Parents and Families of the USMMA class of 2015 but even though it is now open to all alumni, parents and family members the conversation still seems narrow. I think the program of attraction rather than promotion was the correct way go worth regards to that page but it can't take the place of this forum on my opinion. I have also shared this with new members and families along the way. There is so much to learn here and it is laid out in a fashion that is easy to use and more user friendly than Facebook.
 
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Totally agree ladies. It's a shame since there is a wealth of information here and valuable insight from Alums that have lived the KP experience. It seems like the FB crew doesn't have much respect for the information shared by alums or experienced parents, which is unfortunate.
 
I personally don't think it's a lack of respect, but more a lack of knowledge, unless of course you've been a target of lack of respect. I can vouch for the lack of respect, by some young know it alls who wrote on this site during their waiting period, but it still is about educating them.

My guess is the parents will be coming here as soon as they need to get some deeper/wider questions answered, to which none of us who have had fewer than 6-8 yr, can properly answer. You are all in the industry, know what's up and coming, have a great perspective on the big picture of events, and can send us to other sources.

Again, thanks for all your input my "wise ones"....you know who you are!

And Facebook doesn't have these cool icons! :beer1: (can't wait to hit the new beer garden this weekend)!
 
It could be that, for a class page, the members of the class don't feel the need to listen to all of the outside noise. Class pages are helpful, especially before reunions. But I can promise you, we were talking "Coast Guard" on my class's page.
 
Guess they have their private pages. LOL....they will learn that some of us old timers have good information!:yllol:
 
Some of us :wink:, make sure we come to this forum AND FB...lol
 
Agreed Dramamomma,
There is something here that Facebook doesn't have. I am not just talking about the handy way of archiving information and the easy search feature either. Even though things do get heated from time to time here it does not seem to be as personal. I feel the mass jump to Facebook has not been that helpful. I do think both have their place. Facebook is for personal sharing and discussions regarding subjects such as, Tide To Go pens for Indoc? And Holy Cow look at this cool picture I found online of my kid! This forum however is better at sharing wider information and opinion. Facebook is great for sharing with a limited audience photos of what the M/N are doing and giving Mom amd Dad a glimpse of them along with the commoraderie us new parents need in the beginning. SAF seems better suited to debate the finer points of academy affairs as it effects alumni and current M/N. It is better at giving information for the new kid or their families who just may be interested on applying. Information in the category of the industry seems better suited here. We have so many narrowly segmented Facbook pages that the pool of experience is somewhat limited and that is really narrowing the conversation to a few with seniority within the parameters of the Page it is debated on. There is one page that has opened up that was previously for the Parents and Families of the USMMA class of 2015 but even though it is now open to all alumni, parents and family members the conversation still seems narrow. I think the program of attraction rather than promotion was the correct way go worth regards to that page but it can't take the place of this forum on my opinion. I have also shared this with new members and families along the way. There is so much to learn here and it is laid out in a fashion that is easy to use and more user friendly than Facebook.
Well said. Now where is that "Like" button here :)

Totally agree ladies. It's a shame since there is a wealth of information here and valuable insight from Alums that have lived the KP experience. It seems like the FB crew doesn't have much respect for the information shared by alums or experienced parents, which is unfortunate.
Don't take this as a lack of respect because nearly all of the members on the 2017 page don't even know this forum exists. Would you really like over 100 new members in here asking how many pairs of undershorts to pack or posting a new topic whenever they find their son or daughter in a picture? I come here to get information all the time while still using the 2017 FB page for those proud parent moments.
It could be that, for a class page, the members of the class don't feel the need to listen to all of the outside noise. Class pages are helpful, especially before reunions. But I can promise you, we were talking "Coast Guard" on my class's page.
Exactly. Kind of like being in Indoc ourselves. This is a completely new experience for us which we are all learning and sharing together. The other main FB page as well as this subforum are talking about topics we are four years away from.

But I like both places even though I usually just lurk in here. This place is a great resource of KP knowledge. I'm not going anywhere and once Indoc is over, I think I could get quite a few over here as well.
 
I lived here after Indoc. I absorbed so much from the intelligent conversations and questions being asked. Back in the old days (2009), there wasn't a facebook page for that class. We connected by phone, skype, email after meeting experienced and newbie parents in WI through the Welcome Aboard Parties hosted and from meeting parents at Indoc. Then I Private Messaged a few parents with recent grads and moderators, and received great advice that way too, especially before and during sea year.

The day to day detail and conversations and photos are great for FB (and they have a like button, which I was looking for here the other day! You can see where I've been socializing).

But I encourage everyone to bring 2017 and 2016 parents up to speed about this forum. Post a question, and you will get great answers from the best! and then you can take your:spacecraft: back to FB and click on the "like" button there!
 
Yeah I seem to recall some questions you had about a possible trip to Japan back a few years ago.. :smile:


With your wise counsel, and my new job which would have allowed me to go, my free-ticket-Delta-stewardnes-KP-mom-friend and I decided not to go! Thanks you again.
 
I'm confused. Are the Facebook pages you're talking about for the KPers or the KP parents?
 
Newbie KP mom here sent via a posting on the FB page. When I find the time to quit stalking the alumni page for photos of my DS during Indoc., I look forward to searching through these pages. I am sure there is much wisdom here that I will be needing in the next 4 years. Thanks for those who give their time to contribute!
 
bongimama~ I understand, and bring your friends too! Enjoy the phone call home tomorrow. It goes fast for you. Charge that phone battery tonight and make sure DS knows which phone to call!
 
I was commenting at dinner tonight that the forum was quiet. During Indoc, checked the forum on a daily basis and it provided accurate information. Now I check it periodically and the information is still informative and helpful. Thank you to all who post on the forum.
 
Yes! So glad to see the new parents coming by. Some night make a big bowl of popcorn and start from the oldest threads on the USMMA threads and read forward. They are very informative, often funny, always entertaining and full of interesting characters. You will gain valuable insight to the culture of KP. Be sure to read through or at least skim the threads too that have topic lines which sound completely uninteresting. You will be surprised at the golden nuggets of information you will uncover in a seemingly unrelated topic as thread drift occurs. And thank goodness it does because where conversations end up can be very interesting!
Also it is fun to try to match up some of the anonymous posters you will meet here with the faces you are familiar with on Facebook. But shhhhhhhh, when you do as anonymity is one of the reason this forum works so well. I think many have noticed how personal it is getting over at FB when there are different points of view. For me if everyone agrees I don't learn new insights or new information so I enjoy the wide range of views I learn here. And honestly I don't think I ever learned anything about KP that didn't run through here first.
Welcome- Welcome All
 
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