USMA - information.

Folks - I attempted to send this privately but was unable to.
The following is an explanation of why I said what I said and I honestly am perplexed by the attacks on my character that followed.


Dear WayneH and fellow USMA forum members,

I apologies if you took offense to my posts #2 and 4 in the thread you began yesterday. None was intended at all. I was not attempting to belittle you or be "territorial" at all.
I just didn't have time to go through it and examine all of the inconsistencies in the article. I was out of town all evening on a family matter. I will be more than happy to critique the entire article but it will have to wait until I have the time as I will take a good hour or two to get through it.
I guess it could be a matter of opinion as to what is considered trivial and what is considered crucial. But I feel that issues like majors, academics, cadet life and summer training to be not so "trivial". WaMom68 pointed out a few of those for you.

The Code of Conduct in the sticky thread in this forum states:

This forum is intended for applicants and their parents to ask questions concerning the United States Military Academy. It is our desire that all information provided in response to those questions be accurate and that the threads not drift off-topic.

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I try to adhere to that and stated in my post that I would return when I had the time to explain further. I am not sure what bone you have to pick with me - but if you have a problem with my posts please pm me and we can discuss.

West Point admissions feels strongly that the candidates have access to the most current information available.
I have in fact referred potential candidates, current candidates and parents to the admissions website and specific areas of the west point website for accurate information, and am more than happy to do so.
A quick overview of the West Point Experience, one can be found here:http://admissions.usma.edu/prospectus/.

Your views and insight are certainly welcome on this forum and I never intended to make you feel as though you were not welcome.

All the Best -
JAM

Please note that several of the folks who thought the About.com article to be relevant and up-to-date never attended, applied, had children who applied to the best of my knowledge.

Just_A_Mom said:

Please note that several of the folks who thought the About.com article to be relevant and up-to-date never attended, applied, had children who applied to the best of my knowledge.

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I really hate to touch this but I must ask, what folks (plural) in that thread "never attended, applied, had children who applied to the best of my knowledge." are you referring too? I just read the whole thread again and I don't see one member fitting that description?

Sorry, just trying to understand your post.

Just_A_Mom said:

Folks - I attempted to send this privately but was unable to.
The following is an explanation of why I said what I said and I honestly am perplexed by the attacks on my character that followed.


Dear WayneH and fellow USMA forum members,

I apologies if you took offense to my posts #2 and 4 in the thread you began yesterday. None was intended at all. I was not attempting to belittle you or be "territorial" at all.
I just didn't have time to go through it and examine all of the inconsistencies in the article. I was out of town all evening on a family matter. I will be more than happy to critique the entire article but it will have to wait until I have the time as I will take a good hour or two to get through it.
I guess it could be a matter of opinion as to what is considered trivial and what is considered crucial. But I feel that issues like majors, academics, cadet life and summer training to be not so "trivial". WaMom68 pointed out a few of those for you.

The Code of Conduct in the sticky thread in this forum states:
I try to adhere to that and stated in my post that I would return when I had the time to explain further. I am not sure what bone you have to pick with me - but if you have a problem with my posts please pm me and we can discuss.

West Point admissions feels strongly that the candidates have access to the most current information available.
I have in fact referred potential candidates, current candidates and parents to the admissions website and specific areas of the west point website for accurate information, and am more than happy to do so.
A quick overview of the West Point Experience, one can be found here:http://admissions.usma.edu/prospectus/.

Your views and insight are certainly welcome on this forum and I never intended to make you feel as though you were not welcome.

All the Best -
JAM

Please note that several of the folks who thought the About.com article to be relevant and up-to-date never attended, applied, had children who applied to the best of my knowledge.

Click to expand...

JAM,
I dont really think I can say that anybody attacked your character nor do I have a bone to pick with you.
My initial response was to you, NOT to WaMom68 and those responses were simply letting you know that I had to disagree with you. I do feel you displayed a bit of a "snap decision" and the lack of flexibility that is counter productive to a forum post and discussion.
When WaMom68 took it upon herself to insert herself into the discussion the ensuing debate really was no longer directed towards you but to WaMom68.
She then proceeded to dig her own grave with he caustic remarks and insisted on completely hammering any opinion that differed from her views.

I felt that the article in question put forth some good info. Yes some was out of date and some inaccurate but the concept was good. I felt and still believe that a person could start with that article as the beginning framework and with a bit of review and editing could come up with a very nice article we could offer on this forum to help newbies to the forum with an easily accessible source to get a general & BASIC understanding of the WP process. Something that "touches upon everything" but does not go into unnecessary detail. Intended to be a "beginners" read, not the last word or an "authorative" or "exhaustive" study.

I would have taken on that job myself until I received the response I did on this forum. It immediately became clear that ANY article that anybody posted here would be acceptable only if it was posted and/or blessed by certain people on this forum. Anything from anybody else is sure to be labeled as incorrect, inaccurate, or unacceptable.

In the end, it made no difference to me whether the article or link was liked or used by anybody else. It was there to be taken & used as others saw fit. I did take exception to the vehement and "territorial" attitude that was displayed. This was noticed and commented on by others besides me.

Again, I do not have a stake in this whether others want to use the article info or not, and I dont intend to re-post it or another version. And as I already said, I dont feel I ever attacked you or your character and do not have a bone to pick with you.

Bruno closed the other thread and as far as I am concerned this thread is all but dead as well.

Thank you to all the other forum members for the great service and assistance you provide through your posts.

W

Thank you for the original post on the last thread Wayne. I do think it had some value for a basic understanding on West Point, and in a round about way, academies in general.

Just because some people don't like it doesn't mean they're speaking for everyone. Many perspectives add to the exchange.

WayneH said:

It immediately became clear that ANY article that anybody posted here would be acceptable only if it was posted and/or blessed by certain people on this forum. Anything from anybody else is sure to be labeled as incorrect, inaccurate, or unacceptable.

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You may feel you are being attacked or singled out for your post, but as a bystander to THIS thread, but an active forum poster, I disagree completely.

Any article posted, in any section, that conveys accurate, correct, or up-to-date information would be acceptable in any of the forums.

Any article posted, in any section, that conveys inaccurate, incorrect, or out-of-date information deserves to be called out as such.

Bad information, or a link to a bad article, serves no purpose other than to confuse and misguide a prospective parent or candidate.

LineInTheSand said:

Thank you for the original post on the last thread Wayne. I do think it had some value for a basic understanding on West Point, and in a round about way, academies in general.

Just because some people don't like it doesn't mean they're speaking for everyone. Many perspectives add to the exchange.

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Thanks LITS, I appreciate your input. And it is good to get USCGA and other input into the USMA forums from time to time...it keep us from playing banjo's on the porch from getting too inbred
(but "Go Army!" still must be stated for the record)

BTW...dont let my comments about a lot of posts bother you (mr. 1400 hahaha). I am not talking about the # of posts but rather their "manner" of posts. I have never seen your posts with that "territorial" attitude we talked about.

W

Maximus - oh dear, allow me to clarify -
I should have phrased it :

Please note that several of the folks who thought the About.com article to be relevant and up-to-date never attended, applied, had children who applied to The United States Military Academy at West Point, to the best of my knowledge.

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Thought it was obvious since the topic was solely about West Point.
In case you were wondering - "the several" did not include you.


Luigi- thanks for the support. my point exactly

When my son started his inquiry he used information from individual experience that was in some cases over fifty years ago. As pointed out the books "Absolutely American" or "Duty First" also have very helpful insights. We were even given an R day account from the 1800's that had some similarities to today's experience. Information is wonderful no matter how dated the source. We all share in the common goal... help these young men and women realize their dreams. Many of the people in this thread helped our son avoid the "could ofs" and "should ofs". The end result is he got in. That is not a matter of "territory" but wanting to help avoid critical mistakes. I suggest we thank everyone for their input, welcome future discussion from all parties and move on.

Luigi59 said:

You may feel you are being attacked or singled out for your post, but as a bystander to THIS thread, but an active forum poster, I disagree completely.

Any article posted, in any section, that conveys accurate, correct, or up-to-date information would be acceptable in any of the forums.

Any article posted, in any section, that conveys inaccurate, incorrect, or out-of-date information deserves to be called out as such.

Bad information, or a link to a bad article, serves no purpose other than to confuse and misguide a prospective parent or candidate.

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Ah, but Luigi, it must stand up to the Stress Test of the Select few.

Just_A_Mom said:

Maximus - oh dear, allow me to clarify -
I should have phrased it :
Thought it was obvious since the topic was solely about West Point.
In case you were wondering - "the several" did not include you.

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Thanks