I think this thread, like many before, has now gone off track. It is now about another aspect that is also important.
How some may feel posters are being harsh, which can make posters/lurkers run for the hills is now a topic.
Unfortunately, I believe that is true regarding how some new posters/lurkers feel. Yet, I have not seen anything posted that is not what I would call life after HS graduation. It is also an issue due to how social media forums like this work. You cannot read intonation.
I have read several times from posters that is not baseops.net. Thankfully, it isn't, but still your Johnny Joe/Janie Sue (parent poster) or Jonny/Janie (candidate) will be joining that world in a few very short months. If you don't get that tough skin now, I believe there is a whole new world of pain awaiting you come July after HS graduation.
This site gives you a tsp of that pain regarding their opinions as far as I am concerned. The mods do an excellent job of keeping it to a respectable level.
Sure, many parents have not lived this life. They live by hearsay from their own children. However, discounting them, you are also impo leaving many out in the wind. The parents. It basically becomes a version of a 22 and under club, with most of the posters being 18 going through the process at the same time. AKA the blind leading the blind. Haley, AFrpaso, CadCandMateus...where would you all have been without many of us that directed you when you were 17/18 in HS applying if parents weren't here.
~ CC aka Mike was not an ALO when he joined. I think he became one when his DS was a C1C. Had he left as soon as I Day rolled around, you would have lost 4 years of invaluable advice, because he was just a parent now living via hearsay of his DS.
You have to understand that it is frustrating for cadets who are on here to see incorrect info being distributed by parents who are disgruntled when they find they are wrong. And understand that this happens regularly, and is apart of the reason that I disappear on here from time to time. I'm going to be real here regardless of the flack I may catch because I think it needs to be said: there is a lack of humility lately that could stand to be corrected, and this post is an example
Now that reads as PARENTS only. I can count many candidates that act this way too. However, I believe haleym was not targeting just parents, but said this because it really is only parents responding here.
~ To me the bigger picture that she was trying to state was that she felt the tone was changing, and not for the better,
~~ Somebody else may have read it as PARENTS only. Indeed, that is how USAFA83 1st read it before your post.
It appears you too AFrpaso saw it the same way as I did, but what about those other parents lurking? Just saying it works both ways, and even a post like haleym's could be taken in a negative light. Only by understanding that sometimes you need to have a thicker skin and posters meant something in kindness, but it was misconstrued by the reader can we all understand that everyone has an importance on this site, be it retiree, AD, parent, cadet or candidate.
I agree with USAFA83GradWife. AFrpaso you are an invaluable asset that many need. I don't know what state you are from, but come nomination time, you know in sight. You were a prepster, not many can answer those questions. Yes, things change, but a lot stays the same for a very long time. Same with haleym and CadcandMateus. You are all insanely invaluable.
Finally, look at this like my MIL would say. You have 5 fingers. You love and need all 5 of them, but they all are different. Think about it. tie down your pinky or ring finger for the day. Tell me if you could operate opening cans, typing on the net, changing your clothes at the same level without one of those fingers as easily if you had the ability to use all 5.
