Posted on Feb 24, 2017
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Over the past few months I, along with several other User Admins, have been hit with complaints about people's behavior. Most of these reports come out of people acting disrespectfully towards another normally centered around a political post. Every day, countless posts from both sides of the political line are posted. I was hoping that after the election was over and people settled back into their routines these posts would start to dwindle in number but sadly, that isn't the case. In fact, I think people's reactions only made people want to share more. Other social media sites are covered as well but here I think it's different.
I understand that for many of you, this is your one stop shop for social media actives. And I understand that you have the right to voice your thoughts and concerns but what I don't get and what I will not tolerate is the name calling and personal attacks. I think for some of you, you are so wrapped up on what others have said or done that you yourself are losing touch with reality. Rather than finding a healthy way to express your feelings you are just so hyper-focus that it's causing damage to yourself. Some of the actions I've seen here are simply not healthy.
When RallyPoint first started. it was started to a place where service members and veterans can come to get connected with others and get answers to their questions. Now, with over 1.1 million members we are still that place but have this dirty shadow following us.
So the question I have for you, as one of the original members and as one of the Senior User Admins of this site; why are you here? Are you here to connect with your brothers and sisters-in-arms and to help provide meaningful answers to questions or are you here in some effort to spread your ideals onto others? Why do some of you feel the need to attack others just based on the fact that they voted for someone different? When will you pause and step away to realize that no one person can make American great again, to do that takes all of us. It takes all of us to come together, support the powers to be and hold them accountable as a collective body.
I understand that for many of you, this is your one stop shop for social media actives. And I understand that you have the right to voice your thoughts and concerns but what I don't get and what I will not tolerate is the name calling and personal attacks. I think for some of you, you are so wrapped up on what others have said or done that you yourself are losing touch with reality. Rather than finding a healthy way to express your feelings you are just so hyper-focus that it's causing damage to yourself. Some of the actions I've seen here are simply not healthy.
When RallyPoint first started. it was started to a place where service members and veterans can come to get connected with others and get answers to their questions. Now, with over 1.1 million members we are still that place but have this dirty shadow following us.
So the question I have for you, as one of the original members and as one of the Senior User Admins of this site; why are you here? Are you here to connect with your brothers and sisters-in-arms and to help provide meaningful answers to questions or are you here in some effort to spread your ideals onto others? Why do some of you feel the need to attack others just based on the fact that they voted for someone different? When will you pause and step away to realize that no one person can make American great again, to do that takes all of us. It takes all of us to come together, support the powers to be and hold them accountable as a collective body.
Posted in these groups: 
RallyPoint
RallyPoint
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 240
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Sp4 Byron Skinner. A good question but I think the base issue is different. Starting at the top the US military is in transition from a labor centric organization to a technology centric organization. With the current and emerging stable of weapons the Army is finally getting what the wet wishing for in 2000 the 100 mile deep battle field. Indirect fire will do most of the fighting and the major causality group will not be the Infantry and Maneuver troops but the Support and Service troops. A real problem is the Army's vision of itself. The Army refers to themselves as a professional Army, this is not so. Three year enlistments are the norm and in many specialities that isn't even enough time to get proper ally trained in an MOS. Initial enlistments need to be longer six years for the combat MOS's and eight years for the Support and Service. College graduate have to be actively recruited for the enlisted ranks, which means higher pay. Right now the military is serving as a community college with a year experience. The tax payer is getting shafted. The biggest thing the Military has to do to impress the Joe's and Jill's paying the bill is win some wars. Since 1991 the military has bull shitted the public to death but comes up a loser. The citizens are getting a bit tire of not getting the protection they are paying for. Of course the defense industry loves this, their selling pitch is we can't win because of this, the offer a new generation of something that didn't work with some higher Tech that doesn't work, the DoD just keep buying failure.
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I haven't been here often enough to see the political bickering. We are, or were The Uniformed Services and politics must be absent from our public statements. Our loyalty to the Office Holders Must be unquestionable, unless, and until an action against them is Constitionaly Demanded, at which time the Joint Chiefs will give us an order to act in preservation of the Republic.
We take that oath of office upon enlistment. I have never, NEVER, been relieved of that oath. Until I am, to my last breath I will honor that Oath.
We take that oath of office upon enlistment. I have never, NEVER, been relieved of that oath. Until I am, to my last breath I will honor that Oath.
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MCPO Roger Collins
The 1st amendment gives us freedom of speech and regulations permit AD and Vets (anyone drawing a check, basically) to speak out politically. The hate and disrespect shown on here are beyond the pale. I am surprised no one from the judiciary in the military don't drop the hammer on a few to make a point. Policy discussions are good, we can evaluate positions by them and I'm a big participant in those, but your point is well taken.
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Sgt. Keen. I join for the same reasons you mentioned. Connect with other VETS. get information, learn about veteran causes etc. I have joined in on a few discussions on religion and politics. These have been high spirited, but never intentionally disrespectful. I have admired those not afraid to stand up for what they believe. As I stated none of these discussion have been reduced to name calling or snide remarks. I Appreciate the contacts I have established and look forward to further discussions with my fellow veterans.
Should I happen to stumble into one of these situation I would leave. many of these individuals are looking for an audience. If we don't give them a stage to preach from perhaps they will go back to facebook.
Should I happen to stumble into one of these situation I would leave. many of these individuals are looking for an audience. If we don't give them a stage to preach from perhaps they will go back to facebook.
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hello col I am eric Hersh I got out in feb 1970. u can talk to them face to face but till they face the truth it will and or hurt every body near them because they don t believe in va help . U have to admit u have a problem b4 it can be fixed fully eric
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My intention was to join to reminiscence and offer support. RP turned into a political / religious cauldron which sucks. I pop in here and there for laughs. Occasionally, I find some top-not secular/apolitical contributors. That's a treat. Otherwise IMO RP is dominated by right-wing, homophobic religious gun nuts.
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I joined after I retired so I would have a connection to the world I had just left. And to have the opportunity to pass on some of my experience to those looking for assistance.
Unfortunately, I have found a place where it is ok to question someone's loyalty to their Oath of Enlistment because they have a differing view on the 2nd Amendment, and not just question but blatantly call them a traitor to that oath. The moderators allowed numerous threads like that, so while I appreciate your question, ultimately, if you are unhappy with the tenor of this site, set the ground rules and moderate.
Hold people accountable for the way they act. Right under this thread in the "Trending Discussions" is SSGT Mays crappy "John Hopkins psychiatrist drops TRUTH BOMB about transgenders - Liberals furious" thread. How is that not a veiled attack thread on the transgender members of this site?
But what do I know, I'm just a "Snowflake"!
Unfortunately, I have found a place where it is ok to question someone's loyalty to their Oath of Enlistment because they have a differing view on the 2nd Amendment, and not just question but blatantly call them a traitor to that oath. The moderators allowed numerous threads like that, so while I appreciate your question, ultimately, if you are unhappy with the tenor of this site, set the ground rules and moderate.
Hold people accountable for the way they act. Right under this thread in the "Trending Discussions" is SSGT Mays crappy "John Hopkins psychiatrist drops TRUTH BOMB about transgenders - Liberals furious" thread. How is that not a veiled attack thread on the transgender members of this site?
But what do I know, I'm just a "Snowflake"!
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SGT Ben Keen
SCPO Jason McLaughlin - as one of the admins of this site, I can tell you that we all work very hard to maintain things here. With over 1.1 million members and countless threads started daily, that task is rather hard and we all volunteer to do so. I will tell you that I have brought that post about transgender people to the attention of my fellow admins and we are looking at it now.
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SCPO Jason McLaughlin
SGT Ben Keen - Then perhaps it is time to compartmentalize the task. Create a section with a separate login for politics, political views, and religion, like a no-holds barred section. Make the main section only about what most people came here for, military matters and connections. That way someone enters the NHB section knows what they are in for. That would lessen the moderator burden.
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I am here to listen to the boots that are currently maintaining. To enjoy the exchanges. I also feel some of the questions or presentations lead discussions that might offer answer
to questions never asked.
to questions never asked.
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Straight up I love this post. I bleed camouflage, the same colors my brothers and sisters of all branches had some type of. I am here to be a part of that same community now just understand the VA. When we talk about different things we have different opinions and sometimes we get into some nasty debates over those opinions. But we are professionals and people come first! You do the right thing first and for most and that is to let the matter go. Because in the majority of the opinions/debates. There is no correct answer or right way. We may now longer be on a battlefield but some of the information that certain people have could be the difference between life and death. Don't ask the VA to explain the system but some Brother or Sister could have the answer to a question. Who is going to be sitting in a toxic chat room waiting for that one question. Not me! Or any other normal person. I am not saying don't debate or get into it. Just keep it above the belt line. When its over, have drink and shake hands. Just like we use to do with Service to Service Bar fights. The good old days lol. That's my two cents.
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I like the veteran community here. But I agree, name calling and such needs too quit. We are all brothers and sisters in the big American family.
I've had a guy on another social site (FB ) that I served with made the comment I should just die.. I ripped into him and destroyed his honor of serving because of his actions. It took him a few to respond back. But when he did, it was all apologies. He realized he was acting wrongfully and with hate.
I've had a guy on another social site (FB ) that I served with made the comment I should just die.. I ripped into him and destroyed his honor of serving because of his actions. It took him a few to respond back. But when he did, it was all apologies. He realized he was acting wrongfully and with hate.
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I had an individual vote up my original response. Which brought me back here and re -read the original post from the admin. I have shared in the past on other platforms. Jokes pertaining to political individuals. I have seen it get out of hand. I therefore, no longer share what is funny or humorous to me. On social media. I have un-followed a couple of people that have taken it all way out of hand. I guess I caught myself before I started doing things that are not right. We are told to support out leaders while in the military. I continue to do that outside of the military now. Per the other question, while I am not here much anymore. I come here to give advice when questions that I may be of service to, are asked. But as I said, not much lately. I also originally came to this site to find fellow service members I had been stationed with. As well as finding new "prior service" or currently active members to engage with.
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