Posted on Dec 16, 2014
Has RP transitioned into just another social media tool?
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I created a profile only a short time ago, and have noticed a drastic transformation from a military networking tool to a juvenile social media app. It appears that most of the discussions relating to the military have dropped drastically and have been replaced by trivial nonsense or nostalgic picture shareing. What are your thoughts on this matter?
Posted in these groups: 
Social Media
RallyPoint
Social Media RallyPoint
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 21
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The simple answer is "yes", RallyPoint appears to be "just another social media tool". However, there is a difference on RallyPoint, the audience.
I signed up for just about everything in an effort to market my books. Twitter, Facebook, YouTube (yes, YouTube is a social media tool), LinkedIn, and, for a time, others including Dice.
I focus most of my time these days on RallyPoint. No, I'm not trying to sell my books here. I gave up on that long ago. Someone may discover them sometime in the future and my royalties will go to my progeny. I participate on RallyPoint because of the audience.
I have not once become embroiled in silly arguments on RallyPoint.
I have not been the target of ad hominem attacks on RallyPoint.
Surprisingly, political discussions occur on RallyPoint without apparent rancor. (At least, if anyone has taken offense to anything I've posted they kept it to themselves.)
I recognize that the Army I served in is vastly different from the one that defends America today. These youngsters are better trained and better equipped than my generation. However, I feel comfortable sharing the fundamentals of leadership as well as duty, honor, and country that seem to transcend generations. Hopefully they are learning as much from me as I am learning from them.
Lastly, I appreciate RallyPoint because it helps me stay connected to the military service. Although my time in the Army was less than a tenth of my life, it is a very important tenth and as I face my mortality I appreciate that tenth ever more.
There are other military discussion groups. Facebook and LinkedIn have several, but none compare...
I signed up for just about everything in an effort to market my books. Twitter, Facebook, YouTube (yes, YouTube is a social media tool), LinkedIn, and, for a time, others including Dice.
I focus most of my time these days on RallyPoint. No, I'm not trying to sell my books here. I gave up on that long ago. Someone may discover them sometime in the future and my royalties will go to my progeny. I participate on RallyPoint because of the audience.
I have not once become embroiled in silly arguments on RallyPoint.
I have not been the target of ad hominem attacks on RallyPoint.
Surprisingly, political discussions occur on RallyPoint without apparent rancor. (At least, if anyone has taken offense to anything I've posted they kept it to themselves.)
I recognize that the Army I served in is vastly different from the one that defends America today. These youngsters are better trained and better equipped than my generation. However, I feel comfortable sharing the fundamentals of leadership as well as duty, honor, and country that seem to transcend generations. Hopefully they are learning as much from me as I am learning from them.
Lastly, I appreciate RallyPoint because it helps me stay connected to the military service. Although my time in the Army was less than a tenth of my life, it is a very important tenth and as I face my mortality I appreciate that tenth ever more.
There are other military discussion groups. Facebook and LinkedIn have several, but none compare...
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RallyPoint has 4 categories of discussions, so it can be whatever you want it to be for you. For those looking to focus only military discussions, you can filter out everything else you don't want to see. Here is how to filter:
http://support.rallypoint.com/customer/portal/articles/1599148
If you're on desktop, you can access the military-only category here:
https://www.rallypoint.com/categories/military-discussions/answers
On mobile, just select from the drop down in the top called "All Categories" and choose the category you want...
http://support.rallypoint.com/customer/portal/articles/1599148
If you're on desktop, you can access the military-only category here:
https://www.rallypoint.com/categories/military-discussions/answers
On mobile, just select from the drop down in the top called "All Categories" and choose the category you want...
General categories help keep Answers better organized for members who are looking to browse discussions by broad categor...
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GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad
LTC Yinon Weiss - Perhaps the 4 discussion categories currently offered could be broken down more. Why only 4 categories (why not 8 or 12)? Take the "General Interest" one for example --- couldn't "hobbies" and "humor" be moved out and made into their own categories? Doing this would offer greater ability to screen out those conversations that are of no interest. Thanks!
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SPC David Shaffer
I sent GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad idea to RP support yesterday I believe. Just letting you know I have sent it in. I don't think 8 or 12 categories, but I do agree that more categories could give people more options. Some want only the professional side of RP, while others look for ways to discuss other subjects that don't involve the military. I see a lot that come on here to relax, connect, and just have fun. What do you think? LTC Yinon Weiss
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LTC Yinon Weiss
SPC David Shaffer - We've got some improvements we are working on which should be out by the end of March regarding this. William Chu and the team are hard at work on it.
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SPC David Shaffer
Thank you Sir. I knew there were changes coming, but I offered in forum to pass on ideas for people that wanted me to do so. Thank you for the update. LTC Yinon Weiss
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You get what you look for out of it. If you look at the first few things on here then that is your choice but if you are looking for an actual conversation, I am sure you are capable of finding it. For me it brings answers for what I am going to do, should I get out. It provides some pretty good resources if you navigate your way to find them. If it isn't for you, it isn't for you. Just keep in mind that it has other resources than just speaking to people.
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