Why are RallyPoint members more interested in controversial opinion topics than self/organizational improvement topics?

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 09 May 2015 13:49:01 -0400

I truly use RallyPoint as a self improvement tool and am looking to learn from others here on this great professional network. Hopefully some can benefit from my posts as well. I have noticed however that the most popular topics are more opinion or controversial in nature and do little for the improvement of ones career whether in the military or as a civilian. The topics that truly talk about self or organizational improvement get very few views or comments.

Why is this? Is it similar to the media where controversy sells? People are naturally more interested and stimulated by controversy or opinion.

Lastly how do we promote more interest in self or organizational improvement topics here on RallyPoint?

I think allowing contributors as I mentioned in the post below would help! Luckily the RallyPoint team is already working this!

Should RallyPoint add a feature to share information (updates, articles, documents, etc.)? |...

RallyPoint Answers is a great way to receive information or answers to your question but does little in terms of pushing or sharing information. Other social and professional networking sites such as LinkedIn have ways for members to share updates, articles, documents, links, ect. for others in your network to benefit from. I currently follow some great influencers on LinkedIn that always have information to share that is beneficial to my...

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made May 9 at 2015 1:50 PM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Sat, 09 May 2015 13:50:14 -0400

Very good question ... I was just thinking the other day about how the "popular" topics on RP don't seem to have much to do with the military (i.e., education, training, leadership, transition, post-military career, etc.).

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 9 at 2015 1:54 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 09 May 2015 13:54:04 -0400

Best discussion in a while, this is what I, as junior enlisted and short TIS, want to see here. @mccloud

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made May 9 at 2015 1:59 PM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Sat, 09 May 2015 13:59:26 -0400

Good question CW4 Private RallyPoint Member, unfortunately I do not have an educated answer for you. However, I will say this. I try to do the best that I can to find those discussions where folks are looking for advice or guidance and try to inject if I can. I also help out a lot of folks via "inbox" correspondence which I enjoy because it gives you that "one-on-one."

As far as the controversial and opinion topics go, I tend to read a little bit for entertainment value, but I rarely chime in. I had a 1SG tell me a long time ago that "opinions are like a##holes, everyone has one." ;)

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made May 9 at 2015 2:01 PM

LTC Yinon Weiss — Sat, 09 May 2015 14:01:12 -0400

Chief, you ask many good questions. One item to highlight is that we encourage all members to publish professional content through our 'Command Post' feature. Members can access a listing of these posts and discussions here (currently available on desktop only): https://www.rallypoint.com/command-post

For example here is a recent post published about the Navy's personnel system:
https://www.rallypoint.com/command-post/why-the-navy-can-benefit-from-a-new-personnel-network

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made May 9 at 2015 2:05 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Sat, 09 May 2015 14:05:54 -0400

There's more "debate" in opinion topics, which in turn gives the impression of more interest.

Improvement/organizational topics tend to be have a narrower field of opinions, and less variance of opinion which gives the impression of less interest.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made May 9 at 2015 2:26 PM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 09 May 2015 14:26:46 -0400

I would challenge members to follow groups such as leadership, mentorship, training, transition, ect. and begin contributing in meaningful ways! It will only make RallyPoint a stronger network!

Leadership

A live Q&A where U.S. military members and veterans discuss and evaluate Leadership.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 9 at 2015 2:41 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 09 May 2015 14:41:41 -0400

I suggest you read about insurgencies and the British way of insurgencies, unless you want a synopsis from me.

Response by 1LT Nick Kidwell made May 9 at 2015 2:56 PM

1LT Nick Kidwell — Sat, 09 May 2015 14:56:42 -0400

Debate and controversy is fun, making hard decisions and planning work for self-improvement is not.

Response by CW5 Jim Steddum made May 9 at 2015 3:29 PM

CW5 Jim Steddum — Sat, 09 May 2015 15:29:30 -0400

I would encourage everyone, for professional purposes, to use milSuite for official collaboration and development. Especially warrant officers at:

https://www.milsuite.mil/book/community/spaces/apf/usawocc

I prefer RP for those unofficial discussions that are more self-development and generally military/veteran focused.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made May 9 at 2015 3:45 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Sat, 09 May 2015 15:45:35 -0400

Human nature. Emotions drive engagement. Emotional and provacative content has been well debated on RP. And its posting debated. And its debating debated. Its all very meta, and tiring.
This is why people share and engage more with things that make them angry. It's science.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE3j_RHkqJc
I mentioned it on this topic.
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/point-chasers-meme-makers-and-mass-taggers-are-they-helping-or-hurting-rp--2

Your idea about professionalism of RallyPoint has been brought up a few times. Over a few years.
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/i-thought-the-purpose-of-rallypoint-was-military-related-discussions
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/are-members-forgetting-the-purpose-of-rallypoint
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/who-thinks-it-s-time-for-a-rallypoint-virtual-town-hall-meeting
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/can-we-get-rallypoint-back-on-track
Often times these less professional topics make people emotional and disrespectful leading to clashes with the volunteer member-admins.
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/member-administrator-cautions-disrespectful-rallypoint-members
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/rallypoint-the-new-bashing-forum
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/should-older-veterans-be-treated-with-more-respect-on-rallypoint
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/should-military-courtesy-be-required-in-rallypoint
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/how-do-you-think-disrespect-and-trouble-makers-should-be-dealt-with
Leading to development of ways to try to enforce Terms of Service more clearly and rigorously.
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/rp-3-1-proper-participation-and-use-of-the-rallypoint-answers-forum
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/rallypoint-etiquette-101
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/new-rallypoint-abuse-report-form

This is all very cyclical if you look at the dates. This cycle wears down the people engaged and leads to people high on the leaderboards who participate less and less as time goes on leading to a turnover rate of the engaged members of RP, a "Changing of the Guard" as it were. RP is fortunately built to deal with this, as Member-Admins become less engaged they are replaced by new blood who are more engaged. As point leaders climb the numbers their points received for answers ratchets down driving them into recruiting new blood and member-admin-ing, hiatus or just less engagement. And that's OK. RallyPoint isn't actually here to be a professional discussion forum.

RallyPoint is here to develop an enormous roster of the most eligible veteran talent for civilian businesses interested in hiring them. You, the Service-Member and Veteran are not the customer of RallyPoint, you are the product. The answers forum's sole purpose is to attract new members to enter their information, thereby expanding the talent pool available for sale. Letting users control this attraction feature makes sense, and we do. There's professional content provided for under "CommandPost and even some great individually started threads for those who are serious minded. Then there's "do officers deserve to have more pay/exist/be saluted? does god exist? is Islam a religion? is religion good? do you like memes/star wars/avengers? threads for people who want outrage or popcorn reading. There's a little something for everyone, and when it starts to get repetitive you can just take a break.

People disengaging probably actually helps as the "new recruits" dredge up the same perennial topics and the debate draws in even more newbies. As long as the people who get tired of the cycle just quietly diminish their involvement rather than deleting profiles completely, everything will go swimmingly.
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/when-will-you-quit-posting-on-rallypoint-where-are-the-senior-leaders
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/have-you-ever-thought-about-leaving-rallypoint-why-why-did-you-stay?page=3&urlhash=655640#655640

So....It's all been done/said before.

To reiterate what I posted in the first forums link i put in this answer:

Do you "care more about the serious conversations" like most people claim they do? Then act on it: participate in those threads seriously, comment and vote them up. Ignore the low value content you don't want to see. If it's downright unprofessional vote it down or report it.

This is on us as a community.

Ductus Exemplo: Set the Example.

Point Chasers, Meme Makers, News Reporters, Link Posters, and Mass Taggers, Are they helping or...

I have been with Rally Point for a good while. I have seen some great leaders provide some great advice. I can honestly thank many out there from a E-2 Vet to a Retired COL. Maybe it is just me but I am beginning to question much of the content here. Some of us are thinking it and I will take the unpopular stance and say this. When it comes to Points I couldn't care less. If someone wants all my point you could gladly have them. I would rather...

Response by SPC Angel Guma made May 9 at 2015 9:40 PM

SPC Angel Guma — Sat, 09 May 2015 21:40:21 -0400

Its hard to work within a system when all people have are opinions and no objective facts. Then its easy to see how Rally Point turns into a dumping ground for malcontents.

Classic case in point, how many barn-burners have you read on here about 'the Old Army Discipline' vs the New Army, racial prejudice or lack thereof in the military, or integration of females into combat units? A lot of people are full of opinions, but not a lot of objectivity, and when they do offer anything 'objective', its usually coached in terms of opinions as fact. For example about 'Old Army Discipline' vs New Army: what exactly makes 'old discipline' better than New Army paper trails? No one likes how administrative the new army is, yet, no one can decisively point to hard evidence the old army was any better. People then go on raw emotion and rose colored memories of their service years "well, in MY DAY we smoked the shit out of privates for speaking out of TURN!!!" as "discipline" but then can't point out if that sort of discipline really helps in war time situations, because there were no large scale wars going on between the 1980s-1990s. Vietnam then is the old real case study we have to compare then and now. But, again, you will have 1990s era's soldiers talking about their 'Old Army' discipline, and you will have a Vietnam Vet that will step in and point out that the 1990s wasn't really Old Army compared to THEIR Old Army. And so on.

The integration of females into combat units is going to turn into a new Barn-Burner. Again- people take opinions and turn into 'facts' to support a theory that may or may not be true. Fact: females are not, as per genetics, as physically strong as men are, yet, its not FACTUAL if females in combat roles will or will not 'bring-down' combat units overall in the military. You then have facts on one side: men are physically stronger vs facts on the other side, women have indeed done their fair share in Iraq and Afghanistan and many earned their CABs fair and square. How does anyone take a scientific standpoint on improving the organization into the future when you have facts on both sides that seem to contradict each other? Hence, the Barn-Burners on Rally Point.

This is not to say that people are inherent bad or that Old Army is better than New Army or however you want to point it. I would say the only 'Army' for us that should work is the Army that wins battles and wins the war. Women were in the military in 2003 and the US military fought an all-male Iraqi Army and we still beat them hands down. But then, there are no objective scientific arguments to be had. I would say, the only real way to win this argument would be to stop badgering women, let them in combat units, quid pro quo like, make female selective service mandatory (not that it would matter, because a draft-era Army is not on the horizon barring a massive confrontation), and let's leave it up to the next War to settle the argument. Until then, all we have is a Garrison Army on the horizon and no real way to end the quibbling on either side. Fact: women did not bring down any military efficiency in 2003 but Fact genetics is hard to overcome. But again: fact, technology improves over time and we are not going back to the Spears of the spartan army any time soon. Missiles do the job just fine.

Response by SPC David S. made May 9 at 2015 10:12 PM

SPC David S. — Sat, 09 May 2015 22:12:45 -0400

I think it all boils down to proximity to our core values. Things closer to our moral base we attack and focus more time and energy on. Stuff on the peripheral gets less attention. Thus a guy slapping a baby is going to get our attention easier than say someone wanting to improve their time in the two mile run as the baby slapping offends and intrudes on our moral grounds more so than the runner's inquiry would - At least I hope it would. Also the social media setting offers the facade of safety and anonymity that you don't perceive in a face to face environment. Thus not only is there the controversy there is also the element of lewd behavior that permeates social media - sexting, risque selfies, and frat boys singing songs of indifference.

Merica

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 9 at 2015 10:36 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 09 May 2015 22:36:03 -0400

I don't know what percentage of topics I have participated in would count as controversial, but I would imagine it's more than 50% of them.

I think the main reason that I focus on the controversial and non-military/work specific topics here are...

a) I can talk about the military things at work with my co-workers

and

b) here I can talk to (and respectfully argue/disagree with, if applicable) E-8s and E-9s, W-4s and W-5s, O-6s+, and other branches' personnel both senior and junior, about things I would likely never be talking to them about at work, if I even saw those people at work.

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2015 10:17 PM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 10 May 2015 22:17:39 -0400

Because controversy sells, just like sensationalism. If it stirs the pot of debate, people get sucked in. I refuse. I prefer the organizational improvement and mentoring route:)

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made May 12 at 2015 11:54 AM

LTC Paul Labrador — Tue, 12 May 2015 11:54:03 -0400

Because having a discussion can be fun.

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made May 15 at 2015 2:52 PM

CPT Pedro Meza — Fri, 15 May 2015 14:52:00 -0400

Human Nature dictates how people behave, Rally Point like other social media functions at the mid level brain function where opinions rules; I want to give my opinion. Sort like an online bar where people get drunk on expressing and pontificating!

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made May 15 at 2015 4:39 PM

SGT Jeremiah B. — Fri, 15 May 2015 16:39:42 -0400

This explains it pretty well.

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Response by SSG John Erny made Jun 25 at 2015 6:13 PM

SSG John Erny — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 18:13:15 -0400

It is human nature, people like to argue with each other. Pro vs Con, point vs counter point. That is all well and good but I think elected officials should be avoided. This true more so if you are still active. I would hate to see some one on the cover 's news paper and some BLUE FALCON getting a medal for pointing it out.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 2 at 2015 10:07 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 22:07:21 -0400

I see lots of threads that can teach others.

Response by MSgt Manuel Diaz made Jul 2 at 2015 10:48 PM

MSgt Manuel Diaz — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 22:48:12 -0400

Well self organisational improvement topics are like going into a coffee shop for a cup of coffee, and there are ice coffees latte flavored cremes all kinds of crap to hide the taste of what you really want... a cup of hot coffee no sugar no cream. What is your job. What does your boss want. What does his boss want. What does the customer want. What's the best way to do it, do it. Am I confusing improvement with proper accepted ass kissing methods for promotion or job performance ... getting along with coworkers.... or what... maybe I do need an Irish coffee