PV may start cracking down on "off topic" posts
 

I guess that, instead of actually answering a single question that's been asked repeatedly for months, Bob's just going to stop the questioning altogether (from a reply to the post about popsicle makers) :

Is Bob going to remind us not to fly with M-80s and bottle rockets this weekend? :rolleyes:

Isn't Bob's post about off topic posts, off the topic? :rolleyes:

Somebody must be feeling heat from all the unanswered questions. Suppose that we will now be treated to only puppy posts that don't generate a great deal of controversy?

I read this thread title and thought,

"Which FT moderator is PV?", "How is this thread even allowed?", and finally, "It's about time!"

When i first read this I thought Bob was going to remind us not to fly MD-80's with bottled water this weekend :D

Hmm an alternative for off topic comments, maybe they are creating a forum. (Just my thought, no insider info.)

That would make sense, if they were really interested in engaging the public. However, they would loose control of their ability to control (and I use that term loosely) the message. Bottom line, I don't see it happening.

I'm expecting a change that allows Bob to put posts wherever he feels they belong. That will allow him to keep negative post out of view of the current puppy post.

Let me guess.

Dear BBob: What is the official definition of "off topic"?

BBob: That, of course, is SSI. :rolleyes:

Looks like I was right based on the latest post by Bob.

Bob is determined to control the message and hide anything that doesn't make the TSA look good.

The alternative is to write them down on a piece of toilet paper, utilize said paper for intended purpose, and flush it. Anything that keeps questions out of public view is an ideal alternative, but with the toilet paper, you can keep your submit your questions directly to the TSA's SSI IdeaFactory.

That's exactly what is happening.

I can confirm that BB has slashed two posts of mine because they were off topic. I am pressuring him on the lack of response to the Nature article saying that there is no Science behind SPOT. Nice way to avoid criticism - ignore, and throw away any posts that broach the subject.

But I did finally get through by artfully concealing my last post in on-topic guise...;)

I too have had some recent post censored. I posted to the Potato Peeler topic asking if that was the most important issues at TSA considering the recent Kid on the NFL report, the abuse of an amputee by TSA and recent reports of higher than claimed radiation from WBI.

My post was on topic; TSA just can't justify the continued abused of the public.

Better watch it! That can lead to a secondary. :D

Can you give me tomorrow night's lotto numbers?

http://blog.tsa.gov/2010/07/firework...-dont-mix.html

maybe TK needs to start a Blog to counter PV and a place to put all the news TSA refuses to answer quesitons on.

Bob has indicated that he answered BubbaLoop but I don't see that answer. Could someone point me to it?

Well, whadaya know? :D

I wonder if we'll get a follow-up in a few weeks telling us to leave the hand grenades at home: Thanks, Mr. Obvious!

I really don't think you guys are getting the point about the "off topic" stuff. Bob is simply streamlining things for the casual readers. If I visit a site and there is a particular thread about, say, purple cat hair trimmers, and about the fourth post in line under comments is about flight costs to Switzerland - it contributes nothing to the conversation. I honestly think the off topic thread will be the hottest on the blog, and will continue to generate tons of commentary (and several answers, but sometimes the same SSI can't tell you). I would look at this as a chance to air and consolidate all the questions you (collectively) say haven't been answered. For those that haven't seen it, you canaccess the OTP at this link:

http://blog.tsa.gov/2010/07/please-p...ents-here.html

:)

at the same time we know that once a item is off the front page bob will not address it. this is yet another example of TSA power tripping and doing what it wants and not answering the critics for real issues.

That's the problem. Bob is setting it up so casual readers may never know that a 6 year old was on the NFL. Though they will get to read that TSA says Secure Flight works. They will not get to seethat TSO's treat amputees poorly, Though they will get to read that TSO's are highly trained and professional.

It is simply a way of hiding dirty laundry from casual readers.

Are you claiming that all the questions have been answered?

I think BB thinks I posted as Anon to escape his scrutiny. I actually posted as Bubba, but disguised my post as a "see something, say something" post...

Exactly. Propaganda is all about controlling the message.

This happened as Pistole took control - certainly indicates his approach to things.

Unless this thread stays at the top of the page, with newer threads under it, you know full well that newcomers to the blog will never see it. And that is the whole purpose of this maneuver - to keep the general public unaware of the issues that are raised day in and day out and go unaddressed by Bob and the TSA.

That was very clever, Bubba. I noticed it immediately and had a good snicker over it.

Nonsense. Curtis is trying to find a place to dump all of the legitimate questions he's unwilling to address so he can make the blog look like an endless series of puppy posts.

Of course, he wouldn't need to go to such lengths to avoid addressing legitimate questions he wants to depict as "off-topic" if he would simply provide honest answers, but Curtis has quite thoroughly demonstrated he's not capable of doing that.

It may also be pre-emptive on Curtis' part, to make the blog look like a sunny happy land full of grateful kettles eager to have TSA photograph their children's genitals.

You don't get it. The reason we stay in Blogdad Bob's face is to keep these issues, absurdities, incredulous actions, and outright crimes squarely in front of the American People, so there won't be any "casual readers" of Propaganda Village.

By pulling this stunt coincident with Pissy's swearing-ion, Blogdad Bob has made this Pissy's policy by default. I doubt his boss was even asked about it.

Not even remotely.

Glad to hear you say that.

My opinion is that BB through PV has made a concerted effort to not answer questions.

Its about time. @:-)

I think that Bob has many constraints on his information dissemination process. He is in the buffer zone between what HQ wants to put out, and what some members of the public ask - the problem is the difference between the two that causes him to seem like he doesn't want to answer questions. It is the basic PR/communication quandry, you guys want information A, Bob can give information U and everything in between can't be put out or (in some cases) even be addressed. I think that Bob would like to share some more info, but due to the SSI and guidance from those above him, it is rarely going to be the same information (not really commenting on whether that is a good or bad thing, just how it boils down). Personally, there are some things that I think that could be answered without damaging the system or effectiveness, but I am also a frontliner and am not privvy to all the reasoning that HQ would use.

I think that some questions are asked and answered over at TSA Blog, but some of the questions asked over and over, are just not going to get a straight up answer because of the nature of the question, or the SSI regs. What other .Gov site will allow as many disparaging remarks in an open forum? Seriously, what other site have you seen that posts that type of open commentary? It is not perfect, but it sure is a lot more honest and open than any other .Gov site I have seen (and quite a few private sites). I know it is not perfect and we have room for improvement, but I actually think that keeping commentary on topic is a natural course. It allows for more focused discussion on the primary subject (and even you have to admit that some of the threads are about inflammatory subjects). I reiterate that I think the OTP thread will be fairly hot and have some pretty serious discussions, and I think that the postings will be even more open season than before. I guarantee you that HQ will watch that thread and you may even see new blog posts generated from the thread (at least, I would think that if we got 200+ posts about the same subject from unique users, I would want to put out as much info on it as I could, or at least let you know that it can't be disclosed). I am interested to see how it works out, I ask you gang to give it a chance to see what we can do with it.

That's not an opinion, that's a fact.

No one from TSA ever responds to a topic off the first page. (Seldom does any one from TSA ever respond to a topic, period.)

Now BB defines the subject for the discussion to be focused upon, and that "OT" threat descends, in a few days, into the limbo of the back pages. Meanwhile, we'll all focus on not carrying fireworks and hand grenades and on "Tips for Travelers" rehashes of the TSA website.

Well, I'm all a-flutter.

~~ Irish

Be careful now, that getting all a-flutter can lead to a case of the vapors!:D

The OT thread is listed on the right hand side, right under "meet our bloggers". It may fall out of the main feed, but unlike other topics, it will always be on the main page. I still go back and comment on past posts once they fall off the page (admittedly, not as much as the top of the list, but that is because the traffic falls off and most aren't that motivated to go back and post on them).

The name matters though. It's not "Unrelated Questions", it's "Off-Topic Posts". The latter name conjures up images of an OT board here or on any other message board -- general banter, and no substantive discussion. It's going to be prevented as such, and traffic will be very light among anyone but the "regulars", and it's going to be easily ignored by Bob.

If a question cannot be answered for whatever reason then BB should just say so. Ignoring, or appearing to ignore questions creates a lot of tension.

I consider all discussion on the PV blog to be of a political nature and there is no reason to censor comments, even the Supreme Court has ruled that political speech is fully protected. If PV was a privately owned sight maintained with private funds then no such constraints would be in play.

The Off Topic thread is a giant step backwards for the TSA blog. But since backwards is the general direction the whole of TSA is headed it fits with the rest of the agency.

I get it; I got it when Comrade Curtis introduced it. Keep controversy off the front page. How very Orwellian-ly typical of TSA.

~~ Irish

PREFACE: I am NOT a fan of the TSA, in fact they generally raise my blood pressure to unhealthy levels.

However, I am not sure what anybody expects from a Gov't administered website where clearly the person in charge of public contact is constrained in what they can say and has virtually no power to effect change in their organization.

Honestly, if TSA.gov and their official posters were open, honest and answered every question posed to them I would be shocked.

I will put it out there, I do NOT like the TSA and feel that as a group there are more rotten egs than good ones, but BOB is not the problem, it is the organization that he works for.

Dan

So it was kind of like adding an OMNI thread here. Gotcha. I can see where that impression comes from. Maybe in the future we can get some set of links or running threads that include "ask your questions here", specific questions about flying, or maybe even an open thread for general discussion. Nothing like that is planned at this point, but maybe it is something that the blog group can look into in the future.