Well AffirmBrest, I have to respond to your post.
You said <<You don't need names and pack drill to write an article which says: "A pilot source confirmed that this happens regularly...>>. Well yes, you are probably right. But then if I was an underhanded journalist, I would just post whatever sensationalist replies I wanted to my own question using a different nickname!!! (or has your thought path not gone that far???)
You said <<...Lack of info in the profile...>> - well, yes. That's my right, I'm afraid. Any anyway, would "Occupation : Electrician, Email address :
[email protected], Interests : Aviation" be proof that I'm NOT a journalist?
You also said <<...coupled with simultaneous, journo-like Qs on other topics in this thread...>> Huh? What papers do you read pal? My other questions include "How do trans-atlantic flights navigate" and "How far away is that airliner?" Hardly going to get Rupert Murdoch excited is it?
You also said <<...getting a bit too stroppy when your request for info was declined...>>. Now come off it! Scroll up the page and take a look at the pattern of posts. 1:I ask a polite question. 2:I get a response <<Sniff, Sniff...Mmmm. Journalist.>> Followed by <<Whoop Whoop! Journo alert!>>. I then responded with <<No, sorry - not a journo. If I was, I would be asking for info like what airline, what route, how many pax, etc etc. As it is, I would specifically urge you not to reveal this sort of info!>>. Could you perhaps highlight where I was getting stroppy? Do I not have the right to say that I am not a journo?
You also said <<Try lurking a bit before leaping in>>. Well, sorry buddy - I've been 'lurking' on PPRuNe (albeit as a non-poster) for two years or more.
I can understand your concerns, and yes, you do have valid reasons to be cautious of Journalists, but what I can't understand is the need to go to the trouble of posting an 'insult' when you don't have the facts. If you don't trust the post, then GO TO ANOTHER TOPIC - DON'T PARTICIPATE! What right do you have to call me a journalist? How the hell do you know? If you don't want to give information, then that's entirely your perogative, and I respect that. But let others decide for themselves if they want to post a response or not.
I have noticed over the last couple of years a decline in the standards of postings on PPRuNe. Some of this is because of the pretenders "I am a BA captain on a 747", who happen to be schoolkids posting junk. A lot of the problem, however, is because of people slagging other people off when they don't know the facts and don't know how to keep their thoughts to themselves. You will kill PPRuNe. This is a QUESTIONS forum. I have a right to ask a question without getting accused of looking for sensationalist gutter-press stories.
Anyway, lock the thread, delete the thread, reply with flames or other unfounded accusations... I don't really give a hoot !
Love and Kisses, Stroppy!