The LAA forum
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Heff
Oh please
The LAA site is moribund because no-one has anything interesting to say. If it isn't about kit-building or how quickly the Permit is issued it is self-centred about Permit-type stuff. It is very much a closeted in-group
Whereas PPrune or Flyer are worth visiting daily the LAA site (and for that matter AOPA) are not worth visiting more than once a month until a thread like this happens and the LAA in-group closes ranks
Oh please
The LAA site is moribund because no-one has anything interesting to say. If it isn't about kit-building or how quickly the Permit is issued it is self-centred about Permit-type stuff. It is very much a closeted in-group
Whereas PPrune or Flyer are worth visiting daily the LAA site (and for that matter AOPA) are not worth visiting more than once a month until a thread like this happens and the LAA in-group closes ranks
Thread Starter
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and I think the rule sets the tone for the forum.
Now, the distance between my left and my right shoulder is sufficient such that I am able to cope but the quality of posts is definitely NOT guarenteed by the lack of anonymity.
PPRuNe is ultimately, a rumour network with no claims to accredited or even factually accurate content. That sensible piece of advice you've just read on a PPRuNe post could be from an experienced pilot/engineer, or it could be from an armchair mechanic writing from in between his buttocks.
The forum is somewhat stagnant, but I think that is purely because the majority of members don't have anything of solid value to write about.
Personally, I have a greater issue with the CAA who happily post my aircraft registration details, full name and address onto the public domain without seeking my permission. The DVLA aren't so free with information, so why are the CAA?
Pompey till I die
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Lucky
Luckily I post under my real name. Actually I don't, my wife threatened me with divorce if I changed my name, by deed poll, to pompey Portsmouth football club Paul 
To all intents and purposes it's my real name
To all intents and purposes it's my real name
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PPRuNe is ultimately, a rumour network with no claims to accredited or even factually accurate content. That sensible piece of advice you've just read on a PPRuNe post could be from an experienced pilot/engineer, or it could be from an armchair mechanic writing from in between his buttocks.
Some of the stuff written by the old hands in UK GA is dreadful patronising crap. I won't mention names - everybody knows who they are.
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Originally Posted by robin
The LAA site is moribund because no-one has anything interesting to say. If it isn't about kit-building or how quickly the Permit is issued it is self-centred about Permit-type stuff. It is very much a closeted in-group
Originally Posted by stickandrudderman
Nobody of sound mind would treat any singular peice of advice found on any forum as sensible without further corroboration. Having a name attached to it makes not one bit of difference.
Originally Posted by stickandrudderman
Which is a good point well made but not relevant here.
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...which is like Robin described: very much a closeted in-group of people interested in light aircraft.
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Stickandrudderman has taken a lot of flak unfairly in my opinion. He is one or the few still interested enough to question the PFA/LAA policy. The majority lost interest after the whole forum was deleted for the second time.
The first PFA forum was a useful place to visit and a search answered pretty well any technical light GA question. It was not just PFA and open to all to ask their techie questions. A lot of very experienced people contributed their knowledge to it. The problem was it was easily hacked because nobody at PFA either understood or cared enough to keep it secure. Instead of fixing the software, one day the whole of the forum content was arbitrarily removed. It was a knee jerk reaction by people that didn't understand anything about computers.
After it was deleted it came back as a members only forum. Some took the time to repopulate it with snippets of the useful stuff but the ability for non members to ask questions or answer them was lost.
Then it was deleted a second time, this time because no one at LAA tried to move the posts to a new forum format. Many took that as an indication of how much LAA valued their contributions and the majority with anything useful to say drifted away to Flyer and PPrune.
So the above is why the LAA forum is a dust ball nowadays. The anonymity and sensitivity to criticism issues are really small fry in comparison. They have just made sure no one bothers to try again.
The first PFA forum was a useful place to visit and a search answered pretty well any technical light GA question. It was not just PFA and open to all to ask their techie questions. A lot of very experienced people contributed their knowledge to it. The problem was it was easily hacked because nobody at PFA either understood or cared enough to keep it secure. Instead of fixing the software, one day the whole of the forum content was arbitrarily removed. It was a knee jerk reaction by people that didn't understand anything about computers.
After it was deleted it came back as a members only forum. Some took the time to repopulate it with snippets of the useful stuff but the ability for non members to ask questions or answer them was lost.
Then it was deleted a second time, this time because no one at LAA tried to move the posts to a new forum format. Many took that as an indication of how much LAA valued their contributions and the majority with anything useful to say drifted away to Flyer and PPrune.
So the above is why the LAA forum is a dust ball nowadays. The anonymity and sensitivity to criticism issues are really small fry in comparison. They have just made sure no one bothers to try again.
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Rod1 has decided not to post on the LAA forum so he does not appear to break the rules.
Steve has given a lot of thebackground to the 'issues' with the LAA forum. It is a huge shame that the attitudes are so inflexible and dogmatic - but the PFA was always 'an old man's organisation' in the sense that committee positions and attitudes were orientated that way.
The change in name was supposed to demonstrate a more open, inclusive and wider approach - but PR is easy, changing the people will probably be the only way for the walk to match the talk.
But there is a cracking good memembers magazine - if the people involved saw the internet complementing that rather than competing maybe some of the walk would match the talk?
Steve has given a lot of thebackground to the 'issues' with the LAA forum. It is a huge shame that the attitudes are so inflexible and dogmatic - but the PFA was always 'an old man's organisation' in the sense that committee positions and attitudes were orientated that way.
The change in name was supposed to demonstrate a more open, inclusive and wider approach - but PR is easy, changing the people will probably be the only way for the walk to match the talk.
But there is a cracking good memembers magazine - if the people involved saw the internet complementing that rather than competing maybe some of the walk would match the talk?
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I see
I was disappointed that the change of name didn't lead to a change in ethos. The magazine is well produced, but has little relevance to me as I don't have a Permit aircraft and I'm not interested in building (or more truthfully, flying in anything I'd built!)
I was disappointed that the change of name didn't lead to a change in ethos. The magazine is well produced, but has little relevance to me as I don't have a Permit aircraft and I'm not interested in building (or more truthfully, flying in anything I'd built!)
Steve has given a lot of thebackground to the 'issues' with the LAA forum. It is a huge shame that the attitudes are so inflexible and dogmatic - but the PFA was always 'an old man's organisation' in the sense that committee positions and attitudes were orientated that way.
The change in name was supposed to demonstrate a more open, inclusive and wider approach - but PR is easy, changing the people will probably be the only way for the walk to match the talk.
The change in name was supposed to demonstrate a more open, inclusive and wider approach - but PR is easy, changing the people will probably be the only way for the walk to match the talk.
Not met too many of the hierachy but their actions lead one to think they maybe a collection of paranoid control freaks. Likely the problem extends a wee bit further than just whether or not you can post on the LAA with a pseudonym.
Effective moderation does provide a measure of control over what appears on a forum. I am a viewer/contibutor to several aviation forums where all seems to work fairly well. Why will that not work on the LAA Forum? I can think of no reason.
They are keen to tell the world how wonderful their magine is: same can certainly not be said of their forum which is dry, dusty and very under utilised.
Planemike
Last edited by Planemike; 4th Apr 2012 at 12:42.
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I've met some of the top brass and they are by no means swivel-eyed control freaks.
What the LAA is, though, is a band of 'gentlemen amateurs' doing a great job on a shoestring. I mean amateur in the good sense of the word, by the way, putting in great effort for the love of the thing.
However, what is needed is a much more professional approach, but I'm not sure many of the membership would agree with me.
What the LAA is, though, is a band of 'gentlemen amateurs' doing a great job on a shoestring. I mean amateur in the good sense of the word, by the way, putting in great effort for the love of the thing.
However, what is needed is a much more professional approach, but I'm not sure many of the membership would agree with me.