This is going to be difficult to craft a message such as this, but I believe the time is overdue. I haven't communicated with the TaxBook monitors, but they are free to delete the post or leave stand if it has credence. There have been times in the past that I have voiced considerations that we should observe as members, and it hasn't always been agreeable with everyone. I have been also accused of trying to run the board with my own set of convictions - that is not true but I can understand how one could conclude such.
The TaxBook pays for the IT expense of developing and maintaining this board, and many of us have found it extremely useful to ask and answer questions, share expertise, etc. Although there is a cost, TTB furnishes use for its customers as a free service, and hopefully receives some benefit for expanding the TTB growing reputation as a source of help for tax preparers. In the early years it became necessary to set forth rules to keep its use from being ruined by a few avaricious individuals. But in the years since, it has been a magnificent soundboard for tax information, strategy, and comradery. I am one of the earliest users, and certainly must be among those who have benefitted and enjoyed the most.
I am concerned about the continued usefulness of the forum. Whereas we are not having wholesale attacks on members by other members,
partisan political arguments, advertising, and breaking of the rules, we are beginning to have other problems. I am noticing LESS participation by members I consider knowledgeable and authoritative, and MORE participation by other members whose conversation doesn't go anywhere.
I have gone out of my way to contact some of our members who rarely post anymore, and they are posting on other message boards. Instead of availing themselves to our questions and discussions, they are doing this elsewhere. These have been replaced on our forum by members who seem compelled to answer every post with little or no relevant solutions. Posts who do not answer original questions but instead ramble on with their own agenda which isn't even relevant, or introduce new and uninvited tangents. Posts which argue with other posts - not with authoritative information but with obtuse debating countenance devoid of substance. Questions which by their own content reveal their entire existence is begat by a severe lack of training or education. Posts which suggest ridiculous or Draconian solutions. Posts by people who love to hear themselves talk and bear virtually no content.
A serious question is often posted, then met with some of the above, and the boat is scuttled.
It's not like my own messages are pure as freshly-fallen snow, and if not, I hope I can improve. Many of you know my participation from the early years of TTB, and know me to be less than perfect, and certainly NOT among the knowledgeable members. But I am addressing the value and relevance of exchange of ideas we have versus what we had before so many of our better members stopped participating. Finding real relevance is like wading through sludge instead of finding help in crossing, or finding others who add to your pursuit.
To try and wrap-up this already-too-long message, I might suggest that "less is more." If we can't answer or shed light on a question, we shouldn't try to do so. If we want to morph a topic into something different, start a new thread instead of trying the change the subject. If we want to argue, do so with well-researched information, and most of the arguing will evaporate. If you write just for the joy of writing, see a publisher. I would simply ask to return the forum to a friendly and authoritative source, and all who read this are capable of helping to do so. Posting a question or even asking for conversation should not be met by a morass of nothingness, when instead there can be a knowledgeable and helpful discussion.
Although I will admit to having some names in the back of my mind, I am not trying to attack anyone or any group. I am obviously not going to be the most popular kid on the block. This is an honest effort to make the forum better, and if indeed I have an agenda, it would only be that the improvement would benefit myself greatly by becoming a source of help and information that it was intended to do.
The TaxBook pays for the IT expense of developing and maintaining this board, and many of us have found it extremely useful to ask and answer questions, share expertise, etc. Although there is a cost, TTB furnishes use for its customers as a free service, and hopefully receives some benefit for expanding the TTB growing reputation as a source of help for tax preparers. In the early years it became necessary to set forth rules to keep its use from being ruined by a few avaricious individuals. But in the years since, it has been a magnificent soundboard for tax information, strategy, and comradery. I am one of the earliest users, and certainly must be among those who have benefitted and enjoyed the most.
I am concerned about the continued usefulness of the forum. Whereas we are not having wholesale attacks on members by other members,
partisan political arguments, advertising, and breaking of the rules, we are beginning to have other problems. I am noticing LESS participation by members I consider knowledgeable and authoritative, and MORE participation by other members whose conversation doesn't go anywhere.
I have gone out of my way to contact some of our members who rarely post anymore, and they are posting on other message boards. Instead of availing themselves to our questions and discussions, they are doing this elsewhere. These have been replaced on our forum by members who seem compelled to answer every post with little or no relevant solutions. Posts who do not answer original questions but instead ramble on with their own agenda which isn't even relevant, or introduce new and uninvited tangents. Posts which argue with other posts - not with authoritative information but with obtuse debating countenance devoid of substance. Questions which by their own content reveal their entire existence is begat by a severe lack of training or education. Posts which suggest ridiculous or Draconian solutions. Posts by people who love to hear themselves talk and bear virtually no content.
A serious question is often posted, then met with some of the above, and the boat is scuttled.
It's not like my own messages are pure as freshly-fallen snow, and if not, I hope I can improve. Many of you know my participation from the early years of TTB, and know me to be less than perfect, and certainly NOT among the knowledgeable members. But I am addressing the value and relevance of exchange of ideas we have versus what we had before so many of our better members stopped participating. Finding real relevance is like wading through sludge instead of finding help in crossing, or finding others who add to your pursuit.
To try and wrap-up this already-too-long message, I might suggest that "less is more." If we can't answer or shed light on a question, we shouldn't try to do so. If we want to morph a topic into something different, start a new thread instead of trying the change the subject. If we want to argue, do so with well-researched information, and most of the arguing will evaporate. If you write just for the joy of writing, see a publisher. I would simply ask to return the forum to a friendly and authoritative source, and all who read this are capable of helping to do so. Posting a question or even asking for conversation should not be met by a morass of nothingness, when instead there can be a knowledgeable and helpful discussion.
Although I will admit to having some names in the back of my mind, I am not trying to attack anyone or any group. I am obviously not going to be the most popular kid on the block. This is an honest effort to make the forum better, and if indeed I have an agenda, it would only be that the improvement would benefit myself greatly by becoming a source of help and information that it was intended to do.
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