Where Have You Gone Joe Dimaggio? - By William "BBall" Ball
Somewhere along the line
of communicating with other human beings we've dropped the ball. First
it was face to face, then drums or smoke signals, the written word, the
spoken word over an electronic device, and now we have the internet.
In our everyday life, we speak literally thousands of words to each other,
and with all sorts of inflections, tones, and nuances that a computer
screen will not allow.
While reading the forums, I routinely come across posts that are in bad
taste at least, and downright asinine at worst. Why is it that we "talk"
to each other like this? I'm by no means a Pollyanna when it comes to
dealing with anyone that needs dealt with. Sometimes people need to be
told where to go, and in no uncertain terms. On this last airline trip
I was forced to "explain" to an unruly passenger just how the program
works on my airplane; it was face to face, and he got the message. The
"can't we all just get along" line is like world peace; looks good on
the chalkboard, but in real life it ain't gonna happen.
But are posts like the following really necessary?
Poster One:
"********** in case you missed it. There is an online manual in the Team
Alligator folder.
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If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch."
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Poster Two:
"Thanks Numbnuts, derrrrr...
Don't flame me dude, I'm a computer network engineer by trade, and there
was bugger all there in the on-line manual.
If you READ my post, I also queried the size difference of the two files
(4 MEGS). If you want to flame me, try dropping off the boards and e-mailing
me personally.
Love to your mum and sister,
************ "
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Poster One:
"I wasn't trying to flame you you ****ing ignorant prick. I don't need
to get off the boards. I'll tell you right here to go **** yourself.
And If you want to talk about mom's You ****ING ASSHOLE I'll get off
yours. If I get kicked off this Forum, it will be worth it.
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If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch."
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Poster One:
"And one more thing you arrogant piece of excrement, I am the one who
showed JA how to get the HUD modes.
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If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch."
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Quite frankly, when I read the first poster's apparently "innocent" message
helping the other gentleman, and his simple, but tasteless reply; I was
aghast. Why did someone totally unkown to the other person, go so far
as to imply that his Mom and sister are of questionable repute?... and
then suffer the nuclear response. After reading a few posts down, the
second person was miffed not understanding the "signature" little quotes
that a lot of us seem to like to end our messages with. He thought the
"helper" was doing the diss thing on him. So he came down on him through
the wonders of cyber-space, and we had a shoot-out at the O.K. Corral.
Just because we can't see the other person, is it alright to verbally
"kick their ass" without first trying to figure out what they are saying?
Would this have happened if they were face to face? Probably not. So
we've "advanced" in the world of communications have we?
In the world of aviation, communication is the life-blood that keeps
us safe. From the smallest task to the most complicated series of maneuvers,
we HAVE TO BE ABLE to communicate effectively, and with some kind of
order. Case in point....crew is racing down the runway on the departure
roll using a reduced thrust setting. The Capt. making the decision to
have more power added instructs the First Officer with the words "take-off
power!", the First Officer wipes the thrust levers closed and the aircraft
crashes off the end of the runway. He of course, thought the Capt. was
instructing him to "take off power", ie., reduce the power. Not good.
We learn to communicate, we have to. I think we need some help in the
world of cyber-flying.
With few exceptions, we will never come face to face with the persons
we "communicate" with over the internet. We will throw our little two
cents in worth about this flight model or that graphics glitch, etc.,
but we will ALWAYS be subject to being misunderstood. And the prospect
of accidentally "flaming" someone is real; above posts are a typical
example of this very thing. Was the first person "dissing" the second
one, it doesn't matter that he wasn't, because in the mind of the second
person, he WAS. And telling him to "stay on the porch", pissed him off.
The "brotherhood of aviation" is a very real thing. Everyone I've ever
climbed in a cockpit with has left an impression on me.....everyone.
Some great, some not so great, but the fact remains we don't fly in a
vacuum. Is there a "brotherhood of aviation" in the cyber world? Several
years ago when I started this hobby, I would've been skeptical, but not
now. I 've seen and been the recipient of MANY helpful ideas, suggestions,
etc from people I will never lay eyes on, but they are just as real as
the First Officer that sat next to me for the last five days. We do care
for each other, or we wouldn't spend so much time and energy trying to
make this hobby a better than it is.
I guess all I'm trying to say is this. The next time someone "says" something
to you that either pisses you off, or you don't understand.......take
a moment, and act as if that person were sitting in a cockpit next to
you. Can you clarify that, I don't understand what you meant by "stay
on the porch". In a hundred years, when they are writing the history
books, they will probably fail to mention the up-hill battle that we
"hard-core" flight simmers are facing in the first few months of the
new millennium. We all know what we're up against. The last thing we
need to do is to "eat our young", and lose the skill to communicate with
each other in a rational, humane manner. Where have the good ol' days
gone?
