I want to caution you new site members about the tone used in reply to some of the forum threads. If you get advice you don't like then so be it. Don't start attacking the people that are trying to help you. You wouldn't like someone coming into your house and telling you that you are wrong, so don't expect us to like you doing the same thing. For all of us that keep this site going, it is more than a "message board". This site is a beacon of knowledge for potential officers to find an unfettered source of knowledge from a wide variety of current or retired officers. Without the contributions of a few people this site would no longer exist. If you don't like the responses you get, then go elsewhere. I have noticed a few folks lately that want to "bite back" when the advice given isn't what they expected to hear. Thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter.

Rant concluded...2/16/2012 @ 1032 hrs CST.

i agree with you,  mpd-943,  but there are some members here that don't give advice but use the opportunity  to  insult a new member.

a new member makes a first or second post  to ask a question, instead of answering the question, one of  the old members complains the new member's profile isn't full enough, or " you just got here and you're asking this question, i don't trust you enough to answer". etc..

if i just signed up here and got those replies to a question, i wouldn't come back.  for a site to survive it needs membership.

i think a lot of cops forget when they were young, and excited about being a cop, and they make a cranky, or sarcastic reply.

if you don't want to  answer a question posted,  just welcome the new person, without the unkind remarks.

otherwise mpd-943, i agree with you. ask the question and accept the advice.

Magee....some of our members are nicer than others. I try not to attack the newbies, but rather I like to try and help. I'll also echo what The Sarge said (in another thread), that being that the threads here are for everyone to read. Hopefully this thread will serve as a bit of advice for our new folks and a reminder to us "oldtimers" to try and take the edge off a little.

Bump

mpd_943. I am glad you addressed this topic. A piece of advice I would like to give is new members should view the comments and not post numerous forums right off the bat. They try to hard to fit in. I won't even address misleading screen names.

TrafficCop28 says ...

uncledennis1 says ...

mpd_943. I am glad you addressed this topic. A piece of advice I would like to give is new members should view the comments and not post numerous forums right off the bat. They try to hard to fit in. I won't even address misleading screen names.

I'm thinking about changing my screenname to "Supreme Commander Of The Universe". Yeah, I'm planning on launching an attack on the universe and using probing to study planets for their weakness.

Uncle D's weakness is Butter Brickle ice cream. Thought I'd throw that out there to eliminate any unnecessary "probing!" (Just trying to look out for ya Uncle!)

Hack it or pack it ? Perhaps. But don't give up too soon, noobs. Just readjust your crosshairs, lower your muzzle and assess.

For me, it all comes down to this.

All I want is a Tickle-Me Elmo and a pony.

Welcome to the Swamp, Rookies. We love ya !!!!

Well...I enjoy a good debate as much as the next person! I welcome young noobs to bite back until there heart is content. That said I need something to be understood. I am here to help bring the next generation of law enforcement into the fold and not to provide someone with entertainment. I started this career as a 19 y/o Army MP that thought Jesus Christ called me for advice. My attitude earned me tons of grief and I received some not so choice assignments to humble my opinion of myself. So, when I provide a little advice and one of the newbies trys to dress me down I will admit I laugh. I'm not laughing because they are wonderful comics, I am laughing because I know how things work here at PL. 

I'll repeat something I said yesterday and add to it a little. I am a member of the mentoring team and I do this because I see this site as a beacon of knowledge for potential police officers. I am not here to debate with people or defend my position on matters. If someone wants to get on this site an insult me that is their First Amendment right, but it comes at a cost. That cost comes in the form of one of the moderators reading a post and taking punitive actions again the person posting. Interacting with the police officers on this site is like seeing us on the street. Here and on the street we are here to help, but if you insult us or pick a fight then be prepared. We don't roam the streets or the internet without each other and if you pick a fight with me then you have picked a fight with all of us. 

I just missed being a "plank holder" on this site, but I have been here since it's infancy. We had a rocky start and this site was a "us against them" kind of place. It took a little time and a good moderating team was put into place. The T.O.U.s were updated and everyone was held accountable. The Sarge and his crew are second to none. I'll end today's rant by saying this. If you are here looking for advice on how to be a cop or you are new in the profession and looking for some how to advice the PL Mentoring Team members are here to help, as well as some veteran officers who aren't "offical" team members. If you are here to stir the pot and make trouble then enjoy your short stay with us. We have all been here over a day and this isn't our first week. Those that make trouble don't last long. 

coshane220 says ...

 Oh flash_gordon, it's so obvious why you are here! I'm guessing we are going to have a little fun on your behalf before you a) either go annonymous or b) are shown the door by our friendly neighborhood mods!

I'm not sure he knows that this ain't our first rodeo.  Who's got the grill for a troll roast?  I'll provide the liquid refreshment. 

Before I forget, bump mpd.

Big bump mpd. 

I'll contribute for the pony for Sarge and butter brickle for UncleD...I think I can afford about 50 cents.  Would that be enough?

abraaten says ...

ajsdaddyCCSO says ...

Advice to POTENTIAL POLICE RECRUITS. If one cannot read TOU's, or lurk, or give us information concerning themselves, how/why should WE be expected to give any advice/information back? Skeleton profile, first post without introducing yourself into the community with which you wish to become involved shows a supreme lack of respect. POLICE RECRUITS, hopefully, will have the common sense enough to read through and THINK before popping off otherwise they will find their law enforcement career to be quite short and uneventful. My .02

I lurked and snooped all around PL for about three weeks before I got brave enough to establish a profile.  What is TOU? 

TOU = Terms of Use, look at the very bottom of the page toward the left side.

Cedardale says ...

abraaten says ...

ajsdaddyCCSO says ...

Advice to POTENTIAL POLICE RECRUITS. If one cannot read TOU's, or lurk, or give us information concerning themselves, how/why should WE be expected to give any advice/information back? Skeleton profile, first post without introducing yourself into the community with which you wish to become involved shows a supreme lack of respect. POLICE RECRUITS, hopefully, will have the common sense enough to read through and THINK before popping off otherwise they will find their law enforcement career to be quite short and uneventful. My .02

I lurked and snooped all around PL for about three weeks before I got brave enough to establish a profile.  What is TOU? 

TOU = Terms of Use, look at the very bottom of the page toward the left side.

Thanks!

Well stated MIKIESPLACE.