I know there are a lot of people that browse these boards that provide many wonderful and helpful information on everything having to do with the Coast Guard. Whether it be from a wife, girlfriend, member or relative, so many of the replies to posts are more than helpful someone who is applying or even in the Coast Guard. This Forum provided me with many answers to questions I have had, as well as a stepping stone for me to share my experiences from the Coast Guard.

However, there have been times where I have been very embarrassed by this forum and some of the people in it. One person does not know everything that has to do with the Coast Guard, and everyone comes from different backgrounds and have different experiences to share. I think that members on this forum at times do not show the respect that is deserved to every single person who looks that this forum. One of our three core values is respect, right?

I know that people will always butt heads. That comes with the territory of an open discussion forum, but taunting and poking fun at people is something that should not be condoned on this forum. We are all trying to make the Coast Guard the best service out there, and this is a platform for countless prospective members who are seeking answered and are taking the steps I want to see in our future Guardians.

I am not by any means calling anyone out, because I know that at times I have done the same things, but remember that everyone deserves respect on the forum, and if there is a way to just delete a topic by the system admins it would save a lot of the embarrassment I have felt at times when the fighting just gets out of hand.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and let's keep this board as good as it always has been

OS3 Bonneau
USCGC Gallatin

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OS3 on board USCGC Gallatin

"Impossible is Nothing"

AYE AYE Bonneau (since my new coastie got home this seems to be a regular household word now).

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I'm sorry but I thoroughly disagree. Our mods do a fantastic job of removing questionable postings. They have done that when it is necessary but they aren't trying to be gestapo like about it.

I believe the ribbing and teasing and fun is all part of it. There are very, very few questions that aren't answered with the idea & spirit of trying to be the most helpful and honest they (we) can possibly be. I feel that once the questions have been asked & answered & then the fun can begin. The teasing, the fooling around.

I feel there is absolute respect on this forum. Yes, even knocking rates and each other. That's all part of it. It's been a part of it for the 25+ years in my experiences and it hasn't stopped me from having some of the best friends in those "other" rates that to an MST are questionable in their necessity or the fact that my ex is a total landlubber and sand pirate, some of our friends are sailors to the core. Boy did we tease each other... sometimes without mercy! But that doesn't mean we weren't incredible friends and we wouldn't have gone to the ends of the world for each other.

I believe it is the same on this forum. You have Coasties that will support other Coasties no matter what. Moms who help other moms pull themselves up by their boot straps when they don't think they can. Wives who will make a casserole and show up at anothers wife's house when a kid is sick or a husband is on a particularly long deployment. All while teasing each other and using laughter to get through it.

I'm sorry you don't see the absolute respect on this forum, you don't know what you are missing. Straight forward, dry answers, no humor... you'll have no people replying and very few people caring to read and logging on over & over & over...

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I agree that sometimes, we need to watch ourselves. Mostly when talking to potential applicants. We all have to remember that we were once sitting on their side of the recruiting desk at one point, and we had a lot of the same quesitons.

Having said that, I think that we do a good job here of policing ourselves. Once in a while, we get a poster that wants to provoke us, and some of us (inluding myself) have taken the bait at times.

I hope you're not talking about the rating bashing though. That's just plain ole fun!

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My problems with the some of the posts are not in the poking fun at other rates, or the quarrels all of us close to the Coast Guard share with each other. I find them to be rather funny, although I do not always get involved, as I am an OS and "we don't do anything anyways" haha.

My problem definitely comes from the way some posts get ribbed about a potential applicant and it gets out of hand really fast. I know it does not happen often, but when it does happen, a post that could have taken 2 replies to get the answer covered takes about 30 posts reaming a potential recruit and creating more problems.

I am not trying to stir the pot by any means. I love this site and I enjoy many of the helpful hints and suggestions and knowledge everyone on this site has. I am just pointing out that sometimes it gets a little much over some potential recruit who has no idea what they are talking about, and rather than guide them and help them, we taunt and it makes the post distasteful

Very respectfullly,

OS3 Bonneau

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OS3 on board USCGC Gallatin

"Impossible is Nothing"

whoopadee freakin doo. I poke fun at people, who cares? It's the freaking Internet, not a church where I have to have "etiquette". If someone doesn't like it, they can leave. It's all in good fun. That's the beauty of the Internet...if you don't like where you're at, press alt+f4

Sometimes I feel things can get out of hand but I haven't been on this forum for very long. I can understand how someone might not think it was very funny, especially if they're not prepared for it, but like you said if they don't like it they can leave as this is a Coastie forum, not a civilian forum and were fortunate you all are here to help us regardless. Thanks.

Edited by request.

There is a very old saying "say it, forget it; write it, regret it". It is not the moderators jobs to go behind someone policing what they have said so there is a clean slate. It is up to the person posting to understand the core values and monitor themselves. If you want to create a new personna go ahead. But please be aware there are CC's who lurk on this forum. You put yourself out there, not any of us.

However, I do certainly wish you continued success.

"There are people on here who will slander your name and spread your activities here around like a fire in a cane field in a high wind if anything you say or do irritates them."

Ambient, these are pretty strong accusations you are throwing out there without basis in fact. You might want to rethink this post. The people who post here are not "out to get you", but have offered alot of positive advice about your potential enlistment. Much of what you perceive to be as negative was brought on by your inaccuate or negative posts. Being able to accept criticism for your actions and being held accountable for those actions are one of the qualities that the Coast Guard values.

Best of luck

Pepper

i can see how a "newcomer" to this board might not know how to take some of the banter that happens on this board. at times it can be a bit "salty".

i see ambient deleted whatever comment seems to have gotten everyone wound up. thing with that is.....people like me who have been gone a day or two can't see it, which is all well and good. the ones who have already seen it, well they won't forget it anytime soon.

here is where i stand with the whole issue. macie is correct~we moderators are not here to "police" anyone's posts. period. we do have freedom of speech and we expect everyone to be able use that freedom. as moderators we will remove.....spam, and some plain garbage that gets put on here that is just offensive to troops and our country in general. for the most part you can say what you want.

that being said.....say what you want but be prepared. if it is ignorant, arrogant, or just obnoxious someone is liable to say something about it and "set the fire". it happens. when you are new to a forum it is like moving into a new neighborhood.....you have to get to know people and their quirks. a thread will get locked down if it just is getting too pissy or nasty, otherwise, it can be a free for all. so if you are new.....think before you post and bring a rain coat so you can let it roll off your back when you need to.

to all of our "regulars" i say this.....there are specific threads designed for the banter. there is even the option of developing your own group to post whatever you want to whoever is in your group. the welcome aboard thread, bootcamp thread, coast guard general questions thread and perhaps one or two others.....in my opinion the banter needs to be kept somewhat in check. there are people who read without ever creating a log-in name. they read as guests. what you consider to be funny or amusing may generally be considered offensive to others. if a potential recruit is reading there is a very good chance they would never log-in and join us or perhaps never make that phone call to a recruiter. the comments may push away a parent who is lonely and looking for comfort because the son/daughter/husband/wife is newly enlisted. then there is a family member out there thinking the coast guard "family" is a bunch of asses and not the close knit community of extended family we truely are.

the primary purpose of this board was to draw the coast guard community "together" and perhaps help answer questions and develop friendships. freedom of speech or not perhaps we all ought to remember we are supposed to be "grown-ups" and rise above the annoyances.

Jen,

That was awesome.. seriously...

I realize from the outside we may seem grotesque to some. But, we give one another hell for a reason, because we respect each other. Anyone who isn't in the military, I invite you to read any of the Stephen Ambrose books on WWII (he's the guy who wrote Band of Brothers, there's a whole series.) His books give a phenomenal look at military life from the ground up. If you plan on joining, think of them as an orientation guide.