I'd like everyone to consider for a moment the fact that we have several Members and participants of our forums (including some of our present/former officers) who hold positions with a certain gov't agency. They wish to enjoy the comraderie and friendship of our association or they wouldn't be here...and they have special knowlege and skills which, if shared, ...can contribute so much to our conversations.
Yet, they live in a strange environment, juxtapositioned such that ...if they tell us the answer they know to our question...they can become targetted simply for trying to help out. (And even despite the fact that opinions expressed here are not official at all. ..itself an especially narrow walk to negotiate. Think about that... if, as our fellow-Member, they offer an off-the-cuff opinion they can be held by their employer to be cavalier or careless in their duty... even if they are "off the clock.") And they worry that their mere presence at our gatherings (both live and on-line) may unavoidably influence how we interact and enjoy our pastime with ourselves...and with them. They're damned if they don't...damned if they do.... when all they wanted was to be one of the group and enjoy the benefits of Membership and our friendship...without any imaginary imposing restrictions amongst those of us who want to complain about the "FUZZ".
It's been my experience that most of them are real people who love airplanes and airplane-folks.... people who have contributions they can make, and who can grasp the real-world life of aviation and aviators. Yes, there's a few over there who are anal... just like there's a few on this side just like those few. But... Most of them (and all the ones who are our fellow-Members) have been with us on the "dark side"... themselves often former freight-dogs, mechanics, instructors, charter-pilots, MMO users, etc., etc.. (I know one who, before joining the agency, even flew green helicopters, and yet he's actually a pretty good guy!)
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Anyway... what I am saying is... There's no intent by anyone to inhibit our open conversations or take any official actions on anything said/done at our gatherings, including the ones on-line. Simply said...They are one of US... and when they're with us they're not wearing their gov't-issue hat... they're wearing their gimme-cap or Tilley-hat. I just was reminded in this thread how helpful and talented so many of them are, and wanted to encourage the conversational interaction, and their knowlegeable input.