Forum Rules / Terms of Service

Good Red Sky Morning to All.
(really actually was red here)
I wanted to bump this topic back up for reflection and clarification.
C-o-l-d frozen in for most now, and slow outside so a good time to review this before getting out, about, and busy times come again.

No real problems with terms vilolations that I’ve seen.
A few new folk wanting to modify/develope the WK systems downsized having to be switched from the open broadcast side to a set-up dedicated Premium side Project thread of thier own. Thanks WayneK.
Couple of instances of having to point out the difference between aggressive “debating” style posting that is clearly in two places in the Terms of Service resticted in favor of a kinder, gentler, more respectful “discussion” style of posting.
Read AdminChris’s post above specifically using that term, and intent for the DOW to be a “discussion” format.
All just minor bumps in the road to sharing.

I’ll let Admin ChrisKY address other rough points such as real name and general location requirements he’s had to handle.
Any de-political; de-religious; de-rabble rousing he’s had to dampen down.
His de-spaming work in new members pre-screening and approving has helped a lot. Thanks Chris.

Again this slowed down cold time is a good time to reread and reflect for yourself the Terms of Service and judge for yourself, “How am I doing?”

Regards; Small Engine Users Corner host
Steve Unruh

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Morning Steve,

Far as I can see everyone is doing a wonderful job. Like you say there are always “bumps” on the way. But as forums go this is a very peaceful and productive one.

We do have a strict real names policy, as you can see by perusing the members list. There are several reasons for this, first and foremost that this is a real community and we want to get to know each other. There’s no hiding behind cryptic handles here. If it’s your own name on the post, you’ll think harder before you sound off. Another benefit is, it makes spammers very easy to spot. And you see virtually no spam here!

Locations are different, not required or strict. We like to know where you are in general, but please nobody post your home address. City and state is fine, even just a state or region. Saying “United States” is not very helpful, but remains acceptable. If someone wants to find other woodgassers near them, it’s nice to have at least some location info. Eventually I’d like to get a map together, one that accounts for all the vague locations.

Hi Chris;
Don’t remember getting email but do agree to terms. Danny Cox

Danny, you joined about 5 months after that email went out.

Anyone who joins has to check the box saying “I have read and agree to the terms of service”. I’m sure everyone reads it carefully… :slight_smile:

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Good morning to All,
Time to bump this one back up, and visible, again.
We have many new members now with the recent jacking up of fuel prices.

Yes. There are Rules to DOW participation.
There are expected Responsibilities in the Terms of Service too.
This was determined the only way to promote and retain civility among diverse thinkers.

Do read the first posts blue highlighted link Administrator ChrisS had put up.
Used to be you had to Read and Click agreement before you could open forum post up.
How/why that drifted away . . .
I think the change from Drupal to Django format.

A lot of you new guys are coming on faceless behind cutsie Anonymous screen names.
Read the Terms of Service carefully.
If you chose full Anonymity you can still read along. You just do not get to paddle the boat.

I am Steve Unruh
Yacolt WA USA

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I agree too terms of service/ good common sence/ Do not post details about the build design of another persons gasifier designs, The wayne Keith gasifier,as menchened, in terms of service.

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Here you go fellows.
A new day. A new irritation from Steve Unruh.
Only 27 reads of the highlighted Forum Rules / Terms of Service.
That means a few hundreds of new guys ignoring, or oblivious; still.

Go to the bottom of the DOW very friendly Home page. Left hand lower corner.
This site was established and set up by a partner ship of Chris Saenz and Wayne Keith.
In 2012 just months into it’s inception Chris Seanz, one of the origination partners, developed theses Rules and Responsibilities.
I was not at all involved. Personally knowing him previously on other forums I know he had learned the difficulties of free-for-all (also an American colloquialism for riot fighting) laissez-faire social forums.
The proof of his Rules and Responsibility wisdoms is 10 year later and the DOW is still standing; communication and exchanging. Weathering all of the slings and arrows, and bumps in the roads.

Now the other DOW originator-developer-owner Wayne Keith has expressed a personal need to see peoples faces. Helps him remember us as unique individuals, he has said.


Sigh. This is for you WayneK. My real me, of now, today.
Damn. How did I ever get so old?
And after the 100 days of nearest city to me Portland OR streets rioting anarchists, Anonymous, and ANTIFA hoodlums insistent using destructions for rapid social revolutions, I am very, very cranky now.
You will get nothing from me here, any hiding behind your masks.
The DOW is a different place by intent. A successfully, different place.
Regards
Steve Unruh

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Forgive the acne scars, taped up glasses, dirty hat, neckbeard, cartoon villain eyebrows, and the rest of my ugly mug while you’re at it.

It’s so hot in the South it’ll make at least half of your face melt and droop.

No I’m not arching one eyebrow I just have Resting Jerk Face.

Not afraid to show it, just trying to protect y’all’s vision.

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Damn. How did I ever get so old?

Hello Mr. Steve .

I think I have you beat in one category of being older and uglier :blush:

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Bump. Still a lot of new members not having read this yet.
How to know.
They are still not registering required full names.
Steve Unruh

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I just sayd to Tone the other day, the thing l like most about this site is everyone is (shuld be) signed in with his own name. You put your personal reputation on the table that way, and its a part why this forum is so civilised.

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I agree completely. When someone is anonymous they are emboldened to say whatever rude things they want. When their full name is on display much like when you’re out and about in real life you have to think about what you say. I had my name on here since the start because I’ve never had anything to hide, I’m among friends on this website.

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It’s been awhile… I still check in regularly but find my core projects moving away from gasification. I’m loving all the small engine charcoal units up and running. Currently I’m focussing on high insulation building and all electric houses since that is the future. We sold off the former property and moved a little south to technically a more densely populated area but our place is more rural then the last one. Less cottagers more farmers… The new house is icf construction, heat pump heated and cooled, triple paned windows and will be solar powered with grid connection and battery backup. I’m just writing all this to back up other posts. Read the terms, use your real name, keep it civil… Don’t descend into the common internet muck… I’ll attach a picture, this is me.
Cheers, David Baillie

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Did you bring your Fergie?

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I built some ICF houses back in the 90’s David. Excellent choice. It was a hard sell because of the initial cost. Most people preferred stick framing. We could not use wood siding. Mold tended to develp between the foam and the wood.

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The Fergie was sold off yesterday. The new owner is bringing all the gasifier equipment with him. Who knows if he applies it; I’ll give him all the links he needs though. I’ve been thinking of an electric conversion for the next tractor.

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Well good. Good.
Other agreeing with these policies.
So I am not a rules-enforcing Nazi. Nope just a regular member. Says so in my members profile.

Actually I have been bring this back up now because recent on DOW event has me feeling like one of the in-house-living Pigs in the book-story “Animal Farm”
You know sneaking out in the middle of the night, and changing re-writing the barn-side Rules as only to benefit them. “Cider House Rules” tells a similar, much sadder story.
And this DOW situation did cause much embarrassments to many. And has cost me at least one dear friend. A good man in agony.

Since the link for these forum Rules and Responsibilites has no longer been showing longer has shown up lower page on all DOW topic’s . . . believe you, me: if I had the power I’d lock it in at the header of every single DOW topic.

After Theses were put in place in early 2012 there was open forum discussion by some existing members say that they for personal security needs; needed internet social groups name security.
One female member made an especially sad claim for this. An Ex stalking her and trashing her across the internet.
Owner/Administrator Chris Seanz offered up a direct confidential work around for this.
Any reading, needing: PM him directly.

And I directly told her back then to just use a real sound name pseudonym.
I even disclosed the name you know me as is not the name I was born with.
Mines been Judge approved legally changed twice.
Not to hide.
To put Pasts too-intense lived, life-chapters behind me.
Helps me to leave behind, and forget. Send the clear message that I am out of that shit, and intend to stay out. This has worked. Mostly.

On a humorous note, on a now defunct small engine forum site there was a UK member called himself Guy Fawkes. Us U.S., even Canadian members (the then Admin) took this to be his real name. That forum had no use real names rule. One of the reasons it went off-the-rails, and went defunct.
Then the movie “V Is For Vengeance” came out. Good movie. We all then knew we had been old English history joke had. Not a problem. He was a rational talking actual working Engineer. Smart and practical. Using Guy Fawkes allowed him to speak as his true self. Protecting his income making career.

So Americans if you register as Joe Smith, Joe Blow, Kilroy: you will DOW comply and we’'ll get your needs. John Adams is good too. For the very, very rare ladies we need to hear more from: Abigail Adams would be good.
Regards
Steve unruh (One of twelve searchable Steve Unruh’s in the USA and Canada. Be kind to these others - they dislike getting my hate mails)

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The homesteading site I have belonged to for many years became a closed site about 10 years ago and all fake names for members. Was a very good and vibrant site but over the years some went grey and others died off or lost interest. I have long told the ones remaining that they are going the way of the Shakers and have highly recommended that they open the damned thing up for new blood. Oh no. Every body must be vetted in case they reveal all our secrets. The secrets mainly are what they had for lunch or some unless information like bodies being found in Lake Mead now that it’s down to a puddle. Every keystroke of everything written on-line passes though a NSA data center in Utah and an algorithm pulls out words which may be on some watch list. Nothing is hidden. Imagine the enormity of that. The members here do well at policing the site and rejecting any snarky, mean spirited posts. It works and I’m glad to be a part of it

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I’ll bump this topic as well.

I strongly believe in both the need for accountability by using a real name, and your right to anonymity. These seem like opposing concepts but they are not. I’ll borrow Steve for an example, sorry Steve.

I have no idea if Steve Unruh is his real name, (apparently it’s not on his birth certificate!) If he had come online under John Brown, I would still know him as the same personality and respect him just as much. John Brown is “a” real name, even if it is not “your” name. An example many of us know is Max Gasman, I know him as that and greet him on phone calls as Max - I happen to know his real name is very different, which starts with a B. But he’s still Max.

Your right to anonymity does not mean you must exercise that right - I personally do not. I can be found all over the internet as my real name, Chris Saenz.

But, very few of you know where I actually live - even though there are photos of my place on here. You could probably figure it out with some Googling, but I don’t broadcast it. In the future, if I have a working farm that sells produce, I will publish our location widely - please come buy my produce! For now that is not the case, and we enjoy some quiet back here.

Since we’re posting real-life photos, I’ll show you my little family. This was taken by a kind stranger at the Cumberland Gap overlook on a (rare) outing we took.

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