Walterisms

metman

As a regular contributor to this forum since he beginning, I have now decided to call it a day.

This site is unfortunately suffering from an onslaught of wannabes and fantasists. Moreover these 'walters' are being left unchecked and even encouraged by some, and this has really begun to bore.

Best of luck and stay safe.

Fyr.Fytr

metman wrote: »

Best of luck to the forum and to my friends with whom I have had a laugh or two on here.

You jumping ship then? doesnt seem very mature, rather then working to resolve the problem you run away. Now i really do doubt your military/police history if thats your attitude.

I didnt run when you hurled abuse at me left right and centre, why should you run when a couple of posters stand up to you.

doesnt make sense, I'm more then willing to chat with you in an adult manner, but to be honest your behaving like a school bully. Your on a power trip and youve got your yes men nodding eighter side of you, making you invinciable to most. but as they say the bigger they are the harder they fall.

if you are leaving, first of all i regret it has come to this and second i thank you for your informative posts during your time here, bar the last 2 weeks

eroo

Can I ask who are these Walters? Is it me? Or just anyone on here who isn't ES?

I have never once stated to be something I'm not i.e. a Garda. Besides the recent issues regarding a poster focusing on military issues, I can't think of anyone who has proclaimed to be something they are not. Thus I can't see where this whole Walter thing has come from. If anyone on here has a problem with me or anyone else reagarding a post, then pm them. You speak of the standard of the forum going down recently, I agree. Starting and taking over threads to crack jokes about Walters is not only a negative for this forum, but it deterrs(sp?) anyone who isn't ES from contributing to this forum. Hell, I thought I wasn't welcome here as a result.

I understand I'm not in ES, but I hope to be a Garda some day. This forum allows me to ask questions, communicate with Gardai and increase my knowledge on the organisation and the job. However, I would like to think this is a 2 way system. You can contribute opinions, why can't I? So I may not have the experience that you have, but that doesn't mean I cannot have my own opinions. You may not like them, and you may not agree with them. But instead of attacking, why not correct me instead? Realistically, if you don't like dealing with us, then why do you come onto a public access forum where members of the public such as myself are active?

johnnyrotten

metman wrote: »

As a regular contributor to this forum since its inception, it is with sadness that I recognise that my own character and experience is now regulary being called into question.

I wouldn't mind that so much but as an ex-professional soldier (with a medal or two from PDF) and as a serving Police Officer, I have no time to waste with walters or those who entertain walters! I really have better things to be doing with my time.

Best of luck to the forum and to my friends with whom I have had a laugh or two on here.

What do you mean by "walters" exactly?

the locust

Hey man, i really appreciate your contributions and enjoy reading your posts. I know where you're coming from and have empathy with the 'wannabe' responses you seem to attract!

the locust

johnnyrotten wrote: »

What do you mean by "walters" exactly?

I take it he means 'walter mitty' personalities or wannabes or those who dream of being the real thing. Its military slang for someone who is posing or claiming to be something they clearly are not. i.e. a police recruit pretending or talking as though they are/have the authority to speak as an experienced ERU/CO19 member, but obviously thier heads are in the clouds and its bloody frustrating, Am i right?

iceage

Fyr.Fytr wrote: »

You jumping ship then? doesnt seem very mature, rather then working to resolve the problem you run away. Now i really do doubt your military/police history if thats your attitude.

I didnt run when you hurled abuse at me left right and centre, why should you run when a couple of posters stand up to you.

doesnt make sense, I'm more then willing to chat with you in an adult manner, but to be honest your behaving like a school bully. Your on a power trip and youve got your yes men nodding eighter side of you, making you invinciable to most. but as they say the bigger they are the harder they fall.

if you are leaving, first of all i regret it has come to this and second i thank you for your informative posts during your time here, bar the last 2 weeks

eroo wrote: »

Can I ask who are these Walters? Is it me? Or just anyone on here who isn't ES?

I have never once stated to be something I'm not i.e. a Garda. Besides the recent issues regarding a poster focusing on military issues, I can't think of anyone who has proclaimed to be something they are not. Thus I can't see where this whole Walter thing has come from. If anyone on here has a problem with me or anyone else reagarding a post, then pm them. You speak of the standard of the forum going down recently, I agree. Starting and taking over threads to crack jokes about Walters is not only a negative for this forum, but it deterrs(sp?) anyone who isn't ES from contributing to this forum. Hell, I thought I wasn't welcome here as a result.

I understand I'm not in ES, but I hope to be a Garda some day. This forum allows me to ask questions, communicate with Gardai and increase my knowledge on the organisation and the job. However, I would like to think this is a 2 way system. You can contribute opinions, why can't I? So I may not have the experience that you have, but that doesn't mean I cannot have my own opinions. You may not like them, and you may not agree with them. But instead of attacking, why not correct me instead? Realistically, if you don't like dealing with us, then why do you come onto a public access forum where members of the public such as myself are active?

Jesus lads, its a free country, as for all this shouting, it seems that you two have axes to grind. Oh and if I might add, you might be taking it all a bit too personally...oh and by the by, I'm not a Cop, Garda, NInja, etc. Well, not since i last checked anyway. Best of british Metman

McCrack

I check into this forum from time to time and I find myself reading this.

I suppose if you can't take the heat etc etc.

Metman are you expecting people to say "Ah please dont go away, it won't be the same" or something to that effect.

Rather silly really but you seem to know best. Good luck.

G_R

Do you not think your taking this a bit seriously/personally...

its an internet site thats accessible to all.. people are going to be on pretending they're people they're not... not much you can do about it except ignore it and move on

I think leaving the forum over a couple of eejits is a bit extreme tbh

Paulzx

metman wrote: »

As a regular contributor to this forum since he beginning, I have now decided to call it a day.

This site is unfortunately suffering from an onslaught of wannabes and fantasists. Moreover these 'walters' are being left unchecked and even encouraged by some, and this has really begun to bore.

Best of luck and stay safe.

I know where you're coming from. Stay away for a few weeks and then come back when your tolerance level has recovered.


A few posters have criticised metman in this thread. However he has some very valid points and i happen to agree with them

dredre

Paulzx wrote: »

I know where you're coming from. Stay away for a few weeks and then come back when your tolerance level has recovered.


A few posters have criticised metman in this thread. However he has some very valid points and i happen to agree with them

Some does not mean all. There is also a need to recognise when you've gone too far and apologise. Others have.

Fyr.Fytr

Others have manned up and said "ok i was wrong sorry" not this "im going home and taking my ball with me" type of crap.

CO19

metman wrote: »

As a regular contributor to this forum since he beginning, I have now decided to call it a day.

This site is unfortunately suffering from an onslaught of wannabes and fantasists. Moreover these 'walters' are being left unchecked and even encouraged by some, and this has really begun to bore.

Best of luck and stay safe.

Bye now

tricky D

The thing about Internet forums is the low barrier of entry and idiots get in all the time. Trick is not to let them drag you down to their level where they beat you with experience. Thick skin is required.

However this forum is about Emergency Services not exclusively for the Emergency Services, yet some think it is and create the us and them attitude and too often us neutrals get the feeling we're lumped in with the walters, so we post less. The sometimes dismissive, arrogant and aggressive execution of this does nobody any good.

That said, most of your posts have been top-notch and thanks for them, some have not.

Good luck and stay safe out there.

eroo

There are no ****ing walters here! Jesus H, some people just decided to label other people because they didn't agree with their opinions. . Can we not just drop it rather than go on and on about crap. This forum has gone bad, but only because of threads like 'shed at hereford' and this etc etc

m4j

Metman,

I would be very sorry to see you go and do hope you change your mind, I for one have learned a great deal from you, you are a valued member of this forum and I believe have been a major part of its success. I hope that you will reconsider.

Commitment to such a site is an atribute that those who may well be using the forum in the wrong way do not have and time will see the changes I think you are looking for.

I have read alot of the threads and did not notice anything that may well p*** people off but then again I have not been as committed to the site as you have been and so completly respect your decision. We too have shared differences before but I have found you to be very understanding and open to challenge, I do think that there is a balance to be found between sharing your insight and experience with all posters be it ES members or not who want to learn about such things and just not replying to those that may well cause you concern. Possibly time away will help to put things in perspective.

I will PM you.

timmywex

We'll miss you metman, always a good insight into things across the pond, you and john andterton!

Stay safe!

iceage

........ hows your morse guys?:( I agree metman and that anderton fella had a lot of sound input and info.

Mutz

What did this all start over anyway? Had my head in the sand while ma and da were fighting!

dredre

Effort at a concise summary of events (clearly a personal interpretation):

1. Several posters making comments (often repeatedly) which implied they had more experience/knowledge of emergency services/military than they had. Sometimes they had none. These posters have been termed "Walters" and their comments "Walterisms". Posts related almost exclusively to police/military.

2. Regular posters taking exception to this growing trend.

3. Which led to efforts to expose Walters through a series of threads designed to expose inaccurate/inadequate knowledge. E.G. "What colour is the boatshed at Hereford?". There is none...

4. In turn, this resulted in extension of the intolerance of Walters and Walterisms by aforementioned posters to other posters who are not in the emergency services but who seek to make comment and start debate.

5. Also, the situation arose where some posters were so used to (and fed up with) responding to Walterisms that regular posters got caught up to and it became difficult to question without being seen as a Walter. It seemed as though people with no direct experience were not fit to comment or question at all.

6. Perception by all sides that each had an axe to grind.

7. Here we are.

Eru

My my my, whats going on? Its like Neighbours around here.

Metman,
I like your posts even though your first one was mean to me but you speak your mind and I like that. Its also nice to hear from other agencies and I hope your not following PSNI out the door as I havent seen him in a while either.

AS for Walters, etc. A walter is a bull**** artist not an enthuasiast or a 'could be' as I like to use (Wannabee is a bit unfair as it implies you couldnt make it) but by the same token I do feel people are overly talking without experience in place, not always but sometimes. By the same token some people are getting very defensive and aggresive on occasion.

Relax, you disagree you disagree. You dislike someone, use the ignore button. Dont like a thread, dont post in it. Getting pissed off? take a break like Paul suggested and for the love of god relax. Arguement and off topic friendly banter makes messageboards entertaining.

Its also a strange state of affairs when Im calling for restraint and calm but I have been on messageboards that have been dragged down by arsholes and gone from great places to either morgues or a place for idiots to pretend they know what they are talking about.

JonAnderton

ok, i appologise for the boathouse thread.it seemed fitting at the time.obviously my humour isnt shared and for that i appologise.

Comments have been made,not by the regulars on here that were not for question or debate,but accusations levelled at officers and guards by people who have no knowledge of the facts about the things they are stating.

It is these posts that were getting on my wick.

In response to these,lengthy posts were created which often went into detail which people took to be overly defensive.to a degree it was defensive of our colleagues. but they were intended to be explainatory.the fact we are passionate and proud of our jobs obviously got the better of us and overspilled into our posts.

My annoyance wasnt aimed at the regulars on here who arent in any of the ES but at those who chose to 'pop in' and make blatantly false assersions and comments.if they were posed as questions or topics of debate,they would have been responded to as such.i have no problem with people questioning the actions of our services,but is here the appropriate place to make statements of wrongdoing without any evidence or basis of fact?

This has not been an US (Serving) against THEM (non serving but intrested)..its been about challenging those who are puporting to be who they are not from saying things they dont know anything about.

Those of you who are not serving in any of the ES and have been part of previous threads (before the troubles) and have felt this has been aimed at them,i appologise for any offense caused.if we were only interested in talking to other 'job', we'd stay at work.to me the term walter was attributed to someone who believed themselves to be someone they weren't..not someone who was interested and enthusiastic about a particular subject like the majority of posters here.

Maybe this definition got misinterepreted in the ensuing kerfuffle..

Dont blame Metman for taking this leave of absence..sometimes the best option is to walk away and leave them to it.

Here's to a speedy return to normal service being resumed soon.

eroo

Well said Jon.

wicklaman83

Paulzx wrote: »

I know where you're coming from. Stay away for a few weeks and then come back when your tolerance level has recovered.


A few posters have criticised metman in this thread. However he has some very valid points and i happen to agree with them

If you happen to agree with him name who yous are on about.i might not be a frequent poster but i am a daily visitor so anyone on here regurlarly will know who it is.as far as im concerned metman and maybe yourself dont seem to like any one posting on this other than ES personal but since its a public forum yous can stop your tantrums cause there is nothing you can do about it.

Metman close the door on your way out!

Paulzx

1. I've never had a tantrum on here. All my posts are quite level headed.


2. Well done on spotting its a public forum. Didn't realise it myself but appreciate the heads up.


3. If your trying to re stir up the issue go ahead and do it yourself. I'm not your gilly. Find your own names

CLADA

This forum has survived well and generated some intelligent debates since it was set up. I thought at first it might be hijacked by anti-garda posters etc.. but that hasn't happened and I find it an interesting place to visit and read the views of ES personnel, non ES people who have an interest and those who want to be ES personnel.

I don't refer to the latter as wannabes because anybody who is currently serving was at some stage a wannabe and then they became "a got to be" and when they retire they will be "has beens":D

I have no bones about naming eroo and fyr fytr as two enthusiastic posters who have a strong interest and a lot of opinions on this forum, but I would not describe them as walters because they have never claimed to be what they are not and have always been restrained when they have had to defend themselves on this forum. I far prefer these people to the ones who throw stones at me.

Sorry to see metman go, he generated a lot of debate here, and I enjoyed our forum and PM chats. In a way jonanderton and himself can speak more freely about what they do because they are outside this jurisdiction, some of the garda posters here have to be a bit reserved if you know where i'm coming from.

While on the subject of metman and I know he will be checking in without logging in to see what we are saying about him, I think you may have been a bit hard on one of the civvies here and I was surprised to see you "throw the glock out of the pram:P" but it would be a shame if you didn't continue to contribute to the forum.

Jonanderton got pisssed of with a certain poster who parachuted in to talk shyte about seals and rangers and sas and in the process insult his colleagues, I think if these donkeys were ignored by all we wouldn't end up bickering amongst ourselves

I just noticed deadwood has also bailed out, I hope its not going to be a case of "Will the last person to leave turn off the lights".

deadwood

CLADA wrote: »

I just noticed deadwood has also bailed out, I hope its not going to be a case of "Will the last person to leave turn off the lights".

So. What have I missed?:D

deadwood

JonAnderton wrote: »

ok, i appologise for the boathouse thread.it seemed fitting at the time.obviously my humour isnt shared and for that i appologise.

Look what's on TG4 at the minute! (21.00)
I'll get me coat...again.:P

metman

Fyr.Fytr wrote: »

You jumping ship then? doesnt seem very mature, rather then working to resolve the problem you run away. Now i really do doubt your military/police history if thats your attitude.

Fyr.Fytr wrote: »

Others have manned up and said "ok i was wrong sorry" not this "im going home and taking my ball with me" type of crap.

If you're going to cast aspersions on people's character then you'd best have your own house in order first Al.

I would have let sleeping dogs lie but its irritated me that you've persisted in seeking an apology and making out that you have been victimised. I took issue with you on this site for a valid reason; you repeatedly posted comments written to imply that you were experienced and/or serving when clearly you were not. Other regular posters agreed with me on this. I pulled you up on it but to no avail, as it carried on and on until a number of members got so fed up with it that this whole walter thing took over.

However a lot of other forum users didn't see what I and other members were referring to in your 'waltering' and so it looked as if we were having a go at you undeservedly. Not so. The reality is that this is just one of many forums where you make yourself out to be something you're not, isn't that right Sgt.Al, of the Garda National Drugs Unit? And are you really 31 years of age and married?

You've been posting on here and on other sites for years pretending to be a skipper in AGS (amongst other things) and giving advice and 'speaking from experience' to serving Specials in the UK services. If this doesn't make you the epitomy of a Walter, then I don't know what does. What concerns me is that you are using 'friendships' with real serving members on here to post 'insider' views on other websites. Not to mention possibly misleading serving Special Constables who might actually believe you or take you at face value, and committing criminal offences into the bargain.

Anyways sonny, if you choose to question my character or call me a liar as you have done, be prepared for the fallout.... Sergeant :rolleyes:

Don't embarrass yourself any further on here.

wicklaman83

so ya couldnt stay away.obviously you were forgot about and now looking for more attention

civdef

Infraction to darren254 for personal abuse.