This page is primarily for the benefit of new TAH readers. However, \u00a0even longtime readers will find it a useful reference from time to time.<\/p>\n
This FAQ is a living document.\u00a0 It is expected that additions\/deletions\/changes will occur from time to time as new issues\/questions arise.<\/p>\n
General Info for New TAH Readers<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n 1. TAH is a military\/veterans blog. Its readership is largely (though not exclusively) serving military and veterans. Expect coarse language, blunt discussions and articles, and rather \u201crough and tumble\u201d commentary.\u00a0 If you\u2019re an easily offended \u201cspecial little snowflake\u201d, you might want to reconsider spending time here.<\/p>\n 2. If you come across as an a-hole or jackass, you will almost certainly be so advised \u2013 immediately, bluntly, and probably somewhat crudely \u2013 by one or more of the other commenters. If you can\u2019t take criticism, this probably isn\u2019t a place you\u2019ll enjoy.<\/p>\n 3. While well-supported opinions and arguments are allowed and encouraged, there are indeed lines you can cross that will get you moderated \u2013 or banned outright. So it\u2019s probably a damn good idea to \u201clurk\u201d a while before commenting to get a \u201cfeel\u201d for what\u2019s acceptable. If not, at the very least you risk taking verbal fire.<\/p>\n 4. Spending some time poking around the site\u2019s archives is also a good idea. Doing that may answer some FNG<\/a> questions. It will also provide additional background on why the site exists.\u00a0 And it can be rather entertaining, too. (smile)<\/p>\n 5. \u00a0If you can’t afford an attorney, don’t make comments that cause you to end up in court. We can not moderate\/monitor every comment, you are responsible for your own conduct.\u00a0 All of these phonies try to muzzle us and if you make statements about “curb stomping” or “throat punching” them, expect that someone will try to drag you into court.\u00a0 We have our own attorneys and we keep them busy making sure these embellishing phonies are held accountable.<\/p>\n Frequently Asked Questions<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n 1. Q: What\u2019s this site all about<\/span>?<\/p>\n A: The media likes to portray veterans as a homogenous voting bloc – but we’re here to dispel that misconception. All of us never agree on everything. We also celebrate those heroes among us who are saving the world after their military service as well as condemn those who are screwing the world up. We’re proud of our service and we’re proud of the people that we’ve become as a result of that service.<\/p>\n 2. Q: Who are you people<\/span>?<\/p>\n A: See the About Us<\/a> page. There are also a number of additional authors not listed there who contribute occasional articles at this site.<\/p>\n 3. Q: How do I contact the site admin\/owner<\/span>?<\/p>\n A: See the Contact Us<\/a> button on the site banner. That\u2019s the same place you found this \u201cTAH FNG FAQ\u201d button.<\/p>\n 4. Q: Who comments here<\/span>?<\/p>\n A: Generally, anyone who wants to. The vast majority of commenters are vets or currently serving in the military. More details are found in the \u201cMembers Gallery\u201d page.<\/p>\n 5. Q: Why is my first comment moderated<\/span>?<\/p>\n A: That is covered in the Contact Us page.\u00a0 I\u2019ll quote a section of it here:<\/p>\n Your first comment will be moderated here<\/strong> \u2013 it\u2019s not an attempt to stifle debate, it just keeps the spammers at bay. So if this is your first time here, please be patient. If you change your screen name or email address, it might happen again.\u00a0 Please use an email address that you actually check.\u00a0 Your email does not appear when you post, it is our primary means of contacting you if we have a need to do so.\u00a0 \u00a0If we attempt to contact you and you do not respond in a reasonable period of time…expect to be banned.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n 6. Q: Do I have to send a photo and text for the \u201cMembers Gallery\u201d<\/span>?<\/p>\n A: No, that\u2019s optional. Some regular readers and contributors do that; others elect not to.\u00a0 Your call.<\/p>\n 7. Q: What\u2019s the policy on moderating comments<\/span>?<\/p>\n A: Short answer: comments are not censored or moderated based on opinion or political point-of-view. The site is run as an open forum. If you want to have a different point of view than the one shared by most commenters here \u2013 have at it. Make and support your argument. But in that case, you might want to be prepared for some pushback.<\/p>\n Longer Answer: As noted above, first comments will be held for approval. After that, moderation is imposed on a case-by-case basis for cause only. For moderation\/banning, the Administrator acts as judge, jury, appeal authority – and when necessary, executioner (speaking figuratively, of course).<\/p>\n The site is run as an open forum. There is no censorship based on language or political point of view. However, certain things can<\/em> get you moderated or booted.<\/p>\n Thinking about making a comment that is blatantly racist, misogynistic, or threatening? A word of advice: don\u2019t. Those are a NO GO. Do that type of thing and you will be put on the list for moderation – or will be banned outright.<\/p>\n Post personal information (e.g., home addresses, SSNs, home phone numbers, etc . . . ) about phonies being discussed and\/or other commenters and the same may happen (e.g., moderation or banning). That type of info will likely be removed as well once it\u2019s been noted.<\/p>\n Become a disruptive troll (e.g., someone who comments here merely to \u201cstir up sh!t\u201d and p!ss off the site\u2019s readers without ever making a substantive point), and once that\u2019s apparent you\u2019ll very possibly be told, \u201cAMF\u201d too.<\/p>\n Posting pr0n links, spamming the site with \u201ccopypasta\u201d comments (especially across multiple discussions), trying to sell products, etc . . . , are also all NO GOs. Don\u2019t.<\/p>\n 8. Q: Is there a formal policy for what types of comments are and are not acceptable<\/span>?<\/p>\n A: No. This is an open blog, and allows free discussion. Moderation and\/or banning is by exception only, and the limits and whys are the Administrators call. See previous Q&A above for info regarding some of the ways to get banned in a hurry for more info.<\/p>\n 9. Q: I had a brain-cramp and posted something stupid. Can I get it removed<\/span>?<\/p>\n A: Contact the Administrator.<\/p>\n 10. Q: Why can\u2019t I use a proxy server for anonymity when I post here<\/span>?<\/p>\n A: Short answer: We\u2019ve had some significant problems with trolls.\u00a0\u00a0 A second short quote from “Contact Us” page:<\/p>\n If you use a proxy server, your comments will never be approved because that\u2019s a mark of a troll.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n 11. Why are the commenters here so blunt<\/span>?<\/p>\n A: Most TAH commenters are vets or serving military. A fair number are\/were rather senior. They don\u2019t have a high tolerance for BS or lies, and they react to those they perceive as idiots or liars by calling them out – often very bluntly.<\/p>\n 12. Why the coarse language in articles and comments<\/span>?<\/p>\n A: Geez. Did your Drill Sergeant\/RDC\/MTI\/DI always speak to you like they were members of the clergy? Or your peers in the service, assuming you served in the military?<\/p>\n Soldiers\/Sailors\/Airmen\/Marines often speak to each other using plain, unambiguous, and often coarse language. Deal with it. It\u2019s a fact of life here at TAH.<\/p>\n 13. Why all the acronyms<\/span>?<\/p>\n A: Most readers and authors here are serving military or veterans. As anyone who\u2019s served knows, \u201cAcronyms \u2018R Us\u201d applies to the military.<\/p>\n 14. Who do I talk to or contact if I have a complaint<\/span>?<\/p>\n A: See the Contact Us page for contact information.<\/p>\n If you have a well-reasoned argument to support your complaint, by all means contact the Administrator.<\/p>\n However, if you\u2019re a special little snowflake who\u2019s easily offended or who gets butthurt<\/a> easily, you might want to think twice about contacting the Administrator regarding petty stuff. Ditto if your complaint and supporting argument is half-baked or illogical. In those cases, the Administrator will likely to revert to back to Infantry Platoon Sergeant mode \u2013 and rip you a well-deserved new flatus vent. I doubt you\u2019ll enjoy the experience.<\/p>\n 15. How do we know the info you post concerning Stolen Valor is correct<\/span>?<\/p>\n A: Short answer: unlike many if not most national and local media outlets, TAH does its homework and exercises due diligence.<\/p>\n Long Answer: articles here exposing fakers are backed by documentation. This documentation almost always consists of either (1) copies of official documents forwarded to us, or (2) documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act from official Federal or (for National Guard fakes) state sources. (On rare occasions, personal communications from 3rd-parties with knowledge of the individual and\/or situation in question are also available and used.) See the articles under the Military Records<\/a> button on the site banner for more details regarding the FOIA process.<\/p>\n 16.\u00a0 What about that records fire?\u00a0 Didn’t it destroy a load of records<\/span>?<\/p>\n A:\u00a0 No.\u00a0 See this article<\/a>, also found under the Military Records<\/a> button, for full details on what the 1973 fire did and did not affect.\u00a0 Bottom line is that if an individual served in the Navy or USMC, or during Vietnam or later – no dice.\u00a0 Their military records were not affected by the fire and are in the archives.<\/p>\n Further:\u00a0 many of those records affected by the fire have been at least partially reconstructed from alternate sources.\u00a0 That’s also discussed in the linked article.<\/p>\n 17. Q: What kind of comments are OK<\/span>?<\/p>\n A: Dissent is OK, ditto strong argument and language. Go overboard and you\u2019ll likely get warned or moderated; go way overboard or show yourself to be a repeat offender or provocateur, and you\u2019ll likely get banned. Just use good judgment and you should be OK.<\/p>\n 18: Q: Can I post links in my comments<\/span>?<\/p>\n A: That depends. Links to pr0n and\/or other obscene materials are a NO GO. Ditto links to any sites involved in or advocating illegal behavior.<\/p>\n Any links of a purely commercial nature should be cleared before you post same.<\/p>\n Links to news sources, factual sources, etc . . . are almost never an issue. (I say \u201calmost never\u201d because I\u2019m sure there is some oddball \u201ccorner case\u201d where such a link could be a problem. I haven\u2019t seen one yet, though.)<\/p>\n Links to suggestive material (e.g., anything that should have a NSFW warning) are iffy. These are generally not a problem, but if they\u2019re too overboard could be. ALWAYS POST AN NSFW WARNING if you post such a link. We don\u2019t want to get anyone who might be viewing the site on a break at work in trouble. However, I\u2019d suggest staying away from links to anything involving significant nudity, as that can be construed by some to be pr0n.<\/p>\n Post only one or two links per comment, though.\u00a0 Post too many links in a single comment, and the spam filter flags the comment as potential spam and sends it to moderation.<\/p>\n 19. Q: Why is the site so conservative, politically?\u00a0 Is this some kind of “right wing debate club” in disguise<\/span>?<\/p>\n A:\u00a0 Um, no.\u00a0 As a whole, the military tends to be much more conservative than the rest of society – although it’s hardly uniform in that respect, and the trend is not nearly as strong as the media tends to portray<\/a>.\u00a0 That trend towards being more conservative is mirrored here; most TAH readers are veterans.<\/p>\n It could also have something to do with that oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States . . . ”\u00a0 Military people and vets tend to mean what they say.<\/p>\n