Hi Devon,
Thanks for checking out the new Court Reporter Forum and for posting your comment. I took a look at your website and was impressed. It is obvious that you truly enjoy what you do. I appreciate your positive approach and hope that it will be an inspiration to other aspiring scopists.
Yes, I am aware of the Compuserve forum. I decided to start another court reporting forum because I personally did not feel the Compuserve forum met my own needs and I thought there might be others who felt the same way. I certainly don't want to denigrate the Compuserve forum, in any way. It has been around for a long time and has filled a need for many court reporters and scopists.
However, when I first discovered the Compuserve forum, my impression was that I had taken a step backwards in time and technology. The interface is very dated and frankly confusing to those who arrive at the site for the first time. At least, it was to me. It took me some time just to figure out how to navigate the site and find what I was looking for. It just seemed like I was looking at an old IBM 286 DOS computer and wondering why an Dell Quad Core Windows 7 computer wasn't available (bad metephore, but I hope it illustrates my point).
I think I understand why the site is that way though.
Compuserve was the first major online service in the United States. It had its hay day in the 1980s, but since being acquired by AOL, it has never really gone anywhere. And, I think the Compuserve forum shows the lack of attention paid to it by AOL. It is seriously old technology.
Since there are other technological solutions, which could provide a much more vibrant experience and ultimately become a more valuable resource, I decided to start a new forum. My goal is to facilitate a great forum experience, using the latest technology. I hope to foster a vibrant community that will be a valuable resource for anyone considering a career in court reporting, or who is already established in the field. My hope is that those who come to the Court Reporter Forum will be able to get their questions answered quickly, network with others in the field, find mentors, receive advice about developing their skills, and become the best they can be.
When it comes right down to it, I thought maybe I could "build a better mouse trap," so I took the initiative and The Court Reporter Forum was born. I hope you and others will appreciate the efforts I have put forward and will support them through active participation.
I have a lot of plans for the forum, so you can expect to see continued improvements. Of course, I am open to any suggestions you might have. I invite you to share your own experience with other members of our community through active participation in the forum. And, of course, I would also appreciate you referring others to the forum.
Best,
Scott
