A Definite Discussion

LAST EDITED ON 20-06-01 AT 11:50 PM (GMT)[p]OK, here we are:
Harry hasn’t answered yet to my question about starting a separate thread to the topic about all the claims, probables and confirmed kills during different engagements between the IAF and the PAF in the last 50 years (see the thread “Air to air kills against US planes in recent history”). MiG_jockey agreed, and I hope we to be able to attract additional contributors with interesting informations to this discussions.

As the Webmaster/Administrator of this forum seems to be sleeping a sound sleep (at least when it comes to controling the culture of discussions on this forum), we’ll have to agree some rules before even starting, otherwise we’ll have a chaos before anybody will be able to react. Here are my proposals:

1.) Posts with offensive and abusive contents and messages will be ignored, and no responses to them will be posted: we have no means to delete or stop any idiots of mixing with their garbage, and certainly nobody will help us, except ourselves. I’m sure, that any trully interested enthusiast will find enough discipline in himself, to ignore anybody trying to disturb the discussion (and if not: read this message again).

2.) Those who wish to take part in a serious manner agree, that no offensive or abusive language will be used in their posts either. Discussion will be conducted in a reasonable manner, using arguments, if possible reinforced by facts, excerpts from books and magazines, or links to other sites of interest. Those taking part in the discussion will understand, that the arguments or opinions against their opinions are just that, and nothing personal.

3.) The thread will be organized in a chronological order.

4.) For any new discussion about another “entry”, a new “under-thread” will be started, by posting the reply to THIS FIRST MESSAGE. This way, we should be able to develop a series of “under-threads” in chronological order, each of which would include a discussion about a separate “entry”.

5.) If we’re talking about something that happened on 6 September 1965, but somebody wants to know something about 4 December 1971, this somebody will then press “replay” to THIS FIRST MESSAGE you’re reading here, and put the date when the engagement he would like to discuss happened (for example: “6 September 1965: 2nd Sargodha strike”). A failure to do so will be ignored, and no such messages will be answered (foremost for the sake of keeping the discussion topical and easy to follow).

I hope these “rules” are acceptable for all interested. Almost a year ago, we tried something similar reg. the IAF claims for Pakistani Starfighters on this forum: despite even more flamewars (in other threads) at that time, we managed to put a very memorable thread together, which delivered some exceptionally interesting details.

Shortly, I’ll post several messages in order to better illustrate what do I expect us to do and start the discussion. I warn in advance, that I’ll be using the data from the AirCombat Website (http://www.webruler.com/aircombat) as the basis for the start. I know that there are people which could never agree with what is posted there under the entries for the PAF and the IAF: yet, the advantage is, that the data on that website is presented in tables, which are easy to follow. In exchange, I promise to update both of those lists according to the (hopefully reasonable and rational) results of this discussion.

Regards,
Tom
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