Auburn University National Portable Sawmill Survey

[TexasTimbers]

Anyone but me think this is just more government skullduggery? In the letter, which I assume most of you also received, they make some of the following statements in italics:


The study is being conducted by the Auburn University Departments of Forestry and Rural Sociology/Agricultural Economics. You were selected as a possible participant because you are a portable sawmill owner and/or operator and are age 19 or older. Where did you get my name. ???

Are there any risks or discomforts? There are little to no risks involved in completing this survey ... "Little" to no risks? If this were a lotto ticket I might bite, but with a government-funded grant like I know they received there are always strings . . . I don't like the odds.

. . . and your answers will be kept strictly confidential. :D see above


We have tried not to ask sensitive questions, but knowing something about the economics of sawmilling, and the economic status of sawmill owners, will be helpful to us in developing Extension programming to promote increased use of portable sawmills. emphasis added.  Um, I don't want to help you increase my locoal competition TYVM, it's hard enough to make ends meet as it is without having you not only educate my competition but to create it from scratch.

We/I cannot promise you that you will receive any or all of the benefits described. "We/I"? You want me to submit sensitive info to someone/persons having a major identity crisis? 


My sarcasm is not meant as "meanness" but just my way of highlighting how subtle and widespread the collection of information is presented as being so innocuous. Call me paranoid, but I think anyone who sends me an email telling me my name, email, and that I am a sawmill owner over 19 years of age and where I live has enough for their survey already since I did not knowingly grant them the permission to store it in their database.

Of course, every TOS "I Agree" box you check when doing anything online, pretty much wipes out any privacy you thought you had. :


Your decision about whether or not to participate or to stop participating will not jeopardize your future relations with Auburn University, the Department of Forestry or Department of Agricultural Economics/Rural Sociology. Well that's a load off. I have been considering running for the Dean's position.

[metalspinner]

 :D

I like your commentary Dean TT. :D

Your info was probably gathered from a manufacturer of your equipment or from a publisher of a periodical.  They share or sell their lists all the time. My mailbox - the real one - is beginning to show this type of collaboration with the half dozen catalogue's I recieve each day this time of year. :

[Dan_Shade]

I think that you are a bit paranoid, TT

[beenthere]

TT
I received it too, and don't have a sawmill.

So..likely not a mfg. of equipment.

[Dan_Shade]

i got the email, i thought it was real mail from your post.

I have to rethink my paranoid statement....

pretty unprofessional way to conduct a survey, IMO.  I won't be participating, especially on anything that says "surveymonkey"

[WDH]

I got it too.  It is a project for a graduate student thesis I am sure.  I will fill it out because, in the ancient days, I too was a graduate student.

Come on guys, fill out the survey.

[TexasTimbers]

If it is a grad project, which you do not know if it is or not, then it is very deceptive and dishonest in which case he/she doesn't deserve my time. 

[Radar67]

I got it to and did some research on where it came from. None of the addresses listed for Auburn are real. It was sent to over 1700 people. The email itself originated from spacemonkey's email server, but there is no valid return email address in the header. I would be very wary of anything to do with this email. I purchased my mill used, so it is not manufacturers selling a list.

[TexasTimbers]

I knew it wasn't a manufacturer. I figured an industry related mag, online or otherwise, or else a blade manufacturer something like that. I don't know what spacemonkey is but it doesn't sound very Auburn-ish. After what you said Radar I think it must be pernicious in some way.

Sometimes it pays to err on the side of paranoia, eh Dan? ;)

[Dan_Shade]

I suppose  :D

[WDH]

It may be just that they (Auburn) are using one of the survey companies out there.  If it is a major concern, you could contact Dr. Barlow at Auburn. 

[LeeB]

Now that I have read this, I realize that I got it also. I never opened it. It went straight to spam, then deleted.

[CLL]

Got it myself today, bellieve I will do with it what I do with my wife. IGNORE IT!!!!  8)

[fat olde elf]

Come on, guys........Now I'm feeling left out as I haven't received the survey......Interesting as my mill was built in Alabama......But I bet Cook's wouldn't share their customer list...
I try to be careful with all the stuff that's floatng out there in cyberspace.......

[beenthere]

..............But I bet Cook's wouldn't share their customer list...
I try to be careful with all the stuff that's floatng out there in cyberspace.......

As I mentioned, I don't own a mill, but still received a survey. So it wasn't a manufacturer's list they worked from.
Would have been helpful to have disclosed just what was behind the survey, and the use of the email list. Maybe there wouldn't be so much rejection of helping out.

[Onthesauk]

I got it too and don't own a mill.  Wonder if it might not be subscription list from Sawmill and Woodlot?  Mag subscription lists are commonly sold.

[Radar67]

I decided to go check the space monkey site (not from the link in the email). One of the first things I noticed was all the ads, and the link to the XXX site. That was enough for me......besides, I didn't see anything about surveys on the site.

[TexasTimbers]

Well that says enough for me as well. I did not click any of the links in the email either. I have ended up on xxx sites enough in the past to know better, but still I wouldn't have figured this email for that. I was thinking more along the lines of avoiding a virus or tracking worm.

I just had an overall bad feeling about the email from the first paragraph on. I was going to try and find out more today but with what Radar saw that's all the research I need.

[timberfaller390]

I got it too.  It is a project for a graduate student thesis I am sure.  I will fill it out because, in the ancient days, I too was a graduate student.

Come on guys, fill out the survey.

If it is a student project there are tons of better ways to gather info, Like joining our forum. I didn't get the E-mail which is suprising if it did originate from a magazine subscription cause I get 4 logging/sawmilling mags 1 wildland fire mag and untold numbers of industry related catalogs not to mention hunting,fishing,truck and horse magazines. I also recieved an e-mail from someone named Ron Trout, about a new sawmill forum/locater. Has anyone else got that one?

[TexasTimbers]

I also recieved an e-mail from someone named Ron Trout, about a new sawmill forum/locater. Has anyone else got that one?

I did not get am email recently but I think I did in the past. His website looks extremely familiar.

[backwoods sawyer]

I am familiar with Ron Trout,
He is a portable sawmill operator in California.
He is building a nationwide sawmill locator data base.
Here is his web site.

http://westcoastlands.net/

[Mooseherder]

Got the survey too.  I own a dismantled Circle mill that we took apart 2 summers ago when it was purchased and I never cut the first piece of Lumber with it yet. :  ???
It'll be at least 2 more years before it is running.  Plus the survey is for portable mills anyway. :D

[pigman]

I didn't get the email survey and that is only half of the story.

[TexasTimbers]

I didn't get the email survey and that is only half of the story.

??? Okay I'll bite as usual. What's the other half?

[Dan_Shade]

you'd better bring a sandwich if you want pigman to tell you a story