Something Mods And Older Members Can Improve On

[atmmachine816]

First off, I don't want this to turn into a locked topic and a debate really though if this should be removed feel free than moderator, I just want to say something that I'v noticed and I know at least one other member that I'v actually talked to has also. I don't want to name names so please don't either and I hope I'm allowed to do this. Anyways, basically it's that some members/moderators could improve a bit, but there are so many on here that are great, though all it takes is one bad apple to ruin them all and give a bad impression to someone new.

I'v noticed a lot, which has been partially due to my inactivness lately is that some members/mods aren't so friendly. I notice on some boards mods and knowledgable members jump right in and help you out no problem whatsover. Then you go to just a few and you may get no response or if you do, it's not the help you were looking for. It seems there are "TFF groups" that are invisible but there. The members/mods that are in these "groups" seem to be one's that have high-tech setups and spend lots of money on their tanks/fish. I know some people on here don't have all that money or some are younger kids still under their parents care not allowed to do this. This may just be me but may I suggest that all members/mods look at who they respond too and help out people who may not be as knowledgable as them. Now I know you all have a life too, but it seems your number one priority are topics with high-tech not your normal setups. I also understand some of you might get tired of helping people with the same old same old and when people don't read stickys, understandable. There are a lot of good members/moderators here that have helped me and countless other members, though there seem to be a few that are more reluctant to help, maybe you can some more.


atm

 

[Torrean]

basically your saying "I know that the "I just bought a new tank and 200 fish what do I do now" questions are repetitive and boring but very important. Please take some time out to help answer these questions." I can agree with that request.

 

[atmmachine816]

Well sorta, that and that some members/moderators seem to form a group and only really respond to others in their made up group not really helping others out. But ya, somebodys gota help those people out, or at least tell them to read pinned then ask questions since they don't know any better, but ya, that's sort of the idea. And like I said I know people have a life and can't respond to all posts, but I hate seeing posts go unanswered that I don't know the answer to and nobody else wants to take the time. Just a thought.

 

[WILDER]

I never like to see a post unanswered either.
But mods can't be on 24/7.
Then if some one trys to help you can get slated, not always easy.

 

[atmmachine816]

Kinda why I said older members, that are expierenced and yes I know that. Ya that kinda stinks when you get slated but.... nothings going to be perfect, it's not a big problem just a few boards that I don't wana mention with a few members that could help others out some more seems to be the big problem to me, though don't want to turn this into a big fight and all so don't want to get into discussing people because they don't have to do it, this is all voluntary so maybe if somebody reads this and realizes maybe they are doing this they might change, if they don't think they are then good for them.

 

[andywg]

But surely people will only help out in the threads that they know about and/or feel they can add something to the thread, not to mention be interested in the threads.

I used to spend a good couple of hours going through these boards, but now 90-95% of the threads just don't interest me, so I don't even bother opening the thread. Basic community freshwater holds no interest for me so I do not answer the threads.

If someone asks about Frogfish or other SW preds then I am more minded to answer as I have more experience of those than a number of the members here.

I also tend to stay away from the more normal maintenance threads as my methods are at odds with the general consensus of newer members as I fill from a hose connected to the cold water tap just dumping dechlorinator in beforehand and I never vac the substrate.

I know of a number of people who used to post a lot and who are knowledgable but who post far more infrequently nowadays as the board just doesn't have the threads to interest them. If you are not interested in the thread then you are not likely to put in a good response.

This is not just a pronblem with the members/mods but with the board itself.

 

[QuotheRaven]

I reply to thread's I think I can help and sometimes I will not as it does not have the fast reply because my computer is outrageously slow and awful it takes ages to load the regular window. I also usually avoid livebearer and tetra information as It doesn't interest me but catfish Im there... I do agree though that alot of threads remain unreplied to and shouldn't be. But everyone here is a individual and they don't really have the obligation to post I guess.

 

[CFC]

If the mods were to answer every question it wouldnt leave anything for the members to answer would it ?

I only really answer questions that are to do with oddball or predatory fish, other fish dont interest me and as such i dont have as much knowledge in those fields so i leave those questions to someone else. Also some questions just arent worth answering because you know the poster is a prat, 4 years on the board gives you a sixth sense about who the real fish keepers are and who arent.

 

[raptorrex]

well for what its worth, i feel the forum needs to address this problem. just over the past few months this subject has cropped up time and time again. it seems that there is a split appearing between, the "general" membership and some of the most experienced members and mods.

whilst i understand the feelings of these "older" members, the forum is the membership! because the forum is changing, perhaps not to the liking of some. should we try to maintain the status quo, or allow it to develop? this is a job for the owner and his close affiliates, but even so it does need addressing!

 

[Miss Wiggle]

it does frustrate me that not enough people reply to basic threads in the beginners section. I'm no expert but i try and help with what i can help with.

but it's not the mod's job to reply to threads, if anything they should refrain from posting massive amounts in a forum they moderate otherwise they can get involved and loose they're impartiality.

I tell you if everyone who has a moan about people not replying to basic threads spent a decent amount of time in the beginners forum actually posting and helping people out it would be a lot better! It sometimes seems to me that the people who post and actually help don't moan about it, and the one's who moan dont help.

not talking about any one person in particular, just the general trends I see from this forum sometimes.

 

[andywg]

Is it really a problem, or just evolution of the board?

As the board gets bigger more and more relatively new people will come in and more of the "interesting" posts to those who do not keep community tanks will drop off the bottom of the boards quicker.

But how do you get the "older" members to post on threads they don't care about? If someone doesn't want to post in the beginners thread then he is unlikely to be of great benefit there. Demanding that someone like CFC or I help out in the betta section would just be ludicrous as neither of us has any knowledge or interest there so will not be of any use. The same is going to be true of the beginner's section as well. I can't help people set up an internal filter, and can only just remember how to set up a cannister filter as I only use wet/dry sump filtration now.

I would rather a few threads go unanswered and those that are answered are done so by those that care and can answer well rather than threads being answered just for the sake of being answered.

As to the beginner's forum, if we just locked that and forced people to look at the pinned topics every time they tried to post you wouldn't need anyone in there 99% of the time.

If more people join with similar interests to me then my activity will pick up markedly, until then I am not going to scour areas of no interest just to post.

 

[SLC Flyfishing]

I'll second that! Not that I'm an "old" member or that I'm in any way shape or form and "expert"

I just don't find it fruitful to spend time in threads that are of no interest to me. Only so many hours in the day you know!

SLC

 

[Miss Wiggle]

As to the beginner's forum, if we just locked that and forced people to look at the pinned topics every time they tried to post you wouldn't need anyone in there 99% of the time.

ha ha very true

however it's never gonna happen and will just turn off people who really need our help.

 

[raptorrex]

Is it really a problem, or just evolution of the board?

As the board gets bigger more and more relatively new people will come in and more of the "interesting" posts to those who do not keep community tanks will drop off the bottom of the boards quicker.

But how do you get the "older" members to post on threads they don't care about? If someone doesn't want to post in the beginners thread then he is unlikely to be of great benefit there. Demanding that someone like CFC or I help out in the betta section would just be ludicrous as neither of us has any knowledge or interest there so will not be of any use. The same is going to be true of the beginner's section as well. I can't help people set up an internal filter, and can only just remember how to set up a cannister filter as I only use wet/dry sump filtration now.

I would rather a few threads go unanswered and those that are answered are done so by those that care and can answer well rather than threads being answered just for the sake of being answered.

As to the beginner's forum, if we just locked that and forced people to look at the pinned topics every time they tried to post you wouldn't need anyone in there 99% of the time.

If more people join with similar interests to me then my activity will pick up markedly, until then I am not going to scour areas of no interest just to post.

perhaps it time for people with more interest in the forum, to come forword and take the strain for those who dont want to now!

if it is too much bother to answer questions, that are most asked. maybe its time for the forum to appointe mods that can!
i have no axe to grind here, but the forum needs people who are commited to it, not just commited to the bits they like!

 

[OohFeeshy]

Perhaps instead we should take action on the latest flood of complete numpties? Certainly we can all think of a few members who come under the heading of 'idiot'- posting completely false replies, no spelling or punctuation, spamming (yet getting away with it because other people feel the need to reply, even when it's obvious the poster is a troll/idiot [and I've certainly been in threads where I/someone has posted 'Don't feed the troll' or something similar and the next few people ignore that and post something like 'OMfG!!!11!!! u no dat pngsis wil outgro ur tnk!!! gt rd of it!!111']) and suchlike? I have a whole list. Certainly if we got rid of those people might get proper replies- as it stands, half the time whenever said 'old member' does post, it's either ignored because it's not what the OP wants to hear, or contradicted by said numpty.