Something Mods And Older Members Can Improve On

[Nina]

This is going to be an ongoing cycle whichever way you look as it.

As the newer members become more experienced they become "older" members and then the next lot of newer members will get upset because the older members (remembering they were the newer members not long ago) now are no longer interested in the beginner posts or their interests in the fish have moved on and they don't want to answer the same questions over and over again when there is a perfectly good search function.

At the end of the day, there is no point in moaning about it. You will never please everyone, someone will always be sulking.

Personally, it annoys me when there are loads of replies to a post where everyone disagrees and it just sprials into a war between who is right and who is wrong. I would rather there be a couple of sensible replies rather than the tosh that is posted.

 

[Annastasia]

For the people who are suggesting a change - I agree that the forum may not be as helpful as it could, however, I think it's pretty darn good. But, in the interest of improving, I challenge you to go and reply to at least one topic from a newbie, a day. Seriously. There has to be a topic in there that you know something about. Actions speak louder than words. So go reply. Change the forum. Make it a better place. I'm all for this. For example, now, instead of scrolling through Member's pictures, I will go and reply to a couple of threads in Beginners. If some people help with one thread, just one thread a day, the forum will be a better place. I'd especially like to see the people asking for a change to do this.

Now, I would want people responding to threads they know something about. I wouldn't want SH (no offense, you know I love you ) replying to a thread about Pike Livebearers, simply because he wouldn't exactly know what to say or how to help. Same way he wouldn't want me anywhere near questions about fragile marine fish. I am going to help this cause as much as I possibly can.

I reply to as much as I can, however, I only have about an hour, maybe two, a day on here (not including my mod duties, which I will get to later), and the Livebearer and Pets forum are my first and second priorities, since they are where I am assigned too. Once I've done those, and checked them over, I will go through and reply to other threads. However, I try not to reply to too many, especially in the Livebearer forum, because I also like to see some of the members grow. If I responded to everything in the Livebearers forum, why would we need members?

For the people who complain the mods don't care about the forum much (not especially in this thread, but elsewhere) - I'm sorry, but this comment just makes me laugh. It honestly does. I was reading some topic about this the other day, and I just started laughing. You have no idea how much we do behind the scenes. You honestly don't. I sign in every morning to respond to reports, remove spam, move topics to the correct forum, remove the rude/unhelpful posts, listen to complaints, and help to make the forum a better place. To say I have no interest in the well-being of this forum is just funny.

Now, may I remind you all of something. It's not just the older members who can help. There are people that joined yesterday that probably know more about fish than I do. Just because you come here does not mean you are a newbie. There seems to be a general consensus, however, that the longer you've been here, the more you know. That's not the case. I would like to see everyone replying to more of the beginner topics. And don't dismiss somebody's advice just because they have 5 posts. You may be surprised. I know we like to say we don't look at post count, or whatever, but I think we all do, at least a little.

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.

Well, I know I'm not in that group. The horses make sure I spend all my money on them. I'm not really aware of these groups, I don't notice them much. But if you have suggestions on how I can be a better mod, by all means, PM me. I can't speak for the other mods, but I know I'm always willing to hear suggestions. As long as they are within reason.

 

[andywg]

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!

They are welcome to, though the fact that no one has done so would indicate it is not just "older" members who don't enjoy spending hours trawling through identical post after identical post where they are all unnecessary once the pins have been read.

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!

The mods are not there to answer all the posts, that is the job of the forum members, all forum members. Mods are there to moderate, to move threads to the correct location or sort out a thread that gets too hot.

I think you have your last sentance completely backwards. This forum is so good simply because it does have so many people who are only interested in parts of it. Look at the wealth of experience in Tolak and his angel breeding. I would feel far happier with him staying mostly in New World Cichlids rather than trying to answer a post on getting a frogfish to feed on dead food.

And I truly resent the sentiment that any of us are any less as members simply because we don't visit the entire forum. How would the forum benefit from me trying to answer a thread on rare livebearers rather than someone who has first hand experience and a lot of knowledge on that subject? It wouldn't. And that would be time I could spend answering a post about something I am interested and knowledgable on (though sadly these are few and far between).

If anything, I would say we have seen somewhat of an experience drain with some very knowledgable posters no longer posting here. I would say this is due, in no small part, by the comparative lack of stimulating threads compared to 18-24 months ago.

Edit--

I should probably add that I do make an effort to at least browse the beginners section, but I can't be bothered to help those that cannot help themselves. Some of the threads are so basic I almost cry. Simply reading the pinned topics would help so much. I actually went through a stage of replying in the beginners' section, but began to despair at how every question just gets asked again and again and again...

Maybe we should force people to access through the pinned topics when they join? Though I doubt it would work too well...

 

[pica_nuttalli]

sometimes you just don't have the energy to develop an intelligent contribution. i had some big thought that i was going to write up about how profoundly frustrating it is to deal with people that have just enough knowledge to spout off, but then i thought "meh. won't actually change anything."

i don't come here to babysit. i come here to have fun and learn new things. sometimes i feel differently, but mostly i'm after entertainment.

my apologies for wanting to enjoy the internet.

 

[PlecMama]

It's a topic that hold different perspectives, like us comparing notes on old TV shows and how they used to be better, then finding out one of us is 20, one 30, one 40 and one 50. We are all lamenting different times in the world. Do you know what I mean? it's relative, I've seen people here saying that the board use to be better that have ranged from a few months membership to years on here. I guess it had a high point for everyone, though those points were not the same place in time.

I thought the boards were helpful when I first joined, but that was because I was asking for advice and I needed help - and people helped. Now I never ask a question unless something dramatic happens that hasn't happened before (my heater went mad a few months ago and cooked some of my fish) so now I don't find the boards "helpful" as I don't need help, but I still come and chat on the non fish boards, the pic threads, the pet threads and the other off topics, because I like the people there.

Maybe what we need to do it police our titles better and have the search engine sort through titles instead of the body of text? instead of everyone posting messages called "help me" they should be specific and say "heater overheated" and then the search engine could perhaps be made to pick up on titles making a search for new people seeking advice easier. I just tried and a search under "too hot" and it brings back an error because both words are under 4 characters, so obviously my post about my over heated tank had some crappy title like "OMG cooked fish" or some other drivel Could that be done perhaps?

Anyway, I'm rambling now, please feel free to disregard any part of this message you don't agree with.

 

[Tolak]

There are also posts that guys like me could answer, but I know for a fact I have given what might be considered an "intermediate aquarist" the answer to the same question in the past. I feel it's only fair to give them the opportunity to answer, and have a feeling of contributing to the forum. I don't think it would be fair for the mods or more knowledgable members to go ripping through the boards posting an answer to everything, let others have some fun.

I'll usually glance through NW Cichlids for anything new, than on to Today's active topics. It doesn't matter much where the question is posted to me, I've clicked on marine questions thinking it pertained to something else.

Then some days like today it snows like crazy, I have 2 houses besides mine to deal with, and barely flip through the board. I'm sure others have days like this, if not weeks like this.

 

[Mr Miagi]

As you advance through your specific niche of the hobby, you become more advanced in more and more specialized topics, and your interest in broad fish keeping changes.

I think the issue is more members now are coming in, expecting to be given answers to their issues, and less willing to learn and begin to help others.

Its not a Moderators job to answer any post, whether un-answered or not. As pointed out, members play a larger role in this community, and should also be contributing.

I think this example is demonstrated in the top 20 posters table. In the first 3 or 4 pages I recognize most of the members from years ago, only a few stand out to me as being new, just check their "Joined" date.

18 out of the top 100 joined in 2005 (thats still 2 years or there abouts here)
3 out of the top 100 joined in 2006 (Go Miss Wiggle, JayJay and FKNM WOOT )

Most joined in 02/03/04, we must love our fish to stay that long, LMAO

 

[atmmachine816]

I'm sorry but I don't have time today to read through all that you guys posted, didn't expect to get this but basically all you that have replied are not really who I'm talking about, because you guys all help in your expertise, I guess maybe I'm confusing you guys but in one or two boards maybe I should have just posted there since they haven't posted on this it seems when they come on they only post on certain threads by certain members and there own and not any others. I'm not saying mods are doing something wrong, there doing a great job, I'm just using them and older members as they usually have more knowledge. I guess I can't seem to get what I'm thinking into words so best not to worry about it and just think this never happened.

 

[QuotheRaven]

Man Miagi I better lift my post rate
get to that top 100.

I am a former staff member on a popular online game and it isn't a walk in the park. I am a Catfish enthusiest so I really look for Catfish post's but I am bad at diagnosing diseases via descriptions. I usually look for beginner thread's but it sometime's get's tiring saying have you cycled your tank etc. I will try and reply to beginner threads etc ( although Im somewhat a beginner but anyway )

 

[Miss Wiggle]

For the people who are suggesting a change - I agree that the forum may not be as helpful as it could, however, I think it's pretty darn good. But, in the interest of improving, I challenge you to go and reply to at least one topic from a newbie, a day. Seriously. There has to be a topic in there that you know something about. Actions speak louder than words. So go reply. Change the forum. Make it a better place. I'm all for this. For example, now, instead of scrolling through Member's pictures, I will go and reply to a couple of threads in Beginners. If some people help with one thread, just one thread a day, the forum will be a better place. I'd especially like to see the people asking for a change to do this.

completely agree with this Annastasia

3 out of the top 100 joined in 2006 (Go Miss Wiggle, JayJay and FKNM WOOT )

wooooo go me, spamming my way up the forum

 

[andywg]

Hooray for post whoring!

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Hooray for post whoring!

he he it's my speciality

 

[Fella]

I'm sorry but I don't have time today to read through all that you guys posted,

Do you not recognise the irony in this statement? You want people with knowledge to spend more time answering posts, however, you're saying that you don't have time to read them?


I'll be honest, I offer any advice wherever I can from my own experience, and from research I've done in the past as long as it interests me. However, sometimes you know when your advice will fall on deaf ears, and at other times, you may not want to get in a long post after post after post discussion on things like water stats (I know good water is essential to keeping fish, I just don't want to have to explain the nitrogen cycle twice a day). Giving people advice on that, gives me less joy than flexing my intellectual muscles on things that are more specialised, EG puffers, brackish water fish, unusual oddballs etc. I am by no means an expert, but I would like to help others where I have the opportunity to, and in the areas that I can help. Maybe I'm a snob, but I use the forum for fun.

 

[jayjay]

Andy I have nothing better to do, it keeps me off the streets

I'm sorry but I don't have time today to read through all that you guys posted

Do you not recognise the irony in this statement? You want people with knowledge to spend more time answering posts, however, you're saying that you don't have time to read them?

I strongly agree with this. The OP, well, moaned, about this topic of people not bothering but he won't bother to read the reasons...

I personally stay out of the marine sections unless I'm looking at pictures or something, as I have little knowledge of it. I also don't visit the pet section, brackish, hybrids, emergencies etc.

 

[raptorrex]

This is going to be an ongoing cycle whichever way you look as it.

As the newer members become more experienced they become "older" members and then the next lot of newer members will get upset because the older members (remembering they were the newer members not long ago) now are no longer interested in the beginner posts or their interests in the fish have moved on and they don't want to answer the same questions over and over again when there is a perfectly good search function.

At the end of the day, there is no point in moaning about it. You will never please everyone, someone will always be sulking.

Personally, it annoys me when there are loads of replies to a post where everyone disagrees and it just sprials into a war between who is right and who is wrong. I would rather there be a couple of sensible replies rather than the tosh that is posted.

good points all. i dont think we are moanong, but the forum is improtant enough to us to make it worth while addressing a touchy problem.

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!

They are welcome to, though the fact that no one has done so would indicate it is not just "older" members who don't enjoy spending hours trawling through identical post after identical post where they are all unnecessary once the pins have been read.

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!

The mods are not there to answer all the posts, that is the job of the forum members, all forum members. Mods are there to moderate, to move threads to the correct location or sort out a thread that gets too hot.

I think you have your last sentance completely backwards. This forum is so good simply because it does have so many people who are only interested in parts of it. Look at the wealth of experience in Tolak and his angel breeding. I would feel far happier with him staying mostly in New World Cichlids rather than trying to answer a post on getting a frogfish to feed on dead food.

And I truly resent the sentiment that any of us are any less as members simply because we don't visit the entire forum. How would the forum benefit from me trying to answer a thread on rare livebearers rather than someone who has first hand experience and a lot of knowledge on that subject? It wouldn't. And that would be time I could spend answering a post about something I am interested and knowledgable on (though sadly these are few and far between).

If anything, I would say we have seen somewhat of an experience drain with some very knowledgable posters no longer posting here. I would say this is due, in no small part, by the comparative lack of stimulating threads compared to 18-24 months ago.

Edit--

I should probably add that I do make an effort to at least browse the beginners section, but I can't be bothered to help those that cannot help themselves. Some of the threads are so basic I almost cry. Simply reading the pinned topics would help so much. I actually went through a stage of replying in the beginners' section, but began to despair at how every question just gets asked again and again and again...

Maybe we should force people to access through the pinned topics when they join? Though I doubt it would work too well...

Yada, yada, yada, have you ever tried reading the post as a whole, or do you find it better to take it in little bits. it is obvious from your posts, of late, that you are disillusioned with the forum, or its membership, ATM. perhaps a more positive, frame of mind might help!

if you read the first post, it was not a moan or complaint, but a valid attempt by a member to address a problem, many of us notice on the forum today!

i fear the loss of the most respected members of the forum, but they are no use if they don't post their experiences! and just perhaps the respect these members are given, just might need to be paid for in posts!