thinking about moving on...

[Magnum Man]

I'm not mad at anyone, but, initially I thought this forum was a good fit for me... but either I'm too far out of the box, or members just don't think kindly of me, or I'm too something??? but responses to my posts have dwindled over the last year... the last contest I entered, ( I counted ) I had the most likes / loves to my post, yet received in the bottom 3rd of votes... at the same time, my annual support has expired, and I was solicited to donate again... summer is coming, and I'll be outside more than on my computer... thanks to all who have been responding to my posts, you've given me lots to think about... I've looked at one or two other forums, and they just didn't seem like a good fit right off the bat, so you may see my posts start to dwindle as I get outside more, and if I decide to come back , after final separation, when I start working outside, you may see me more again, when it starts getting cold again... with hopefully lots of new things... thanks...

 

[Fishmanic]

Sorry to hear that. You are a valued member who has some very nice tanks. You are a frequent participant in our contests. Our contests are about participating and showing members your tanks/fish so perhaps other members can get ideas for their tanks....it's not just about trying to win.
The choice for continuing to visit our forums is of course totally up to you. We provide a place for fish hobbyists to exchange ideas and show off their accomplishments. Whether people want to contribute and participate in our forum is of course their choice.

 

[jaylach]

I didn't realize you were experiencing this. I always read your posts but only reply if I have something to contribute.

 

[Magnum Man]

I'm just an old curmudgeon, probably just too outside the box, with almost nothing that others find interesting enough to comment on... like I said, I'm not mad at anyone, and I'll keep going ( I'm trying to get this old 30 gallon running, before I start outside ), until I get too busy outside, to post regularly, and see if I start the habit again, when it begins to cool off

 

[jaylach]

I'm just an old curmudgeon, probably just too outside the box, with almost nothing that others find interesting enough to comment on... like I said, I'm not mad at anyone, and I'll keep going ( I'm trying to get this old 30 gallon running, before I start outside ), until I get too busy outside, to post regularly, and see if I start the habit again, when it begins to cool off

Outside of the box? Hey, you are talking to someone that still insists on using under gravel filtration.

If you leave I will miss your posts but, of course, it is your choice.

 

[fishorama]

I thought we were kindred hillstream loach fans .

I don't always see every post to like or less often to comment if I don't have anything much to say. This board seems to have more likes & votes than I was used to on other sites, even the very little I do on FB. I certainly wouldn't worry about number of likes, some people do it almost automatically & it can be nice. I try to play along but it doesn't come easily for me.

We all have different ways of doing things but that's kind of the point of boards isn't it? It's supposed to be fun & informative even if we disagree on some stuff.

It's ok to take time off & come back once in a while as you want.

 

[Fishmanic]

It’s obvious people like your posts based on your very high reaction score. Oftentimes members will read posts and may not comment even though they enjoyed reading them.

 

[JuiceBox52]

I’ve noticed most replies have dwindled as the forum has become less active in the recent year or so. I don’t think you’re out of the box! I enjoy reading your posts

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

don't!

 

[MaloK]

Don't feel like that !!! It's kinda normal the activity lowers at this time of the year tho... There's a lot of people that are happy to be going to play outside.

I like your "Caffeine thoughts of the day", always lead to something special.

I've been following your builds and enjoy them a lot.

But it is what it is. When I don't get notified when someone replies to a thread I'm watching... I have a tendency to think that I'm on their ignore list and probably refrain to participate with these users at some point.

Personally I'm pretty impervious to this and not waiting for acknowledgement from anyone. I have no idea how many are following my journals.

But I'm following a lot of journals here... And I'm always happy when someone updates their stories.

 

[Back in the fold]

Hey , you know what ? I get tired of this forum sometimes too but it’s still the best show in town . Sometimes the forum has lots of interesting topics and everybody goes to town talking up a storm and other times all it is sick guppy posts that we’ve all read a hundred times . It ebbs and flows in spurts . I’ve never tried any other forums but this one is very active and that counts for a lot . I like your posts Man , you have interesting stuff and your farm raised tilapia posts always interest me and your collection of fish always amazes me . Stick around . Nobody says you have to wow us every day all the time . That’s too much to expect from anybody and you do also have a full time job and a farm to run so be kind to yourself and take a break every so often . I haven’t been on an awful lot lately but that doesn’t mean I’m going away , it just means I’ve got other irons in the fire . Truth be told a guy shouldn’t be spending too much time on this electronic stuff anyway . But stick around .

 

[CassCats]

I wouldn't worry too much over the likes vs votes thing either in the contests. Its soooo hard to pick one to vote for and if I could vote for multiple I would vote for all of them because I love everyone's entries. Please don't take that to heart.


I may not agree with everything you decide to do, but that also doesn't mean I think you should leave. We don't need to agree. You are still welcome and shouldnt feel the need to leave. I apologize if perhaps I have been a factor in your feelings about leaving or staying. I think you have value in the community here. You often bring up a lot of posts and try to keep active here. It's good to try to get conversations going.

But, I also understand the feeling of being burned out from things and needing to take a break. I totally respect that and if you decide you need a break, I wish you the best and hope to see you come back!

 

[Oldspartan]

Ah, shame to read this.

I understand the summer workload on a farm/homestead. When working on top it is very time consuming. Been there done that.

But do not leave because you think there is no interest in what you do. I read your posts frequently and I am pretty sure others do. My lack of comments is more from a lack of knowledge that a lack of interest. Fact is many times what you and others write leads me to thought and research.

WHAT YOU WRITE HAS VALUE. Fit the forum in occasionally at least.

 

[GaryE]

Can I flip it around?

You keep weird fish. Really weird fish. 99% of aquarists don't even know what they are, or haven't seen them. I keep weird fish. For years, I have been unable to discuss my beloved killies. No one would read it. When I wrote commercially, my editors decided I could only do every fifteenth article on killies.
African tetras? People look at them and have very little to say, because they don't get to see them.
Dwarf African anabantoides? Forget that.
Contests? Have a look at my profile and see how many I've won! I just can't photograph tanks. I don't mean to sound rude, but your photos of tanks are only slightly better than mine. Do our tanks suck? Nope. I would love to visit your set up and watch the fish you have. But our photos? Hmmmm.
SA tetras? People come here and walk through my fishroom without looking at my expensive, newly discovered species. Why? Because in the local stores, 80% of the commonly available tetras in the hobby have never been stocked. How can people know what they're looking at if they don't have the tools to compare with?
I keep fish to please myself. I learned that best when I acquired a pair of very uncommon Central African dwarf Cichlids. I worked hard at them, and managed to breed them, and raise them. I put a pair in the club auction, and no one bid. Finally, a hand went up and they sold for a mighty 2 bucks. The guy who bought them turned to his friend and said "Cheap feeders".

Welcome to the world of keeping rare fish.

You ask the best questions on the forum. I love your posts because they raise questions, and don't just expect answers. I hope you stay, or at least return once it starts to get cold again.

 

[Magnum Man]

I'm sorry if anyone thinks they are the problem, as mentioned, i'm not mad at anyone... I guess I was hoping that on a fairly active, international forum, that I wouldn't be so far out of the box... but I guess that's on me... no other forum has popped out as a "better fit"... I will be off line a lot more this summer, partially because I'm semi retired, and I spend a lot of time here, from my work computer, and that I'll be outside, farm working, and not on the phone as much from home.... I'm not giving up fish, and if I'm spending less time on line, I'm not likely to find a better forum fit... so I guess I either give up the unusual fish, or get used to the lack of interest in most of my posts