Controversial Topic #6: Making This Site Better

[Joolz68]

didn't mean to start a controversy

if you used the phrases in my original post (two snakes in one tank), the response that answers the question is on pg 2. (the first two thread respones come on because I put this phrase in it when I posted the suggestion- so they shouldn't count).
The point of my post was simply unless you know the correct combo of words to search for, the Search feature is not quite as helpful as it could be. Is there a way to many rate the threads, so that the ones that have the most information being searched for would be at the top of the page?

 

[MegF.]

I see what you mean. I think that whoever is working on things is going to try to make things like that more prominent and easier to find for newcomers.

 

[Joolz68]

Whew! thanks. :cheers:

 

[MichaelBoyko]

Don't most new members read the new members forum? I ams ure if you posted an FAQ on that forum people would read it, if they don't simply point them in the right direction.

 

[Lycinalupa]

And something for the Canadian/European For Sale forums...the regular For Sale forum is limited to contributing members only...a privilege of our contribution. Not implementing similar restrictions in the Canadian/European forums simply wouldn't be fair. Leaving it open to all would also be an open invitation for all kinds of For Sale threads that would be inappropriate.

I hadn't even thought of that one! I suppose that somebody could also start an American "For Sale" forum too - then everyone would be able to get around the Contributor status requirement for ads. I don't see how you could allow it only for the foreign forums and not for one based here. I don't know how Rich will handle that - guess it is up to him to figure it out.

Non-U.S. "For Sale" Ads: They have to be consistent with the rules of the U.S. "For Sale" forum (i.e. contributors only). This would be tough to enforce in the private forums. I'm guessing that the best that could be done would be to have the private forum owners/mods responsible for enforcing this. These owners would have to commit to some heavy-duty presence here to make THAT work. I'm not convinced that it's really necessary to have sales outside of the existing "For Sale" forum anyway. Can't non-U.S. sellers put their location at the beginning of the thread title: "Canada: 2.3 Bloodreds Available"? For a good reason and a selfish one, I wouldn't mind seeing a single, separate non-U.S. "For Sale" forum. The automatic contributor requirement would still be in place, and my ads won't be bumped down the thread listing by those darned Canadians!

As far as I know, one of the Canadian forums restricts posting ads to Contributors and the other does not. As for the European forum, which I chose to pay for because I do not have much time to post on CornSnakes.com but wanted to contribute in some other way, I asked Rich Zuchowski what I should do with the posting of ads, and his answer was that it is my call because it is my forum and it is I who have to decide what rules apply there.

My reasoning is that there's no consideration of fairness because we are talking of two different markets. And it is my opinion that the European cornsnake market needs to grow, so unrestricted EUROPEAN ads can only be profitable for the growth, as they are much more likely to be small scale.

I will personally stick to that line until I am convinced that it is wrong or damaging, or a number of European members express opposition to this policy, or until the owner of this site tells me to change it.

 

[Susan]

As far as I know, one of the Canadian forums restricts posting ads to Contributors and the other does not. As for the European forum, which I chose to pay for because I do not have much time to post on CornSnakes.com but wanted to contribute in some other way, I asked Rich Zuchowski what I should do with the posting of ads, and his answer was that it is my call because it is my forum and it is I who have to decide what rules apply there.

My reasoning is that there's no consideration of fairness because we are talking of two different markets. And it is my opinion that the European cornsnake market needs to grow, so unrestricted EUROPEAN ads can only be profitable for the growth, as they are much more likely to be small scale.

I will personally stick to that line until I am convinced that it is wrong or damaging, or a number of European members express opposition to this policy, or until the owner of this site tells me to change it.

I fully understand the limited market in Europe, and in Canada as well. I'm really more concerned about ads for geckos, boas & pythons, Viagra...we've had a few of those try to sneak in here and Rich has had to delete them.

 

[DAND]

I fully understand the limited market in Europe, and in Canada as well. I'm really more concerned about ads for geckos, boas & pythons, Viagra...we've had a few of those try to sneak in here and Rich has had to delete them.

A few? Quite a few. Though, one it soo many.

 

[Steve'sMom]

I didn't read all of this thread....way too many pages, but I agree with a few of the people who posted about getting lectured/yelled at/made fun of for something they posted. I haven't personally experienced this, as I came in with knowledge of corns snakes and knowledge of what starts fights in forums. I can say though, that there are things I haven't said because I was affraid this would happen. I've seen posts from newbees where they were...for lack of a better term....ripped a new one by other members because of their question. Sometimes the thread goes on and on and on, long after the newbee has left with their tail between their legs. Now, I know it's HARD not poke fun of or scream at people who post dumb questions....(ie: I had a snapping turtle and bullfrog living together, why is the bullfrog dead?) (ps: this is true....) but you have to realize, you have done research on snakes, and, in most cases, other animals. For someone who does not watch the Discovery Channel, has not discovered info on the internet, didn't buy a how-to book, and has never had any kind of pet before, they seriously don't know! And if you piss them off, they are going to go to Petco, pic out a corn, stick it in an aquarium with a heat-rock, feed it crickets, and not listen to us. If you keep them on here, there is a better chance that whatever they buy is going to live....happily. So think of the snakes, my friends....you cannot steal them from the ill-advised keeper, the only thing you can do to save the snakes, is to nicely convince the owner to use your advise.

 

[Jimmy Johnson]

Susan

first let me say good post Becky.

Now, Susan... as far as the New Member Questions section...
we will just have to agree to disagree.
I think it could help, you think it could create more problems..

Unfortunately the point is mute anyway. We all know nothing will be done about anything this thread has brought up.

It has been nice for everyone to post their opinions without anyone getting too bent out of shape, though....That's always nice.

 

[Lycinalupa]

I fully understand the limited market in Europe, and in Canada as well. I'm really more concerned about ads for geckos, boas & pythons, Viagra...we've had a few of those try to sneak in here and Rich has had to delete them.

I trust that any of the member forum owners can handle that... I know that I can, even with my very limited time (deleting obnoxious posts is not as demanding to my brain as is trying not to make a fool of myself in writing in front of several hundred people )

I do not think that there is a means to automatically restrict posting of ads to Contributors while also allowing for posting by all members, is there? If there is not, the owners of personal forums must enforce any rules themselves, and by what I have seen they seem to be apt at it.

By the way, here's the two cents from my own - mostly silent - experience here, I believe an orderly FAQ section as outlined by a number of posters would be a wonderful help for especially newbies, and for the readers who maybe would not have to see the same basic question answered in long threads every time a new person needs information.