What do you think?

[Chip]

Jason! That is a great idea. At least, I'm sure this current situation would've been handled differently in an open forum.
I saw all this happening and sent a private message to the "offender." My main concern was that those who were upset would view me as a "snitch," But I wanted to let him know there was grumbling and suggest laying off posting one-liners, at least on old photos. I understood the ire of folks, I've felt it myself. At first glance his reply, seemed defensive and bitter. But then it reminded me why we all spend any of our valuable time visiting this website. We love the animals. I could name silvertounge, and a ton others. Some who made it a point to just agree with someone's husbandry. Or argue anyone's posts they didn't "like."
But it is really all transparent in time. Any time invested here, and we know who is a troll, who just likes to say "nice motley" when they like a photo, who is a newbie wanting respect as a sage because they read and regurge, who is an old timer stuck in their ways... I don't regret sending him a letter, I just wish I'd said "keep doing what makes you happy, just know how silly we're all being about it," instead of having a cautionary tone whatsoever. I thought I was being helpful. And I owe him an apology.

 

[Rich Z]

I think it would be nice if we had a cornsnakes.com cummunity forum for discusing issues like this. A good place for new members to introduce themselves and be welcomed. A place to talk about issues of behaviour on the site in a nice way. I've been here for a while now and really didn't realize how much of a cummunity this site is. Not just this thread , but everything thats been going on around here lately has really taught me alot.
added: To have a forum that would show new members that this is a cummunity right off the bat would stop some of the trouble before it starts. and yes I do realize I am to blame for some of the trouble around here.

Sure, I can do that. Anyone want to take a stab at a title for the forum and a short description of what it's purpose will be?

 

[carol]

forum intervention?

 

[DAND]

Sure, I can do that. Anyone want to take a stab at a title for the forum and a short description of what it's purpose will be?

How about the cornsnakes.com version of Fauna's:

The Welcome Club
Take off your shoes, find a nice comfy chair, and tell about your day. This new forum is a friendly place to come to share, to listen, and to relax.

 

[Shep151]

I like the idea, and I like the title/intro, DAND.

 

[mbdorfer]

Or maybe "The Den"
With Dave's description

 

[JTGoff69]

How about "Forum FAQ's"? New to the forums? Visit here for commonly asked questions about posting and forum etiquette. And maybe sticky a corn snake care sheet at the top. That would eliminate alot of repetitive questions about temps, substrate, feeding, etc.

 

[oldhand]

The Welcome Club
Take off your shoes, find a nice comfy chair, and tell about your day. This new forum is a friendly place to come to share, to listen, and to relax.

Sounds about right to me, at least then you get a rough idea of who your dealing with from the word go, it would be especially usefull to beginers or new members.

 

[CAV]

Or maybe "The Den"
With Dave's description

Nah, too close to "the Grotto". :cheers:

 

[gardenmum]

Hmmm.....I like a combo of both thoughts actually. Something like "Welcome Club with forum FAQ's and etiquets" And a combo description. This way new people can find a place of being welcomed but also find some "stickies" with some FAQ's and etiquets and if new people don't find this section, they can be steered there by others.

Sound like a great idea no matter what it is called.

 

[MegF.]

That sounds good to me too. I like the idea that people can find out some basic stuff before they come on and ask the same questions that have been asked a hundred times. Most don't have any idea about the search function or how to find answers to frequently, and I mean frequently asked questions.

 

[mbdorfer]

Nah, too close to "the Grotto". :cheers:

Yeah, Not a good idea.
I'm LMAO thinkin bout a new member stumbling in to the grotto, expecting to find the welcome wagon :roflmao:

 

[jazzgeek]

A great idea, Jason!

I always thought a n00b section with FAQs pulled from each of the forums was a great idea. Programmatically, it could be the first place "sent" after one registers, and it certainly would minimize the "Woohoo, first shed", "How often do I feed", and "What temps?"-type of posts.

As for its name, it doesn't really matter, as long as it gets people reading it.
How about "Cooter Talk"? :sidestep:

regards,
jazz

 

[Rich Z]

Well first off, just who is going to be making up this FAQ everyone is talking about here?

 

[gardenmum]

Well first off, just who is going to be making up this FAQ everyone is talking about here?

Well, maybe a committee of people?? Just a thought. Not asking that you spend time doing this, we realize how very busy you already are.

There is enough obvious general information on keeping corns that are fairly simple "facts" that many newcomers ask. That would alleviate some of the repeated questions, like on temps, general feeding, hides, regurges. It doesn't have to be FAQ's that are complex or anything, just the basics that need to be repeated a lot for those who are new and don't know how to do a search yet on the forum. Hey, even some linking to threads that have good information in them. At least it would save the people having to figure out how to, and that they even can, search the forum.

Also, the "etiquette" could be just general do's and don’ts on posting such as keeping the amount of lines under their name to the four you have asked and not using a million smilley icons across the bottom of their posts which can be distracting and irritating. Not flaming others. And a general...."If you can't say something nice, don't say anything," type thing. And just simple things.

 

[oldhand]

Gardenmum has it near enough spot on imo.
Rich let someone else set the page up (hurley, gardenmum, cav, dand etc, not saying they will do if they have other commitments) and you just ok it and post it, or edit it where ever you see fit with most of the taken out of the job by the people who put it together.
Just an idea, but i think a good 1!!

 

[DdotSpot]

I would suggest looking at Hurley's newsletter forum...she's got a FAQ sticky at the top with Kathy Love's advice on all sorts of beginner info...

There's really some good stuff in there


Daniel

 

[jazzgeek]

Well, maybe a committee of people?? Just a thought.

Well, why not allow any registered user nominate the content, and have a "steering committee" decide, comprised of those who have been 'dedicated' enough to dig deep and get the contributor icon? Not that financial contribution correlates to knowledge, but obviously, those who HAVE contributed financially not only realize the amount of time and effort taken to make this a successful site, the but time and effort needed for effective keeping/breeding.

Actually, you may not even need to create separate 'newbie' forums; threads that pass the muster of the "steering committee" could be "flagged" in the regular forums for exceptional content for first-timers, given the forum category. Recently, I suggested a particular thread started by Hurley regarding the appearance of gravid females be used as an example of good "noob" content.

My two cents, FWIW.

regards,
jazz

 

[CAV]

Good start Jazz. I think you've touched on several necessary inclusions; husbandry, feeding, enclosures, Cooter Talk.....

 

[SnakeAround]

Maybe this thread has ended yet, but I felt like saying what I think about it anyway;

COMPLETE and UTTER RUBBISH! What the hell were people thinking when scolding a friendly person liking to watch corn pics in the photogallery of a CORNSNAKEFORUM and complimenting the posters?! I feel ashamed that they are in this community. Maybe they'd like to go to a gallery of art telling visitors to stop complimenting the pieces of art and get out of their way cause they are annoying.....