A bit sad !!!!

[solar 17]

We went through the lists [members] last night and found 32 but its probably a lot more than that. Experienced herpers who haven't been on this site for a fair while and the general consensus of opinion is this is a "herp" forum/site which is great but in recent months it appears to be dominated by dog / cat / fish and other animal threads/posts while a lot of people might think this is good this site "appears" to have lost a lot of very experienced herpers which l believe is/was the basis of this site and which is obvious in some of the answers/replies in the help section.....solar 17 [Baden]

 

[Norm]

I have to agree. I havn`t found the discussion as interesting as when I joined last year. Maybe its because I know a bit more now and am looking for a higher level of discussion than basic care info. Maybe people get scared off from asking questions for fear of being ridiculed. Maybe with the hatching season coming up it will pick up.

Still my favourite site though!

 

[Kurto]

I really like APS and I'm on here pretty much everyday. So dont take this the wrong way (Mods I'm talking to you), Possibly the biggest python breeder out Europe was banned for having an opinion! What the! And I can think of at least 10 other members off the top of my head that would have a vast wealth of knowledge that are indefinitely suspended!

 

[giggle]

I agree Norm... there is a lot of ridiculing going on The second someone posts they get bagged for SOMETHING. Those that may be experienced keepers who are left are often times impatient and if they answer, they dont do so in a nice way.

Maybe reptile people are most likely to be under a heap of stress than others ^_^

 

[giggle]

The most popular and successful forum (of any description) in the world has little to no moderation. But it also has a lot of porn posted ROFL

 

[Norm]

I`m all for if you want to know something, ask. If everyone just searched through the old posts to find what they need there would be no forum. You see alot of " do a search and you`ll find heaps of posts about that...'. This does nothing to create discussion, all it does is make APS a big online encyclopedia of often old, outdated info and opinions.

 

[Colin]

the site can only be as good as the input from its members.. theres too much garbage in forums like "chit chat" that members keep posting up in my opinion..

If you guys want a better site with better discussions then do something about it.. like posting some decent herp related topics and LESS of the garbage and pointless dribble that gets regularly posted in forums like chit chat.. THINK before you post something and try to make it relevant, topical and informative (instead of just "lol" posts etc)

 

[giggle]

But Im the biggest culprit for "lol" posts!

You are right Norm... the new members want to have discussions that the old members are over already and don't mind saying so ^_^

I don't know how we can change any of that though... Im certainly not experienced enough myself to have any *good* input... I try to answer peoples questions when I think I can share something I have researched... but it doesn't replace the help of an actual experienced member. How can we encourage our experienced members to stop hating and start helping?

 

[Kristy_07]

I agree, Colin. "Be the change you want to see in the world" and all that. But, back to Baden's original post, that also goes for the more experienced herpers, also. Perhaps part of the reason there are so many rubbish threads is because the more experienced guys aren't STARTING many threads themselves about topics that younger or less experienced people know much information on. Therefore, the threads are mostly about basic care tips, or "lol" posts, or "name my snake", or "what python next?" threads.

That's not to say people or younger guys shouldn't think before they post, but I think the theory goes both ways.

 

[Kristy_07]

How can we encourage our experienced members to stop hating and start helping?

Exactly.

 

[AM Pythons]

you cant blame them... the most respected herpers wouldnt use this site or very rarely... sorry but to many 'know it alls' & fighting going on... you try to be 'upfront' & you get flamed... you ask for help.. you get laughed at.. thats just the way it is.. im on here every day, yes, i like looking at pretty snakes.. but will stay out of the thread from now... you want to talk to me PM me... my 2 cents...

 

[SamNabz]

I gotta agree, I used to be on this site a lot more than I am now.

There was always a fair few interesting reads a day. But lately as Colin mentioned it is all 'lol' and 'dribble' threads.

The odd funny/non-herp thread is alright here and there but now it seems there are 4 threads about nothing compared to 1 thread about something slightly herp related.

Seeing as it's hatchie season the site should have a lot more threads going. Should be over-flowing with breeding season stories, let downs, successes, failures and weird/wonderful hatchies people have produced.

Just my 2 cents

 

[waruikazi]

It's a bit unrealistic to hope for every thread to contain ground breaking ideas and opinions. Especially when you consider that the majority of members probably couldn't even be classed as ametuer herpetologists. Most people on this forum, i think, are here to look at pictures of others snakes and dream of making millions from breeding.

But every now and then we do get an absolute doozey of a thread which does bring in new and ald members that could be considered world authorities on said topics. I remember a few years ago there were a couple threads on taipans and also the http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/general-discussion-42/rock-python-139166/ of june this year. Threads like that can have and are having a tangeable effect on herpetoculture and biodiversity. They're what i hang out for!

 

[Waterrat]

.. but will stay out of the thread from now... you want to talk to me PM me...

+1

 

[Kristy_07]

No, I don't think it's a matter of blame, Tony. Giggle said it fairly well - the older guys look at the topics that they don't want to talk about and the flaming, and switch off or log out, but it's probably only the higher-level discussion that they could help start and encourage that will lift the level of discussion!

 

[Pythoninfinite]

I'm a grumpy old man, lucky not to have been warned, suspended or banned... But I'm tenacious as well, and I like to contribute what I know if it helps. I have been shocked by few things here, but I was truly gobsmacked by a very recent thread, and the support a member got from some others for shockingly unethical behaviour.

I generally think that the quality of the traffic on this site has improved hugely in the past 12 months, the mods do keep a good eye on things, but it's important to stop the fools in their tracks, before they get too entrenched.

Jamie.

 

[Snake-Supplies]

I like it the way it is,
I ask a question as I am new to the world of snakes and I get answers back.

In chit chat and so on, you can have a laugh with people who share a common interest...
If you don't like it, move on.

That's my view, don't yell at me for it.
I haven't seen many dog, cat or fish related stuff...

 

[FAY]

I really like APS and I'm on here pretty much everyday. So dont take this the wrong way (Mods I'm talking to you), Possibly the biggest python breeder out Europe was banned for having an opinion! What the! And I can think of at least 10 other members off the top of my head that would have a vast wealth of knowledge that are indefinitely suspended!

I agree with Colin 1+
The biggest breeder in Europe totally abused us, that is why he got banned. Just because he is the 'biggest' in Europe does not give him the right to do that. Ummm bet he failed to tell you that?

 

[Jungle_Freak]

So called intelligent people should also be able to hold there tongues online ?
We all know site rules .
Play nice etc
But some peoples egos deserve to get a kick in the butt occasionally.
I have had 2 warnings on here , the next time i loose it , ill be gone too .
Site rules are just that , you follow them or bye bye ??
And the windging threads are my favourite LOL
The prices are going up and down its not fair to my bank account .
We all affected by price variation and no one has the right to manopolise a market like our hobby .
We can all buy and choose ? what we pay? and what we sell for ? .
Simple supply V demand .
Its a free country lol
my 2 cents
Roger

 

[Wild~Touch]

Respect, Respect, Respect..... it's all about respect and good manners towards your fellow keepers. Experienced or otherwise.
Remember you are bound to meet up some day, so BE RESPECTFUL please
Cheers
Sandee

By the way respect must be earned, it's NOT free