What is happening to APS

[Australis]

Just take the recent example of one of our most experienced and respected breeders being asked for "scientific theory" and "study results" to "prove" what he said was true.

peer review

 

[Cheyne_Jones]

Seems by using the word noob i have fired up all the younger members, didn't mean to be ageist, and i wasnt implying that its just young members.

 

[tfor2]

I think some of the questions that we may deem as silly, simply comes from newbies buying snakes and not being given the correct info and in some instances no info at all. We all have to start somewhere, and i think these silly questions can be answered with sensible answers which means that at least people are trying to help them. Maybe you will find that some of them will take the advice given, as long as its not given with malice or smart alec comments.

 

[MoreliaMatt]

The same old questions being asked over and over again does not bother me....
I'd rather someone ask the same question 100 times and get it RIGHT than to not ask at all and do something WRONG!

what does bother me on here is the following.

Picture collectors.....
Post pics of this, post pics of that....

People that take GUESSES at answers!
ive seen it many times someone asks a question and some people take a guess at the answer and its wrong!! i'd hate to imagine how many people have taken these answers on and made their herps worse for taking on board these wrong guessed answers!

 

[Chappy]

The people that are complaining and having a whinge may not know everything anyway :lol:. Just because you have a post count of 2k and have had Herps for 5 years or more some answers are opinion and let me tell you opinions are like bums everyone has one its just that some smell more than others!!!

This came to light recently when i asked a question and was offered advice which i took, only to double check with my Breeder and mate who has sold Herps in Melb for 15yrs (and a sponsor here) who told me the opposite!!!!! :?.

So make from that what you will :shock:

 

[Auzlizardking]

I use to love trying to answer peoples questions - but if you have a opition about something you get set on by the sandpit Mafia.

So this turns alot of people off trying to help.

Quote"Precisely, and when we stand our ground we get infractions. Its just not worth answering any more. Its not worth the hassle".

 

[Snake_Whisperer]

Can someone help me with my spotted. I just got it 2 days ago and it hasnt eaten yet. I am really worried that its sick coz it keeps trying to bite me when I handle it.

LOL! Yeh, i'm a newb too, however, i find there are a few veterans who will pipe up with some gems (provided, like you said, the monkeys used the search function BEFORE posting inane, answered ad nausem, questions)

Oh yeh, does it mean my liasis fuscus loves me because she always tries to kiss me and hugs me very very tightly?

 

[Southside Morelia]

i sorta agree about some of the 'experienced ones' have left or whatever you wanna call it, but dont give me this 'now we are stuck with 12- 14 yr olds thinking they are so experienced' stuff.
1 ofcourse we dont think we are experts, and 2 yeah we do give advice sometimes (or what we know) based on what we have kept; selflessly trying to help people out. and yes, sometimes it might be wrong, but hey, its no different to what some other people are doing here. dont just blame it on us!


heres a suggestion, get a book!

Wise words from a young man...well done Buddy, that was one of the best replies to a post I have seen here in a while!! You are not necessarily targeted by the Authors original comment and if I were you, I could not have said it better!
I agree that some of the more experienced herpers have vacated the site and it's a shame, because I too, being a bit older, am still learning and want the forum to be a teaching tool, this is where I come to ASK FOR LEARNED OPINIONS AND ADVICE!, I also feel that a few more of the less experienced are voicing their opinion at the expense of the more educated, but hey, that's the internet...Maybe people can donate a bit more money to the site (not too much), to ensure the Mods proof read threads/posts before they waste the time of some people having to scroll through the uninformative 5 word replies that aren't really conjusive to the actual thread. It's a nightmare when you have an interesting thread that the only educating post is every 6th or so, on a 5 page thread...it sucks!
Hey, i'm sure the guys who Moderate the Forum are doing it on a volunteer basis, so to make the site a more informative site, it has to be "Moderated" on a continuous basis....therefore these guys need to be paid for their time, everyone has a life and I wouldn'd do it for nothing!
So kids, ask Mum & Dad to donate the 10 bucks or so to be a seller or subscriber and i'm sure this will help the site.
Anyhoo, it's a good site, but it's true Mods, it's slipping, This is an Aussie site and we have some awesome breeders and keepers of our Native Herps, I for one don't want them to leave and stop giving us advice, it's to the deterement to the hobby!
I'm lucky, I can ask questions to these people, I have this access, but the kids may not have the contacts and therefore will suffer, as Magpie said they are the future of the hobby...
I hope maybe someone in control has heard the people speak.....constructively of course!
Regards
Scott.

 

[freakonthenet]

google doesn't always have the best info either....

 

[GrumpyTheSnake]

Some 10-14yr olds no more about reptiles then some of the other older members so there not that bad. Isn't it good younger people are joining, means younger people are getting into the hobby. I was about 5 or 6 when i got interested.

Ive tried using the search before but i never get the right thing I'm looking for. Wouldn't the forum be boring if every one just used the search and didn't ask questions. Its good that people are asking questions about their reptile even if its been answered lots of times before. If you just told them to use the search they might not find the info they want and it could harm the reptile.

We probably all asked silly questions before. Some forums are NICE and say no questions a silly questions even if its been asked before.

If you dont like people posting things that have been asked before just ignore it if you dont like it.

And THIS is coming from a 12 year old..... Well hat's off to you son. Very well said.

I don't claim to be an expert, but I have had experiences that can help a newcomer, and I am more than happy to share any information. It is a shame that some people think it is their god given right to hammer anyone who comes up with a question that is "silly". I don't visit this site as much as I used to, and I certainly don't post anywhere near as much as I used to. The reason??? Because I am sick to death of seeing the same thing every time.... "do a search" ... or... "oh, let's get the popcorn"... or .. " I'll put the flame suit on".. and comments similar to these. WHY should anyone have to prepare themselves for a "flamming" just because they ask a question.. or own a snake that others don't agree with, or because they are only 14???? You want to know why people are coming here less and less???? Take a good look at the QUALITY of the responses people are receiving now... you may find the answer more easily than expected.

I'm sure I am not the only one that feels this way. I have been the "victim" for want of a better word, of a certain group of people that make it their mission for the day, to find a target and insight an arguement. I know soooo many people that just don't come here anymore because of situations like this, and it's a shame, because a lot of these people have so much knowledge to impart to the newcomers.

School yard bullies. Remember them??? They were the "cool" ones that used to pick on the 'new' kids, or the 'nerds'. Well... this just makes me feel like I'm back in the playground.

 

[SuperSnake]

Being new to here myself, I hope I am not being annoying when I ask quesitons but, I'd much rather to ask somebody with reptile experience, than just to guess what I should do.

Remember alot of people just want help and that's the reason why they're on here in the first place.

 

[Auzlizardking]

And THIS is coming from a 12 year old..... Well hat's off to you son. Very well said.

I don't claim to be an expert, but I have had experiences that can help a newcomer, and I am more than happy to share any information. It is a shame that some people think it is their god given right to hammer anyone who comes up with a question that is "silly". I don't visit this site as much as I used to, and I certainly don't post anywhere near as much as I used to. The reason??? Because I am sick to death of seeing the same thing every time.... "do a search" ... or... "oh, let's get the popcorn"... or .. " I'll put the flame suit on".. and comments similar to these. WHY should anyone have to prepare themselves for a "flamming" just because they ask a question.. or own a snake that others don't agree with, or because they are only 14???? You want to know why people are coming here less and less???? Take a good look at the QUALITY of the responses people are receiving now... you may find the answer more easily than expected.

I'm sure I am not the only one that feels this way. I have been the "victim" for want of a better word, of a certain group of people that make it their mission for the day, to find a target and insight an arguement. I know soooo many people that just don't come here anymore because of situations like this, and it's a shame, because a lot of these people have so much knowledge to impart to the newcomers.

School yard bullies. Remember them??? They were the "cool" ones that used to pick on the 'new' kids, or the 'nerds'. Well... this just makes me feel like I'm back in the playground.

That's it in a nut shell.

 

[reptile32]

why dont you try and help some noob who ask a question than bagging them or just skip them you dont have to read all of the threads that are put on this site, and plus its footy season so the experts are probaly watching the footy

 

[FNQ_Snake]

I think it is great kids are trying to learn about herps regardless of their age. I think everyone should be entitled to ask questions. As there are obvisouly a huge amount of arm chair experts on this site, it shouldn't be too hard to divide the questions amongst the top order.

I would rather a million questions about the same thing that could save the lives of herps rather than unasked questions resulting in the deaths of herps.

 

[Dan19]

There should be a smaller limit of posts for newbs. Like only 3 posts a day for the first month.

 

[GrumpyTheSnake]

Okay.. here's a more simple way of saying what I think.

"WHAT'S HAPPEING TO APS" was the question... It is NOT newcomers. It is NOT the experienced/inexperienced debate. It is NOT the same question being asked 100 times. It is NOT young members.

It IS the quality of the answers given and the attitude of the people that give these responses.

 

[SuperSnake]

Finally a woman answered. And it's the best one.

 

[Luke1]

i sorta agree about some of the 'experienced ones' have left or whatever you wanna call it, but dont give me this 'now we are stuck with 12- 14 yr olds thinking they are so experienced' stuff.
1 ofcourse we dont think we are experts, and 2 yeah we do give advice sometimes (or what we know) based on what we have kept; selflessly trying to help people out. and yes, sometimes it might be wrong, but hey, its no different to what some other people are doing here. dont just blame it on us!


heres a suggestion, get a book!

I agree, just becasue we are of younger generation means bugger all...just becaseu we know afew scientific names doesn't mean we think we are experts!!!

i will agree however, i can be a bit anouying wanting to see alot of peoples pics etc...but whats wronge with that?

i also agree with Ryan, we need something else, like instead of having just "general herps" and exotics etc we should have each group of reptile, geckos, skinks, monitors dragons pythons elapids etc etc etc. it makes it easier to find what your looking for!

thats my opion!!

Luke

 

[swaddo]

Repetitive "n00b" questions are a universal problem, not restricted to APS, and everyone gets sick of answering the same question over and over again. Could this be addressed with a sticky FAQ? BTW, no-one is holding a gun to your head making you read the threads

As an aside, I wonder what some of the old timers' first questions where

 

[Cheyne_Jones]

Well said... It took a few pages but maybe it has been thrashed about and people feelings are out in the open... Hey maybe we can take a step in the right direction and fix it???

Who knows, but i sure do enjoy this site...