Boring Board??

[AJ_77]

Is it just me, or is the board slowing down? Without its two top posters, the amount of threads/posts is a trickle. Still, there are many "advanced aquarists" listed as mods and members.

I encourage those with good solid reefing experience and knowledge to step up to the keyboard, and keep the momentum going here. There are more and more members signing up, but some days there is <squat> that has been posted.

This is a great board that I'm happy to have as my online reefing home. The combined knowledge and experience of its members is a huge and valuable resource, and this is a cool place to find a commonality in a hobby that is more than just a hobby.

As I've said many times before, mostly in the Calgary forum, "I will succeed in this hobby because of you all." Let's keep this ball rolling.

OR: Am I out to lunch?? Would like to hear some opinions on how people feel this board is doing. I see many positive notes and reasons for optimism, but a real dearth at other times...

[Canadian Man]

I have stopped being on so much Alan partly to keep my darling wife happy. So while I am at work I will check in but usually at night there is some compromise happening.

As well, I have kinda stopped posting questions because I don't have any :? I suppose I take for granted some times the little things/observations that happen in my system that others may find intresting if I posted them but I don't.

maybe I will start.

[DJ88]

Alan,

Without its two top posters, the amount of threads/posts is a trickle

I'll be back more soon. Promise.. Just have some things going on that are requiring a bit of what little time I have left in the day. Plus I started working a couple nights a week at a new past time of mine.

Cheers,

[EmilyB]

I give up.

It's a good friendly board but no one wants to spend the time to share something.

Later...

[Troy F]

I can't speak for you Calgarians but it's been mighty nice out here on the coast for a while now and I've been outside doing yard work and playing with the kids lately. That, the NHL playoffs and my youngest boy's lacrosse schedule is insane. We've had games or practices almost every day.

[Bartman]

This is a personal observation from someone new to the hobby and this forum.

It appears, through various posts I have read, that many of you know each other personally and use this forum as a valuable communication tool for your interest in this hobby. There are, as noted, new members joining fairly often. Are you seeing many posts and replies from most of these people?

New discussions are often started by inexperienced hobbyists who have a question. Members with a wealth of experience weigh in on the topic and everybody learns. My personal observation has been that the opinions or attitudes expressed in these situations by experienced members have too often been exclusionary or derogatory in tone or content. As a new member reading through various threads, which I may or may not be participating in, I have felt unwelcome. I wonder if others have had similar feelings?

Just my thoughts.

[Van down by the river]

I think people go through phases AJ_77 ,plus spring is here and everyone including myself are outside more. I still check for anything interesting everyday. I really enjoy allot of what is posted and the characters that post them! .
Although sometimes I'm guilty of being "difficult" I think things are generally friendly and open here. I've been confrontational with my opinion several times, yet I feel I'm treated fairly.
I think some of the derogatory comments are sometimes deserved by those that receive them, including myself.

No one, I believe has ever been turned away that had a legitimate question.

I think sometimes people want others on the board to do their work for them, or want quick fix answers and don't want to actually learn anything. Or they want to brag/lie about what they've achieved. Those posts usually get flack, and in my (usually long winded) opinion deserve it. It's no different from aquarium club meetings I've been to. Newbie's are quiet at first, but the ones willing to ask a honest question are usually quickly helped by a more experienced hobbyist. After a few meetings they've learned to avoid the "hot-air hobbyists" and become part of the group. The "know-it-alls" that know nothing, weed themselves out.
After all, they created a the newbie forum so that the basic questions that get re-asked only need to be replied to once, and judging by the view numbers is well used.

Do we all know each other? No, many of the people I talk to here I've never met. A few I met here before I ran into them in a store. One day I'll be able to put faces to many of the names, maybe.
It just takes time. Remember patience is one of the most valuable skills you can have in this hobby.

[trilinearmipmap]

I think it's a good forum.

I have asked a bunch of questions planning for a reef tank that one day will be there. And mostly got good answers.

On one occasion i saw twits sniping at each other on this board, otherwise I have seen constructive ideas.

I am impressed by the quality of the reefs I have seen by local people on this board and also by the dedication and knowledge of a lot of people on this board.

Anyway that is my two bits worth.

[Doug]

Bartman, I have never thought for most threads, that someone was made to feel unwelcome. There have been situations though.

I must say for myself, although I check most threads, that many which are of interest to newer aquarists, become redundant to others. I have been doing this a long time and answering questions on a dozen boards.

I try to answer some of the newer questions, but most answers on any of the boards for beginner questions can be found by doing a search. For myself, I also like to participate in posts that are of interest to me, like the current one on flow in the reef forum. I would think that would apply to many long time aquarists.

Its nice to hear opinions like yours though. Thats the only way we know if members feel there is a problem that needs to be addressed.

I dont know what the answer is to get more aquarists and posting here. You guys are correct on the local thing. Although many of us are from other places, most are local{BC} aquarists. Or Calgary/Edmonton group.

Perhaps the board will never expand beyond that. And maybe thats fine. Ontario has a board and Stephane moderates on a french board. That covers a large part of Canadian aquarists, so where do we draw from? I know for a fact that Winnipeg has a large number of reef keepers. Other than Jayson, none of them post on here or many other boards.

Also time of the year, mentioned by Troy plays a part. Myself, I have been so busy fighting flatworms for so long, what can I post on. I take my stuff out, put it back, and so on. Nobody else here runs a scrubber, so cant talk about that. Just things like water flow and lighting I guess.

[Canadian Man]

Speaking of the flow discussion in the reef forum. I posted this to create some excitment. I could do searchs all day and read them all but I think some of us have to post some questions that pop into our heads rather then thinking then over only to ourselves. Like the Flow Discussion. I was thinking about this for the past week and said to my self, "why don't I just post it!"

I have to agree, sometimes lifes demands sway us away but I always check in a few times a day at least.