What have you given up on? did i miss a thread? your question about the star fish is getting lots of input.... :question:

Steve

It is very difficult to reply to this post without incurring a flood of disparaging comments. I will, however, give it a shot.

This board is often very unfriendly. This may only be perception, because we are dealing with a number of problems. One of the problems being that many people have not met each other, and that we are dealing with written words, not face to face interaction. Without the body language of face to face discussion we are left with just words. It is impossible to have a correct interpretation of what a poster really means. Some posters have left this board because they are sick and tired of the personal attacks made by a couple of know it alls.

Some of the people who reply to every post usually by subtly ridiculing the person making the post do not have all the answers. Yet they make a person feel small by making assertions, which are not backed up by fact. These folks do not admit that there may be other valid ways to approach a problem. When an honest question is posted, the person posing the question is often derided by these "know it alls".

That is the crux of the problem. There are usually several approaches to problems. I myself when answering a post will be offering a method that has worked for me. What works for me is usually a less expensive, and simple solution. Yet when I dare to offer this simple and often inexpensive solution it is almost always denegrated by one of the "know it alls".

And yes I am very much bothered by the often glaring misuse of the English language. I find it difficult to read posts with spelling errors. I have the urge to correct these errors, but have found that instead of helping people they feel offended. Therefore, I have mended my ways by not mentioning these errors.

Anyway those are some of my feelings about the lack of discussion on this board. :rolleyes:

I agree Jon. I was mentioning the search for many of the new aquarists questions, that have been on every board, six million times. They are important to the asker but how many other aquarists answer them. My point is, after answering them so many times, a point comes when some just dont respond anymore. On a huge board like RC, the mods of the beginner reefing forums answer many questions, as do many of the regulars, but the bulb are answered by aquarists who have started out not to long ago, and know the answers and dont mind posting them.

I actually though our new reefer forum, which was originally intended for articles only, seems to be going fine. Most questions are getting answered.

As I am on many boards and have many posts on some, I answer several e-mails or pm,s per day, most by new aquarists seeking advice. I always answer and some several times more. I dont mind that at all. I assume there are many regulars of the boards that are in the same situation.

:lol: Just wanted to wake you and Bob up....things were getting dull.....

It's a great group. :cool: I simply don't have a life..... :rolleyes: :lol:

I enjoy this board, because of it's relatively small size, and the varying personalities. :smile:
Nobody can get lost here like in the larger boards. Everybodys' post is read by probably most members. Yeah, personalities sometimes clash, but I see that as part of the fun.
I see new board members welcomed here all the time, and yes, if someone gives out bad or inaccurate advice, it's going to be jumped on, and hopefully the topic is going to be resolved with facts. None of us wants to see someone receive bad advice and wind up with a failed reef set-up and dead fish.
I've enjoy the debates and arguements that I've read and or participated in!
If I've ever offended anyone, then I apologize.
I wish there were more active threads too, but we'll just have to work with what we've got. :mrgreen:

Mitch

.
The whole point is that if you offer advice that is factual, AND is something that works at your house, no-one should be offended. However, if someone argues, and implies that the advice you offered is incorrect, or attacks you personally, you have a right to be offended..

A recent case in point was when someone asked what to do about surface scum. I gave the inexpensive cure that works well for me. That is a cheap Aquaclear. All other posters immediately said you need a skimmer with a surface skimming device. This was after I gave a workable, and inexpensive cure. It was as if they said "well that is what Bob does, but who listens to Bob, he is really a dummy". :rolleyes:

Yep, and if it works at your house, then it should work in the rest of the natural world, right?
I must have missed that one.... :rolleyes: surface skimming is different than skimming skimming. Heck, I've even used a paper towel to surface skim once when a RIO 2500 melted in my tank!

Mitch

[quote="rcipema"].
Bob, I think your advice here was fine. I personally redirect a powerhead at the surface, but I certain wasn't one of the "all other posters" that recommended a skimmer to solve that. I didn't actually see the original post, but I would have sided with you.

Hi EmilyB,

I'm a gemini and I like long walks on the beach. Call me :wink:


:razz:

[quote="Carpentersreef"]Not necessarily true, but it was offered as something that worked for me, and as such it should not be denegrated. It is just another method being offered. That is the beauty of these boards. The person asking the question can decide for himself what method he wants to use. and if it it does not work no-no is to blame.
:rolleyes: