Nicknames - please note
 

Hi Guys,

[Moderator hat=on]

An issue has arisen lately regarding the use of "pet" names for stores instead of their real names.

I'm sorry that I have to ask this, but can we from now on, avoid the use of nicknames for stores; and please bear in mind that when we make references to any store, to keep those as personal, factua observations. Unfortunately when in publicly viewed threads, there can be unintended consequences to voiced unconfirmed suspicions, so unfortunately they cannot be voiced in a public forum such as this one.

Thank you for your attention, and your understanding on this matter.

cheers,
Your Friendly Neighbourhood (Calgary) Moderator.

PS. Moderator hat is now once again off.

Are we allowed to say something like,
"Big Al's sucks" for example?

:?

I believe that in the movie "Rainman", Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise said "Kmart sucks".....

:P

Mitch

Hello,

Again, if it's based on facts (like say hypothetically some LFS pour chlorine into their tanks), then yes you can post it here. But if it's based on personal assumptions, which may lead to possible debates that begin to spread and then becomes rumours, etc, then no.

So "Big Als Sucks" BECAUSE..............
They sold me a fluval for my reef tank that wasnt nessecary would be ok?

Or BECAUSE..............
They told me that I needed 1000lbs of live rock for my 10g tank and when I took it home it didnt fit would be ok? :lol:

What if you were a fish lover and you always saw dead and dying fish in their tanks? Could you make disparaging comments THEN?? Or would that still be speculation and rumour...

Serious question.

Well, my take on this is, if that's what you saw, then nobody can stop you from saying that this what you saw. Just stick to the relevant facts, and, maybe try to present the information so that if the other party is on this board, that they will be able to at least participate afterwards, perhaps given an opportunity to respond, or take corrective measures if necessary.

The bottom line is, at least for me (and I say this just as an average person, not as a moderator now), that I would rather see a store with a reputation, be allowed a chance to redeem themselves and earn a new reputation; rather than go out of business. It's not in our best interests, as consumers, to see our vendors go out of business. I am all for second chances. I know I need many myself.

Pretty much a moot point anyways. I go to Wai's and Ocean because they're handy. Very glad I don't have to drive down south, to be disappointed yet again at Big Al's.

Perhaps the point is to use the stores' proper names. If someone wants some opinions, they're easy to get.

Alan, this is a fairly serious issue really. What we are asking is that if you want to make a comment about Big Al's don't say, "they suck". Say, "I prefer not to shop at Big Al's because..." and list some relevant facts. Unless you're receiving an oral massage from fishroom girl or boy then Big Al's sucking is off the table. Kapeche? :twisted:

In regards to floating fish, this is a relevant observation. I'd say; "It appears to me that the majority of times I visit ________, their tanks are in horrible condition with dead fish often floating around. Despite numerous attempts at explaining my concerns, I've not noticed an improvement." Unless the shop we're talking about has their employees dressed in high heels, panty hoes and garters there's no need for any moniker.

you say that like there is such a shop and you are holding out on us :shock: :wink:

Steve

Steve: it's the Best Little Coral House in the West. (our nickname for it)
:D

Troy: that's cool of course - I was actually being serious (my best attempt). What is "Kapeche?"

BTW, your explanation is what I was looking for.

Alan, kapeche is understand in Italian I believe. I was taking you seriously, I just wanted to clear up any possible confusion and I'm glad it worked ;) .

Nope, your fault all the way for listening to them in the first place.

See above and add an IQ test to upcoming personal agenda :) .

:lol:

On a serious note
I would only hope that certain retailers would see these online opinions that people are forming about them and do something to change them.. Eg. If some one posted an opinion in the vendor rating forum about SWC or J&L or Seacare I am sure the appropriate retailer would comment, fix, figure out the problem.

It's common sense to take comments people say with a grain of salt unless there's obvious proof to back up that opinion.
I don't really know where my rambling is going here (Tony I am rambling like you :wink: :lol: :wink: ) other than to say our hobby if based around alot of OPINIONS and less FACTS or Scientific proof.
In my OPINION :wink:Productive opinions are nessecary in this hobby, Bashing is not.

Does that mean Bob is finally off the hook :?: :D

:? Hmmm never thought of that :? I guess I backed us all into a corner with that statement :D

Well all productive opinoins except BOB's are nessecary :P :lol: :wink:

Oh dear, poor Bob. You'd think he was a real rabble-rouser or something? I wonder if one day I get to meet this fabled person?

Jonathan I couldn't agree with you more about that other stuff though. If a person doesn't like what is said about them ... well nobody has to like this sort of thing, but they can also try to prove the statements wrong, or make the statements become wrong.

After all if we all agreed on everything .... then we wouldn't have much to talk about, would we?

:)

You know, I once overheard someone in our group say something about me when he did not know I was in the room. I don't think I will spend the rest of my days worrying about that. I will, however, leave you with this quote I stole from Alan's email. I think it highly appropriate in this case.:D :wink:

"I maintain that, if everyone knew what others said about him, there would not be four friends in the world." - Blaise Pascal

So now we need a special moderator to decide if an opinion is productive or not. :wink: :lol: :roll: :P

Sorry Bob- but I think you got yourself into this. For the longest time I held out hope for you. But you come back with rude and insulting comments. Some people are honestly asking questions because they are new or just want to know. We're not stupid- otherwise we wouldn't even ask. But your nitpicking, judging comments are insulting. And no, I don't have to be a scholar in English to ask a question about how to make myself a better reefer.

Way to go Jenna.. :) :) :) :) :)

Was waiting for someone to say something. 'Bout time too.

Sorry for interruptin..

We now take you back to your regularly scheduled programming.

I could of course reply to this, but that would be putting myself on your level, and I have spent too many years on this earth to react to small minded baiting. To honor you with even this much of a reply is far more than the posts are worth. :wink:

And what does this have to do with calling stores nicknames :?: :?:

Dejavu all over again. Didn't I read this in another post not to long ago.

Bob, I apologize. I did not mean my lighthearted jest to turn into as slam Bob thread. :oops:

No problem Kim, I understand lighthearted jests. It would be so nice if people would confine their posts to their own side of the mountains, and stay out of things they don't understand.

:cry: ............................................... 8)

Back to what this was really about. I'd sure like to invite those, who were apposed to my post, in the future to start making right or point out the wrong impressions we may have. I've seen replies/posts from LFS from out of town. :D So this is possible :wink:
Ande

That would be handy, but the first row over this store-bashing came about in reference to a local LFS I can tell you're familiar with, who had no voice on this board. His cause was taken up by one or two loyal customers, and complaints were made to moderators etc.

I don't believe the proprietor had any interest in coming on this board to defend himself. He is his own man - if we don't like his practises we can shop elsewhere. Myself I've been going into his store for 13 years, and if I want to express a little displeasure from time to time, I just might. No big deal, as long as I keep coming back to shop. That's his bottom line.

As for Bob, I wish everyone would calm down a bit, especially those not really entitled to make judgments on his character. Again, he is his own person and not answerable to any one of us. If we don't agree with his forms of expression, we can choose not to correspond with him. Our choice. We have seen after his last public rebuke how he made an effort to moderate his own comments.

If you perceive a person to be "difficult" or "cranky" or "sweet" this should temper your interaction with them. Just keep in mind who you think you're dealing with. It would be good if we could all meet eventually and get to know each other even slightly... this would clear up a lot.

Good point Alan, With the all meeting part. Well this weekend at Tony's for the Calgary Reef Meeting would let all/most of the Calgarian's meet eachother that have not allready done so.
So I Expect A Good Turn Out! :lol:

I have spent the last 4 or 5 hours on a tank tear down, and boy what a mess it has been. And as many of you know I am a bleeding heart liberal, and as such took it upon myself to save every copepod, every bristle worm .... even the gross icky thing that looked like something out of Dune, this 6-8" monstrous worm with legs and a really weird clamping kind of jaw or something .... Jonathan can even back me up on this one.

Anyways, my point is, man, I'm tired, and cranky. And I'm not sure I have anything to say that makes sense, so bear with me.

So I am not going to say anything more, except the following:

1. What is WITH this internet thing?

2. Canreef is my happy place. Stop making my happy place an unhappy place! If you make my happy place an unhappy place, I shall have to fart in your general direction!

3. I had Subway for lunch. I'm halfway to a 12" sub now.

4. The sky is really pretty right now. It's very clear, and I can see stars.

5. My back hurts.

6. Remember that we are free to disagree with one another. If we all agreed on everything, then we'd really have nothing to talk about. Feel free to attack a person's opinions, but never the person just because you disagree or don't like the way it is expressed.

7. Here kitty kitty ... ooops sorry lost my train of thought.

8. I want you to know that I respect your opinion, even if I don't necessarily agree with it. I will fight for your right to voice your opinion (even if you're wrong. :lol: )

9. What time do the bars close on Tuesday? Actually I guess it's Wednesday. Drat.

10. Good night.. please take care out there.

Ande,
I for one had a problem with your original post, but I don't understand what you're asking me to do here....?
I can't make right whatever is/was wrong, and I have no intention of changing any impression you may have. Do business wherever you like - but I think it is unwise to make unfounded accusations and generalizations that put this board's existence in jeopardy.

Mitch :D

WAI can't we Al just get along :lol: :lol:

:lol:

Spot on, old chap. Without having met someone, you are prone to (usually wrong) impressions. I would like to say that everyone I have met through contact on this board has been a joy to me. Some have even become good friends, which is great for a friendless person. If I snipe a bit once in a while at the people I know, I am certain they don't hold it against me. If they do feel upset they let me know, and we thrash it out. No big deal. :roll: :wink:

Well spoke. I beleive we all tend to have our moments, but luckily forgiveness, and perhaps more so forgetfulness, is in good supply.

This is why I have to beleive in giving second chances: I need so many myself. :)

By mere virtue of being in here, we are united in one thing: our love of all things reef and marine. Of course we cannot always agree, but like I said, that makes it INTERESTING to talk it out! For example, there is really nothing interesting in the following conversation:

A: "This rock is purple."
B: "Yes, this is rock is purple."
End of debate.

Whereas:

A: "This rock is purple."
B: "Are you colourblind? It's pink!"
C: "What a bunch of silly nitwits. Clearly, it's MAUVE."
A: "Who the heck are you?"
B: "Welcome to Canreef"
D: "Hey, when I picked up my rock yesterday, a worm came out. What is that?"
A: "Can we get back to my rock???"
etc.

:lol:

Tony, did you know that you spelled believe incorrectly?

............... :P

Mitch :D

(sorry...just trying to lighten things up.... :lol: )

I have told him that many times, but he says he will spell it any way he wants. :D

Yup ... fully aware that I spelled a word incorrectly. Aint gonna change it either!! :P

Actually ... Basically the way I type, when I type an "i" and an "e" the two fingers used are my right hand middle finger and my left hand middle finger (and ... no ... I am not going where you think I am going with this). Anyways these are the two strongest typing fingers, and as the two strongest members of two competing clans ... er .. hands, they like to out-macho each other so they like to have a little competition to see who can be first. It is essentially what is known in real-time programming as a "race condition". Being that I am right handed, my left hand has a chip on its shoulder and as such, has a lot of spite, and puts all that is has into the race, and as a result, tends to win these races.

Um ... maybe I really shouldn't be divulging how my mental processes work, for fear of being committed. I also talk to my cats, and they talk back to me. They usually tell me that they think I am crazy.

As a software developer, I generally end up relying on my compilers to catch my typos. But this isn't programming so I have no net. :P

That gentlemen is the crux of the whole dilemma. When I tell you that you misspelled something, I do it for fun. You know me relatively well, so you come back and tell me I am a dillhole for telling you that. Problem solved. But when someone who is 800 miles away, and has never met me calls me a nitpicking dillhole, I get upset. Ther is an old quote which states something like "Know thine enemy" 'Nuff said, Okay. :?: :D :wink:

Now all we need is for Kim, and Doug to add their somewhat acerbic comments, and we will have beaten this to death quite nicely.

Oh and one more thing, a riddle. Do you know the difference between meat and fish? Ans. If you beat your fish it dies. :D :D :D :D :D

I don't mean to be critical here but I was checking on the definition of dillhole in my word processor...and the only thing that came up was "drill hole". Knowing that you didn't mean drill hole I checked with my thesaurus and it suggested (among other things) "drink greedily". Is that true Bob :lol:

whereas:

now what was it that Tony was on about

Dillhole - That seventies show.