registering on the forum - :-(

[Mark Pennell]

OK just of late I have had a great deal of new registrations to the forum, who have clearly not read the rules before registering.

Of course these registrations are not accepted and most 99.8% re register and all is well and generally post a email to me saying the did not realize or notice the rules. Which is fine and appreciated.

However today I received what could only be described and a rather rude and insulting email, from a failed account registration. Now the automated email sent out to such - is polite and fully explains the reason for the non acceptance. More of an apology than anything else.

Now this email has got me thinking - either the plastering of the rules is not enough or the big announcement at the top is unreadable. Or perhaps I think there visible enough but are not.

I have two choices make this forum visible to only registered users, and ask people to email me before joining. Or try and make it easier to see the already prominent rules...

If anyone has problems finding the rules and regs please let me know any suggestions that might just make it more clearer.

Also if you are thinking of registering and have major issues about our rules concerning the real name campaign don't register and get so upset that you are not accepted that you end up emailing me to complain. Just read the rules - you don't have to accept them this terminate the registration process, saves you getting your hair off over nothing and making my day even more c**p than it was when I got up this morning!

Regards
Admin

[J M Clegg]

Mark, chin up mate - As always you are doing a brilliant job.

If I could make a small suggestion. If you do decide to change the forums, is there any chance of a newbie forum and a shall we say, a more senior forum?

I don’t mean to be rude, but the reason I ask this is because of late there are a lot of nonsense threads appearing - things like - "I just got a new sling" and "today my spider molted" If many of us, myself included added every time we found a newly molted spider - we would be placing a new thread every day or so, it's the same with getting new spiders. Whilst I am all in favour of newbie enthusiasm - I think genuinely interesting threads are being neglected. The recent Chicken Spider thread is a prime example of a superb thread and that captivated many of us for several weeks.

I personally don’t have much interest in a molting spider, I get lots every week. I don't wish to offend anyone leaving "new sling" and "successful molt" threads - I understand and appreciate their enthusiasm. All I am saying is that they do seem to dilute the really meaty threads. I know I am not alone in this opinion.

Just an idea - I will duck now from all the flack I am about to receive!!!! I reiterate that I am not intending to offend those that may leave such threads as mentioned above.

Jay.

[Elaine Ross]

Hi Mark
When I first registered I found the Rules and Regulations without problem. I also dont mind using my real name.

You could have the Rules and Regulations heading in Red like your name. It might grab their attention. If people dont like the rules then why join?

No wonder you are frustrated


Jay
While I completely understand your point about newbies posting moults, new aquisitions etc (I know I do but not so much since your last post on the matter) I don't feel it would be right. You were new to the hobby at one time so I'm sure you must understand the excitement that goes along with it.
I read all the posts and while I don't understand some of the more educated ones, I am here to learn and enjoy. Having a forum for experienced keepers would make newbies feel very segregated. Being a newbie, I wouldn't feel welcome under those circumstances on a more experienced keepers forum all because I still find the trivial stuff exciting.

Wouldn't it be more beneficial for experienced keepers to posts threads that newbies can learn by ie. identification, sexing, breeding, the pro's and con's of the different aspects of husbandry. Those type of threads would be of interest and also a learning experience for all.

I found the Chicken Spider thread fascinating, even if I didnt understand some of it and would love to see more of that type of discussion.

Just my 2 pennies worth.
Elaine
ps. Jay, if you were to join the BTS you would see that there is an Advanced Discussion forum.

[Ray Hale]

I would like to make a couple of comments on thhis thread.

1. Mark is quite right , the rules are plain enough to see. We do not impose such rules to be clever or find out who is posting but to protect those viewers who may be underage or vunerable. Many excellent friendships have been formed over the years by the interaction that has occured between forum members. I have made many friends over the years and feel there is much benefit from registering and using your real name on forums. I am proud of what I do for the hobby and to be reasonably well known in the spider world. If you do not use your real name Mark will delete your application. This is not his personal choice but a decision made by the BTS Commitee. I get sick of looking at forums that have often rude and liabelous comments posted by users such as " Deathangel" or "Spiderslayer" ( Apologies if these are actual usernames). I myself have had many a disagreement with such posters who then skulk away safe in the knowledge that they can insult me again under a different guise. Very brave!
Come on show some sense here. If your a newbie then stand up and be counted. No one will ever be ridiculed on this site for lack of knowledge. God knows we were all beginners once.!!!!!!!

secondly I agree and disargree with Jay.

The forum of late has had a lot of newbie posts and this can only be a good thing for the hobby and yes I do get a liitle bored with the "new sling" posts but there is a place for them on the forum. I remeber acquiring my first Avic (197 and how I wanted to tell the world of course in those days we had now one to tell so we formed a club and wrote to ourselves. So I think we should have a seperate section for newboe posts rather than a senior section. what do you think. Another idea is rather than just posting what you have lets have some articles about their habits . Any information is useful even if its already been done. Like any hobby that is as old as ours most ideas have already been thought of but not everyone has the same thoughts....

Get writing you lot

Ray Hale ( Real Name)

[Mark Pennell]

Well well

I posted this thread late last night with the intention of most likely deleting it this morning. Now reading the replies I think it will stay for a while.

Elaine - thank you for confirming that the rules are easy to find. Sometimes its hard to see the wood from the trees.

Jay - Thanks for the support, I have added a advance discussion forum as Elaine stated, however at the moment you have to be in the BTS Member group, which of course has added benefits of a member gallery.

As this has not been used yet I might just kick it of tonight see if we can get a good discussion going on it.

Ray - Thanks dude nuff said!

Very best regards
Mark

[Elaine Ross]

Ray
I totally agree with the use of real names on the forum. I prefer talking to a person rather than a made up name that people use to hide behind. Its also very much in the best interest of the youngsters.
It would also be great to have some articles about habits, husbandry, breeding etc but us newbies wouldnt know where to start really. We have a lot to learn so would take our lead from the more experienced members. An experienced keeper writing an article would be an ideal way for newbies to ask questions or be able to see in our own spiders some of the behaviours etc that have been mentioned. Its a learning curve for us who are new to the hobby.


Mark
Starting off the Advanced forum would be great (I need a password ) so long as us newbies can ask questions about the discussion or terminology we dont understand. I'm all for it and ready and willing to learn if you experienced keepers are up for the task . You all have a chance here to show us the more indepth side to the hobby that we may not get the chance to learn elsewhere.

Elaine

[J M Clegg]

Hi Elaine,

I thought your edited P.S. "ps. Jay, if you were to join the BTS you would see that there is an Advanced Discussion forum." Was unnecessary. Leaving your thread to go and see whether I was a fully paid up member of the BTS, or not, was a tad underhand!
I have always thought that being a regular contributor to the forums, attendee of events and 30+ years experience of keeping insects and now of course arachnids was a reasonable contribution. However taking your point in question, if you feel that my dipping my hand in my pocket to "join the club" as it were, would then qualify me to express my opinion I will gladly do so. Perhaps it is time I put my money where my typing is.

My points regarding the current thread patterns are not intended to segregate or limit newbies or their enthusiasm - quite the opposite. I think newbie enthusiasm is what Tarantula keeping needs in the UK. I have personally spent a lot of time introducing new keepers to this fascinating pursuit. Many of the members writing in these forums got their first spiders via me. All I am asking is that if it is possible, we also have a place where the less relevant threads are not taking up space. Advice asked by a less experienced keeper is always something (where time allows) that I will try and help with, indeed recently I asked for help identifying a spider and was duly obliged. Somebody telling us they just ordered a new sling from the Spidershop, or telling us their B.Emila just successfully molted is not really of interest. All spiders must molt – they have been doing it for millions of years. It’s nothing new!

Like I said in my original thread – I wasn’t intending to offend those who did it.

[Tomas Whitehouse]

Two pence worth

Hi,

Being a total beginner and also very recently joining this forum, I made the mistake of failing to see the Real Name's rule.
Maybe it is because most forums on the web don't normally have that requirement and that is why it goes unnoticed. Folk just take for granted that a 'username' is all that is required.
When I received my auto mail informing me that I had not been accepted the first thing that sprang to mind was previous threads I remember reading concerning fraudulent breeders and con artist advertising rare species, naturally it made sense to provide your real name with this type of forum.

Mark - I think Elaine has a good point about the rule being highlighted in a bright colour, this may help.
If an earlier notification upon signing up for an account isn't possible (I can't remember if there was one when I signed up), then the red lettering may assist.

Mr Clegg,

I am a member of many online forums, mostly fly fishing and other related activities (I do expect an onslaught of giggles and tweed cap japery).
The principle attitude towards beginners is quite unified and I think the result is positive and successful, i.e the arrival of newcomers are beginners is embraced and encouraged, they are the future of the hobby, they will still be here when we are not.
I myself have posted the 'nonsense threads' you mentioned in your earlier post, it is possible that if the very kind seniors hadn't seen these posts perhaps I may have made a mistake which could have harmed my new arrival?
'Noobies' rely on the 'seniors' wisdom and education and I think it is probable that segregating the two groups may cause a percentage of 'seniors to ignore the 'noobie' forum. I get the feeling that, maybe, you yourself Mr Clegg would not frequent the 'Noobie' forum that often.
Perhaps the idea of having more 'senior' topics would be a more viable option, instead of splitting them down the middle entirely.
I don't think it would cause so much an inconveinience when sifting through the new posts concerning members new slings and molting announcements to find a more interesting thread, after all the molting records could one day (if not already) be valuable information, (see the 'barometric molting' thread on arachnoboards), and in addition, Stan Schultz's two pence - Publish. publish, publish.
I could be totally wrong but thought it worth mentioning.

I am eternally grateful to the very kind and informative folk who have endured my "nonsense threads' and have guided me to a seemingly healthy specimen.
This forum, unlike others, out there is by far the best in my opinion.

Best Regards

Tomas

[Elaine Ross]

Jay
I'm sorry you felt that my added part at the end of my post was underhand. It certainly wasnt meant that way and I in no way meant to hurt feelings. The PS was added because I went to check if the forum I was going to mention was definitely in the members section.

I also took no offence at your suggestion for a forum for newbies to post. I was only trying to throw out thoughts to add to what you said. I didnt mean any offence by my posts either. Its sometimes difficult to get nuisances into a post where as face to face speaking you would have seen I took no malice nor meant any.

Kind regards
Elaine

[J M Clegg]

Hi Elaine, clearly neither of us meant any offence and the air is clear. Thanks for your kind response.

Thomas - I would certainly visit any newbie forum, and if I felt I could help someone out who was asking for it - as always I would try and help. Perhaps I am being lazy, but my point is that I would prefer not to have to filter through lots of nonsense threads to find the interesting ones. An additional "senior" forum would be a better place for the more meaty and exciting threads.

A newbie forum that allowed the basic questions and easy answers would also be very useful for newbies. A senior forum would be of more benefit to others. We live in an information age and dissemination of that information is key.

I may be mistaken, and I don’t mind being corrected if that’s the case. But I suspect that few people who post molt threads will be scientifically cataloguing the molts they are writing about.

Time of molt, duration or molt, humidity, temperature etc. There often just threads for the sake of it. Like I have previously written, that's fine if people want to do that - all I am asking is that we can have place away from that for those who find it of little interest.

Mark - well done mate - I love a good thread!!!!!!!

Jay

[Tomas Whitehouse]

A very good thread indeed!

Thomas - I would certainly visit any newbie forum, and if I felt I could help someone out who was asking for it - as always I would try and help.
Jay

Then I respectfully retract my assumption and apologise. I think lazyness is to harsh a word but upon the first few reads there was a distinct undertone of frustration with threads and posts that seemed a little out of context with someone of your profile. I do agree to a degree with certain points you have raised but also fear the consiquence of dividing the forums.
I still think that rather than two forums a senior topics or advanced topics would be better. (If this isn't already what you recomended Jay).

With regards to posting molting records and status:

I suspect that few people who post molt threads will be scientifically cataloguing the molts they are writing about.....
I.E
Time of molt, duration or molt, humidity, temperature etc.
Jay

I think is an excellent point. Anyone seeking information on molting records and success or failure rates would benefit with a more in depth report, everyone who keeps a tarantula would already have this information at hand anyways, the question is: Would folk think it's too much extra fuss?

This is a good thread!

Tomas

[Colin D Wilson]

Mark,
you must have the patience of an angel... the amout of "welcome newest members" i see with nick names is astonishing considering the rules that Elaine said were (and are) easy to follow if you take the time to read through (which you should do !!) The time it takes to sort this out delves deep into your free time i would imagine. As for rude and insulting remarks when told to re-register...do we really want people with this attitude on the forum anyway?

Jay,
Great idea about the advanced forum, although myself not wanting to segregate the newcomer from the advanced keeper too much as they need the opportunity to ask relevant questions. as i have said earlier i have congratulated on moults, posted newcomers to my collection etc, this has been my little attempt to include the newcomer to my (and your)world. You're right though, if we (the 20, 30+ year veterans) posted about every moult the boards would be full and reading through would be tedious to say the least.

Ray,
You're spot on about the nick name being a very brave way of hiding behind for any detramental comments people feel the need to make. I see this on other boards which i visit to "try" and find additional information. It gets so tedious dredging through the swarvey comments to find info you're looking for that i often give up. No disrespect intended to the members of other sites that post informatively.

I have decided to only be a full member of this society and registered on Michaels (where i am a beneficiary member...even though i've not posted on there as yet, sorry MJ) I think i'll be able to gain any extra knowledge (and offer some) with just these two.

Mark (again)
If you do kick off tonight, what password scenario will you be using (the last journal one or will you email a new one or do we use our password used to access the forum?

[Michael Seils]

When it comes to the rules and regulations, they are perfectly clear. Its more the problem of people just not reading them properly. Its just unusual for a lot of people to come across a forum with a naming policy, I don't really think there's much more you can do.

As for the suggestion of a newbie section, as a begginer myself I think that is a good idea. I can see how it might make some people feel separated from the community, but I sometimes feel like I might be wasting peoples time when I ask a question on these boards. I use the search and try to find a solution first, but even when I can't, I'm always fairly certain what I've said probably came up a dozen times before. A newbie section where these type of posts are to be made might help.

Having a newbie section might also help prevent the number of repeated subjects too, if there is a newbie section where all the begginer questions are located it might make it easier for someone to find the answer they are looking for because all the begginer stuff has been grouped together. As long as the more advanced users still have a look in the newbie section I think it would be a good idea, cause what good is a newbie section going to be if there are no more experienced keepers in there to help us out?

Sorry if that was a bit long winded, and great work on the forums. It's helped me out a lot in the short time I've been keeping tarantulas.

[Mark Pennell]

Mark,
you must have the patience of an angel...


Mark (again)
If you do kick off tonight, what password scenario will you be using (the last journal one or will you email a new one or do we use our password used to access the forum?

Colin
The password has been removed from the BTS Members Advance forum.
Yes I have the patiences of saint!... however its running pretty thin at the moment.

Cheers
Mark

[Colin D Wilson]

however its running pretty thin at the moment.

You have many, many people on here who support your actions, I think i'm not the only one who thinks you do a good job !!!

illegitimi non carborundum !!!

Colin