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Post by sismith42 on Jun 22, 2007 9:16:45 GMT -8
I know it isn't done here very often, but is there any concensus about commenting on threads that are a year or two old?
I know people occationally suggest searching (having started browsing old posts for info on housing since I've become really curious about the whys and hows that came about for how much space is needed)... I wonder if a forum FAQ would be usefull...? possibly just a sticky somwhere (everywhere?) with links to good posts on topics that come up a lot? (It's annoying, having to scroll past 5 or 6 stickies, hence the suggestion to bundle them, but that's just one opinion)
It seems like every page has a "is this tank big enough" "5 gallons per gerbil is fine" type thread, but not v many of them have much reason beyond "it's common knowlege" ;D
Steph
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Post by ashgerbil on Jun 22, 2007 9:46:49 GMT -8
Yeah I agree, nice ideas! I'll talk about it with the mods and we'll compile an FAQ page (because I agree, it's annoying having to reply to the same sort of threads over and over). It'll be useful for newbies too. Perhaps we could have an FAQ thread for each board? It would save alot of trouble in the future, and would stop bad advice being given out  There was the idea to lock all old threads (which I liked the idea of). We'll discuss it and we'll see what we can get done |
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Post by gerbilmummy on Jun 22, 2007 10:16:04 GMT -8
I don't think any of these ideas will stop 'bad advice' being given out. the only way you can manage that is by the staff letting the members know when they think they have given bad advice, i think this aids learning, don't forget there are differences in opinion on how to look after gerbils and i enjoy the freedom this forum currently gives to its members in expressing these differences, hence i think why you have such an active membership!
just my thoughts ;D
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Post by ashgerbil on Jun 22, 2007 11:06:09 GMT -8
Yes, I mean we're not just going to do the FAQ threads and that's it, we'll always be here to correct anything. The FAQ threads will just be there for people to pick up information that they need quickly and easily and to clarify information. No, the FAQ threads would not eliminate all bad information, there will always be some hanging around somewhere, but it may help  We can tell people when they're giving bad information out in a thread, but sometimes it's ignored and the bad information is still given out because people either havn't seen the corrected information or have just forgotten. The thread eventually gets lost after a couple of weeks and the corrected advise goes with it. Having some facts stickied at the top would help to stop this I believe. People will remember it and see it and it'd verify some stuff. Perhaps we could have some 'gerbil myths' on the FAQ thread(s) so that people know what's fact and what's not. It's not like the FAQ pages would be put there and that would be the end of it. Everything could be up for discussion, people are open to their opinions I agree, I like the fact that people have different opinions and like to share them, that's what the forums is for! However there is a difference between bad advise and just an opinion. I mean it is just going to be 'Frequently Asked Questions'. There's not too many tbh. In the end it may not turn out to be sustainable at all, we need to think carefully about what needs to be done. Now don't get me wrong, it's not just going to be a 'quick fix'  we're still going to be here to correct information and give out good advice and well, do our moderating jobs! Remember that us mods can't go round correcting every single thing, alot of stuff we don't see, we simply don't have the time to read every thread. We need you to help us too, don't be afraid to speak up or contact one of us if you think some info is a little squiffy. Anyways, more opinions people! This forum is for you! If you don't like it then we won't have it |
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Post by sismith42 on Jun 22, 2007 12:15:22 GMT -8
To be honest, I was thinking more like the brilliant "what foods are safe and what aren't" post, with how it get's (or at least, used to get) edited and updated as and when people wonder about/think of new food or people with more experience chime in. I like how it also has room for comments, being just a post, so if someone has a question or disagrees, they can easily discuss it... so what I envision/propose would be something like this (for food): List of What's good and bad to feed a gerbil: gerbilforum.proboards21.com/index.cgi?board=food&action=display&thread=1118758681What brand of food: gerbilforum.proboards21.com/index.cgi?board=food&action=display&thread=1182191477how to feed gerbils: gerbilforum.proboards21.com/index.cgi?board=food&action=display&thread=1178585180and so on as a single sticky... chances are, the threads in it will be the top few, anyway, so people with new questions/ideas can chime in... but not as general as the "tips on gerbils things", which is a bit too general to keep going back to (but nice as a sticky, to read like a static website... Edited to add: just revisited, and what I think I dislike is the list of one or two lines, where it could just be "gerbil toys" and then a list of single words, etc... also, while it's admirable for her to give credit for each suggestion, it's a bit wordy for my taste... I'm sure there's others who would say the "what to feed gerbils" one is boring and too terse, though ;D) Steph ps-- I hope the FAQs reflect the varied opinion, like the whole "should you use a wheel" debate! |
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on Jun 23, 2007 4:36:05 GMT -8
I like the idea of a FAQ and one that reflects the varied opinion. As Ashgerbil said we will discuss this among the staff members.
And we will never get rid of "bad advise" completely. Everyone who uses the internet (or other sources, like books and papers) should not take everything for truth right away. Develop your own opinion and always look to the different varied opinions. Use several sources! Think for yourself!
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Post by velcro on Jan 23, 2008 13:56:26 GMT -8
I have a question about commenting on old threads... just wondering what is considered old. Obviously a thread started a year or two ago is way too old to comment on, but is something that's posted about a month or two ago too old to comment on? I'm fairly new here and I'd just like to avoid as many newbie mistakes as possible ;D
thanks!
p.s. I didn't want to start a new topic b/c I think this question is relevant to this thread.
p.p.s. I love that F.A.Q. section! It helped me out a lot when I first got my gerbils!!
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Post by AndreaS15 on Jan 23, 2008 14:36:49 GMT -8
We are looking into posting this information into the FAQs section.
So far, a year or two is way old to post to, but a couple months is not. A person could want to know an outcome from a post a month or two old, and that is ok.
This is being discussed with the Moderators ATM and will soon be defined. Sorry for the wait.
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We can tell people when they're giving bad information out in a thread, but sometimes it's ignored and the bad information is still given out because people either havn't seen the corrected information or have just forgotten. The thread eventually gets lost after a couple of weeks and the corrected advise goes with it. Having some facts stickied at the top would help to stop this I believe. People will remember it and see it and it'd verify some stuff. Perhaps we could have some 'gerbil myths' on the FAQ thread(s) so that people know what's fact and what's not.
we're still going to be here to correct information and give out good advice and well, do our moderating jobs! Remember that us mods can't go round correcting every single thing, alot of stuff we don't see, we simply don't have the time to read every thread. We need you to help us too, don't be afraid to speak up or contact one of us if you think some info is a little squiffy.
