Rich Z said:Hmm, maybe I should make it a requirement of anyone to be placed on the moderator's selection list to define "moderation" to me so I (and everyone else) know where they stand on that concept.
I've read the entire thread many times, Susan. But I just finished re-reading the section you specify.Susan said:Just asking, Dean...have you gone back to the beginning of that thread and read it again down to mike171's "offensive" response?
But that was Leandrae's sole problem with Mike's post, and you posted this in that thread:Susan said:I don't think it's his response, as such, that was the problem, for me anyway.
If you're on Leandrae's side as you stated, and you think Mike's post should have been said a bit differently, then his response was a problem for you.Susan From "Eggs" Thread said:I happen to be on Leandrae's side...I think things could have...and should have been said a bit differently. You've got rep points!
Now it seems that you're not just saying that Mike's reply shouldn't have been worded the way it was, but that it shouldn't have been made at all. Maybe your opinion now includes both of those elements. I respectfully disagree.Susan said:I found the sort of off-topic nature of it more the problem, as well as it's wording in that instance, plus all the nastiness that resulted from it further along in the thread.
So if I ask what I should do to care for a severely-kinked hatchling, a poster shouldn't tell me that euthanasia is an option-- maybe the best option? After all, I asked how to care for it, not how to euthanize it. How far do you go with this kind of thinking to keep things absolutely on topic? There may be members out here who don't appreciate us having this off-topic discussion in this very thread. And I'm really not trying to be obstinate when I say that I still don't see any problem with Mike's post exactly as it's written. It's an open discussion board.Had the O.P. asked about all the options available about what to do with the eggs, or had mike171 gave some sort of an "intro" to his remark, perhaps it would have sat better with me.
Neither the O.P. nor the other posters leading up to Mike's post mention the possibilty that the eggs may not have been viable. The O.P. mentions something about doubting that they will make it, but hoping that they will be fine. I don't think the possiblity of slugs was even mentioned until I did so later in the thread. I think you've read a lot into Mike's post that isn't there. To say that Mike's post implied that the O.P. was an idiot is a real stretch. And where did his post imply that there was no hope for the eggs? To me, his reply was applicable to live eggs, slugs, or whatever. I don't see where hope comes into it?Susan said:The O.P. already knew that the eggs may or may not be viable, but he was still hoping. That remark basically told the O.P. that he shouldn't even bother hoping, and that he's an idiot for even thinking it.
Excellent post. You'll have my vote, and Susan will too, for that matter. You don't need to think exactly like I do for me to respect you. :cheers:Joejr14 said:I'd assume that most would tell you they'd like to be as hands off as possible. I know that if selected for that I wouldn't WANT to have to be in every thread yelling at people. In fact, most threads don't need any sort of moderation...
This follow-up from Mike himself I think clearly shows that his intent was not to offer a polite opinion or suggestion.desertanimal said:2) Mike's post did NOT say that the O.P. shouldn't even bother hoping, and that he's an idiot for even thinking it. This is what you chose to INFER from Mike's post, and it's really not fair putting what you infer from what someone says on that person. Your inferences could be wrong. Inferences often are. It's always best to ask someone directly if they meant to imply what you have inferred, just to be clear.
Personally, I don't think anyone who can't see that has any right being a moderator on this or any other site. It also didn't help anything that the first response included a list of 6 items, 3 of which were to separate the snakes. Advice and opinions can be given politely and constructively, and are usually more effective when they are. Politeness given is much more likely to result in politeness returned. A moderator has to be able to read obvious or likely intent such as these and diffuse things before they blow up, not say others are just too sensitive, IMHO.mike17l said:If you don't want to do this, you could always crack them into a skillet and scramble them with some bacon.
Duff said:This follow-up from Mike himself I think clearly shows that his intent was not to offer a polite opinion or suggestion.
Personally, I don't think anyone who can't see that has any right being a moderator on this or any other site. It also didn't help anything that the first response included a list of 6 items, 3 of which were to separate the snakes. Advice and opinions can be given politely and constructively, and are usually more effective when they are. Politeness given is much more likely to result in politeness returned. A moderator has to be able to read obvious or likely intent such as these and diffuse things before they blow up, not say others are just too sensitive, IMHO.
I think a definition of moderation from all the nominees would be a great idea.
Totally agreed, and I apologize if I made it sound as if Mike were to blame for it.desertanimal said:1) The nastiness that ensued after Mike's post cannot be blamed on Mike.
desertanimal said:2) Mike's post did NOT say that the O.P. shouldn't even bother hoping, and that he's an idiot for even thinking it. This is what you chose to INFER from Mike's post, and it's really not fair putting what you infer from what someone says on that person. Your inferences could be wrong. Inferences often are. It's always best to ask someone directly if they meant to imply what you have inferred, just to be clear.
To make my point, I inferred from Mike's apparently calculated and completely emotionless "tone" that he was making the point that in that particular situation, there were other, possibly more rational choices that were being overlooked. The tone of his post made me think long and hard about what the most rational choice really was, instead of getting carried away in the emotion of needing to "save" the eggs. Since this is how I took his post, his tone was spot-on, because it was part of the point he was making.
BUT, I don't really know if that's the point he was making with his tone, and neither does any of us. And it's certainly not fair to Mike to get upset with him for what we think his tone implied if we don't check to see if we were right. I agree--things got out of hand in that thread, but none of that can be rightly pinned on Mike's original post.
mike171 said:you could always place the eggs in a brown paper bag, and place the bag in a plastic trash bag, and then place that in a dumpster.[/QUOTE}
The problem was not with idea of throwing the eggs out/euthanizing the embryos/whatever you want to call it. The problem I had was with how that whole idea was brought up in that statement. The O.P. was already aware of the fact that he made a mistake by co-habitation, that his female was too young/small to have been bred, and that he might not get any viable hatchlings from the clutch. What he wanted was some advice he could pass on to possible increase the chance of getting healthy hatchlings. The next several replies not only answered the actual question, but also reiterated the fact that the snakes should be separated (co-habitation is one of those debatable topics anyway) and showed concern for the female. The O.P. responded with thanks for the advice, admitting to the co-hab mistake and saying it had been rectified. Then all of a sudden, the statement. I do admit that "Off-topic" was a bad word choice on my part, but the sudden change from how to help these poor eggs to killing them was a bit uncalled for. A statement such as this one may have more appropriate:
"Since you are away from home and are unsure about the condition of the eggs and starting them properly incubated, another option for you might be to sacrifice the clutch, concentrating your efforts on the health of your female so that you can try your hand at breeding under more optimal conditions for both you and your snakes."
OK, that is a bit sugar-coated and I doubt even I would have said it had I been the one to bring it up. But I hope I'm getting my accurate opinion across on this thing.
To answer your theoretical inquiry on how to care for a severely kinked hatchling...
"Is there any way you could perhaps post a pic of the hatchling? What one person thinks is a severe kink may not be to another. I have hatched out and cared for several kinked hatchlings, giving them away to good homes that I know will not breed them, just in case the kinks are genetic. Basically, their care would be the same as for any other hatchling in most cases. I had one hatchling with a severely kinked tail that I monitored closely at shedding to make sure the shed completely came off. This hatchling had no troubles and is now happy in it's new home with Misty. However, I've also hatched out some hatchlings that are truly so severely kinked that they honestly would have great difficulty doing normal snake things, such as moving or eating. In those cases, I'm afraid the best option would be to humanely euthanize the poor thing."
And as for my statement re: the viability of the eggs and when that was mentioned: Again, perhaps a poor word choice on my part. In the O.P.'s original post, he says he holds little chance of any hatchlings making it but wants to give these poor little mites the best possible chance.. And then in post #7, he doubts the eggs will survive, but he's keeping his fingers crossed. Both of these were before "the statement". That sounds like the O.P. was doing some hoping that the eggs would actually make it, even though he didn't think they would. As a breeder, I'm sure you've had those eggs, or even whole clutches, that you didn't think would make it, but you tried anyway. I know I have. But to be told to just throw them away would indicate that my slight hope was a waste of time, even if deep down, I agreed.
I don't have the time at this moment to continue, so will post this "as is" and hope I have clarified some of my thoughts and statements.
Duff said:This follow-up from Mike himself I think clearly shows that his intent was not to offer a polite opinion or suggestion.
I think you are sufficiently eloquent, Susan. Thanks for the thorough reply. If I could get my time machine working, you wouldn't have had to spend so much of your time on it. Heck, if my time machine was working, I'd be hanging out in a year far before this site's inception, and none of this would matter to me anyway! :grin01: I sincerely apologize for going after you in my previous posts. I didn't mean them that way, but they sure look that way in hindsight. Hopefully you'll see a new Roy/Dean from here on out. He may not be as willing to help, or as quick to right a wrong as the old one, but maybe he and this site will be better off for it anyway. It'll be tough for me to do this, but I'll follow some advice an old boss once gave me: "fake it till you make it!" :shrugs:Susan said:OK Dean, I may not be as eloquent a speaker as you are, and I may have some difficulty in expressing my thoughts so that others fully understand them. Therefore, I will try it again.
Me too Joe. Glad your name is on the list. I know this is a little late to add but I've been out of town since Friday.Roy Munson said:Wow, I really didn't think you had any interest in it. I guess I shouldn't have assumed. I also thought that you didn't have time for it at this point. Had I not made these assumptions, I would have nominated you. In fact, I'm going to go nominate you right now. I hope that people are objective, and that the voting doesn't turn out to be a popularity contest. If the "voters" look back on your contributions here, Joe, I think they'll see that you're as qualified as anyone, and more qualified than many. And there's no question regarding how much you care about this site. :cheers: