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Controversial Topic #2: Advice

R

Roy Munson

New member
Note: Most of this has been cannibalized from a post I made in another thread.

I don't understand a poster giving advice where they have zero or very limited experience. I know a great deal about egg-binding (dystocia) from the abundance of lit I've read about it. But having never dealt with it in any snake I've owned, I don't give advice on threads that deal with the topic. Heck, I've hatched ten or twelve clutches in the old days, and I still don't feel qualified to dispense advice on that topic either. But I see young teens who who are incubating their first accidental clutch giving other keepers advice on breeding and incubation. If you've only read about a topic somewhere, and you have no firsthand experience, what's wrong with shutting the heck up if you don't really have a clue what you're talking about? To me, this question applies equally to those who give silly husbandry advice too.

Edited to add: Emphasis MINE.
 
LOL...I agree totally!

I tried to give you some rep :)
You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Roy Munson again.
 
I totally agree with you Dean. It seems like I hardly post at all, except for when I actually know what I'm talking about. And considering I've only had corns a little over a year; I don't know much just yet. Just a tid-bit of that and a dabble of this. Mostly I just read threads and comment on pics, and occasionally I'll throw in a piece of advice to a newbie that I've had work for me.
 
I am very new to raising snakes, which is why my advice to all new members is:

"Welcome to the site!!!!!!!! There is a lot of information here. Be sure to read the FAQ section in the forums. They answer a lot of questions.
There are a lot of great people here. Everybody is always willing to help."

This would solve the problem of bad advise if people would search and do research before asking.

Sorry I do not really think that answered to question but it is my two cents.
 
"You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Roy Munson again"

Although i have been guilty of this in the past i do agree...

I wouldn't dream of replying to any threads with regard to breeding or eggs or genetics etc unless its picture threads...

In fact i rarley open them.

I just post a lot tis all... Random free time mostly
 
Well I agree mostly, but on the other hand . . .

I am a newbie, but I will occasionally give advice with a disclaimer stating that I am new, or that I'm not an expert, or some such thing.

I usually do this when it's something completely straightforward and I've read so many people say it that I can safely parrot it, like, "Most people would suggest you separate your snakes."

I also usually only do it in circumstances where I'm guessing the people who know everything about everything are tired of writing the same old thing over and over again and probably, therefore, won't address it. Sometimes I feel like being friendly to people who should just be doing searches and so I'll write a reply instead of telling them to do a search.

Then somtimes, I post advice when it's something I've dealt with but maybe others haven't, like what to do about living in a place that's hotter than you know what.

I know this probably isn't what you're getting at, but I do always feel a little nervous about posting such advice because I don't want people thinking, "Sheesh. Darn newbie. What does SHE know . . ."

(of course, I guess that's better than if they think, "Sheesh. Darn newbie. What does HE know . . ." :) LOL!)
 
desertanimal said:
I am a newbie, but I will occasionally give advice with a disclaimer stating that I am new, or that I'm not an expert, or some such thing.

I usually do this when it's something completely straightforward and I've read so many people say it that I can safely parrot it, like, "Most people would suggest you separate your snakes."

I also usually only do it in circumstances where I'm guessing the people who know everything about everything are tired of writing the same old thing over and over again and probably, therefore, won't address it. Sometimes I feel like being friendly to people who should just be doing searches and so I'll write a reply instead of telling them to do a search.

Then somtimes, I post advice when it's something I've dealt with but maybe others haven't, like what to do about living in a place that's hotter than you know what.

I know this probably isn't what you're getting at, but I do always feel a little nervous about posting such advice because I don't want people thinking, "Sheesh. Darn newbie. What does SHE know . . ."

(of course, I guess that's better than if they think, "Sheesh. Darn newbie. What does HE know . . ." :) LOL!)
Click to expand...
I appreciate your reply :) . New keepers can be a good resource too. Those who truly have a passion for the hobby are fresh from their research, and may often present data forgotten by the "old hands". I've seen it. The fact that you use a disclaimer when you are not speaking from experience speaks volumes about your common sense, and it separates YOU from many posters. The fact that you offer specialized info (e.g. desert temps) where applicable only proves YOUR value to this discussion board. :)
 
Tula_Montage said:
"You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Roy Munson again"
Click to expand...
Same here. :headbang:
Guess I just don't give out enough "Attaboys". There are a few Red Dots I'd like to give that pertain to this subject, though... :grin01:
 
Great thread, Ok I do give advice sometimes and I don't consider myself an expert by any means.
I'm all for the newbies sitting back and letting the 'old hands' dispense advice, except that a lot of the experts just don't read the 'plz help I think my snake might be gravid' kind of threads, are tired of the same old questions over and over and can be a little curt with the 'just do a search!' type replies.
Granted it's not that hard to search and there's little excuse for expecting other people to drop everything else that's going on in their lives to 'spoon feed' the people who can't seem to research on their own. But then all the advice being given ends up being from others with not much experience. For this reason I do try to help sometimes if I feel I have anything to add.
Even if the advice being given comes from a 'newbie' it is often sound advice if that newbie has taken the time to read up on a subject and that can really make a difference to somebody.
It's the people who are totally winging it with the 'I dunno this worked for me though' followed by terrible advice that really gets me, but I think this forum is self-policing in that those kind of replies seldom go unchallenged.
 
Shep151 said:
Same here. :headbang:
Guess I just don't give out enough "Attaboys". There are a few Red Dots I'd like to give that pertain to this subject, though... :grin01:
Click to expand...

How do you actually give red dots, you need a certain amount of rep first eh?
Iv tried to research the points system and nada :shrugs:
 
Well I agree with all of you I too am a newbie, but answer qualifying that fact. Even if it is to answer a question which has just been answered on another thread. I do see however where newbie 'x' asks a question and newbie 'y' answers and than somebody with a lots of experience answers and of course it sounds like 'x' takes 'y's advice as more knowledgable. Also confusing to me was I looked at rep points to see if person knew what they were talking about, until I found how they are achieved. :crazy02: susan
 
susang said:
Also confusing to me was I looked at rep points to see if person knew what they were talking about, until I found how they are achieved. :crazy02: susan
Click to expand...

Which, I suppose, is why red dots should be given when deserved.
 
I believe there used to be 'red dots' but the system was abused so they were discontinued, you can still report bad posts but I don't think you can give out negative rep points.
 
shed'n my skin said:
I believe there used to be 'red dots' but the system was abused so they were discontinued, you can still report bad posts but I don't think you can give out negative rep points.
Click to expand...
Yep, and please don't think I'm wishing it was the old way. I like it just fine how it is, it's less messy! :)
 
I, too, need to spread some more around.

Great point Dean. And what is worse than these posters? People who follow their advice because it's easier than what the experienced keepers are suggesting. :headbang:
 
As a newbie to snakes and to the board I always try to research my questions before starting a new thread. If I am unable to find what I am looking for, I will post a question in the hopes that someone experienced will respond. I do see a lot of responses from other newbies and I try to take them with a grain of salt. I have yet to respond to anyone elses questions because I have no idea what I am talking about. Normally the only posts I respond to are generic threads or picture threads. I can only hope that someday I can be as knowledgeable as my "elders" and be able to pass along some of the wisdom I gather along the way :crazy02: LOL!
 
Hmm...I've only been at this for a year and a half and I've absorbed everything that I could about keeping corns and anything corn related. That said, if it's not something I've done myself I'll usually preface it with something along the lines of "most people think..." or "I've heard this recommended a lot...". Then again things that have worked for me I'll usually say they worked for me but there might be a better way. I don't pretend to know everything but I do feel comfortable answering most questions. Lately I haven't posted as much because life caught up with me but I also don't want to echo what others have already posted too much. I know much of the time I'll read a thread and know exactly what I would say to it only to see that someone beat me to it already. That's fine and I don't feel the need to say the same thing again, I might add but hopefully not repeat too much. I think all of that made sense :shrugs: I get what you're saying though Dean (and everyone else) :)

~Katie
 
Great thread Roy. I meant to give you rep on this one, but put it on "King Part 2" thread...lol Anyway, I agree totally with not giving "advice" on things people know little about. I find myself trying to post on random things in this community, so that I can be a part of it. I know I don't have as much to offer as some of the others around here, so I just respond when I can. I think some of the folks might be grasping at anything, so that they may interact in some way...not knowing they could be dispensing advice that will actually harm the person's animal and not help.
There is also a fine line between "right" and "wrong". A topic I see that flares tempers and "walks that line" is cohabitation. I think, while most would agree that it is not recommended, some might say that it's ok as long as they are fed separately, etc. Those that even offer that advice are usually flamed in some way or it turns into a debate. This kind of instance could be looked at by some as bad advice(for even suggesting cohabitation). I have noticed that many in this community will politely offer a better alternative..ie. the correct one. As long as that happens, all is well..the problem lies when the only response is the wrong one and it is possibly followed. So, all you experts check up on us..please! :) :cheers: Wow, I kind of went on and on....
 
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