Controversial Topic #2: Advice

[marty.warwick]

Ahhh 'Dean's Controversial Series' I've been waiting for the next one.. and it's a very interesting topic.

I haven't posted nearly as much as I'd used to. I never give advice that I haven't experience myself. Instead I wait for someone more experienced to answer the post, and learn from it for the future.

The posts involving husbandary and health etc. are only replied to if I know the answer and have experience in it. Or if the OP is asking for idea/opinions.

 

[princess]

I've been doing this cornsnake dance for about 3 years now so I'm still pretty wet behind the ears when compared to a lot of the other members on the forum. I enjoy learning new things about my hobby and I acknowledge that I still have plenty to learn.

I (once again!) totally agree with you Dean! One must some level of 'real' experience to be able to comment or advise on a topic...but on the other hand, you will find plenty of 'old-timers' who have been doing the same things, the same wrong way for 20 years and even though logic or better common sense would tell us they're wrong, if it works for them...it can't be too wrong.

I do agree however that some over the 'fresher' members around here sometimes do hand on recycled advice rather then the better method of linking to an informative post by an experienced keeper.


....At least most of these new members actually own a snake!!!! :grin01:

 

[kimbyra]

Great topic Dean! I too have to spread the rep points around first. lol

When I first came on here, I didn't even know there was a search function :bang: , so old timers please be patient with new comers. They are new explorers of this great and useful site.
With that said, MAN I hate when people who don't know that much about snake keeping give bad advice!!! Why do they do that? I mean they have to know they are inexperienced right? I guess there are a lot of people who are egocentric, think they know everything, don't read the FAQ's and good advice, want Attention etc... Arg!
For newbies to repeat good advice they've read is great, especially when I've noticed that some people who have asked for advice are ignored by old timers (because they've had to answer the same question over and over in other threads I'm sure).
But if you don't know... for goodness sake don't give advice!!! Suggest the poster read the FAQ sections if you wanna help. Geesh.

 

[kimbyra]

I'd like to add that, yeah, I'm pretty much still a newbie. I've also given advice here and there, but (I think) always from a combination of my own husbandry experiences, advice I've recieved (or read) from experienced keepers, and from what I've read from books (like Kathy Love's "Corn Snake Manual") and reliable caresheets. I don't understand WHY people who are GUESSING, or just don't know but are thinking about the situation, would give advice at all (other than read the FAQ's or a caresheet). It drives me NUTS, which is why I'm double posting.

 

[desertanimal]

When I first came on here, I didn't even know there was a search function :bang: , so old timers please be patient with new comers.

That seems very odd to me for two reasons. One, because an informational forum would be expected to have a search function. And two, since no matter what forum you're in, it's right at the top of the page, highlighted by a little white upside-down triangle.

:shrugs:

Maybe I just tune in more to upside-down triangles than most.

 

[Roy Munson]

When I first came on here, I didn't even know there was a search function :bang: , so old timers please be patient with new comers. They are new explorers of this great and useful site.

Access to the search function was the REASON I joined. So I got great husbandry advice and keeper/breeder tips from the real experts around here who rarely bother answering those questions anymore. Why would I start a question thread, and sift through the replies of novice keepers who have a single snake that they bought two months ago? I'd rather read the advice already given by the likes of Connie H., Chuck P., Kathy L., Carol H., Susan, CAV, Joejr., Rich Z., etc., etc..

When I suggest that a new member use the search function, I'm trying to be as helpful as possible. I want the new members to access the valuable opinions that have already been given and that have helped me so much. I resent the fact that the suggestion is sometimes viewed as me being a "search Nazi".

 

[kimbyra]

I SO didn't mean to imply anything!

I was just talking about MY experience. Not everyone is computer/internet savvy. A lot of people are new to using a comp for other reasons thatn work and shopping. I had only looked at a couple of "forum's" before this one, and even though I am the type of person that reads a shampoo bottle, I don't notice every little thing on a website. I'm not the only one either. I look for what I need, and surf on. I found the search function on here by reading someones advice to someone else to use it.

 

[kimbyra]

(Oops should have spell checked.)
Excuse my double posting again, but I wanted to mentin that a lot of people are NEW to the corn snake world, and don't know who the experienced breeders are. This is a great site to find that out.

 

[Roy Munson]

I SO didn't mean to imply anything!

Me either, Kim. We cool.

 

[Bobo's Mama]

Maybe I just tune in more to upside-down triangles than most.

:grin01: :grin01: :grin01:

 

[jazzgeek]

...I don't notice every little thing on a website. I'm not the only one either. I look for what I need, and surf on.

That's pretty much the experience of Web users in general. We 'scan' a page and not read it.

That said, any informational/forum site worth its salt will have a search function. Like the policeman, the search engine is your friend.

As I mentioned in this linked thread, I would have NO problem with new registered users being placed in a "lurk-only" mode for a period of time. It would, imo, encourage them to do their homework before wasting bandwidth.

regards,
jazz

 

[Bloughchi Style]

Hmm, that's very controversial. Anyway, I agree. I generally stay quiet on most of the threads I read. I'm always worrying about giving bad advice.

 

[Susan]

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.
~Katie

I wish I could say the same! After 11 years, I'm STILL learning! I'm always finding something new that I didn't know before.

 

[Williv]

My 2 cents...
As all of you can see by my join date and title I am new to this forum and hobby. I'm extremely pleased that a forum like this exists and has a generally nice group of people active on it. My one complaint about this forum is related to this topic... I have seen experienced members post rude comments and replies to questions asked by new people. (X established member feels the need to flex and dominate Y new member with their astounding genius and knowledge. In most cases X is a adult and Y is a teenager BTW) Seeing this bothers me to no end. If you are impatient or annoyed with seemingly "stupid posts", don't answer them, or politely redirect the new member to the info he/she seeks. Knowledge of corn snakes does not make you a better human. New people are the future of this hobby, and everyone in here had a "first snake"

I'm sorry for the excessive rant. :sidestep:

 

[desertanimal]

I see your point, but I find that most people don't chastise until new person Y has committed some offense on more than one occasion. Terrible spelling and grammar, not bothering to look something up, arguing with advice asked for, etc. It's true that some people occasionally get carried away and are just plain rude right out of the box, and I have sent a complaint about that once out into the ether. I don't know if it did anything or not, but I sent a complaint suggesting that a series of responses was baiting, and since, I haven't seen that person posting much. Anyway, you are always welcome to insert your two cents into a thread saying that you feel someone has been too harsh. People do that all the time, too.

 

[xXMetalsAngelXx]

I agree Dean, awesome thread btw. Yeah I hate when that happens cause sadly I've read about people who listen to some new people who don't know much and sadly it ended up in the death of the snake, what was worse I found out from someone on the board that they took advise and it was wrong and a gravid female died =(

It's simple if you don't know DON'T POST. And also if you do have a prob, do a lot of research before taking action. Sure I'm new to the board and breeding but I don't give breeding advice I take it. I'm sick of seeing people who don't even know if thier snakes are female or male, putting them together anyway, get a surprise cluth and all of a sudden they are a expert on breeding??? Sad.

You'll see a rep point from me Dean, awesome post!!!

 

[ghosthousecorns]

It's true, everyone was new once, everybody had a first snake even the old hand 'experts' on here.
I guess I've been guilty of being snippy once or twice, I do understand though how intimidating it can be to be a new member and feel rather unwelcome. Though doing a search should always be first, if a post has few or no replies I think it's good to step in IF you know what you are talking about. But the posts from people who know little but like to reply to everything on the forum whether it pertains to them or not, those can get to me.
Reading this thread though I wonder if I should still even give advice or if that's not acceptable. :shrugs: You can't please everyone, or maybe we should all just be saying 'nice snake' when someone posts a pic and nothing else. Hmmm, I have been here for a long time so I hope people are not rolling their eyes and thinking 'Why does she keep posting advice?' about me. Sheesh.

 

[Pumilio]

See all I have to do is ask a certain brainy family member, then go on and pass on his wealth of knowledge as my own! :devil01: haha. Kathy Love's book was really helpful even before I got Lily, and I guess I'm pretty lucky to have a smart brother haha.

 

[diamondlil]

I can see where you're coming from, Dean, and often the best advise is 'search the threads containing.....' or directing to f a q's
My boys say I'm computer-challenged, and I did find the search function difficult at first, especially as I didn't know the terms used for what I wanted to know.
It's great that so many experienced people do help, but I think sometimes its forgotten that there is no obligation to assist, the demanding tone taken by some posters is just plain rude.
Bad advice is usually challenged promptly, and eventually you end up with an overall consensus that x= the thing that works best, usually, for most people. I've got no idea why anyone would jump in to give advice they have no experience in, it seems most are genuinely trying to be helpful, but maybe a lurking period would be a good idea :shrugs:

 

[El Jefe]

Access to the search function was the REASON I joined. So I got great husbandry advice and keeper/breeder tips from the real experts around here who rarely bother answering those questions anymore.

I'm by no means an expert but I totally agree. I used to reply to the same ole questions but you are absolutely right....with the search function there I soon stopped answering some of the more mundane questions. I know, I know...I'm mean...but hey, look at my post count....I don't write that much anyway!
I am biased though....as I will answer a nicely worded question with some background information way before I'll answer on of those: hlp plz! wut kind of snake is this cause i wuz thinkin it mite be a ultra corn since it got much red color and his name is spotty and then he likes his hide to go in and drink water


By the way Dean...nice post.