Its oh so quiet Shh Shh

[ConcinusMan]

Here's the beautiful weather forecast for my area.

You see? Robins don't know jack!

As a matter of fact, I saw a few in my yard about a week ago and it was only about 25 degrees F outside and the ground was frozen solid!

I went out in the back yard yesterday and there were dozens of them. Many of them fighting and feathers were flying. Today is much nicer but not one to be found.

[kibakiba]

It could still put a lot of stress on them and I doubt anyone would want to do that.

[guidofatherof5]

You see? Robins don't know jack!

As a matter of fact, I saw a few in my yard about a week ago and it was only about 25 degrees F outside and the ground was frozen solid!

I went out in the back yard yesterday and there were dozens of them. Many of them fighting and feathers were flying. Today is much nicer but not one to be found.

Does my Robin post bother you? Let's see, you made a couple references to it. I wish now I'd had kept my thoughts to myself. I can have Stefan delete it if you want.

[Stefan-A]

I can have Stefan delete it if you want.

No you can't.

[guidofatherof5]

No you can't.

Great. Thanks for your help.

[mustang]

It is possible but not in the convential sense ... pipette work amongst other things.

to a flordia blue theyll bite anything in range!!!!

[mustang]

No you can't.

sound like my parents

[ConcinusMan]

Does my Robin post bother you? Let's see, you made a couple references to it. I wish now I'd had kept my thoughts to myself. I can have Stefan delete it if you want.

I reference a lot of different posts multiple times. Don't go thinking you're special Steve.

[ConcinusMan]

I have something to say...

If you're going to post about anything publicly, then it's expected that you'll get feedback. It's not always positive. Some of the feedback might even be negative and taken personally. I noticed that usually happens when someone is looking for other people to agree because they need affirmation. Everyone wants to feel that their ideas and beliefs are validated and so when they post looking for affirmation and get the opposite, it upsets them and they take it as personal attack even if nothing is further from the truth.

I've heard a lot of people criticize me for things I have said and for not being more sensitive in choosing my words. I mentioned wanting to bring something more to the forum than just the same thing everyone else brings. What I meant by that is, I'm not going to sugar-coat my statements to avoid upsetting anyone. I mean, why should I say something like "He'll be alright, crossing fingers, my thoughts are with you", etc... to a post about a very ill snake when why real opinion is "He'll probably die". Then if I actually post "he'll probably die" while everyone else is sugar coating and being all supportive, I get backlash.

I can take the backlash. If I couldn't, I wouldn't post it. I just figure there's enough people on here to respond with the sugar-coated responses and support. Heck, I don't even respond to most of the "my snake died" type of posts anymore. How many "I'm sorry for your loss" statements does anyone really need? And the truth is, I'm not sorry. You lost a snake. It happens. Anyone else should keep that in mind when they post and not take things so personally if all the responses aren't sweet and supportive.

With that said, we are not getting much participation from the more serious and experienced people and we aren't getting very many serious discussions. It has come my attention the reasons for this. On more than one occasion I have talked to some very knowlegable people that could really add to the knowledge and experience on this site but they choose to either not participate, or to even log in very often. Instead of having some good engaging threads here on real tangible subjects full of valuable information, we have long talks on the phone.

Basically, these people all tell me the same thing. "It's not really my scene" or "I don't need to hear about a dozen more posts of 'here's my garter snake... or "my garter died, feel sorry for me" etc.. and so we are losing participation from people that have a lot of knowledge to share.

Seems it's hardly a place for sharing of knowledge about garter snakes anymore. It has become a place where people with fragile egos come to show off their snakes, to whine about this or that, etc...

Personally I would like to see more engaging serious topics and I'm not alone in this. Either that, or little less whining when I say something you don't agree with. Some of these people I speak of just choose not to particpate much at all because of this. I'm not going to let this stop me though. I'm not going anywhere, just try to understand where I'm coming from and not take things so personally if I say something that seems to be a personal attack. Trust me, it's not.

While I'm on the subject of useful information, I'm still not seeing anyone adding to the wiki pages. More written articles and adding of missing species/morphs to the photo library sure would be nice.

A lot of people don't even know what I'm talking about because they have never really looked at it beyond one or two pages if any: Main Page - Caresheets

We don't really need photos for the species pages beyond one or two but we need more written articles. If theres more you photos care to add, I think they should go here: Photographic Library - Caresheets

[Stefan-A]

I've heard a lot of people criticize me for things I have said and for not being more sensitive in choosing my words. I mentioned wanting to bring something more to the forum than just the same thing everyone else brings. What I meant by that is, I'm not going to sugar-coat my statements to avoid upsetting anyone. I mean, why should I say something like "He'll be alright, crossing fingers, my thoughts are with you", etc... to a post about a very ill snake when why real opinion is "He'll probably die". Then if I actually post "he'll probably die" while everyone else is sugar coating and being all supportive, I get backlash.

Yeah, maybe a very ill snake will die. Maybe everybody knows that, including the ones saying things like "He'll be alright, crossing fingers, my thoughts are with you". Who cares. This is about showing even an ounce of empathy towards the person who is about to lose a pet. That's not sugar-coating, that's called "not being an ******* to a person who's facing a personal tragedy".

I can take the backlash. If I couldn't, I wouldn't post it. I just figure there's enough people on here to respond with the sugar-coated responses and support. Heck, I don't even respond to most of the "my snake died" type of posts anymore. How many "I'm sorry for your loss" statements does anyone really need? And the truth is, I'm not sorry. You lost a snake. It happens. Anyone else should keep that in mind when they post and not take things so personally if all the responses aren't sweet and supportive.

Good news, then; You don't have to respond to any posts you don't want to. In fact, if what you'd have to say is the exact opposite of constructive, it might be a good idea to keep it to yourself anyway. Nobody's asking you to post your condolences, nobody's asking you to be sorry. Those are things you can volunteer, if you feel like it and to the extent that you feel like doing. There's no obligation.

With that said, we are not getting much participation from the more serious and experienced people and we aren't getting very many serious discussions. It has come my attention the reasons for this. On more than one occasion I have talked to some very knowlegable people that could really add to the knowledge and experience on this site but they choose to either not participate, or to even log in very often. Instead of having some good engaging threads here on real tangible subjects full of valuable information, we have long talks on the phone.

Yeah, we've had plenty of those swing by over the years. If this isn't the type of environment that they feel comfortable in, that's a shame. But they are the ones with the power to turn it into something different. The level of discussion is directly dependent on the level of those who are participating.

Basically, these people all tell me the same thing. "It's not really my scene" or "I don't need to hear about a dozen more posts of 'here's my garter snake... or "my garter died, feel sorry for me" etc.. and so we are losing participation from people that have a lot of knowledge to share.

Good news for them; They don't have to read those posts, or make them, or comment in them. This is the internet, there's going to be a lot of uninteresting information flying in your face. Oversaturation is a problem only if you don't filter out the parts that don't interest you.

Seems it's hardly a place for sharing of knowledge about garter snakes anymore. It has become a place where people with fragile egos come to show off their snakes, to whine about this or that, etc...

How would this sharing happen and what would those people get in return? I'm serious, I'd like to know, because this is the sitation I've found myself in for the last 2 or 3 years, even though I recognize myself as a beginner in many aspects.

Personally I would like to see more engaging serious topics and I'm not alone in this.

So start some engaging, serious topics. Surely you have knowledge to share. No, I'm not being facetious. If it's an opportunity for me to learn something new, I welcome it with open arms.

Either that, or little less whining when I say something you don't agree with.

No, that's one thing you won't get. If someone disagrees with you, he has every right to whine and vice versa. Anyone who wants to open his mouth should be prepared for a response. If you want to hold speeches, start a blog. This is a forum. On forums, things are discussed, not declared.

Some of these people I speak of just choose not to particpate much at all because of this. I'm not going to let this stop me though. I'm not going anywhere, just try to understand where I'm coming from and not take things so personally if I say something that seems to be a personal attack. Trust me, it's not.

Here's a novel thought: How about trying to avoid saying things that seem like personal attacks? The occasional misunderstanding is of course forgivable. We have had people here before, who thought that "What can I do, I'm just not the kind of person who bothers being nice." was a defence. It's not.