As far as I can see, there's nowhere where the RSPB itself is discussed. It's understandable almost all the posts are about birds, which we all enthusiastic about, but is there not also a need to examine how we're doing as an organisation? Suggestions for our new Chief Executive perhaps, or thoughts about membership turnover (we sign up lots of new members, but why do so many leave us before long?), or about how we spend our funds in UK or overseas, or about how well campaigns are going (lots of signatures for letter to the future, but not so good when you see it's less than a quarter of our membership).
You will probably guess I'd like to start with a good moan! I volunteered for a couple of different things, and the first response in both cases was "please fill in this form authorising a CRB check". Not very welcoming I thought, how about a phone call first to see if I suit the job and the job suits me! How does the RSPB recommend its staff to handle the first contact with a new volunteer?
Overall the RSPB does a really great job, so this isn't really about moans but about fostering continuing success, by exchanging ideas about how we do things and what we might do extra/differently/less of.
Well done to you Craig and yes, people do have the freedom to do as they choose.. :0)
What people do in their personal lives is their business and perhaps they do not wish to discuss the whys and wheres with total strangers like 5Swift.
Whether i signed the "letter for the future" or not really has nothing to do with anyone as my private life is just that.It was a very short letter,easily understood and easy to sign if one wished to do so.
I have a lot of good friends and family and my discussions regarding any aspect in life will be with them.
Like others, i have lots of gripes regarding the environment in general.I have also done more than my fair share of voluntary work but i pop in here to read the positive,funny and enjoyable threads.The serious issues that concern me are dealt with separately using direct contact with those involved.
Each to their own :0)
An optimist sees the beauty of the complete rose.A pessimist sees only the thorn .
Hi Craig
Well said, it is a personal thing to do and no-one dictates to us what and what and we should do at all with any area of our lives.
I have signed the letter as I have done with so many of the RSPB issues over the years. I am in support for all things to do with wildlife and everything to do with birds. I also contribute to the many causes of the Scottish Wildlife Trust too. They are worth every penny of my money.
Some of my close Wildlife Conservation friends I have made over the years are now in the Committee of the Scottish Wildlife Trust and I am very proud of their contributions too. So we are in unison with each other as all people are for one cause and that is to take care of our wildlife heritage.
Yes, it is entirely our decision what we do and it is not up to anyone to tell us any different what we should and should not do with our 'wildlife' or wildlife 'Forum'/personal lives.
Anyway, I am sure that this thread would make some people who have not signed the letter think and I am sure that there would be more signatures now due to this thread alone.
So now I hope this thread will fade out, as I feel it had run its course and those are my views about this issue alone
To me if I have not met anyone like 5wift I think I want to keep well out of this 'torrid' issue. He has two posts only so he is not in a position to dictate anything to anyone. A person who had been a genuine member of the RSPB Forums over the years are the the people who are in the position to start these threads on this Forum - not a complete outsider who had been on this Forum for 2 mins of their lives.
I much rather meet people like 5wift face to face in real life and that gives me to all round picture of what they are like to know - if they are worth knowing at all.
Regards
Kathy and Dave
Unknown said: I signed the letter also got 4 members of my family to sign it too. So I have done my part. Cant speak for others has it is thier choice and freedom to do what they want.
I signed the letter also got 4 members of my family to sign it too.
So I have done my part.
Cant speak for others has it is thier choice and freedom to do what they want.
While in some ways I think it would be good for discussing the latest campaigns, issues etc, I think it should just be the staff who are able to create the new threads, not everyone, if such a forum was created. Simple reason - anyone can join this forum whether they support the RSPB or not and having a section on what people think of the RSPB, well it would give opponents a platform to attack from and I think the last thing anyone wants to see is antagonistic individuals joining with the sole intention of slating the RSPB because they don't condone the killing of birds of prey, corvids, cats etc. It would be inviting them to come in and say how much they hate the RSPB and create a headache for moderators having to watch and possibly remove these individuals because they would just be here to cause trouble.
Saying that, I see no reason why such threads can't be started elsewhere in one of the other sections if someone feels the need to discuss one of the issues. That way the threads can be in the relevent section (For example, the Gardening for Wildlife would go in the Greenfingers section, Letter to the Future would fit in with Wildlife Issues) without the need to create a potentially chaotic new forum.
Millie & Fly the Border Collies
I agree with you KatTai, yours seems an eminently sensible solution.
I would actually like to hear the opinions of other, more knowlegeable people, on some of these RSPB issues. There are so many people on here whose opinion and/or knowledge I totally respect. Surely we learn more through informed debate and listening to opinions from all sides? [With the proviso it is only people who generally support the RSPB's aims etc. it is the RSPB forum ].
May I also just say, that one assumption I would strongly disagree with is that members whose main interest are their garden birds are less likely to care about wider environmental issues.
Kind regards Jane.
Well said Kat.
What I find hard to understand is you are a member of the RSPB and/or this Forum why would you want to spend your time slating the RSPB openly for all to read. If you have objections you would not want all this negativity to be on this Forum at all. It is a pointless exercise.
Also, if there was such an area to discuss isses as mentioned by 5wift, it is one way of causing people to fall out with one another, and Forum relationships to falter very quickly - then the RSPB Forum would go into an empty shell of its former self.
I was a member of the original RSPB Forum (joined 2007) and when I joined it was alright to post. Through time it fell to pieces, and I did not contribute anymore. I do not want to see this Forum to go down the pan in the same way as before.
Just keep the RSPB, for RSPB discussion of interest, and positive/on-going issues, not for political propaganda
Sorry to overlap your post Jef
I don't want to get involved but i think it is obvious that if this thread alone has caused so much dispute, then surely if the actually thread in question was created then that would be much worse, weather it is intended to be constructive or not
Hi CJ
Yes, that is exactly the issue. I do not blame you for not wanting to become involved. To me this a Forum for lightweight discussion about birds and wildlife not a place for hostility from 'outside' upstarts.
There are people who enjoy creating problems on websites for their own self gratification in this world. They are just sad and unhappy with their lot so this is what they do for whatever reason.
If a person has been on here for 2 - 4 posts to me that makes it obvious that they are trying to create problems that never existed in the first place.
So, yes, this thread is enough without any more threads of a similar ilk occurring in the near future.
Hello everybody,
We thought maybe it was time for a little clarification...
This forum exists to talk about birds and wildlife, and everything that involves the RSPB. You are free to talk about what you will, as long as it stays friendly we're fine with it.
Kevin
For more on our science, check out the RSPB Centre for Conservation Science web pages.
Hi Kevin
I agree, that the RSPB should remain friendly as it should be and it should remain be that way.
We are all a 'bird' loving lot after all.
Well cJackson92, there's not been much actual dispute. What there has been is a group of people saying they feared disputes, and a few assuming the worst about others' motives. But they were mostly the very people who didn't want to participate in my proposed new forum anyway. I'm not trying to stop them having their so-called light-hearted chats about other things, but they are apparently wanting to stop a more serious and separate discussion that they like you are entirely free not to take part in. Their noise has however rather obscured some more thoughtful and constructive contributions.
The political credibility of the RSPB is very important to its effectiveness. That's why I raised the subject of the level of support for the Letter to the Future. Some people have now said they've signed, which is great, but what would be really helpful is to hear from some of those who haven't, telling us why. This would be so much more informative than some people speculating what other people think. What the missing 750,000 think is important.
If as has been suggested, many don't agree with the Letter, then maybe our conservation message isn't getting across too well, or it's not well expressed in the Letter, or they don't think it will make any difference, or ???? Better understanding of this might lead to some constructive thinking about how to do these things better.