Considering the size and reputation of the RSPB - don't you think it's time this forum was taken offline until such time that a forum that is fit for purpose is implemented?
This has to be the worst forum implementation that I have come across in years.
There are thousands of sites out there implementing third party solutions at very little, or no cost, which have already set the trend in the way boards such operate. Why on earth go for this bespoke solution which looks like it has been knocked up in house?
Stick to what you are good at and for goodness sake take this offline until until a proper solution is put in place.
PS: What kind of discussion forum allows end users to lock their own posts??? Kind of inhibits 'discussion' don't you think?
Hi to All,
I have to say that to a degree I can see normsky's point the site does seem to be suffering from a few annoying gliches one being the repeat e-mails which we all seem to be suffering (I have turned mine off until it is sorted).
As some have pointed out the RSPB is a charity and I can fully understand if they can implement any financial saving then go for it, but it is often the case where seeking the help of professionals may not be as expensive as you think. I know of one website that does a lot for rescue dogs and the company that does the admin does it for nothing as it is good PR for them and also free advertising.
I agree with you all that this is a friendly and informative site which I for one have gained a lot of enjoyment from but I also think that with proper admin it could be better.
Graham
Be Inspired,
Dream it, Crave it, Work for it, Live it.
Hi Graham
You have completly lost me on the Leicester University bit, no idea what you are on about? :-)
The point I was trying to get accross was that the "Main" blog has now for the most part gone so far off track that it has become little more than a chat room on just about every subject other than what I and I think many others thought it was there for.
Anything sort of meaningfull posting I.E weather, wind etc posted or anything else pasted with a little local knowledge appears to be overridden by reams of nothingness.
sorry, perhaps I have lost the plt :-?
Simon
Simon - A few of us have ventured to say what you have said, but have been shot down in flames by the group, In my case I made my comments on the main blog and some pretty nasty comments were made about me! This didn't upset me, group dynamics being what they are, but a more sensitive person (housebound, depressed etc) could have been badly affected. I think that those of us who make what seems to us to be an objective, reasonable comment will nearly always find that there are group members who will take it personally and become quite upset. (Maybe they are housebound, depressed etc --)
I think that following the bloggy disagreements, those who follow the blogs and forums avidly (and more importantly, our osprey family!) may have decided that the best course is to keep one's head below the parapet----
I don't think you have lost the plot, I can't understand why LG have to date not reinforced what seemed to me to be their hopes - that we would use the main blog for comments directly related to the main blog. May be they will do so next season, right at the beginning.
Heather
Simon S said: Hi Graham You have completly lost me on the Leicester University bit, no idea what you are on about? :-) The point I was trying to get accross was that the "Main" blog has now for the most part gone so far off track that it has become little more than a chat room on just about every subject other than what I and I think many others thought it was there for. Anything sort of meaningfull posting I.E weather, wind etc posted or anything else pasted with a little local knowledge appears to be overridden by reams of nothingness. sorry, perhaps I have lost the plt :-? Simon
Heather......
I for one am certainly not in the business of rocking the boat. Your point about users being (Maybe they are housebound, depressed etc --) is totally relevant, there have been a few, in fact quite a number of entries on the "Main Blog" which have patently been posted under some sort of stress or other, I suppose this is 20 / 21st century living. However, if you can't take nature as is "for whatever reason" to be blunt, log off.
Hysteria helps nobody but I am more than sympathetic for those that might struggle with nature, a bit like television really, if you don't like it, switch the box off!
For those that make supposed "nasty comments" to be blunt they are probably on the blog for the wrong reason, as you say "we are here for the Ospreys primarily or at least this is my perception.
As previously mentioned, I have been the instigator of all sorts of silliness throughout the current season, but it has all been "Osprey" based, unless I have lost it completely this is the primary function of the LG centre. I am obviously aware of the plethora of other wildlife in the area, I live 20 minutes up the road from the centre............
There is little point in keeping one's head below the parapet, if you have something to say............ "Say It" there again, perhaps you are referring to the powers that be at the RSPB?
Since Normsky's post has been blocked for replies I hope you don't mind me using yours.
All I have to say is I think this forum is brilliant..keep up the good work.
Simon.....bloggers telling us about their pets and other info. is called.......getting to know each other.
Normsky...why did you lock your post. It prevents a discussion on the points you raise. We don't even know if you will see the replies.
"Birds of a Feather".... ~( :o )
Maureen
I'm obviously missing the point, I was on the understanding that the blog was a “semi serious" if not Very Serious "Osprey" Focal Point?!
Post's about X, Y & Z appear to be the norm and to be blunt, totally spurious comments of a pointless nature as far as gaining knowledge on the subject in hand appears to have gone out of the window.
I am now at the point of exasperation and about to give up the ghost on the Blogs / Forums and launch a blog / forum infrastructure myself, which will be broken down to cater for serious / non serious posts as the users see fit.
Successful or un-successful I will probably be checking out of the current RSPB / LG blog / forum farce in the very near future.
I am sorry it has come to this, but I’m afraid to say that either something has to give if this is to be conceived as a serious site, or take the thing down in its entirety and start again!?
Simon S said: Heather...... I for one am certainly not in the business of rocking the boat. Your point about users being (Maybe they are housebound, depressed etc --) is totally relevant, there have been a few, in fact quite a number of entries on the "Main Blog" which have patently been posted under some sort of stress or other, I suppose this is 20 / 21st century living. However, if you can't take nature as is "for whatever reason" to be blunt, log off. Hysteria helps nobody but I am more than sympathetic for those that might struggle with nature, a bit like television really, if you don't like it, switch the box off! For those that make supposed "nasty comments" to be blunt they are probably on the blog for the wrong reason, as you say "we are here for the Ospreys primarily or at least this is my perception. As previously mentioned, I have been the instigator of all sorts of silliness throughout the current season, but it has all been "Osprey" based, unless I have lost it completely this is the primary function of the LG centre. I am obviously aware of the plethora of other wildlife in the area, I live 20 minutes up the road from the centre............ There is little point in keeping one's head below the parapet, if you have something to say............ "Say It" there again, perhaps you are referring to the powers that be at the RSPB?
Unknown said: By the way, I didn't attend Leicester University so there must be more than one of me.
By the way, I didn't attend Leicester University so there must be more than one of me.
Thanks for letting me know - also good to know the moderators are actually out there reading what we're posting!
Make the boy interested in natural history if you can; it is better than games [Robert Falcon Scott]
I am so sorry that you feel the way you do. I for one found your 'blogs' very informative and very entertaining.
You say that your own site would cater for serious/non- serious comments. Since your main objective is against spurious comments...what do you mean by 'non -serious' comments??
I have learned so much about Ospreys (and other birds) from all the blogs, including yours. Not forgetting the Staff Reports.
As for the spurious posts...do you not agree that they provide a bit of light relief at the end of the day, however tenuous, they relate to our Ospreys??
All I would like to say is DON'T GO!!!!!
Simon S said: Maureen I'm obviously missing the point, I was on the understanding that the blog was a “semi serious" if not Very Serious "Osprey" Focal Point?! Post's about X, Y & Z appear to be the norm and to be blunt, totally spurious comments of a pointless nature as far as gaining knowledge on the subject in hand appears to have gone out of the window. I am now at the point of exasperation and about to give up the ghost on the Blogs / Forums and launch a blog / forum infrastructure myself, which will be broken down to cater for serious / non serious posts as the users see fit. Successful or un-successful I will probably be checking out of the current RSPB / LG blog / forum farce in the very near future. I am sorry it has come to this, but I’m afraid to say that either something has to give if this is to be conceived as a serious site, or take the thing down in its entirety and start again!? Simon
Just twigged who you are -SuperOdin!
I agree that people are using the Comments on the Loch Garten Diary pages for chatter not all osprey related even light heartedly as yours were. It can get very frustrating to have to scroll though a multitude of goodnights over several days to find an observation on the nest or an interesting question.
Over on facebook we have a chatter thread which you can participate in/read only if you want and it goes someway to preventing people just chatting on observation threads. Perhaps that is what is needed here.
The diary pages are just that, a diary and the comments box should be just that, a facility to comment on the blog and make observations and ask questions that are osprey related
I notice that some other long-standing members of the Loch Garten forum are not commenting as often. Perhaps they are as put-off by the hysterics that go on sometimes!
The only source of knowledge is experience. Albert Einstein