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?
Sandy: Thanks for your incisive post comments. The spirit of Basil Fawlty lives on, apparently!! Well said.
I think half the problem is the structure of the site. On the group threads it is paginated but the diary pages are not and you have to scroll through masses and masses of comments to reach the one you last read. This is only going to get worse when the dairy is only updated weekly. This can be very frustrating especially to the Loch G staff if all you want is osprey news and not everybody obliges by posting on the daily update thread.
Threads have pages which makes it easier to find where you want to be. I have no argument with people chatting about everything and anything but the diary used to be moderated and even that upset people as they thought they were being picked on if their comment did not appear. On one forum I have seen posts removed and the note 'this comment was irrelevant' posted instead by a moderator. Now that is harsh.
It might be that the RSPB will look at how the site is operating after a few weeks/months and make some changes and I look forward to seeing how the community develops because that is what the RSPB hoped to create- an online community.
The only source of knowledge is experience. Albert Einstein
I'm sure that when the RSPB set up this site for us and other bloggers they never expected this sort of response. They need positive feedback not this sort of thing.
To resolve the current situation I offer the following suggestions to maybe ease the bad feeling that has been shown on here. Maybe others could come up with other ideas and between us reach some sort of compromise to offer to RSPB. We have to work together on this. Not divide and conquer.
My suggestion would be for the diary to be kept as just that - for reports from the staff at Loch Garten.
Daily updates to be kept serious and informative to keep people informed about what happens on the nest during the day while we wait for the diary to be updated.
That would keep the serious chatters happy.
We could then have more relaxed topics for day to day things which involve birds/wildlife etc but would be more suitable for the sort of chat some don't seem to like.
Just for the record - I can't see how any of this comes under techincal problems.
Just my thoughts and I do have experience of chat rooms and message boards so know how things can be misinterpreted and cause serious problems and upset.
Use whatever talent you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sing the best.- Henry Van ***
Thank you Sandy, the voice of reason. and yes Teresa, like you, I don't see why such a topic would come under Techi Probs, but then, surely thats how this nonsense started in the first place i.e. some people seemed to think that others were posting comments in the WRONG place Who cares, disregard comments you don't like and find inane and below your supposed levels of intelligence and move on. Life really is too short for such mince.
All I ask is the chance to prove that money can't make me happy. Spike Milligan
To all who may read this -
You are quite correct Soosin, life is indeed too short for this sort of thing. Before I bow out of this website (will still watch GE because I do really care about ospreys) I will just say
1. Life IS too short. I am watching my stepdaughter as she is dying.
2. Sandy - if you were referring to me when you spoke about people's mental health being questioned. I am a mental health professional and as such would never use the word 'depressed 'on a public website except in the loosest possible sense - ie feeling sad and vulnerable.
3. Yes, this technical problems website isn't perhaps the correct one to use, and I did indeed start ' all this' by remarking that we were all using the main blog for chit chat when we had another option.
4. I have the utmost respect for LG and the RSPB and am on record as saying so.
Heather
I think this is very sad that this wonderful RSPB site should end the season of our "Wonderful Osprey Family" with a bad atmosphere.
I have been very happy watching them grow and glad I was able to take and post a lot pictures of them. This is so sad!
If nothing goes right, go left! :-)
Come on Sandy - I think that you must realise that I am not in the business of creating a bad atmosphere, just clarifying my posts! It's been a fantastic season - --! We live very close to Loch Garten and not a few of our trout lunches have been sabotaged by ospreys who have got the fish before my husband --- but that's OK!!!
Carol: I agree that the RSPB pages have turned out to be a sort of Frankenstein. We're trying to figure out to to best deal with the site once the Diary page slows down. As Heather correclty noted, input along these lines from the LG folks - and no judgement intended at all- has been minimal.
Teresa: Your suggestion to keep the Daily Update (maybe soon be a Weekly Update!) strictly on topic with another site for general chat is a good one and has also been suggested by folks on the Daily Update today, Monday.
Heather: Please be assured that not everyone took your comments about mental health out of context. I'm way too familiar with some of those issues.
HeatherB
First off, you have my most sincere sympathy's, anyone with any sense of humanity wishes you and yours the very best at what must be a very difficult time!
Some of us, if not most of us of a certain age can relate to your situation. As mentioned, life is all too short. You are quite right, mental health issues are not for the public domain, as far as I am aware nobody has made any direct comment aimed at anybody whatsoever, any such statements should be read "as is"............
It appears that comments are being taken so far outside of their original context that it has become a fairly pointless task even trying to get a point across, statements such as elitism, shameless and so on are so far off the mark as to be incredulous.
Therefore, I will be signing off of this website.
It saddens me to say that due to the narrow mindedness of some individuals along with some of the absolutely amazing statements within this Forum along with the comments posted in the Blog, I think I have had enough?
I’m afraid to say that I will also be cancelling my subscription to the RSPB, the monies thereon will in future be being donated to other charities.
Sorry, but this is me out of here.
I think that this is the better forum to discuss these issues.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/forums/911.aspx.
And Simon and Wendy, please just delay leaving the RSPB just because of this website. I loved your input into the diary pages and next year might be different.