Following on from a brief discussion on another thread earlier, I thought it might be an idea to bring this question up because lots of good topics are just getting missed simply because they are in the wrong place, and some forums have got messed up withtopics that don't belong there.
We all know how difficult this Community is to navigate to the right forum, but with a bit of effort and patience, it is possible (eventually!!). Posting in the wrong forums causes problems for others who enjoy browsing through a particular favourite forum for threads on topics that interest them because they are likely to miss such a lot of good threads. The Mods do move as many threads as they can, but they aren’t on line all the time and can’t move them all.
At the moment, it seems to me that many contributors are putting everything either in the Tea Rooms or in Photography. This is just confusing and making things messy. The Tea Rooms are for general chit chat or discussions on gear etc. that has nothing (or very little) to do with wildlife. The photography forum is for questions, discussions, help and advice on photographic matters rather than for photos of wildlife.
As a general rule, if your post concerns wildlife, either in your garden or elsewhere, it should be posted in one of the forums under the WILDLIFE tab. If your post concerns technical or website issues, it belongs in a forum under the ABOUT tab. If the post is just general or about gear, and nothing much to do with wildlife, then it belongs in a forum under the CHAT tab.
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
PS.
It is also worth mentioning that some of the Groups are duplicating topics by starting threads within the group that could better be placed in one of the Community Forums, thus making things more complicated and confusing.
It needed to be said, Sparrow, and that's just what you've done. I can tell you've got your dander up, so well done.
I don't blame the newbies for struggling to find their way around. There's no explanation of where to post things or how to do certain tasks. Quite a few of us have tried to help but ultimately we are not in charge.
I think if your first post of this thread (ie without all the subsequent posts) could be made a sticky at the top of the home page newcomers might notice it and get some awareness of where to post things.
I also agree about the Groups. Some of them have become almost a forum within a forum and rarely seem to venture outside.
____________________________________________________________________
Tony
My Flickr Photostream
I think your dander is up too, TJ!
I couldn't agree more that "ultimately we are not in charge" and I hate to think people are thinking I'm acting like a headmistress in charge of naughty children. I'd far rather be one of the naughty children, but until the Mods do something about it, it will fall to the more established members to do what we can. If we don't, the community will disintegrate into total confusion.
I also think there are just to many choices of where to post, also at times when there are 4 or 5 stickied threads and then a good few from the various groups like Loch Garten Ospreys it then leaves very little room for other posts which can very quickly drop off the bottom as this one had before I posted.
It's the reason why I stopped posting for a while
Regards Mike
Pssst! Nudge nudge Wanna see some pictures Here
I am with you 100% Sparrow.
Well said Janner, I too love Ospreys, I photograph and watch them in the wild, but even I am becoming a tad overwhelmed by the amount of Osprey threads, all talking about the same thing! it's a bit OTT, needs looked at by mods so that likes of everyone can equally be catered for
Well, Forumites, I have to agree. The topics are getting too confused - but the problem is the format of the forum.
"The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom" - Wlliam Blake
Just browsing at the moment and there are five Osprey threads on the home page. I like the Osprey threads, but I will probably miss many posts as I am not constantly logged on.
Likewise, I miss photography threads of more unusual birds and quizzes, unless I'm constantly logged on.
I like viewing the photographs of garden birds, but I am not constantly online.
I like wildlife gardening - loads of different threads on that in different places.
There needs to be a more organised set up of the forum.
It seems that you can't go to one uncomplicated place on the forum and find the topic of any particular interest.
TJ's map is brilliant but as Claire says it just shows how bad the Community is laid out to many forums its like going to Tesco for shampoo to be faced with a whole isle of the damn things.
Being a LG member I am sorry as we do seem to hog a large amount of the home page at times.
A very old Shropshire Lad.
Sparrow, I do not agree with you and it is not only the Osprey threads that duplicate but also the Community. How can you stop someone new or newbies as being called not knowing where to go and posting. In an ideal world ok.. Yes if you want to talk about Robins, Is there a Robin thread. Long tailed tits, is there is a thread, Sparrow Hawks, Identify this bird.
There are no dedicated threads and so sorry but so disappointed and I have been watching the Community and love all the different threads and really would be sad if someone would not dare post
I do understand what you are saying but if the mods are happy then please let it be. people need to learn and make mistakes and I have and learnt the hard way. I know what you are saying but an impossible mission.
sparrow, I have read your posts and enjoy very much but I cannot agree with what you have said.
Claire, I hope you stick with Ospreys and maybe we are so looking forward to the return of Ospreys and I will never apologise for that :)
p.s Sparrow, I am so hurt and there are dedicated threads on Ospreys and now I look forward to the Ospreys return.
I am enjoying the community. I am very disappointed how you have hurt me and maybe others.
No more now and lets just enjoy our hobbies and passion :)