If you have second thoughts about the wisdom of a post...

[Sk8r]

...PM a mod and request a deletion or insertion. It's something we do.

If you realize you've made a drastic error, like leaving out 'not', or 'don't,' (we don't correct spelling, as a rule, eg) that will make you or someone else unhappy with your advice, if you were silly enough to post your phone number, or if in the heat of passion you posted something to make you look, well, overwrought and unreasonably passionate about something, contact a mod, and just say, "please delete."

 

[Ron Reefman]

How do the mods feel about being asked to fix or remove a post that is giving advise that is obviously bad or wrong? Every once an awhile I see a post where somebody is offering genuine help, but they are just crazy wrong. Especially in the New to the Hobby forum and posted by people who seem to have little experience. I don't want to be the bad guy and call them out on it, even being as PC and polite as I can, I think it makes me look bad. What's the best way you guys would like to see that handled?

 

[SeaCucumberFan]

I've never seen such a post, example please?

 

[Sk8r]

If you see one that's really dangerously off, notify a mod, and we can step into the thread. We don't remove one that's just factually wrong, on general policy, because opinions can vary and it can get down to fine lines of rightness and method; but we can step in and offer an opinion.
If somebody is getting snarky, report that via the red-edged triangle under the person's avatar (it's there, trust me) and we'll take a look at it and if warranted, deal with it. Main thing is---keep your cool and stay unfailingly polite while you do it.

 

[madweazl]

How do the mods feel about being asked to fix or remove a post that is giving advise that is obviously bad or wrong? Every once an awhile I see a post where somebody is offering genuine help, but they are just crazy wrong. Especially in the New to the Hobby forum and posted by people who seem to have little experience. I don't want to be the bad guy and call them out on it, even being as PC and polite as I can, I think it makes me look bad. What's the best way you guys would like to see that handled?

I think part of the communities responsibilities is to address these issues. If I post something incorrect, I want to know what it is and why. These forums have the ability to educate at many levels, why glance over that from fear of a brow-beating from somebody you dont know? I realize these things can escalate quickly but that is another issue (that should be dealt with via mods).

 

[johnike]

And if you have to ask yourself if you should post something, don't.

 

[Sk8r]

If it goes way over the top we can simply close down a thread and let it sink. Starting a new thread is always an option.

 

[heathlindner25]

And if you have to ask yourself if you should post something, don't.

100%..! If I don't have personal experience or actual knowledge on the subject I won't respond

 

[heathlindner25]

I don't really want the information that you have read off the internet...... I can read that all day long.
Real life experience is what I would like to read about

 

[CStrickland]

I have a little trick that I have been trying to use when I post, this seems like a good place to share it. Most threads are started and read by people who want to learn about tanks. When threads go bad it's often because people start talking about each other. So it can help to give a post a second look and make sure that it's really about reef stuff. It sounds like a no-brainer, but it's easy to get caught up in a back and forth with people. When my trick works nicely it can keep a thread from become a super-unhelpful argument between two sides, and maintain it as an exchange of information. I know that I often unsubscribe from threads that turn into scraps between "sides" even if there's good info hidden there. The people posting think they are dropping sick burns, but they are really just boring the pants off of the rest of us.

For example: "it seems like product X has lots of bad reviews online, but I have noticed that they often also mention not following the directions closely" adds context and info that "you haters are just anti product X because you don't know how to read" doesn't. It also keeps the convo framed as a discussion of the topic at hand.

It's a fine line though. Sometimes it can come off passive aggressive. I hate it when people post stuff like "some people don't read the directions and crash their tanks" when it's so obvi what they really mean. But still, I've rewritten a few posts that would have made me feel like I won an argument, but not really added anything to a discussion of reefkeeping.

 

[Sk8r]

OTOH, LOOKING on the internet to get the basics on one's own question is a good thing. And very many don't take that preliminary step.

In general, if we don't encourage people to answer with what they know, even if they don't know much, the system of helping each other gets real sparse, and an answer may not come in time. An active thread stays up, rather like a balloon with loft, and that means it may float along visible until a person who has had that experience happens to see it---This is one reason we don't 'police' the answers. It is useful, however, when it's your thread, to wait just a bit and weigh several answers before acting. With a little experience, you get 'antennae' for answers that really deal with the issues.

 

[heathlindner25]

Ok, I can see that.

 

[Sk8r]

Apologies now, I've got some nasty dental work upcoming early tomorrow, so I know I'm really not going to be my sparkling self tomorrow, as I'm not that great tonight, so I'm shutting it down while it's still on topic. Thank you guys for understanding.

 

[vikinglord13]

I agree with CStrickland. The easiest thing to do is to be assertive rather than aggressive and not take things personally, and don't attack people when they disagree. There's a wealth of information on here. Personally I joined because how friendly people are.

It's important for us to remember: there are multiple ways to skin a cat. In this case, there are multiple ways to keep a reef.

 

[BigEZ77]

Is telling someone that I stocked my tank with no QT and haven't had any issues bad advice? Seriously though, I agree with mods stepping in on poor advice...but when a member is "overwrought and unreasonably passionate" on a web forum, I think that member needs to spend less time online in general, lol.