Promoting Other Boards....comments

[cmsargent]

I realize that you don't want people posting one-sentence replies that say go visit 'link to that other seahorse forum'

Not allowing links is of course your choice as the owner/moderator of this board. The following message

Linky removed, please feel free to share your experience on Reef Central (if you have any), however linking to another board is not permitted.

was places in a recent post of mine where I was discussing with another member methods of setting up seahorse tanks. I was responding to another post saying that yes that site does have good info and is worth checking out. I then continued with the discussion.

The

(if you have any)

is insulting, unprofessional, and uncalled for. I realize one sees this kind of juvenile, snarky comment on public forums like this. I however would expect better from the moderators of this board.

That being said that 'other board that shall not be named' does have quite a bit of useful information, library articles, pictures of seahorse diseases, etc that are not available on RC. If someone is asking about what tankmates are compatible with seahorses it easier to direct them to the library article on that topic rather then repeat the entire 3 page list. If someone has a question about a diseases seahorse it's important that the horse is diagnosed quickly, treated timely, with the correct meds, and correct doses. A keeper is much more likely to find that type of info and help on the other site.

I enjoy RC and I think it's a great place to connect with a lot of other hobbies, find and give info. I agree that simply spamming the web address of another board is uncalled for. However when someone needs specialized information that is beyond the scope of RC I don't see the harm in telling that person where they can find the information they need. Just because someone visits another site doesn't mean that they're never going to use RC again or that you're losing anything by it. I know your sponsors and advertising dollars are based on the volume and frequency of usage by members but I don't really think you're loosing much by allowing people to know about another site. The other site is smaller and more specialized. It can't take the place of RC in number or ability to reach hobbyist just like RC can't replace the specialized expertise on that site.

I realize that this in not a democracy and as a commercial site I don't really have any say in your policies. I would hope however that you might think about my comments and at the very least change your insulting and petty stock reply to links on this board.

 

[pledosophy]

This is just my opinion but I support the RC policy of not just linking other sites, no matter what the site is.

IMHO it is one thing to link the actual tankmate article or the emergency forum, and quite another to just blatently post go to such and such which IMO happens to often. In the past the mods of this site have not objected to more directed links.

I think it looks bad for both boards. It insinuates that one site is incompetent and also looks bad for the linked site like it is trying to advertise or infringe on another forum. Neither of which are true.

IMO I think it is important for both sites to maintain the mutal respect of each other and continue to enjoy a good relationship. IMO it is necessary to treat each other with respect for this to happen.

JMO

Kevin

 

[Nanook]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9154340#post9154340 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pledosophy

IMHO it is one thing to link the actual tankmate article or the emergency forum, and quite another to just blatently post go to such and such which IMO happens to often. In the past the mods of this site have not objected to more directed links.

We have allowed this in the past as long as it is not something that is taken too far. The "occasional" link to a specific article is OK and does not offend. It is simply when someone posts: Go to www.whatever.com instead of taking the time to reply here that it becomes an issue.

cmsargent, your points are valid and I apologize if I offended you in my edit. I did not look closely enough at your post and should have. I do agree that there is no reason why we should not have mutual respect for each board.

 

[LisaD]

I think your position of allowing links to a specific article or post from another source, but prohibiting promoting another site seems reasonable. I will say, though, that the "other" seahorse site does not prohibit anyone from referring to RC when getting questions on all things reef, or to WWM media when getting a lot of non-seahorse species questions.

 

[Samala]

We would really like this Seahorse and Pipefish forum to also become a useful resource for aquarists who are reefers that are interested in syngnathids, or who are just beginning with them. Obviously, there are many outlets on the web for marine aquaria related information, and there are specialized boards for almost every major class of animals in the hobby. No one disputes that people are free to browse and look and bounce around wherever they wish.

However.. this forum will never grow into a useful resource for beginner seahorse/pipefish aquarists if we are consistently (and broadly) referring everyone back to another board.

As Nanook said, if it is on topic and to the point, links are accepted. And, if it is truly outside of the scope of RC, links to boards in full are fine. (IE. Someone goes to the Marine Plant board and asks for links to boards that specialize in freshwater plants.)

But we'd love for you (and everyone) to share your experience here. There is nothing wrong with leading a double life. Personally, I try to include whatever knowledge and experience I have in a thread, and then if there is a link that does a more precise or full treatment, I add the link in case someone wants to go ahead with that full research.

Finally, its so easy to mis-read statements on the web. Keep in mind that no one on Team RC, Mods or Staff for RC would purposely be mean or hateful to anyone. We're hobbyists, not politicians or linguists, so things may come out wrong from time to time, but we do mean well.

>Sarah

 

[mal40]

So links to syngnathid.org are now banned?

 

[rayjay]

Links to that one won't do any good until they fix the site as it has been down now for close to 4 months.
As for the other site not mentioned here, I don't forsee at this time this site ever having the scope of information that the other one has.
While RC is my main board I frequent, (especially the reef chem forum) I will automatically head to the unnamed site if I ever run into problems.
I probably have been guilty of posting links to that site in the past.
Now my question is, what happens if I suggest to someone to go to that site and name it but don't link it?

 

[cmsargent]

Nanook, I appreciate the apology.
I realize people here are just hobbyist not linguists and it's easy to misunderstand the intent on boards like this. I just wanted to point out that the ''post your experience (if you have any)" is IMHO pretty insulting and hard to take any other way. I'm sure the moderators are not trying to be intentionally insulting (and were likely just frustrated by the number of go to xyz.org postings of late). Still as representatives of the site you might want to rethink the wording you use in the future.

I agree that simply posting "Go to www.xyz.org" is not helpful and should be banned. I just disagree with the wording and tone used to state that (Especially in a post where someone is trying to provide info on the topic and simply adds, as a reply to another post, that yes that other board has good info). I'm glad to see that you're not just banning all links out of hand and will allow users to direct each other to articles and information hosted on other sites.

 

[BruceW]

Because I specialize in Syngnathids I have noticed that the replies here on RC can be pretty inconsistant. It is not unusual to see conflicting answers and some bad advice to questions in this forum. While all forums have this same problem to some extent it seems magnified by the shear quantity of posters on RC.

This can be particularly troublesome when someone has a sick seahorse. I feel that this site should be open to someone recommending that the person post in the emergency forum on the other site to get a quick answer. To me the animals well being should be more important then who gets to answer the question.

I was a mod on the Syng site and i will be again if it ever gets going. I would hope that people here would have most of the answers to the more common questions but just like people when they get sick sometimes your seahorse needs a specialist.

Bruce