I found this on the skeptical aquariust.
B. Aquarium Boards/Forums.
Forums are multiplying like guppies. Everyone wants one at their personal website.
Not me, however.
The main draw of a forum is that it be large and active. Your post there should get the answer it deserves. (Yes I do mean that.)
This means that a few well-attended forums are more effective than dozens scattered across the 'Net.
Other aspects of a good forum follow the short list.
The following are a few of the more active freshwater aquarium forums. I post around, like a neighborhood stray dog-- much too often-- but I lurk as much as I post.
The (Alphabetical) Short List of Freshwater Fish Forums.
Age of Aquariums.
http://www.aquahobby.com/
AquaBotanic.
http://www.aquabotanic.com/
AquaLink.
http://www.aqualinkwebforum.com/
Aquarium Fish.
http://www.aquariumfish.com/aquafish/
AquariaCentral. http://www.aquariacentral.com/
Fishaholics.
http://www.fishaholics.org/
Fishgeeks.
http://www.fishgeeks.com/
Fishprofiles.
http://www.fishprofiles.com/interactive/forums/default.asp
Tom's Place.
http://www.aaquaria.com/
Tropical Resources.
http://www.tropicalresources.net/phpBB2/index.php
Recognizing a good forum isn't very hard. You'll get the flavor of a new forum that fits your personality by lurking for a couple of weeks before you post, always a sensible way to begin. The art of lurking goes with the art of knowing when to abort a fruitless post you have been working up... and of recognizing when the general direction of a thread is beyond help.
The single best criterion for a forum: is the discussion self-correcting, or do zany repetitions of creaky mythology pass for good factual advice? Are most of the opinions expressed founded in up-to-date science and good current aquarium practice? Does parroted myth pass without corrective comment?
When you are judging how a new forum will "fit" you, ask yourself, when contrary opinions are entered, how are they expressed and how are they received? Are posters pretty civil with one another on the whole, or is there an atmosphere of sarcasm and personal attacks?
Are people reading one another's posts, or are they merely venting? In such "combat" forums you might learn more about disfunctional personalities than about fishkeeping... "not that there's anything wrong with that..."
Another question you should ask yourself: Are the moderators on the job when trouble strikes?
Follow up the posted links: are they helpful? is this site connected to good information elsewhere on the 'Net?
Your own job at any forum is to remember that you are expected to make a contribution. "Hit-and-run" posters are commonplace hazards, but you should remember, if you begin a thread, to offer the responders the courtesy of a response from you. You might simply relate how you have revised your first opinion.
Teaser topic headings are a bugaboo of mine. A topic heading "Ur not gonna bleeve this, but..." doesn't tempt my overworked curiosity in the least. A succinct informative headline gives folks a chance to select which threads they open. It's a courtesy. Be confident that your thread will elicit interest. People on the bulletin boards are genuinely curious and helpful.
Think out your post and reread it before you hit that "Submit" button. Typos and mispellings give a discouraging air of haste and disorder.
You might even do a little research first through www.google.com?
Have you seen Timothy Campbells' Net Writing Guide?
By the way, some of the most experienced and adult advice in the forums comes from kids in their teens.
Internet Trolls.
Some trolls specialize in aquarium-related bulletin boards.
Wikipedia defines troll: "On the Internet, a troll is a person who posts messages that create controversy or an angry response without adding content to the discussion, often intentionally. Though technically different from flaming, which is an unmistakable direct personal attack, trolls often resort to innuendo or misdirection in the pursuit of their objective, which is to create controversy for its own sake, discredit those with whom they disagree, or sabotage discussion by creating an intimidating atmosphere."
Click on the link for a wise and tolerant explanation about the puerile, angry, self-indulgent exhibitionists called "trolls" and how to avoid giving them the pay-off in disruption and angry attention that they thrive on.
Amy Dhala, U. of Texas School of Sociology, has written a paper investigating this personality disorder.
Next time you are on a message board and you see a post by a troll, and you feel you must reply, simply write a follow-up message entitled "Troll Alert" and type only this:
"The only way to deal with trolls is to limit your reaction to reminding others not to respond to trolls."
This page last updated: 09/09/05 02:44:40 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
©All text and images copyright 1999
B. Aquarium Boards/Forums.
Forums are multiplying like guppies. Everyone wants one at their personal website.
Not me, however.
The main draw of a forum is that it be large and active. Your post there should get the answer it deserves. (Yes I do mean that.)
This means that a few well-attended forums are more effective than dozens scattered across the 'Net.
Other aspects of a good forum follow the short list.
The following are a few of the more active freshwater aquarium forums. I post around, like a neighborhood stray dog-- much too often-- but I lurk as much as I post.
The (Alphabetical) Short List of Freshwater Fish Forums.
Age of Aquariums.
http://www.aquahobby.com/
AquaBotanic.
http://www.aquabotanic.com/
AquaLink.
http://www.aqualinkwebforum.com/
Aquarium Fish.
http://www.aquariumfish.com/aquafish/
AquariaCentral. http://www.aquariacentral.com/
Fishaholics.
http://www.fishaholics.org/
Fishgeeks.
http://www.fishgeeks.com/
Fishprofiles.
http://www.fishprofiles.com/interactive/forums/default.asp
Tom's Place.
http://www.aaquaria.com/
Tropical Resources.
http://www.tropicalresources.net/phpBB2/index.php
Recognizing a good forum isn't very hard. You'll get the flavor of a new forum that fits your personality by lurking for a couple of weeks before you post, always a sensible way to begin. The art of lurking goes with the art of knowing when to abort a fruitless post you have been working up... and of recognizing when the general direction of a thread is beyond help.
The single best criterion for a forum: is the discussion self-correcting, or do zany repetitions of creaky mythology pass for good factual advice? Are most of the opinions expressed founded in up-to-date science and good current aquarium practice? Does parroted myth pass without corrective comment?
When you are judging how a new forum will "fit" you, ask yourself, when contrary opinions are entered, how are they expressed and how are they received? Are posters pretty civil with one another on the whole, or is there an atmosphere of sarcasm and personal attacks?
Are people reading one another's posts, or are they merely venting? In such "combat" forums you might learn more about disfunctional personalities than about fishkeeping... "not that there's anything wrong with that..."
Another question you should ask yourself: Are the moderators on the job when trouble strikes?
Follow up the posted links: are they helpful? is this site connected to good information elsewhere on the 'Net?
Your own job at any forum is to remember that you are expected to make a contribution. "Hit-and-run" posters are commonplace hazards, but you should remember, if you begin a thread, to offer the responders the courtesy of a response from you. You might simply relate how you have revised your first opinion.
Teaser topic headings are a bugaboo of mine. A topic heading "Ur not gonna bleeve this, but..." doesn't tempt my overworked curiosity in the least. A succinct informative headline gives folks a chance to select which threads they open. It's a courtesy. Be confident that your thread will elicit interest. People on the bulletin boards are genuinely curious and helpful.
Think out your post and reread it before you hit that "Submit" button. Typos and mispellings give a discouraging air of haste and disorder.
You might even do a little research first through www.google.com?
Have you seen Timothy Campbells' Net Writing Guide?
By the way, some of the most experienced and adult advice in the forums comes from kids in their teens.
Internet Trolls.
Some trolls specialize in aquarium-related bulletin boards.
Wikipedia defines troll: "On the Internet, a troll is a person who posts messages that create controversy or an angry response without adding content to the discussion, often intentionally. Though technically different from flaming, which is an unmistakable direct personal attack, trolls often resort to innuendo or misdirection in the pursuit of their objective, which is to create controversy for its own sake, discredit those with whom they disagree, or sabotage discussion by creating an intimidating atmosphere."
Click on the link for a wise and tolerant explanation about the puerile, angry, self-indulgent exhibitionists called "trolls" and how to avoid giving them the pay-off in disruption and angry attention that they thrive on.
Amy Dhala, U. of Texas School of Sociology, has written a paper investigating this personality disorder.
Next time you are on a message board and you see a post by a troll, and you feel you must reply, simply write a follow-up message entitled "Troll Alert" and type only this:
"The only way to deal with trolls is to limit your reaction to reminding others not to respond to trolls."
This page last updated: 09/09/05 02:44:40 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
©All text and images copyright 1999
