Re: [Killietalk] Thanks but No Thanks

[Wright Huntley <whuntley at inkmkr_com>]

Mark R wrote:
> I'm with Laura - this list is useless for anyone interested in learning more
> about killis. Here's a suggestion for you AKA big-wigs to ignore: consider
> splitting the list into one devoted to killifish and another devoted to the
> AKA.

I hope a bit of history can clarify this. I'm not a big-wig, but have 
been around since California was a prairie. :-)

Killietalk was set up to take the pressure of AKA-related discussions 
off another list that had been around for some years (killi.net). The 
non-AKA folks there were annoyed by discussions about the BOT, etc. It 
was a wise move, IMO.

Unfortunately, the fish discussions also gradually ended up here, as the 
other list sort of withered away, so what to do? Barry has tried to 
provide web forums for AKA business, but they will probably never work 
unless he shuts down killietalk entirely.

The Singapore group has killies.com, which is a forums-only (no mail 
list) discussion group. It works beautifully, but only because of 
constant moderation by a sizeable staff of volunteer moderators. I fear 
we wouldn't like that, and would have a problem keeping a dedicated 
staff that would stay on top of their forum every day (and take gas from 
irate members).

I believe the new Dallas group has a forum-based discussion program 
going, that is open to all. http://www.dallaskillifish.com/forums/

At BAKA, we tried to minimize competition with AKA by restricting the 
mail list to local topics only, usually trying to push folks to 
killietalk for general fish discussion. Likewise, the BAKA web site has 
tried to not duplicate functions better served by the AKA.org site.

I used to answer the same beginner's questions over and over again. I 
didn't mind, because I once asked most of them, myself. I also read the 
questions very carefully, and tried to really understand the context so 
any answer I may have fits the problem, rather than compounding it.

The availability of archives of various lists, the greatly improved 
beginners guide, and improved internet search engines have all reduced 
the amount of elementary information apparently needed on the list. I 
regret that, because I have always had fun corresponding with and 
sending fish to newbies.

The general decline in good solid husbandry information on killietalk 
is, I think, just a symptom of our difficulty in adapting to the changes 
in the media available to us.

Since we have been advised of the need, I have confidence that some of 
the smart folks here will find a way to improve the situation for the 
newer folks and help restore the interactions some of us old f*rts enjoy 
so much. I'm willing to help, but don't have any bright ideas at the moment.

Wright

-- 
Wright Huntley - Rt. 001 Box K36, Bishop CA 93514 - whuntley at verizon_net 
  760 937-2276 (cell) 760 874-2000 (CA) or 941 866-0500 (FL).

"There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept."
Ansel Adams

http://www.self-gov.org/wspq.html

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