Dear killietalk readers,
Thank you for your comments regarding the decision recently made by the
BOT to phase out killietalk in favor of forums. I would like to make a
few comments in response to issues that have been raised.
First, I am distressed at the nasty tones used in some of the messages
and, in particular, in the personal attacks on me. In recent days, for
example, I have received emails likening me to the KGB, which I, at
least, consider unacceptable behavior. Furthermore, I don't know where
some people get their information, but some of it is inaccurate. I was
not the one who initiated the BOT's discussion of this topic, even
though I do believe and have argued that using the forums rather than
killietalk would be to the benefit of the AKA. Some of you have argued
that killietalk is the main source of our new members. I don't believe
that is true. Surveys that we have done in the past indicate that the
web site is the main way that new members find us. In point of fact, I
think the misuse and abuse of killietalk, which occurs on a regular
basis, tends to discourage potential new members from joining. Those
periods of bad behavior project a very poor image of the AKA. In point
of fact, this perception was the main reason that the discussion was
started. There is every reason to believe that, were killietalk to
continue, similar periods of bad behavior will occur.
The argument has been made that similar flame wars will occur in forums.
It is true that someone can post an objectionable message to the forums,
but forum moderators can deal with such bad behavior more effectively
than we can on killietalk. Such messages can be moved to member only
forums or, if objectionable enough, can be deleted or edited. I know
that some of you will call that censorship but the AKA has no obligation
of publish offensive material in the forums, on killietalk, or in any of
its other publications.
Some of you have complained that the board did not conduct a survey of
the membership on this issue. I will remind you that both I and the BOT
secretary have referred to the discussion of this issue in the BNL over
the last three months or more. I have repeatedly asked for input from
members. Apart from one message posted to the BOT list by an individual
who receives those messages, not a single member has bothered to contact
the BOT about it. There was a discussion of the issue on killietalk some
weeks ago but killietalk is not an appropriate way to express an opinion
to the board. For a start, as has been acknowledged in some of today's
messages, not all BOT members use killietalk. Most of them, by the way,
have used it in the past but left because they were unwilling to deal
with the nonsense that goes on from time to time.
The members elect people to the BOT to make decisions in the best
interests of the AKA. That is what we have tried to do. I very much
resent the implications that have been made that these decisions have
been made to serve some personal interest. The BOT is made up of a
dedicated group of people who strive to make this a better and a
healthier organization. If you think you can make better decisions, I
invite you to run for the 2011 board.
There have been comments to the effect that "the great majority" or
"overwhelming majority" of members want to keep killietalk. That seems
an exaggeration as we have heard from perhaps 25 out of over 900 AKA
members. It is a self fulfilling prophecy that those who actively use
killietalk want to keep it but even on killietalk, a few weeks ago, one
third of respondents stated that they preferred the forums. Only about
20% of AKA members are even subscribed to killietalk, even though more
that 90% have email access. Having said that, a small number of you have
now written to BOT members asking that the issue of killietalk be
revisited. The board will respect those requests and I will, in due
course, inform you of the outcome. Possibly we will seek additional
input from the membership as a whole.
Finally, a number of people have maligned the AKA web site and the
forums. I find those comments very discouraging. Over the last 13 years
I have spent hours every day working on the web site, killietalk and
other AKA matters, taking the web site through at least three total
revisions. That work is often to the detriment of my home life and my
own fish keeping, there being only a limited number of hours in a day.
Although I do periodically get messages complimenting me on the site and
thanking me for what I do for the AKA, I have finally grown tired of
dealing with the insults that I receive from a small, but vocal, group
of members. It is my intention, therefore, to resign as webmaster at the
end of this year, to correspond to the end of my term on the board. I am
disappointed to have to make that decision. I had planned what I think
would have been some good additions to the site, and had even started to
work on learning some additional programming skills to allow me to make
those them. I will also remove myself as an administrator of killietalk,
for as long as it exists. I do regret that these decisions will place a
burden on the 2010 board.
Barry Cooper
--
Barry J. Cooper
Sweet Home, OR 97386
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