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Re: [Killietalk] Comments on killietalk vs forums
Hi Barry
I do believe if the AKA had a more friendly forum maybe the outcry would be
a bit less. Im not sure of the software the club uses for them but is by far
the worst package i have viewed. Maybe the AKA can look around for an
improved forum template or forum software.
Eric
----- Original Message -----
From: "Barry Cooper" <barry_cooper at mac.com>
To: "killifish discussion list" <killietalk at actwin_com>
Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 10:14 PM
Subject: [Killietalk] Comments on killietalk vs forums
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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