I think that is the problem, nobody really knows what this forum is about. But everyone has a different opinion on the direction they thought it was going or think it should be going. Ray should list what direction he would like for this thing to go since he owns it now. If people don't like the way Ray wants it to go then well, it's his sandbox. If he wants to take everyones opinion into consideration then a thread should be started and let everyone vote. Personally I feel non farriers should not be allowed to post in the farriers section, that's why it's called the farriers section. If a non farrier wants to ask a question in the farriers section PM the person or start a thread in the owners section. If there allowed to post why have two different sections, just more work and takes up more server space.
Ray seems to be missing in action! However I'm not convinced it's owners that are the problem! The ones I'm taking most exception to claim they are farriers! Though clearly they're hiding behind anonymity so have something to be ashamed or frightened of! But I agree in so far as Ray needs to step up and state his objectives and intentions and then I for one can decide if it's a waste of time putting any effort into any meaningful postings. Or if it's just going to be a place inhabited by low life with nothing meaningful to contribute.
Justin, thanks for your suggestion, I sure that is the type of info/suggestion that David is asking for! Eric and Thomas, I'm looking at all the paper that you two are using ,often time suggesting that the forum is going down the whatever, I'd like to remind you that the thread is supposed to be ...what would make it better... I've gotten the subtle hints that you believe it's(the farrierforum) on its way out but this thread is about...what would make it better... and isn't the forum something about farrier topics? lotsa paper on the demise , but little on farrier stuff from you two lately! pretty interesting. Regards Ray Steele
Eric I think so... I would contact Andre and say ban Eric please, course I 'd have to ask him how if I wanted to use the ignore button, my keyboard doesn't have one, I don't think, but I didn't look! Why do you think it would improve the forums? Regards Ray
Only you can make the forum better Ray. I'm on a lot of forums and all of them need to be moderated to a certain extent. The are members who get out of line from time to time and there are trolls. You don't seem to want to differentiate between the two.
So I'm a non farrier. I would like to be able to comment in the farrier section. I would not like to offer other owners advice. I have occasionally said "What about..." to farriers. I would like to be able to do that as it gives the opening for discussion. Of course topics not related to farriery should be open to all. Straight out rudeness and personal attacks should be deleted. Three warnings and your out. People should be more aware to of taking threads way off track. Some discussion is good but when its wandering away from the original post perhaps they could consider starting a new thread with a link in the original.
I'm not a lawyer, but I want to comment in the lawyer section on the lawyer forum. I won't give any legal advice, but I'm very good at writing in passive voice.
Exactly the sort of comment to piss people off Tom. You've been doing that a lot lately. I have great respect for your farriery abilities but that's about all I respect. Someone told me you are a nice guy, at the moment I really wonder.
Take a gander at the Highroad.org. It has debates, differences of opinion, time zones etc but none of the crassness of ff. Maybe we can take a leaf or two from them
He might not know how to ban you. But I sure as hell know how to get around in a kitchen to bake you a big ass cookie. But that's up to you Eric & how hungry you are for a serving & Thomas the NON farrier will be joining you at the table.
Please explain why anybody, lawyer's included, would be pissed off that I want to post comments on a lawyer forum? I bet you can't explain it.
Tom, from the perspective of a farriers forum , who cares about the lawyer forum? Susan has expressed what is a frustration to her about in regard to it's relation to a farriers forum,as was asked,I think it should be listen to, and considered whether here or at/on another farrier related forum. Ray
I don't think that lawyers would care if a layperson participated in the forum when it was designated (per your definition) as an online pub where lawyers hang out and talk shop or argue legal strategy. But I can see where a layperson might be insulted or offended if they didn't understand that the legal system is ADVERSARIAL by design. It would very quickly become tedious if the forum got clogged up with laypeople working as hard as they possibly can to be offended by everything that happens in the exchange taking place - at which point they would want the forum to have RULES for what is and what is not acceptable in how lawyers argue. I agree. I listened and offered a counterpoint in the form of an analogy. Now that you have a counterpoint, if you or anyone else is offended or insulted by my counterpoint, then you made a personal choice to take offense instead of looking at it from an impersonal view.
I think for my personal enjoyment and enlightenment, a couple of things would make it better. 1) Posters are posters. You either want them or you do not. If you give someone membership - let them post whereever "as members." VERY silly to have an "owners section" (see below). Face it, any who post here are likely people with horses - darn straight all who come here are learning or have learned or need a working knowledge of farriery. A professional horsemans training board would also likely draw the attention (and traffic) of many owners. 2) If you want this to be a place that offers online access to farriery professionalism - then set aside a place where bonafied professionals can receive and answer questions and offer critiques and questions, tutorials etc etc. Call it the "Ask a Professional Farrier" section. And in this section advice and critique should only be given by designated "Professional Farriers." All other unrecognised farriers are simply members who can ask a polite question or comment. The owner of this board can determine who he feels should be designated a "Professional Farrier." ANd posters should be encouraged to submit names for consideration of this designation. Moderate this area heavily if any unrecognized farriers offer anything other than respectful questions/comments. And by goodness let the professional lose his priviledge if he is disrespectful to the questioner - cause IMO the snide snipe degrades the "profession" more than the poster it may be directed to. 3) My other suggestion would be to have an area designated "Farrier/Horseman's Rodeo," a no holds barred section where banter and gay-i-ty can ensue. I really do enjoy the banter - quite funny. Farriers are great at it. Admit it - Jac Mac can be pretty imaginative. Set it aside and call it what it is. SHould be little to no need to moderate it. 4) Make the moderators annonymous. Moderator 1, Moderator 2 etc. Benefits of this should be obvious. Many would not have had to suffer fools as unfortunately happened here. 5) I would very much like for the Professional Farrier section to also be expanded to be "Professional Farrier and Horsemen's" section. One of the greatest features of ths board for me was that "Thomas" gave his attentions here. Easy Peasy.
