amber
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 1,661
|
Post by amber on Jun 20, 2014 9:10:42 GMT 1
I'm afraid i'm inclined to agree with AmandaP, Nightowl4 and Janwilky on the whole.
I'd find it very frustrating indeed to not give my 'personal experiences and suggestions' freely, for fear of being reprimanded.
I too would/will probably fade away too as i don't like to have my 'hands tied' when i'd feel i had some suggestions/advice or dare i say knowledge to offer someone who is going through a situation i've been privvy to in the past. I very much listen too and take on board the wealth of knowledge and personally experiences that everyday 'run of the mill' owners have been through, or are going through and THIS more than anything keeps me on this board.
A Paid for service isn't an option for me either as others have said,..there's too much money going OUT sometimes and not enough coming in to warrant a membership on-line, when in truth i can very probably find what i need to know out there for free!
Just my own opinion you understand...free speech and all that.
|
|
|
Post by clipclop on Jun 20, 2014 9:24:17 GMT 1
I can't help but feel that what is being implied is that, unless we are members, we can't be tusted to offer suitable advice!
If we paid membership, we would be able to go on the members board and offer advice in threads but we can't do that on the free board as it needs moderating. If absolutely everyone became a member, there would still be the same amount of threads in members than there currently are in general so would require just as much work from admin, mods and liz. The only diference would be that IH would have had a membership fee from more people.
I don't tend to reply with advice unless I think I can offer something useful and I'm sure others are the same. If someone spots some questionable advice, on any part of the forum, free or otherwise then there is a report post option to bring it to the attention of mods.
I'm hoping I'm wrong but I just feel that the years of valid experiece between people on here is being disregarded as worthless.
Sent from my GT-I9195 using proboards
|
|
varkie
Grand Prix Poster
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 4,913
|
Post by varkie on Jun 20, 2014 10:09:29 GMT 1
Thank you to IH for listening to our concerns. I hope that the small details about what/where posting happens can be ironed out.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Jun 20, 2014 10:45:35 GMT 1
Like all changes, it's never going to please everyone.
As Liz said, relying on a disclaimer may give you some sense of cover but it won't stop someone following inappropriate advice. And believe me, we've had some very inappropriate advice given on the DG in the past!
What needs to be remembered is that this forum is hosted in the IH name thanks to Kelly, and is run by the admin/moderating team together with the support of Liz. We none of us get paid, it is all done because of our belief in IH and our wish to support it. It's therefore not just a question of what DG members want (although as we've shown that comes into it) but what we feel we can actually give. We are no longer in a position to support to open to all on any subject DG.
Liz gives a considerable amount of her time to supporting the DG. It is up to her to decide what she wants to contribute and where. She has said she will support the IH Members Board and the Ask an Expert board, the former to support those who are committed enough to IH to join the association, and the latter to support charity. Those are her priorities and we have to respect that.
To address some of the comments that you've made over the last couple of pages, we are not trying to stop free speech or disregarding others as worthless. We are simply putting in place a system that for us is workable while making sure that the DG remains true to IH. We are also not going to start reprimanding people for posting inappropriately. There will I'm sure be posts from time to time that stray a little over the line into what might be called advice, that's not going to generate a telling off! In the horse chatter area, you'll still be able to exchange your experiences and will still be able to show to the outside world what IH can and does achieve. You won't, though, be able to ask for and get help in the way that happens now, nor will you be able to start threads for open discussion on training methods, either IH or other.
As regards whether or not people choose to pay either to join IH or to get help from Liz (or possibly one of the other RAs), that is a question of individual choice. For some people, donating £3 or so will be worthwhile to get an expert opinion, others may prefer to go elsewhere for free and take pot luck on the advice they get. That is up to them, not up to IH. Please be assured, though, that this is not about generating new memberships and money for IH, it is simply about running the DG as we feel best within the framework we have.
|
|
|
Post by portiabuzz on Jun 20, 2014 10:49:45 GMT 1
thank you for your time admin and Liz of course
|
|
|
Post by lizpurlo on Jun 20, 2014 12:33:45 GMT 1
That sounds like a great idea, Admin, and I'm sorry some posters are already picking holes in it! In spite of that it looks like the best way forward, and perhaps we can just run with it for a bit and see how it all works out? It's bound to evolve and develop its own character, and if there are any snags, we can surely zap 'em as we go along. In the last few months, the members' board has turned itself into such an enjoyable place - I was being lured away by FB before the 'revamp' started, but logging in to Members is now an essential part of my day. Wills, I'm really glad you're coming to join us.
|
|
|
Post by cheekychops on Jun 20, 2014 14:18:16 GMT 1
Very sad I have been an infrequent poster for a number of years and have gained such a lot from the DG. Farewell folks - it's been great!
|
|
lucia
Grand Prix Poster
Grand Prix Poster
Missing you always Sweetheart.x RIP Mai - 1996-2007
Posts: 2,120
|
Post by lucia on Jun 20, 2014 16:13:16 GMT 1
Well, this is all very sad, this has always been a good place to come and although I don't post much these days I will miss the forum. I will especially miss not being able to go read my post on 6th September 2007 - one on general and one on Rainbow bridge. The day I lost my mare Mai to a field accident. This and the EE forum were a huge support and got me through some dark days. THAT is what I will miss. I can't afford to pay out anything extra (although I was 'green' for a long time) - OH has been made redundant and I'm counting every single penny. So I guess thats that then. Thanks to the IH community for being so great all these years. So long and thanks for all the fish.
|
|
|
Post by amandap on Jun 20, 2014 17:26:59 GMT 1
The General Horse Talk section will be locked so that existing threads can still be searched and read, but you will no longer be able to post on it. The Horse help section will also be locked, and replaced by a new 'Ask an Expert' section, whereby behaviour related questions can be asked to an RA for a contribution to our charity fund. All other forums will be locked and archived and all historic posts will still be viewable and searchable. The Non Horse Section is currently set to remain open to all forum posters. You will still be able to read Lucia. x
|
|
Caroline
Grand Prix Poster
Intermediate Poster
Posts: 2,277
|
Post by Caroline on Jun 20, 2014 19:05:06 GMT 1
I don't want to sound rude, but if I explain what's happening to someone who isnt am IHDGer what is happening, it truly sounds bonkers. A forum where people used to ask questions, share experience and help each other is being locked up so that only one approved person can answer questions or comment on behaviour or training.
The forum ran very well and brought people into IH and other ways of thinking for many years, long before Liz became more active on the forum.
As a web and programming professional, this will be an interesting experiment to watch. I am pretty certain it will fail, but I shall watch with interest. As a member of what was generally a nice community, I will be sorry to see it die off and sorry to lose touch with some nice and knowledgeable people.
|
|
|
Post by cookie on Jun 20, 2014 20:07:10 GMT 1
Gosh I think there's a lot of big assumptions going on here about what might and might not be allowed. Things change, I've lurked or been a member for many years now and have witnessed things that I've thought may end or compromise the board but it's always bounced back.
I think we should commend admin for listening, accept change needs to be made, and give it a try without implying such negativity before we really understand how it will work. We ll only know that by trying it out. But if we assume the worst and give up without trying, that in itself will kill the DG.
|
|
Caroline
Grand Prix Poster
Intermediate Poster
Posts: 2,277
|
Post by Caroline on Jun 20, 2014 20:21:30 GMT 1
Well I guess it will be a reversible decision. If things do die off, it could be set back to normal and people would drift back. There do seem to be a lot of people who take long breaks and then come back when they have time/a new horse/a new problem.
|
|
|
Post by marychick on Jun 20, 2014 20:31:08 GMT 1
Well said cookie ! x
|
|
|
Post by jennyb on Jun 20, 2014 20:33:21 GMT 1
Whilst I applaud admin for taking on board concerns and trying to find solutions, I do agree with Caroline. It will be interesting to see how things pan out, but on paper it seems a bit of a strange thing to do. But hey, it's not my plaything, IH can do what they want with their toy :-)
|
|
lucia
Grand Prix Poster
Grand Prix Poster
Missing you always Sweetheart.x RIP Mai - 1996-2007
Posts: 2,120
|
Post by lucia on Jun 20, 2014 20:52:42 GMT 1
The General Horse Talk section will be locked so that existing threads can still be searched and read, but you will no longer be able to post on it. The Horse help section will also be locked, and replaced by a new 'Ask an Expert' section, whereby behaviour related questions can be asked to an RA for a contribution to our charity fund. All other forums will be locked and archived and all historic posts will still be viewable and searchable. The Non Horse Section is currently set to remain open to all forum posters. You will still be able to read Lucia. x Thanks amandap.
|
|