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#1 Guest_Drew_*

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Posted 03 July 2010 - 11:22 PM

The Forum administration has made a decision to make the Trading Dock section of the forum NANFA Members only. We are open for comments but believe this decision is best for the organization as a whole.

We have also enabled the Reputation system. This allows forum members to vote a post up or down which will affect a member's reputation. We are experimenting with the reputation levels so don't be surprised to see changes in the future.

#2 Guest_natureman187_*

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Posted 03 July 2010 - 11:34 PM

Thumbs up. When will the rest of the forum follow suit?

#3 Guest_gzeiger_*

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Posted 04 July 2010 - 03:12 AM

There's no reason for the rest of the forum to follow suit. As has been discussed many times, the forum is simply the best recruiting tool the organization has, and it wouldn't benefit us to lose that.

#4 Michael Wolfe

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Posted 04 July 2010 - 08:05 AM

There's no reason for the rest of the forum to follow suit. As has been discussed many times, the forum is simply the best recruiting tool the organization has, and it wouldn't benefit us to lose that.


I don't want to pick a fight, so really let's just take this as a scientific question... Do we have any proof of the above statement?

I mean, the rest of what we talk about here is science based, if I tell someone here that I saw a bunch of a certain fish behind a log so they are always found behind logs, I would get laughed out of the place (hopefully)... so do we have any proof that more people are joining NANFA (that's what I would define as recruiting, increasing our participating and paying membership)? What was the trend in membership before the forum? did we see a statistically valid change in that trend once the forum became active? Are there other factors that we have to control for other than just the forum?

Tom Watson, you have all of the membership data right? Any way that you could share it with me... just the numbers not names or anything?

I know that we believe the forum is a great outreach tool, and we have a lot of anecdotal date that makes us believe that. And the concept of outreach might be much harder to define. But is it really a recruiting tool? I don't know.
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

#5 Guest_Mysteryman_*

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Posted 04 July 2010 - 08:26 AM

Why?

Is this a matter of simple fundraising, or is there a better reason?
Has the forum been overrun lately with non-members flooding the trading dock area? I hadn't noticed.

*sigh*

Fine, then, what's the snailmail address to which we can send the dough? I tried to pay with paypal last year, but after that my paypal stopped working and hasn't worked since.

#6 Michael Wolfe

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  • North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage

Posted 04 July 2010 - 08:29 AM

Quick look at some data show that:

...fully half of forum members have never posted a single time.

...3/4 of forum members have not visited the site even once in 2010.
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

#7 Guest_Newt_*

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Posted 04 July 2010 - 09:37 AM

Here's an anecdote: I learned of NANFA through the forum and certainly wouldn't have joined the organization if I hadn't been exposed to the helpful folks here on the forum. I support leaving most of the forum open to all comers, and also support restricting certain areas to paid members.

The trading dock is especially sensitive. Here's a scenario: anonymous person joins forum solely to ask for/offer native fishes. Person receives fishes and illegally releases them, or sells fishes caught illegally. Now NANFA may be perceived as having facilitated the illegal action. Of course there is no guarantee that NANFA members wouldn't do this, but it is at least a layer of protection. For the most part the people who join the organization have a serious interest in native fish, have an understanding of NANFA's mission, and are at least no longer anonymous.

At any rate the forum should reflect some perks for members. Annual membership fees are crucial to NANFA's continued support of research, education, and conservation efforts, and we want to show our appreciation to our paying members.

#8 Guest_Skipjack_*

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Posted 04 July 2010 - 10:21 AM

About time. Great decision guys. Just reminded me that I think I might be late on my dues.
I think the forum is a good recruiting tool, and IMO the forum is a frontrunner to the actual organization. The forum itself is such a wealth of information, why visit the site, or join. So why buy the cow when you get the milk for free. If forum members get all of the perks that paying NANFA members get, why join? I would even take it a few steps further, and give people more incentive to join the organization. Give the public enough of a peek to get them interested, but leave some very interesting topics "NANFA members only" Will be like Pandoras box, and they will want to open it.

#9 Guest_bumpylemon_*

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Posted 04 July 2010 - 10:45 AM

wow i honestly for some reason never even thought about joining. i always meant to at first then just forgot about it. im going to join now.

#10 Michael Wolfe

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  • North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage

Posted 04 July 2010 - 11:42 AM

...IMO the forum is a frontrunner to the actual organization. The forum itself is such a wealth of information, why visit the site, or join. So why buy the cow when you get the milk for free.


I totally agree, if you pay nothing for something, you will value it less. If you pay something, even just a little, it becomes more important to you. I used to participate in a fund raiser that involved tickets to a sporting event. We bought a lot of tickets and then gave them away to our employees... most people never went, and we were somewhat embarrassed that we did not "fill the stands" even though we had bought the tickets. Then we made the tickets available to anyone that wanted them for something I think like $2... people bought nearly as many as we gave away and almost everyone that bought a ticket went to the game. They valued the tickets more and so went to the game... fish in my state are a valuable resource and I am willing to pay for a fishing license (and it is not much, but I pay it) and I pay when I go to other states as well, even though I spend more time snorkeling than collecting and on the last trip didn't even bring home a fish. NANFA is a valuable resource, that I am certainly willing to pay to support.
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

#11 Guest_donkeyman876_*

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Posted 04 July 2010 - 11:46 AM

I am not an official Nanfa member and I think I would agree with the decision. I hope to become a member when I get some money and that's fine. I think it seems fair to give benefits to those who pay.

#12 Guest_bumpylemon_*

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Posted 04 July 2010 - 01:53 PM

I feel that I owe a contribution to NANFA. I've learned SO much from this site. I myself have educated probably 10 people in my life to native fish. I will suggest that the whole forum should be made to everyone. Ill use my self as an example....if I didnt have a chance to use this forum when I first joined then I wouldn't of donated for a membership. I think people have to appreciate a product before they buy it. And every forum has "lots" of members who sign up and don't post. But who cares? If 3 people join then its worth it. Money is money. I do see a problem with "elitism" on this forum that probably drives lots of members away. All and all this is one of the only places to discuss just native fish.

Edited by bumpylemon, 04 July 2010 - 02:22 PM.


#13 Guest_Skipjack_*

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Posted 04 July 2010 - 02:07 PM

I feel that I owe a contribution to NANFA. I've learned SO much from this site. I myself have educated probably 10 people in my life to native fish. I will suggest that the whole forum should be made to everyone. Ill use my sell as an example....if I didnt have a chance to use this forum when I first joined then I wouldn't of donated for a membership. I think people have to appreciate a product before they buy it. And every forum has "lots" of members who sign up and don't post. But who cares? If 3 people join then its worth it. Money is money. I do see a problem with "elitism" on this forum that probably drives lots of members away. All and all this is one of the only places to discuss just native fish.

Yes, but it took this discussion to get you to dish out the money to become a member. People need a little prodding, and a members only forum or two just might accomplish that. Now a non NANFA member will still have most of the benefits of the forum, and will be able to educate him/herself, just wont be able to swap fish. Spend the cash, Join NANFA, and you are in business. It really is a win win situation, it will help NANFA funding which in turn will allow this forum to keep educating people. And heck the membership is cheap, a day collecting cans on the side of the road could pay for a membership.
As far as "elitism" goes, NANFA is an academic organization, and the last thing that we need is for this forum to become "Monster Fish Keepers" for native fish. Check out MFK, you will see what I mean. Sorry to say, some of these potential forum members need to be driven away. We don't need 12 year old kids asking how many Largemouth can be kept in a ten gallon tank. We need young people, and adults that are willing to educate themselves, and do some research on their own. Not dozens of basic questions that could be answered from a 10 dollar aquariums for dummies book.

Edited by Skipjack, 04 July 2010 - 02:14 PM.


#14 Guest_bumpylemon_*

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Posted 04 July 2010 - 02:17 PM

Yes, but it took this discussion to get you to dish out the money to become a member. People need a little prodding, and a members only forum or two just might accomplish that. Now a non NANFA member will still have most of the benefits of the forum, and will be able to educate him/herself, just wont be able to swap fish. Spend the cash, Join NANFA, and you are in business. It really is a win win situation, it will help NANFA funding which in turn will allow this forum to keep educating people. And heck the membership is cheap, a day collecting cans on the side of the road could pay for a membership.


that is true. but one thing about the trading dock is i seem to be doing more dealings with non members. members seem to be reluctant to trade fish. i have no problem at all helping people out but some people seem to just not care too. that part of the forum has very limited use. maybe making other parts paid membership as well.

#15 Guest_Jim_*

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Posted 04 July 2010 - 02:23 PM

I feel that I owe a contribution to NANFA. I've learned SO much from this site. I myself have educated probably 10 people in my life to native fish. I will suggest that the whole forum should be made to everyone. Ill use my sell as an example....if I didnt have a chance to use this forum when I first joined then I wouldn't of donated for a membership. I think people have to appreciate a product before they buy it. And every forum has "lots" of members who sign up and don't post. But who cares? If 3 people join then its worth it. Money is money. I do see a problem with "elitism" on this forum that probably drives lots of members away. All and all this is one of the only places to discuss just native fish.


''[I do see a problem with "elitism" on this forum that probably drives lots of members away.]''


Can you expand on that statement a little???? Please

#16 Guest_bumpylemon_*

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Posted 04 July 2010 - 02:24 PM

As far as "elitism" goes, NANFA is an academic organization, and the last thing that we need is for this forum to become "Monster Fish Keepers" for native fish. Check out MFK, you will see what I mean. Sorry to say, some of these potential forum members need to be driven away. We don't need 12 year old kids asking how many Largemouth can be kept in a ten gallon tank. We need young people, and adults that are willing to educate themselves, and do some research on their own. Not dozens of basic questions that could be answered from a 10 dollar aquariums for dummies book.


i agree with that. MFK is ridiculous. but i was referring to some members towards other members and even regional reps.

#17 Guest_bumpylemon_*

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Posted 04 July 2010 - 02:29 PM

''[I do see a problem with "elitism" on this forum that probably drives lots of members away.]''


Can you expand on that statement a little???? Please


Jim I'd rather not post it on here as it was none of my business at all. Nor am I connected to it. I have read through lots of posts on this forum where longstanding members have stated that. And understandably I see harsh words to new people a lot. But that is warranted and i agree with. such as what Matt said "what size tank for a LMB" or "i caught this sturgeon, what type is it" questions.

i do like the reputation system. although i can see it turning some people off and singling out some members.

Edited by bumpylemon, 04 July 2010 - 02:45 PM.


#18 Guest_donkeyman876_*

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Posted 04 July 2010 - 04:00 PM

It will not let m edit my post... I think that the trading dock section should be reserved for members who are knowledgeable enough to know the laws and the affect that their actions will hve on native fish. It just makes sense :fishy: !

#19 Guest_Jim_*

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Posted 04 July 2010 - 05:50 PM

The Forum administration has made a decision to make the Trading Dock section of the forum NANFA Members only. We are open for comments but believe this decision is best for the organization as a whole.

We have also enabled the Reputation system. This allows forum members to vote a post up or down which will affect a member's reputation. We are experimenting with the reputation levels so don't be surprised to see changes in the future.


What really is the purpose of this reputation system, and what productive outcome is projected by using it ???

#20 Guest_bumpylemon_*

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Posted 04 July 2010 - 06:54 PM

What really is the purpose of this reputation system, and what productive outcome is projected by using it ???

i'm still up in the air about it. i still believe it will single people out....but it can also be an indicator of the person answering back to you. if someone has negative rep (for ex -20) you can take that persons info with a grain of salt. say if that said person is giving you suggestions on water parameters or stocking and you click his profile and he has a lot negative marks you prob would want to get a second opinion. an vice versa with someone giving solid advice.




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