What to do with this site

[Gene]

In the last week, there have been 8-10 members that have been complaining about each other.  I have removed a couple people from the site, but most of the comments presented seem pretty benign to me.

When I created this site, I had no idea what it would become.  I quickly learned how little I knew about Irish Setters even though I had owned them for 15 years.  I am not a breeder, don't do shows, don't do agility, don't do hunting or field, usually get rescues (exception being my current ones).  I think all of the above are great, I just don't know anything about them nor do I really care to.  It's obvious these are topics that people on this site are passionate about, and that's great, there just not for me.

As I have mentioned before, I left this site because people were rude to me.  There's at least 1 of the 8-10 members that were one of the ones who ran me off so I can understand the complaints against this peson.

It seems like some of these discussion topics are like politics, you aren't going to change people's minds, so why try to?

Have been pondering some options:

A. Ban the other 8-10 members

B. Leave the site as is

C. Remove the discussion forum altogether

D. Transition ownership and moderation to someone else (note annual costs on the site are around $300 USD and those would transfer as well)

E. Ban any discussions on breeding, health issues, or other controversial topics

F. Shut down the site altogether (really don't want to do this)

What are some other ideas?

I want to get feedback on other ideas and then you are going to vote as a community.  Please reply with any suggestions, then will create another thread to vote later this week.

Thanks,

Gene

[silvia]

overall.. i think that a-b and in particularly d must be  your decisions, gene. you are doing lot of work for us, and whatever you feel is right is fine. personally, i woudnt go for c-e-f since is a quite drastic measure that would take a lot off from this very helpful and enjoiable website..

maybe , as others suggested, it is worth to make people responsible of their own blog, so when it breaks the code of practice they should turn it down.. maybe this makes easier the job of a moderator? again, thanks a lot for what you do!!

[John Adair]

I have just joined the ES group.

This is the first online community that I have joined Gene & its thanks to you for making the effort.

If individuals abuse the principles of anything like this, then they should suffer the consequences, not the thousands of genuine members 

[Louise Perry]

Finn's suggestion is a good one and something I have seen on other forums too. Also having a couple of moderators could be quite a good idea as they could keep an eye on particular discussions and collectively decide when appropriate to intervene. Also I think these people should be impartial as possible, so maybe not breeders, experts etc, so their opinion is objective with regards to the tone of the discussion rather than the actual topic.

I haven't posted much on site lately as really busy etc, but I do enjoy popping on to the forum and keeping up with things and it helped me so much when I first got my red 3.5 yrs ago. Would hate to see it go and would happily get involved in anyway I could to help.

[Sue and Cash]

I love the idea Finn suggested of thumbs up and down.  It will become clear quickly who isn't playing nice and that can then be dealt with.  I haven't commented on anything in eons but enjoy the site and would hate to see it go.  Your enormous efforts have not gone unnoticed by me Gene.  Thank you very much.  Once thing is very clear after spending several years on the site.  Irish Setter owners are very passionate people.  More so than other breeds it seems.  And passion isn't necessarily a bad thing it just needs some controls in place.  Finns suggestion might offer us a great resource for controlling the passion and keeping it kinder.

[Laura Kolbach]

thumbs up and down won't work. the same group of people would "like" comments or "dislike" comments, just the way it is now, but now they express it in words. and moderators? who would be appointed, who would decide? one from each "group"?  and they would keep removing each others comments? :)

[silvia]

well i woundt be so drastic.. i guess thumbs may work since they are supposed to act more in terms of  large numbers , so on statistical basis..

[silvia]

but i am not expert..

[Nardi Rowe]

I think the most important thing is everyone allowing someone else to express their vieweven when they don't agree and for civility to prevail at all times and circumstances.  Not rudeness and abuse because someone else doesn't think the same as you.  This is lacking character and maturity. We are all supposed to be adults here not a bunch of nasty little children in the playground.

[Anna Kazimierowicz]

This site is wonderful and very useful. I can't imagine forbiding discusions on breeding, healt issues etc.Last weeks discussions show that some people have too much time and temperament. I like Nardi's advise about temporary suspending as a warning, and longer  in stubborn cases.

[Susan Stone]

Hi Gene and all members on ES,

I've been offline for a week and am surprised at how many heated discussions have been going on during this time.

It is a shame that almost every blog that starts off with excellent input and good discussions ends up becoming very emotional and often personal. Maybe if users could become aware that their feelings are becoming heated then they would be able to turn their back on a discussion and take time out for a week or so?

Gene, I sympathise with you and admire your quiet and well thought responses. I know some members have dropped out from ES discussions altogether but still they come and look at the posts. I feel ES is still a great place for information and discussions about the breed that we all love and it would be a shame to close it down.

In its best days ES is most informative and helpful. In its worst days it is infuriating - those are the days I find it best to turn my back and wait for the return of the former... they are sure to be just around the corner :-)

 

 

[Ellen Turberfield]

Hi Gene, i have owned setters for over 30years i have only ever had them as pets and like everyone on here love them dearly, but i have learned so much about the breed since i joined, people are willing to give you advice if you have a problem, i would hate the site to close, i have also made good friends, i had a visit from a member before christmas while she was on hoilday from Australia it was great to meet up, and i look forward to meeting more members (",)

[Jennie Benstead]

Hi Gene, I realy do feel for you you started a great site which is enjoyed by a lot of people...I find it very hard to understand why you are expected to police the site and make so make work for you....At the end of the day we are all adults I believe some people should get out of the playground. We all have our own opinions and yes we dont always agree with each other. If people are being rude and arrogant I would just leave them to get on with it, if no one responded to them I think they would soon get the message and as already been said word would spread like wild fire about them.....Everyone has the choice to stay or go....