Daily, i read posts on this board and the other popular board. why is it that it seems this board is in a constant state of argument? Just like in my "real life" there are certain people whose opinions i value, and others that i take with a grain of salt, if i listen to them at all. Its clear to me that some people on this board, no matter how much they say they have done their research and want to do the right thing, really dont. the time others spend arguing with them is wasted.

To those who consistantly post useful, fact based researched informatoin, i really appreashiate (spelling? it. Ive only had my two gliders about 15 months and it will be a long time before i feel that i have enought knowlege to educate others.

If you're talking about GC, it's simply because of the rules there vs. here. They have extremely strict rules about what you can or can't post, what you can or can't say publicly, you can't post most public links...it's just VERY monitored. All those rules are exactly the reason I post here. There are some members over there that I know I can go to OUTSIDE of the GC to get priceless and valuable information but I rarely go there to get involved in any sort of discussion. You are seeing freedom of speech, that's all.

I have to disagree. I feel that debating is a very good thing. It brings about different sides or points of veiws out into the open where the pros and cons of each can be discussed. That is the reason I love this board. Because there isn't just one solid answer to raising these guys, it is always a learning process, and by sharing and 'arguing' information we are able to make decisions after seeing all the sides to a subject. Unlike PPP which say that they are the only source of information and what they say is gold. On this site, everyone has a say and it is up the reader to make and informed decision. Without debate and controversy, life would be stoic and no progress would be made.

Well, I disagree with YOU!

Just kidding...couldn't help it after your post. LOL

Lol, thanks! And I respect your disagreement of me because that is your right! Of course I disagree with you disagreeing with me about disagreeing on theis subject about disagreeing. Oh yeah!

I disagree too. I disagree that we should disagree about disagreeing!

See? We can disagree without fighting. Truly, the "fighting" comes when someone forgets that the information being provided is about their gliders, not THEM.

ROFL!!! ... Truly, that's the first laugh I've had all day! :D

So true kyro. A lot of the time the fighting is about the subject, not the person. I mean you can't blame someone who got mislead, at least they are coming here for the info, but the subject and the misleading information is what sets off the arguements, which I don't think are ever really directed at the person. However, I have read a few about people posting with a lack of care about their gliders, or who are major stubborn about even researching other information, and that is when the discussion gets personal. I'm sorry, but you should be scolded if you just don't give a crap about your animal, and you really shouldn't own a glider if you can't provide the basics for them.

However, feel free to argue this subject!

quote:

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Originally posted by filly47


However, feel free to argue this subject!

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NO I don't want to argue it! Lol.

I'm going to just copy and paste this from my "Happy and Healthy" thread and elaborate:

At first, I was scared to post but then decided, screw it...I need information and I'm going to ask for it for the sake of my gliders. There were people that responded that I really felt myself cringing when I even saw their user name had responded. Know what I did? Skipped right over their posts. To this day, there are people I STILL avoid. Also, at first, there were people I thought were so "scary". I am happy to say that one of the people I'm talking about is really special to me now. I started finding that in their posts, there were straight facts...no BS. It wasn't being mean, it was being to the point. I KNOW when people see my responses sometimes, they're probably taken as rude because they're fairly short answers filled with as much fact as possible. I'm not a mean person...I like getting to the point-I'm accused of the same thing even in real life. That's me. That's how I communicate. It is very hard to find a thread where I just posted my opinion for the sake of posting it. If I'm going to throw information out there, I always try to back it up with "why".

If you take offense at someone's response, ask yourself why. Is it a personal attack or is it someone just being blunt posting a fact? Some people on here are great at sugar-coating recommendations and some people just come out and say it. Again, I bet those people are the same way in real life. This isn't a new thing, people...

This is from 1998:
http://www.sugarglider.com/glidergossip/archives/messages/3136.htm

1999:

http://www.sugarglider.com/glidergossip/archives/messages/21859.htm

2000:

http://www.sugarglider.com/glidergossip/archives/messages/26603.htm

2007:

http://www.sugarglider.com/glidergossip/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=10645

2008 (and one of my favorites because even I was sick of the attitudes):

http://www.sugarglider.com/glidergossip/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=11294

More recent:

http://www.sugarglider.com/glidergossip/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=20613

I think you get the point...

Being afraid to post stinks because it only hurts the gliders. Posters (even me) need to learn to sift through the BS, find the helpful info, stay away from people that rub them the wrong way and use this for the helpful resource it really can be. If you think about it, you do this in real life every day. Online, you can't see people's expressions or even hear them. People see black and white and tend to read it how they want to. I've been known to say "it is about THEM, not about YOU" after people waste 2 pages of how poorly they're being treated. You can't change anyone even when you scold them for scolding you because then it's become the same thing. ("You", as in...anyone) Why not go back, see if your question was actually answered, take the info and be done with it? If you think it's getting really personal or out of line, flag it. Let admin decide.

OK I need to add more to this. LOL This time, I'd really like to address the people that are taking things so personally.

Scenario: Someone posts a picture of a glider doing something cute in their cage. There are 20 responses oohing and aahing but NO ONE bothers to mention the wood shavings at the bottom of the cage. One person posts NICELY pointing it out and they're suddenly attacked. What do you suggest in these situations?

Same picture (and this isn't anyone specifically by the way) and the bars have rust. Now, someone sees that someone else FINALLY pointed out something potentially dangerous so they post about the rust on the bars as well. Now, all hell breaks loose because this person is just thinking they're being told they are a bad owner. Now what? (on a side note, I OFTEN don't post about people's cute babies because I'M afraid to maybe also point out something potentially dangerous I notice. Some people are missing out on valuable information because the people that do happen to have knowledge about something specific are ALSO afraid to post in fear of starting trouble. It doesn't matter if it's sugar coated or blunt. It is what it is.

Another scenario: A brand new member joins and makes their first frantic post because their glider has a gaping wound. Immediately, 5 people post that it's important they get to a vet RIGHT NOW. Usually, there are caps and exclamation points involved to show the urgency. They come back and say they don't have money for a vet. I would like to know your realistic response for this person KNOWING that if that glider doesn't get to a vet, it could be in real trouble.

How about another: A 15 year old posts (and I seriously don't need to hear from any teens. I was one, I have one and this scenario has played out here too many times for me to count) that they want to breed "for fun". MOST people start posting the risks of breeding and telling them why they should not. 8 posts down, someone says "You're a kid and have no business breeding" or something to that effect. Obviously, this sets this teen off and suddenly, that's all the thread is about. Also suddenly, they forget the 8 informative responses and only dwell on the one they took personally.

Since I'm about to give myself carpal tunnel, some closing thoughts: If something is potentially hazardous and is recognized as so, we (anyone here) have the responsibility to warn the owner. I think everyone agrees on this part. The breakdown is obviously in the delivery of the information. Based on being HUMANS, this will be a hot topic every few months. My suggestion? There are other boards-go see if one suits you better. I like Coke, not Pepsi...

Kyro...your post really made me smile...i like people that tell it like it is and dont sugar coat things.

I think my orginal question was answered with the very first response....the other board is very closely monitored, and i really didnt know that. Personally, id rather have teh "freedom of speech" , and just ignore the occasional "debating" if i think its ridiculous.