Sub-forum for ages 16 and under?

[Avatar]

With the influx of new young members and something of an accompanying downturn in the quality/relevance of posts, is giving younger members their own dedicated place to post and have "youthful" conversations a good/viable idea? This has been an "adult" forum as long as I've been here (going on 4 years), but for me (and at least a few others who have volunteered similar sentiments) it's beginning to lose a lot of its appeal since it's getting increasingly difficult to have serious discussions without well-intentioned but often distracting, uninformed and sometimes ridiculous interjections being posted into threads.

Am pleased that CCA has young members that are eager to participate, but when attempts at intelligent conversation are repeatedly beset and dragged down by posts that add nothing useful because the posters have no actual experience of the subject, it feels like it's not worth the trouble.

Just an idea. Could go in search of other forums that haven't been/aren't at risk of being overrun by zealous teenage neophytes, but am sort of partial to this one and would like to see it maintain and continue to grow its appeal to serious fish-keepers across the country (and indeed the world) as a place for solid conversation with experienced hobbyists. Not sure there's any way to reconcile that goal with the trend toward an aquatic on-line version of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, and also believe that post-counts are ultimately tied to the quality rather than the quantity of posts, hence the suggestion.

Cheers,
Ming the Merciless
(NOT a babysitter)

 

[Wblaze]

Is subtext, Ming, that if you do not know who recorded the theme song to the movie you were featured in that you should take more of a "listen & learn" approach?

 

[Avatar]

Cautiously he replies, "I believe so".

Is subtext, Ming, that if you do not know who recorded the theme song to the movie you were featured in that you should take more of a "listen & learn" approach?

Contingent on having correctly divined the import of your query, verily, and indeed such deportment would render this exchange unnecessary.

 

[zackcrack00]

Is this because of me? Did I do something wrong? I thought I acted (or at least tried to) just as mature as anyone on these forums. I know John Moore and Lucas are the only 2 other "teens", and we definitely try to be responsible and very respectful. Are you talking about "little kids", or are you talking about us three? Would we still have access to the "adult"-type forums?

 

[JasonC]

it's getting increasingly difficult to have serious discussions without well-intentioned but often distracting, uninformed and sometimes ridiculous interjections being posted into threads.

So would you also mandate that new-to-hobby adults get relegated to the "kids table" until such time that they can successfully pass the Sam Labudde Memorial Cichlid Competency Exam with Verbosity Index?

Come on, man, you are better than this!

You want to rail on people for spelling and grammar? Sure! Criticize people for excessive use of "lolz" or "totes" or for using lEeTsPeEk? Sure! Call people to the carpet for posting misinformation? Sure! (As long as it is backed up with your own scholarly research.. properly cited of course). But to ban people to the purgatory of the kids table simply because they are young enough to still be doing book reports rather than research papers, theses, and dissertations? Come on...

Its about nurturing, man. These guys are taking time away from girls, video games, and lacrosse (something that is a minor miracle for kids) to join a group of hobbyists that include people with both vast amounts of practical knowledge, and some pretty intense scholarly achievements. Cut them some slack.. they are already ahead of the curve. Help them be better.

And if that doesn't fit your style, why don't you instead lobby for an ignore function to be added to the forum so you don't have to see their posts instead.

Come on Sam, you are way to good of a person to fall into this trap...

 

[verbal]

And if that doesn't fit your style, why don't you instead lobby for an ignore function to be added to the forum so you don't have to see their posts instead.

There is currently an ignore feature.

I think a sub-forum in the "Just Kickin' it lounge" might be a good idea for different reasons. To give kids a chance to talk about video games, sports and other interests without being concerned with being relevant on a mainly adult message board.

 

[Jefft]

Nothing wrong with you Zack.

Is this because of me? Did I do something wrong? I thought I acted (or at least tried to) just as mature as anyone on these forums. I know John Moore and Lucas are the only 2 other "teens", and we definitely try to be responsible and very respectful. Are you talking about "little kids", or are you talking about us three? Would we still have access to the "adult"-type forums?

No Zack you have done absolutely nothing wrong at all. You just keep being yourself young man. You are bright, witty, energetic and genuine all qualities that shine through your posts. As the title reads nothing at all wrong with you or anything you have done. I for one would like to take a moment and apologize for the fact you have been made to feel "inadequate" or for the fact you were made to feel the need to reassess yourself and your participation in CCA to this point.

 

[hollyfish2000]

this is related to my suggestion for a "Kids Section," although with a different twist. The end result is the same -- give the younger fishkeepers a place to talk and ask questions. There were so many cool kids at Aquamania that it struck me as a useful addition to the forum -- perhaps even promoted in that way. It would be moderated by adults (I'd volunteer) to keep the content useful and to make sure the information presented is accurate. Kids don't have to use it, but it might be a place they'd feel more comfortable in. We could also move threads there that seem to be not-quite-adult in nature . . .

 

[Avatar]

Method

So would you also mandate that new-to-hobby adults get relegated to the "kids table" until such time that they can successfully pass the Sam Labudde Memorial Cichlid Competency Exam with Verbosity Index?

— Nope, just a driver's license exam. And you spelled my name wrong.


Come on, man, you are better than this!

— Apparently not, just a renegade Alaskan biologist who'll do windows but not drywall or daycare.


You want to rail on people for spelling and grammar? Sure! Criticize people for excessive use of "lolz" or "totes" or for using lEeTsPeEk? Sure! Call people to the carpet for posting misinformation? Sure! (As long as it is backed up with your own scholarly research.. properly cited of course). But to ban people to the purgatory of the kids table simply because they are young enough to still be doing book reports rather than research papers, theses, and dissertations? Come on...

— You're one out of three here as I've never done the first two and am unsure why the last would be an issue. In any case none of this was mentioned or has anything to do with the reason for the thread.


Its about nurturing, man. These guys are taking time away from girls, video games, and lacrosse (something that is a minor miracle for kids) to join a group of hobbyists that include people with both vast amounts of practical knowledge, and some pretty intense scholarly achievements. Cut them some slack.. they are already ahead of the curve. Help them be better.

— Might very well be that "better" is/was in fact the actual impetus for the thread rather than exile. But anytime you want to swap notes on "nurturing" let me know.

And if that doesn't fit your style, why don't you instead lobby for an ignore function to be added to the forum so you don't have to see their posts instead.

— Are a number of reasons, not the least of which having to do with a disinclination to ever write anyone off (even if they happen to respond vitriolically because they mistakenly thought I was calling them a rectal orifice when it was in fact a reference to myself) because it would be folly to judge anyone here solely on the basis of their posts. The day I have to employ an ignore function to have a decent conversation about something (if that's even possible) will be my last on the forum.


Come on Sam, you are way to good of a person to fall into this trap...

—There is no lack of indulgence being shown toward youthful posters on this board, and indeed it is their sudden and somewhat ubiquitous presence that gives rise to this conjecture. Posted below is something I wrote last night before sleep claimed me that may help to clarify my sentiments on the subject, but as you so astutely point out, this is after all a fish forum rather than a courtroom. CCA is a great collection of folks, one of the best I've ever been associated with at any level, and if my lofty expectations for its direction and membership are excessive, then I suppose there are worse things for which one can be found guilty.

 

[Avatar]

Greetings

Is this because of me?
— Maybe a little, but it's at least if not mostly because I can be petty and rather prejudiced in what passes for thinking.

Did I do something wrong?
— Perish the thought - absolutely not.

I thought I acted (or at least tried to) just as mature as anyone on these forums. I know John Moore and Lucas are the only 2 other "teens", and we definitely try to be responsible and very respectful.
— Of course you do/are.

I believe everyone is very happy to have the three of you in CCA and pleased that the next generation of fishkeepers will be well and ably represented. That being said, when one considers who else is in CCA, it's a pretty impressive bunch of folks. There are probably close to a dozen scientists in the club, a fair number of people that work for the federal government, a number of members that have gone on collecting trips to foreign countries, and many others that make for a rather formidable collection of breeders for whom fishkeeping is something more than just a hobby and who command a staggering amount of collective knowledge and experience about freshwater husbandry. I still consider myself fortunate to occasionally be in the same room with some of these people and even feel a little guilty sometimes because there is often nothing I can offer them of value pertaining to whatever subject is being discussed other than being a good listener.

I myself read almost every thread that hits the forum, but in spite of my passion and enthusiasm I've averaged less than two posts a day since joining, and most threads are immune (thankfully) from my comments since in most cases I really have nothing to add worth saying (with occasional exceptions for feeble and generally ill-advised attempts at humor). When I do comment, it's because I have some experience or perspective based on same (and/or research on the internet), and similarly generally only try and answer questions or make suggestions when I imagine that what I have to offer is based on solid knowledge or actual personal experience because in most cases there are a dozen other people in the club who know a lot more about the subject than I. I try to stay mindful of the fact that there are visitors on the forum from all across the country (and in fact the world) who drop by to visit the site, seek information and enrich their understanding of the hobby, in addition to actual CCA members, the majority of whom are sober adults and serious hobbyists. There are a large and growing number of other aquarium-related websites and so it seems important to do what one can to make ours informative, entertaining and something a bit more special than a chat-room, because as mentioned earlier, I imagine it is the quality of our posts, not the quantity, that may/will one day make the CCA forum one of the most highly regarded websites in the hobby. That may or may not sound like a lot of nonsense, but the CCA is still evolving, and its direction and character is and will be determined by the members, and to a large degree, this forum.

That's all I have to offer for the moment other than a couple of quotes from one of my better high school teachers who labored with only partial success to get me to think before speaking - his favorite admonitions to me were "Less is more" and "No one ever learns anything with their mouth open". I'm still struggling to operationalize his advice, but good things often take time, and the best things seemingly forever.

This is all just my perspective, doesn't mean any of it has more value than anyone else's, so take it for what you judge it to be worth, and rock on.

Best,
Samuel


End/close thread.

 

[jonclark96]

Thread closed at OP's request.