I agree that there are very knowledgeable members, many who have been of great help to me and eager to help me learn. Instead of posting on the forum it is often by way of private message, email, or even mentoring me in person. That is something worth thinking about. This is a forum to share a love of the hobby, not profession, of artifact hunting. I agree that you should not mislead anyone, nor do I think most people want to be mislead. I joined because I wanted to learn and obviously I'm not the only one. If you really want to be the best forum available, then perhaps you and your team should collect some data (I'm glad to help you with that) and the type of responses given to members. Especially new members. Are they statements or are they providing information the member can actually learn from. Saying it's a rock provides no opportunity for increasing the member's knowledge. If it's "just a rock" then what attributes lead you to that opinion. And it is that...an opinion. Is it similar to a particular tool or point the member could do some research on? Can you provide a visual example? Perhaps as I have suggested before, and is a feature of other top notch forums, you could put together a category for members new to artifact hunting. Include information on how to tell if it is a rock or an artifact. Add other common questions new hunters have. Or maybe this forum is an exclusive forum that doesn't have time or the passion to encourage and help new hunters learn. If so, then you should represent yourself as such.
If you think someone is bullying or attacking a member report it, but understand, telling a member a rock is just a rock is not an attack, it is not bullying and it violates no rule.Mrdigz I appreciate you sharing your perspective and I don't think you are attacking me personally, we simply have different opinions on what we think the forum experience is all about and that is ok. There are many really nice members on this forum, but there are also the select few that are in simple terms...forum bullies. I've seen an abundance of these behaviors evident in responses from particular members.
1. Using personal attacks to denigrate their victims. Making fun of their victim’s intelligence, getting everyone to "laugh" at him, and in doing so isolating and degrading their target (yes, a lot of that taking place on this forum)
2. Attacking weak or new targets. ( some members are really having a field day with this one right now)
3. Hate being challenged and they hate losing. If they are challenged and they lose, it significantly erodes their power. (A lot of this taking place very recently)
4. They are in-love with themselves. They have little to no empathy, and are only interested in their own activities, and their own power. (That one too)
Isn't life tough enough? Enjoy your hobby, this isn't a competition. Be an encouragement to others, look for something positive to say. Be humble, everyone has something to offer, and just be kind.
If you think someone is bullying or attacking a member report it, but understand, telling a member a rock is just a rock is not an attack, it is not bullying and it violates no rule.