 |
Re: Question about my 55 gal tankmates 03/08/09
Greetings Crew!
Thanks again for your phenomenal expertise! Glad to see that the FAQ'S are back
up and running.
<Thanks, me too.>
I thought that the 5 part series on the 55 gal system was very interesting and
wanted to let Sara know what an excellent job she did in regards to her advice!
She did a great job of responding in a professional manor to the absurd stocking
techniques made by this person while offering several routes to take to avoid a
catastrophe.
<Wow, I'm not sure I deserve such high praise, but thank you!>
Great work Sara!
Joe W.
<Thank you kindly again for the encouragement. :-)
Cheers,
Sara M.>
small font
5/22/08
Good afternoon crew.
I was browsing through the FAQs to kill some time at work and I noticed
a comment posted 5/20/08 regarding small font sizes on the FAQ page. Not
sure if this would help those who are having issues, but if you hold the
control button down on the keyboard while moving the mouse wheel
(assuming you have one), this will adjust font sizes on all web pages,
either smaller or larger. I hope this helps!
<Thank you for this tip for our viewers. Hopefully we'll have these
crazy font issues resolved soon!>
Keep up the good work!
Eric
<Thanks,
Sara M.>
Problem with a web page 05/21/2008
Hi there!
I love your site, but just wanted to comment that per a discussion with
a write in today's FAQ, I went to the page on Powerhead Comparisons,
specifically
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_3/cav3i1/Powerhead_test/powerhead_comp.htm
My problem occurred in two different browsers - Safari (I use a Mac) and
Firefox. But the end of the article just wasn't formatted properly on
either browser - the article and the graphics and the advertising were
all on top of each other, making the article hard to read.
<Yes, I/we are aware of this problem. I apologize for the inconvenience.
I also use a Mac, Firefox and Safari. I'm quickly trying to learn enough
about the CSS tags/issues to fix these problems. Right now, I know how
to fix things on individual pages (for example, the dailies page should
now be formatted correctly). I'm just not quite sure yet how to do it on
every page.>
I hope this helps - I saw that you're using a new Web editing software,
and I know this website is humongous, so hopefully this page info helps.
<Haha, yes, thank you... sometimes it gets a bit difficult to keep track
of ~5k pages!!>
Thanks, Kerstin:-)
<Best,
Sara M.>
Teeny tiny type 05/20/08
Hi crew!
All of a sudden your daily faqs are written in a variety of type sizes,
mostly very small.
Just a plea from those of us whose eyes are, shall we say, a little
older than they used to be! It's a real hassle to keep adjusting the
screen resolution!
<I'm sorry about this. It's not intentional. We recently switched to a
new site editing software and we're still trying to figure out how to
work the CSS tags and browser compatibility (or lack there of) issues.
This small font usually appears on Mozilla or Firefox. My apologies,
please hang in there while I try to figure out how to fix it...>
Thanks as always for an awesome site!
Dianne (Michael's eyes are fine!)
<Best,
Sara M.>
No questions asked...05/15/08
Dear WWM Crew....Everybody.....
I don't have a single question, today. I just wanted to say "thank you"
for WWM and all that you do.
<It's our pleasure.>
I'm in the process of setting up a 180 and 60 with a shared refugium and
a separate 50 quarantine tank. I've spent the last 6 weeks reading for
many hours a day until the words start blurring together trying to do
things the "right" way this time. How I wish WWM had been around 15
years ago before I had to re-plumb my 135 for the umpteenth time. The
amount of reliable and experienced information your site contains is
invaluable and could fill my old set of Encyclopedia Britannica's many
times over. I didn't know about WWM a few months ago and was relying on
several forums for often times misguided information. And when I did I
also asked my fair share of "newbie" questions, even though I kept a
reef many years ago. It took a while and some more reading to refresh my
memory and get updated from the old days of the way we used to keep
reefs. Sometimes it takes a while to find the solution to my dilemma but
I have found that reading through all that information has given me
knowledge that I never had before. I, like some others, was frustrated
at first by having to read through so many inquiries to find my answer.
Thinking to myself "why can't you just go to one page and find the best
protein skimmer." And I remember why now. Just like when I worked at one
of those LFS years ago, there is no one size fits all in the reef
keeping world.
<Ahem!>
And sometimes you find out more when you read between the lines than by
just reading the highlighted portions.
So, for all those people that you have to roll your eyes as you read
their emails, I thank you. Even if they do precede their argument with
"all due respect". Nowhere else can a person have access to a group of
experts with the knowledge and experience that you bring to our hobby.
And for free! That is unheard of. No group of physicians would do what
you do. Thank you for saving me thousands of dollars, hours of
re-plumbing, days of trying to figure out why my Xenia won't eat, and
giving me something worthwhile to do instead of watching TV all day
long. Even if some of these idiots that don't know how to use a
spell-checker or turn off their caps lock, don't appreciate all that you
do, please know that I do.
<It's certainly nice (and encouraging) to hear a voice of appreciation,
thank you for sharing/expressing.>
And so do the little critters in my current mini-reef and the ones I
will have in my bigger tanks once I figure out every last detail before
a drop of water ever touches the bottom of my tanks.
<cool>
I look forward to the day soon when I can send you my plan so I can get
your official okee-dokee before I spend another dollar.
<:-)>
I hope that you all have a wonderful day, evening, morning or whenever
you get this. I thank you so incredibly much, and so do my little wet
critters.
<Hehe... wonderful to hear from you Sandra, thank you for writing.>
Sincerely,
Sandra D.
<Best,
Sara M.>
P.S. I found the link to donate to WWM, but it wouldn't take my $100
donation. It would only let me do $50. For all the money you have saved
me, it wasn't nearly enough.
<Again, thank you so much for your generous support (both in spirit and
financially).>
Oops...almost forgot to run my spell-checker!!
<Hehee!>
Attn Sara M.....Re: No questions asked... 5/16/08
Thanks again, Sara....I do have one small question that only you can
answer.
Why do they call taking care of your tank "husbandry"? This is 2008. I
know "spousery" or "wifery" or "significant-othery" doesn't sound as
good, but maybe our hobby language needs to jump into the 21st century
like our technique has.
<Hahaha... actually, IMO, the better question is, why are male spouses
still called "husbands?" If you look up the etymology of the word
"husbandry," it's not implying anything that must be male. It comes from
"hus" (house, dwelling, home), + "bondi" (householder, dweller,
peasant-farmer, etc). See here:
http://www.etymonline.com/
So maybe it's actually the word "husband" you might want to object to,
rather than "husbandry." ;-) >
Considering us "reefer girls" are setting up and plumbing and caring for
a lot of these tanks ourselves now-a-days, it only makes sense.
<There are certainly more women coming into the hobby! However, if
you've ever been to a IMAC or a MACNA, it's clearly still mostly men.
Far be it from me to guess why. >
Thanks again to all of you.
<Thanks again for all your support and encouragement.>
Sincerely,
Sandra D.
<Best,
Sara M.> |
Thanks Guys 05/14/08
Just a note to say thank you for your guys amazing site.
<Welcome my/our friend. It is for your benefit (enjoyment and progress)
we labor. Bob Fenner>
We are novices, and purchased a 75g from the LFS as a good activity to
share with my 6&* year old that love marine life.. We closely followed
instructions from the owner and stocked based on his advice and what
looked nice.. this worked fine until he had a Potter's Angel in the
shop, and we left with him
I stumbled on your site, after I purchased a Potter's Angel (named
Harry!)from my LFS.. the owner of the LFS claimed it to be just as easy
as a Coral Beauty to take care of.. After a few days of the fish not
eating.. I went to the internet to research the problem.. After fining
your site.. it was quite obvious what the problem was.. we were in over
our head with the Potter's.. and the notes said if we returned it. it
would surely die..Well the fish
never ate lasted about 3 weeks..A shame.. If it were up to the LFS..we'd
have tanks full of Potters' and other expensive exotic fish, and only
check for Nitrate, PH, and Salinity..
But the good news is your site which I came across is unbelievable for
information. We consult if before every purchase and to try to improve
our husbandry practices.. The information we have gathered post Harry
has definitely keep us from making poor selection decisions, and has
tank quality of life .knock on wood..looking pretty good.
I often have many questions, but search the WWM and come up with about 5
other people that have submitted the same question..So I really do have
any other reason to write other that to say thanks for the help, and
keep up the
fantastic work!
Best Regards,
Peter Baron
<<Thank you Peter>>
Do my eyes deceive me? -05/13/08
Crew,
I'm pretty knowledgeable about fungiid husbandry and this advice below
from Adam Blundell is just plain irresponsible!
<Yikes!>
Just wanted to alert you on an error in your FAQ on fungiidae.
It is located here - http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fungiidfaq2.htm
Thanks,
Steve
<Thank you for catching this and bringing it to our attention. I will
promptly add a note of correction/clarification. To be clear, as I'm
sure you know, Fungia do well under strong lightly. However, it is not a
good idea to place them on rockwork (they belong on flat surfaces, sand
or crushed coral). Perhaps Adam was trying to say that if you have
insufficient lighting, putting them up on rocks (closer to the light)
might help get them the light they need (perhaps temporarily until
proper lighting is obtained). Regardless, it's recommended to have the
correct lighting to start with.
Thanks again,
Sara M.>
New bottom ad works!!
5/13/08
Many more views than the Glass-Holes ads!
https://webapp.trafficfacts.com/login.php
Login name: superbuzz
Password: ********
<Ahh, will have to look at when at a better conn.>
Although you can probably get the same info from your end and all this means
little until you get back into descent web range. Hope you are having a
great time, looking forward to joining you soon,
Scott V.
<Thank you... I as well. B>
New WWM page 5/2/08
Hello crew,
This was Bob's idea... I compiled a page of pics from all the 21 marine algae
FAQs pages. I didn't include all the photos (some are
just too fuzzy/blurry to be too useful). Anyway, I think it might be useful for
people who don't have a picture:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/trialalgaeid.htm
Best,
Sara M.
<Ahh! I'd like to see each of these images "framed" (a convention I suggest we
adopt to designate that such graphics are linked/links as well)... sending folks
to another page each... with more images of the same species/genus... with notes
on identification, compatibility/control... BobF>
<<Sounds good... please direct me to the photos you want added, specifically
what comments/notes you'd like... I would be happy to add
all this.
Best,
Sara M.>>
<The pix are here... some scanned, most not... B>
A trio of items re WWM
5/1/08
Howdy!
First off, welcome back Mac Lewis to the WWM Crew!
Second, please be diligent re moving unanswered queries to your folders... Do so
only if/when you intend to respond... for obvious reasons.
Lastly, I am off on the sixth for three or so weeks... some of "us" are going
along... MichelleM, JasonC... to the Red Sea and Interzoo in Germany. I
hope/trust the Net will be steady, quick-enough, but SaraM has offered to try to
move some of the dailies onto WWM in my apparent absence. DO please try to help
by answering what you can every day...
I'll be back recharged and with plenty of pix and video to share hopefully!
BobF.
"baby steps" for WWM 4/27/08
Hello Bob, friends/crew,
<Sara>
A lot of my hobby friends complain about the presentation style of WWM (the use
of queries, sometimes with many different topics in each).
I've heard many times that it is a "pain" to try and pick out the "points" of
each query, more so for whole pages of them on the FAQs
pages. The complaint is that it just takes too long to find what one is looking
for, what is there/what isn't (within the lists of
queries/conversations which can be about several different things/animals). So,
I thought of doing something like this
perhaps... a box at the top of each FAQ page with bulleted "highlights"/main
points.
I did it for this one page, just to demonstrate:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/zoanthidcompfaqs.htm
It only took <hour (for me). So, while I know there are hundreds
<Thousands>
of these pages, I still think it's quite possible to do this for every page.
Then with each query added, one bullet point could be added (if needed/if
useful).
But, if y'all don't like it, I will take it off.
Best,
Sara M.
<Is a wonderful idea... I encourage you to go ahead and add as you deem fit,
have time. BobF>
<Thousands>
::shrug:: Is still quite possible/practical....IMO
<Is a wonderful idea... I encourage you to go ahead and add as you deem fit,
have time. BobF>
Thanks, will do.
Sara M.
'baby steps' for WWM
4/29/08
Hi Sara,
<Hi Lynn>
Sorry I didn't get back to you yesterday, I had a packed day! I just wanted to
let you know that I do think what you're proposing is a good idea. I think
anything that helps people find information quicker benefits us all - livestock
and human alike! Let's face it, most people I'm sure come to our site, do their
research and find what they need. However, there are those that can't find what
they're looking for and write us instead or just leave. Sometimes it's because
the information just isn't there yet. Other times it's there but the person
either can't find it or has given up trying. That makes more work for all of us,
and only increases the number of FAQ's in which we tell people, once again, to
go look at such-in-such pages.
<I agree...>
I've asked myself more than a few times why people aren't finding the
information that I know for a fact is there in black and white. Are these people
just lazy? No doubt a few are, but not all. What I've noticed is that most seem
to have made an effort, but were simply unsuccessful. Why is that? Is it due to
a lack of patience and willingness to pursue answers when the process extends
beyond a few minutes?
<It probably just depends on the person/situation, what is sought...>
Or do they just not know how to word a search through our Google engine?
<Better META tags on all the pages would really help make search results
better.>
Perhaps some don't know about the "Edit"/"Find on this page" function on their
computer and get frustrated reading through numerous pages of FAQ's. I can't
imagine how much longer it would take me to research something without that one
function. Then there are those that maybe English isn't their first language. We
do have people from around the world visiting our site. Having brief bullets at
the top of each FAQ page would reduce the amount of superfluous writing/words
they had to wade through/translate in order to get to the concentrated
information they need.
<I agree, but as Bob (and others) have pointed
out, this will be a HUGE undertaking (there are at least
3000 FAQs pages). To avoid getting overwhelmed, I am thinking of starting
with just the top10% (300 of them!) most viewed FAQ pages...>
I just don't see this as spoon-feeding and therefore a bad thing.
<agreed!>
How can something that makes finding information quicker/easier be bad? After
all, why do we write articles and books, if not to supply people with the
best/most complete information we know of as quickly and directly as possible?
LOL If we truly feel that people benefit more by spending their own time, doing
their own research, then we'd better cut that out right away! I agree that a
person can learn much more about a subject when they have to work a bit harder
to find it, but at some point we have to understand that not all hobbyists have
the time to do this. This is especially true when an emergency comes up, or what
a hobbyist deems to be an emergency. They're stressed and want answers right
away. The quicker they find those answers, the better off their livestock is and
I'm all for it!
<Agreed again>
Also, I know you were kidding yesterday when you asked if I wanted to help, but
seriously, I would if I could. Unfortunately, I'm up to my neck right now in
projects. I'm still working on the crustacean sheets and on the side I'm trying
to work on some articles as well as moderating over at the forums and looking
for queries I can handle at WWM. On top of all that, I'm trying to get ready to
leave town next week for vacation - aaahhhhh!! Anyway, if at some point, things
do open up I'd be glad to help. Especially at some later date, I'd be more than
happy to help compile/go through the bullets for individual critters. I still
think it would be a great idea to have a specific page for each, with something
like "FAQ's at a glance". The pertinent bullets could be separated/compiled into
diet, care, disease, whatever's appropriate for the family/genus/species. I
wouldn't be much help in some of the other departments, but I would gladly lend
a hand with the inverts!
<I would love/welcome/appreciate any help you have to offer. But I do
think it's important to be methodical about this (to keep all organized and not
drive ourselves crazy). So, if you're up to it and have time/inclination
to help with this, please pick a few FAQs pages you would like to make bullet
points for and send me what you put together.>
Take care and thanks for your work to improve the site. Have a great week!
<You too!>
-Lynn
<Thank you,
Sara M.>
|
Video on WWM,
photography/videography, diving, life 4/13/08
In regard to last week¹s video possibilities on WWM, what do you think of
simply posting vids on YouTube? WWM can have it¹s own dedicated channel,
controlled by yourself for official WWM posts. It seems to me an easy solution.
Those that want to view can, those that don¹t won¹t have to. It costs WWM
nothing and links can be incorporated into articles or even FAQ¹s.
Just something I have been thinking and wanted to discuss in person this last
weekend (shame it did not work out). What is your take?
Scott V.
<Thanks for this Scott... Have thought re going this route... And have been
trying to download the last trips video on the new Mac Pro... not going all the
way on the import... Argghhh, but am determined to try... maybe both... loading
on our site with FrontPage and also YouTube. BobF>
Re: Video on WWM 4/13/08
I was able to directly upload to Imovie. It did not work at all with a
USB...curious. But worked and continues to work flawlessly with a firewire
cable.
<Have spent the last twenty so minutes looking for a ding dang cable that will
go into the four pin Firewire on the Mac... AND fit the Sony (1080 line, 60 gig
HD... that has all sorts of ports... but not a firewire!!!! Nor a cord that has
their flattened "V" connector to fire! Am going to upload on my other desktop,
copy and try linking to the Mac... or off to the electronic store for a cable?
B>
Re: Video on WWM 4/13/08
BTW, has more to do with the Sony export than the Mac import, I think.
<If memory serves, they/Sony offers a Mac vers. of their upload software...
would rather not use though. BobF>
Re: Video on WWM 4/13/08
No, the Sony software generally stinks, especially compared to what is
included with the Mac. The same goes for Nikon!!
<We are in total agreement... what a fiasco the NEF format is/was... and
charging folks for the crap software post purchase of their camera bodies!?>
My Sony is not HD and has standard Firewire ports. Do let me know what you
figure out, I have been contemplating a HD camera for a while now.
Scott V.
<The camera is fab... have a cheapy Ikelite housing and some old-retrofitted
NiteRider lighting system... Do you dive, make pix U/W? BobF>
Re: Video on WWM
4/14/08
Bob,
<Scott>
I do not dive, have wished to for years. First it was an issue of lack
of funds, now it is lack of time.
<Ahh, too often mutually exclusive properties, limiting the exercise of
our growth in these... "modern times">
I am always saying I have no time to travel.
Fact of the matter is I do.
<Yes my younger friend... We all have exactly the same amount of time.
An important lesson... to learn/realize>
I choose to use it traveling to Central/South America with a medical
team.
<Ahh!>
I go and make prosthetics for people that usually don't even have shoes.
I generally do two stints of two weeks a piece per year.
<Very worthwhile>
Not being happy with the way my pictures translated what I experienced
prodded me into the DSLR. The difference is amazing! The next trip is to
Tejutla, Guatemala in May, although it looks like I may miss this one.
The underwater world continues to captivate my interest. My friends that
do dive tell me I will ditch the tank after seeing a reef in person...
<Mmm, or delve further... these are not mutually exclusive activities>
I doubt that! My business partner dives and is constantly harassing me
into going with him.
<You should listen>
If and when I do go diving I will invest in the underwater equip.,
<Easy enough to rent/borrow...>
I would not want to miss capturing that experience either. What is your
primary lens you use?
<60 and 105 mm macro, fixed focal length, auto-focus (Nikon)... with a
few others used in small percentage time>
I have looked at the Ikelite housings, seems to be the way to go.
<Are fine for general use>
A grand is reasonable enough for what you get, it is the price of the
strobe that is killer!
<Also... about a grand currently... each... then there are arms,
batteries... the computer to...>
Needless to say, if I do someday dive, you are the first one I will
contact. Perhaps meeting up on the big island with you!
<I do see this happening... and soon! Let's chat over when you have
time>
Cheers,
Scott V.
PS, I have been creating a website for an LFS owner/friend of mine. This
is oddly enough the first time I have taken interest in taking pictures
in a tank. This has captivated me more than the livestock and
reefkeeping itself. Of course, as soon as I figured out what I was doing
the camera crapped out, a bad image sensor according to Nikon. Supposed
to be back to me this next week. I miss my camera and bounce between
buying a cheap point and shoot and just swallowing my wallet and getting
a D200. Patience is not my greatest virtue.
<Another important lesson... Cheers, BobF> |
Small changes to WWM
4/13/07
Howdy! A mention of the deletion of the apparent "boxes" on all shared
borders, rearrangement of links there and some changes/additions of color
palette... Oh, and the shifting of GlassHoles and addn. of Microcosm's fab site
links to the left shared border on the root web... Minor improvements... but
they took me a few agonizing but fun hours to bring about. Cheers, BobF.
Suggestion re website design
– 4/12/08
Hello, Crew!
First, I would like to say thank you to all the volunteers who keep this site up
and running. A friend got me into this hobby just recently (only a
few months ago), and this has been an invaluable source of information. I often
find myself reading into the wee hours of the mornings on weekends,
and way past my bedtime on workdays! One article leads to another, which leads
to a faq page.... :)
<Ah, yes... my intention...>
Second, my suggestion. I was wondering about the feasibility of making
photographs linked, that is to say, you could click on them and go to the
page that discusses the subject of the photograph. The reason I ask is that I
was trying to identify something in my tank, and though I saw a picture of it at
the top of a page right away, nothing on that page referred specifically to that
picture. It took quite awhile to find the page that did
contain the picture and the creature's identification (lots of interesting
reading along the way, though).
<An outstanding suggestion! And one that has been on my "to do list" for years
now... ala Fishbase.org... Just have not come up with the time to launch this
massive project (at present with the photo work on hand will take 3-4k
hours...)>
I do not work with website design much, so I don't know how much I'm asking of
you, and I do realize you are all working on a volunteer basis, but I thought
I'd at least mention it, just in case.
Thanks again,
Jackie
<Thank you for this Jackie... I do think/believe such an arrangement, offering
of color/ID work would be of value... and do have many tens of thousands of
images, hundreds of hours of video... Just getting organized, focused, giving up
other activities that take up the time currently... is my shortcoming
presently... and I don't have a day job! Bob Fenner>
Thank you!
To the Crew at WWM: - 4-11-08
Thank you for your website and great FAQ listing. I just found your website
a few weeks ago, when I was given a 75 gal. aquarium (my first large setup; I'm
a novice) and I needed to find out how to properly level and support it. Your
helpful advice to hobbyists on this topic was VERY valuable to me, and helped me
avoid a couple dangerous mistakes. I really appreciate your help, and I'm sure
I'll be visiting WWM for information and help in the future.
Sincerely, Laurel
<Thank you for your kind, encouraging word Laurel. Bob Fenner>
The best website ever 04/11/2008
Good Morning Crew!!!
<<Good afternoon Bill, Andrew today>>
This is not a question for you, just a brief Thank You from a long time marine
Aquarium guy (20+ years and counting) Since I first stumbled upon your website
several years ago, I have tried to read the FAQ's every day - I am amazed at how
much I have learned because of your site. PLEASE keep up the great job you all
are doing!!! I would also like to mention that I recently took advantage of the
link to one of your sponsors, the folks at Glass-Holes.com. They were very
helpful, and responded to my questions very quickly, allowing me to feel good
about my purchase of the Dart pump and overflow kit they offer. I now get to
drill my next tank so that it will actually get the flow it needs! (wish me
luck?)
<<Its very nice indeed to receive kind words such these. Although i help out
here without wanting thanks, its always lovely to read a message such as this
from yourself. Fact is, without the good folk who submit their questions in to
us on a daily basis, it would not be what it is today, which is a feature packed
valuable resource to all aquarists / aquatic keepers.>>
Thanks again for the service you provide, and for all the creatures that you
have, without a doubt, saved from a horrible death with your insightful answers
to hobbyists questions!!!! Bill (billdogg) Smith, Columbus, Ohio
<<Good day to you Bill, i hope all goes well when you next go for drilling the
tank....Oooh the things we look forward too...he he he...Take care, enjoy the
day, regards. A Nixon>>
Some fantastic example
now! Needed changes to WWM?
4/8/08
Andrew, Neale, Miguel... check out Microcosm's new fab site:
http://en.microcosmaquariumexplorer.com/wiki/Your_Portal_to_Aquatic_Discovery
It's obvious that I've not paid much attn. to having our work be all
that profitable... or showy... Take a look at their ad rates, and
apparent sponsorship... And for larks, insert in Compete.com or other
tool their name and ours... Oh yes, we have a much larger
following/readership... But... anyhow, IF there was an interest in
actually making money to pay yourself for efforts... and/or just making
the site nicer looking, more functional, adding elements... there are
some excellent examples here. Should we invest in better software,
outside design, content help? BobF.
Bob,
<Mike>> > The Microcosm site looks clean and full of information. I
wonder how many> total pages they have there?
<Looks like quite a few... I'd say the low hundreds... a bunch of stuff
is others/off-site>
It may be worth the time and expense to have> some professional web
designers look over the WWM and give us some> recommendations on how to
improve it.
<A very good idea>
I'm not one of the guys but wow does
that site have it going ON! Its amazingly organized. I love the layout
but it doesn't hold near the information of WetWebMedia
<Yes and YES Mac>
I talked to a diving friend who is also a web designer and he says it
shouldn't be all that hard to convert WWM to something like that. Mac
<Really!? I do hope so... Am going to give this due consideration... and
look about. Thank you, BobF
That's what I was thinking too...
that it wouldn't be that difficult
(for a professional web designer).
Sara |
Re: Some
fantastic example now! Needed changes to WWM? 4/9/08
<<<Andrew, Neale, Miguel... check out Microcosm's new fab site:
http://en.microcosmaquariumexplorer.com/wiki/Your_Portal_to_Aquatic_Discovery
It's obvious that I've not paid much attn. to having our work be all
that profitable... or showy... Take a look at their ad rates, and
apparent sponsorship... And for larks, insert in Compete.com or other
tool their name and ours... Oh yes, we have a much larger
following/readership... But... anyhow, IF there was an interest in
actually making money to pay yourself for efforts... and/or just making
the site nicer looking, more functional, adding elements... there are
some excellent examples here. Should we invest in better software,
outside design, content help? BobF. >>
I have to say i think its a very well web site, easy to navigate, use,
browse, find info. The layout concept is clean and spacious.
<Ahh! A succinct evaluation> My thoughts...I think it would do WWM the
world of good to go for a re-face of the site and its something that i
feel some revenue would be worth spending on. An added benefit is a
focal point on having the sponsors more prominent...more exposure for
them, means more revenue for WWM. Personally, i participate on WWM for
the enjoyment and personal knowledge advancement, and with zero monetary
gain for myself. This is my passion, its what i enjoy. I think the
investment in this will bring WWM forward, make our presence on the net
a better experience for browsers of the info database. Andrew
<Thank you for sharing Andrew... I am hopeful of "meeting up" with said
agent/agency for this spiffing... and soon! It's not so much for the
economic gain, but/though what this might well be able to allow us to
"buy" in the way of assistance/help... And the huge improvement in
looks, navigation and functionality we stand to gain/offer... Am
hopeful. BobF>Re: Some
fantastic example now! Needed changes to WWM?
I do think people would use/enjoy/appreciate the site more if it were a
little better organized and perhaps not such an eyesore. I know we don't
"need" more viewers/users, but I do fear we may start *losing* people to
sites with less (or worse, less accurate) information simply because
they're easier to use/nicer to look at.
<Good points>
If I can help in any way, I'd be more than happy to.
Best,
Sara
<Much appreciated. BobF>
Re: Some fantastic example now! Needed changes to WWM?
Let me start out with this: I don't help out at WWM for the money. I
suppose we all have our reasons, but the thought of being paid for my
efforts here has never crossed my mind.
<Mine hardly either>
That being said, I do (and have always felt) that WWM should be more
navigable.
<Agreed... even the originator of Melev's Reef told me the site was "too
big" ayer>
Obviously, since it's all volunteer work, and given the fact that WWM
contains a large amount of information, redesigning the website would be
time consuming to say the least. However, if there is money to be made
(and looking at the rates of the site you sent us, there probably is)
then I think it's worthwhile to spend the money to have the site
revamped, and then attempt to sell high dollar ad positions if you/we so
wanted. I also think that the number of visitors to the website would
significantly increase if the site were to be revamped, and easier to
navigate/find information.
<Well-stated>
What to do with the money (assuming there is money to be made, though I
suspect there is)? There are many excellent, charitable uses for money
(my tuition?! ^ ^)
<... or... that new Mercedes... 1/16 size model!>
or organizations that could be helped if you/we were to keep WWM a
strictly "nonprofit" endeavor. Though I don't feel I currently am able
to contribute enough to make my efforts worth much/anything, I don't see
a problem with contributors gaining slightly from their efforts, but
with paying for help comes issues to be dealt with. Who is qualified to
write for WWM?
<Most all>
How much will be paid?
<What ever we can afford, the market will bear... See CA re currently>
Will there be grace periods, online interviews?
<Would be great... among many other possibilities>
Will we be paid per email?
<About a dollar... per>
The list goes on...
These are just some quick thoughts that came to mind. Discussion amongst
ourselves is definitely a good thing, so I'd like to hear what other
people have to say.
<Hear hear>
Bottom line in my opinion:
The site does need a revamp Ads should at least be used to pay for the
revamp Something needs to be decided regarding ad profits, the use of
which needs further discussion.
My .02
Mike Maddox
<Gracias. BobF>
Re: Some fantastic example
now! Needed changes to WWM? 4/9/08
Andrew, Neale, Miguel... check out Microcosm's new fab site:
http://en.microcosmaquariumexplorer.com/wiki/Your_Portal_to_Aquatic_Discovery
Bob,
<James>
I spent 10 minutes or so on this sight with the mindset of a newbie.
<Ahh!>
I believe our sight is easier to find specific information. I found myself going
through page after page trying to locate a particular fish (Saddleback
Clownfish) which wasn't there to begin with. In fact, only four species of
clownfish were listed. On the marine fish link, only the scientific name of the
fish families appears. Most newbies aren't going to have a clue which type of
fish are in each family. You have to go one step further and click on the Reef
Fish Volume I, there the scientific names with common names in parenthesis
appears, so now you have to go back and forth. Seems like the site is designed
where you have to navigate through all these pages to insure you see all the
different ads.
<A very good, valid point. This site, compared with WWM is VERY commercial...
though also VERY beautiful, even... what's that word... Splashy?>
A pretty sight for sure, but in my opinion, all we need is a new face and more
grab you by the pants photos. After spending a little time on this sight, I feel
our site is much more user friendly for the newbie. A search on our site will
provide many links such as FAQ's and articles on a particular subject. I typed
in "Saddleback Clownfish" on their search bar and results came back as "no page
found, you can create this page". Not something a newbie would like.
<Agreed>
I'm sure this sight has plenty of good features, but as I mentioned, in the eyes
of the newbie, I think our site is easier to use and leads you to the subject
being searched quicker. This being based on the very short time I spent on the
site.
James (Salty)
<Thank you. BobF>
|
Sarcasm and Humor Much
Appreciated... Who's Trying To Be Funny? - 3/21/08
<Hi Jeff, Mich here.>
I just wanted to say I read your site just about every day.
<Glad to hear! Funny, I read the site just about every day as well. Keeps me
“regular” if you will.>
Your humor and sarcasm is much appreciated especially when it has been a rough
day at work.
<Work is a 4 letter word, so doesn’t that mean every day is a rough day at
work?>
I just want to let you know I would have given up on my reef tank a long time
ago if it had not been for you folks.
<Me too!>
As it is, I have had my 90-gallon tank for 2 and a half years now. The last 15
months have been great, since I found your site. My tank crashed twice prior to
finding your site.
<Sorry to hear that. Better the tank than the car, you spent more money on the
car, then again, maybe not.>
I was so confused.
<I’m often confused!>
I was lost in a sea of conflicting information (no pun intended).
<Two fish swim into a concrete wall, one turns to the other and says “Dam”. Pun
intended.>
The best advice I can give to new people in the hobby is to keep reading your
site.
<Careful, they could grow old and died before they are done reading!>
I am reading your daily questions sections and I always get something out of it.
<Headache? Blurry vision? Confusion? Heehee! If the symptoms last for more than
four hours seek medical assistance!>
I don't think people always find the humor in some of the comments you folks
provide (trying to keep it light hearted)
<That’s for sure! We do get the occasional nastygram!>
even when their tank is in trouble, but I do.
<Better to laugh than cry is my philosophy!>
You folks provide a great service and because of all of you, I have not lost a
fish in those 15 months and I have corals growing out the ying yang.
<Wow! Hope your ying yang can handle it!>
I did a lot of research on your site pertaining to lighting, refugiums, and
macro algae. Because of it I have a stable tank.
<Well, that and good husbandry practices hopefully!>
Please keep finding the humor and I'll keep laughing and learning.
<Glad to hear and I hope I can do the same and wish that for the many others who
read our site. Cheers, Mich>
R/
Jeff
Your words... reach more than 30k
unique ISP addresses per day... Thank you... WWM usage
3/3/08
Ha! Thanks Scott, I finally got it! I
just entered "125982" under Site ID and "Stats" under Username and Password at
http://smarterstats1.safesecureweb.com/login.aspx and voila.
Very interesting information to say the least.
Take care and thanks again,
Lynn
Re: A Fair Price for Hobbyist
Style Services 2/17/08
Hi one last time, Bob. I don't want to be one of "those guys" that never
stops emailing/responding, but I feel a very strong urge to say one last thing.
I am always really amazed at your generosity and willingness to help anyone who
has a passion for aquarium keeping and a willingness to learn. I imagine that
you must be very busy and have lots of requests on your time, but every time
I've submitted an inquiry, you've been excessively kind with your knowledge and
always willing to extend your help a step further.
<Ahh!>
I must admit that I'm very much a cynic when it comes to people (which is
probably why I'm such an animal lover-their intentions are always pure), so
anytime people display innate "good" qualities, it makes me question my cynicism
(and I guess that's a good thing). Thanks so much, and please continue to
gracefully sidestep the rude, angry and unkind emailers that pop up on
WetWebMedia every once in a blue moon and please stay the "good" guy that you
are who is always willing to help and then help a little more. I know I don't
know you personally, but I do believe that sometimes a person's traits come
through in their writing... who knows; maybe I'm not the cynic that I think I
am. Your staff shares these attributes as well. It is clear that your staff is a
reflection of their "leader". Thanks again and I hope I haven't embarrassed you
too much.-Nick Sadaka
<Thank you Nick. BobF>
Organization of
information/WWM 2/16/08
Hello all,
<Eric>
This is directed at Bob. Today I read a "letter" from an individual complaining
about the lack of organization of the site and the difficulty they had in
finding information.
<Yes...>
If possible I'd like to help with this by summarizing some of the FAQs or
perhaps rearrange the info therein into a more obvious question/answer format.
<Yay!>
I have limited time to allocate to this purpose, but would like to do something
to contribute to WetWebMedia. If this proposal is agreeable to you I'd like to
start with either a "small" FAQ or group of FAQs. I would then e-mail you the
file so that you could review it and let me know if my effort would be of some
use to you.
Eric
<Thank you for coming forward Eric. We have had generous help/offers a few
times... with some groups of FAQs being greatly straightened out, made more
useful/useable... Please so start on whatever group you'd like... I will gladly
place, add to the existing structure or write over... Bob Fenner>
Future Schlock... Magazine software
for online pres... A GIANT poss. or already done? 2-4-08
Is there currently editing software
that allows one to have the same look and functionality (along with
searchability, links to archives... they lack) that print media currently have?
In the advent of today's cheaper, larger flat screens, and some new/upcoming
easier on the eyes terminals... Wouldn't this software, as a pkg., be a great
boon? Can we do this before the Net becomes teevee, phones, PDAs et al.? Bob/DF.
WWM Crew. A tremendous thank you...
just coincidental with holiday season
- 12/23/07
Huge thanks for your time, efforts, general resource-sharing which is
WetWebMedia.com.
I greatly appreciate your help in responding to queries, sharing ideas, selling
us the occasional content. Am sure this sense/sensation is shared by many of our
daily readers... Oh! And happy holidays to you and yours. BobF, finishing up in
Key West... off to Pablo Tepoot's for din din.
"Best of/worst of"...
Ideas for Dailies 12/18/07
Crew,
In my readings of your daily FAQs I cam across the "sharks in my living
room militant stupidity etc." mail and nearly wet myself laughing. as
such I was wondering if you had considered having a best of and/or worst
of FAQs page. Also I didn't get to read the ini9tial response is there
anyway I can find the original response on the site?
<Oh yes. Here: http://wetwebmedia.com/sharksysf7.htm>
thanks
P.S. in case anyone recognizes the email address, the angle fish tank I
had trouble with months ago is now running fine. Thanks on that
Forrest
<Good idea. Cheers, BobF>
|
Neat site stats - kudos to
WWM! 11/19/07
cheers, Bob
<Antoine>
I came across a neat site stats tool for comparing traffic (Eric B found and
mentioned it). WWM is (maybe no great surprise) excelling in traffic greater,
far and away, than any other hobby message board or forum that I am aware of.
neat site: www.compete.com
<Neat... I did take a look with the two more popular BB's:
http://siteanalytics.compete.com/wetwebmedia.com+reefcentral.com+reefs.org/?metric=uv#
Though we don't have a Google sitemap, nor advertise... is good to know and see
numbers for the great quantity of folks, systems, livestock we are helping...
Including the many thousands of your article and response efforts from years
past>
Kudos to WWM!
Anth-
<Cheers, BobF>
-------
Anthony Calfo
www.ReadingTrees.com
Compete web stats -11/19/07
Hey Bob,
<Sihaya>
I noticed Anthony's email about www.compete.com. It's an interesting
idea. Let me tell you about how this works. It's not "exact" data... it's
estimated. What Compete does is, they "survey" a selection of the population
(kinda like a high-tech Gallup poll). This is why you don't have to give
them permission (or put any code/images on your site) in order for them to
do this. In a way, it works backwards (compared to the way this data has
been traditionally collected-- by sending a "message" to a data collector
every time someone visits the site). In SOME ways, their estimates are
arguably more accurate in that they count "people" as actual people-- they
don't count web crawlers and such (which some other site stat programs
sometimes do). It doesn't usually work so well for lower-traffic sites (not
an issue for WWM though).
<Thank you for this input, clarification. I only consider such info. as
"general"...>
Anyway, I realize I just revealed myself to be a huge geek, but this is
a pretty cool thing... ;-) Best, Sara
<BobF> |
WWM articles/ my friend Curt 11/19/07
Hi Bob,
I've noticed that WWM has a few "coming soon..." type pages where articles are
needed. I have a very knowledgeable friend who would like to help out. He's been
at the reefing hobby (and been helping others) for more years than me. He now
owns/manages a LFS in St. Louis. His name is Curt and I think you met him once
but might not remember.
<Possibly... but we/I are/am VERY grateful, and we do pay... $200 w/o pix, $250
for such accepted manuscripts if accepted... about 1,400-2,000 word length...
AND I will gladly offer pix for his/their use... AND I will gladly offer to help
sell such work FIRST into the print realm, then our e- use if this is desired>
So, what do you think? Is there anything he could help you/us with? I could do
some of the editing/proofreading of his writing if you think that would help.
<I am VERY susceptible to this idea... Is in part, the raison d' etre for CA,
our on-line ''zine... id est, to fill in these enormous gaps. Please do
introduce us here. Thank you, BobF>
Best,
Sara
A BIG thank you
10/17/07
Whew! Took about thirty hours to format, put-away the outstanding WWM
responses... and they were outstanding! I do appreciate the gracious over-time,
time you put in... and am sure the many folks who read, benefit from your
efforts do as well. Cheers, BobF.
WWM website help
10/16/07
was talking to a LFS owner at MACNA. He didn't realize that WWM was still
being kept current. He complained, as many do, about the difficulty with the
structure of the of the WWM website, in that it is not always the most user
friendly. I told him of my understanding of the difficulties changing to a more
updated format related to the way the website was originally designed using
Frontpage. He suggested this program would make things more usable, thought it
would be compatible with front page and would link all related info together
making searches/info gathering much easier. I don't have a great understanding
or really know what I am talking about here, but perhaps this is something for
Mike to look into. Here is the program he was referring to :
http://phpnuke.org/
And here is his message to me:
<I am woefully ignorant of such matters (software period, web-editing
inclusive)... have never even heard of this program... Am glad to see you have
cc'd Miguel re... as he is taking some interest, expanding his focus back into
web matters, wants to help w/ WWM. Any other input here? BobF>
Re: WWM website help
10/16/07
Greetings.
While I agree that the WWM site isn't optimal in terms of layout and usability,
re-jigging the entire site into a more modern format would be a gigantic job of
work.
My feeling is that the main problem isn't the articles but the FAQs.
Specifically, creating tidier, more informative index pages to the free-standing
articles wouldn't be too difficult. At the moment there's a lot of stuff, and
some of the headings are a bit cryptic or at least require some degree of
specialist knowledge (e.g., "inadvanced bony fishes", a Fennerism I personally
love, but am not sure is a real word). So what's needed for the articles is
simply a clean up with some attention to more self-explanatory divisions so that
casual readers can smoothly work downwards through layers of organisation.
<<Mmm, I swear that inadvanced bony fishes is not of my making/fabrication...>>
The FAQs strike me as altogether a bigger deal. As things stand now, in many
cases, there are literally hundreds of queries scattered across dozens of
possible pages. Look at the Goldfish FAQs for example. If you want to tell
someone to refer to a particular query, it's difficult, without some vague "go
to this page, and it's about halfway down".
<Totally agreed... my thinking, well, ongoing cogitation is/was that in time,
sub-dividing such "FAQs files" into more detailed "SubFAQs" categories (e.g.
Goldfish Disease Poisoning, GF Env., GF Fungal... by causative mechanism/s,
symptomology... compounds that are efficacious and not... might be a "way to go"
here... Am very eager for the more intuitive PDAs of the future... they're
coming... and we'll still be around for a few decades...>>
I can't see any easy way to transfer this vast collection of queries into clean,
shiny new pages without a massive amount of work.
Software can be found to create a *new* site without fuss, but importing OLD
data and resources is *always* a lot more difficult (and ultimately becomes a
manual job anyway).
<Yeeeikesville!>>
So it comes down to this: do we refresh the WWM articles and leave the FAQs
alone; or spend time updating the FAQs as well, which given the repetitive
nature of many queries ("my goldfish has finrot...") becomes an exercise in
diminishing returns. Possibly there's a third way: archive them all in the
present format, start up new collections in a more modern format, and import
selected, informative queries from the old stacks into the new ones.
Yours etc.,
Neale
<Thanks as usual for your thoughtful and provoking input Neale... Am given to
make the super offer of remuneration for/when we get this process going
economically... for further content provision, spiffing up, general re-do. B>> >
On 15 Oct 2007, at 16:46, Robert Fenner wrote:> > > <I am woefully ignorant of
such matters (software period, web- > > editing inclusive)... have never even
heard of this program... Am > > glad to see you have cc'd Miguel re... as he is
taking some > > interest, expanding his focus back into web matters, wants to
help > > w/ WWM. Any other input here? BobF>>
Re: WWM website help
10/16/07
For what it is worth, I've seen things done where new sections were put in
and the old sections still kept up. By this I mean, you create a new format and
go forward with it, moving over indeed as you suggest or by selectively copying
what is necessary but you also keep the archives accessible in the past format.
Should someone desire to go through them to find more information they would
have that ability but you would put up the message that this is in the old
format and may be difficult to access. That way all the old information is not
lost because some of it is priceless.
Mac
<I did not know this was possible, thanks Mac... B>
Thanks 9/27/07
To the Crew and Bob,
<Paul>
Thank you for your time and effort. I'm very happy that I found your book and
guidance prior to diving into a saltwater tank. I was clearly in need of
education and would have failed. Not that I'm claiming some great understanding
now, but I'm clearly more educated today than I was yesterday. My increased
understanding creates more enthusiasm for the hobby.
<Ahhh!>
Looking forward to reading, learning and enjoying the hobby over decades, not
months,
Paul McCarron
<Thank you for your kind, encouraging words. Bob Fenner>
Syntax and daily FAQ's 9/26/07
Good morning Crew,
<Good morning Tom, Mich here.>
I hope you all are having as good a day as I have every day.
<Thank you, unfortunately my day has been a bit rough. Hopefully it will
improve.>
I would also like to throw my two cents in (though I think it should probably be
quarters, adjusted for inflation)
<Heehee!>
about using proper syntax when asking a question. I agree, the English language
is hard enough, when the word phonetic is not spelled phonetically.
<Irony eh? Ever wonder why we park in the driveway and drive on the parkway?>
I personally try to speak and write as well as possible for no other reason as
not to be misinterpreted or taken out of context. I work from home, spending
most of my day on the computer, monitoring my sites and dealing with
'administrivia'. When I check out WWM, I do not want to take the time figure out
what someone is trying to say. I don't want to read the corrections or the
endless comments for using proper language skills.
<Understandable.>
I want to get in, read the FAQ's, glean what I can and move on to other things.
Speaking for myself, I am grateful for the service you all provide. Thanks to
WWM, I have become a fish 'keeper' not a fish haver.
<This is rewarding to hear.>
The fact that you are all VOLUNTEERS seems to go largely unnoticed.
<Yes, we are all volunteers. We actually do this out of the kindness of our
hearts.>
You all have the patience of a host of saints, doing what you do without
recompense, simply doing so for the love of the hobby.
<Patience is a good virtue to have in this hobby.>
Please continue to be the lone voice crying out from the wilderness of
mediocrity to make this world a better place.
<Wow what writing! Thank you for the kind words!>
Now, as I step down from my soapbox, I look forward to the day when I see, in
the immortal words
of Sergeant Joe Friday, "Just the FAQ's ma'am, just the FAQ's."
<Heehee! Is the goal!>
Thomas N. (Tom) Bilello
<Michelle (Mich) Lemech
Just a quick rip on WWM. NealeM's turn
9/20/07
Gentlemen & Ladies (if there are any),
<Hello Richard, and yes, there are ladies here!>
Although most of us appreciate your knowledge on WWM's website, there
have been numerous complaints about your grammatical corrections to people's
emails\questions. I myself along with others find it absurd to correct the
spelling and or grammatical errors when people are reaching out to you for help.
<While I respect your opinion, the other way of looking at it is this:
if someone wants help, they should make it easier for the helper. Writing
clearly, politely, formally, and correctly is the way that happens. I just now
answered an "all-capitals" message that had been sitting in the in-box for days.
Why was it sitting there? Because the WWM Crew -- all volunteers -- have limited
time and energy. The crew are only human, and so naturally would rather tackle
questions that are easy to read and understand. Messages typed in capitals,
fragmented or tortured English, or gods forbid teenager-style abbreviation-speak
just aren't appealing. So they get ignored until someone grudgingly answers
them.>
There are MANY resources on the web for people to use but the people who
choose this site are people who want to give WWM a chance to spread the
knowledge and honestly you are blowing it.
<I don't see this at all. People are free to ask questions in many, many
places. Fishkeeping forums, mailing lists, etc. What makes WWM special is the
Crew are all respected, published expert fishkeepers. So the advice isn't stuff
dreamt up by a 17-year old boy who's kept a couple of convict cichlids, one of
which died a week after purchase, but by honest-to-goodness experts. Many of us
write for the fishkeeping press, and several of us (including myself) have
written fishkeeping books. Every day our in-boxes are filled to overflowing. I
spend about 30-60 minutes a day doing queries, usually 4-5 times per week. If
people want to go ask their questions someplace else because they have a dread
fear of punctuation or haven't figured out how the Caps Lock key works, then
that's fine with me.>
Personally it makes you guys seem a bit dare I say it RUDE.
<Perhaps. But rudeness is also spending ten seconds to write a
barely-decipherable message, not bothering with adding a salutation or thanks,
and then expecting someone at the other end to spend fifteen or twenty minutes
creating a sensible, helpful reply. The rules are posted on the site: so it's
not like any of this is a surprise to the sender. None of us have a problem with
messages from people who don't speak English as a first language. The messages
we react to are the ones obviously from native English speakers who frankly
don't give a rip about writing properly.>
Quite honestly after reading some of the posts on here it seems your
group gets more joy from bashing someone who just plain needs help rather than
actually giving sound advice. I myself take pride in helping someone who needs
it, spreading my knowledge for hobbyist alike to share and pass on.
<Fair enough.>
So maybe in the future you can take pride and joy in the actual help you
give to people rather than make them look stupid.
<I don't think we attack stupid people, and we certainly don't make the
inexperienced out to be idiots. No, the people we're hard on are the lazy and
the willfully-ignorant. And they, generally, do indeed deserve a quick boot up
the backside.>
I really want to thank you for reading this and hopefully maybe get you
guys back to the true roots of this website... Helpful people helping others not
ripping others.
<We're not camp counselors. If someone has done something just plain
stupid, like stuck an Oscar into a brand new 10 gallon tank, then it's not our
job to say "there there, it'll be fine". What we always do is explain what they
did wrong, why they need to fix it, and how they can go about fixing things.>
There are some occasions where you do look over some things and give
GREAT advice, but more often than not you are just playing English teacher for
the class.
<I don't really think we comment on English a majority of the time, but
heck, why not? Poor English is confusing English. Everyone makes grammatical and
spelling errors, and that's not a big deal. What annoys me (and others here) are
not putting "I" as an upper case letter, not using commas, not bothering to turn
fragments into complete sentences, writing everything in capitals, and so on.
These aren't about being dumb, they're about being lazy. And bad English ends up
obscuring content and making the reader's job more difficult. There's no excuse
for it.>
Regards,
Richard
<I hope this makes my (Neale Monks') perspective clear. I can't speak
for the others, of course! Sincerely, Neale>
<<Well-spoken/written Neale. RMF>>
Re: Just a quick rip on WWM 7/21/07
Fair enough Neale. Great response.
Thanks,
Richard
<Hi Richard. Glad to chat about this, and we always appreciate hearing from our
readers for good or for bad. Helps us to improve the site. Cheers, Neale>
Just a quick rip on WWM. SaraM's go 9/20/07
Gentlemen & Ladies (if there are any),
<If Darwin's Bulldog is correct about what makes a lady or gentlemen,
then indeed; I believe we have both here.>
Although most of us appreciate your knowledge on WWM's website, there
have been numerous complaints about your grammatical corrections to people's
emails\questions. I myself along with others find it absurd to correct the
spelling and or grammatical errors when people are reaching out to you for help.
<Maybe I just haven’t been here long enough, but I personally don't
point out people's spelling/grammatical errors. If for no other reason, I just
don’t have the time.>
There are MANY resources on the web for people to use but the people who
choose this site are people who want to give WWM a chance to spread the
knowledge and honestly you are blowing it.
<Ah yes, the 20,000 hits we get each day are hardly worth mentioning.
Clearly, we must be doing something very wrong.>
Personally it makes you guys seem a bit dare I say it RUDE.
<Personally, I think it's rude to send emails with multiple grammatical
and spelling errors when you know that your writing will become a permanent part
of this website. When people writing to us make these errors, we have to correct
them ourselves or else the poor grammar and spelling becomes a permanent part of
the site. Now, remember we don't get paid to do this. Even when an email is
perfectly well written (and especially so, actually), it can easily take me over
an hour to answer a long query. So please forgive me if I don't always
understand why an e-mailer can’t take 5 minutes to proof read his or her query.>
Quite honestly after reading some of the posts on here it seems your
group gets more joy from bashing someone who just plain needs help rather than
actually giving sound advice.
<Now this truly is absurd.>
I myself take pride in helping someone who needs it, spreading my
knowledge for hobbyist alike to share and pass on.
<As do we.>
So maybe in the future you can take pride and joy in the actual help you
give to people rather than make them look stupid.
<I don't believe that anyone ever "makes" another look stupid. One can
only exploit an opportunity to reveal someone else's lack of knowledge,
intelligence, diligence, respect, or character. We must always be aware of such
opportunities we give other people to reveal things about ourselves. What do you
think this email reveals about you?>
I really want to thank you for reading this and hopefully maybe get you
guys back to the true roots of this website... Helpful people helping others not
ripping others.
<How do we return to a place we never left?>
There are some occasions where you do look over some things and give
GREAT advice, but more often than not you are just playing english teacher for
the class.
<That should be "English" with a capital "E." It’s a proper noun. ;-)>
Regards,
Richard
<Best,
Sara M.> <<Well done Sara... that this querier did not know that
some here are female IS telling. RMF>>
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