I've only been a member here for around 6/7 months (I think  ) hence easily classed as a "newbie" but I certainly would hate to think I'd contributed to anyone feeling there was no point in continuing with their involvement in the board
I'm sure that you haven't Teri! :)  But there are others who, instead of just stating their experiences and opinions, (which is surely what an Information Exchange is all about??) insist on taking personal potshots, even though it's against the TOS.  Nobody who is of sound body and mind is going to continue to give freely of their time and energy to tolerate that!! :o

But yes, *some* people just like to be difficult for the sake of it - and that is a great shame.
I agree!  And some seem to just like seeing their name in print! 
Life in all aspects is about balance.  And at the moment, this board isn't!! :(

Hi again Val,

>Nobody who is of sound body and mind is going to continue to give freely of their time and energy to tolerate that!!<

Very true - and well put :P

>Life in all aspects is about balance.  And at the moment, this board isn't!!<

Ditto :(  Wish there was an easy answer - a sort of way to "bang heads together" instead of "bang heads off brick walls"  :D

Teri

I think part of the problem is that we are all different and there is such a very fine line between a debate (heated or not) and an argument which can get personal. Looking at the TOS I suspect we have pretty much all broken them at times :(

I think we do need different personalities on the forum, or it can get boring :D

I think too that we all need to give others the benefit of the doubt - a post may appear to be a bit short or a bit rude, but often the person who posted never meant it like that :). There are, and have been "personalities" who appear rather strong, but we get to know them and even respect their views and knowledge (I'm thinking of peeps like Tohme). In a similar vein, i for one never call someone a troll, because suppose i am wrong and really upset someone genuine? Who may be a little naive or whatever, but still sincere in their post.
Just a few random thoughts.

Take care everyone.

Lindsay
X

What a very silly thread started by someone who obviously wanted to cause trouble, they have succeeded, aren't they clever!  I rarely post but add bits when I have something to say.  I don't have the time, or knowledge to help everyone but like to think I do my bit.  I've been a member for a loooong time and am not a member of any clique, if there is such a thing.  I'm just here to help if I can.

Helen

ROFLOL Chloe, boy did that make me laugh

What a memory you have . I can feel a group hug coming :-)))) LOL

" WHY CAN'T WE BE FRIENDS,WHY CAN'T WE BE FRIENDS, WHY CAN'T WE BE FRIENDS LA LA LA LA"

yes all freinds together la la la

<<I think John is one of the worst people here for jumping on new posters >>

I have found John and lots of others to be very helpful in answering both my own and others posts :)

I for one shall be very sad if John doesn't post here anymore - and I hang my head in shame for being one of the "bad posters" on the thread that Mel brought up!

Margot (who thinks that from now one, she should only speak when spoken too :) )

Now now Margot :) I did say there were 1 or 2 posts that were okay :D Don't assume that yours was one of the bad ones :D It was the only thread I could find quickly to use as an example ;)

I for one am "afraid" to ask questions, not because I am inadequate or stupid or lack confidence, but because I admit I am sensitive and don't like to be humiliated and made to feel stupid.  I come on here mainly to read what other people have written and hope to learn from the experienced dog lovers here that way, but wish I could ask questions without fear.  I too have felt the vibes of the "clique", but this forum is also helpful and interesting if you can get past the sarcasm and impatience. 

Sorry posted this in the wrong place first - now I feel stupid!!!!

No you're not - it's just that the computer was too quick!!

Margot

Thanks Margot, confidence restored!!

PS does anyone else experience a little thrill of fear when they click on the post button? Here goes ......

Yup :D Frequently :p :p

Now I am sure you have noticed the marked deteriration in my posts with huge typos.  that is because I tend not to read what I type until it is in the thread (i know I should but often I type quickly as being sad I am adicted and can't spend all my time her, so need to be quick :D)  I was just wondering what is the time limit on editing posts as it never seems to be long enough for me :(  Can't it be made a bit longer?????

wow cool poem chloeH .i think that wat was needed to calm people down, a good poem. :d things were getting a bit heated on here werent they. personally i dont think quest should of posted a post like that on here it was bound to get peoples backs up. uncalled for i say!!! :rolleyes:
not everyones like that,most are quite helpful!

This site has been absolutely fantastic to me. Everyone has been so helpful and even more supportive when my dog died of cancer last week. I have not come accross one nasty or sarcastic comment.
Today I posted a topic on dog breeds asking advise on 2 different breeds, and again, I have nothing but good advise.
I am sorry that you don't have the same response, but it may not be any different on any other site.

I can see how people are afraid to post. I can also see the problem with John, well other peoples preoblem with him.
I had a conversation with him here about exercising a puppy. He bacame quite defensive and made me fell that i was doing something very very wrong in the way i rear my pups, socialise them and so on. I felt awful after he had finished and i did lose my rag. After that i bacame quite upset here at home.
Unfortunately he appears to be the kind of person who gets everyone elses backs up.
I havent held a grudge, i was chatting to him about another subject just the other day and all was fine. Life goes on, you disagree on one topic but everyone has an opinion. I put it behind me.

The reason i mention it now is that people are dredging up past disputes and using them as an attack. WHY? Whats the point? Ok you disagreed, you felt small and stupid. Live with it!!!! Worse things can and do happen. Its only a computer screen, people cannot see you, they do not know who you are.
Why cant people just sit, stick up two fingers at the screen, mutter an insult and go spend some money on ebay? Much easier than kicking off at someone with no face, no real name and as far as you can tell, cant even spell!
Do yourselves a favour and turn a blin eye. It would make this board a much nicer place!

I wasn't going to post on this thread again, but I am sorry thedark you are way out of order!!!

Your comment:

"Unfortunately he appears to be the kind of person who gets everyone elses backs up."

was not necessary at all.  If you knew John, as a lot of us on here do, you would know that he is the kindest, nicest gentleman (and I don't use that word loosely) that anyone could ever want to meet.

Yes he has strong opinions, but he is entitled to, he has had years of experiences to draw upon.

IMO anyone who listens to John's replies will get a good old fashioned answer (which they may or may not like) but it almost certainly will help them with their problem.

Another one here who thinks that it is probably best to leave this board, and let it become another fluffy one with very little knowledge.

See thats just my point. I said "appears" to be. I dont know him, nor do i wish to ever meet him. A lot of people find him too abrupt for todays fluffy "you sneezed near me im going to sue you" society. Thats what it boills down to.  You cant speak to people the way Jonah does and it be accepted any more.

I respect the fact that John has years of experience to share. Maby if he was a little more polite and less abrupt people would listen rather than fob him off.

Oh dear thedark, I feel another fluffy board coming on!!!!!

Well if this board is going to be that sort of place where we all have to think before we speak, and are at risk of litigation, then I for one will not be on here at all.

You younger people may be happy to live in that sort of society, but personally I am not and will fight it all the way.  I have always spoken my mind and will continue to do so.

Maybe if more people felt that way, then the world would be a better place, not so money orientated :-(

Yes, Val we must be a clique because we agree with each other, sad isn't it!!!!! :-(

>Maby if he was a little more polite and less abrupt people would listen rather than fob him off. <

Thedark, have you seen how many rude people John has had to put up with over time? It would test the patience of a saint.

I agree Jayne completely!!  Does that makes us a clique????
I know John personally too.  A true gentleman in every sense of the word and one who gives his experience freely to those who want to listen.  Unfortunately, experience isn't valued these days by those who think that they know better.  As I was typing, I remembered this, which I use in a different context and maybe of interest to some......

"One of the problems in these discussions is that it is extremely difficult to listen, whether it be to this person or to anyone else. 

Ordinarily, what we do when we think we are listening, is to take in the words, translate them into something that we know or are familiar with, and then agree or disagree.

If the words fit our inherited structures, our beliefs, our upbringing, the thing that we are comfortable with, then the speaker is a wise person and we agree.

If the words do not please us, do not fit our inherited structures, our beliefs, our upbringing, do not give us pleasure, then the speaker is not a wise person and we disagree.

That's what most of us do and call it listening!

But if we are either agreeing or disagreeing, then we are not listening.  For to listen there must be openness, and innocence, a putting away of old ideas, so that possibly the fresh can come in.

If we are busily involved in agreeing or disagreeing (and you can watch yourself do this as you listen), then what you are doing is not listening at all, and the new, which is the font of growth and learning, does not come in.

And on that note ...................

If people only want the answer they want to hear and get upset at the ones they dont want to hear why on earth are they posting ? :rolleyes:
I thought we ALL posted to learn- isnt that the objective of the board :)

I think a lot of the problem lies with people who don't want to learn - maybe they're not old enough to realise that nobody ever knows everything, no matter how hard they try, or how long they live.
:)

Val not directing at you just didn't know where to stick my post in :-))))

I was gobsmacked to see this thread still going..  :-))

Why do people keep saying things like " the board is coming going to come to an end"  :-) It sounds so childish I am sorry to say..

People have to dust themselves down and get on with it. Take the good and the bad, If they can't don't frequent.          

The board will see ups and downs , more arguements at times then others SO WHAT ;-)) It's a discussion board.. I have  had disagreements with posters, admin etc but hey that is life.  I don't hold anything personally. The debates is what draws us back sometimes when they are mature and constructive even if they do get heated at times.

Anyway I am off to Crufts soon.. :-)

>Unfortunately he appears to be the kind of person who gets everyone elses backs up.

Not mine! ;)
:)

Or mine :)

And then you are complaining about being labelled a clique. You dont help! I made fair point and was ganged up on. Again. I believe in freedom of speech and am sick of the PC fanatics too.

My point was that many others will not live with people shouting them down and brow beating their opinions accross!!
I also said i held no grudge and pointed out that i continued to talk to John as though nothing had happened. But, since freedom of speech must only apply to your lot i shall keep it shut in future.

Shame most good things come to an end. I have a forboding that this board will come to a very very sticky one!

we all have to agree with someone- so people will always be labelled as part of a clique :)

I think we are all mature and adult enough to realise that people have different ideas to others- so long as no one is deliberately impolite or rude :D

Mine neither :)

I very rarely post and when I mean rarely I have probably posted less than 30 in the 2/3 years that I been reading the board but I do read the board religiously, there are many people on the board who post valuable advice and John is definately one of them which is why I constantly see topics titled For John or John advice please..........He was there for me when I lost my old girl and her last days were made uncomfortable because of the vet prescibing the wrong drug for my girl who had a bad reaction to it and for that THANKYOU JOHN.

Nikki

OOOOOHH am in the clique as I have been on here for nearly 2 years, oh please please please :D :D :D :D :D
I tend to just look at the more inflamatory threads, laugh and move on.  Thinking, glad I didnt get involved. To my knowledge I have only upset one person on here, and apologised profusly about it as I WAS in the wrong, Maybe thats because I dont have enough knowledge to disagree with what people put, or maybe its because I just stay out of the more controvesial threads. Either way, I dont let it bother me and certainly dont get annoyed about it. Most arguments seem to be caused by people that are one post wonders, or come on here solely to cause trouble.
Lea :)

I am glad that the gentle voice of reason is taking over this thread again :)

I'm deleting the rest of my post.......I've had my cup of coffee now .

Margot

LOL - my glass of red wine is helping too :D

Daisy

Well I don't consider myself to be part of the clique even though I joined in the days of the old battery powered board :D I don't post often unless I feel I have a relevant point to make or my personal experience may I feel be valuable.  I do however acknowledge the vast experience of certain posters and their help and advice over the years has been invaluable both with doggie problems, but also horse queries, personal queries etc.  It is important to remember that some of these people have been in their breed for many years and over the years have had to witness the decline in the welfare of their breed by people jumping on the band wagon as a means of profit not general love or passion.

We must also acknowledge though that it is not just those looking for profit but also those who rush out to 'have the latest fashion accessory' just watch the threads on Sunday evening and see how many people 'suddenly' want whatever won Best in Show.  Ask the genuine people on here involved in breed rescue have the number of rescue cases declined over the past 10 years and they will probably reply 'Are you a Troll' ;)It is however important to remember that regardless of the breed 'general experience with dogs' has to be learnt and cannot be read about, that type of knowledge takes a lifetime and nobody ever stops learning.  With the greatest respect the best advice I have received have come from people who don't even own my breed and from one who has extensive knowledge so their experience does not benefit them, IT HELPS ME!

Without those posters I would not have the 3 very happy and healthy dogs I own today and for that I thank them,  I will also continue to ask their advice and respect their replys.  Respect has to earned and in my eyes these people have more than earned it.

If you know what response you want - why bother to ask the question.  Truth hurts but if more people learnt from the truth then these people would be hailed as hero's and not slated on a public discussion board!

Battery powered????  Blimey!  What took you so long?  I think it was clockwork when I first started posting (and I still feel like a newbie!)

Look Digger I only just realised that TV's come in colour so don't take the ****  :D I'm Blonde ok does that explain it :)

Lisa that explains everything.
Mary(Maltesser- dark on the outside and blonde in the middle)

i am not totally sure what has happened here today but i have a lab and john has always answered my questions in a helpful and straight forward manner which is what i have wanted. i am a member of another very popular friendly dog forum but if i have a particular lab query i would def think to come here and post and hope john would reply. if john has gone it may well not be worth it in future

same here Katyb if i need to know something then i come on here if i want a chat then i go to other places and the funny thing is there are a lot of the same ppl where ever i go.  

I really cant see what difference it makes how long people have been members...its their knowledge of and love of dogs that is important! I have probably agreed or disagreed with most members over different things because I have my own views as do they, but I hold this board in great regard in that it has let me see other peoples reasoning behind their views and (although it may not seem the case from some of my postings ;) )has changed my attitude to certain things. As long as we can learn on here, long may it continue, and I dont care HOW a point is put across as long as it is made, and as long as it is not a personal insult. 

Here, here katyb, you have said exactly was I was going to say.   As a first time Lab owner, Johns advice has always been invaluble. 

We need you John!!

Come back John!! All us 'long termers' need to stick at it or else this board will become like all the rest.CD is unique and long may it remain so.If people want fluffy answers let them go to fluffy boards.I for one prefer staright answers by which I can learn.I don't want people agrreing with me in order to keep me happy!!!
Archer