Attention Members!

Originally Posted by SchwarzeKatz

So far the only thing that has made me feel a little unwelcome are some of the basic rules like not being able to post in the IMO forum. Personally I think if you can't post there, you shouldn't be able to read there either. I'm not going to spend a lot of time in that forum anyway because I don't care or want to know what people's political views are - this is a CAT forum. I read a few of the posts and that was enough for me. I did want to say though that I will not be reading the OJ book! There! I got to say it anyway LOL.

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I kind of think it makes sense, though I understand where you're coming from. I remember that it was helpful to lurk in IMO and get a feeling for what is - and is not - inbounds, so I think being able to read for a month, and then be able to post is actually quite helpful, though I found the month a long wait.

Interesting, after the initial eating at the grown-up's table feeling wore off, I realised it wasn't really my thing so much. I do participate if I care about a particular topic enough - I guess it's called IMO for a reason. Turns out my feelings on most things aren't that strong!

I tend to stay away from the IMO forum because it got *too* heated.

Originally Posted by SchwarzeKatz

I totally understand this feeling. I left another forum because of this and because when I had the nerve to privately express my feelings about it, I got ostracized because I had been mean (for lack of a better word) to a cherished member of a certain clique. Feeling invisible and unappreciated for the effort you've made to give an answer to the question somebody asked stinks. Makes you feel like you've wasted your time. My experience there has left a bad taste in my mouth to these forums so I'm sticking my toe in here tentatively. So far the only thing that has made me feel a little unwelcome are some of the basic rules like not being able to post in the IMO forum. Personally I think if you can't post there, you shouldn't be able to read there either. I'm not going to spend a lot of time in that forum anyway because I don't care or want to know what people's political views are - this is a CAT forum. I read a few of the posts and that was enough for me. I did want to say though that I will not be reading the OJ book! There! I got to say it anyway LOL.

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To a great extent, the IMO rules are in place to protect new members, because those posting tend to take off the kid gloves, You'll soon have enough posts to participate there. The big question is whether you'll decide to do so, because we regular posters can be a contentious bunch!

Originally Posted by jcat

The big question is whether you'll decide to do so, because we regular posters can be a contentious bunch!

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Haha, not likely in most threads because I don't want to get into politics on this forum. There's political forums for that. I won't even read those threads if that's what I think it's about.

Well, to the great mods we have and to the wonderful members, whether they be old or new.....you and this place mean the world to me. ........if we're old friends, it's because this place brought us together.......if we're new friends, once again, it's because of this wonderful place, and if we've yet to meet, I so look forward to getting to know you better!

In my real life, I have many different types of friends with different thoughts, personalities, lifestyles, but the one thing that has brought us together is a common bond of something in our lives.......here, with all of us, it is our beloved kitties........

Thank you all for letting me share a part of your every day lives and for letting me share my nutty world with you.

Just wanted to put my in.

I am glad that this discussion is happening.

Recently, thread topics posted in the lounge, tend to stray off topic quickly, then their original intent becomes lost.
Let's try to stay near the original topic out of respect for their authors.

When we want to get goofy, one on one...use the PM.
It works great.

One more thing...
We are here on TCS, because someone worked really hard to bring in important advertisers who pay the bills.
Let's not blow it.

TCS is the best site on the web.

Originally Posted by SchwarzeKatz

I did want to say though that I will not be reading the OJ book! There! I got to say it anyway LOL.

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Hah - me neither

Originally Posted by Pat & Alix

Hah - me neither

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Good for you.

The cat in your signature is beautiful. It kind of makes me sad to look at it though because it looks soooo much like my favorite cat who died when my house burned. He even had the speckled nose. He was such a sweetheart and he was the keeper of order among all of my cats. If somebody did something wrong and I yelled at them, he would go swat them lol.

Well anyway, I know the above is off topic so you don't need to comment. Just making an observation.

Originally Posted by SchwarzeKatz

Good for you.

The cat in your signature is beautiful. It kind of makes me sad to look at it though because it looks soooo much like my favorite cat who died when my house burned. He even had the speckled nose. He was such a sweetheart and he was the keeper of order among all of my cats. If somebody did something wrong and I yelled at them, he would go swat them lol.

Well anyway, I know the above is off topic so you don't need to comment. Just making an observation.

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Frankie is very special to us (and to at least one other member of this forum)...a girl we rescued, almost starved to death, who'd been abused and spent the last months of Patrick's life with him, learning to trust other kitties again. Patrick was my very special cream lynx point American Curl - Frankie resembles him in her color, so she's both a comfort as well as occasionally a sad reminder.

So...I am sorry if she brought up a sad memory, but hope mainly it brought back good memories of your special boy. My Patrick had charisma unlike any of my other cats...he expected everyone to love him, and anyone who met him, never forgot him, even non-cat folk.

So...here is to all our very special ones passed on ahead, and those delightful, keep us grounded in the here and now kitties.

Originally Posted by Cinder

I do feel a bit disappointed when I ask for information about SCC in cats and get no response, when someone making nut jokes gets dozens. Maybe that is why *shy* people just don't get it sometimes.

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I just wanted to reply to this also, as I have seen it mentioned a few times, personally, I post alot and read even more, but I do not feel comfortable giving advice in the health / care and SOS type forums unless it is with something I have personally experienced. The majority of these threads are answered with a simple 'take your cat to the vet' and when I have no experience to offer, I don't think people need 200 post saying 'take your cat to the vet when 3-4 will make just as much as a statement without the whole forum seeming 'mean' and 'ganging up on the poster', those threads tend to get out of hand and we end up alienating the poster when someone could come along with real advice and it would get lost in the 100 or so posts.

Also (if I am being really honest) I skip posts with ambiguous titles etc as I don't have time to read everything so I pick and choose what interests me, if I see a post on severely obese cats for instance, I will reply as I have the experience, and if I see a post that mentions chocolate, I will click it, but I tend to pass over the more general titles.

Originally Posted by Pat & Alix

... if I post to a thread, more often than not, it is never acknowledged. I end up feeling invisible or as if what I have said, was not valued.

I've tried posting more when I can pop in, but so far, that isn't making any difference. I can't think of any reason why folks would question my sincerity... I might as well not post in a thread I've not begun.

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I can't imagine why anyone would question you sincerity, but this reminded me about a PM I got a while back from someone who visited here that I know from another (not animal related) forum (and this is in no way directed at you), many people can take things said online the wrong way. People inject their own tone into threads when they read them - and that is partially why forums have emoticons, to help us to express the feeling behind the words. Sometimes, people take things as said differently than the original poster meant, but they don't say anything they merely don't reply again in the thread, which means the original poster makes the same mistake again. I think alot of these 'confusions' could be cleared up by people thinking about how the post will be taken, and people (through PMs or in the thread) voicing their feelings on the matter so that it doesn't get to the point where mods have to get involved.

As well as posts, perhaps we could all think before posting what we would think if we were new here again... I would imagine that all the bopping on the head alone would scare some people away but seriously, we were all new and have felt not included at some point so just remember that feeling before clicking 'submit reply' (me included)

Originally Posted by icklemiss21

The majority of these threads are answered with a simple 'take your cat to the vet' and when I have no experience to offer, I don't think people need 200 post saying 'take your cat to the vet when 3-4 will make just as much as a statement without the whole forum seeming 'mean' and 'ganging up on the poster', those threads tend to get out of hand and we end up alienating the poster when someone could come along with real advice and it would get lost in the 100 or so posts.

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I'm not sure I agree. I'm able to tell the difference between people who obviously have taken their animals to a vet and are asking for the experience of others for treatment of a specific illness vs those who haven't yet sought veterinary help. I guarantee you, if I ask for help here it's after I've talked to several professionals, researched countless websites and anyone I know personally with a similar situation. And sadly, some people will never seek out professional help if that's the only thing recommended because it costs money, which they either don't have or don't want to spend.

Originally Posted by LDG

The issue here is that TCS is a board that children visit and it has members that are minors. It has to do with what is appropriate and what is not appropriate for a public board in which kids participate.

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Examples I gave were from my personal experience and do not necessarily reflect that of the TCS member in general.

As I said in a previous post, I understand and respect the request, so I am NOT arguing about the request that people take a step back and look at how they have been posting recently, myself included.

I am not complaining that we have been requested to do so.

I am simply giving my opinion, and I have not attacked anyone, nor should my comments be taken for anything more than they are worth - that of a relatively new member, who is neither shy nor retiring, and isn't afraid to speak up, even if that makes me unpopular as a result.

I will certainly do my best to abide by the rules - I love it here WAY too much to do anything to get me tossed, but when I have something to say, I say it. (Just one of the things I love about my rights to freedom of speech.)

I made a suggestion in an earlier post as a possible alternative should some of us wish to continue being playful adults, and upon further thought (and mindful that no one commented on it) I now withdraw my suggestion, as it would only be appropriate were a new and special section of the boards to be formed, perhaps a place for the "Bad Kitty Meowmies" and Crazy Nut Lovers, like myself, to go to when they want to let off some steam, have a few laughs - perhaps with double-entendre - and not have to worry about offending anyone here on TCS of any age or sensibility.

Just trying to think from a larger perspective - and again, I completely understand the reason for this thread and am in complete agreement and respect it. So please don't see my posts as argumentative, because they were not meant to be so.

I am a moderator on two other, non-cat related forums myself, and I understand what goes into it - this forum is HUGE and I honor and respect all of you who watch out for us TCSers and try to keep us towing the right line. It's not easy, and I appreciate your efforts to address the issues other members have obviously brought to your attention in private.

Originally Posted by jcat

There are people who are rather retiring, and hesitate to complain, because they don't want to step on anybody's toes, fear that they'll be ostracized, or simply want to avoid confrontation in their spare time, as they see enough of that at work/home. They don't necessarily "later complain", but choose to do so to (a) moderator(s), as the mods are in a position to call such matters to all members' attention, and have basically grown "thick skins" over time. Hence this thread. TCS is all about cat welfare, and almost all TCS members currently have cats. The forums, ideally, should appear welcoming and "safe" to all (potential) members, and not drive advertisers away.

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I was very specifically speaking about new members of my motorcycle chapter, and not TCS members. I was presenting an example from my own experience, and I still feel that it is quite valid to my point.

I do not disagree with your statement; in fact, you validate what I posted.

Again, I am not arguing about the request that folks think twice beforethey post, and keep the larger audience - advertisers as well, thank you - in mind.

I've only been here for a very short time but I've found TCS to be nothing short of spectacular. Everyone here is so helpful and friendly and I'm happy that I made my way here.

I must confess that I'm a little out of my element here and it has nothing to do with being fairly new to TCS. I brought my first cats home twelve years and even though I've had them for a while there is still way too much that I don't about them. Bringing the new kittens home over two months ago I found myself not quite knowing what to expect since it's been so long since I had kittens to care for. Being here has helped out a lot.

Most of my forum experience has been on aquaria forums (a few of which I moderated on). I have a few thousand posts on one of them but it took me a long time to really get going on them as far as posting is concerned. I've been slow getting started on every forum that I've ever joined. I'm comfortable here when I do post but I'm also quite happy just "lurking" and reading the great many posts here so that I can learn more (I love to learn!) about our furbabies.

I know i always ask if members could give their support more in Crossing the Bridge So what if more could go into New Cats on the Block to welcome the new members?.

Cast your minds back to when you were a newbie?. I know it made my day when i was being welcomed by members

Originally Posted by Cinder

I'm not sure I agree. I'm able to tell the difference between people who obviously have taken their animals to a vet and are asking for the experience of others for treatment of a specific illness vs those who haven't yet sought veterinary help. I guarantee you, if I ask for help here it's after I've talked to several professionals, researched countless websites and anyone I know personally with a similar situation. And sadly, some people will never seek out professional help if that's the only thing recommended because it costs money, which they either don't have or don't want to spend.

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I am also able to tell the difference, but as I said, if I have no personal experience, I won't post. The best I would be able to do is say speak to a vet or offer some links found through google, all of which the poster could do themselves... but if I see a post that says 'my cat has (insert condition here)' there is a diagnosis and the person has most probably seen a vet and got the best help they could, so I generally just don't click as I have nothing to add. It is all personal preference in posting, but I would feel really bad to give advice (not knowing what I am talking about) and the cat gets sicker as a result of bad advice being followed.

Of course there will always be people who just will not take their cats to a vet and I stay away from those posts because they leave me sitting on my hands wanting to remind people that animals are a responsibility you take on for their life, and that includes providing medical care.

Originally Posted by rosiemac

I know i always ask if members could give their support more in Crossing the Bridge

So what if more could go into New Cats on the Block to welcome the new members?.

Cast your minds back to when you were a newbie?. I know it made my day when i was being welcomed by members

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I personally stay away from the RB forum as I don't deal very well with it, so only post if it is someone I know... but it is a great idea to welcome people in the New Cats on the Block forum and try and post to their posts elsewhere

Originally Posted by rosiemac

I know i always ask if members could give their support more in Crossing the Bridge

So what if more could go into New Cats on the Block to welcome the new members?.

Cast your minds back to when you were a newbie?. I know it made my day when i was being welcomed by members

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I can't go to the bridge forum too often since I just posted there recently... but I can welcome new members!

well, been hanging out a night here for a sometime., Before i ever started to post.
most of the time, i make a post and move on, i dont really go back and look and see if anyone answers, people should not think that every post or comment they make someone will make a answer to. I will have to agree that some people are to shy just to jump in and start posting. As to inside jokes, so what, who cares. I still dont get the gnome and nutt thing so i just ignore those.

well the crossing the bridge thing, is hard for many people. , they dont want to think about it, and they dont know what to say. I post there sometimes, but always feel like that is not enough to say just RIP, AS i sure those that took the time to read the i made for my first cat, i am not very good with it comes expressing thoughts and feeling in writting.

Still if people just jump in , and start posting, they will do just fine i think.

I'm one of those shy people, and it took me six months to really get going, look at me now!! I've been a member for a year now, and this is the only forum I belong to, or even read for that matter I'm on here everyday at work so I keep up to date on most topics, like gnomes and nuts and while I don't participate all that much with those, I do throw a comment in once and awhile, but I *think* I've always tried to keep my posts fairly clean. I personally have made a couple good friends on here and I try to keep the personal discussions in the PMs. As for feeling left out, I definitely get those feelings sometimes, to me it seems like a couple certain people don't ever reply to my threads, but then I'm a naturally paranoid person, so I'm probably just....being paranoid Lately I've tried to make more of an effort to visit the crossing the bridge forum, Fur Pics, and the New Cats on the Block, as well as trying to give advice in the Health & Nutrition on topics that I feel I'm fairly informed about, but if I don't know anything about it I usually will not reply. For some reason my cats are perfect so I usually have no advice in the behavior forum, but i will give suggestions if I've read something on that topic before.

I love TCS as I love my cats more than anything in this whole world, and I have learned SO MUCH about them here!!! I have made really good friends and hopefully not made anyone mad as the IMO can get heated, but hopefully everyone knows not to take it personally, we cat folks are just passionate about our beliefs! it doesn't mean I can't like you or be friends just because we have different opinions, that is life as a whole

Over 4,000 posts, you've done well Katie