Just my 2 cents..........

[fishmamma]

I have witnessed this myself, and have had it happen to me.. If I see it, and I know it's a noob.. I'll usually intervine by sending a PM, something encouraging and something of the nature... "He's a jerk, he always throws in his bitter stick, don't let it bother or discourage you. Keep on chuggin baby!!" You get my drift.. I still don't know jack, so I ask a lot of dumb questions.. and really, how brave do you think some of those people would be without that monitor in their face???

 

[Lupin]

I agree with Jamo. I watched my husband get flamed, but the fact is that since i have signed on, i've received nothing but good advice and consideration...that's saying alot cuz i'm an idiot. I think some of it has to do with the newbie, as well as the experienced fish keeper.
For the newbie, don't let harsh criticism get to you, and don't bait people who offer such criticism. Us noobs wouldn't be here if we weren't trying to learn, and there are many on here who will tell us the same things as the flamers without hurting our feelers, so we win...if we can let go of the sniping.
For the experienced fish-keepers...i have yet to be flamed, and i am very noob...but i've seen my husband flamed by some of the more knowledgeable. It's not pretty. The beginner ends up looking like a child who has been abused, and the experienced looks like the abuser.
Though i've seen the baiting and taunting a child will offer, i haven't seen the patience and tolerance of a caregiver, as in the case of my husband...at least until a moderator has stepped in.
I hate to say it, but if you are experienced, you are my caregiver. I need your knowledge, not your contempt. Offer me patience and strong guidance and i will listen, offer me insults and i will know that your advice is suspect.
As a noob, and a very strong woman, i can tell you, flame me all you want, i'm still going to learn from this forum. I will not stop posting and asking questions. Not when there are so many knowledgeable and friendly people here.
For my future flamers, go ahead if it feeds your ego, but i certainly will not feed into any insults. I am sincere in my efforts, as is my husband...i can live with that.
I hope the new people don't refrain from posting because they've had their feelings hurt. If you are sincere, ignore the taunts, and accept the advice. It is sound, now matter how it's phrased.

Very good. The staff already knows where your issue came from and we'll monitor that.

 

[Steveo McNello]

I completely agree with this thread. If somebody posts a question that is too noob for your experience, skip it, and don't be an idiot.

 

[MadRussian79]

Agree for the most part. However I've seen a few noobs (or those pretending to be noobs) who ask question that piss the rest of us off. IE: "I know my tank is way over stocked but where can I get a BLANK?" OR "How long can an Aripima live in a 55?" When they get an answer they don't like they argue. Those deserve a flaming, otherwise I try to back the noobs.

 

[ballinouttacntrol]

No Gars here,lol

i know people act like flamming happens everywhere but some areas are more likely then others. So which area have you been frequenting? i know the gar section is particularly brutal

 

[jcardona1]

Unfortunately, that's how the forum culture/society works. You see it on any forum, any topic, any hobby.

 

[Chrisplosion]

Unfortunately this is something that won't change when everyone has a voice and everyone wants there voice heard.

 

[Juxtaroberto]

I think there is a two part problem. Of course, there are people who are mean to the newbies... but there are also over sensitive newbies. Over sensitive everybodies. Everything is "flaming" these days. Flaming moves beyond offering facts and into full blown negative commentary with no help offered, and more often than not, ad hominems. Sometimes the advice given seems curt, and this is exacerbated by the inability to see the other person's facial and physical expressions, body language and such, but everything needs to be seen in context. It's just as easy to be accused of being a nazi as it is to be accused of flaming these days, and 9 times out of 10 that simply isn't the case.

For example: there was a thread where some guy got a RTCxTSN for his 55 gallon. He did make it clear he was planning to upgrade, but to a 240, which is still not big enough. When people, myself included, pointed this out, we were told by a couple of people to "stop flaming, he already said he's getting a bigger tank." The point is, unless someone is being downright insulting to you and not trying to help you in any way, it's not flaming, and you shouldn't get your feelings hurt when some anonymous nobody makes a snide comment. Who knows, maybe they're always slightly sarcastic in their posts, and it's nothing personal, but now you've made a big deal out of nothing.

Not defending the gits who truly just belittle others, just pointing out that there's two sides to a story.

 

[TheRealAndyCook]

I guess i don't get an opinion anymore?

 

[Miguel]

I guess i don't get an opinion anymore?

Of course you do.

Shoot.