DON'T KILL THE MESSENGER

[Pam and Ginger Snap]

Hi All,

I have been on this site for a year and a half. I have gotten some great advise and made some nice friends.  I have gotten great grooming tips, food advice, lots of laughs and a few tears.  However, I have noticed recently when people ask questions, there is a tendency to be a little forceful with answers.  A lot of people are asking  questions or looking for solutions for real problems....aggressive dogs, food issues, re-homing issues...and instead of lending a sympathetic ear and helpful advice, there seems to be some quick responses with judging comments.  Often times I feel sorry for the person asking the question, and some of the answers are mean-spirited.  Some are very helpful.

Sometimes people don't see previous posts.  When someone re-posts something, or asks a question, again...the poster is not doing it to be a pain...maybe they just didn't see the original post.

I like this site. I like knowing peoples stories, and their pups.

I hope that this post can make people think twice before they post an answer to a post, where the poster is seeking advice.  The advice might be something that the poster does not like, but it can be stated in a kinder way.

For example, I am really nervous that people are going to react harshly to this post.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

"Sometimes people don't see previous posts.  When someone re-posts something, or asks a question, again...the poster is not doing it to be a pain...maybe they just didn't see the original post. "

 

I agree with you on this one. I don't see the big deal if peole post something more than once. If you don't feel like commenting again, don't. No harm no foul.

 

Why is this text so big??? lol!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree. But what is the big deal if someone replies by politely saying "We have lots of discussions here about this topic. You can do a search for..." What is mean about that?The person would also learn how to do a search in the future, as well as finding the info they need.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I agree with Karen on this one. We had five discussions in one week on the little girl with the therapy dog. Some were still on the front page when others got posted. It just seems to me you could at least check what is going on on the front page before posting a duplicate story. Lots of times I will put in a discussion a link to a previous discussion and all I did was search by the main topic. Not so hard and I think the search is a good tool to use.

Especially the big topics that we see week after week.....insurance, puppy biting, loose stools, etc. There are tons of discussions on these topics. Just my opinion.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

wow, I didn't realize there were 5, I saw 2. I guess it does get excessive and it takes up room in the top discussions and that could otherwise go to a larger variety of stuff that has now been knocked back. the problem is not everyone is addicted dedicated as we are and thus aren't on here often enough to know how annoying repetitive that can be.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I was afraid someone would point that out....LOL!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Especially if you are posting something that is not original, a video, news item etc, I think you have some obligation to see if it's been posted already at least in the recent past or 5 minutes ago. Just IMNSHO.

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

Many times when the discussion is a repeat I will post a link to the original discussion.

[F, Calla & Luca]

And my thoughts too. I mean if you don't bother to read the main page at least and see what's going on why are you posting--whoops harsh. But I even try to read the comments made on a discussion before I post but that's not always possible.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

no, I suppose there is nothing wrong with that. I suppose the poster would just feel a little silly. I know I did when someone made that comment to me a while back, but I just shrugged it off instantly. Maybe some people would dwell on it.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

But that's their problem. There's only one mental health professional on this site, as far as I know, lol. Nine thousand people can't be expected to know if someone has issues of low self-esteem, insecurity, self-image, or whatever, that would cause them to brood for days because someone told them to do a search on a forum. We can only be expected to be polite.

 

[BG and Gavin]

I don't want to start a new discussion, but there is something I need to get off my chest.  Gavin and I were at PetSmart practicing today and the humane society was having an adoption fair.  There was the cutest little butterball of a yellow lab girl.  The worker told me that someone had just dropped the 8 week old baby off because...she bit too much!!  I am officially outraged!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Welcome to my world, my friend.