interest re: moderation? / input re: 3 forums to maybe re-open?

Discussion in 'Forum Announcements and Feedback' started by Daniel Mosquin, Aug 11, 2010.

  1. Daniel Mosquin

    Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    At the end of August, I would like to discuss re-opening some of the archived forums with my managers (I apologize that this hasn't happened yet between dealing with other issues and not-happening-at-the-same-time vacations).

    When doing so, I would like to present them with the name of a moderator or two to accompany each proposed forum to re-open, as this moderator system seems to be working quite well for the Maple forums / Vancouver Cherry Blossom Fest forums (and the accompanying supports we've instituted in the past few months for moderators, including a moderator-discussion forum).

    I will propose the following 2 forums re-open due to volume of postings on these topics, assuming a moderator is found:

    Indoor and Greenhouse Plants
    Plant Identification*

    If you are interested in moderating Indoor and Greenhouse Plants, please send me a private message.

    *If you are interested in moderating one of: Plant Identification or Gardening in the Pacific Northwest (I will do the other), please send me a private message.

    ***

    I would also like to propose an additional 3 forums to re-open based on your input.

    Step 1) please post a reply to this thread with your selection of the top three forums you would like to see restored from this grouping of archived forums

    Step 2) on Aug 18, I will add up all of the suggestions and put the top 8 into a poll thread which will conclude on Aug 25

    Step 3) Between Aug 25 and Aug 29, I will be seeking moderators for the top 3 vote-getters in the poll.
     
  2. wcutler

    wcutler Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout 10 Years

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    Re: Expressions of Interest re: Moderation / 3 forums to re-open

    The one that interests me is Plant Identification, but I've already posted something saying that one place for all identifications would seem to be less confusing. I don't know - maybe I get too hung up on structure. Maybe it's fine to have choices.
     
  3. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Re: Expressions of Interest re: Moderation / 3 forums to re-open

    I always just click on New Posts, I'm not sure it makes much difference how many forum categories there are - and what these are. Which forum a new post is in, when it opens just seems kind of extraneous. When I've tried going to individual forums covering particular subject areas of interest to me there was never enough recent activity to make that as rewarding as just clicking on New Posts.
     
  4. Daniel Mosquin

    Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Re: Expressions of Interest re: Moderation / 3 forums to re-open

    Fair enough, but some people prefer to have clusters of activity on a certain topic to a) be able to subscribe only to that forum; b) to be efficient when searching for posts of interest; and c) give a bit more time before any given post scrolls off the first page

    Different ways of getting at the same information is important for some.

    At this stage, it's also only a proposal to my managers -- I can't say with any certainty whether they'd approve any or all of it.
     
  5. woodschmoe

    woodschmoe Active Member 10 Years

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    1. Plant Identification
    2. Pest ID...while the volume is lower than others, you'll find a number of posts in other forums (particularily fruit and nut trees, veg. gardening) are pest/disease related.
    3. Propagation.

    Greenhouse and indoor has a much higher post count, so it's likely a must keep, but most queries within the forum could reasonably fit under 'general q &a'...though it might make it unwieldy.
     
  6. Daniel Mosquin

    Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Just to clarify:

    Indoor and Greenhouse Plants and Plant Identification are the two I am already planning to propose.

    I'm looking for input on an additional 3.
     
  7. Junglekeeper

    Junglekeeper Esteemed Contributor 10 Years

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    I'd like to see Citrus, Garden Pest Management and Identification, and Plant Propagation forums reopened.
     
  8. janetdoyle

    janetdoyle Active Member 10 Years

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    input re: 3 forums to maybe re-open?

    I'd like to see 1) Woody Plants [I am very very interested in shrubs, and this could actually, why not, include roses and rhododendrons and azaleas], and the 2) Annuals/Biennials/Perennials re-opened. I will defer the third to others. Small Space Gardening might be my third, actually. Since so many of you are real specialists in your fields, I understand you like the detail of some of the more professionally-oriented forums. I like a general perennial/annual type of forum as one can ask questions there re certain plant varieties on the market, cultivation techniques, etc., which cater to the average gardener. I am not sure my choices will be the same as any others, though, since this forum is not geared towards the average gardener, probably. I have been preoccupied with other busy tasks and haven't been around here much, but hope to get back to the Forums as I enjoy them so much. Thanks for the chance to comment.
     
    Last edited: Aug 12, 2010
  9. maf

    maf Generous Contributor Maple Society 10 Years

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    Is there any scope for sub-forums; for example if Fruit and Vegetable Gardening was brought back maybe Citrus and Grapes and Grape Vines could be incorporated as sub-forums? They are fruit after all.

    My 3 choices:Fruit and Vegetable Gardening, Woody Plants, Garden Pest Management and Identification.
     
  10. AlainK

    AlainK Renowned Contributor Forums Moderator Maple Society 10 Years

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    1/ Plant Identification
    2/ Woody Plants
    3/ Gymnosperms

    I take this opportunity to thank all the moderators and the people participating in these forums. I am particularly interested in maples, but all the forums and sub-forums are a great source of knowledge for me. ;)
     
  11. lorax

    lorax Rising Contributor 10 Years

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    In no particular order, Araceae, Woody Plants, Citrus.

    Thank you to all UBC people - I think this is the way forward.
     
  12. photopro

    photopro Well-Known Member

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    I heartedly second bringing back the Araceae (aroid) discussion. Due to my officership on the International Aroid Society board I receive mail asking all the time why the forum is no longer active. I do my best to explain why it was necessary due to lack of staff and the proper use of funding based on the garden's priorities. I received just such a request from Hawaii two days ago asking why the forum had "dropped dead".

    There are few active aroid discussions other than the IAS own board and most people believe incorrectly they have to join the IAS to participate. It would be impolite to name names but one "popular" forum is filled with terrible answers to aroid related questions and the people that propagate those bad answers will fight with a vengeance. to defend info that has no basis in aroid growth or science.

    Another forum is now making a concerted effort to attract people with good information and is also updating some of its own files to delete bad info. They actually have a botanist working on the effort to fix the thousands of bad photos that have been posted.

    The one with the group of members that consistently spread bad answers takes such offense to qualified answers they actually do their best to run people off the forum. I am aware of one aroid botanist that is among the most respected in the field that was all but deliberately run off since the regulars hated the answers since they often did not agree with their preconceived beliefs. That botanist was not trying to tell anyone he was a botanist and they should bow to his authority, the person just gave good answers. To this day, very bad information is the norm on that site and if you dare to give a scientifically based answer you will be heckled to death!

    Post a link to a scientific answer and some will come back immediately and tell others not to read it! Try to explain why aroids are different than some house plants and don't like to have their roots crowded or root bound and you will be blasted. You will always be told to pot up your plant only when it is very crowded and then only an inch or so. No botanical garden of which I am aware that studies aroids will accept such a notion! It is next to impossible to find a root bound aroid in the rain forest.

    Most of these "expert" people have never read anything scientific, they just talk to a local florist or grower and pass along the same old information. Aroids are different but they are still one of the most popular groups of "house plants" and require unique care if you want them to grow properly. How many plant families do you know of that have far more plants in the family hanging from the branch of a tree with the roots dangling in the air? Still, people that consider themselves "experts" don't understand that simple fact and will until the day they die insist a grower must force an aroid t grow the way they choose for one to grow, not the way Mother Nature intended.

    If you just look at some of the numbers of those that have read the threads on the UBC aroid section it is easy to tell many people find it as a result of an internet search. My mail box indicates they trust it because the answers are often based in science as is common on the entirety of UBC, not in personally construed mis-beliefs.

    There are qualified people to answer the questions on UBC, it is simply now the lack of a proper forum to offer the right answers.

    Sorry for the sermon, but UBC has an important place in sharing qualified info on this popular group of house plants.

    Steve
     
  13. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Gymnosperms, Pinophyta, and Conifers ;-)
     
  14. togata57

    togata57 Generous Contributor 10 Years

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    Araceae.

    I am also an orchid fancier, but I think that the above forum would serve the interests of a larger number. With top-notch moderation it could dispense much valuable knowledge to members old and new.

    Glad to read that Indoor/Greenhouse and Plant ID are slated to return.
     
  15. vitog

    vitog Contributor 10 Years

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    I agree that a separate forum for fruits and vegetables would be a good choice, since it is a fairly broad category, yet would be isolated from the hordes of posts about flowers, which may not interest a subset of forum participants.
     
  16. Daniel Mosquin

    Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

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