Forum Relations

Ok so time and again we hear how can we make the forum feel more welcoming? How can we make it more open? The next moment you hear how do we make it closer? Hard to make it welcoming when you are also strengthening relationships. One way to make that happen is try and get into the intro sections more and say hi! Mention the blog section and say here is mine so you get an idea of how this goes. Bring them into our group. You can even say "hey this members (insert members who recently update their blog) posted some amazing new new pictures." Or "They posted a really funny story."

Now when it comes to posting in a thread where someone is asking for help. It can be medical, it can be cage, it can be any number of things. Just because you are not a mod doesn't mean you can not help. Yes medical you can't always answer the question but you can offer support and that goes a long way for people in need. It means they are not alone. You can also offer hints or tips about cages. Or you might find a cage you just love and want to copy.

Now blogs are a big one! You post in your blog but no one seems to reply! Just becausepeople don't post doesn't mean they don't read.One your blog is a great way to look back and remember funny stories, to reflect on the changes that have happened since you first joined. It is a journal of the joys and sadly sometimes your sorrow.

One thing I used to do but don't have time as of late was to blog bump. Go back about a month and be like hey havent heard from you we would love an update. Or mention hey it is a new year perfect time for a new blog.

Another thing I hear a lot is I don't want to sound fake! How many times can you say your bunny is cute and not sound like you are on auto pilot! Well grab a picture and make a funny caption. Mention that you read the blog. "Hey I just wanted to let you know I was in your blog today."

Now here is a BIG one the forum is not what it used to be. Well of course! The forum has grown. There is a new flock of bunny lovers! That isn't a bad thing! It means that bunnies have made a new slave join the ranks! The forum will evolve but the heart is still the same. We love our bunnies and want to share that love. We want to be helpful to those in need. We want to make a difference in the lives of bunnies and their slaves.

In closing you don't have to be a mod to make a difference. EVERY members is valued and welcomed. So don't let things hold you back be proactive. :highfive:



P.S. Also know when to "agree to disagree" and also when to use your words with care when posting.

NICE!! good ideas

:highfive: :nicethread

i think something else to add to this...since my time here i have seen new members pushed away from the forum...while older members have their cliques its hard to make friends when your the new person
also there are some...who everyone in the forum seems very against and tries to make them do what we think is best for their buns...in turn they leave the forum. sometimes its hard to accept these people...some will know a couple instances im speaking of...but for what we know their doing the best they can...

just wanted to add that

When I joined, back in August I felt very welcomed by the older members who greeted me, like I was part of the family

But, yep, Brenda I agree with you - when we try to give (new)members advice on what is best, some get 'offended' and feel they are somewhat not welcomed/doing something wrong!

That happened to me when I joined a dog forum

Cliques....everyone says that as if it is an "ugly" word - and I suppose in some ways it can be.

But I think cliques are a natural part of life - we see them in schools - in working relationships - in churches - and in practically any situation in which you have more than two people involved. Put three or four people together and you'll find two that fit together closer than the others.

It just happens.

It can be based upon age, religion, race, interests or any number of other things. We may share a like for something - or a dislike against something.

Have you ever seen those tv shows where a new kid moves to town and the mom is saying, "You need to make friends"?

The best way to deal with a clique is to find a group you enjoy and just start talking to them. Perhaps by you "joining" them per se....you'll find that they're not as clique-ish as you thought they might be.

Since reading this post earlier today - I've been thinking about my "closest" friends on this forum. Yeah - most of them I've known a year or longer - some I've not known nearly as long. Most of the newer ones - have reached out to me because we had something in common.

When we get so many new members on a daily/weekly basis - it is hard to reach out to everyone.

Anyway - just my thoughts about how cliques are a part of life and that the best way to deal with it is to reach out and see if they reach back.

If they do...great. If not - find someone else.

I may sound harsh or something and I don't mean to sound that way at all. Its just...I find that cliques are everywhere I go...so I do what I can and don't worry about the rest.

while cliques are a part of everyday life...i hope im not the only one with this problem, but i never belong with any of them really...it is hard (even online) to just come out and start befriending someone ecspecially if they feel their attempts are pointless...

ive been here almost a year and really only begining to have a couple friends here...so saying from my personal experiance

For folks who are feeling friendless, dropping a few PMs to people whom you think would be interesting to chat with is great.

"Hey! Howya doin'? Howza bunnies? What cute thing did they do today? What is exciting in your week/month?"

Heck, send the same PM to a whole list of folks!

Don't stress. Everyone feels shy and left out at times... sometimes, it takes a little effort from those who are feeling isolated.
My point is, to push yourself personally to reach out in confidence, and make those connections.

I have faith that the folks that you truly would enjoy spending time with will reach back. (And if they don't, it's their loss!)

This is true. I remember posting last year that I never got PM's. I could absolutely count on my fingers the number of PM's I had received in 5 years of being on RO. Instantly, I got a PM from Becka (Luvr of Wabbits and Polar Bears) and she and I have been conversing on RO and Facebook ever since.

^^^ Oooh... now you're going to get spammed with tons PMs!

Truly, there isn't anything much better than receiving a friendly PM...
Adage of the Season, right? "It is better to give than receive"
(as a plus, you probably will get a PM back )

fuzz16 wrote:

while cliques are a part of everyday life...i hope im not the only one with this problem, but i never belong with any of them really...it is hard (even online) to just come out and start befriending someone ecspecially if they feel their attempts are pointless...

ive been here almost a year and really only begining to have a couple friends here...so saying from my personal experiance

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I understand what you are tring to say because I have felt the same way myself at times (not necessarily on this forum)

The thing is you need to be able to spend a good deal of time on the forum in order to really get to know people and for them to knowyou. Read lot's of posts but also reply to them as well. I personally don't have lot's of extra time to "hang out" ontheforum but I do enjoy being here. And I must say thatI am guilty of reading many more posts than I actually participate in.

All in all I think this is a great forum. The one problem that I have hadandam not 100% comfortable with is that I have had one or two posts edited by a mod with out any communication from them as to why. I really think if someone is going to edit or change someone elses post they should at least have the courtesy to send a pm or email explaining why.

I cant speak about everyone but my thoughts are focused on the ppl that are shy or not outgoing. I am by far not that person. But I bet those personality types do have a hard time finding ppl to mesh well with. I dont know who they would b but maybe they r scared to make the first move on a PM or friend. This is just my thoughts.

I also have thoughts about confidentiality. for me I have issues knowing who I can trust not just by what I have said but how something could b interpreted. We r on an online forum and everything is typed...emotions, and such can and do get misconstrued. I am a good listener and try to take things with a grain of salt. I dont like giving up information that someone has told me it is just between u an I but as Peg stated cliques r a part of society so r (for a lack of better words) backstabbers/two-faced ppl. And cuz we r on a forum that to me would b more easy to do to someone who has asked for confidentiality.

Elf Mommy wrote:

This is true. I remember posting last year that I never got PM's. I could absolutely count on my fingers the number of PM's I had received in 5 years of being on RO. Instantly, I got a PM from Becka (Luvr of Wabbits and Polar Bears) and she and I have been conversing on RO and Facebook ever since.

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Minda your full of life that's why I talk to you.

Now blogs are a big one! You post in your blog but no one seems to reply! Just because people don't post doesn't mean they don't read. One your blog is a great way to look back and remember funny stories, to reflect on the changes that have happened since you first joined. It is a journal of the joys and sadly sometimes your sorrow.

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I use to be ok at updating my blog. I have decided to stop blogging. I make the effort to read lots of blogs and the blogs of people I thought were my friends but the favor was never returned so in the end I'm just giving it up. I can keep the memories to my self and share the antickes with a few close friends in private instead.

This forum is about as nice and inclusive as they come. People need to realize that this is the internet. Not exactly a place known for manners. Maybe I'm more desensitized than most because of the other forums that I visit, but people need to get a thicker skin and quit crying when some stranger half way around the world disagrees with them. Time and time again I see good people on this forum trying to be inclusive of others and getting shut down by idiots who have no idea what they are doing, or who take offense at the slightest little thing. Half of the time I'm afraid to state my opinion for fear of offending someone or causing a mod grief. (Please note that on any other forum, this would not be a priority of mine, but because I love this community so much, I try to be respectful.)

Even though this is the internet, I do get upset every now and then when I see just how accommodating this forum is to people who don't deserve it. Mods and other members bite their tongues off and sugar coat everything to try help out people and still someone manages to get offended. So it's no surprise that some of us are a little more reserved in our commenting.

Wow, sorry guys. I didn't mean to get off on a rant. :hug:

Well said, Jess.

Jessyka wrote:

Mods and other members bite their tongues off and sugar coat everything to try help out people and still someone manages to get offended. So it's no surprise that some of us are a little more reserved in our commenting.

Wow, sorry guys. I didn't mean to get off on a rant. :hug:

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:goodjob

I couldn't find a "thank you".....but I want to say thank you for that. There are many times when I don't do a good enough job at biting my tongue....and I have other mods that I know will come to me and either edit me or talk to me about how I'm getting too emotionally upset over something.

But I will say that as a moderator - I really do try to make this a place where folks can enjoy themselves - and I really enjoy so many members here!

I am really new here and have enjoyed every minute I spend on here.

Now maybe it's because I don't have a rabbit so there isn't anything for anyone to be upset about (ie, the care I give, food I feed, or housing just to name a few). But I have asked a few questions and everyone has given me excellent and fantastic advice. And they have all been really friendly about it, too!

I have PM'd a few of you to ask further questions and have recieved a response within a few hours.

IDK, but I have had a great experience on here so far!

May you get a new rabbit soon Jenn!

Since I'm newer, I have to say it is a very welcoming site! And I feel I can be pushy with some of my opinions, but you have two very extremes on here. People who have their bunnies as pets and others who do not see them as house pet... but at the same time peace is basically kept. And its nice on here, that I can completely disagree 100% on how someone keeps their bun, but at the same time, just the people in general you completely forget that and can joke with them on the next thread! =)

There are a lot of members, and I haven't noticed so much the 'cliques'. But I think that stems back to everyone is generally nice to each other, and will talk with you and not ignore you. I haven't really PMed anyone, except for help, so I can't complain about not making friends, because I havent tried either!

So from a newer members point of veiw, the sites ran well, and the people are great themselves!


Edit: and I don't understand why people wouldn't speak their opinions on the boards? To the person who said some are idiots and dont shush up... what makes them idiots? THey're atleast giving an opinon.

The best thing about the boards is some heated discussions can get started but a mod stops in and requests people to chill out. Which isn't bad. All opinions should be thrown out there! As stated before there is two totally different rabbit worlds on these boards, so you will have VERY VERY mixed opinions.