Forum Rules / Netiquette

Re: Forum Rules / Netiquette

Arlo Guthrie — Mon, 10 May 2010 17:30:23 GMT

[quote user="Richard Allport"]but I wondered just how much of the vetsurgeon.org site is accessed by google?[/quote]

Hi Richard

Going a bit off-topic from forum rules here

The answer to your question is that because only members can sign in and view content, it doesn't really make that much difference how much of the site is accessed by Google (however much or little it accesses, doesn't change the fact that you need to be a member to view VetSurgeon content linked to from Google).

That in mind, we allow Google to access most of the content on the site - specifically so that:

a) when VetSurgeon members look for info on a subject via Google, and there is relevant content on the site, they know. In other words exactly what happened when you typed Cardiguard!

b) also so that veterinary surgeons who are not yet members find us when they search using relevant search terms. This is obviously of great importance in terms of building the community.

Re: Forum Rules / Netiquette

Richard Allport — Sun, 09 May 2010 17:47:38 GMT

Arlo - I googled Cardiguard and was interested to see that the forum came high up on the first page as follows:

Cardiguard - worth using? - VetSurgeon

12 posts - 8 authors

with the first couple of lines of the first post of this thread. Granted, when clicked on , it was impossible to read the full set of posting without signing in, but I wondered just how much of the vetsurgeon.org site is accessed by google?

Richard

Re: Forum Rules / Netiquette

Anthony Todd — Sat, 08 May 2010 00:34:28 GMT

[quote user="Jonathan Wray"] The directive invective from the PO, known in the trade as "Pusser " speak was poetic in its fluency and[/quote]

Oh, come on, please, in the interests of humour, history and the development of English, give us the verbatim quote.

You can use ****s or ....s to cover the offensive bits.

I mean, in certain circumstances, "FFS" or "WTF" is the best and only expressive and appropriate response.

And "bollards" or something very similar, is the finest put-down yet invented.

Read "Private Eye" for examples of perfectly contextual profanity, usually by journalists!

Re: Forum Rules / Netiquette

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:06:44 GMT

Hi Evelyn,

Interesting ... the derivation of po-faced.

I agree with you - though my worry is not so much about swear words per se (I know it's subjective, but with the F word now commonplace on the TV, 'bloody' seems quite tame).

What does worry me is personal insult, whether directed at a member of the site, or a non-member. I think it is particularly important in a public forum to be respectful of each other, and each other's opinions.

So I've added another rule above:

However heated a discussion may become, please refrain from personal insults or swearing (whether directed at a member or non-member of the site).

Re: Forum Rules / Netiquette

J G Wray — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:05:41 GMT

Dear Mr B-Hill,

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]If anybody would really like a swearing match I will be happy to take you on and swear you under the table, but it will be spoken, not written, and in some secluded place.[/quote]

In English or Welsh? If Welsh I concede now. Bangor is v secluded.

Once upon a time my wife and I were invited on board a boat i.e one of Her Majesty's submarines, a nuclear hunter-killer type similar to the one that "Gotcha'd" the Belgrano, by our friend the First Lieutenant. We bimbled down to Devonport by train on a scorching hot day and our friend met us and escorted us through the dockyard to the sub. These things are enormous black painted hollow metal things which heat up in the sun and become more buoyant. Thus they ride higher in the water alongside the jetty and air has to be let out of the tanks at intervals and the shore-lines released and tightened up as required.

This was the job of the dockyard navvies supervised by a petty officer of the watch. Now traditionally matelots haven't got a lot of time for the navvies and this became evident as we approached the boat. The directive invective from the PO, known in the trade as "Pusser " speak was poetic in its fluency and astonishing in its originality. I can remember it now. It stopped only for a moment as the PO saluted his boss. There was no allowance for guests.

Then it was on board for pink gins a guided tour and bruises on the forehead. What a day.

Regs

JGW

Re: Forum Rules / Netiquette

Libby Reys — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:50:29 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]

If anybody would really like a swearing match I will be happy to take you on and swear you under the table, but it will be spoken, not written, and in some secluded place.

[/quote]

My auntie Betty (part Italian) was very impressive in swearing matches. What a pity she has passed away...

Re: Forum Rules / Netiquette

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:36:39 GMT

At the risk of being thought a bit po-faced (and what's the derivation of that term?) this seems a good place and time to make a plea to everyone to moderate their language, irrespective of whether the automatic censors will cut in.

Barrack-room language is acceptable in a barrack-room, but there is no need to swear in written messages published in an open forum. F*** would be censored out anyway, but recently we have seen "prick" and "bloody" used quite casually.

If you wish to condemn an employer or to be enthusiastic about a decongestant, you can do it more elegantly and effectively in other ways.

If anybody would really like a swearing match I will be happy to take you on and swear you under the table, but it will be spoken, not written, and in some secluded place.

Re: Forum Rules / Netiquette

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:40:34 GMT

Royal.

Re: Forum Rules / Netiquette

J G Wray — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:38:32 GMT

Dear Mr Guthrie,

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]Whilst the idea of using 'smilies' may make some of you cringe, we[/quote]....

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]We strongly recommend [/quote]

Who is "we"?

I thought it was "I"

Regs

JGW

Re: Forum Rules / Netiquette

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 07:52:36 GMT

Yes, I'll do that. And I'm about to go through the stuff Alex kindly sent me to add more ...

Re: Forum Rules / Netiquette

Niall Taylor — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 07:49:07 GMT

Thanks for that Arlo. Is there any way this thread can be made 'sticky' so it stays at the top of the list? That way it would be a good basic instruction guide to all users and more experienced users can contribute hints and tips about how to post and use the forum.

Niall