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Post by Bowhead Whale on Jul 7, 2006 19:33:23 GMT
Hi, Peter and Moderators! There is a little suggestion I would like to make. Remember, it's just an idea like that. In the Forum History topic, why not bringing more details, such as: -How this forum started; difficulties met, the circonstances of its creation... -The introduction of moderators; how and why they became moderators, their background; -The very first members and posts; - New rules created, and the reasons and circonstances that made you create those rules; -Funny forum stories; odd posts, jokes that occured, mistakes you've made; -Other stuff. Maybe it would be too much of work, but I am curious to see the forum "behind the scenes".
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Post by Melanie on Jul 8, 2006 23:00:20 GMT
Hi Valerie, i can answer some of your questions. The first members and post can you find via this page: web.archive.org/web/*/http://extinctanimals.proboards22.com/index.cgi? or as clickable link tinyurl.com/lc8zu . Webarchive is a very good tool where can find old websites. Well, i am here since August 2004. My intension was to find as much text and pictures about extinct species as possible, especially about the species which you can find not in all books. Well, this forum has gained during the last years, not only on the number of members but especially in quantity and quality of the articles. This forum is a a collaborative work of so many people, including you. So it is a very special one. Well, we as moderators and administrators have the job to protect this forum because in the past we have a lot of vandalism here. Another job is to bring the articles and categories in a reader friendly system. Well, the most important rule was the handling of the guest right. Some guests have misused this right and it had cost a lot of time and stress to stop this vandalism. But after the rule changing the vandalism has stopped and therefor we are very thankful. Another rule changing was due to selfprotecting. It is forbidden to copy copyright protected texts in forums and therefor we had to change the settings in that way that only members can read here in the forum. Well, some people might be upsetted about the fact that there are so many texts here in forum, which were not written by ourselves. But (!!!) This Forum was established in an educational purpose and every person must have the right and the opportunity to read all (!!!) texts which fullfill the subject Extinct and Endangered Species in a free way. Well my biggest moment of shock was, as suddenly all threads from a Extinct birds category have disappeared. Fortunately they were all present again at the next day. To come to the conclusion: I am became a moderator because i love this forum. It is unique and i am proud of the work of the diligent writers here in the forum. Melanie
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Post by Bowhead Whale on Jul 11, 2006 20:15:15 GMT
Thanks for answering! However, there is a detail I don't understand; what do you mean by "vandalism"? How can someone vandalize a virtual page?
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Post by Melanie on Jul 11, 2006 20:42:13 GMT
I mean with vandalism, when people opening posts which contains links to porn sites and sites with viruses, or when they opening threads or given answers which contains only crap.
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Post by Peter on Jul 14, 2006 8:20:15 GMT
My story is a bit the same as Melanie's. I started with creating a small website on recently extinct animals. Started with just one page. When I found out that so many animals had become extinct in quite recent years, I was shocked. Not many people are aware of this. The reason to create the website was (and is) to inform/educate the people about this biodiversity crisis.
After a while the website got bigger. I decided to create a forum, where I can easily meet other people with the same interest. And also very important, these new members could give their opinion, ask questions, and provide me with information and images.
In the beginning there were of course not many posts and members, but gradually the forum grew, like the website. After a while I could not handle the forum on my own, too much work and less time (during study). Melanie who was a very active member wanted to become a moderator. Luckily! She is now our Global Moderator and has almost the same powers as the administrator (me). Later, when the forum grew even bigger, we could use more help, and luckily Sebbe and Frank (Another Specialist) did volunteer.
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Post by Melanie on Jul 14, 2006 22:58:39 GMT
By the way. Many articles in this forum became the basis for the articles which we have written for the Wikipedia.
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Post by Peter on Jul 15, 2006 11:43:37 GMT
Indeed, I think this forum has become some kind of database with lots of information on extinction.
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Post by Bowhead Whale on Jul 15, 2006 18:31:45 GMT
Oh! Boy! These are very precised answers indeed! Thanks very much to both of you for answering. I have two comments as well. First, Melanie, I think it's very sad people send crap to forums. I remember Peter writing to me as well about that. So, this is what we call "internet vandalism". I just learned something new today! Second, Peter, your comment about realizing "that so many animals were extinct", well, I find it very funny. Why so? Because it's the whole history of my intellectual life! This thing happens to me everyday! You think studiing this or that dumb subject will be easy, and when you enter the subject, WHAM!!! You get a slap in the face because you had no idea the subject was so rich and deep. It even happened to me when I got registered in this forum! I thought I had many things to teach about extinct species, when BANG! I realized about everyone knew more than I did about them! This is why I feel like smiling reading this comment of yours. A sheer lesson of humility, huh?
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Post by another specialist on Jul 15, 2006 22:15:03 GMT
Just found this thread today - very interesting subject to bring up Bowhead really there is no point for me to repeat what Melanie and Peter wrote as my story is very similiar. I have been interested in this subject since a young age and ever since never lost interest. I've got to the point with all the information i've gathered that i'm constructing my own website at this moment of time but be a long time till it be finished.
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Post by Peter on Jul 16, 2006 8:36:21 GMT
BowheadWhale, yes, it was indeed a sheer lesson of humility. We continue to learn all the time. I gues that never stops. And I like that. I think if we knew everything already, it would be boring to live! Frank, I'm looking forward in seeing you website online.
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Post by another specialist on Jul 16, 2006 15:34:02 GMT
Will inform you when i've got to a stage that is suitable for viewing.
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Post by Bowhead Whale on Jul 29, 2006 18:46:05 GMT
Another Specialist: so, your real name is Frank?
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Post by another specialist on Jul 29, 2006 20:37:26 GMT
Another Specialist: so, your real name is Frank? My name is francisco but everyone calls me Frank for short.
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Post by Bowhead Whale on Aug 1, 2006 19:15:17 GMT
Francisco. Nice name... I noticed that many members of this forum are from Spain, aren't they?
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Post by another specialist on Aug 1, 2006 20:13:57 GMT
Francisco. Nice name... I noticed that many members of this forum are from Spain, aren't they? Yes, there quite a few from Spain or are Spanish as from South America.
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Post by Bowhead Whale on Aug 2, 2006 17:45:46 GMT
Yes. And only two are Canadian!
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Post by another specialist on Aug 2, 2006 18:44:06 GMT
Yes. And only two are Canadian! Yes, so true but the community is always growing here
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Post by Bowhead Whale on Aug 2, 2006 19:10:46 GMT
Right.
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