resolved Feeling Welcome On AFO

[Dnepr]

Guys, I've been a member only for a short time and have posted only a very few times. I visit every day though and can see some great friendships within the established crowd - and generally I also see a welcoming culture for new members.

In saying that I do think the site has a couple of weaknesses. Angus, please don't take this as a criticism but rather, as a suggestion that you may or may not accept.

Here's a few of my thoughts:

1. The site looks pretty slick... but it's not very functional. It's actually running a little behind current web trends and it doesn't organise information, communication and content as well as it could. I'd suggest embracing alternate platforms that are more suited to modern web communities. Angus, if you want to chat about that drop me a PM. There's some free stuff out there you might want to look at. I don't make any money out of it. I use the free stuff too for some of the stuff I'm involved in. I just think it's something you might want to consider.

2. There's a MOUNTAIN of content on the site - not just in the forums, but much of the content is out of date or incomplete. I know keeping content up to date is REALLY difficult... but an alternative could be a cull of some features.

3. When I was first visiting the site I would pop in... try to look around and realise you needed to register to read the forums. This stopped me from joining for quite a while because there are so many crap sites out there and I didn't want to be forced to give my email address to another crap site. Eventually I joined, and could read the forum, and it was only then that I realised AFO wasn't a crap site.. it was a great site! I know a decision to force registration to read the forums would have been made for the best of reasons at the time.. but I often wonder what the real value is???

4. Who's dat poster? OK, maybe I'm overly inquisitive but when I read threads I always look at the posters and think "who's dat dude?". Where is he posting from? Maybe age? Style of fishing? Years drowing bait? Favourite catch? Landbased/boatie or yakka? etc. I dunno... I'd like to see a very basic rundown of the poster under his avitar... It'd just help me understand where some are coming from at times.

5. I was very surprised there was so little discussion about the EPA's green zones here. There was a bit... but most of the very active posters didn't seem to post much about Green Zones. I never said anything at the time but I did wonder if anyone cared or appreciated the upcoming changes. Whilst the speed of activity in this site is brisk to say the least (it's one of it's greatest strengths) I was surprised so few were interested in the government's treatment of fishermen??? That's just a cultural thing... not good or bad... just an observation.

6. I see the events publicised and would like to attend one one day... HOWEVER, there seems to be a core crew who suggest or organise events... planning seems to often happen on the fly... and if you're a newbie you are welcome to come along - BUT perhaps there could be a different style of event to ease people into it.

Example? I'd LOVE an event where a group could get together to specifically show off their HB techniques... or show others how they rig a pilly or tackle and knot days. I know it might seem a bit juvenile for an experienced angler but as a newbie I know I'm spending $'s on lures and have no idea if I'm knotting rigging them or even using them correctly. Oh, there's a lot of Fishing "geek speak" that frankly I skim over because I hate geek speak of any type. You guys are really passionate about you're gear - but some of us don't come close to getting it (yet).

7. Pics are great... I love the pics of people's success but it'd also be cool to see pics of the stuff people are talking about at times. Example? Kevin raves about his gear... how about a pic to show off your new reel or rod? I might be intruding but I'd love it if people attached a photo or URL's when they were discussing or debating future purchases. It would make more sense if I could see that GX-Doogey Houser Overhead backflip thingy you're all raving about!

Oh, other ideas would be pics of examples of "great structure". Whenever I read about great structure I'm thinking about a 5'8", curvy brunette in a dress so tight she can hardly breath!

As I said earlier... please don't take the above as a criticism. I think the site is great... It's friendly and vibrant. There's a core crew that are obviously good mates. It provides good info and many laughs. Obviously I enjoy it or I wouldn't visit every night. I bet I'm the same as most other visitors though as I usually come into the forums... read new posts... and leave. There's a lot of other content on the site that probably get very little attention even though there's lots of value they could provide.

I saw the post by the guy that said he didn't feel welcome and I kinda felt like he would be like that most places he goes. Most people can make their own fun. Maybe he was just looking for a little extra attention? That doesn't mean you should feel obliged to give extra attention!

Cheers,

Dnepr

Sorry for the HUGE post! :S :S :S :S

[Terry H]

Thanks for your post Dnepr, and certainly not too long. There's nothing wrong with constructive criticism.

[rayke1938]

Well said Dnepr you have made some valid points.

I missed the post of the person who didnt feel welcome so I cant comment on his post.

As a fairly regular poster I must admit that I have fallen into a rut and tend to aim my posts at the "regulars" and tend to forget the newbies.

RE the EPA myself and a few others did post re the proposed changes and I must admit that I was a little disappointed with the lack of response .

I put that down to the fact that people either had a look and made up their own mind and had no more to offer on the subject or they were conned by the bull that the EPA and greenies put out and thought " its ok it wont affect me".

I did post some photos of what I called great structure in the Albert River recently but I plead guilty of not explaining that the trees and holes in the bank causes eddys in the water where the fish can rest up out of the current and wait for bait fish to pass and be ambushed.

Some of the other points you made are very good but a bit harder to remedy as the site depends on volunteers to moderate and Angus and John both have professional careers as well as running the site and they have to sleep sometime.

I suppose I have just fallen into the trap of being defensive rather than seeing what I can do to change but that is human nature.

Keep on posting

Cheers

Ray

[Alex]

Hey Guys,

How you could not feel welcome here on this site is a bit of a mystery to me.

It is up to the individual to be involved or not as much as they are confortable with. Everyones expectations are different, for anyone new joining the site, if you want to feel more welcome, post, get invlved, come to events, don't stand on the outside feeling lonly and complain.

I have never seen any reason for anyone new to the sport or site that they should feel unwelome to attending any events or topics. I would love to see far more invlovement by alot more registared users.

You could liken the the feeling prehaps of when you were a kid and moving to a new school, or class, or club, you did not feel a part of things until you got involved.

There is a wealth of infomation here, from a great bunch of guys and I personally love having the mix of both boaters and kayakers, don't go thinking that you will sound like an idiot if you ask what seems like a stupid question and we are all going to stand around laugh and take the piss, we all started off somewhere, and there are members here more than willing to help anyone as much as they can.

Great site, no complaints from me.

Get involved.

Alex

[EMP]

TerryH wrote:

How was I welcomed by AFO? Well I'll tell you.

So I go fishing down at cameron rocks I believe it was, to meet this "Angus" guy along with a few others like Troy. This is way back in the day when it was a handful of users. I meet Angus, this guy, who has a freaking huge knife on his belt....

A friendly welcoming, with a big hunting knife on his belt.

That's the welcome I got to AFO. How about everyone else?

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[CrayfishMates]

Welcoming... From my experience 1 in 15 new members actually reply to a welcome and even fewer introduce themselves. I even went to the extent of putting an auto welcome message and had a moderator intentionally welcome new members on my site. I did these at two different times to measure the responses and it turned out pointless in both cases. To break that down it is really up to the individual new member to say gday rather than 100000 member rushing to make them "feel" welcome.

If we are on the topic of site structure mmmmm the forum is completely daunting. Been a member for a little while and still struggle to find stuff. I mostly use the topics menu to the right, which basically voids the remainder of the forum if it is not in there.

I could go on about organizing and structuring the content but I think there is a word limit on this posting thing.

Personally to "slide" new members in it would be handy for the members to select groups to be a part of when they join (advanced,startingout etc). Then they see the relative content for their skill level. And they can join the more advanced or other groups as they go or grow in confidence when they please.

[Ash]

Me and Angus had a similiar experience first time meeting jimmybob. Angus had barrowed Rambos knife for the trip and poor old jimmy saw it as he was putting his gear in the car, just as we were heading off to the middle of no where. Then Jimmy puts on his relaxing "fishing" music, which would have to be the hardest heavy metal i had heard in a while. I think there was atleast one point there where we all had 000 ready in our phones "just incase"

In the end though, jimmy is one of the best guys ive met, a good fisherman and good friend.

Thats why its important to give it a go, bite the bullet and head out with someone.

Also with events, ive noticed that its mostly the same poeple "organising" events, mainly because there the only ones putting them forward.

Some of those event ideas dnepr had are great, but if poeple dont post their ideas up, then those ideas arent going to go anywhere. Anyone can post up an idea, dont be afraid to throw it out there, im sure more then afew would be willing to go with it.

You've got to be seen (ie thread) to heard. Give it ago

[username_taken]

1. The site looks pretty slick... but it's not very functional. It's actually running a little behind current web trends and it doesn't organise information, communication and content as well as it could. I'd suggest embracing alternate platforms that are more suited to modern web communities. Angus, if you want to chat about that drop me a PM. There's some free stuff out there you might want to look at. I don't make any money out of it. I use the free stuff too for some of the stuff I'm involved in. I just think it's something you might want to consider.

I agree with this. I'm not a big fan of Joomla ( I think this site runs that, mostly I'm not a fan of kunena forums ). I've seen some really slick sites using VBulletin ( not free, but cheap ) and phpBB.

However you have to use what the site maintainers feel comfortable using, and that's fine.

I also agreed with his statement about a lot of features that aren't up to date. If they're not working, or current kill them off. Recipes section is a perfect example, I'd just make it a sub-forum.

[Dan23]

After reading some of the above comments maybe a section under the forum categories for new members or for beginners questions. I know there's an introduce yourself section which is kind of what I'm getting at but another subheading for "all those questions you were afraid to ask".

Therefore people might not feel so intimidated if they are posting in these areas. No one could then reasonably come on and run someone down for being a newbie if they are posting in the newbie section. Shouldn't have to have such sections but I've seen it on other sites and it seems to work well.

[rumrunner]

i will say that at the start i felt very welcome and enjoyed posting my reports and pics and mods! and my welcome message was great thanks Gus!

but now i find the site has gotten a little to personall for allot of the die hard members! they seem to think they own the site and only their oppinnion counts! so i dont bother posting my reports as to avoid slander and smart alic remarks by members who have too much time and not enugh brain power to process two oppinions/methods! all of the brown nosing is making me a little sick aswell!

sorry to point the finger but it is people like chubbs,mackmauler&fisher90 that ruin it for me!

i remember the last straw was when chubbs wrote me a pm saying we have a diffrence in oppinion and he has a problem with the way i type and express myself! so i should call him at 11pm that nite and disscuss it with him!(umm no! get a life mate!)

well thats going way toooo far in my book and was enugh for me to take a few steps back and now veiw from a bit of a distance!

i thaught being honest and putting in my correct phone no's in my profile would show some respect for the site and others?

i now recieve atleast one prank phone call a day!!! bad idea!!!

dont get me wrong here i do love the site! it runns rings round the rest and i have met allot of great blokes here aswell! but there are a few termites that are making the place seem annoying and unwelcoming in my oppinion!

in one word PETTY!

it takes more then a coupple of termites to shake a leach like me!

so other then the things you cant change like old members attitudes! i think the site welcomes new members just fine!

cheers Ian.

[Angus]

Thanks again guys for all the valuable suggestions.

And bare in mind i have taken it all with constructive critism No where that knife. JK.

In regards to format: Well thats just different strokes differnet blokes sort of thing. Sorry for the people that dont like the layout, but there are as many that do if you know what i mean.

Content: We are looking to fill all the various content areas it just takes time, remember, in the big picture this site is very young still

Getting involved: I still think this comes down to the induvidual. We host small, large and everything in between style events and new people do attend everytime and are wholeheartedly welcomed.

If you want to see a specific event, like a hardbody lure day or something, by all means start it up. I will always endorse and encourage any events initiated by members.

Member profiles: If you click on a persons avatar you can find out a lot more about them, Within reason. You can also see what forum threads they have been active in, there buddy links, the photo;s they have uploaded to the gallery and much more. Its really very comprohensive.

Angus

[Biggles]

I was recruited by Lee :woohoo: , yep it's his fault. Great site for the great South East. Terry's funny to fish with especially when he's chasing Lantana fish :laugh: , as a site moderator in a parallel world, I come here for a laugh, chat and an rest. The site software is different at first but ya get use to it. keep up the great work AFO.

Warmest Regards

Al

[Do$tylz]

Rummy - there will always be personalities that clash and don't mix. Its the ways of the world unfortunately. Some people are vocal on expressing their opinions, some not so much. As with all of life some grains of salt are needed to swallow some things. Not saying that I agree with any negativity, I just think sometimes people can get carried away (especially easier online and not face to face) and by just letting it slide, you can be the bigger man and the world will remain rosy I'm sure someone has said something to me before that could be taken the wrong way, but its just not worth my time retaliating or giving it another thought.

Dnepr - yeah mate if you wanna learn something and learn it hands on, hit up the threads. I think the last learning lesson we had was a "how to cast net" at wello point. Was a great morning for me to share my technique and rare expertise in a field of fishing. Got Gazza back on the boat of casting and even showed Jeff F that his cast net could actually be cast out . Also thats where I got to know Jason (faulked) and he was nice enough to offer me a spare seat on his boat that morning on a trip out to the water. Fantastic. Too bad I haven't had a chance to get on the water with him since.

But there are plenty of opportunities to learn hands on from people. If there isn't one at the time and you're keen, create one. Obviously, some things not everyone will be able to help with. There are a few specialist techniques that only a few people are good at and comfortable enough with sharing.

Also, Re the EPA rezoning. I don't have a boat, and I don't know enough about it so I have nothing constructive to say or add to the threads about them. Also, I do have a slight difference of opinion to some people here, and I had said my piece on it when it first cam up. Actually I think it may have been a thread I started when I read about it on CM online (could be wrong).Some people disagreed and educated me with why they disagreed. Sweet. No dramas.

[Dazzamcgee]

Ash wrote:

Me and Angus had a similiar experience first time meeting jimmybob. Angus had barrowed Rambos knife for the trip and poor old jimmy saw it as he was putting his gear in the car, just as we were heading off to the middle of no where. Then Jimmy puts on his relaxing "fishing" music, which would have to be the hardest heavy metal i had heard in a while. I think there was atleast one point there where we all had 000 ready in our phones "just incase"

In the end though, jimmy is one of the best guys ive met, a good fisherman and good friend.

Thats why its important to give it a go, bite the bullet and head out with someone.

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[bootyinblue]

Change... Humans have an inherint dislike of change!

Nah seriously, some good points were raised in the initial post and the subsequent posts (postscript - now that I have realised that DNEPR's post is actually page 3 I have altered my post slightly). I too saw a little 'deivation' in the threads and took some time out from the site. But like anything really, its a cross section of society and we all know that not everyone in society is perfect (thank god, or I would be out of a job) but those people will fall by the wayside in time.

I think the top tabs could also be done with a possible and reorganise. One tab I would be a big fan of if used correctly and opened to all posters would be the boat ramp tab. Posted recently in the 'camping at jumpinpin' thread where gave a quick rundown of the ramp saying 4 lane concrete ramp, bait tackle and ice shop adjoiing, carparking available under flood lights, bottleshop and supermarket across road. Something like that with maybe the street address added would be a great benefit to people who were looking to fish an area but hadnt used that ramp before. Classic example was the Wello Cast Net day, as dumb me thinking theres a ramp so there has to be a bait shop, then had to drop the trailer and drive a few K's back to a servo for some bait.

And on organised days etc... Get an idea together, canvas a couple of people about going and post it up there. That from memory was how the cast net day evolved, and later on the Flathead Hunt with just a couple of people with a common interest meeting up.... hence the entire site.

How was I made to feel welcome? Once again at the Wello cast net day, a rather 'solid' guy with a big beard and growly voice yells out 'Theres his boat, so wheres that Copper bastard lurking?' Yes.... pleased to meet you Master Sardines! And we have been an item ever since :woohoo: :kiss:

Overall, AFO is the best site I have come across for this type of activity and I am hoping to hang around a bit longer and stay actively involved in sausage sandwich demolition on M&G days.

[mrsjimmybob]

as a girl newbie....yeah it can be a bit daunting....especially when on day 2 your profile gets a million views simply cause you have that little pink symbol next to your name! :laugh:

in general most blokes have been good...had a few cheeky pms but jimmybob sorted them out! guess i've been lucky to have him looking over my shoulder...but still i wonder why the other girls are so quiet??

oh and girls a word of advice...

never ever go into the chatroom after about 10pm...its like walking down a dark alleyway after taking that shortcut through the park at night....

as long as you give it back most blokes can hack it...hey ellicat?

[mrsjimmybob]

Ash wrote:

Me and Angus had a similiar experience first time meeting jimmybob. Angus had barrowed Rambos knife for the trip and poor old jimmy saw it as he was putting his gear in the car, just as we were heading off to the middle of no where. Then Jimmy puts on his relaxing "fishing" music, which would have to be the hardest heavy metal i had heard in a while. I think there was atleast one point there where we all had 000 ready in our phones "just incase"

In the end though, jimmy is one of the best guys ive met, a good fisherman and good friend.

Thats why its important to give it a go, bite the bullet and head out with someone.

Also with events, ive noticed that its mostly the same poeple "organising" events, mainly because there the only ones putting them forward.

Some of those event ideas dnepr had are great, but if poeple dont post their ideas up, then those ideas arent going to go anywhere. Anyone can post up an idea, dont be afraid to throw it out there, im sure more then afew would be willing to go with it.

You've got to be seen (ie thread) to heard. Give it ago

Jimmybob still goes on about how scared he was that time!! that's why when i met you two blokes i insisted on a public place....and lots of beer...even if it did end up all down the front of Angus! it was a very very messy night, but a great AFO welcome!!

:laugh:

[Ash]

Yeah it was:laugh: Maybe we should have all our meet n greets like that!

[chubbstar]

rumrunner wrote:

i will say that at the start i felt very welcome and enjoyed posting my reports and pics and mods! and my welcome message was great thanks Gus!

but now i find the site has gotten a little to personall for allot of the die hard members! they seem to think they own the site and only their oppinnion counts! so i dont bother posting my reports as to avoid slander and smart alic remarks by members who have too much time and not enugh brain power to process two oppinions/methods! all of the brown nosing is making me a little sick aswell!

sorry to point the finger but it is people like chubbs,mackmauler&fisher90 that ruin it for me!

i remember the last straw was when chubbs wrote me a pm saying we have a diffrence in oppinion and he has a problem with the way i type and express myself! so i should call him at 11pm that nite and disscuss it with him!(umm no! get a life mate!)

well thats going way toooo far in my book and was enugh for me to take a few steps back and now veiw from a bit of a distance!I now only post to sell things or make trouble.

i thaught being honest and putting in my correct phone no's in my profile would show some respect for the site and others, and I could make a few dollars?

i now recieve atleast one prank phone call a day!!! bad idea!!!

dont get me wrong here i do love the site! it runns rings round the rest and i have met allot of great blokes here aswell! but there are a few termites that are making the place seem annoying and unwelcoming in my oppinion!

in one word PETTY!

it takes more then a coupple of termites to shake an absolute wanker like me!

so other then the things you cant change like old members attitudes! i think the site welcomes new members just fine!

cheers Ian.

It's no secret That I dont like you! As for posting up the reasons, I dont think so. I leave you alone, you leave me alone, Thats how it's been working over the past couple of months. So why you would write that crap is just beyond me??? As for the prank phone calls, I swear on my Kids I dont even have your number, let alone ring it.

This is the only coment I have about this post Ian, So dont bother trying to turn this into an ongoing saga, Because I am NOT going to indulge.

Jayson

[ellicat]

mrsjimmybob wrote:

as a girl newbie....yeah it can be a bit daunting....especially when on day 2 your profile gets a million views simply cause you have that little pink symbol next to your name! :laugh:

in general most blokes have been good...had a few cheeky pms but jimmybob sorted them out! guess i've been lucky to have him looking over my shoulder...but still i wonder why the other girls are so quiet??

oh and girls a word of advice...

never ever go into the chatroom after about 10pm...its like walking down a dark alleyway after taking that shortcut through the park at night....

as long as you give it back most blokes can hack it...hey ellicat?

You picked a bad night to go into the chatroom. The offenders weren't blokes anyway - just poorly raised children :whistle: who were banned as soon as admin new.

How's the haircut going ? LOL:P

[mrsjimmybob]

ellicat wrote:

How's the haircut going ? LOL:P

[EMP]

Dan23 wrote:

After reading some of the above comments maybe a section under the forum categories for new members or for beginners questions. I know there's an introduce yourself section which is kind of what I'm getting at but another subheading for "all those questions you were afraid to ask".

Therefore people might not feel so intimidated if they are posting in these areas. No one could then reasonably come on and run someone down for being a newbie if they are posting in the newbie section. Shouldn't have to have such sections but I've seen it on other sites and it seems to work well.

Calling Angus/ the Administrator: Dan has a good suggestion here.

I agree with Dan. The idea of being ridiculed for lack of knowledge and experience ain't fun at all. Well, not me though. I just fire away with what might be considered by some wise guys as stupid questions. But in my book, the only stupid questions are the ones not asked. Besides, I also try to do my own bit of research before I ask stuff.

But then other newbies might not be as bold as I am. Some I imagine would be "shyer", if there's such a term. So, I'd say let's go with Dan's suggestion.

The only drawback I can think of is that fewer people might read it as opposed to when these questions are asked on the mainstream.

My 2 cents.......

EMP