Are forums bad for the horse world?

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packwood

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Although I agree that some forums are very good for sharing information and so on, they also give people the opportunity to criticise, bully and generally upset others. I feel it is only a matter of time before this bullying gets out of hand and someone commits suicide. Horsey people seem to be particularly good at being nasty. Have I just been unlucky in being on the receiving end of this - or do other people agree and if so what do we do about it?
 
I think someone did once... last year sometime?

Depends what you come here for... if you WANT to commit suicide I suggest mumsnet.com for a quick job :)
 
I think this forum can get pretty heated, but seems a bit calmer recently, or perhaps I am more thick skinned :eek:
There is loads of good stuff and no one is forced to stay.
TFC does pull a few threads, but generally we are left alone.
 
You are right - no-one is forced to stay but when someone gets embroiled in defending themselves then it can be difficult to leave. I just feel that people say things on a forum that they would never say to your face!
 
Forums are great for sharing knowledge and learning new things, but I believe people behave on here in a way that they wouldn't do in "real life" a bit like road rage really. I call people all sorts of names (under my breath, kids in the car!!) if they carve me up on the road, but I would never ever speak like that if someone bumped my shopping trolly in Tesco!

You have to expect that if you post any form of opinion, you will be critized for it. Mostly this is a good thing, healthy debate can be really imformative.

You need a thick skin and a whole lot of common sense. Everyone is an expert on a forum and you need to be able to weed the good advice from the rubbish.

The thing that makes me chuckle is the people that advocate natural methods for anything, seem to be the most argumentive and nasty. Laid back hippies, they ain't! I expect I will get blasted for that now, but it's all part of forums!

And yes, most forums are the same. I have used several to get advice on keeping other animals. The only really friendly one was for tropical fish! All that bubbling water must have been very soothing!
 
If someone is in a position mentally to commit suicide, they are going to do it whether they come on here or not, they will find a reason on another forum if not on this one.
 
Are forums bad for the horse world?............
YES. We should all be outside grooming our horses and plaiting their beds and polishing tack,instead on sitting here at our computers in a warm dry house!:D

Seriously,I think you can learn loads here. And if you are looking for support its here,as is critizism,as is homour.(And dodgy spelling!) Just like the rest of life.Seek and ye shall find.
 
Hmm, I like horse forums to pick up other people's knowledge and help give mine out. I think the biggest problem is you can't communicate emotion over a reply! And someone people will read things differently to others, and a full stop and a comma in the right place makes a difference too.

The only problem I've had is people saying 'its not the horse, its you' on someone elses' post. Well, okay, please develop that answer, reason your comment and give some idea to recitfy it. A comment like that is as much use as a chocolate teapot lol!
 
The longer you're around horses (in my case 62 years - there, now it's out) the less you realise you know.

I have had such wonderful advice from people on this forum. To be able to 'go on air' with a worrying problem, way after midnight UK time, and then find someone as sensible as Enfys from Ontario or Evelyn from New Zealand calming your worries, guiding you along other paths, is a great privilege.

There are certainly some real spats here, and overall I try not to get involved. Unlike others, I don't know a single other 'real' person on this forum, so just chug along with all my new cyberspace friends and helpers. And all I can say is, a heartfelt thank-you to everyone who has helped me and mine over the last year+.
 
Yes there are some really horrid, small minded and ignorant people online. You also get the bandwagon bitches (sorry if there are guys who do this to ;)) who all jump on a person because their online bids do it or dont help people with valuable info because the BB's dont like that poster.

Alot of people would even dare say some of the things they say on here in RL as they would get a hand taken off their face and rightly so. If I walked up to a random stranger and called them a mong or a silly little girl or an tvv@t then id expect at least some vituperation.

Saying that I like forums, I find they are awash with valuable info and people often would rather help than hinder :)
 
I dont think that this forum is bad for the horse world, I think it is full of good information and banter. Take out of it what you want and I agree with pedantic, if someone is fragile enough to commit suicide, they will do it, whether or not they are on this forum or not. In my mind I think, if you dont like it dont join.
 
I think it depends on your method of using the forum. I read a lot - I have gleaned so much from here! I have posted a few questions and have (generally) only received positive and helpful replies. I did have one or two that were a bit 'snotty', but I just ignored them and learned how to word the questions more appropriately. I think there is a knack to that.

I don't really think that a forum such as this would drive someone to suicide - they would have to be in that place anyway. On the contrary, I think forums can offer support and advice to someone who needs it.

I know that I have really appreciated the kind words from some when I have needed them and (luckily) been able to ignore those that were not so kind! I always try to be positive and friendly (albeit rather ignorant! ;)) if I post any reply. I work to the premise that I don't post anything that I would not say to someone in person.
 
I have had some great advice on here .... However I have seen some very nasty comments on here for no reason. These are hiding behind there computer because I'm certain they wouldn't make the crabby comments to their faces.....
 
Poor bed. Quick! Tell me how to do it before my friends come round and laugh at me and my unplaited beds!! :D
 
The good thing about this forum and the internet in general is: you can always switch your computer off. I didn't come in here for months until now, and remember the heated debates well!!! On forums, without tone of voice, etc. some people don't seem to take humor well, for example.

You complain about something (in a fun sort of way), or say that you're jealous about so and so (again, in a fun sort of way), and people take it seriously and tell you off straightaway... like you're really, really, really jealous...

A bit patronizing, but hey, that's people!!! If you meet people like that in real life, why should they not exist online?
 
Some are great - some are not!

I love H & H forum - seems to be mostly adullts with a genuine desire to care for their horses well. The information shared is generally good with a few that show that their knowledge is still developing.

There are some - especially the ones frequented by younger members where cat fights do sometimes get out of hand. The moderators though seem to sort things out pretty quick.

Remember on forum I went on, answered someones question and OP spat the dummy because she had already sorted out her problem - what a spoilt little brat.
 
lionman said:
Sorry tallyho, if you dont know now you are too late, we have now moved on to braided beds with beads entwined and a little bit of blingy diamondy bits by the door. Do keep up!
Click to expand...

Gah!!!!

There is always spewtube... I will not be beaten!
 
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