Just a thought

[AgilityCrested]

You guys might want to think about how you are coming off to newbies on this list, most of who come here honestly searching for help. I understand it can be frustraing dealing with the same issues over and over and the people who dont really want your advice. I deal with that with dogs. I am scared to post anything for fear of getting my head ripped off for doing something wrong. If it happens, I probably wont come back and I am sure I am not the only one. If people are scared to ask questions it is the rats who suffer. You were all newbies at one point, just remember how it felt when you were trying to do it all right but wernt sure if you were.

[Jess10]

It's not about anyone getting their heads bitten off..

Asking for advice and then arguing about it is the real problem. It is a waste of time to get defensive when people offer HONEST advice.

[SamAnthrax]

I know we seem a bit harsh lately. This is kind of unusual I will admit. Its more like individual users that is getting us crazy.

I know this is really referring to the 2boysloose girl situation. Which I am hoping everyone will just drop the whole subject.

[cjshrader]

phai hit the nail on the head.  You're right.  I *was* a newbie once.  And I asked questions, and I learned, and I changed what I did.

Some new people here ask questions but never listen.  If you have an honest question and am willing to listen there will be no problems.

I think too quickly people see disagreement as chewing someone's head off.  More often than not it isn't that bad.

[lilspaz68]

We often have to rebut bad advice because those posts are there for EVERYONE to read forever.  For eg.  The salty rat treat posted...that one could actually kill your rat.

I love to teach, and help people with their Ratty Learning curves and I am usually very patient but when you know that rats are going to end up suffering/neglected,  and I see so much of it (I deal with a LOT of rescue rats and their situations) and the individual won't listen to even basic advice, it can be hard to take and we can all lose our cool.  For the most part this forum is pretty good with Newbies that want to learn.  If its a question that we hear over and over again (OMG...Eyes are bleeding!") then we often wait to see if someone else answers it first, and if not then we will explain about porphryin and what it means.

When things get personal thats when it is wrong.

[junior_j]

I agree with lilspaz in all honestly
Jess x

[AgilityCrested]

I know we seem a bit harsh lately. This is kind of unusual I will admit. Its more like individual users that is getting us crazy.

I know this is really referring to the 2boysloose girl situation. Which I am hoping everyone will just drop the whole subject.

This is not refering to that situation, I understand that one but I get the feeling everyone in upset about that and it gets taken out on other people who really do want to learn.