"Ask the Experts"

[Dayna]

I was wondering if this forum is no longer for the experts? I just noticed a question in the Eclectus expert question that people are just answering.

I have noticed several of these. I thought that only after the expert addressed the question where other members allowed to chime in with their own experiances only but not really advice.

So I guess my question is: Did that go away? If so, why even have "Expert" forums? Just post it in the regular section. I worry that posters there might be mislead by information that is not coming from an expert, but they don't realize that.....

[Monica]

One thing I have noticed is that we have no Parrotlet Expert, seems like we have no Grey Expert, think we still have the Zon Expert, we DO have an Ekkie Expert but she doesn't really come to the forum to answer questions personally, where-in Nancy comes in handy and gets the answers from Carolyn herself, we DO have a Cockatoo Expert (who prefers to be the only person replying since a non-expert could give some wrong advice-I can see where she's coming from), but I don't think we have a Macaw Expert....

[The Outlaw]

Actually, my arrangements with Jean Pattison, Wendy Craig and Carolyn Swicegood is for me to send them questions. They really don't have time to constantly man the board. We need a parrotlet expert. The one we started with (Sandy) resigned at the beginning due to health problems.

[Monica]

I wasn't completely sure, but just only noted what I saw.... I wonder though if it would be possible to make it so only certain people can reply to posts in those areas??? And for the members who posted the questions to only be able to reply to their own posts??? This would, I assume, be a long shot... but maybe it'd help???

Or maybe at least highlight the expert section (like that with the Emergency when we had it?) and make an old announcement, new??? I know it can help when people share experiences, but at the same time there are other places that they can share their experiences at...

[Tiki]

The problem with that is that most people tend to click on "New Posts" when they log on to Birdboard and then just start clicking on threads without realizing what forum they are in. I'm not sure how to fix it, one of the Kevins can address the technical aspects.

[cfulhage]

I'm guilty of posting on the experts forum by mistake...I use the "new posts" feature, and I often forget to look what forum I'm in when I post. If there is a way to keep everybody but the experts from posting that would probably be the only way to fix it...

[Thowraa]

It would be incredibly easy to make it so only select people can post on the expert section. However, this would mean that nobody who wasn't an expert could post at all and making it so that normal members could start threads and only reply to their own could be incredibly difficult.

I run my own forum and know it would take 10 seconds to only give experts access to post, but then I wouldn't be able to get it so that regular users could. I'm sure keev will be able to fix something though.

[Quito's Qage]

It is sort of confusing. There seems to be a difference between the "species specific" part of the forum and the "general" part of Ask The Experts. Seems like anyone can jump in on the general part, while the species specific part is different. Perhaps it could be changed to "Request a Referral to an expert", and then the question could be routed to the appropriate expert? Just tossing out an idea.....

I do think its a good idea to have a forum devoted to "Get Help for Your Bird", differentiated from a general forum like "Bird Talk".

Just another observation in defense of those answering in the "experts" forum....it's very difficult sometimes for one to "sit on one's hands" when someone is looking for help and no response has been forthcoming from an expert. Perhaps another argument for a separate "expert referral" section as opposed to a general "get help with your bird" section??

[Tiki]

Originally Posted by Thowraa

It would be incredibly easy to make it so only select people can post on the expert section. However, this would mean that nobody who wasn't an expert could post at all and making it so that normal members could start threads and only reply to their own could be incredibly difficult.

I run my own forum and know it would take 10 seconds to only give experts access to post, but then I wouldn't be able to get it so that regular users could. I'm sure keev will be able to fix something though.

Yes, that is how the FAQ & Resources forum is set up-only mods can post in there.

The other option is that people could PM their request to the expert. The expert could then copy-paste the question into a new thread into their forum and answer the question. They would be the only ones who could post in their forums.

Would this arrangement suit everyone?

It is also possible to give the expert mod powers ONLY in their own forum, but they would not be real Birdboard mods or involved in the management of Birdboard.

[Sophiestkated2]

I can't even find the Ask the Experts section anymore. I was going to post a letter to Carolyn Swicegood here, but I'll be dogged if I can find the place to do it!! HEPP!!!

Jeth