Hi Laurie,
An interesting email.
However a few small points if I may;
The 'drama' about the lyrebird film did have arguments for both sides so it
is unfair to say 'we' [the good folks of birdingaus] don't like being asked
for money as clearly many stated that they supported the project. And
perhaps many others also did but said naught. It is true that there are a
very vocal number of people who got hot under the collar about the requests.
[I felt that that was very sad as clearly people thought that this very
small principle that had been breached was more important than a project to
help promote birds and their conservation!! I wish more would see the big
picture.] Anyway your comments did not reflect the variety of opinion on
birdingaus.
Regarding being asked for money - no one likes it.... But on the other
hand occasionally we are persuaded to assist worthy causes financially and
we cannot do this unless we are approached in some way. I personally find
emails easier to deal with than direct solicitation and cold calls.
Laurie said, "Anyhow, it is interesting to compare the length of the tread
on the Balanagara spam to the follow-up to Del Richard's post about birders
behaving badly at Wonga Beach. The behaviour of the birders intruding on
private property to twitch the Spotted Whistling Ducks illustrates an
important "cultural" issue that needs to be addressed by the birding
community.
However, we don't want to talk about that. We want to twitch Hoopoes and
avoid fundraisers."
I think folks want to talk about anything and everything related to birds -
including fundraisers, hoopoes, behaviour etc etc.
Regarding getting a consensus about things - why not start a thread? Why not
state clearly the ethical standards for birders - there are plenty of
models? Or re-visit the illegal activity of trespass and consider if, as a
group, we can do anything useful about it? Why not ask the group via the
moderator if requests for bird related funding could get the nod for
publishing through the network - perhaps clearly flagged as such in the
header?
Laurie, you have established surveys regarding various topics through this
email chat before - perhaps you could again? So that if there is a consensus
of opinion it could be clearly expressed............
Maybe these threads will fall on deaf ears but I doubt it. Most birders want
their hobby and interest to be well regarded and they want conservation to
occur and many would be willing to engage in discussions around these
issues.
Cheers now,
Ken Cross
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of Laurie Knight
Sent: Friday, 18 November 2011 4:09 PM
To: Birding Aus
Subject: The things that cause angst on Birding-Aus
The discussion regarding the bulk posting from Balanagara soliciting funds
for it's lyrebird DVD production provides an interesting insight into the
online birding community.
It appears that the one thing that we dislike the most is being asked for
money :)
One of the most annoying things about walking through the CBD are the
fundraisers on the street trying to get us to sign up for regular financial
contributions to their worthy cause. We develop the ability to walk
purposefully so they know we aren't going to "buy" (and then they remember
not to look hopefully at us the next day when we pass them again).
The thing is that you never know whether people are what they say, so you
develop a natural suspicion of everyone asking for something, particularly
if they are doing in online, and especially if they are "cold calling".
Anyhow, it is interesting to compare the length of the tread on the
Balanagara spam to the follow-up to Del Richard's post about birders
behaving badly at Wonga Beach. The behaviour of the birders intruding on
private property to twitch the Spotted Whistling Ducks illustrates an
important "cultural" issue that needs to be addressed by the birding
community.
However, we don't want to talk about that. We want to twitch Hoopoes and
avoid fundraisers.
;)
The interesting thing about online forums like birding-aus is that they
don't appear to have a basis to reach and record consensus on issues like
birder behaviour, fundraising and organised activities ...
Regards, Laurie.
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