Amazing stuff and very disappointing to read that Paul.
Whilst Im only a periodical contributor over many years I can’t say that I’ve
had such response on or off line
Personally Ive always been impressed by your openness to share information
whether on trip reports or camera stuff etc.
I will say this though - if anyones a bird photographer, uses call playback or
bands birds you need a damn thick skin to be on this forum sometimes! !!!
…………to a few souls these folk are on there way to hell in a dung basket!!
Long may BA continue for mine along with all the other online services - all
have their place!
Cheers
David Taylor
On 8 Jan 2016, at 5:38 pm, Paul Dodd <> wrote:
> I too have received email responses offline that, whilst not threatening are
> certainly unwelcome:
>
> Criticising my trip reports as a waste of time and that I should just have
> written "Went to <insert place here> and saw birds."
>
> Suggesting that my posts were pointless and irrelevant.
>
> Suggesting that because the particular member wasn't interested in what I had
> to say, I should not have bothered posting.
>
> Incessant correction of spelling, punctuation, grammar and capitalisation.
>
> Suggesting that any sort of distance birding was wasteful, pointless and
> unnecessarily increased my carbon footprint.
>
> Suggesting that keeping lists was irrelevant and did not contribute to the
> "science" of birding.
>
> Suggesting that organising or participating in Twitchathons was wasteful,
> non-contributing and unnecessary use of resources.
>
> Competitively participating in a Big Year was wasteful, unnecessary and did
> not contribute to the "science" of birding.
>
> Being told that my particular forms of birding were wrong or non-contributing
> because they didn't align with the respondent's form of birding.
>
> Being told that my posts on camera gear were useless and not related to
> birding in any way so should not be posted.
>
> Being told that bird photography was not real birding.
>
> Being told that bird photographers (including me) were scum and responsible
> for all sorts of ills.
>
> I'm sure I could find other examples, as the list is quite extensive.
>
> So, to those of you that have proffered "surprise" at Jenny, these things
> really happen.
>
> It's somewhat wearing, to be honest. And I've never had similar responses or
> backlash to any of my posts on Facebook.
>
> Paul Dodd
> Docklands, Victoria
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On 5 Jan 2016, at 11:43 AM, Jenny Spry <> wrote:
>>
>> Hi John and B-A,
>>
>> In the context of this discussion I think the phrase "robust responses"
>> could have something to do with the problem. Maybe it is all in the
>> interpretation, and how the receiver feels about getting "robust
>> responses". Oh, and please don't read any of the following as a general
>> comment on the 99% of wonderful and very interesting B-A contributors, the
>> people currently in this thread - this is for the 1% who do act as trolls,
>> and so far they have not joined in.
>>
>> If I am sent a "robust response" in public I am unlikely to make another
>> post so as to avoid a second such response. When it is sent to me in
>> private I feel especially threatened; I had one case where I replied to the
>> sender requesting that he never contact me again and his reply was that
>> that was not possible because he sent so many emails he would never be able
>> to remember who had asked him not to send emails; and that was when I
>> dropped out of B-A. Sigh.
>>
>> In general it is interesting to me that "sledging" and "robust
>> communication" are now seen as being acceptable forms of communication. And
>> I do think that there is a gender difference (not "sexist") in how
>> communications are sent and received. Male to male "sledging" and "robust
>> communication" seems, to me anyway, to be a form of verbal jousting, a
>> challenge to be met and engaged with. When it is male to female, for me
>> anyway, it is an attack. When it is female to male it seems, to me anyway
>> that, by the "trolls", the woman will be branded as a "F***king Witch".
>>
>> Maybe you are right, maybe trolls do only attack women, or perhaps when the
>> trolls attack men it is read as just "robust communication" or "sledging".
>> Who knows. So much in communication styles have changed and possibly
>> (probably) over the decades I have not changed with them.
>>
>> I will try putting up a few trip reports again but should I get a
>> "sledging" or "robust communication" in private I will post the offending
>> email on B-A and drop out again.
>>
>> I am going to drop out of the thread now before I attract a troll (smile).
>>
>> cheers
>>
>> Jenny
>>
>>
>>
>>> On 5 January 2016 at 10:44, John Leonard <> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi Jenny
>>>
>>> I am astonished and saddened to hear of your BA experiences.
>>>
>>> I have been a reader and contributor to BA for 20 years, and in that time
>>> have made my views known on a number of topics, but during all that time I
>>> have not received a single email of an abusive nature. (There have been a
>>> few robust responses to my contributions, but only sent to the group as a
>>> whole).
>>>
>>> Is it that trolls only target women?
>>>
>>> Anyway, I'm sorry we do not now have your contributions because of his
>>> harassment.
>>>
>>>
>>> John Leonard
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