To the moderators

[Karin]

So I was trying to start a thread on Brindle dogs that I thought might be helpful for all who query about if there dog is a DS. I am wondering if the 4 comments by the moderators could be deleted. They seem unhelpful and distracting. A little humor is fine but sometimes it seems like you are having a little private conversation in the middle of a thread. Also sarcasm is always dangerous online. Maybe it is my fault that I should have asked if this was a worthy project. Maybe it isn't.

Just my thoughts.

[Dutchringgirl]

Karin, I am sorry if you were offended or took anything the wrong way. There are many threads where a few of the people go off on their own tangents or the whole thread takes a new turn. Thats part of how a forum works. I dont feel the sarcasm was out of line or mean, and I am sorry If you felt that way.

[Stacy_R]

Karin -
I think your idea was great. There are so many brindle breeds out there. I did that research myself before I was told to check out DS by a friend who is a trainer. I honestly thought about doing a contest to "guess the breeds" that may be mixed in with Tyson. LOL. I heard pit mix, GSD/whippet mix, GSD/heeler mix (we actually liked this one and started calling him a Bluman Shepler...like a new designer dog...LOL), GSD/Catahoula (again, another fun one...a Shepahoula), dingo....the list goes on. Primarily here in SC, people see brindle and think pit bull...like there is no other brindle breed. <sigh> That being said, I think your original post with list will, at some point, be lost due to the number of people posting in that section. Maybe you can discuss with Eric privately if there is a place he can put that list, if he wants to, that he (or the other mods) can link to when people can't take "probably not" or "no" for an answer. Just a thought. On another note...another friend (who is a dog person involved in rescue) asked me the other day if Tyson had Mal in him. This made me happy

[Raven]

Most commonly, I think prior to posting. Even then, I fail sometimes. This was not an instance where I didn't think. It was done with purpose. Though sarcastic, it was not a thoughtless remark. I'm sincerely sorry that you feel the power of your post was diminished. Certainly, your intent was to inform, which took time, and I thanked you. Your efforts are very much appreciated.

I'm not sure how many other forums (of any genre) you frequent, but all have their own nuance. Flavor. Ebbs and flows. Tolerance. And, of course, have members who pop in and out, members who stay through good and bad, members who clearly desire to help and/or want to earnestly learn or otherwise contribute. It's a big picture kind of thing.

In regard to moderators seeming to have private conversations in the middle of a thread...it happens on all forums...and not just by moderators. I believe there is an "Off-topic" icon that anyone can use when that happens. Please use it. I'd have sooner seen that (or a PM with your concerns). In fact, the "Off-topic" emoticon I should probably begin using. I've seen it used with fervor on other forums, though, and it struck me as...I don't know...? I will say that I've wanted to see it on forums more when so much information was being given, through the course of a thread, that some information needed a new thread. (E.g.: thread on "Hot Spots" veered into valuable information on toys. It can happen organically.)

While I agree that sarcasm is a dangerous slope, my glaringly obvious sarcasm was posted after repeated attempts to try to redirect a person in how they responded to the requested opinions of this board--which, if I'm not mistaken, is the reason you took the time to post the information that you did. As Eric has stated, many respected and highly knowledgeable people have left the board due to argumentative and aggressive remarks made by people who asked their opinion.

[Stacy_R]

Organic. That is an excellent word to describe forum topics.

[Karin]

Hi all. Just wanted to say that I'm not offended. Life is too short for that. I was trying to pull together information that might be helpful to a new person and I did think Raven that your first comment would be a bit off putting to a new person. I will leave it at that. Forums are certainly organic creatures. I was just hoping the information could come together in a group effort to help new people see why one might question DS in the mix.
Anyway, it is not a huge deal.
Happy New Year.