By
Rich Street
This article is based on and adapted from a
Teacher Tech Tip column from BigChalk.com.
You're
a koi keeper on a mission – you have a pond or fish problem. You need help fast. It
is Sunday afternoon and your koi dealer is not available, but the internet is.
Once confined to our immediate circle of friends or club members, koi hobbyists are
seeking out their peers -- online. A growing number virtual meeting places make it easy to
post questions about everything from algae to zeolite and get help in a matter of minutes.
These places are know as Message Boards, Bulletin Boards or simply BBS’s (Bulletin
Board Services).
Best of all, these online message boards are offered free of charge, are easy to use, will
save you time and are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This month, we will show you
how to connect to the most active boards to get quick answers to your most pressing
questions.
1. Find an Active Message Board
A quick search of the Web (enter the text "Message Board" or “Bulletin
Board” +koi into a Google Search) will uncover links to hundreds of koi message
boards. Many koi Message Boards don't have a designated moderator to monitor new posts
(messages) and offer assistance to keep the conversation flowing.
However, a handful are active, lively meeting places where you'll get help fast -- both
from moderators and other hobbyists. Here are links to six message boards for koi keepers
and water gardeners to get you started:
#1: Washington Koi &
Water Garden Society
#2: AKCA (Bulletin Boards under Menu)
#3: KoiVet
#4: Yahoo Groups: Ponds - Koi
#5: Yahoo Groups: Watergarden
#6: Nishikigoi Net Of
Japan
2. Become a Member
To get started, some boards require that you create a user name and password. That way,
your posts are stamped with your user name so others can reply to messages more easily. Be
sure to choose a user name and password that are easy to remember.
3. Choose a Board
Now that you're a member, take a few minutes to browse the available topics of discussion
-- known as boards. I suggest you start with the AKCA.
This site is home to more than half a dozen message boards, with topics ranging from
Health to Water Plants and everything in between. (The site does not require you to
register.)
Click the “Launch Menu” button in the upper left-hand corner. A Site Index will
pop up and you will see Bulletin Board on the menu, select it and you will see the list of
Boards available. Click on “Seasonal”. Immediately you'll find a dozen or more
new posts for the last week alone. Since this is a seasonal board, you will find posts
ranging from heating to algae.
4. Post a Message
Once you find a board that interests you, it's time to ask a question or ask for help.
Note the buttons at the top and bottom labeled "Submit Post" or "Post a New
Message." Click one of them to begin.
First, fill in a descriptive subject line.
This is one of the most important steps, since your peers will read this line amid dozens
of others when scanning the boards. For example, if you need water lily help, say so in
your subject line: "Need help with hardy water lily"
Next, fill in your name and your email address. Note that you can click a box and request
that follow-ups (replies) are emailed to you directly. This is a handy feature! Without
it, you'll need to return to the board at a later time to see if anyone replied to your
post. By checking the box, any replies will be sent directly to your emailbox in a matter
of seconds. Enter a Web site if it relates to your post.
The last step is to fill in the text of your post. Again, be as specific as you can. Keep
your message as short as possible, no longer than one full box of text. The more text you
include, the less likely visitors will be to read it all the way through.
Here are a few rules of Netiquette -- good online behavior -- to keep in mind as your
create your post:
a. Remember that your post will be read by other hobbyists, maybe your old English
teacher. It's your responsibility to ensure that the time they spend reading your posting
isn't wasted and that your post is easy to read. Check your spelling and grammar; be sure
to capitalize the first word in each sentence and use punctuation; NEVER TYPE IN ALL
CAPITAL LETTERS (it looks like you're shouting); and break up your post into several short
paragraphs.
b. Never post the text of a copyrighted work without getting permission from the original
author.
c. Treat others as you'd like to be treated. If another user posts a question or comment
that rubs you the wrong way, think twice before posting an immediate response that could
start an online argument -- known as a "flame war" in Internet parlance.
d. You may recall that the Internet was created to make it easier for research scientists
to share their knowledge with one another. Now koi keepers are getting into the act!
Message boards are popular because there are lots knowledgeable hobbyists reading the
questions. If a mere five percent of these users post responses, the boards become more
active and useful for everyone. Take time to post questions AND answers.
When you're done writing your message, click "Post Message." A few seconds
later, your new post will appear at the top of the list, and others will be able to read
it.
5. Check for Replies
A few hours later, return to the board to see if anyone answered your question or call for
help. You may have to scroll down a bit to find your original question. To find it more
easily, connect to the board, open the Edit menu, then click "Find." Type in one
of the words from your subject line (e.g. Bees) and click the "Find" button.
Your browser will do the scanning for you!
Don't be discouraged if no one replies immediately. Check back once or twice a day for the
next few days and there's a good chance someone will offer assistance. If you don't get
any replies after three or four days, post your request again. That will place it back at
the top of the list for everyone to see.
6. Lend a Hand
As you begin to get more comfortable with message boards, you're bound to come across a
post from another hobbyist that poses a question you can answer. Here's your chance to
help the online community thrive! Click the "Post a Response" button and offer a
helping hand. Keep your reply short and concise. The more questions you answer, the more
likely other active users will seek out your posts to help.
Posting responses can get
confusing to beginners, what do you respond to: the question or one of the responses? Try
to respond to the question, but if you are referring to something said in a response then
you may choose to respond to that response. Many services will copy what you are
responding to into your message. Sets of colons (:) will be used to indicate the order of
responses. One single colon for a post and then an additional colon for each set of
responses. This makes it easy to go to a single message and see everything that has been
said before, but takes a lot of space and readers become confused. Make it simple, delete
any additional text out of the box before you type your message.
Some folks “lurk” for a while before they actually post. That means they just read the messages and get a feel for that Bulletin Board, its participants, and how things work before jumping in with something to say. Don’t be shy. We’re all in it for the fun.
You now know enough to go bulletin boarding! Have fun and learn.
|
Pond Tour | Our Koi | Our Winners | Presentations |
© 2002 koiTime.com