Attitudes around here.....

[Rbu1]

I could be totally off base with this so I apologize if I am. Does it seem like the newer people on this site are not as friendly as the ones that have been around for a while?

The reason I am saying this....When I offer things for sale on the "other" reef site I expect to get riduculous low ball offers and stupid comments like "why did you pay that much I can get a brand new one for "x".

I thought that local clubs were supposed to be more people friendly. I realize that some people want everything for nothing but hey fair is fair am I wrong....I mean offering something for almost half what you paid for it in my mind is a great deal. Especially when the item is only a couple months old. I have dealt with several people on this site and have no complaints with any of them. I just get really aggrevated with the ignorance and lack of respect with some people. Sorry for the rant but I thought this club was more tight nit and full of fair honest people. So if I can offer any advice here it is.

If someone is selling something and you want to offer less just make an offer. Dont tell them how you can find a brand new one for "x" if the brand new one is such a great deal just buy that and don't hastle the person trying to sell it.

 

[Phyl]

We definitely find that people who attend meetings (and therefore get to know other members as people) tend to be more friendly than those who treat others as faceless IDs in the internet. Unfortunately the % of people who don't attend meetings is ever increasing and therefor the overall tone is changing.

We've talked about adding chat back to the site, hoping that will help with the feeling of community. We become and maintain a tight knit community by getting together in person and KNOWING the people on the other side of the keyboard. I highly recommend at least 1 meeting a year to people. It is almost always close enough that often. Otherwise you end up not really appreciating the people as much. Some clubs actually require it as part of a membership.

 

[Rbu1]

Good points...

 

[ynotme4886]

Some clubs actually require it as part of a membership.

That was probably a great thing 50 years ago when the bulk of society worked 9-5 monday through friday and had weekends off.

Its really not practical in today's society. Most people to survive need to work in a non traditional marketplace.

I know personally I get 2 weekends off a year if I am lucky (2 weeks vacation) My weekend shift is 8:30 am to 4:30pm and when one of my coworkers takes his 2 weeks of vacation I get stuck on nights on the weekend which is 3:30pm to 11:30pm.

So any type of weekend meeting is not an option for me. I would love to take a Saturday off to join everyone when they get together but when you work on a commission basis and Saturday is one of your busiest days, taking off a Saturday is not good for one's budget.

If there was a Wed or Thurs meeting then I would definitely be a person who came through the door on a regular basis.

 

[Jf2381]

The group here is a great one. I have not been able to be as active as I would like because of my schedule the last few years but things are settling down and I expect to be more involved.

I do see your point. I have sold my fair share of items and I have gotten ridiculous private messages offering much much less that my already low price. I don't think I have ever asked for a price reduction. Maybe I'm dumb for not asking for discounts but if the item is already priced right I'm not going to offend the seller by naming my own price. If I cannot afford an item or it is priced too high I will move on.

IMHO

J

 

[rodclement]

I also believe that participating in conversations and contributing to the comunity as a whole via this forum, or helping in any of the dozens of responsibilities that exist in a volunteer run organization are very good ways to get to know people, make friends and endear them to you as a member of a comunity.

Just in this past week I met personally with 3 members of this Club one on one to talk shop, exchange goods, or to just help each other. You don't have to wait for a monthly meeting to make friends, but you can sure make friends by participating actively in the community!

In the last two meetings that I attended, turn out was great, fun was to be had by all! But like many here, I work weekends so attending all meetings is impossible for me. I still believe that I contribute to making this place always better by volunteering to do what I can to help be it via active work, or by participating in threads. Attending meetings is a plus, a benefit, but surely not the only way to get involved or to make friends. I like the idea of weekeday get togethers, I will bring that up to the BOD.

The way I see it, you can get anything you need from our Club...you can get a forum where you can have quick chats, and look for awesome hook ups...or you can have access to a community of friends, like minded people, that you can socialize with and grow into friends. The choice is up to you, the comunity will treat you like you treat it back.

Rod

 

[Rbu1]

Rod,

Your statement about "the community will treat you like you treat it back".

Please live by your words.....

This saying comes to mind and I would like everyone to think about it.

Believe nothing of what you hear and only half what you see....

 

[JRWOHLER]

For sure meeting people in person adds a personal touch to how you feel about people.

Going to plug our conservation efforts here.
We are going to do a beach clean up May 15th, sign up sheet is out there. Bob(magic) is leading that up. And also in May it looks like we will have an educational speaker, likely a Sunday so little change up that I hope benefits some. Ed is really pushing to get that one finalized, and as our chairman of the conservation committee pushing for a lot of group activies.

Hope to see some of you after the cleanup at our place, feel free to come by even if you cannot make it to the cleanup.

 

[rodclement]

James, great plug! ;D

Bill...I do...I guarantee you!

As for your second statement...everyone uses references based on their personal experiences...I am sorry yours lead you to be a cynic...I believe in people basically being honest and good...don't you?

Rod

 

[NikkiT]

+1 to Rod's statement. In my short time involved in NJRC (about 1 year) the vast majority of people I have met are pretty great.

 

[Nickjr000]

I think all the people i met on here are good guys. Had many people over my house and been to many other peoples house for sale items and frags and such. Didnt meet anyone i didt like so far. Most of us have reefing in common so we probably have other things in common as well, so we should all get along well. As far as me going to a meeting, they've been at all bad times for me. Work 6 days a week, side jobs at night, kids school stuff, kids sports stuff, family time, i think you get my point LoL!

I dont think you can base people here on selling stuff though. Thats one reason the sale forum is gone, some people get in to these clubs just to buy and sell stuff and dont care about anything else or the people. Plus when it comes to money some people can act out of character or just have a total business side to them. I come across this alot with clients at work. Very friendly with each other but when im doing a job for them or them for me, money is money, business is business.

 

[ds4x4]

For sure meeting people in person adds a personal touch to how you feel about people.

Going to plug our conservation efforts here.
We are going to do a beach clean up May 15th, sign up sheet is out there. Bob(magic) is leading that up. And also in May it looks like we will have an educational speaker, likely a Sunday so little change up that I hope benefits some. Ed is really pushing to get that one finalized, and as our chairman of the conservation committee pushing for a lot of group activies.

Hope to see some of you after the cleanup at our place, feel free to come by even if you cannot make it to the cleanup.

working.. Boo work!!

 

[Brando457]

I've met a few members off of here and all have been great people! I don't know where I would be at right now if it wasn't for this community's guiding and helping hand.

I look forward to meeting more members at upcoming meetings in the north, unfortunately my schedule is always changing so weekends sometimes are booked.

I hope to see the website though continue to grow and become a known name when people think of reefing and fishing forums.

 

[The_Codfather]

Take things with a pitch of salt (pun) Just like in RL you will come across people who you don't get along with or rub you the wrong way .. The best thing about the internet is you can turn of your PC or just delete the PM and move on.. I like to joke around a lot in RL and online some people might not like that or think im not serious about this hobby but what can i do?.. That's me!

 

[Brando457]

Take things with a pitch of salt (pun) Just like in RL you will come across people who you don't get along with or rub you the wrong way .. The best thing about the internet is you can turn of your PC or just delete the PM and move on.. I like to joke around a lot in RL and online some people might not like that or think im not serious about this hobby but what can i do?.. That's me!

Amen mate and if they can't take a joke then f-em.

 

[Olivier]

I could be totally off base with this so I apologize if I am. Does it seem like the newer people on this site are not as friendly as the ones that have been around for a while?

The reason I am saying this....When I offer things for sale on the "other" reef site I expect to get riduculous low ball offers and stupid comments like "why did you pay that much I can get a brand new one for "x".

I thought that local clubs were supposed to be more people friendly. I realize that some people want everything for nothing but hey fair is fair am I wrong....I mean offering something for almost half what you paid for it in my mind is a great deal. Especially when the item is only a couple months old. I have dealt with several people on this site and have no complaints with any of them. I just get really aggrevated with the ignorance and lack of respect with some people. Sorry for the rant but I thought this club was more tight nit and full of fair honest people. So if I can offer any advice here it is.

If someone is selling something and you want to offer less just make an offer. Dont tell them how you can find a brand new one for "x" if the brand new one is such a great deal just buy that and don't hastle the person trying to sell it.

Rbu1,
I got a few of those emails and posting before. Don't worry, life is still go on. Just ignore them and don't deal with them anymore that would save your aggravation and anger. Over years on internet (since 1990) chat and IRC, I found that more and more of those people who live in virtual life that use hyper space as their shield to pick-on and bully others in getting even with their unhappy lifeless life. Shame on them and sorry for them.

Bottom line, everyone is different. Come to club meeting to meet more people and have a beer (free drink man), get a few laughs and shake that stress off then you will be fine.

 

[Rbu1]

yum beer.....

 

[The_Codfather]

Come to my meeting on the 24th and I'll even let you on my bouncy castle (Weather Permitting, Of Course)

 

[Phyl]

Hey hey! I thought no adults were allowed?! FAVORITISM!

 

[rodclement]

no kidding! I want in as well!!!

rod