members

SLewis

Clown Fish
M.A.S.C Club Member
#1
So this has been bugging me and its partly the reason i haven't paid dues yet. I don't write this to start a flame war or anything of the nature, just want to voice an opinion.

Why has there been so much hostility toward non members as of late? like someone telling another person to go to cl instead of this forum? really? is that necessary?

I can understand when doing business to give the members first dibs, i get that and agree with it, but to tell others they arent welcome unless they pay the dues or attend the meetings and become a member is something i want no part of. There are a few, i wont name names but if they read this they will know who they are. Those of this opinion even make new people meetings ( at the meeting i went to back a few months ago) feel like they are not welcome.

on the other hand there are quite a few of those members who are very willing to help and make me want to be a member.
and im sure most everyone on this forum know who these members are.

Like i said im not going to name names, Not my place to point a stick. just giving feedback as a non member, thinking about becoming a member.
 

Dr.DiSilicate

Administrator
Staff member
M.A.S.C Club Member
M.A.S.C. B.O.D.
MASC Vice-President
#2
It's been a touchy subject the past several months. Many of us got burned in one way or another my very newly registered users or "non members". Unfortunately some people are paying for the Sins of others. I do not personally like to deal with people without 50 to 100 posts. I just want to see an investment in the hobby, here, before I deal wiring people. Again, people are paying for others failures. Come to a couple of meetings. Once you find a couple of people you have something in common with you'll love it.
 
#3
Very well said. There is a lot of discrimination going on around here between members and non members. I helped few members and non members at this site but since I noticed that the board members are discriminating between members and non members when it comes to sell items, well guess what? I don't feel welcomed at this place. So that's why I just briers and don't discuss any topic any more. Feels like this place is turning to reef central!!!
 
#4
I am not a member nor do I live in CO yet but reading this is making me not want to join. The same problem happened out here and it was drama central. I will be attending meetings and joining as soon as I move but y'all can't judge someone just by how many posts they have. Out here I am a member of 3 forums with over 200 posts each. But as soon as I get out there I'm going to be treated poorly because I'm new to the forum and just moved back home? That doesn't seem right at all. Everyone should be treated fair as a member of the hobby until they prove they shouldn't be. Its just that, a hobby. Where people gather to enjoy a common lifestyle. Dont bring all the drama into it and ruin it for a lot of new guys.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 2
 

jahmic

Reef Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#5
I've recently sent a PM to a seller after he received a pointed response in his sale thread, because I wanted to ensure that they didn't feel singled out for not being a member. On a public forum there's no control over people posting their opinions...so the most you can do is do YOUR best to make people feel welcome.

As for BOD discriminating members...I won't speak for everyone on the BOD, but I will speak for myself.

I've posted a few sale threads with member pricing on items. IMO there's a difference between "discrimination" and offering an incentive to members or encouraging membership. Having members supports this site's ability to keep the forums up, and allows us to have events like reefEd. If people wonder what the "perks" are to membership...perhaps supporting the club and getting a deal on equipment is one of those incentives. At least that's why I do it. And, FWIW...not everything happens up front and center on the forums. I just had someone stop by this week to pick up 30lbs of rock free of charge after joining the site less than a month ago.

I think contributing to a positive environment for new members would be more constructive than finger pointing... but we all know how these threads go. Hopefully potential newcomers won't be discouraged from joining...from what I see people do as much as possible to welcome new members.
 

WatercolorsGuy

Nurse Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#6
I am a "member" and I used to enjoy this forum...I don't so much anymore and it is not because of the "non-members".
 

SLewis

Clown Fish
M.A.S.C Club Member
#7
I think I n eed to clarify, a few things,.

I am fine with and support member pricing if you choose to do it.

there are allot of members who are gracious and very willing to help, and that Is why I want to become a member.

I have had the displeasure if meeting a few who made it feel like a place I don't want to be.

I didn't mean to start drama, Just wanted to bring to attention what I felt could improve the club to new members.
 

Dr.DiSilicate

Administrator
Staff member
M.A.S.C Club Member
M.A.S.C. B.O.D.
MASC Vice-President
#8
I'd like to add that I have met some of the most generous people on this forum and during meetings. It is sad that not everyone has had this same experience. Hopefully people will give it another chance before writing it off completely. I, in my first post, was just trying to give some back story so people would understand where this is coming from. As for "member pricing" people are usually discounting items by about the cost of membership. The hopes are that more people would join. There are other perks to joining, like discounts of 10% at lfs's that are platinum sponsors as well as at events and such. This is not discrimination! I would also add that using that word is most likely inflammatory to many as well as offensive to people who are actually discriminated against for whatever societal reasons. Lets try to make the club a great place! If people have constructive things to make the club better i am sure the BOD would love to bear them. Positive or negative. End rant, thanks.
 

Dr.DiSilicate

Administrator
Staff member
M.A.S.C Club Member
M.A.S.C. B.O.D.
MASC Vice-President
#9
SLewis;257823 said:
I think I n eed to clarify, a few things,.

I am fine with and support member pricing if you choose to do it.

there are allot of members who are gracious and very willing to help, and that Is why I want to become a member.

I have had the displeasure if meeting a few who made it feel like a place I don't want to be.

I didn't mean to start drama, Just wanted to bring to attention what I felt could improve the club to new members.
Criticism is good, I have met them too! They are sometimes the loud minority. I promise!
 

2sweet

Butterfly Fish
#10
There are here, as in life, good people and bad people but the good people here are so good it outweighs the bad by far. Please give the group as a whole a chance, there are some very generous and helpful people who have kept answers and the joy of this hobby flowing and it is all about the hobby itself, isn't it?
 

Bajamike

Reef Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#11
I am one of the most vocal people on member vs. non-member. I can tell you all I expect is someone put a little effort into the club/forum. Tell a joke, join in the fun participate in the posts.

I think that a lot of that drama would go away if there was a post limit for the classifieds (that's where all the problems begin). I have had very very bad dealings with people that have no investment in the club/forum. I personally do not like it when people sign up just to sell things. It does not take long to understand most active members and non-members sell things at an already low price so low ball offers are generally an insult. People do not understand that if they just sign up to buy or sell.

I have no problem with non-members as long as they just don't sign up to sell. This forum and club are about active hobbyist's IMO. I will go the extra mile to help anyone that is active and in it for the hobby. So I think that this line is very gray. The line between "active" non-members and people who sign up to sell, buy or to take a DBTC.

So Welcome and Thank you for being an active part of this forum/club!
 

newtoreef

Bat Fish
M.A.S.C Club Member
#12
I have been in this club for almost 2 years now.... Still not a member got over 600 posts lol, once you give this place a chance you will see that there is a bunch more good then bad. Everyone has had their good and bad moments on this forum. Even though I'm not a member ppl still treat me as I am, just stick around don't pay mind to the bad ppl . This is a forum for the lovers of marine aquaria to help each other and learn, some ppl just don't get that. Now let's get to growing some corals!!!
 

FinsUp

According to my watch, the time is now.
M.A.S.C Club Member
#14
I think if you're going to throw words like "discrimination" out there, you should give examples to back up that kind of claim, because it is so inflammatory.

If someone is active in the club, taking the time to attend meetings, participate here, etc, then I absolutely do respond differently to them than I respond to someone who isn't around, doesn't participate or contribute, and just wants to use this website to sell their stuff or get free corals through the DBTC program. New folks are generally given a warm welcome, from everything I've seen, myself included. If someone moves here from someplace else, all it generally takes is a short intro post to let us know that you're new to Denver but not new to the hobby. If someone is a jerk, they're a jerk whether they're a member or not. If they're nice, then they're nice whether they're a member or not.
Do some of us know each other better than others? Yep. I don't understand why that offends anyone, because it's human nature. It may be hard to believe, for those who see how much I talk on here, but I'm actually extremely shy in person, and I tend to keep to myself at meetings unless I know you. The first few meetings I went to, I blended right into the walls, and I'm pretty sure nobody knew I was even there.
If you don't want to join, then don't. If you do, then great. If you're not sure, then lurk a while and watch how we act and make a decision later. It's all good. You don't have to do anything you don't want to do, and you certainly don't have to make a decision today.
 

DyM

Sting ray
M.A.S.C Club Member
#15
For me participation comes in waves, as I have more free time = more participation. More each day however, in my option, this forum has more rules and is becoming like the site most here hate so much - Reef Central. If you look at the roots of this site, it was a mass exodus from RC. I remember it being ragged and ragged on for rules like.... needing XX amount of posts to sell. Getting warnings for saying offensive things... breaking the rules and getting warnings or suspended for a time. I've personally never had an issue with RC or here. I was only really miffed when I had a right on MASC, of editing my own posts, and that was taken away on a whim. I do like meeting folks with the same addiction, I mean passion, for reef keeping, just not all into the meeting thing. I spend 8+ hours a day in meeting, the last thing I want to do when I get home is go to another meeting... My 2 cents at any rate.
 

jda123

Dolphin
M.A.S.C Club Member
#16
I have been to enough meetings and shows and stuff. Some of you have seen me there. I don't sign in because if there are going to be two "classes" of people, I want to be in with the lower one, which I feel, personally, is the right side of that grey (or is it gray) line.

I have not bought a few things on here that I would have otherwise bought because they had different prices for members vs. non. Could have gotten the member price. Sure. Maybe. I don't know. I just didn't have the inclination to ask.

To me, it breaks down like this... Leadership or management? Parameters or process. Highest-common-demoninator or lowest-common-demoninator. If there was a few bad eggs, then whip their asses and send them on their way and be transparent about what happened and why so that it can be avoided in the future (highest common denominator). Putting in more process that hurts the rest because of the few is bad leadership - actually, it is not leadership. Anybody know a successful business that is not government based that works this way - not likely many... the actions a few bad do not need to ruin it for the many good. Again, in my opinion only, this is bad process-based management that goes to the lowest common denominator. Yet again, in my personal opinion, even if a few bad experiences still slip through the classifieds (the example given), it is WAY, WAY better than punishing the rest.

If the forum is really about active hobbyists, then I might suggest that you will get more if everybody is equal.
 

Dbarnes

Nurse Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#17
Hence why I avoid this forum, you guys are ridiculous... Seriously you were ALL no members at one time! Get over yourself and quit thinking this is a ****ing clan, why even say "I don't like dealing with ppl with less than 100posts" lol you serious??? Did you skip numbers 1-99 when you be and the forum master?? Get over it
 

rmougey

Tang
M.A.S.C Club Member
#18
Hmmm.... just broke 700 posts in 7 years on this website, not counting the RMRC or the MHMA or SCMAS or other websites.

More isn't necessarily better. Maybe I just don't like typing Bump 1000 times?

Everyone should feel welcome, and I agree that folks can contribute to the club in different ways. Being accepting and open is a good thing, everyone should feel welcome, 1 post or 10000.

Oh, hey! One more post for me!
 

CRW Reef

Blue Whale
M.A.S.C Club Member
ex-officio
#19
Purpose of MASC: The Marine Aquarium Society of Colorado is dedicated to the endorsement, education, and fellowship of marine aquarium hobbyists. We will increase awareness among members and the public of the importance and value of marine ecosystems and their preservation through captive propagation and responsible collection of organisms. We will deepen hobbyists’ knowledge about the husbandry and study of marine plants and animals, increasing the longevity and well being of the creatures in our care.*


MASC is a free place for anyone curious about the hobby, new to the hobby and experienced hobbyists alike. There are no mandatory fees or requirements to partake in 90% of what MASC has to offer.

Everyone including guests just browsing, registered users and badged members all have equal rights to browse the site and participate how they see fit, are comfortable in engaging with and hopefully will all get out if it what they want to get out of it and or achieve. MASC is a great place to turn to for a great wealth of experiences knowledge, that is offered by both registered users and badged members the same, with neither being more qualified than the other.

Fortunately what comes along with the experiences of all users of MASC is the chance to gain friends, meet new people and the ability to engage in fellowship with others with the same passions for the hobby. Again this part is by no means a requirement to use and participate with in the group, but it certainly adds to the fun, as well as the overall well being and strength of the group. There are those whom will choose to embrace that and those whom choose not to, both of which are fine.

Now MASC is not actually a completely free site, meaning there obviously is costs associated with keeping the site live and operational for all users to enjoy. Because MASC is a non-profit (there is not one individual in the entire group financially profiting) it looks to and requires both donations and volunteering from with in the group in order to survive. These donations come in the form of cash donations for membership, cash donations from those whom have simply enjoyed and found great insight from the site and want to give back, cash donations from users whom attend meetings and participate in our raffles and also those whom want to attend and engage in some of our larger frag swaps and conferences. We have dozens of volunteers for everything such as being in the board (again unpaid and without reward), helping setup, manage and run events, donate numerous monies and hard goods to raffle items, donate time in planning events and lastly they do this all for the better good of the club and without the expectancy of reward. Again with out these funds and volunteers MASC would not be able to exist for anyone including both member and non-members.

There are rules within MASC but these are put in place inorder to hopefully keep everyone engaging in MASC homogeneously, not to create dictatorship and or punish others with out reason or thought behind the rule. There will always be those whom disagree and it always in hopes that they will be in minority and that the rules benefit the masses and the group as a whole.

It is important to remember that each person will get out of MASC what they alone choose. If one chooses to fully engage in the group and participate in meetings, join us in fundraisers to help fellow reef enthusiasts, give back to the club financially or in fellowship to help support it and take advantage to the other 10% of what MASC offers; that's great and we welcome anyone and everyone to do so. If you would like simply to engage in saltwater reef keeping conversation, learn new things about the hobby, take advantage of our usually awesome classifieds section, join us at gatherings as your time allows; that is great as well and we welcome everyone to participate as they see fit.

Bottom line, everyone on MASC is equal as far what they want to get and take away from the site. There will be those whom will embrace newcomers/those whom don't engage all that often and then there are those that won't. Again this is a free site for all to enjoy equally and to take away and give back what they please. It is important to remember like with all of technology that allows us to communicate with out physically talking in person that emotions can not always be accurately interpreted and what the person is saying on the other end isn't always being perceived how they were intended. So please take everything with a grain of salt when it is perceived that the other person is taking a authoritarian stance. Everyone needs to feel welcome, respect others as fellow reef enthusiasts and appreciate the great assest MASC is and what its users both non-members and members have to offer.

In closing, MASC invites anyone and everyone to participate on the site as they see fit. It is encouraged to engage in the group as you can or want in hopes of bettering and strengthening the depth of experiences of the community, but again is this by no means a requirement. We hope that those of you whom find value in the site, community and what it has to offer will join us as you can not only here on the forum but also at our meetings, fundraisers and conferences. We are all on this site because of our interest, love, enjoyment and or passion for the hobby and it is important that we maintain that as the first and foremost emphasis when dealing with anything related to the group. Lets continue to help the hobby grow here in Colorado and lets encourage others to join us in this awesome and amazing hobby.

*** Disclaimer***
These are my thoughts solely as a participant of MASC and a complete addict of the reef keeping hobby, not the voice of the entire BOD, an officer of the BOD or anyone whom has anything to gain by broadcasting opinion. If anyone would like to discuss things further in private, please pm me and we can discuss any thoughts, criticisms and or suggestions you might have.
 

FinsUp

According to my watch, the time is now.
M.A.S.C Club Member
#20
Dbarnes;257860 said:
Hence why I avoid this forum, you guys are ridiculous... Seriously you were ALL no members at one time! Get over yourself and quit thinking this is a ****ing clan, why even say "I don't like dealing with ppl with less than 100posts" lol you serious??? Did you skip numbers 1-99 when you be and the forum master?? Get over it
:rofl:
Thanks for joining in on the conversation long enough to announce that you avoid us, then cuss at and criticize us indiscriminately.
 
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