User Groups!

[John]

We now have public joinable user groups. If you're accepted to the group (there are group leaders) then you'll receive membership of the group and a title that denotes your group membership (or you can choose to keep your own title, or change at any time once accepted to a group). You can join multiple groups but you should only join those that reflect your main newt/salamander interests.

 

[i_love_necturus]

Any plans for having a giant aquatic sal group? sirens, amphiumas, necturus, giant asian sals, etc.

 

[Abrahm]

I've been waiting since we switched to vBulletin to see this feature implemented. Now if only I could figure out what group of caudates I want to specialize in... there are so many great salamanders and newts.

Have you thought about a science and conservation user group? Or do our user groups not have attached forums? It would be interesting to have a place where we can share interesting papers and other information and talk about the conservation of caudates in the wild.

 

[John]

Have you thought about a science and conservation user group? Or do our user groups not have attached forums? It would be interesting to have a place where we can share interesting papers and other information and talk about the conservation of caudates in the wild.

Do we really want to exclude people from certain parts of the forum though?

 

[John]

Any plans for having a giant aquatic sal group? sirens, amphiumas, necturus, giant asian sals, etc.

There needs to be sufficient demand. Are others interested in a group like this?

 

[franceschino]

Can I join 2 groups at the same time?

 

[John]

Can I join 2 groups at the same time?

Yes but you can only show one title at a time.

 

[Kaysie]

I'd like to nominate a Taricha enthousiast group.

 

[John]

That would have to be North American Newts.

 

[andrew]

I'd vote for a Tylototriton/Echinotriton group!

 

[John]

I need opinions on if we should have areas exclusive to members of each group.

 

[joonas]

I need opinions on if we should have areas exclusive to members of each group.

I would say no.
I don't want to specialise myself in any group, because I'm interested on so many types of salamanders, and caudates in general. And because I'm interested, I would like to be able to read all groups, all information that is available on the web. If groups are made exclusive, I have no other option than joining most of the groups just to read them. And I think that is not the idea of these groups. Maybe being a members who just reads groups is not even allowed?

Maybe "read only" status for outsiders would do the trick? At least it would satisfy my needs.

 

[Jan]

I need opinions on if we should have areas exclusive to members of each group.

I would want to understand the value of this. First impression is that it would not be beneficial and would encourage users to sign up for all groups (albeit users have to be approved for a group), which would seemingly dilute the intent.

 

[jcb118]

bad idea in my opinion. If people have information they want to share but not be totally public, then we have a PM system for that. If people are just worried that the info is technical/"uninteresting" to the majority of site users, then it being in a subforum dedicated to that type of info is sufficient.
One of my favorite things about the way things work here is that you can follow links to threads, do searches, and wander upon really good stuff you had no idea was so interesting.

 

[Abrahm]

Despite mentioning it in the first place I have rethought my opinion on exclusive forums. There is no need for them. I was just letting the "cool feature" bug have the run of my enthusiasm.

 

[Otterwoman]

If user groups' info can't be accessed by people that don't belong, wouldn't that hinder learning by people outside the group? I'd be disappointed if there was stuff I could learn about different species that I couldn't access because I didn't belong to a certain group.

 

[franceschino]

I need opinions on if we should have areas exclusive to members of each group.

nope. There would be no point in it.

 

[gershco]

Do I sign up or not?

I've been following this thread and have come to the conclusion that I don't think there is a need for Public User Groups. It seems that the whole idea of the forum is to share information, not lock it away. However, if the groups are to remain in existence, are they actually worth joining? I'm just starting out rearing axolotl larvae and would appreciate all the help I can get!!!

 

[michael]

What exactly is the benefit of being a member of one of the user groups? How do I pledge these groups and what is the initiation?

 

[John]

The benefit is you get a title . The initiation/pledge involves swallowing a live Taricha.