Educating Members and Internet Public

[Denny]

After recent events and many events from the past too, as this forum continues to grow, I thought it would be a good idea to raise issues and give advice to certain points like taking on a free ad bun - the pitfalls of taking on a free ad bun to the novice rabbit owner who is un-able to sex a bun properly. Vaccinations, why they are so important. Rehoming your rabbit, what to ask look for with a potential new home. The advantages of going to a rescue etc etc.

I dont want to tread on anyone's toes but I also thought it would be a good idea to put the links up to topic's that have faced such issues to prove to any reader that, yes, things can and do go wrong. It is not a stab in the back by the posters but they are important topic's which can educate others in certain area's so that they can hopefully avoid what others have been through;)

If this topic is a success, then maybe we could bribe Tam with carrots to make it a sticky so this topic link could be submitted on another topic that relates to these issues like, if some-one ask's 'I need to rehome my rabbit, how do I go about it' etc.

How I see it is, lesson's learnt by other members (many of which are heartbreaking to read) can be a lesson avoided for new or current owners, whether that be a new member or some-one just browsing these forums :):)

[Sooz]

I dont know if it falls into the same category but I would say the steepest learning curve I had was with Caspian being PTS.

There is a huge thread on it and I know members at the time found it informative....maybe newbies would benefit from it to?

[Teepee]

I think this a very good idea Denny. As a newbie myself I have found loads of information in FAQ and through the Search but having links to topics "in one place" would certainly be helpful...This is one MASSIVE forum to navigate.

TP;)

[Deelove]

I would like to see more enphasis put on using the search facility/old posts too. I think a lot of the time some questions can be asked many times in a week. By the 4th time or so not as many people answer, or the answers aren't as in depth.

The search facility can be difficult to use sometimes.

[Tamsin]

I definitely think there is a lot of information here but it's difficult to put that together in an easy to access way. A list of good topics would certainly be a start :D

[Tamsin]

In the next version of the forum software tagging is added, if you're familar with blogs etc. you'll have seen tags before. It means we can pick a list of topics to appear under certain tags (e.g 'litter training') and people can view by tag. It's like searching by a keyword but you get hand picked results.

I don't know when it will be out tho, it's in testing atm and best to give it a few weeks after launch for them to find the bugs :)

Tam

[Sooz]

I would like to see more enphasis put on using the search facility/old posts too. I think a lot of the time some questions can be asked many times in a week. By the 4th time or so not as many people answer, or the answers aren't as in depth.

The search facility can be difficult to use sometimes.

I have to admit to getting lazy in my responses, I often search for an old thread now and put up a link as my response :oops:

[Teepee]

Can I suggest some topics then as a newbie? (Know what I've "looked up":lol:)

1) Info. on spaying/neutering and why important. (this is in FAQ anyway)
2) Info. on vaccs and why important. (also in FAQ)
3) Info. on housing - one of my main concerns was size of hutch and whether it was big enough...(Searched this)
4) General info. on the nature of rabbits - such as the fact that they like to live with another of it's kind/should not be housed with Piggies (IS this in FAQ? - Can't remember)
5) COST of a rabbit - I honestly think lots of new rabbit owners underestimate how much these pets will empty the purse!

Maybe also, just a thought, a list of things new owners should check regularly - rabbits eyes, ears, bottom, claws, teeth...Things that, if checked regularly, could possibly catch any problems early...:?

TP;)

[Deelove]

I have to admit to getting lazy in my responses, I often search for an old thread now and put up a link as my response :oops:

We are very lucky here, on some forums you aren't allowed to post about something that has been covered a lot before. You have to do a search yourself. :D I'm guilty of asking the questions as well. But with the amount of similar threads it is very hard to sift out specific info.

[Denny]

Not ignoring this, just abit tied up at the moment but will come back to it;):D

[honeybunny]

Great idea..:D..particularly like the info on "freeads" being highlighted.

[Sarah86]

Perhaps summaries of some of the threads could be created so people don't have to go through the whole thread trying to find the relevant info?