Are we chasing away new members?

[Vicki]

I never read that....I just click thru :confused:

 

[Valco]

I will start by saying that I don't mind a very straight-forward response to questions, it really takes a lot to offend me on a forum. However, I think it throws a lot of people off when the heading reads "A friendly pit bull community" and the responses they are getting don't necessarily read that way. Now I don't think anyone has been outright mean, but even I sometimes read responses as harsh, even if not intended. I think trying to educate is great, but the amount of misinformation seems to outweigh the accurate so it's not hard to see why new members are thrown off when they are told everything they know is wrong.

I always admired teachers in schools; they have the patience to teach their students for the year, and that same patience to go over everything again the following year with the new students who haven't learned it yet.

 

[NobodyHere]

I will start by saying that I don't mind a very straight-forward response to questions, it really takes a lot to offend me on a forum. However, I think it throws a lot of people off when the heading reads "A friendly pit bull community" and the responses they are getting don't necessarily read that way.

You bring up a valid point. The forum header used to read as follows:
Educational and Informational Discussion Forums about the Pit Bull and other Bull Breeds

 

[Sagebrush]

You bring up a valid point. The forum header used to read as follows:
Educational and Informational Discussion Forums about the Pit Bull and other Bull Breeds

Actually, that could work pretty well, especially if you mention in small letters perhaps: "If it has no pedigree, it's an unrecognizable mutt" -- enter at your own risk!"

 

[Madeleinemom]

My sneaking suspicions are that there is both a natural ebb and flow to forums, the new format may be daunting for some, and forums, in general, have lost traffic to FB, etc.

How to retain new members - hard to say. Some people seem to pop in with an issue, get answers (which they may like, or not) and evaporate again.

I believe warm welcomes, coupled with a measure of patience and politeness are a good policy. And I would not change this forum's style of being direct and to the point for anything. Having come here in the past with concerns and questions, I felt always both welcome and well-served, so to speak.

 

[GoingPostal]

I think it's mostly that people have dropped off to social media instead. I only check any of my dog forums a couple times a week now and it's not much better in reptile or fish groups, everywhere is dead. I don't think that friendliness/attitude factors in a whole lot as that's also the same everywhere, I have friendly forums no one visits and snarky ones that are still fairly popular. I think it helps to feel a connection to other members to keep people coming back.

FWIW I don't really care for the look of the new forum, I do have mine switched to black on white as the normal is pretty awful. Still bright though.

 

[kady05]

I think it's just the nature of how the internet world is evolving. Forums in general are "out", Facebook groups, Instagram, etc are "in". I spend most my time on Facebook now, and check in here every couple days.

It's not just PBC, it's every forum I'm a member of. So while I'm sure the move threw a lot of people off, the amount of users/posts was still dropping well before that.

 

[RobR73]

The main problem is 95% of the new posters here think they have a pitbull because that phrase is used ad naseum nowadays and most of the masses have no inclination to learn about the true history of the breed. They see the great Cesar Milan videos and can't wait too take their new pup to the dog park and the truth is, most will do well and they will spread that misinformation. In the end, their dog was never a pitbull to begin with.
I honestly have no idea how you can make this forum better because this breed is so diluted that near everything is classified as a pitbull nowadays. I don't post here much, but it's not because of the outspoken opinions of those with experience that have the breeds best interest in mind.

 

[leavesofjoy]

I realize now that my dog is probably a bull breed mix, technically speaking, not a true pit bull, since I don't have papers and a pedigree on him. I found this forum looking for help understanding his needs and behaviour, since he is so different from other dogs I've had; I also learned along the way that since his lineage is unknown, he's not what I started out thinking I have.

Like so many of the dogs forum members have, he may not be a "true" pit bull- BUT- he shares enough bull breed characteristics that the advice and discussion I've read on this forum has been tremendously helpful to me and our relationship. In other words, wrongly thinking I had a pit bull got me here; once I got here, the forum became my best resource on caring for him.

I see new members being "greeted" with a berating attitude for not having the "right" kind of dog from the "right" source, for not having the knowledge of the breed that experts here do, etc. etc. I'm not a thin-skinned person, but if that had been my experience as a new member, I would have left and never looked back, and missed out on so many ways to be a better dog owner.

-MN

 

[_unoriginal]

I suppose I should post because it's clear that MY posts hit a sore spot with the OP of the other thread and this one.

It's a shame that no one reads what's actually posted rather than taking a tone with everything and twisting it into something it clearly wasn't. My posts in the thread were directed toward BYBs. I don't recall saying anything negative about purchasers of BYB dogs. I merely stated that BYBs are bad for the breed. I carefully chose my words so as to try (obviously unsuccessfully) not to offend the OP but the truth is there, like it or not.

We try to be friendly and welcoming but when you have someone (not the thread in question, just in general) that comes in like a know-it-all who actually knows nothing at all, patience wears thin. We've seen the horrible things that happen around this breed.

As for the question posed to the forum. The nature of forums is to be born, live, thrive, and die. It happens all the time. And those of us that have been run through our paces here and stuck around even through the shit we've had thrown at us in the beginning, we are the ones that learn the most and take in the most information from those more knowledgeable than us.

I have much faith that this forum will once again be great. We just have to get through the tough parts. So keep coming, keep posting, and keep it above the water so we can turn this place back into the place with the most sought after opinions on all things Pit Bull.

 

[Lillie May]

No sore spot for me Uno, just wanted to point that out. It was a lively discussion going on the other thread. It made me wonder if it were true, that new members were being chased away. Hence this thread. Something that I've heard before was the newbies feel left out because the vibe was sometimes cliquish.

 

[pitbulldogs]

I have had forums for almost 12 years now. I would always watch the other forums that were about the same subject when i first started to see what was actually attracting and keeping members engaged. The #1 thing was just being warm and welcoming. We always had people come on the boards that thought they already knew everything and they didn't last long, we would try and educate them in a nice way, to the point with factual info but some people do NOT belong on forums and they really don't care to learn. They show up to share an experience and when they don't hear what they wanted to hear? Arguments start.

Usually the regs on my forums would still be kind and see them out with kindness but they wouldn't take any sh!t either, not everyone belongs on a forum and with the subject matter here on this board being what it is, which is something serious at times, we need to be a little more forward about certain things and if you don't like it, then go somewhere else where you can get away with the things they want to get away with.

I will say the biggest thing on all my forums was regulars fighting with regulars, it made new folks and lurkers not post, i actually ran polls on this lol.

 

[*Laura*]

I'm new on here, and I'd like to say that so far, I love this website. I do feel welcomed, but I realize that forums contain thousands of heated debates, so I'm prepared for that. But I think the problem is that a lot of people aren't. Many don't know what goes on at forum discussions, so they don't necessarily agree or enjoy it. I think this is a part of the fact that not as much people use or even know about forums because of the increasing use of social medias, as stated before. I think part of the situation here is that not many people know about this website. Forums are considered to some a thing of the past. What we need to do is bring it to their attention that many forums still exist, with special attention to this one in particular. We need to advertise this more, educate people about it, and convince them to join. I don't see that happening very often these days.

Well... That's my input!

 

[Nataliya82]

I like this site, it is easy to use and is not as packed with condescending know it alls as GoPitbull. Not to mention some very questionable people on that site, which supported dogfights and BYB's. Hell, people sold puppies on that site. Some of member pics showed squalor their dogs lived in, it was borderline criminal. I rescued my pup and want to share my experiences as a new dog owner and learn new things, not be told how dare I call him a pitbull because he is not 5 gen papered and it's people like me that contribute to the BSL. I feel like we already have to combat people who want to murder our dogs, why the hell start shit with each other? It was pathetic...

 

[pitbulldogs]

You shouldn't call him a pit bull honestly.. Because he is not a pit bull, he is a BBM. Bull Breed Mutt. Nothing wrong with that, just calling them a Pit Bull is actually wrong and it is what fuels BSL. Just saying.

 

[Nataliya82]

You shouldn't call him a pit bull honestly.. Because he is not a pit bull, he is a BBM. Bull Breed Mutt. Nothing wrong with that, just calling them a Pit Bull is actually wrong and it is what fuels BSL. Just saying.

I call him a pitbull mix to people because majority of his genetics is a pitbull. The main problem behind BSL is shitty owners, millions of them, not the misconception about the breed (that is an effect, not the cause). If there were no awful BYBs out there and people that misuse the dogs, it wouldn't even matter. When people see my dog, they see a pitbull, they are not asking for papers, etc. I had to register him because to the shelter I got him from he was a pitbull, I can't have him offleash because to everyone he is a pitbull, and if he does anything he will be judged as a pitbull. Not to mention that I've had people ask to buy him (yeah, right) and had sketchy people drive by my yard back and forth, so I have to keep an eye on him at all times.
My point is people getting shitty and aggressive on a forum which is supposed to promote the breed, so it's as huge deterrent for everyone. I already get judgmental looks here, I don't need to go on a website which is supposed to promote unity, and get double judged. Someone called my dog "garbage" because he is not papered. I'd love for someone to call my baby "garbage" to my face. It's called Gopitbull, but it is not specified that it's solely for "papered" dogs that are proven to be pureblood pitbulls.

 

[steve07]

Not to mention that I've had people ask to buy him (yeah, right) and had sketchy people drive by my yard back and forth, so I have to keep an eye on him at all times.

Sorry to get off topic! But is this an issue for anyone else? It happens to me when I first bought my house with Blue. I would take him everywhere so people knew I had a "Blue Nose Pitbull" as they all call it. For a week straight at night when I would let Blue out in the yard this car would just come up the street same car every time. With just the parking lights on all slow. And he would park until I let Blue in. sometimes get out of the car and try to look over my fence. I started hiding in the yard when I saw him. He came up to the fence calling Blue one time saying he was gonna take him. I ran up to the fence (wood fence) and shoulder blocked it caught the guy right in the head. He was stunned and bleeding. I put Blue in the house and went to confront the guy. He tried to get in his car I stabbed his tire with my knife and called the cops. We both got charged with a misdemeanor. Know I'm known as the crazy whiteboy with all the tattoos on the corner. Lol. This was all before my wife moved in. I stayed in the house with Blue fixing it and painting it. (Sorry for the rant I just get so aggravated that ppl would actually try and steal a dog) how low can u be

 

[Nataliya82]

Sorry to get off topic! But is this an issue for anyone else? It happens to me when I first bought my house with Blue. I would take him everywhere so people knew I had a "Blue Nose Pitbull" as they all call it. For a week straight at night when I would let Blue out in the yard this car would just come up the street same car every time. With just the parking lights on all slow. And he would park until I let Blue in. sometimes get out of the car and try to look over my fence. I started hiding in the yard when I saw him. He came up to the fence calling Blue one time saying he was gonna take him. I ran up to the fence (wood fence) and shoulder blocked it caught the guy right in the head. He was stunned and bleeding. I put Blue in the house and went to confront the guy. He tried to get in his car I stabbed his tire with my knife and called the cops. We both got charged with a misdemeanor. Know I'm known as the crazy whiteboy with all the tattoos on the corner. Lol. This was all before my wife moved in. I stayed in the house with Blue fixing it and painting it. (Sorry for the rant I just get so aggravated that ppl would actually try and steal a dog) how low can u be

Wow, how freaking terrifying, good for you!! Crazy? I see nothing crazy about protecting your family member. Scumbags...you shouldn't have been charged in a perfect world. I've been told "oh, you have a rare bluenose, how much you want for him?" and "oh, that's a cute puppy, is that a boy or a girl?" (totally trying to figure out what use they can put him to), and the scariest was this car that was driving slowly through our alley several times, then stopped when Loki was playing around. I stopped and stared at them, but they had tinted windows and never came out. There are some evil bastards out there, if someone touches Loki I'm stabbing them ( I was born and raised in soviet Russia, I have no qualms doing it LOL)

 

[Derek1]

That sucks, I've never had anyone creep up on my yard but you can see in from a few places. I've always worried about someone taking him since I got him. That wouldn't be uncommon were I live. I always go out with him.

 

[Nataliya82]

That sucks, I've never had anyone creep up on my yard but you can see in from a few places. I've always worried about someone taking him since I got him. That wouldn't be uncommon were I live. I always go out with him.

That's why I would never tether him in the yard, only in a crate- someone would definitely steal him. There are so much human garbage around here, it's not even funny.