Opinions. We all have them.

[alsea1]

I have been busy for last few months so have not been checking in on the site.
I had some time the other day so thought I would pop in.
Saw a post that asked for a persons opinion and or insight on how to manage a herd.
Thats cool I thought.
So a few of us posted our opinions and why we had them.
One person posted an opinion and what not and was then jumped on for posting it.
My thoughts are that if this site wants to keep people active in posting we all need to realize that we will see some things that we disagree on. No one management style is right for everyone.
Rather than jump on each other over things, we need to be able to view a post and leave it without getting angry and posting a terse remark back. We need to remember that this is just this persons opinion. Nothing more nothing less.
I have found this site very valuable over the years. Most of the people that actively post are very knowledgeable and really want to help those of us still learning.
Keeping animals is a challenge sometimes and heartbreaking on many occasions. We all keep them for different reasons.
People need to feel that this is a safe environment to post thoughts and ideas otherwise it may get very quiet at some point. A site needs new blood or it gets stagnant.
When someone posts an idea or opinion we should respect that and either agree with it or think to ourselves "Yeah right" and leave it at that. Getting upset and blasting the poster is not helpful in my opinion.
HAPPY NEW YEAR AND GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR FARM PLANS THIS YEAR.!!!!!

 

[Goat Whisperer]

Very true.

While I disbud my goats, I could care less what you do.

I thought the pro disbud folks were doing a great job, as were a few pro horn folks (you included). I think people get tired of newbies, who have only had goats for a few months, jump on and tell seasoned goat keepers that they are evil for managing the herd the way they do. Especially when they have to post on every thread that talks about horns or disbudding

Any forum will definitely need new blood, however when you have animal rights type people who will not respect others opinions, then either they drive off the seasoned members or they get driven off because everyone is sick of it.

I don’t know how much you saw, but it got pretty nasty, and it wasn’t the “regular” BYH members.

 

[Mini Horses]

Everyone has opinions, everyone has a method for doing what they do -- be it cooking or tending animals.

Sometimes the methods are due to personal considerations, or locations, or monetary concerns..... it is best if everyone could read and be nice. Even if you disagree you can do so with discretion.

 

[Southern by choice]

When someone posts an idea or opinion we should respect that and either agree with it or think to ourselves "Yeah right" and leave it at that

I agree in principle.
However, far too long and far too often the "yeah, right" and leaving it has now put livestock owners at the hands and mercy of the animal rights activist.
When good people that generally will quietly "move on" do not speak up it empowers those that would prefer no livestock whatsoever.
This has been ongoing. Enough is enough.
Because of the never standing up we have people that have no understanding of livestock coming into the lives and livelihoods of farmers all over the country.
Everything is a pet.
Wild animals take preference at the demise of livestock farming.

When I personally see "activists" or those being led down a path of such and they come here it IS my responsibility to stand up.
Because this has become such an issue in our society we have a nation full of uneducated, save the world, animals are equal to people, people are awful types that are destroying any type of farming.
We have a country believing cows are responsible for global warming, climate change or whatever the new bad science buzzwords are.
We have videos going viral of how wolves saved the parks. But the actual scientific data done by several universities that published their findings that disproved the claims go nowhere. They don't go viral. So faulty information stays out there like it is fact/truth.

There is a war on livestock farmers, livestock owners, and quite frankly there is no place for it here.

It is the responsibility of all of us to be respectful but also bring truth and education.
Personally, I am not going to "yeah right" and move on when anyone posts untruths, misleading info or anti farming practices.

Yes, forums need new people, bringing what they can to the table. I also believe most here are very welcoming.
When anyone asks for opinions then turns around and attacks all the members that posted the opposing opinion then they weren't looking for opinions in the first place. That is an agenda. Tired of the agendas that want to attack those that actually farm.
If standing up for farming is something people of this community are uncomfortable with and prefer this community be turned into a place of poor info, bad practices and those that just want to smooch on their animals then that's fine. That is when I will move on.

There are many styles and different ways of management... there is no one size fits all.
The recent thread shut down... was started by a tween, I followed several postings and because of the age and newness thought it would be good to show examples of why we chose to go a particular way when at one time we thought differently. Always wanting to encourage youth. Then people started coming out of the woodwork that weren't even members, joined just for the antagonistic approach.

 

[alsea1]

I agree with your post on many aspects SBC.
Trolls are annoying to be sure.
When ignored it kinda takes away any power they thought they had. LOL

 

[babsbag]

WOW, I missed that entire thread and I am happy about that.

 

[Mini Horses]

Apparently I missed the thread in question.....and agree we need to defend and animals have rights but, are also livestock that is used to feed the population. There are times when we must do what needs to be done!

I just mean that if a person has a comment to another they could try to use discretion -- as some posters, questioners, do not have the background to handle some situations they may be in. I am not talking about antagonists. For them, guns blazing!!

 

[Southern by choice]

The worst part- if it was for a school project then why not represent the truth? Both side with fair representation?