The state of the planet

Well, it's nice to know that RW and Cowboy and some of the other "old timers" are still around - it's good to see you guys post. 

I've always said that posting on any internet forum requires a thick skin and a good bs detector.  Forums tend to run in cycles of activity, so do the people that post on 'em.  I get discouraged with it sometimes - I lay low for awhile, and eventually I start posting again.

I don't have a problem with any particular poster or group of posters - they're all part of what makes it what it is.  We're all free to read and post what we want, or not.  I don't read everything on this board - some topics lose my interest sooner or later, some never interest me enough to click on in the first place.  I will say that it seems to me that it takes two (at least) to feud, and rarely does the blame for it getting ugly lie entirely with any single party.

I try to stick to posting to things that I truly believe that I have something relevant to add to the discussion or to ask about.  I won't try to give advice on breeding to a bull that all I know about is what my cousin says his best friend's girlfriend's steer jock said, even if I read all about him and saw pics of two of his calves in a magazine ad.

But that's just my opinion...

I am new to posting on Steer Planet.  I have been a regular reader for about a year.  I don't really know what the site used to be like because I have not been following along for years and years like many of you.  With that said, this is my take.

I consider this forum a whole lot like going to a steer show.

There are people that I respect, and enjoy visiting with.  There are also people that I really can't tolerate.

There are people that are very humble, and there are people that need to have someone follow them around to pick up all of the ego that drips off them as they wander about telling stories about the "great one" that they fit/raised/sold/showed a decade or two ago. 

There are people that offer legitimate solutions and suggestions to whatever challenge that I choose to share with them, and there are "know it all" types that seem to have all the answers to all the questions but never seem to make it into a Championship Drive or even a Division Drive. 

There are people that can get it done and there are people that can tell you how to get it done but really don't get it done themselves.

There are beginners that don't have a clue but they have that "something" factor that I see in some people...they are working.  There are beginners that don't have a clue and will never find one.

There are people that ask questions (no matter how elementary) because they don't know, and there are people that ask questions to see how much I know.

And I could go on and on and on and on.  My point is this.  You have to sort through all of these people (Steer Planet members) and decide which ones you want to follow and which ones you don't.  When someone that I am not interested in following speaks, I choose to follow or not.  I either engage this person in conversation, or I tell myself "when you can stop telling me, and start showing me then come on back".  If someone rubs you the wrong way, then just step back.  Or better yet, tell them to post a picture of their most recent winner.  SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME. 

And lay off the kids.  These little nuisances are the future of this business.  Nurture them.  Teach them.  Help them.  They are carrying OUR legacy............if we choose to let them.

aj said:

That may be true......but when red run this deal the canadians weren't listing 40 photographs on a info mercial.  After Jamie and you and okie doakie posted over 1000 photos free of charge I noticed a change on the board. The Canandians tought they owned the deal.....not saying its right or wrong.

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I don't think people post too many pictures. I enjoy seeing the different pics , especially from the herds I may never make it to .

aj said:

That may be true......but when red run this deal the canadians weren't listing 40 photographs on a info mercial.  After Jamie and you and okie doakie posted over 1000 photos free of charge I noticed a change on the board. The Canandians tought they owned the deal.....not saying its right or wrong.

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OK let me see if I get this straight. You dont like people posting photos, is that everyone or just the Canadians cant? Why if you dont like the photos do you keep asking us for more? You wanted to see the mother of my black heifer, and you ask more photos all the time. Mixed messages there JA. When JASON says no more photos Ill respect him, if you want a  photo free place start your own. Until that happens everyone get your cameras out and start posting.

Indeed the site has gone down hill. All one needs to do is look at the cattle in the classifieds, you will be lucky to find one high quality animal in 5 pages. When the classifieds are loaded with sale barn calves that people truly think are show calves you know theres no need to read any posts.

The sight will not improve until Jason politely tells outspoken,aj and trever grey cattle that they are no longer welcome.there is a big difference between freedom of speech and outright blatant slander. That's a fact.

Please. Give me a break. Let's take a vote. Start a thread. If I'm voted off I'll leave and never look back. Just because I call it like I see it you get offended. That's the problem with most people these days. All perfect and goodie goodie in public. Let's tiptoe through the tulips. Sing captain kangaroo songs and watch reruns of mr Rogers neighborhood. Heaven forbid anyone has a different opinion. Maybe some people know more about a certain subject. It could happen. Honestly.

For the nearly 2 years I have been a member, I have seen the good and the bad. I can only think how it was back in 2007 when it was formed, raised cattle back then and had internet access but did not know anything about SP back then. For the valuable people such as Frosty, cowboy, DL, Justintime, knabe, Jason and Red (I still read posts from her even though she was gone when I became a member  (angel)) to just name a few and not to mean to leave anyone out. To many of the founding members, I am forever grateful for their knowledge. I do not claim to know everything and I search this site and look around alot to gain valuable knowledge. If I have some experience in a topic that was posted, I am happy to put my information in, the youth on this board, have to learn somewhere. But I do agree with many people comments on here that while some people come on this site looking for an argument and post like it is in their nature to be rude and disrespectful. I understand if you post a picture you might not hear what you want but if your the one telling what you like and dislike about the animal, do it like a judge as far as what I have seen in the show ring. The judge is not rude about it and uses constructive criticism and not try to bash anyone. Again for the people that are happy to help, I'm grateful for people like you. I have made mistakes and learning about that and learning what to post and a topic I started that I wish I never did, not to start an argument, just trying to get honest information, for those I apologize as I'm not to big to say I have made a mistake. For now on, I will post PM's to the ones I trust to ask sensitive information as not to offend anyone. But with that being said, I wish some people on here is just looking for an argument and to be rude, I get enough of that at work and try to stay away from that on here. Thanks for creating a great site Jason and would be open to get this site back to how it was back in 2007. I have read many posts from back in 2007 and was great information being posted and was not all this arguments. People like cowboy and DL are very valuable to this site and I have PM'd both of the them with questions, They are not on this site as much as when I first joined this site and that is a shame.

Do all of you folks not post because of little ol me? I'm just a guy trying to raise my family and cattle. If so let me know. I can take it. It will be a character building moment.  You may not change my mind but at least give me something to ponder.

Slow to add more thoughts to this, but frankly been trying to keep the website functioning.  I am going to do a complete rebuild on the forums tomorrow and hopefully get things back to normal.  In a couple weeks we are making the move to dedicated server on a new host.

First of all you will never be banned for having an opposing opinion (unless slander) , but for the way you express it.  I agree some posters have gotten out of line with their trolling.

So here is my solution (ducks head)
1.  Create a code of conduct that will be stickied to the top of the forum.  It will lay out exact consquences and will be escalating to indefinite suspension.
2.  Empower all moderators to enforce it on the spot.

I am working on the code of conduct and will post it here this afternoon.

aj said:

That may be true......but when red run this deal the canadians weren't listing 40 photographs on a info mercial.  After Jamie and you and okie doakie posted over 1000 photos free of charge I noticed a change on the board. The Canandians tought they owned the deal.....not saying its right or wrong.

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I tend to agree with everyone else on the photo thoughts, the more the better.  Your welcome to your opinion, but state it with a little tact and go on.  There are plenty of types and breeds out there.  Not everyone should agree on what works for them. 


I found this interesting in regards to your criticism. 

http://blog.surechamp.com/?p=223

3. What was your inspiration for the site?
My brother, Michael Koch DVM, needed a website to market his club calves.  After designing his site, I looked around at options to promote his site and saw that most sites wanted a significant fee for a listing.  I saw the need to build a Free Resource to sell and market cattle.  I knew a forum would be the best way to accomplish this and at the time other forums were using antiquated software.  The goal and mission statement has always been provide a free resource for the cattle enthusiast and it will always remain free.


7. What’s your favorite feature?
Free Classifieds, because I see so many people make connections.  On a recent survey, I had more than 10 people respond that they have sold over $50,000 on the site.

Yep, more photos the better.

commercialfarmer said:

aj said:

That may be true......but when red run this deal the canadians weren't listing 40 photographs on a info mercial.  After Jamie and you and okie doakie posted over 1000 photos free of charge I noticed a change on the board. The Canandians tought they owned the deal.....not saying its right or wrong.

Click to expand...

I tend to agree with everyone else on the photo thoughts, the more the better.  Your welcome to your opinion, but state it with a little tact and go on.  There are plenty of types and breeds out there.  Not everyone should agree on what works for them. 


I found this interesting in regards to your criticism.   

http://blog.surechamp.com/?p=223

3. What was your inspiration for the site?
My brother, Michael Koch DVM, needed a website to market his club calves.  After designing his site, I looked around at options to promote his site and saw that most sites wanted a significant fee for a listing.  I saw the need to build a Free Resource to sell and market cattle.  I knew a forum would be the best way to accomplish this and at the time other forums were using antiquated software.  The goal and mission statement has always been provide a free resource for the cattle enthusiast and it will always remain free.


7. What’s your favorite feature?
Free Classifieds, because I see so many people make connections.  On a recent survey, I had more than 10 people respond that they have sold over $50,000 on the site.

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dogger said:

The sight will not improve until Jason politely tells outspoken,aj and trever grey cattle that they are no longer welcome.there is a big difference between freedom of speech and outright blatant slander. That's a fact.

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and how would you know this? you only have like 36 posts do you think you really know all SP's problems and how to fix them?

Angusboy said:

dogger said:

The sight will not improve until Jason politely tells outspoken,aj and trever grey cattle that they are no longer welcome.there is a big difference between freedom of speech and outright blatant slander. That's a fact.

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and how would you know this? you only have like 36 posts do you think you really know all SP's problems and how to fix them?

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444 has so much more credibility.

I count one and one. I would also ask advertisers what their traffic rate is and what they would like see changed.

Number of posts is not causal to wisdom so mine don't count either.

Truthfully I thought this was a global warming thread.  oops :

OLD WORLD SHORTIE said:

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(lol)

Is there away for people to add age to their profile? That way when it comes to the younger people we know for sure. I am fairly new to steerplanet but I like how it is information at your finger tips. I have no problems helping new people or youngsters either. I remember a time when I was just starting and my family had never had cattle.  We asked a ton of questions. Now 15 years later I still don't know it all but I would like to think I am a bit wiser. I try to help anyone I can because I know what its like to start from scratch. I also know you can learn something new everyday. Something to think about.

obie105 said:

Is there away for people to add age to their profile? That way when it comes to the younger people we know for sure. I am fairly new to steerplanet but I like how it is information at your finger tips. I have no problems helping new people or youngsters either. I remember a time when I was just starting and my family had never had cattle.  We asked a ton of questions. Now 15 years later I still don't know it all but I would like to think I am a bit wiser. I try to help anyone I can because I know what its like to start from scratch. I also know you can learn something new everyday. Something to think about.

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That is the right attitude to have.  <beer>

You can add your age in your profile, but it is not mandatory.  When you register on the site, I want to collect the least possible information from you to make it fast and streamlined.

Just a thought, but since you're tweaking things anyway Jason, have you considered a subforum for the younger ones?  I don't mean that they can't still ask questions on the main forum, or that everyone can't read theirs, but maybe it would be a place for them to go with some of the conversations that seem to irritate some of the older posters.  At least one other forum I frequent has done this (Ford Truck Enthusiasts) and it seems to be pretty popular.  Don't know if it solves anything or is worth the trouble, but maybe it's something to think about...