Have you ever had the feeling that some birders think they are far too good or elite to bother with the normal person who views birding as a hobby?
You know the type. We have them in all walks of life,
but I personnally find it strange in a hobby such as ours.
It appears to me that they think their street cred will be damaged if they are seen to be mixing with your average birder, rather than the clicquey, elitest group they think they belong to.
What is a sereous birder? Probably someone who has seen more birds than anyone else - today, this week, this year? Well, I say so what? Big deal. Fantastic. You think I care?
Do you really think I care if your digiscoping is better than Mr Average? I have to tell you I would rather meet someone keen and enthusiatic who gets it wrong than Mr I've seen every bird there is and I've got the latest digiscope camera, with double sprung springleheads and overcam wafters.
No, for me it's the birder who has time for everyone, not just someone who can take a picture of an ant from half a mile away. For me it's the person who goes out and is happy with seeing a lapwing and takes pleasure in finding it and talking about it, not the man who goes out and tramples over the lapwing nest to get to something else.
What, you ask, brought on this rant? Well, I'll tell you. I had an e mail from a birder who said 'great web site', then asked if I could set up a forum for the more serious birder? I replied, asking him what he meant. He then wrote saying that, although the forums were great, he didnt think he could contribute because he is well known and respected in the birding world and was worried that people in his own club might comment adversely. He then asked if he should use a different name.
I find this attitude very sad and, in all honesty, pathetic. I explained that Birdforum is for all and as far as I was concerned anyone who enjoys birds or wildlife could contribute. I told him there are other sites and newsgroups that he could contribute to anonymously, but that viewers can't see everyones post as they can here and he would have to put up with nonsense from know-alls, so called experts, and serial posters. I also told him that we have some very well known people as contributors, who appear to be normal and not on a pedestal. I await his reply and will keep you all informed.
I admire very much the photographers we have on the site. Their pictures are truly magnificent. I also admire the people who post about their backyard, their sea trips, sightings from their area. In fact, anyone who has made a contribution. Even the jokes in Ruffled are funny, other than one or two
I just get a tad annoyed when some birders think they are better than others and look down on the rest of us. I'm here to tell you the rest of us far outnumber the elitests, and we can all learn something from each other.
Discuss.
Steve
You know the type. We have them in all walks of life,
but I personnally find it strange in a hobby such as ours.
It appears to me that they think their street cred will be damaged if they are seen to be mixing with your average birder, rather than the clicquey, elitest group they think they belong to.
What is a sereous birder? Probably someone who has seen more birds than anyone else - today, this week, this year? Well, I say so what? Big deal. Fantastic. You think I care?
Do you really think I care if your digiscoping is better than Mr Average? I have to tell you I would rather meet someone keen and enthusiatic who gets it wrong than Mr I've seen every bird there is and I've got the latest digiscope camera, with double sprung springleheads and overcam wafters.
No, for me it's the birder who has time for everyone, not just someone who can take a picture of an ant from half a mile away. For me it's the person who goes out and is happy with seeing a lapwing and takes pleasure in finding it and talking about it, not the man who goes out and tramples over the lapwing nest to get to something else.
What, you ask, brought on this rant? Well, I'll tell you. I had an e mail from a birder who said 'great web site', then asked if I could set up a forum for the more serious birder? I replied, asking him what he meant. He then wrote saying that, although the forums were great, he didnt think he could contribute because he is well known and respected in the birding world and was worried that people in his own club might comment adversely. He then asked if he should use a different name.
I find this attitude very sad and, in all honesty, pathetic. I explained that Birdforum is for all and as far as I was concerned anyone who enjoys birds or wildlife could contribute. I told him there are other sites and newsgroups that he could contribute to anonymously, but that viewers can't see everyones post as they can here and he would have to put up with nonsense from know-alls, so called experts, and serial posters. I also told him that we have some very well known people as contributors, who appear to be normal and not on a pedestal. I await his reply and will keep you all informed.
I admire very much the photographers we have on the site. Their pictures are truly magnificent. I also admire the people who post about their backyard, their sea trips, sightings from their area. In fact, anyone who has made a contribution. Even the jokes in Ruffled are funny, other than one or two
I just get a tad annoyed when some birders think they are better than others and look down on the rest of us. I'm here to tell you the rest of us far outnumber the elitests, and we can all learn something from each other.
Discuss.
Steve