Internet Forums – Six Ways To Avoid Disaster
Internet Forums - Six Ways To Avoid Disaster
Internet Forums are highly popular, they cater for all tastes and deal with every topic imaginable. People visit Internet forums for a variety of reasons, the most common being the search for information or entertainment. The Internet forum is a safe environment if you behave sensibly but you can find yourself in dangerous territory if you ignore the following warnings.Don't Join Internet Forum Flame WarsAn Internet Forum flame war is to be avoided at all costs. The airing of differing points of view, debate and discussion are healthy things for an Internet forum: they keep it lively. An Internet forum flame war can make entertaining reading but don't be tempted to join in or start one. If you make a habit of leaping into forum flame wars, you will acquire a reputation as a trouble-maker and you could find yourself barred from a forum because of your behaviour. Another good reason for avoiding forum flame wars is that you could find yourself caught in the crossfire. Before you know it, people will be firing at you from every direction when all you intended to do was have a bit of fun.Don't Make Jokes On An Internet ForumWell, you can if you really must, but remember that the Internet forum has the same drawback as email: the reader can't see your expression or gestures. The smile, shrug or grimace which can lift your comment from serious to humorous will be missing and your message will be something which the reader has to interpret. If the reader gets it wrong, you might very well find that you just started your very own Internet forum flame war quite unintentionally. You can safely tell a joke on a forum (provided that your joke's content is appropriate) but sarcasm and irony are dangerous and best avoided.Don't Be An Internet Forum Drama QueenThe Internet forum is not a suitable stage for you to perform your very own drama. If you flounce about making extravagant statements merely for effect, you will be the object of ridicule by other forum members even if nobody tells you so. If you are a member of a support forum for a particular programme, it is quite in order to post a message to the forum saying something along the lines of "I've started to feel unsure about [whatever], I don't think it's going to work out unless I make some changes. Can anybody suggest what I should try next?" Compare this to the next post in drama queen style: "I quit! This Sucks. I've done everything right so it must be this ****ing programme. You will never hear from me again!" Which forum member would you want to help? There will be kind people who feel the drama queen's pain and offer support and suggestions. When the drama queen makes a big re-entrance to the forum after a few days sulking, posts "I'm back!" and expresses a resolve to work diligently towards success, the kind people who offered support will feel that their advice must have done the trick. When the forum drama queen posts another "Goodbye Forever!" message, the same kind people will empathise as the drama queen is obviously being affected by an emotional roller coaster and they will offer further sound advice. The kind forum members will be pleased when the drama queen makes a further "I'm Back And Here To Stay!" recovery. By about the third or fourth "I Quit!" drama, even the kindest people will be wishing the drama queen had stayed quit the first time round and Internet forum credibility for the drama queen ends there.Don't Be An Internet Forum PuppyA real puppy can't help chasing after everything that moves, getting under people's feet and being hyperactive to the point where it sometimes becomes annoying: that's just its nature. The Internet forum member who behaves like a puppy can help it and should desist. I am talking about the person who joins an Internet forum for the sole purpose of getting the links in his signature file on the forum as often as possible. The annoying forum puppy will respond to every message posted whether he knows anything about the subject or not. He will post messages which are of no value to anyone, these messages will range from boring pointless observations to obscure drivel to requests to poll an unimportant question which bears no relevance to the forum. If you are desperate to plaster your signature file all over the place, join lots of Internet forums and just post a few messages on each. With any luck, you will grow out of this time-wasting pursuit before the other forum members form a lynching party.Don't Be An Internet Forum SeconderHave you ever come across Mr Me Too? If you have, you will know who I mean. He is about as annoying as the Internet forum puppy. Mr Me Too will post a response to every thread that appears on a forum. It won't take him long as he won't bother to read through the thread, all he will do is add a comment saying "me too" or "I agree". This gets his signature file posted with the link back to his website and that's all he wants. Mr Me Too does not go to the Internet forum for entertainment or information or to contribute anything useful. If you are subscribed to a forum thread and receive notification that someone has posted a further message on the topic, it is very irritating to log in at the forum only to find that someone has posted a message saying "me too" or "I agree" just to give his signature file an airing. It is sadly true that the Internet forum puppy and Mr Me Too will get their links on the Internet alongside the forum members who post meaningful messages. When the day arrives that Search Engine Robots are able to distinguish the difference between valuable forum messages and drivel, those two offenders will find that it's pay back time for their transgressions.Don't Attack The Internet Forum ModeratorsIf you have a message removed or edited by an Internet forum moderator, there will be a reason, so don't post complaints on the forum. Even if you don't understand or don't agree with the decision, there is no point in arguing. Attacking a moderator is like holding up a placard saying "I'm a pest, throw me out". The moderators are there to ensure the Internet forum is kept to the required standard. Remember that somebody owns this forum and invests time and energy in keeping the environment -- well -- moderate. The Internet forum is not your private sand-pit, you are a guest and if your behaviour is not appropriate, your invitation to play could be withdrawn. You should also remember that anything you post on an Internet forum will be available for public scrutiny for years to come.The dictionary definition of the verb to moderate is: "to keep within measure or bounds; to regulate; to reduce in intensity; to make temperate or reasonable". If this does not sound like your kind of environment, perhaps you should stay away from Internet forums.Copyright 2005 Elaine CurrieElaine Currie provides ideas, help and resources for anyone wanting to start a home business visit: http://www.Huntingvenus.com
Disaster Preparedness for Pets – A Guide for Pet-Care Business Professionals
Disaster Preparedness for Pets - A Guide for Pet-Care Business Professionals
June is Disaster Preparedness for Pets month ? but if you're a pet-care business professional it's always a good time to make sure you've got a plan in place to administer to the needs of all the pets in your care when and if a disaster strikes.Whether you live in a rural township that is prone to flooding, hurricanes or snowstorms, or you live in a metropolitan area that is prone to the above or may one day be a target of a man-made disaster, having a plan to help your clients and their pets is invaluable. Remember, you'll want a plan that encompasses all the types of animals you care for - including livestock!If you're ready to create your own pet-disaster-preparedness plan - use these resources to create a plan custom-fitted for you and your clients:? The Humane Society of the United States (http://www.hsus.org) has a myriad of resources, including brochures and a Disaster Center that can educate you on the best ways to prepare for a disaster.? Your local Emergency Response Team can assist you in locating animal-friendly shelters in case of evacuation. They will also be able to provide you with any and all requirements necessary to house animals in such a shelter. (In most cases pets will need to be crated and will need to bring copies of their immunization records).Spend some time researching and then create a plan that will work for you and your clients' pets. Items to include in your plan:
? Maps for your sitters delineating which pets they are responsible for in case of an emergency;? A waiver from your clients granting your company permission to transport their pets to the closest animal friendly shelter in case of evacuation;? A waiver from your clients who do NOT want you to transport their pets in cases of disaster - letting you know that you are to leave their pets in place;? Reminders for your clients to keep their pets' vet records taped in or near their crate. Additionally, each pet should have up to 2 weeks of food in air- tight containers and easily accessible water containers so that you can find everything when you need to move swiftly;? An understanding with each client where they can be found if an evacuation takes place and cell phones are not operational. Many families have an agreed upon meeting place - make sure you know the 'meeting place' for each family you work with so you are able to find them when the roads become passable.A disaster preparedness plan is certainly something you hope you never have to use, but something that you must have to be a responsible pet-care business provider. Your clients will be grateful that you've gone the extra mile to ensure the safety and well-being of their pets.Use your plan as a marketing tool. Once you've assembled your plan, why not write an article for the local paper about effective disaster preparedness for pets? How about offering a free tip- sheet on disaster-preparedness for pets for every potential new client who subscribes to your e-zine? Or, simply post your disaster preparedness tips on your website and offer it as a free article on the web - make sure you include a great resources box that gets folks to head to your website! Finally, you can expand your disaster preparedness research to create an offer a free seminar on the topic - either in conjunction with your local shelter, police and fire department or the local school.However you position it - once you've done the homework - make sure you are providing a benefit to the largest amount of people. They will begin to immediately associate you as an expert. And the best clients always are willing to pay more money to work with the expert!Peggie Arvidson-Dailey, is the founder of Pet-Care Business Success University. Go here (http://www.peggiespets.com/wst_page9.html) for a copy of her free report "243 Tips for Starting a Pet-Care Business."(c) 2005 Peggie Arvidson-Dailey. You absolutely may use this article in your e-zine or other publication as long as you keep the resource box and all links intact. Please forward a copy of your publication that contains this article.
The Rise Of Online Poker And Why This Could Spell Disaster For The Inexperienced Gambler-Gambling
The Rise Of Online Poker And Why This Could Spell Disaster For The Inexperienced Gambler
The growth in online poker has been phenomenal over the past two years with the industry more than tripling in size to a staggering $1.5 billion. But why is this?There have been many avenues available for people to indulge in online gambling for years now; bookmakers, casinos and bingo sites have spread across the internet and have had some level of success, but nothing compared to the rise of online poker.Is it that people think they have a more realistic chance of winning at poker?Is it that they think poker requires more skill than other forms of gambling?Is it more of a thrill to take money from another human being rather than a company?Has poker become a fashion trend?It is probably a combination of all those things, but whatever has pushed poker into the spotlight will no doubt lead many people into trouble. The problem with all forms of gambling is the obvious addiction that occurs in many players and if people are not careful they may find themselves spiralling into financial meltdown.The biggest problem will be with people who have no previous poker experience, who just plough straight into the high stakes end of the betting spectrum looking for that "big win" that will see them happy for life. It is a dream for everybody and, for many, the lure of big money wins will prove too much.On top of that, it is clear that out there in the realms of the poker rooms will undoubtedly be some people trying to spot these inexperienced players and to take advantage of them. For these poker sharks, nothing could be easier than stripping these amateurs of all their cash.That's why, to be successful in poker, you need to work your way up from the very bottom rung of the ladder, gaining experience as you play, before you can count yourself ready to take on players at the top.The best ways to begin your journey into online poker are by playing on free tables for fun and playing in freeroll tournaments until you feel confident to take the plunge with real money.As an extra tip, if you are being successful playing at a certain level with lower limits, don't change anything. Many small wins will soon add up to a big win but you may feel just a little safer getting there.Steve Waller has gained much experience in the field of gambling and writes regularly in his blog http://betting-guides.blogspot.com to help people bet safely and sensibly.