Flags

[Walter]

Agreeing with Ralp, I think having the flags back in our avatar sure looks nice :D :D

Do poll your views.... :D

[ArcheNova]

I like the flags, because they show how international our forum is. I really don't interpret the members' nationalities as a difference, but I feel even more affiliated with people from Singapore or Canada or elsewhere when I find out, that they have the same (exotic) hobby: Shrimp. I also find it interesting to know where the person I am talking to lives.

[Lotus]

I like either having a flag, or letting members put their location if they want to. It can be hard to recommend products or get an idea of the possible climate if you don't know approximately where someone lives.

I think it's great that we have such an international forum! :D

[GunmetalBlue]

I would be in favor of having the locale stated in the avatar area, if a person has given that info. As Lotus says, the info helps if a reply is location related.

However, for now, would favor the flags staying off, to be reinstated at a future date, after we've increased participation rate. The flags at first seem to make a good impression because it "looks cool and international," but I've seen threads where the flags serve to create the very opposite impression. We may not always be consciously aware of it, but flags point out our differences (sometimes negatively). Flags can also subconsciously represent things like pride and competition. Flags are iconic in most countries, and can represent some strong feelings that I don't feel is necessary in a shrimp forum.

I'm in favor of having shrimp lovers joining in in any of our conversations without having a flag staring at them, IMHO! Would like to see it "international" in the sense that anyone can feel like part of the same group. So I'm in favor of supporting Admin's trial run on this decision - I'm under the impression they can always put it back later if they so choose.

-GB

[ArcheNova]

@ GunmetalBlue:

Your're right! We've got to pay attention on this topic. It can become dangerous for our community. But it should not be overrated of any of us. That can effect the problem we're trying to avoid.

P.S.: Since 1945, in Germany we have a very special relationship to our nationality, to flags, national pride and stuff... the German national pride had been completely disabled, what was obviously necessary. For us, the third generation from then, nationality only shows a local difference...

[Class 66]

I feel that with the flags, we are more aware of the person we are talking to, as such, we will try not to use those words that are of no meaning to others. I 'm from Singapore, that make me a multi-cultural mindset and don't really mind which part of the world you are from, as long we shared the same interest. :D

Regards,

[Walter]

Haha cool, so majority wants the flag.. :D:D

Anyone who have not voted please do so. :)

[silane]

As of today, 16:1, in favour of bringing the flag back. Ok, majority wins, you got the flag. :)

[gnatster]

Thanks, I think they really help to understand the experiences others are having when their general locale is known.

[star88]

Ya, Better understanding of each other, be it climate, etc...
So it a good idea.

[amber2461]

As of today, 16:1, in favour of bringing the flag back. Ok, majority wins, you got the flag. :)

Thank you :)

[turbomkt]

First off, it gives immediate insight into some of the issues an aquarist might be facing in countries other than the US (The US is too varied to make any assumptions, while Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand, the PI, and a number of others, for example, are fairly uniform in climate).

Second...I'll be honest. The anonymity of the internet is a great thing. OTOH (On the other hand), there are a lot of americans who refuse to use proper, or even American, english. I get really annoyed by that. In the mean time, there are people like a good number of users on this board, who are not originally english speaking, that make an incredible effort to use one of the most difficult languages in the world for the benefit of others. I'll give a non-native english user a little more leeway while looking at the native as having a bit less credibility because they don't appear to have enough self esteem to represent themselves professionally.

Sorry for the diatribe :)

And thank you for the flags!

[jojoecute]

Well the flag is back, hope all members are happy.
And hope with the country flag indication of members, upon replying post members please try your best to write more proper english. So it will not mislead posting meaning.

[GunmetalBlue]

Congratulations to the majority - and kudos to the site for being open-minded to user's opinions and wishes. Although I still hold the opinion a simple listing of general locale is best, the overall happiness of the majority is most important.

Something that some of the smaller countries might not quite appreciate is that the USA is a HUGE place. A person from another state might as well be in another country! So for us, listing the state, and even the general locale of that state is much more helpful.

I had also touched upon concerns of the flags *possibly having the very opposite effect. Just for example, speaking as an "outsider," some of the threads can leave one with the impression that the USA has little relevance here. We've no chance to even see in person (at LFS), much less own some of the many varieties of shrimp available in southeast Asia and parts of Europe. A quick look at the flags in some threads (mostly Singapore) leaves me feeling, why even take part? For I've probably nothing to add. Well I do add, but wanted to express one example in which the flags *might hint that it's not a very international forum after all. I don't think it's the intention of this site to stay limited in that way. I think that's why there is the "Singlish" thread by Robert. So we need to be mindful the Admin wants to welcome everyone.

ArcheNova, thanks for your mini-history on Germany. Here in the states, the flag is very iconic to many. If it weren't true, some of our people here wouldn't risk their lives to help preserve what we believe in. And in the same breath, the flag has represented to some, a symbol of the "Ugly American," for exactly those reasons. My father-in-law was a career military Airforce man (a German-American, BTW), and had risked his life on multiple occasions.

I know the flags here are meant to be whimsical and friendly so what's the big deal. But there are serious issues behind it that I've thought through and so, I personally don't take it as lightly as most.

-GB