Karen
06-29-2011, 12:31 AM
Since updating adoption threads has recently become a controversial topic, I want to explain my reasons for the rule that threads with no updates in 3+ weeks will be deleted (http://www.animalrescuekorea.org/index.php?pageid=guidelines#update), although I do believe the majority of members on this site already understand.
As Jenkins150 pointed out:
Just listing an animal and leaving it without updating it, is not bringing a lot of exposure to the animal.
Posting some new photos or cute comments about the animals helps people learn more about them.
And:
Updating within a certain amount of time just helps people see the appeal in the animal.
I absolutely agree!
For the sake of the particular animal who needs a home, current information helps potential adopters know more and increases the chances an animal will be adopted.
In addition to helping one particular animal find a home, updated information gives potential adopters more faith in the forums as a whole. Outdated listings harm the chances not only of the unupdated listing, but of all the animals whose listing are kept up to date as well.
Here's my reasoning:
If potential adopters have to wade through 5, 10, 15-week old search results and contact each poster to find out if the information was still valid, only to find out that most wasn't, then I don't think it would take long for people to stop trusting the system as a whole and go find a website with more current and accurate listings. This would be a detriment for all the animals listed here, including the threads kept up to date.
All that said, I understand that rescuers are busy and that fostering and volunteering take up a lot of time on top of work and family obligations. Keeping threads updated can be time consuming, especially for people who've listed multiple shelter animals and post videos and new photos regularly. I understand that it can be hard to find time to update.
Please know I don't delete threads out of spite and I try not to enforce the rules "obnoxiously", but fairly. Myself and the moderators don't stick stringently to the 3-week guideline (it usually goes over) and nothing less than three weeks old is ever deleted.
I'd be happy to readjust the 3 week rule to 4 weeks if people think 3 is too short. Please let me know.
Thank you!
As Jenkins150 pointed out:
Just listing an animal and leaving it without updating it, is not bringing a lot of exposure to the animal.
Posting some new photos or cute comments about the animals helps people learn more about them.
And:
Updating within a certain amount of time just helps people see the appeal in the animal.
I absolutely agree!
For the sake of the particular animal who needs a home, current information helps potential adopters know more and increases the chances an animal will be adopted.
In addition to helping one particular animal find a home, updated information gives potential adopters more faith in the forums as a whole. Outdated listings harm the chances not only of the unupdated listing, but of all the animals whose listing are kept up to date as well.
Here's my reasoning:
If potential adopters have to wade through 5, 10, 15-week old search results and contact each poster to find out if the information was still valid, only to find out that most wasn't, then I don't think it would take long for people to stop trusting the system as a whole and go find a website with more current and accurate listings. This would be a detriment for all the animals listed here, including the threads kept up to date.
All that said, I understand that rescuers are busy and that fostering and volunteering take up a lot of time on top of work and family obligations. Keeping threads updated can be time consuming, especially for people who've listed multiple shelter animals and post videos and new photos regularly. I understand that it can be hard to find time to update.
Please know I don't delete threads out of spite and I try not to enforce the rules "obnoxiously", but fairly. Myself and the moderators don't stick stringently to the 3-week guideline (it usually goes over) and nothing less than three weeks old is ever deleted.
I'd be happy to readjust the 3 week rule to 4 weeks if people think 3 is too short. Please let me know.
Thank you!