Chat Week on Kingsnake.com
Tuesday, December 10, 2002
Christie Keith
Director of Services Pet Hobbyist

********************

jeffb Christie Keith, PHChristy, is the Director of Community Services and a Features Editor for pethobbyist.com. She came to PetHobbyist from her position as Director of the Veterinary Information Network's Pet Care Forum and editor of VeterinaryPartner.com. Prior to that she was Director of the Pet Care Forum on America Online and has a background as a magazine editor and columnist, a reporter, and a medical journalist in the field of HIV/AIDS.

jeffb In her personal life, Christie lives in northern California. She raises Scottish Deerhounds and also shares her home with a mixed breed dog, a Borzoi, a pond full of goldfish and koi, and two cats. Under her Caber Feidh kennel name, she is the breeder of both show and field champion Scottish Deerhounds, including dual champions and the first Lure Courser of Merit Deerhound on the West Coast. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Scottish Deerhound Club of America,

jeffb Vice-President and past President of the Northern California Deerhound Club, and past Vice-president of the Golden State Deerhound Club. Her award winning website, http://www.caberfeidh.com/, is the oldest Scottish Deerhound site on the Web.

jeffb Christie is here tonight to answer any questions you have about the pethobbyist volunteers and community, and their relationship with kingsnake, and to tell you a bit about the history of how she and all the PHs came to work here, and hopefully dispell some of the myths and rumors that have been circulating.

PHChristy Hello, and thank you for the intro Jeff!

AskPHChristy and to start I have a question....

PHChristy OK!

AskPHChristy What exactly is community services

PHChristy Community serivces is everything pertaining to community, both the users and the volunteer community
PHChristy it is the members, the subscribers to the newsletters, the people who attend chats, the users of the forums, and those who are part of the pethobbyist communities
PHChristy in short, all of you
PHChristy I answer your emails, help with registration problems, edit the newsletters, help work with the volunteers
PHChristy and am the interface between pethobbyist management and the volunteers and users

AskPHChristy So your not one of the evil aliens that stole kingsnake.com?

PHChristy well, I didn't say THAT!
PHChristy ;)
PHChristy seriously, kingsnake.com stole US!
PHChristy or adopted us
PHChristy our host community and many of the new site users first began in 1991
PHChristy when a group of pet owners and veterinarians created the Pet Care Forum
PHChristy on America Online
PHChristy three years ago, we left AOL for the Veterinary Information Network's website
PHChristy when VIN decided to focus its efforts on the veterinary end of its business, we worked out a plan whereby the volunteers and staff and members of PCF would become a part of the PetHobbyist family
PHChristy obviously, most of our herp members and staff were already involved at kingsnake as users
PHChristy but for those with other types of animals, this was a new home
PHChristy so we're not evil aliens at all.
PHChristy that is just an ugly rumor.

AskPHChristy What is PetHobbyist and where did it come from?

PHChristy PetHobbyist is the parent company of kingsnake.com and all the "hobbyist" sites
PHChristy Jeff Barringer, who is the founder of kingsnake.com
PHChristy is the CEO of pethobbyist

AskPHChristy Did PetHobbyist buy kingsnake.com?

PHChristy NO!
PHChristy I don't know where that crazy idea came from
PHChristy pethobbyist is an expansion of kingsnake, by the same people who built kingsnake
PHChristy ga

AskPHChristy Are you ever going to run a special chat week more than once a year?

PHChristy What we really want to do is expand the monthly guest chats that Matt2 does for kingsnake to all the sites
PHChristy we have had some incredible guests for Chat Week
PHChristy and we're very excited at the success of the event so far
PHChristy I believe Chat Week itself will always be an annual event
PHChristy but you never know :)
PHChristy ga

AskPHChristy Will you ever change the forum software?

PHChristy Of course! We are always changing and upgrading our software on the site, and the forums are being updated and improved right now
PHChristy we implemented some changes a few months ago, when the PCF community joined pethobbyist
PHChristy and we'll be introducing other changes and improvements in the coming months

PHChristy we want the users to have the best online experience they can have
PHChristy and are always interested in suggestions to make things better
PHChristy ga

AskPHChristy How many hosts and chats are run regularly on pethobbyist?

PHChristy We have around 80 hosts, and I'd like to introduce a couple of them right now
PHChristy The one I'd most like to introduce is PHScales, the site coordinator of kingsake.com
PHChristy Scales was the leader of the Reptiles and Amphibians Forum for the Veterinary Information Network

PHScales Hi!

PHChristy and she is the editor of the Cold Blooded Chronicles, and handles the member email that is non-technical in nature that is sent to kingsnake.com
PHChristy PHGinger is Ginger Sanders, the staff director, she trains and works with our volunteers

PHGinger Hi everyone!

PHChristy we have chats every night in all the sites, I'm afraid I never counted them but I would guestimate it's in the range of 50 or so each week
PHChristy ga

AskPHChristy Who should we contact if we have suggestions for future guest speakers?

PHChristy Please email suggestions for kingsnake.com guests to chat@onlinehobbyist.com, which is Matt2
PHChristy email suggestions for the rest of the sites, or for site-wide chats, to PHKiwi@pethobbyist.com
PHChristy ga

AskPHChristy Is it true that a lot of the new PH people on kingsnake also work on AOL's boards?

PHChristy No, it's not
PHChristy I believe that is an impression created because three years ago we were the pet care volunteers on AOL
PHChristy but we left in February of 2000
PHChristy and AOL took over the pet areas themselves
PHChristy so we have not been involved with AOL since then
PHChristy and even then, we were not owned or operated by AOL
PHChristy we were a paid content provider FOR AOL
PHChristy in the old days, when AOL charged users by the hour and the business model was very different from now
PHChristy it is possible that a small number of our volunteers also volunteer at other websites
PHChristy and perhaps a few are hosts on AOL
PHChristy but it's a tiny percentage
PHChristy we have no relationship or affiliation with AOL
PHChristy is that clear, or would anyone like more of an explanation?

AskPHChristy are their plans to add more hosts to kingsnake.com?

PHChristy absolutely!
PHChristy we are already adding new hosts

AskPHChristy What can I do to become a host?

PHChristy at this time people are being recruited by the site coordinator and other staff
PHChristy ga
PHChristy if you are interested in becoming a volunteer, you can email PHGinger for an application

AskPHChristy What does a host do?

PHChristy hosts do almost everything, LOL
PHChristy they monitor forums, try to be helpful, participate in the communities, contribute articles to the newsletters, host the chats
PHChristy monitor the photo galleries
PHChristy the site coordinators answer user emails
PHChristy and interface between me, Jeff, and the volunteers and users

PHChristy I have been IMed how to contact PHGinger
PHChristy phginger@pethobbyist.com

PHChristy ga

AskPHChristy How difficult is it to become a host?

PHChristy it's not difficult, but it does involve being interviewed, going through a training and orientation, and then a probation period. But if you want to make kingsnake or the other pethobbyist communities a better place, and are interested in animals, and are fairly proficient at being online, then you should be able to do it without any problem :)
PHChristy some positions require more knowledge or skill than others
PHChristy we do ask that you be over 18
PHChristy ga

AskPHChristy How much time must a person give up to become a host?

PHChristy Time would depend on what exactly you did
PHChristy there is no hard and fast rule
PHChristy most of our volunteers far, far exceed anything we'd ever dream of requiring
PHChristy we have some very wonderful people, both old and new!
PHChristy ga

AskPHChristy Do you check the forums?

PHChristy Me personally or the hosts in general?

AskPHChristy You

PHChristy I read all the feedback and suggestion forums every day
PHChristy for every site
PHChristy I read a sampling of forums from every site througout the week
PHChristy and I faithfully read several dog, cat, and pond forums
PHChristy as those are my own personal interests
PHChristy ga

AskPHChristy Some members don't like that hosts offer advice on the boards. Why do you let hosts offer advice - it makes them look like the "Experts" when they aren't.

PHChristy I agree that this is an issue, but I believe it has two sides.
PHChristy One, we have a rule that no host may sign a non-official post with their official signature
PHChristy only official posts, which will NEVER include care advice or opinions, are to be signed as a volunteer or staffer of pethobbyist
PHChristy if we are telling you how to access a chat or subscribe to the newsletters or find a link, that is official and we'll sign accordingly
PHChristy however, our hosts are members of their communities
PHChristy we WANT active and involved people
PHChristy we want the passionate and committed ones
PHChristy we want grass roots community leadership
PHChristy so we don't ask that our hosts not participate in the discussions just like any other community member
PHChristy we want you to know them
PHChristy and them to feel a part of the communites
PHChristy yes, there is a downside that some people will feel their posts are "THE" word on the subject
PHChristy but we feel the upside outweighs the downside
PHChristy everyone is free to civilly disagree with any other poster, including the host
PHChristy on matters of opinion or care
PHChristy we don't have a "party line" on those issues
PHChristy ga

AskPHChristy I would like to see some different subjects on the Forums. Who would I ask about that?

PHChristy if you go to the page at http://www.pethobbyist.com/contact/index.php you will see a place to contact the site coordinator for each site
PHChristy they would be the ones to ask :)
PHChristy ga

AskPHChristy Do all hosts have the ability to censor other members by deleting certain posts over others?

PHChristy No, no host can delete a post.
PHChristy that is done at a higher level

AskPHChristy Can hosts ban members?

PHChristy no, hosts cannot ban members
PHChristy that can only be done at a MUCH higher level
PHChristy ga

AskPHChristy Another question - If we don't agree with something a host has posted, how do we handle that?

PHChristy I need to qualify one thing, by "host" I mean the forum monitors. For example, some consider me a "host," but I am an employee of pethobbyist.
PHChristy if you don't agree with an opinion
PHChristy then treat it like if you didn't agree with anyone else
PHChristy be civil, don't violate the Terms of Service, and express your opinion
PHChristy if it's about something to do with the running of the site, then you should use the contact page to contact the site coordinator
PHChristy ga

AskPHChristy What kind of pets do you have?

PHChristy I have 9 dogs, 2 cats, and a pond of koi and goldfish, not sure how many, they keep increasing on me
PHChristy ga

AskPHChristy Do you have to commit to a certain amount of time to be a host?

PHChristy About time, there are no hard and fast rules. That is something we work out on an individual basis
PHChristy ga

AskPHChristy I heard you have newsletters - what are they about and how do I get them?

PHChristy We have newsletters for almost all our sites, they are free, and you can sign up here: http://www.pethobbyist.com/maillist.html
PHChristy we have them for herps, dogs, fish, birds, cats, horses, and a general one for all species and pet loss
PHChristy and critters!
PHChristy ga

AskPHChristy > I saw the new Animal Issues section... has PetHobbyist/kingsnake.com become an animal rights site?

PHChristy ROFL, no
PHChristy we just like to try to get things moving with a good debate, so we try to have provocative topics
PHChristy we welcome people of all kinds of views to express themselves within our Terms of Service
PHChristy we actually do have an "Open Debate" forum which allows for even more latitude on topic than our other forums do
PHChristy Jeff Barringer would never own an animal rights site
PHChristy rumor has it (I can't confirm this personally) that he belongs to PETA...

PHScales SNORT....

matt2 lol
matt2 sorry

PHChristy People for the Eating of Tasty Animals, according to his tshirt
PHChristy ;)

PHGinger ewwwww Bad Christy

PHChristy Jeff made me
PHChristy he's a slavedriver

AskPHChristy What if something we post (or someone else posts) gets censored and we disagree.. is there a way to appeal ?

PHChristy There have been times when we have investigated a situation and decided that a mistake was made
PHChristy at the present time removed messages cannot be replaced
PHChristy I believe with the new forums, we will be able to replace messages
PHChristy the best thing to do if you disagree is to use the contact page and contact the site coordinator
PHChristy be polite and ask for us to investigate it
PHChristy provide us with your email address or we won't be able to answer you
PHChristy ga

AskPHChristy do hosts get paid?

PHChristy we have an almost all volunteer staff with a small paid staff
PHChristy ga

AskPHChristy I've heard that new forums are in the works. Any time table?

PHChristy Chat week derailed me from following up on that as well as I should have, but they are in pre-beta right now and I don't think it will be too much longer before we have something for users to test
PHChristy we have some great developers working on them
PHChristy like Santa's elves
PHChristy sorry, it's late
PHChristy ga

AskPHChristy I see a section for Classifieds. Can I advertise my puppies that I have for sale?

PHChristy no, we don't sell puppies or dogs, or cats or kittens, on our sites
PHChristy ga

AskPHChristy what's up with the kingsnake classified forums. I constantly see people violating the rules, but it seems only a select few are ever taken
AskPHChristy to task over it while others can do what they please.

PHChristy the classifieds are not handled by the volunteer staff of pethobbyist, but by onlinehobbyist as a company
PHChristy if you go to http://www.pethobbyist.com/contact/index.php you will see a link to contact the classifieds abuse coordinator
PHChristy you can report problems you observe there
PHChristy we do want to have a level playing field

jeffb Imagine a traffic cop
jeffb On the side of the road writing tickets as fast as he can
jeffb and for every one he writes 75-100 cars go by

AskPHChristy what do you mean by critters?

PHChristy critters are small pets such as ferrets, rabbits, pet rats or mice, etc
PHChristy small furry creatures
PHChristy as found at critterhobbyist.com :)
PHChristy ga

AskPHChristy How come I can't post on the forums that I have a pet that I need to get rid of, adopt or sell? Every time I post that it disappears?

PHChristy Our forums are for discussion, our classifieds are for sales. This is spelled out in the Terms of Service
PHChristy ga

AskPHChristy Can I still buy baby dinosaurs from your Really Big Lizards site or are they all gone

PHChristy No, you can still buy them. We are accepting orders for April 1 of 2003
PHChristy hurry, though, supplies are limited

PHScales hee hee
PHScales I'm ordering 1.1

AskPHChristy I saw an argument a while back. A person posted a message wanting people to visit their site. They got in trouble for it. How come? What's wrong with posting links to people's websites?

PHChristy That is a question with several answers.
PHChristy One is that we don't allow "see my website" messages, as is stated in the Terms of Service
PHChristy that includes anything that AMOUNTS TO saying "visit my site"!
PHChristy we want people to participate in discussions here on our site
PHChristy we don't remove messages that are actually informational but contain offsite links
PHChristy in certain cases we might, but that would be related to a problem with the link, not a blanket linking policy

PHChristy also, sometimes people will come in and EVERY post they make is basically a request to visit a competing site
PHChristy we look at something like that as cumulative
PHChristy are they really a contributing community member, or are they exploiting our users and us?
PHChristy sometimes it's a judgement call, sometimes it's very clearcut
PHChristy ga

AskPHChristy Why does it cost so much to use the classifieds? If all I have is an anole to sell the cost to buy an account is way more than the
AskPHChristy animal? What's fair about that?

PHChristy we do get a lot of questions on that policy
PHChristy The classifieds are actually very cheap compared to the costs of other advertising such as newspapers, or trade shows
PHChristy For people with only one or two animals it's not usually worthwhile
PHChristy but running such a big system isn't cheap either
PHChristy or so Jeff tells me

jeffb Well everyone... Its 10 pm
jeffb actually 10:05

PHChristy Thank you all for coming....

PHWyvern 11pm too for east coast folks

PHScales 11pm

PHChristy i'ts only 8 here

jeffb Sorry I am a CST person

PHScales :::throwing a snowball at Christie:::

jeffb I want to thank all of our guests

PHChristy LOL

jeffb and all of our staff memberts and volunteers

PHChristy <---staff membert

PHWyvern iceballs come tomorrow too

PHChristy la la la I'm in California!

jeffb and I especially want to thank all of our visitors

PHScales Good night! Thanks to all for coming!

PHGinger cheap shot Christie

PHGinger snicker

jeffb and I hope you got a lot of your questions answered

PHChristy thank you all!