Chester Zoo Chester Zoo Discussion, Speculation & Questions 2018

[North Entrance]

Nice bit of generalisation there! Things like this don't exactly present ZooChat in a good light to the zoo community.

Sand Cat, come on, lighten up, @FunkyGibbon was obviously being ironic and quite funny too!
One thing I have noticed in this forum is that some people are as delicate as a china tea cup and get offended at the slightest thing. Chester Zoo is world class but not beyond constructive criticism, whether this forum is seen in a good light or not is immaterial if the comments are valid and not offensive, we all love Chester Zoo but we don't need to be sycophants.

 

[Maguari]

It mostly boils down to a case of considering the implications of what you're about to post and remembering you are (in most cases) on the outside and don't know the full story - ever - so, just from simple politeness if nothing else, it's best just to report observations and considered opinions and try not to assign motivations or explanations that the zoo hasn't provided.

 

[bongorob]

Well according to I believe @bongorob there was a time when a zoo didn't recieve an import. I don't remember exactly what he said but I think it was mentioned in last year's thread.

I don't remember that. The zoo has had a lot of imports fall through for various reasons, maybe there has been an incident which I commented on such as Paleomatt says. Two imports fell through in 2017, one was postponed by the zoo and another was not so clear cut, I heard from some people that the zoo was at fault, other people say the exporting country was to blame.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

whether this forum is seen in a good light or not is immaterial if the comments are valid and not offensive

I would argue it is not immaterial at all, given the fact that this site has caused legal problems in the past due to people running their mouths off and posting incorrect information, making unfounded and problematic claims, or following personal vendettas against a collection. Given the fact that we *know* that anti-zoo activists read this forum and use material posted here as ammunition, we have to be careful not to cross the line between reasoned opinion on one hand, and overt presumption of motivation/character on the other.

As such I would argue that Adrian's claims which were implicitly being countered by @FunkyGibbon do NOT get a pass as mere "constructive criticism" as you assert.

 

[agnmeln]

I see - on the surface it’s quite hard to imagine that comments posted on an Internet forum could have proper implications in the real world, other than causing a bit of offence / upset / annoyance. So thanks to all for the explanation.

 

[FunkyGibbon]

For clarity I was having a little dig at Adrian because I thought what they wrote was ridiculous, not because it was critical of Chester. If Chester can't take a little online criticism then it really is in trouble.

It's just as illogical for the 'zoo community' to form an opinion of the site based on a few posters as it is for those few posters to form opinions of zoos based on limited. More so in fact, given that the full breadth of ZooChat opinion is publically viewable, whereas most of the workings of zoos are not.

 

[North Entrance]

It mostly boils down to a case of considering the implications of what you're about to post and remembering you are (in most cases) on the outside and don't know the full story - ever - so, just from simple politeness if nothing else, it's best just to report observations and considered opinions and try not to assign motivations or explanations that the zoo hasn't provided.

All well and good, except for the fact that the Thread is called "Chester Zoo Discussion, Speculation & Questions", Speculation is defined as 'the forming of a theory or conjecture without firm evidence'. i.e doing exactly what you warn against.
There are many snippets of Chester Zoo Operational News which I choose not to post until the zoo gives the green light. Speculation is an all together different proposition.

 

[Maguari]

All well and good, except for the fact that the Thread is called "Chester Zoo Discussion, Speculation & Questions", Speculation is defined as 'the forming of a theory or conjecture without firm evidence'. i.e doing exactly what you warn against.
There are many snippets of Chester Zoo Operational News which I choose not to post until the zoo gives the green light. Speculation is an all together different proposition.

But speculation covers a broad range of topics, and I think its usage in the thread title is clearly intended to cover 'what if' topics about breeding, future species etc rather than speculation on the motivations and capability of zoo staff, as we are simply not placed to judge this.

Regardless of which, openly implying laziness or lack of interest (as was done upthread) based simply on some uncut foliage that could easily be a deliberate choice is simply a little rude, particularly given the zoo staff cannot respond openly and the issue is not justified by urgency (there's no risk to animals, visitors or staff, for instance).

As noted, if people are happy to throw around these kind of baseless statements then it's a) not going to make any friends at the zoo and b) potentially generating 'fake news' on behalf of the antis - and achieves nothing positive.

Having the right to say something is not the same as it being the right thing to do to say it - all I advocate for is thinking before posting, as I would anywhere on the Internet.

 

[Zia]

Well according to I believe @bongorob there was a time when a zoo didn't recieve an import. I don't remember exactly what he said but I think it was mentioned in last year's thread.

I don't remember that. The zoo has had a lot of imports fall through for various reasons, maybe there has been an incident which I commented on such as Paleomatt says. Two imports fell through in 2017, one was postponed by the zoo and another was not so clear cut, I heard from some people that the zoo was at fault, other people say the exporting country was to blame.

It was this slightly ridiculous conversation - and @PaleoMatt is correct. You seemed quite sure that things posted on Zoochat had prevented / impacted at least three UK zoo imports @bongorob.

Chester Zoo - "Bears of the World" random discussion

 

[Sand Cat]

The problem with humour and irony is it doesn't translate particularly well in writing on internet message boards. I don't have a problem with criticism of any zoo of course, but statements suggesting that staff are idle or whatever can easily be taken as being very rude, and don't strike me as being particularly funny! Bearing in mind that in the past a senior member of staff at Chester Zoo has been very kind in offering members of this forum a 'walk and talk' day, it would be a shame if a repeat was perhaps jeopardised by one or two potentially offensive comments.

 

[bongorob]

Thanks Zia

 

[bongorob]

The problem with humour and irony is it doesn't translate particularly well in writing on internet message boards. I don't have a problem with criticism of any zoo of course, but statements suggesting that staff are idle or whatever can easily be taken as being very rude, and don't strike me as being particularly funny! Bearing in mind that in the past a senior member of staff at Chester Zoo has been very kind in offering members of this forum a 'walk and talk' day, it would be a shame if a repeat was perhaps jeopardised by one or two potentially offensive comments.

Sorry Sand Cat, he will not do another one. The reason being that people talking about where to put the tree kangaroo caused a great deal of offence.

 

[Sand Cat]

Sorry Sand Cat, he will not do another one. The reason being that people talking about where to put the tree kangaroo caused a great deal of offence.

I didn't know that, what a shame. Again though it shows that people saying the wrong thing can have a real impact.

 

[Charlie Simmomds]

Sorry Sand Cat, he will not do another one. The reason being that people talking about where to put the tree kangaroo caused a great deal of offence.

That’s a bloody shame that. I remember that discussion last year I never thought it would have any affect like that. I personally would have loved to do an event like that with most of you. Alas I may not to any time soon at least.

 

[Fallax]

That’s a bloody shame that. I remember that discussion last year I never thought it would have any affect like that. I personally would have loved to do an event like that with most of you. Alas I may not to any time soon at least.

Wait, somebody catch me up. What happened with the tree kangaroo?

 

[bongorob]

People were saying where the tree kangaroo could be housed. Tim Rowlands took exception to the
discussion and cancelled the mammal walk and talks.

 

[FunkyGibbon]

Sorry Sand Cat, he will not do another one. The reason being that people talking about where to put the tree kangaroo caused a great deal of offence.

Without context this statement seems almost unbelievable. Could you expand a little more so we could understand?

 

[Charlie Simmomds]

Without context this statement seems almost unbelievable. Could you expand a little more so we could understand?

Last year after it was put on zoolister that Chester had acquired a tree kangaroo people began speculating where it could be put, most people suggested that they would be in islands at some point but people did suggest they should be housed in the Nissin hut, some of the hornbill aviaries in the tropical realm and a few others Im sure. I do remember certain members having to be told to be patient and wait that there was nowhere suitable for them. I also remember remarking in regards to the situation to trust the older members on the forum as they know much more than we do.

 

[Charlie Simmomds]

Last year after it was put on zoolister that Chester had acquired a tree kangaroo people began speculating where it could be put, most people suggested that they would be in islands at some point but people did suggest they should be housed in the Nissin hut, some of the hornbill aviaries in the tropical realm and a few others Im sure. I do remember certain members having to be told to be patient and wait that there was nowhere suitable for them. I also remember remarking in regards to the situation to trust the older members on the forum as they know much more than we do.

Please correct me if I’ve anything wrong there.

 

[FunkyGibbon]

Last year after it was put on zoolister that Chester had acquired a tree kangaroo people began speculating where it could be put, most people suggested that they would be in islands at some point but people did suggest they should be housed in the Nissin hut, some of the hornbill aviaries in the tropical realm and a few others Im sure. I do remember certain members having to be told to be patient and wait that there was nowhere suitable for them. I also remember remarking in regards to the situation to trust the older members on the forum as they know much more than we do.

Yes, I remember, and have just reread, that discussion. The idea that it could be considered offensive is beyond credulity (in my opinion), which is why I asked for more context.