Our Illustrious Moderators

AmbikaFan

AmbikaFan

Well-Known Member
I hope this isn't out of line, but I'm a nocturnal creature, and as I sit here in the wee hours and notice the moderators faithfully signing in and out to serve our community, I think of the sheer amount of not only knowledge, but wisdom, that I've benefitted from over time. I find myself curious what professions and education these mentors have to have acquired all they know? With only usernames, their identities are safely protected, so I hope I'm not being impolite to inquire!
 
I grew up in a time before there was internet (and before home computers were common, really - didn't even have a tv for a long time) and I basically read every animal book I could find and bought any animal book I could afford. That's where all my knowledge came from. Books are a far better base for knowledge than the way today's youth (at whom I shake my fist) get three-second bites from googling and learn nothing. It's that basic "earn it and you remember it" thing - back then you had to remember everything you learned because you couldn't just re-find that information immediately.

Most of my working life has been in zoos and aquariums but currently I work for a courier company.
 
Chlidonias said:
I grew up in a time before there was internet (and before home computers were common, really - didn't even have a tv for a long time) and I basically read every animal book I could find and bought any animal book I could afford. That's where all my knowledge came from. Books are a far better base for knowledge than the way today's youth (at whom I shake my fist) get three-second bites from googling and learn nothing. It's that basic "earn it and you remember it" thing - back then you had to remember everything you learned because you couldn't just re-find that information immediately.

Most of my working life has been in zoos and aquariums but currently I work for a courier company.
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I thought you were a ninja assassin?
 
Chlidonias said:
I grew up in a time before there was internet (and before home computers were common, really - didn't even have a tv for a long time) and I basically read every animal book I could find and bought any animal book I could afford. That's where all my knowledge came from. Books are a far better base for knowledge than the way today's youth (at whom I shake my fist) get three-second bites from googling and learn nothing. It's that basic "earn it and you remember it" thing - back then you had to remember everything you learned because you couldn't just re-find that information immediately.

Most of my working life has been in zoos and aquariums but currently I work for a courier company.
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OK.....

I mean that is a sweeping generalisation. I am only 14 but I grew up learning from books, not the Internet. I accept most of today's youth learn from the internet but..

Plus, you shouldn't shake your fist at us - after all we are the generation that may or may not manage to save the world from global extinction, overheating and pollution...
 
amur leopard said:
Plus, you shouldn't shake your fist at us - after all we are the generation that may or may not manage to save the world from global extinction, overheating and pollution...
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Oh hell, mine was a generation that may or may not save the globe from global catastrophe. All signs are pointing to "may not..." and the stakes keep going up with each generation that slips into greater human population and resource use.
 
My family often went to the zoo when I was growing up, as we were lucky enough to live very near Whipsnade, which is my childhood zoo. So, zoos were always my thing. Visits to London Zoo fostered my interest in zoo history. And David Attenborough showed me the rest of the world through his classic documentary series. However, I've not worked in zoos; my background is in geology and palaeontology, and I've spent my career working in museums and heritage organisations as a catalogue and collections database specialist. I always knew I wanted to work in museums; dinosaurs have a lot to answer for! But that is all very indoors and computer focused, so zoos now also get me out and about in the fresh air (although I do love the sweet smell of a giraffe house!) :) when I'm not at work or at zoos, I'll usually be found tending my collection of orchids. If anyone invents BotanicgardenChat or MuseumChat, I won't have any free time left!
 
Crowthorne said:
My family often went to the zoo when I was growing up, as we were lucky enough to live very near Whipsnade, which is my childhood zoo. So, zoos were always my thing. Visits to London Zoo fostered my interest in zoo history. And David Attenborough showed me the rest of the world through his classic documentary series. However, I've not worked in zoos; my background is in geology and palaeontology, and I've spent my career working in museums and heritage organisations as a catalogue and collections database specialist. I always knew I wanted to work in museums; dinosaurs have a lot to answer for! But that is all very indoors and computer focused, so zoos now also get me out and about in the fresh air (although I do love the sweet smell of a giraffe house!) :) when I'm not at work or at zoos, I'll usually be found tending my collection of orchids. If anyone invents BotanicgardenChat or MuseumChat, I won't have any free time left!
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I also have worked in a museum and used to grow orchids.
 
amur leopard said:
OK.....

I mean that is a sweeping generalisation. I am only 14 but I grew up learning from books, not the Internet. I accept most of today's youth learn from the internet but..

Plus, you shouldn't shake your fist at us - after all we are the generation that may or may not manage to save the world from global extinction, overheating and pollution...
Click to expand...

I call Foul. These folks are on here because they basically know every species that exists AND everywhere you can find every one. I asked this as a way to understand how and what they learned--not to undermine their views. These are clearly our mentors, and we should treat them as such.

Chli, I didn't realize we were of the same rough age, but it would explain the wisdom you have to calm an exploding thread with a mere sentence! Something that can't be learned from book or internet. You've also saved me a bit of embarrassment a few times, such as when I innocently asked why no one was talking about aquatic species on the Dallas World Aquarium thread--and someone replied, "Who cares about all that. We're just interested in birds.". Chli sensitively rescued with a sweet comment about how odd that sounded. Thank you for sharing¡
 
AmbikaFan said:
These folks are on here because they basically know every species that exists AND everywhere you can find every one. I asked this as a way to understand how and what they learned--not to undermine their views. These are clearly our mentors, and we should treat them as such.
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Just to be clear though, the moderators were not chosen for their knowledge of zoos and animals - they were chosen for their ability to keep the community operating smoothly.
 
AmbikaFan said:
I call Foul. These folks are on here because they basically know every species that exists AND everywhere you can find every one. I asked this as a way to understand how and what they learned--not to undermine their views. These are clearly our mentors, and we should treat them as such.

Chli, I didn't realize we were of the same rough age, but it would explain the wisdom you have to calm an exploding thread with a mere sentence! Something that can't be learned from book or internet. You've also saved me a bit of embarrassment a few times, such as when I innocently asked why no one was talking about aquatic species on the Dallas World Aquarium thread--and someone replied, "Who cares about all that. We're just interested in birds.". Chli sensitively rescued with a sweet comment about how odd that sounded. Thank you for sharing¡
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I'm certainly not criticizing our moderators or anything like that, they are fantastic and do a great job..
I am just saying that Chli's proclaimed hate of the youth of today is unfounded...
Not sure if he was saying he hates them but hey...

Zooplantman said:
Oh hell, mine was a generation that may or may not save the globe from global catastrophe. All signs are pointing to "may not..." and the stakes keep going up with each generation that slips into greater human population and resource use.
Click to expand...

I'm getting the impression that nowadays, people, especially young people thankfully, are starting to realise the danger the planet is in and are starting to act as can be seen by Extinction rebellion etc..
This kinda suggests that current 18-20 year olds will 'save the earth', then 12-18 year olds will bear the economic burden it will have on the world and then younger than 11 will profit.
 
Crowthorne said:
My family often went to the zoo when I was growing up, as we were lucky enough to live very near Whipsnade, which is my childhood zoo. So, zoos were always my thing. Visits to London Zoo fostered my interest in zoo history. And David Attenborough showed me the rest of the world through his classic documentary series. However, I've not worked in zoos; my background is in geology and palaeontology, and I've spent my career working in museums and heritage organisations as a catalogue and collections database specialist. I always knew I wanted to work in museums; dinosaurs have a lot to answer for! But that is all very indoors and computer focused, so zoos now also get me out and about in the fresh air (although I do love the sweet smell of a giraffe house!) :) when I'm not at work or at zoos, I'll usually be found tending my collection of orchids. If anyone invents BotanicgardenChat or MuseumChat, I won't have any free time left!
Click to expand...

A paleontologist?! You must be able to look at living animals and envision ancient skeletons! You connect us with how we came to be here sharing this planet. Super cool! (Is there anything you don't do?!)
 
AmbikaFan said:
A paleontologist?! You must be able to look at living animals and envision ancient skeletons! You connect us with how we came to be here sharing this planet. Super cool! (Is there anything you don't do?!)
Click to expand...

I can't drive. This fact tends to worry or surprise anyone outside the M25
 
Crowthorne said:
My family often went to the zoo when I was growing up, as we were lucky enough to live very near Whipsnade, which is my childhood zoo. So, zoos were always my thing. Visits to London Zoo fostered my interest in zoo history. And David Attenborough showed me the rest of the world through his classic documentary series. However, I've not worked in zoos; my background is in geology and palaeontology, and I've spent my career working in museums and heritage organisations as a catalogue and collections database specialist. I always knew I wanted to work in museums; dinosaurs have a lot to answer for! But that is all very indoors and computer focused, so zoos now also get me out and about in the fresh air (although I do love the sweet smell of a giraffe house!) :) when I'm not at work or at zoos, I'll usually be found tending my collection of orchids. If anyone invents BotanicgardenChat or MuseumChat, I won't have any free time left!
Click to expand...

Very interesting to hear about your work in these institutions Crowthorne , as I'm a big museum fan myself.

May I ask , is it possible to know some of the museums you have worked with ? or what your favourite assignment during that time was ?
 
Chlidonias said:
I grew up in a time before there was internet (and before home computers were common, really - didn't even have a tv for a long time) and I basically read every animal book I could find and bought any animal book I could afford. That's where all my knowledge came from. Books are a far better base for knowledge than the way today's youth (at whom I shake my fist) get three-second bites from googling and learn nothing. It's that basic "earn it and you remember it" thing - back then you had to remember everything you learned because you couldn't just re-find that information immediately.

Most of my working life has been in zoos and aquariums but currently I work for a courier company.
Click to expand...
I got most of my knowledge and wonder from reading about animals! You should see my shelf, its chocked full of over 900 page animal encyclopedias. And I think the great thing is that you never stop learning, and other than being out with nature, my favorite place to be is the library. It was like my haven when I was a young child. I used to just constantly beg my mom to go to the library, but now I can bike there in about 5 min. Just saying, the generation with the internet and google searching hasn't really been taking over every person in this generation, especially not this person.
 
As a former moderator I can tell you from an insider's perspective that it is a lot of work (one of the reasons I resigned). I have also been on other (photography) forums that are not well moderated and it makes a difference. Whatever their backgrounds are (which is interesting), we all owe a huge debt of gratitude for what they do.
 
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