No one has done anything to break any of the rules but I just realized only 1 person had read them and that could have been me. So I thought I would post the guidelines and rules as a forum. This way you can also comment on them.



COMPANION PARROT ONLINE FORUM RULES

For many years, I have monitored several Internet forums. They can be a wonderful source of information but there can be a major problem. Anonymity can create a lack of accountability for both inaccurate information and petty gossip used to bash people.

I want the forums at members.companionparrot.com to be for people who are genuinely interested in positive conversations and accurate information about parrots.

Information within these forums needs to be aligned with the concepts and principles of "Nurturing Guidance" in regards to companion parrots. For more about these theories, there are articles in the member article section.

This is not a place to espouse rigid beliefs as in all parrots should .... or all parrots shouldn't .... or it is abusive to trim wings or not to trim wings, it is abusive to cage birds, or not to cage birds etc.

I am at odds with much of the rigid bird trick training information coming from the people who tout operant conditioning as the WAY to solve anything and everything. Operant conditioning is an over 75 year-old food reward concept that is used predominantly by people who train animals to do tricks for entertainment. I believe that it is often impractical and doesn’t allow people to see the individual traits and personalities of both the parrots and their caregivers. I am far more interested the variables in the relationship between people and their parrots. I certainly have always believed in positive reinforcement and have written about the concept for over 30 years. It is extremely important to me that my forums will not become another venue for the rigid rhetoric of operant conditioning.

For a variety of reasons, I would appreciate it that if you want to refer someone to another site on these forums, that you check it out with me first.

To avoid anonymity and keep people accountable for their posts, I am asking people to use their names when they sign a post. I will be answering as many of your questions as I can but may point you to an in-depth article on the topic that I have already written. If you post a question for me to answer, I will be happy to do so as my time permits. However, I will ask you for your full name, because I really like to know who I am talking with.

Participants need to keep to parrot-related topics and if a person becomes rude or insulting to anyone else (including me) on the forum, they will be warned one time. However, messages that are bashing someone may be removed immediately. If that behavior continues, they will be removed from the forum. If they are a magazine subscriber, they will still receive their full on-line subscription. However, they will no longer be allowed to participate in the extras on the Companion Parrot On-line Magazine site.

That's about it for now

Sally