Unidentified Gallery, any point?

DaiTheDragon · #1 (**permalink**) 24-05-2007, 09:49 PM

Why do members put photographs in the forums sections asking for ID. I thought that was the purpose of the Unidentified gallery. Is it because there is more chance of getting a reply in the forum section. I can understand new members doing it perhaps but there are well established members also doing it.

Dai

eeyore · #2 (**permalink**) 24-05-2007, 09:55 PM

I would have thought that this was one of the main purposes of the forums - especially those dedicated to specific families - an identification request in the forums also allows for a discussion about it, and of coursethe forums are much more heavily viewed than the gallery

IMO the correct protocol is to load the picture up to the unid gallery then link from there to the relevant forum

Kymba · #3 (**permalink**) 24-05-2007, 10:33 PM

I like them in the forums, because when an ID is wanted I try and look it up in my books and on the Web and identify it.. If I am right i am chuffed, if i am wrong then i learn what it is and things about it. It is a great way to learn new things. Cos come on you never stop learning about wildlife and nature

By the way pete I like your new saying,

seem very apt

glsammy · #4 (**permalink**) 24-05-2007, 10:43 PM

The unidentified was started for, err, unidentified shots! The Forum Gallery was introduced to allow users to upload other types of images that don't fit into any of the main Galleries to help make a point in a thread. You shouldn't really load images to be identified into the Forum gallery, as you said that's the purpose of the Unidentified, but as it's not moderated, there's nothing to stop them!

goosey · #5 (**permalink**) 25-05-2007, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaiTheDragon

Why do members put photographs in the forums sections asking for ID. I thought that was the purpose of the Unidentified gallery. Is it because there is more chance of getting a reply in the forum section. I can understand new members doing it perhaps but there are well established members also doing it.

Dai

Well I am sorry that I don't know as much as you

If it wasn't being able to up load my Id's on to the forums and in return often get the most informative answers by people who kindly take time out to reply. They obviously enjoy helping or they wouldnt do it. When they point out something specific, a clue to identification on my paticular photo its so much easier to understand than ploughing through library books or Googling aimlessly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by eeyore

I would have thought that this was one of the main purposes of the forums - especially those dedicated to specific families - an identification request in the forums also allows for a discussion about it, and of coursethe forums are much more heavily viewed than the gallery

Exactly! that is why I am here and learning every day, and if I can actually help someone thats a bonus for me.

DaiTheDragon · #6 (**permalink**) 25-05-2007, 09:27 AM

Well as usual I seem to have got it wrong. Since I have been a member, if I wanted someone to help me ID something I put it in the Unidentified Gallery (which I use a lot). I thought Forums were for discussion and Galleries were for viewing, never mind I know now where to ask for help with ID.

Dai

glsammy · #7 (**permalink**) 25-05-2007, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaiTheDragon

Well as usual I seem to have got it wrong. Since I have been a member, if I wanted someone to help me ID something I put it in the Unidentified Gallery (which I use a lot). I thought Forums were for discussion and Galleries were for viewing, never mind I know now where to ask for help with ID.

Dai

Of course your not wrong Dai. As I said earlier, the Forum is for images that don't need to be identified. It's the price we pay for having unmoderated Galleries.

jezlee · #8 (**permalink**) 25-05-2007, 10:22 AM

Okay, as one who regularly posts in the Insect Forum for ID help, I think the current system works very well. I post my pic to the Unidentified Gallery, and then start a thread in the Insect Forum with a link to the picture. As someone said earlier, the forums are viewed on a daily basis by most people, unlike the galleries, and therefore you are much more likely to get a speedy response to your question on the forums. Plus, as again was stated earlier, this can then stimulate healthy discussion and debate about a particular species or topic, all prompted by the original post ....

eeyore · #9 (**permalink**) 25-05-2007, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glsammy

Of course your not wrong Dai. As I said earlier, the Forum is for images that don't need to be identified. It's the price we pay for having unmoderated Galleries.

I think there is a slight confusion here - I take it you are saying that the unidentified gallery is for undidentified shots whilst the forum images gallery is for other shots which people want to post - i agree completely with this.

however when I said forum - I meant the place with lots of posts in it - where people can link an unidentified image (from the unidentified gallery) and ask for help identifying it

Paul mabbott · #10 (**permalink**) 25-05-2007, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaiTheDragon

Well as usual I seem to have got it wrong. Since I have been a member, if I wanted someone to help me ID something I put it in the Unidentified Gallery (which I use a lot). I thought Forums were for discussion and Galleries were for viewing, never mind I know now where to ask for help with ID.
Dai

Sorted out then! I think there are probably quite a few people like me who don't often go to the galleries unless directed there by a link from a forum. So belt and braces necessary!

glsammy · #11 (**permalink**) 25-05-2007, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eeyore

I think there is a slight confusion here - I take it you are saying that the unidentified gallery is for undidentified shots whilst the forum images gallery is for other shots which people want to post - i agree completely with this.

however when I said forum - I meant the place with lots of posts in it - where people can link an unidentified image (from the unidentified gallery) and ask for help identifying it

Yep, that's exactly what I meant, and I agree entirely with that Pete!

The Black Rabbit · #12 (**permalink**) 04-06-2007, 02:38 PM

I have literally only just found the WAB site, about 2 weeks ago.
This is my first post!
I'm a qualified Zoologist (from many moons ago) with a lifelong interest in the natural fauna of the British Isles.
It's a fantastic site, and I use the unidentified site CONSTANTLY!
If I can be of any help at all with identifying any species on that particular gallery, then I'm more than happy to help. (I just hope I get the ID right)!
I do wish though, that someone might identify my "unidentified beetle" on my girlfriend's hand - a photo that I uploaded onto the unidentified gallery a few days ago - its really got us stumped (and not only am I a zoologist, working (loosely) in the industry, she's second in science (biology) in local school!)

Cheers,
TBR.

ollyk · #13 (**permalink**) 04-06-2007, 03:00 PM

You might want to start a thread entitled 'unidentified beetle' or similar BR as people generally don't browse the unid forums on a regular basis...

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Black Rabbit

I have literally only just found the WAB site, about 2 weeks ago.
This is my first post!
I'm a qualified Zoologist (from many moons ago) with a lifelong interest in the natural fauna of the British Isles.
It's a fantastic site, and I use the unidentified site CONSTANTLY!
If I can be of any help at all with identifying any species on that particular gallery, then I'm more than happy to help. (I just hope I get the ID right)!
I do wish though, that someone might identify my "unidentified beetle" on my girlfriend's hand - a photo that I uploaded onto the unidentified gallery a few days ago - its really got us stumped (and not only am I a zoologist, working (loosely) in the industry, she's second in science (biology) in local school!)

Cheers,
TBR.

Paul mabbott · #14 (**permalink**) 04-06-2007, 03:17 PM

Quite so - and it's also useful to have some indication of size.
This picture is reminiscent of many female leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) at this time of year. I probably wouldn't even hazard a guess even if I knew the size but there are other options if this is very small or large ....

Quote:

Originally Posted by ollyk

You might want to start a thread entitled 'unidentified beetle' or similar BR as people generally don't browse the unid forums on a regular basis...

The Black Rabbit · #15 (**permalink**) 04-06-2007, 03:28 PM

Ok. Will do in future! Cheers for the advice. (and as for size of that particular beetle- 4-5mm I would say, in length).
Thanks again.
TBR

Paul mabbott · #16 (**permalink**) 04-06-2007, 03:33 PM

Then most likely a leaf-beetle - wrong colour for the dock beetle (Gastrophysa viridula) but (there are pics in the gallery) you will see the similarities .... sorry, not enough detail for me to help but perhaps others will recognise it - put a link to the picture in the insects forum ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Black Rabbit

Ok. Will do in future! Cheers for the advice. (and as for size of that particular beetle- 4-5mm I would say, in length).
Thanks again.
TBR

mrs fish · #17 (**permalink**) 04-06-2007, 03:40 PM

Do pics posted in unided get up loaded straight away like they do in forum images?

matt_xyz · #18 (**permalink**) 04-06-2007, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrs fish

Do pics posted in unided get up loaded straight away like they do in forum images?

yes, it is an unmoderated gallery

Matt

mrs fish · #19 (**permalink**) 04-06-2007, 03:51 PM

ok thanks

cybershot · #20 (**permalink**) 05-06-2007, 01:23 PM

I tend to be a bit belt and braces in this respect; uploading into either the forum gallery or the unidentified gallery for the purpose of linking to a forum topic, because in my experience mainly in the fungi areas, I find that more meaningful debate, valuable advice and helpful information is generated by discussion in the forums than by replies to images in the general unidentified gallery. A very recent innovation is the creation of a Fungi sub-gallery for UF(ungi)O's and it will be interesting to see if this initiates more commentary on the images submitted to it.

Paul mabbott · #21 (**permalink**) 05-06-2007, 05:40 PM

The need for the unidentified gallery is shown by the fact that I just went to the insect gallery, to search for something and on the first page I notice two wrongly identified beetle pics. I wasn't even looking for them and I didn't check any other insect types.

Surely folk should be putting their insects pictures into the 'unidentified' unless they are absolutely sure they are correct or have had their id verified by someone who knows the taxon?

Should, indeed, not all insect uploads have a link to the forum so that they're likely to be checked?

DaiTheDragon · #22 (**permalink**) 05-06-2007, 08:58 PM

Judging my most of the replies so far I still think I am right in saying that the unidentified gallery is not really serving the purpose for which it was intended. If you can ID a subject in the unidentified gallery you can still post comments and help in that gallery so maybe more people should use it.

Dai