Is Wild About Britain Impartial?

[StuartDH]

Wild About Britain has always aimed to be completely impartial on all topics relating to wildlife and the environment. We've always felt that in the interest of education it's important that every side of every debate should get a fair hearing.

However, we've recently been contacted by someone who is planning to make a complaint with the charity commission that we are biased and protecting the interests of particular groups.

While I've always thought that we do a good job of giving everyone a fair crack of the whip, I'd be really interested to know what you think. Is Wild About Britain biased on any particular topics? Do we appear to protect the interests of any particular groups? Do you think that any topic is unfairly represented because of something we're doing/not doing? This obviously goes far and wide to cover all topics/debates presented on the site and can extend to anywhere that you feel we're giving preferential treatment to either side.

If you could let me know either in this thread, PM or for anonymity then send an email to email@wildab.... it would be really appreciated and help us to understand whether we doing things as we think we are, or where we can make improvements.

Thanks

Stuart

[Garden Carpet]

Good grief!!!! Is this someone a someone who used to be a member? Sounds like it. How can they say we are partial when there are so many different threads on so many different subjects.

There are some threads I dont like but they are certainly not worth even commenting on mostly.

To Stu and all who sail our merry ship, you do a darn good job. I am not aware of any partiality on behalf of the 'management' or on behalf of the contributors.

Jaki

[thunder]

Can't see how WAB can be accused of not being impartial. I've not seen any indication of any point of view being banned - there is a huge variety of opinions being expressed, and anyone can have their say as long as they do it without being offensive.

I think the WAB management do a grand job.

henrya

[Tursiops2]

Originally Posted by Garden Carpet

Good grief!!!! Is this someone a someone who used to be a member? Sounds like it. How can they say we are partial when there are so many different threads on so many different subjects.

There are some threads I dont like but they are certainly not worth even commenting on mostly.

To Stu and all who sail our merry ship, you do a darn good job. I am not aware of any partiality on behalf of the 'management' or on behalf of the contributors.

Jaki

Seconded, couldn't put it better. Sounds like sour grapes.
T2

[StuartDH]

Originally Posted by Garden Carpet

Good grief!!!! Is this someone a someone who used to be a member? Sounds like it. How can they say we are partial when there are so many different threads on so many different subjects.

There are some threads I dont like but they are certainly not worth even commenting on mostly.

To Stu and all who sail our merry ship, you do a darn good job. I am not aware of any partiality on behalf of the 'management' or on behalf of the contributors.

Jaki

I don't want to give away anything that would point to who they are, because that would probably give away what topic(s) and what bias they're complaining about.

I'm not really concerned about them reporting us to the Charity Commission because, the last time I looked, charities are allowed to be partial (as long as they're independent of party politics). We choose to be impartial because we think that's the best way to serve everyone who visits the site; to hear all sides of every argument. That said, I'm curious as to whether or not we're getting it right or unknowingly getting it wrong

[naturelover]

always got to have an someone who puts a spanner in the works,i think this is a wonderful site i woulnt be here if it wasnt,some people are realey sad and want to get a life,i say let the grumpy person get on with it and keep up the good work.xx

[eeyore]

I'm not aware of any partiallity from mods/admin - obviously you get contributors that are partial on certain subjects (myself included) because everyone has an opinion but I have always felt that mods /admin are very fair in allowing everyone to have their say only intervening when people are getting personal or out of line

but I have worked in the charity sector pretty much my entire career and i can certainly second the view that charities are allowed to be partial - look at rspb, rspca, green peace, Badger trust, so forth so fifth loads of charities take a definite stance on green/countryside/wildlife topics and in fact in many cases its their raison d'etre - so i cant see the charity commision being remotely bothereded by this

[Garden Carpet]

I reckon you are doing all the right things Stu.
jaki

[DaiTheDragon]

I don't think this site could be accused of being biased as you can say what you like within reason. In my own opinion though some people may think you are condoning some subjects just by having a discussion about it.
The only example I can think of at the moment is Fox hunting. I’m guessing that the majority of people disagree with it on this site so perhaps they think it doesn’t even deserve discussion or that the site should express its views on a subject officially.
I hope you can see my point as I am not very good at explaining what I think.

Dai

[mh68]

At the end of the day Stu you and the other mods are only human and are doing the best you can,plus you all have other stuff to deal with as well as the forum.As far as i`m aware the only censorship on forum topics have been on those that have turned nasty,or been against forum policy which was already in place.No complaints on that score from me

Mark H

[svenrufus]

Yup, go along with the majority view here. It is an excellent forum for discussing not just the minutiae of a gnats gonads or whatever other anatomical feature is key to the, um..., key. It is a brilliant place to have - sometimes heated - debates on a wide range of other more or less environmentally based themes. I have been amazed by how often I have come to loggerheads with other users over some issue or another, and it has taught me a lot in terms of not assuming that just because we are all into the natural world, it doesn't mean that we agree on all other things. I'm an opinionated old goat, but never once have I felt constrained, or seen constraint put on anyone else over the issues we are debating. You are doing a terrific job. I've dipped in an out of other forums (fora? fori?) and find that this is the only one I keep coming back to - even when I really should be getting on with other things.
Keep it up
Cheers
Sven

[Blackbrook Eye]

Of course WAB is biased, it is biased in favour of protecting Wild Britain in all its aspects, I have yet to read a post that advocates the destruction of wildlife or habitat without a perfectly valid reason. As a group of individuals, we may differ in opinions as to the best way of preserving our wonderful country but as a group it seems that we are all kicking in the same direction for the same goal. If this is against charity commission rules, then most of the charities that I have had dealings with in the past would have to hang up their banners, It is my sincere hope that the person who feels it necessary to report us to the charity commission gets a fair hearing and is then treated with the contempt that he or she deserves. More power to your elbow Stu. and the rest of you who make this the best site on the web. bar none.

[Wild-Woman]

Everyone's views on subjects are treated with respect on this site, unless of course, they become rude, aggressive or turn into personal attacks on folk, inwhich case the mods do a sterling job of pointing this out politely to the offender or indeed bringing the thread to a natural conclusion as all angles of the subject being debated have been covered.
As already mentioned in posts above, this is a wildlife site-the subject we are all here for and we have different views and different perspectives on it. We are all given a chance to explain our view and from my part learn a great deal. We have some tip-top experts who have guided us through the minefield of identification skills and subjects individually we know very little about.
We have great photographers from all walks of life who ,because of the great standards of this site allow there shots to be viewed by the world.

What a shame someone feels that it's necessary to complain about this great site.

Stu and the mods do a first rate job. You'll not hear a complaint from me.

Jules

[smartie]

There is little I want to add to what everyone else has already said, but I did want to register my agreement with it.

What I particularly value about this site, aside from all the other stirling qualities already mentioned, is the general air of courtesy and good humour that usually pervades it, even when the arguments get a bit heated. A number of other sites I visit from time to time seem to me to generate and allow a level of personal abuse which I find very distasteful, with people hiding behind the anonymity of a pseudonym to say things online that I doubt they would dare say face to face. I'm very grateful to the mods for setting a very different tone here and dealing promptly with the few who would disrupt it.

[Billy Wobble Dagger]

What a huge shame that someone feels this way. I agree with all the previous posts, WAB is a great site, and you guys behind the scenes do a fantastic job. On an open forum such as this everyone has their own views and people are bound to disagree on certain matters, but that is not been biased that's having an opinion, as I understand we still have freedom of speech, well most of the time, in this country.
I'll take a big gamble here that the person in question has either started a thread on, or complained about something on, WAB and that the mods having disagreed with him and closed his thread. I would even have a guess as to which thread, but that would not solve the problem.
Hopefully this complaint will not come to anything, fingers crossed.

And a simple message to the person in question taken from the John Smiths Advert: Ya barred

[colincurry]

WAB is a very broad church that allows free expression provided that this is done in a reasonable manner. There are views that I don't agree with but I am confident that I may say so within the bounds of good taste.

Keep up the good work.

Colin

[paulchandler6]

As a relatively newish member I have found WAB very impartial and congenial.
I have learnt a good deal and with the diversity of folk on the site it is good fun, informative and a place where diverse views can be expressed and debated.
Its a shame that there are a minority (maybe 1) that does not feel the same way.
The mods do a great job considering their work load and the members help to contribute to a better understanding of our wildlife and environment.
Keep up the good work.

Paul

[SweetRocket]

I am very new here and I don't think I have ever come across such a nice forum to be in. I agree with the comments above, if this was a forum that was overly political I would be off like a shot!

This is par for the course with forums, there is always someone out there with a grudge and the aim to destroy so I would say, don't take too much notice!!

[pressld2]

Just want to add my voice to the chorus of approval. I've only been a member for 6 months but have never seen any evidence of bias or partiality in that time.

This is a wonderful forum! My only complaint (very toungue in cheek) would be that it keeps distracting me from what I should be doing!

Dave P.

[JennyS]

WAB provides a really valuable resource. Excellent forum.
From what I've seen of different threads theres a wide range of opinions voiced, and thats really important as it gives a chance to see things from different angles.
Its a really good mix of experts and amateurs too, I don't feel stupid asking for an id on a plant that could be really common and I have learnt so much the last year from the forum.

Stu and the mods do a first rate job.

I'd agree with that

[goosey]

I have never seen WAB as being biased and protecting the interests of particular groups. The open forum sometimes becomes a little heated with issues that are very important to peoples hearts but it usually is all very fair and diplomatic, apologies have been said if something has offended someone, usually because it hasn’t been quite clear how it was written. I thought a forum was for discussion, everyone being given a chance to put across their point of view-which is exactly what happens here. As long as there are no personal attacks on members for their ideals or being plain rude, people are free to give their own thoughts on wildlife and environmental issue – let’s be honest, these are the interests which brought us here in the first place. We all want to be heard, help and be helped – someone has obviously taken umbrage and now want to screw things up for everyone one else.
Well done Stuart and all the moderators - you keep us on the straight and narrow and have built a great community.

[John D]

As someone who reads through most threads and participates in some, I can't say that WAB can be accused of being biased in anyway. From what I have read and participated in, I would say that most, if not all threads resulted in portraying an even balance of the topic under discussion. Obviously there are times when threads could show bias in one direction depending on when the thread is viewed. This could be the opinion obtained if one was just to make a short visit to the site and not follow a thread through. However as the thread advances equality is usually obtained.
Due to the large number of WAB members with such diverse interests etc it is very unlikely that a definite bias is ever likely to be obtained. We all have different experiences and opinions of the various topics under discussion.
It would be interesting to find out the motive behind this complaint.
John D

[Gill Catton]

yes I agree with what has already been said and I'm not really sure how someone could think WAB was biased towards anything seeing as usually there seem to be passionate people on both sides of most arguments

[helen253]

yup, i'm with everyone else, i'm a new member and don't post all that often but i read every day and love this site, everyone is courteous and polite and extremely helpful. i haven't come across any evidence of a lack of impartiality...keep up the excellent work!