What are you good at?

[Top Trilo]

I know for people new to TFF like myself it would be nice to have a place where everyone can say what they're good at. It could be a specific era, location or just be dinosaurs or trilobites. This way people know who to ask if they want an ID for something very specific. I don't know if this already exists but if it doesn't here it is.

 

I don't have much fossil experience so other members would probably be a better fit but I would say my strength is teeth, shark teeth, dinosaur teeth, mammal teeth, any kind of teeth.

[Kane]

I think that happens somewhat organically as Members with specialized expertise become fairly evident the longer one spends here.  

[Fossildude19]

I think Kane is correct.

If there is something in particular needing an ID, as long as the title of the topic is clear and concise, it should attract those with interest/knowledge of those types of fossils. 

Vague titles like "What is this?"  or "Is this a Fossil?"  don't draw experts as well as  "Shark tooth needs ID" or "Dinosaur footprint?" would. 

We are usually a pretty modest bunch, and don't generally "profess expertise" with certain fossils. 

 

By the way, I am good at grilling burgers.  

 

[Bobby Rico]

Also I think members will give other members heads up if they think they may be able to help with an ID
 

52 minutes ago, Fossildude19 said:

grilling burgers.

Tim I am good at eating them 

[Fossildude19]

Bobby brings up a good point. 

Members with more Forum experience tend to tag more knowledgeable members when they see something that falls within a certain members experience set.

 

[FossilsAnonymous]

1 hour ago, Fossildude19 said:

Bobby brings up a good point. 

Members with more Forum experience tend to tag more knowledgeable members when they see something that falls within a certain members experience set.

 

I’ve tagged many a member in my time on the forum when my experience just didn’t qualify for the question. It’s a useful system because then the Taggers can learn something for next time!

[Mioplosus_Lover24]

I'd like to think I'm good at fish! But I normally just lurk around here and look around, help where I can and ask alot of questions! 

[Malcolmt]

Pretty much no matter how good you think you might be at something there is generally someone out there that can do it better. Its a very big world out there and we are all small fish in a very big pond.    

[Mioplosus_Lover24]

11 minutes ago, Malcolmt said:

Pretty much no matter how good you think you might be at something there is generally someone out there that can do it better. Its a very big world out there and we are all small fish in a very big pond.    

Haha... what kind of fish? 

[FossilDAWG]

I don't think a list like that is a good idea.  People will just PM individuals off the list to ID their mystery fossil (or rock).  Anyone on the list will be bombarded with PMs, and everyone else will never see the fossils in question.  The ID forum works well, especially if people use the tags correctly to put in useful information.  Everyone gets to see the fossils and follow the discussion, and offer their own suggestions.  New members can also make their mark, instead of being passed over because they aren't on the list.

 

Don

[Pagurus]

44 minutes ago, Malcolmt said:

... we are all small fish in a very big pond.    

 

[FossilNerd]

This could potentially be a long and confusing list. 

Sure there are "experts" in certain general areas like trilobites, dinosaurs, and sharks, but there are also people more knowledgeable in certain geological time periods or even certain types of flora/fauna from those times periods, or formations, or a genus/species from a particular formation.

I guess what I am saying is that we have people knowledgeable in broader categories, but also people very knowledgeable in specific niches, who may not be called upon often, but are a wellspring of information when they are. A comprehensive list to include everyone that may have knowledge in a certain area would get rather long and cumbersome. 

[Top Trilo]

i see what you mean. Thank you for clearing it up.

[erose]

I agree that the idea is good but not practical. The Forum has a way of self-regulating when it comes to special interests.  When I see posts from places I know I often respond. Other stuff I might ignore.  I could waste a lot of time if I went thru every new post.  And YES, please add tags for location and age.