General Tortoise Discussion: Why are some posts moved out and others are not?

[Neltharion]

Just to satisfy my own curiosity, I recently noticed that some posts (even though they are tortoise related) are moved, but other similar posts are not.

Example:

Question related to health and substrate was moved out of General Tortoise Discussion into Tortoise Health:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-Neck-Wound#axzz1gsyJpVXZ

Yet, many posts that are health related are posted in General Tortoise Discussion, and allowed to remain there without being moved:

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-Back-from-the-Vet-Follow-Up#axzz1gsyJpVXZ

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-Injured-Tort-Help-please#axzz1gsyJpVXZ

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-UPDATE-With-Pics-Treating-My-Injured-RF-At-Home#axzz1gsyJpVXZ



Different topic:

A topic about Russians is moved:

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-russian-tortoise-question#axzz1gsyJpVXZ

Yet different topics about Russians are allowed to remain without being moved:

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-Russian-tort-feeding-behavior#axzz1gsyJpVXZ

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-New-Rescue-Russians#axzz1gsyJpVXZ


The General category attracts more viewers, and is more likely to obtain responses than the narrower categories. From that standpoint, it is advantageous to post in the general category if one is looking for feedback from several sources. If there is some criteria why certain posts are allowed to remain in the General category, yet others are moved out, I am interested in knowing what that criteria is?

 

[Kristina]

There really isn't a set criteria. Usually threads are moved if a particular moderator reads the thread and feels that it would receive better responses in a different category. Also, a lot of times it just depends on whether the thread is "caught" by us or not. If one of us doesn't realize that it may be in the wrong category, it won't be moved

In your example threads, the first thread about Russians was directly pertaining to Russians as a species, which is why it was moved to the Russian section. The second thread would have been better served by moving it to the feeding section, while the third is just a general post on a couple of rescued tortoises, and asks no questions on food or care, so was posted in the general section (I know this for a fact because it is my thread )

 

[Jacqui]

Like Kristina said, it's a judgement call. Often there is also not one place where a thread seems to "fit" the best. In fact not so long ago, there was one I recall about tree leaves and Stars (maybe?). I thought it should be a question for the plant ID section and moved it there. I came back to see another Mod had moved it back into the species thread section.

For me it's also a time factor thing. By that I mean, I usually am not moving threads on any visit, when it's a quick pop in or out. If I have spare time, then I start housekeeping (moving threads). Unfortunately, I do tend to start with the current threads first, so ones that have slipped down I don't always get to.

I also have let something sit in general to give it time for responses before moving it. Even I don't have a strict rule I follow on if I let it stick or not, it's more what "feels" right to me at the time.

 

[Yvonne G]

And sometimes we just plain don't see that its in the wrong category.