Sea Slug Forum on verge of closing

[Leslie Harris]

Devastating news on the Sea Slug Forum -- looks like it's going to be shut down in a few days due to technical problems and lack of monetary support. http://www.seaslugforum.net/message/23712

I'm sure Bill would appreciate any reasonable suggestions & more to the point, actual help in keeping the forum going. SSF is an incredibly valuable resource for all of us and it would be a great shame if it would be converted to a static database. I can't think of any site which has its wealth of diver/beachgoer's/academic/aquarist observations backed by good photography and Bill's umpteen years of experience - especially Bill! Unlike the usual academic taxonomist who isn't in the least interested in what Joe Diver has to say Bill has always appreciated what thousands of pairs of keen eyes all looking for tiny bits of color can contribute to science.

I've joined others in urging Bill to set up some way in which we can contribute monetarily. It would be a good way to say "thank you" for all the help we've received. Even if people didn't know it existed before today they've benefited from the SSF. That's where many of the others who chime in with IDs for photos get their information. Think about it - how many of us have spent hundreds of dollars on guide books? Make that thousands for some people. Now consider the thousands spent on gear to take all those nudi photos needing IDs! We can certainly afford to send Bill a few bucks to express our gratitude and help keep the Forum going.

[Kevin Lee]

Thanks for posting this news on the UPG Forum, Les. I've known about the pending termination of the Sea Slug Forum for some time, but was hoping that it would somehow surmount the technical/financial challenges needed to survive. Some of us have considered a donation drive, but the idea withered on the vine. There was discussion on having another scientific organization (in the USA) take over and continue running the site, but seems a thicket of legal issues may snuff out this option. Bill Rudman deserves high praise for his many years of effort in nurturing the Sea Slug Forum. Certainly many folks around the world have benefited from the SSF and enjoyed the knowledge, photos and friendships it has created. Your own posts, Leslie, have been great.

Cheers, K:-)

[scottg]

I've read all of the posts about the sea slug forum closing, that's really too bad, I've always enjoyed the site.

I really hope he can find a way to convert the site to an easily maintainable format.

After seeing the extremely high costs of maintaining the current site, it doesn't look like that could be or should be an option.

Here's a link to Bill Rudman's post about the site (Leslie also posted the link above):
http://www.seaslugforum.net/message/23712

[Leslie Harris]

Kev and Dave - would you go a bit more into the problems? And why the idea for a donation drive was dropped? Responses on other boards have ranged from people saying their would offer technical to site owners thinking about offering to host it.

[sddiverdude]

if things change and donations would help, let me know, i would be glad to help, as i am sure , others would too.

[Dave Behrens]

Hi All:

Bill Rudman currently has 4 offers to take over hosting the Forum. All are good ones, but his management is pushing him to stay within Australia. That option is the least preferable.

My preference would be California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. This is going to be a huge decision for Bill, as he has so many years of Blood, Sweat and Tears into the Forum. Its like giving up a child and watching the new parents adopt it and change its name. That a tough one.

I think we should all support Bill in whatever decision he makes. Lets just be patient. This issue is not new and has been around for over a year.

Dave

[Kevin Lee]

Thanks for the update, Dave... good points all... K:-)

[scottg]

thanks for the update Dave