Bergermeister

...Not Damek :)

Maybe the Irish boys can answer this why did Des Fagan leave Ireland?

Welcome to the age of the internet Des Fagan.

Clearly not too many of you or you would know he is amongst the World's foremost authorities on the treatment and detection of all things that ail the racind greyhound. I might add in all my dealings with him I have found him to be very down to earth and only too willing to freely pass on his comprehensive knowledge to the layman. Unlike some vets with far less ability and knowledge Des's consultation and service fees to the greyhound fraternity are always very, very reasonable.

This topic is about the article that appeared in the NGF comparing internet forums such as this to a "Delhi slum, inhabited by millions, full of squalor, congestion and oozing a filthy polluted discharge."

I can understand what Des is saying as not all of the advice posted on internet forums is good advice but most of it is very good advice posted by someone who has experienced the injury/ailment posted about.

Howard over many years you yourself have given good advice on internet forums based on your previous experience, do you consider any greyhounds in the care of trainers heeding your advice to be greyhounds "at risk" as stated by Des?

As I said I can understand Des' point here but I do think his article could have been written in a more subtle fashion, would you not agree?

From the replies posted I think we can rate Des:-

Greyhound Vet....10/10
Journalist....No.

Stick to the Practise and the Vet's Column Des. ;)

ARMCHAIR EXPERTS
The Internet is a bit like a Delhi slum, inhabited by millions, full of squalor, congestion and oozing a filthy polluted discharge. Yet within this precinct abounds stories of enterprise, education, hope and success as incredible as any witnessed in the developed world. The Delhi slums and their inhabitants are as important to life of the city as is oxygen. So with our lives, take the internet away for a weekend and most of us are beginning to suffocate...the younger you are, the faster you succumb. Most of us have been lucky enough to have been born in Australia, or find it early in our lives. Our natural attitude to slum dwellers is one of antipathy and I must say I am no different to that.

It is certainly not on my holiday list at this time. Cramped accommodation, along with high crime and disease, are not usually boxes travel agents like to tick. These slum citizens do not ask to be given the life they have, but the majority accept it and like any of us, work their way towards a better one.

The virtual world, like the slum, is as yet uncivilised and largely unpoliced. Apart from the vilest crimes, few in authority any any interest in the goings on in the ethersphere. Anarchy reigns and often the one who shouts the loudest has the most influence. What is being shouted does not have to be true because the consequences for untruths are negligible. Whether it football, politics or even greyhound racing, the internet has given expression to a deluge of armchair experts.

The forum dweller is a new entity in this virtual world,they deliver opinion so frequently that they develop a skill for imparting plausibility. In the virtual world they are compelling and impressive, however in reality these experts are mostly unsuccessful and unenterprising individuals. They usually have training in nothing related to there expertis, and most of all they lack integrity. Their opinions sway in the wind from all points of the compass and are hardly ever anchored down by facts.

The new trainer in the sport is often drawn to forums as a source of knowledge. Sadly, it is a reflection on the lack of official industry alternative sources. A greyhound in the care of trainer following guidance from the experts on these internet forums is a greyhound at risk. Like slum,we cannot just bulldoze it overnight but it would be a starting point to accept that it exist and that some forum dwellers are delivering poor and often dangerous suggestions to the inexperienced trainers. The ultimate answer to Delhi slums is to tackle it bit by bit and introduce the rule of law in return for a better standard of life.

Our forum experts are failing our greyhounds and our new participants and its time for the industry to sanction licensed members, who selfishly and ignorantly undermine our sport and its participants. In return,the industry needs to improve the dissemination of factual information from proper sources.

Great post Sue. 100% to the point. No arguement whatsoever from me regarding his veterinary abilities.

However, nobody has the right to get on a forum with comments such as these....."Delhi slum, inhabited by millions, full of squalor, congestion and oozing a filthy polluted discharge."

That is highly offensive.

That's the bit that raised the hairs on my neck, I have to say.

While I have personally been the victim (ironically) of a couple of false character assassinations on the internet forums, I know some highly successful people (both inside and outside the dog world) that read and sometimes even contribute on these forums. I personally love reading their contributions, and hope that my own views/contributions on various subjects (particularly on breeding) have given some food for thought and assistance to others.

That may be the root of the problem JEFF, some vet practices are possibly making a good earner out of reccommending differant brands of KIBBLE, WORMERS, FLEA & TICK control. These products could possibly attribute to a sizeable % of there profit.
I f to many people use products like BAYTICOL & CONFIDOR and it spills out to domestic owners that there getting ripped off then wheres the profit margins for people like our learned friend.
VETS reccommend products on cost and slings, not on the quality of the product or none would actually stock kibble in there clinics. Dont see to many vet practices that stock bones in there fridges for dog health.
VET clinics have become shop fronts with an advisor, problem is someone like DES is happy to have a crack at people trying to cut costs for people, but im yet to see him have a crack at his fellow industry folk about the damage there doing to our great animals.

If DR Ds main concern was animal welfare then i suggest he starts his campaign at the people ripping of & misleading owners B4 starting a campaign on those that keep him in the lifestyle hes accustomed to. Vets wont get slings from companies if they cant sell there product, but without customers they lose both the sling and the consultation.

Glass houses...mmm.

Maybe Dr Des does not include these guys in his summation because they put business his way. Actually, when you come to think of it, I haven't seen any of the studmasters return serve to Dr Des either...maybe they are happy with his remarks...or is it a case of "I had better shut my mouth and say nothing as it might interfere with my business'. Integrity...it sure works in funny ways in this industry.

Dale's analogy of Gerry Harvey whinging about Ebay is excellent...same as the scenario at the moment with the Kogan televisions. A young bloke has taken the bull by the horns, brought some TV's in at bargain prices and offered them through the internet. Next thing he is 'hammered' by the 'big boys' trying to destroy his method of selling. Funny...all of a sudden both Harvey Norman and JB Hi Fi are taking orders over the internet.

Times change and obviously some are willing to accept the situation and others aren't.

Dr Des should do what he knows best and that is being a vet. He is entitled to his opinion though...just like we all are.