Yes, we should and will proceed in this direction. But I want to point out that nobody should have too great expectations:
– Such a new feature will not replace the regular half-annual census. Why not? Because we need a fixed-day/-month in order to have a rational overview of the present state of affairs. All who think that the actual state of the species could be mirrored by the new method are wrong: It will offer some new possibilities of advertising or searching, nothing more. The EAC has a similar feature since long, but it does not work for all the breeders and all the species. It works for those who want to use it for solving their problem. It’s a supplement, nothing else.
– It will therefore not replace the distribution-system, because the distribution-system is much more general, not bound to reading and writing in the forums. There are many who don’t use any forum and they won’t probably in the future either. Even in our membership. Many good breeders have never entered our forums. And it’s no solution to uncouple it from the forums: There are many who visit our homepage very irregularly. You cannot change the habits of people who follow their own agenda.
– Therefore, the most important thing is the following: Such a feature will be used by some who like it, but it will not be used by others, even of our members. Telling the real name, the town and the actual stock is for some people not attractive but the exact contrary. We can try to advertise and boost it, and we should and will, but it will remain everybody’s preference to use it or not to use it. But I advocate to install it nevertheless, because those who want to use it can find new contacts for exchanging fish.
That is to say, the new feature will be a complement and supplement, but nothing more. I think it could be a nice, useful supplement, but it will not be the ideal solution to one of our most difficult problems: how to get searchers for Paros and breeders of Paros together. For this aim, we need a diversity of methods. The new feature will work only then when a breeder is willing to use it. But I know many who will not do so even if I beg them to do. Nevertheless, they c o u l d. This makes it worthwhile to get it online.