# Here is a tip for increasing your IDs **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Created:** [October 27, 2020, 2:14am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/here-is-a-tip-for-increasing-your-ids/17632 "2020-10-27T02:14:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jasonhernandez74](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/jasonhernandez74/32/33615_2.png) [@jasonhernandez74](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/jasonhernandez74)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2020, 2:14am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/here-is-a-tip-for-increasing-your-ids/17632/1 "2020-10-27T02:14:36Z")
Now, we know that the forums are not a place to request ID help; but that does not mean that they cannot be used indirectly for this. Watch all the discussion threads. Look for a conversation where you can make a relevant comment, but at the same time, can relevantly link one of your observations. I’ve had a few of mine reach research grade that way. ---
**Author:** ![nomolosx](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/nomolosx/32/10885_2.png) [@nomolosx](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/nomolosx)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2020, 2:42am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/here-is-a-tip-for-increasing-your-ids/17632/3 "2020-10-27T02:42:32Z")
I’m not sure I follow 100%, but if you have an observation that hasn’t been ID’d for some time you can always feel free to tag one of the top-ID’ers or a known expert to assist. ---
**Author:** ![tiwane](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/tiwane/32/54612_2.png) [@tiwane](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/tiwane)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2020, 4:48am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/here-is-a-tip-for-increasing-your-ids/17632/4 "2020-10-27T04:48:38Z")
Yes, please don’t use the forum for this. You can directly message or mention potential identifiers on iNaturalist itself. Most experts on iNat _want_ to identify others’ observations so it doesn’t need to be done surreptitiously. ---
**Author:** ![zabdiel](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/zabdiel/32/2460_2.png) [@zabdiel](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/zabdiel)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2020, 10:32am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/here-is-a-tip-for-increasing-your-ids/17632/5 "2020-10-27T10:32:17Z")
Agreed. This isn’t how the forum is supposed to be used. I have linked to my observations to illustrate a point (e.g. if I want to show a poor quality photo it had better be my own!) and it’s possible I might have got IDs through that but I doubt it. One observation I’ve linked to at least once I agreed was probably unverifiable. ---
**Author:** ![DianaStuder](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/dianastuder/32/43358_2.png) [@DianaStuder](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/DianaStuder)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2020, 2:57pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/here-is-a-tip-for-increasing-your-ids/17632/6 "2020-10-27T14:57:58Z")
It is like slow food … watching the discussion unfold on iNat. Then someone sweeps thru and checks all the whatevers and the IDs mount up. ---
**Author:** ![pmeisenheimer](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/pmeisenheimer/32/10425_2.png) [@pmeisenheimer](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/pmeisenheimer)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2020, 3:12pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/here-is-a-tip-for-increasing-your-ids/17632/7 "2020-10-27T15:12:07Z")
Things I have learned about IDs on iNat in four months as a forum member: 1: You can tag experts to get IDs faster 2: A lot of experts are so inundated by tags that they ignore them 3: Some experts are annoyed by tags 4: You should request permission if you are going to tag experts (see 3) unless it is obviously (to them, not to you) of interest to the expert 5: Requests for permission may be declined 6: Requests for permission may be ignored 7: IDs will materialize months later for things you forgot about 8: As in life, patience is a virtue on iNat ---
**Author:** ![astra\_the\_dragon](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/astra_the_dragon/32/37251_2.png) [@astra\_the\_dragon](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/astra_the_dragon)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2020, 5:40pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/here-is-a-tip-for-increasing-your-ids/17632/8 "2020-10-27T17:40:43Z")
best real tips: 1. be patient 2. make friends 3. have fun, and time flies 4. remember that in IRL museums some specimens sit for decades+ unidentified so chill lol ---
**Author:** ![jasonhernandez74](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/jasonhernandez74/32/33615_2.png) [@jasonhernandez74](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/jasonhernandez74)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2020, 4:21am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/here-is-a-tip-for-increasing-your-ids/17632/9 "2020-10-28T04:21:54Z")
> [@zabdiel](#): > > I have linked to my observations to illustrate a point (e.g. if I want to show a poor quality photo it had better be my own!) and it’s possible I might have got IDs through that but I doubt it. Oh, I illustrate points with mine. But if you consider, for example, this [Prickly Pear Cactus discussion](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/prickly-pear-cactus/17593/19) – I didn’t start it, nor did I bring up the cochineal bugs, but given that the discussion was there, and went in that direction, I do not see anything wrong with making the connection to an observation of mine that was relevant. And I have gotten IDs in the way you mentioned. How else to explain that they occur within a day or two after my participation in a discussion? > [@DianaStuder](#): > > It is like slow food … watching the discussion unfold on iNat. Then someone sweeps thru and checks all the whatevers and the IDs mount up. There you go. And I wouldn’t be surprised if some of those IDs come from the same people who would complain about it in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![astra\_the\_dragon](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/astra_the_dragon/32/37251_2.png) [@astra\_the\_dragon](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/astra_the_dragon)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2020, 1:23pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/here-is-a-tip-for-increasing-your-ids/17632/11 "2020-10-28T13:23:44Z")
Unlisted on October 28, 2020, 1:23pm UTC ---
**Author:** ![bouteloua](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/bouteloua/32/1180_2.png) [@bouteloua](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/bouteloua)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2020, 5:24am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/here-is-a-tip-for-increasing-your-ids/17632/13 "2020-12-04T05:24:29Z")
Closed on December 4, 2020, 5:24am UTC This topic was automatically closed 36 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.