@jdmore I think this is a great post! I often struggled when I started using iNat with the general idea that it was okay to be bold and take an educated guess at an ID… and to be wrong. I have learned a great deal from iNat, not only about identifications, but about how to be nonjudgmental and cooperative in seeking understanding, which has been incredibly rewarding!
I do have one question about ID etiquette that I don’t see addressed in your post: when is it appropriate to withdraw an ID? I have developed a habit over time to scan my previous IDs to see who has agreed/disagreed with me on taxa I was not particularly confident about. When I see that someone who is a curator or has in-depth knowledge has disagreed with my ID, I withdraw it in the hopes that this will accelerate arriving at an accurate ID. Is this strategy/practice a good thing, or should I not withdraw IDs in this situation?
Thanks for your guidance! My goal is to use iNat in away that helps move toward accuracy.
ocean_beach_goth