Trading Post rant...

[jerrymrc]

Will guests also not be able to see the TP? Not sure what we just solved, except for maybe discouraging folks to join. That includes those who might contribute AND those who would not. The only way to change people's behavior is to ignore them. Do not deal with them. As someone said earlier, ".....just put your big boy pants on." That simple......but, rules is rules.

Let the rants begin.

If the trading post is the only reason someone would join then I know the staff is unanimous in saying tough.

The trading post was an add-on for the members. It was never intended to be the draw for this site.

Ignoring people around here and just letting them do anything and everything would be suicide.

[roberth]

If the trading post is the only reason someone would join then I know the staff is unanimous in saying tough.

The trading post was an add-on for the members. It was never intended to be the draw for this site.

Ignoring people around here and just letting them do anything and everything would be suicide.

I did not know that. Thank you for the add-on.

[sroz]

If the trading post is the only reason someone would join then I know the staff is unanimous in saying tough.

The trading post was an add-on for the members. It was never intended to be the draw for this site.

Missing the point. It's the exclusionary aspect of it. Don't think it can be said that newb's are the only ones not following the rules, but that's the perception we are creating. From the perspective of an outsider looking in, that could be construed as elitism. I know this is not an elitist group, but perception can be reality. Put yourself in their shoes. Forget everything you know about this site and many of the fine members and ask yourself if you would want to join in.

I just think it's the wrong approach, but I've been wrong before & will most definitly be again. Just my 2 cents.

[jerrymrc]

Missing the point. It's the exclusionary aspect of it. Don't think it can be said that newb's are the only ones not following the rules, but that's the perception we are creating. From the perspective of an outsider looking in, that could be construed as elitism. I know this is not an elitist group, but perception can be reality. Put yourself in their shoes. Forget everything you know about this site and many of the fine members and ask yourself if you would want to join in.

I just think it's the wrong approach, but I've been wrong before & will most definitly be again. Just my 2 cents.

You are right. It is not just the noobs that make the mistake. If I take every rule about posting in the WTS and through it out the window and only use the rules from other gun boards (with WTS areas) that I am a member on and some for much longer than this one I am still good to go.

The only rule a couple do not have is a location and since they are nation and some world wide the first question that gets asked is "Where the hell are you?" I have bought and sold gun parts all over the world.

Even when we move out of the firearm world every board that has a WTS section has damn near the same thing. Rules from a non-gun forum;

2. As a subscriber you may not bypass vendor rules. Vendors should keep their listings in the vendors forum.

3. allows auctions for its benefit and for charities it sponsors. No other auctions are permitted, including links to auction sites.

4. The sale of items for others is not allowed.

5. State a price for your item(s). Including an "Or Best Offer" option is also acceptable with a stated price as a starting point.

6. Stay on topic. "Bumping" a thread, or posting encouraging words, is allowed. However, please refrain from criticism of the seller, the asking price, or the product being offered. Bumping by the OP should be within reason, limited to at least 48 hours between "bumps".

7. XX is for buying, selling, trading and wanted-to-buy threads only. It is not for feedback of buyers/sellers, value questions or "feeler" threads. XX has established forums for feedback and value questions, and ''feeler" threads don't belong anywhere on XX

8. No linking to your items for sale, in any other part of the forum.

9.XX is not involved in your deal, any more than a newspaper is in a classified ad. XX makes no warranties of any kind, and payment of any taxes that might be owed to any government is the responsibility of buyer and seller, and never of XX.

Not to sound too negative here but unless you live under a rock and have only dealt with Craigslist almost ANY forum of ANY kind on the net has the same basic rules and yet they were tossed out like old garbage and that they did not apply.

When we used to get one a week it was fine. when they got to be 5-6 a day it was stupid. Our old way of being nice and having the time to PM and reply and hold someones hand through a very simple process broke down.

We were short on Mods and many of us were working, going TDY, being called up and for one being put in jail. (don't ask, it was a long time ago)

I am trying to give a few some idea of where we were and then what happened. Just as many do not understand what we have been going through we do value your input. That is why I am typing this.

Many asked for a time requirement VS a post count. We listened and you now have a little of both. In the end Many felt to not make the bar too high.In the end the members won out. We knew something had to be done because watching from this side of the fence as a new member furiously types dribble into the Boost your post count section and the next stop is the WTS section (he did not read all the rules anyway and his ad was canned) The other side of the coin was to just do away with the whole WTS area.

I hope this give you a little more insight.

Jerry