Thinking of bumping minimum post count.

[sniper7]

I don't really want to see it become a pay or use type deal like RMGO. then it just seems too commercialized and the for sale ads are going to reflect that just like RMGO and gunbroker.
I am all for paying to help out with the site if that is what needs to happen and I will gladly do that because this is by far the best gun site on the internet. less rules, less crap, less bad people, more freedom. that is what this made this place awesome.

[Rott Weiler]

I'm a fairly private person and don't post a lot on any message board but I'm a member of several. I see a lot of good posts but many undesirable posts as well. I find it interesting that my worth as a seller is measured by an arbitray post count. Prior to the new 15 post rule, I bought, sold and traded quite a bit on this board and had only postive experiences. I have sent numerous friends to the board since I see a lot of value here....even if I'm not one to post a bunch (just like I'll never be on Facebook or Twitter).

I'd be happy to pay a reasonable annual fee to support the board, pay for an ad, etc. but I doubt that I'll ever have a high post count. I doubt there is a magical answer to weed out the bad folks (both buyers and sellers) but if the selected method will be a high post count, I'll just quietly move on and sell my items elsewhere.

PS If I was allowed to post in the For Sale section, I'd have my Springfield M21 listed right now.

[sniper7]

I'm a fairly private person and don't post a lot on any message board but I'm a member of several. I see a lot of good posts but many undesirable posts as well. I find it interesting that my worth as a seller is measured by an arbitray post count. Prior to the new 15 post rule, I bought, sold and traded quite a bit on this board and had only postive experiences. I have sent numerous friends to the board since I see a lot of value here....even if I'm not one to post a bunch (just like I'll never be on Facebook or Twitter).

I'd be happy to pay a reasonable annual fee to support the board, pay for an ad, etc. but I doubt that I'll ever have a high post count. I doubt there is a magical answer to weed out the bad folks (both buyers and sellers) but if the selected method will be a high post count, I'll just quietly move on and sell my items elsewhere.

PS If I was allowed to post in the For Sale section, I'd have my Springfield M21 listed right now.

slight derail of thread...but you can give it to me to sell....probably going to take a REALLY long time.

and back on topic!

[mcantar18c]

Not sure if this would be a direction we'd want to take here... not even sure if I like the idea myself... but this kinda popped into my mind...
Take the small leap into making COAR more of a club, and less of just a forum. People can read everything, but not post. Current members that meet requirements can be grandfathered in... not sure what those requirements would be though. Maybe 50 posts for members with positive feedback and 200 posts + 4 months for members that don't have any feedback?
Then if someone wants to join, they can either pay a membership fee (not too expensive, but enough that someone would have to want to be here to commit) or have a member in good standing "sponsor" them (for lack of a better term).

Seems like it would weed out a lot of the BS, make the mods' lives much easier, and make our experience here maybe a little bit better... not to mention eliminate the spammers. Then again, I'm undecided about if I really want this to become a private thing.
What do you guys think about this?

[sometimesright]

Hmmm.. not a lot of us lower post count folks responding. Well, I'm one of those who tend to do more reading, although I'll toss an occasional "gem" out there. I guess one of the questions is "What it is the minimum post count designed to accomplish?" While I suppose it is true a minimum would discourage some who want to sell something quickly and ride off into the sunset, there are also those who will post several things simply to increase the count and then sell.

I haven't posted anything in the "boost your post count thread," and don't plan to (but that's just me). I probably fall into the camp that tends to think that post count really has nothing to do with the quality of person with whom you deal. I've found it much more helpful to go read the posts and look more at post quality and content of a post (a few of the more humorous pieces of banter notwithstanding).

For me, that gives a better picture. If the posts aren't there or are a bit lacking in what they reveal, I may think twice before hopping the vehicle to meet someone. FWIW, I may have hypothetically made a few deals off another often-mentioned board that requires a fee (although never joined that particular board) and was never burned (knock on wood). I would not have been a happy camper if I had, though. If the post count increases, I'll just be doing more reading to take a look at the posts that individual has made.

I don't know if this issue will even impact me since it isn't often I part with something, but may take the opportunity to part with some rare discretionary income. So far I don't see anything about minimum posts to buy - so it's all good. . Guess we all have to start somewhere (as far as post count). Some sort of quality control is nice to have; I'm just not totally convinced at this point in my young posting career that quantity always equals quality. Either way, I'll take a look at whatever the rules are, and make a choice.

By the way, the length of this post should be worth at least three toward my count.

[68Charger]

I voted low, because I don't think it's entirely about post count- 100 worthless posts in the BYPC thread doesn't mean anything...

The idea of blocking until someone has 3 positive feedbacks seems like a good idea, but what if they're in a bad spot, and need to sell something?
No, they're not 'entitled' to hock their wares here, but it's assuming they're not worth anything because they're down on their luck- not cool.

it would be great if there was some way to earn it- like a "buy a MOD a beer" bonus (or other face-to-face, like at a shoot, or some get-together?)

Many new guys will flake because they're uncomfortable, and going into new territory by coming here- fear of the unknown. Think back to the 1st gun you sold to someone you didn't know... did you ever wonder if the next time you saw it was going to be with "People's exhibit A" tag on it?

just something to think about...

The minimum post count is a way to reveal something about them- I've been on other boards where they post "9 more posts to go" etc... so it's very clear their intentions. That's the other side of minimum post counts, and we've seen it here already. Make it apparent in the rules that this won't fly...

[Sharpienads]

How about a minimum post count before you can post at all?

But seriously, I don't think there's going to be one magic idea that's going to weed out the so-called "riff-raff". Maybe make the newbie introduction section mandatory before you can sell your stuff. Or that coupled with a 25 or 50 post count. That way buyers can at least look you up there.

[sniper7]

Not sure if this would be a direction we'd want to take here... not even sure if I like the idea myself... but this kinda popped into my mind...
Take the small leap into making COAR more of a club, and less of just a forum. People can read everything, but not post. Current members that meet requirements can be grandfathered in... not sure what those requirements would be though. Maybe 50 posts for members with positive feedback and 200 posts + 4 months for members that don't have any feedback?
Then if someone wants to join, they can either pay a membership fee (not too expensive, but enough that someone would have to want to be here to commit) or have a member in good standing "sponsor" them (for lack of a better term).

Seems like it would weed out a lot of the BS, make the mods' lives much easier, and make our experience here maybe a little bit better... not to mention eliminate the spammers. Then again, I'm undecided about if I really want this to become a private thing.
What do you guys think about this?

little long reaching IMO. This place became great for a reason. Sometimes it best to leave well enough alone.

What I think a lot of us, including myself, aren't seeing is what the mods deals with. I know the for sale section is the biggest issue because of the newbies not following rules. The only thing I was thinking was reducing the rules or at least the mod intervention, let the membership handle the newbies who don't follow the rules and the mods can step in when big issues come up, or they can just delete the ad right there on the spot and lock out the member from the for sale threads.
There is a lot to that though, whereas a minimum post count is much easier to enforce and deal with.

[sniper7]

Marlin, being that it has been a while since I have joined, what is it like for the new guys joining?

do they have to get verified by a mod before the account is okayed?

Do they get a confirmation email?

If so, does that email contain the rules of the forum and a users agreement?

Is there a way to restrict them when they join to only be able to access certain pages...maybe start out at the rules forum, user agreement after that, then take them to the introduction thread?

Obviously some people will just skim through or skip, but at least it is there, they had the opportunity to see it, and then it is a quick and easy slap in the face to them when they post and whine about minimum post count or why their for sale ad was instantly deleted.


also, what about a template for the for sale section where each part needs to be filled out for the post to work:
title:
price:
location:
contact info (must allow emails or PM or post phone number)
description:
picture: (not required?)

[Robby30-06]

Voted 100. When i first arrived here i think i would have been against a minimum post count. After hanging around a while i can understand why some may be in favor. This is a whole lot more than a gun classifieds, it is an entire community of people seeking ideas and advice and sharing the same.

I also have noticed there are usually as many guests viewing any given thread as there are members (kinda like we are in a room doing our thing with one way mirrors all over the place). Kinda creepy to think one of them could jump in and right away and be on the same level as everyone else.

As for the long timers with small counts, i would be in favor of some Grandfather clause.

Oh yeah and i don't want any newbies sniping me on any more gun deals.