Jim I don't think you are implying that you wish to start a debate about how to handle the actual for sale section, as some of the answers would imply.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe you are asking what to do with all the great opinions in the lounge section in regards to people's comments about the current situation. I do believe that an open line of communication is a great idea, as it always has been. I also believe that unfortunately when you accept a position of authority to moderate this or any forum, that you no longer represent yourself but the entire community with your responses. I think that our current BOD may wish to back step and rethink their decisions to openly blast away. I found BB's comments about the site feeling a conflict of interest to be appropriate but way to late. Should not have taken until about page 6 of open bickering. I think that his response would have been great right of the bat and then lock the thread. This shows us all that the BOD is in charge of the site. This shows that they have made an honest case against a persons current methods of selling. This shows that since they are already "on it" that the site does not need to handle the situation by arguing openly amongst themselves. A simple "we here on the BOD are discussing matters similar to what is being said and we will update when a decision is made" can help squash an argument before it happens. As soon as someone complains on the site about people being to cheap, trying to be sneaky using PM's (um why wouldn't you PM a for sale to confirm your intentions?), complaining about people not wanting to sell outside their "buddy community" etc, being that is the only point of the thread, lock it and kill it before the arguing ensues.

Our current mods need to understand that when they speak their mind that they imply we all feel the same way. I realize the disbelief at the idea that I moderate a large world wide fish forum but trust me I have to do it completely different than I post on other forums. I had to realize that I can't speak my mind openly. I cannot chastise members for being dumb. I cannot chastise members for for knowingly giving bad advice or lamenting other members. Instead I must immediately remove their replies from the forum, copy/paste that reply into a PM explaining my position and decision to remove their post. It's a completely different version of myself. I found that I rarely, if ever, participated as a member once I became a moderator due to people feeling that I was picking on them and/or that my moderator status made my replies better or more accurate than others. What did end up doing was creating another account so I could just be myself and answer/argue/clash/laugh etc.. as I saw fit. I have found that you cannot allow the arguing to continue unchecked. I found that complaints, as they will come in, were fine. It was our forums policy to allow such threads to continue. As soon as a reply coming in insulted another member or the forum it was shut down and the offending post was removed. It created a friendly forum discussion that allowed people to make suggestions/complaints without fear of harassment from other members. As soon as everyone figured out we were serious about our methods and policies,, folks began to respect those guidelines. Our BOD would immediately suspend a moderators functions if they ever disrespected another member, be it whether the member deserved it or not.

Now don't ever tell me "if you don't like the way it is run here join the BOD and volunteer your time" as it was offered to me and then killed in BOD discussions. I was offered a place on the team, I accepted, but it was decided I would not be an acceptable member of our community. I'm fine with as I do like to speak my mind but nobody, nobody had ever tell me that if I don't like it to participate more.