The "Big Site" - Ridiculous

[lhoy]

I was just "warned" at RC because I posted positive things about Mike Delgado in his for sale thread. I find this to be TOTALLY absurd!! Think about how this goes against what a "for sale" thread should be about. I am thinking of quitting my annual membership.

How dare we let others know if they can expect good corals or a good experience!!

I am that much more thankful for this club, the BOD, and the forums. Thanks to all those who volunteer to let us share our hobby.

Ok, done venting. Dang that is just plain stupid.

Lee

[LoneStar]

Conspiracy!

[tony]

i quit posting and reading there a looong time ago because of crap like that

[lhoy]

They say only post in the feedback area, why not post right in the for sale thread if you are stating a positive experience.

If people are bashing prices, etc. I could understand. Oh well, guess I could start my own national reefkeeping thread and make my own rules.

Lee

[cpreefguy]

lol I saw that and was going to PM you

That happened to one of my threads once.
I listed some coral, and a guy who had bought from me said something like "Good seller"
Then he got warned and his post was deleted. He came back and said "What? I was just posting some positive feedback for this guy."
After that, his post was deleted again. He posted again and then he was BANNED!

I couldn't believe it!

[lhoy]

Here is a paragraph from the "Read this before posting" thread:

"Please follow proper etiquette in these forums. Selling and trading threads are not for discussion or feedback. Feedback should be posted in the feedback forums only. Feedback and off topic post in selling and trading forums will be removed without notification. If you wish to purchase or trade please post. However, if you only wish to comment on the quality of someone else’s trade item or the price with no intention of buying or trading please keep those thoughts to yourself. This type of post only sidetracks the thread away from the goal of the original poster which is selling or trading their item."

In the sentence I bolded, you will see it says "if you have no intention of buying or trading" and I DID trade with him and therefore I ASSUMED my post would be within the guidelines of the requirements.

Don't you love it when you are genuinely trying to help and get in trouble for it?

Now you can have an avatar that is almost pornographic, but don't dare state you can trust someone or their corals are nice and the tank is in good shape. That would just be out of line!

[caferacermike]

Weeellllllllllll,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, To play the Devil's advocate on this one, um here at MAAST that is the official rule of the for sale forum.... It's just only enforced when the Mod group feels like enforcing it. We are not to make any comments in the threads about the person, the price, or what-not. The rules are/were to only ask questions directly related to the sale and to confirm an interest.

I kind of agree with RC's policy. The world really is a "buyer beware" kind of place. Anyone that is interested in making a purchase at RC should always search for positive feedback first, this is easily accomplished within the outlined parameters of the topic areas. This helps keep the flow of such a huge site from clogging up with "other". If Mike Delgado did you right, then it may be in both your best interests to start such a thread in the appropriate forum. This way you could shout out about what great coral/prices/eqpt. he has/had and he can just as easily compliment you for being a trustful/easy to deal with/respectful/etc.. buyer.

No I don't much care at all for RC. It's way to big. It's way to easy to lose any treads you start just because 20 other people start a thread right after you. It's just to much to read. To many people read a thread and begin asking questions, it could take 4 pages to even begin finding response. The for sale area is very cliquish, if you are nto a super regular you won't even be given a chance to buy. But oh well, some people like that.

Now even though I don't play there much I can respect the fact that they do have rules, they are clearly outlined, and are obviously enforced to a "T", which in my opinion is a good thing. How many threads have we seen here at MAAST go completely haywire because a moderator turned their back on a thread (or made comments within) that went against the clearly outlined rules? Then all heck breaks loose and sides are drawn. Some folks won't see what the big deal was until it happens to their thread one day and they will then expect to be treated with the utmost respect. So if you broke a rule there and they send you a little nasty gram, expect it, suck it up and say to yourself that maybe you won't do that again. It's not the Moderator's fault, they were just doing EXACTLY what you as a member there helped to define as a rule and agreed to. Quite possibly if the shoe were on the other foot and someone was creating [/I]what you found to be a distraction[I], you'd like them to take the same sort of action they took against you today. Am I right? Now I'm not saying what you did was a horrible thing, right or wrong, it's just that you put a moderator in the position of having to take an action in response to a rule that was deemed broken. If you so feel violated enough as to not wish to take part in any of the wonderful services and advice that you could still be getting from uncluttered threads at RC than by all means terminate your membership, however keep in mind they were only acting upon the voted in bylaws of the same club that you sign for and accept these bylaws when you pay that same membership.

Anyways Lee it does seem harsh that they need to act in such a manner, however I completely understand why such a large forum would have such a rule.

[lhoy]

Well, I told the moderator that "thank God for rules it allows us to avoid common sense."

I meant that on any forum, despite the size there is always the opportunity for something to go haywire. Why? Because people are involved. The irony is that the "church" has operated under this same means (unless anyone thinks I am bashing the church I am a pastor) because it fears something haywire. I much prefer a laid back approach to life that knows haywire will happen and lets deal with it in an adult like fashion.

The reality is that virtually no one uses the feedback section and it makes sense. Why go post information that would be useful to the current situation somewhere else? As you noted, it is so large AND unless you have a premium membership (which I have) you can't search. It is basically a totally worthless system.

Well, I will avoid posting feedback in a for sale thread here as well, but just doesn't make ANY sense to me at all. But then again, I am not volunteering my time to run a forum either.

I suppose it makes me REALLY appreciate this board that much more. I want to stress how great our BOD and the volunteers are in this club. For what we get, the dues are REALLY low.

I doubt the "rule" on the for sale section is a part of the by-laws given that everyone I have spoken with doesn't like the rule.

Well, I will be ending my premium membership there, I would rather continue my membership here.

The funny thing is the wording says, "if you are not considering a trade or purchase" they need to clarify (in my opinion).