Bad Threads - Need Some Moderation

We are going to be in big trouble if we start to regulate content.

If the issue centers on whether dealers should pay for the priveledge of pitching their products then lets address that item directly. Otherwise, I use this site specifically to obtain relevant information from dealers and other knife users. Some of this information may very well include a specific product reference, a specific product source, or a specific product price.

Threads should be shut down when:
1) The discussion has deteriorated to flamming (perhaps a temporary lock down to cool things off would be best)

2) When the subject is completely off topic (not knife related)

Creating the expectation that treads will be routinely shut down for vague (or counter-productive) rules infractions will probably encourage abuse, as folks try to get in the last word before the discussion is shut down.

The moderation so far has been excellent. We should keep it at that level.
 
The magic is doing all the above and keeping the overall atmosphere that we have here.

It is tough but overall I think we do a good job. Ya we have problems but we work them all out. I may own the site, and I may be able to dictate policy, but I feel the reason for the success this site enjoys is because we do not operate with heavy handed rules.

Moderation is just what the name implies. If we drink in moderation we do not do so to excess. So we moderate with moderation
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After thinking about it last night I do not think we need new policies. Just a frinedly reminder when a potential problem comes up is about all we need. We just need to do it a little quicker before there are 30+ posts to the thread
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Best Regards,
Mike Turber
BladeForums Site Owner and Administrator
Do it! Do it right! Do it right NOW!
 
Thank you Mike.

I have been thinking all day that if a bunch of new regulations get clamped down on the dealers and makers how the forum could lose some of it's flavor. I agree that dealers should support the forum if they plan on using the site to make sales. I also don't agree that we should restrict sellers. This forum is basically about "products" and I have seen several good deals brought to light in the general forum. We didn't suffer then.

Isn't there a special dealer forum were they can ask which forum would be best for a particular topic?

Your moderators do a good job and maybe some members should let them do thier job. Yes, there are some things about this forum I don't like; but, I don't raise any complaints because usually the thread will disappear by tomorrow or I can just plain ignore the thread. Everyone cannot be pleased.

Thank you for having a great place for (us) knife enthusiasts.
 
When I first started kicking around the idea for the "name my business" contest I was unsure about where to post it....I have seen many contests in the "General Forum", but I still wasn't sure...I never even considered posting it in the dealer for sale forum...I thought that was for dealers wanting to sale something....I am a dealer right now and I used that forum 1 time since I have been a member here. I don't jump up and down trying to draw attention to myself and the main reason I have not used to dealer for sale forum more often is because, other than buying a BF Blue Native, I haven't done anything to support this place...I really wanted to buy a banner ad from Mike, but I didn't have a site....I am currently working on the site and I am planning on calling Mike T. one day this week....Anyway I used the search feature and simply searched the word "contest" in the general forum. When I came across the thread by David Bloch, started a couple of months ago, which was titled "name a knife company win a free knife" I figured it would be ok!!! That thread went on for quite a while and ended up being 8 pages long....It was never moved, so I figured it would be o.k. In the future I will be more careful where I start threads.....I really love this place and I want to play by the rules like everyone else....This is just a thought, but how about a forum where we can go and simply ask, "Hey I have an idea...Which thread should I post in?"
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Sorry I couldn't resist!!!

 
Manufacturers will be allowed to have contests in this forum. They do not sell direct to the consumers (Most anyway) and they are not using this forum as a means of advertising.

A dealer is a good bit different in that any promotion in this forum would be viewed as some sort of advertising.

Custom makers need all the help they can get so a knife naming contest for them is not big deal.

Dealers have a special area set aside for them. Soon they will need to advertise to use that area.

I would suggest that dealers who want to advertise in this forum do so in there sig file. Come in and help answer questions. The more questions you help answer, the more your ad/sig file is seen. Sounds fair to me.

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Best Regards,
Mike Turber
BladeForums Site Owner and Administrator
Do it! Do it right! Do it right NOW!
 
I agree with your last point, Mike. Custom makers and Manufacturers have different privileges than do dealers.

In light of Gene's last post, we must all realize that he tried his best by even researching with the search feature to post his contest in the proper forum. So he made a tiny mistake...I don't really view it as one, but I can see where Mike is coming from .

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Yeah! Drop the chalupa...
 
My vote is simple--let moderation rule!

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Lead,follow, or get the hell out of the way!
 
It is interesting to me that the same people who complain about knife laws, government interaction, being over-legislated, etc. will also call for more governing actions here at BF. If you have a beef with something procedural here, Mike et al are very accessible via email and very prompt to address any concerns voiced by their forumites. It seems to me in many cases we try to turn this thing into a democratic system, which (and I hope it remains so) is not the case. This is Mike, Spark & the rest of these guys baby, and I'd lay my money on them nurturing it as they see fit. It's like the kid who reminds the teacher that he/she forgot to give the class homework in many cases, and I for one have enough homework
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I think I read that analogy here already.

Brandon

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"You should never never doubt what nobody is sure about..."
 
I have to say, I like contests, I like the idea of maybe winning a knife, it's what made me join BladeForums in the frist place. It's not what keeps me coming back. I for one would have never seen Gene's contest in the Dealers Forum, or several others for that matter. I do always check the General Forum, and a contest to win a knife is knife related.

Mike, you set the policy and the tone of this place, and my guess is you'd like to see your members who happen to also be dealers prosper, and if they also become advertisers so much the better. Keep a sort leash on people who are constant abusers, but otherwise I hope you just let somethings slide.

Think about it, someone new visits here, where do they go first? General? They view the Topics and see "WIN A KNIFE!" there is probably nothing that's going to make someone sign up faster. Who benefits, and who is hurt?

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"Will work 4 Knives!"
 
I don't mean to single any one dealer out but...I sure do like Patrick's "Look at the new stuff I got" posts! Looking at pieces such as his is a major part of knife collecting, for sale or not.

Geez they're beautiful pieces!
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Maybe fawning and drooling *can* be a part of knife "discussion"!

-Michael

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Chefget's Knife Page
 
I like Patric's posts too. I prefer that the images be inside the post and not as a link to a particular site. The link can appear in the sig line.

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Best Regards,
Mike Turber
BladeForums Site Owner and Administrator
Do it! Do it right! Do it right NOW!
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