Why so much commentary in for sale threads?

[richard thurman]

Seems like lately there is so much more blah-blah in sales threads. Section 4-1 and 4-2 of the Rules state:

1. Do not post in an ad unless you are interested in the item / service that is being offered.
2. ABSOLUTELY NO COMMENTARY OR FEEDBACK IN SOMEONE'S THREAD. Seriously, if you stomp on someone's ad, your account can and will be locked.

I can remember instant infractions or warnings after one "nice knife, which I had the money" post in a for sale thread, now it seems the seller offers the item and folks take it as an invitation for a chat session.

This post isn't to say, "Mods, why aren't you jumping on these commentary posters?" The Mods shouldn't have to make it a full-time job policing sales threads. It is to say, "Fellow members, please remember and follow the Rules and make everyone's lives easier."

Thank you for listening.

maybe if you where a goldmember you wouldnt have gotten a stick against you. pay up for the right membership and your problem goes away.

 

[hoxhunbe]

I got a warning once for this issue, but it was my own stupid fault (I had agreed with another poster about wanting to see an already-sold item in a non-maker's sales thread -- pointless). In the knifemaker's area -- where I enjoy most of my time -- it seems a lot more acceptable to post kudos and praise and questions to a maker about a particular knife, even if you're not there to buy. Most of them appreciate the feedback.

maybe if you where a goldmember you wouldnt have gotten a stick against you. pay up for the right membership and your problem goes away.

I don't think being a paid member will allow you to escape warnings or infractions. I think it's pretty straightforward: If you break the rules and get caught, you get whatever the mods feel like dishing out. Based on their reputations here, I have no doubt they're plenty fair.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

In the knifemaker's area -- where I enjoy most of my time -- it seems a lot more acceptable to post kudos and praise and questions to a maker about a particular knife, even if you're not there to buy. Most of them appreciate the feedback.

That's true. The Knifemakers Market is more like a dealership than an individual sale forum. The comments often generate future sales.

 

[rprocter]

Banter or 'chat' in a For Sale thread can clutter it up and detract from it's focus, which is to sell a knife. However a 'zero tolerance' policy of no comments whatsoever makes for rather dry, less interesting reading.
I enjoy BladeForums immensely. Reading BF posts and the many fine friends i have made here are an important part of my life.
I much prefer a discretionary approach to comments made in a For Sale thread. They add a bit of color or spice to what otherwise can be rather 'dry' reading. On occasion a comment has peaked my interest and lead me to speak for the listed knife, so it has been of help to the seller.
There are far too many rules and restrictions in life now as compared to 20 or more years ago. I appreciate a bit of 'freedom' being available here on BF. It makes the BF experience more enjoyable and funer.
roland

 

[Win Heger]

I've been here a really long time and have gotten one warning/infraction. It was for helping a seller by providing some insight on the maker. I was pretty PO'd! I received a "thank you" from the seller as it helped him in his sale, well worth the infraction.

 

[richard thurman]

I got a warning once for this issue, but it was my own stupid fault (I had agreed with another poster about wanting to see an already-sold item in a non-maker's sales thread -- pointless). In the knifemaker's area -- where I enjoy most of my time -- it seems a lot more acceptable to post kudos and praise and questions to a maker about a particular knife, even if you're not there to buy. Most of them appreciate the feedback.



I don't think being a paid member will allow you to escape warnings or infractions. I think it's pretty straightforward: If you break the rules and get caught, you get whatever the mods feel like dishing out. Based on their reputations here, I have no doubt they're plenty fair.

but if you look at his post he got an warnings or infractions for selling knifes. you have to be a goldmember to do that.

 

[dericdesmond]

Cheap shot. Having what to do with the op's topic? Yes, let's drop this.

What are you talking about? It was a simple question that related to your previous off base remark towards me, not a cheap shot and its very much on topic. Again, I posted a link above where a mod broke the commentary rule in a sale thread (pretty sure thats the topic) but if you would rather dismiss me, thats fine too. Just dont tell me Im making cheap shots when I am not. I told you thanks for the hard work and meant it. If you would rather not have the web page interfer with our points then feel free to call me so we can talk like normal people who dont dismiss one another once we fail to see the others point.

 

[Karda]

What are you talking about? It was a simple question that related to your previous off base remark towards me, not a cheap shot and its very much on topic. Again, I posted a link above where a mod broke the commentary rule in a sale thread (pretty sure thats the topic) but if you would rather dismiss me, thats fine too. Just dont tell me Im making cheap shots when I am not. I told you thanks for the hard work and meant it. If you would rather not have the web page interfer with our points then feel free to call me so we can talk like normal people who dont dismiss one another when they fail to see the others point.

How was his remark off base, It sure sounds like you're demanding perfection from a system that can't be perfect by nature? It was kind of a cheap shot you took. How do you know the mod in question wasnt reprimanded? The software doesnt allow mods to infract each other, that would be a bit silly. Moderators are as fallible as anyone else.

 

[dericdesmond]

How was his remark off base

I wouldn't think that matters as mods should be held to the higest of standards

^ When it comes to following rules, thats a fair statement isnt it?

Moderator standards? We don't go to school for this, we don't have a handbook, we aren't paid.

Off base as in the above doesnt seem to reflect upon my remark properly. Same logic that would apply to a cop ya know, busts people that break laws but once cop breaks the laws, not cool. Also notice how Esav put in a ? which leads me to this V

Mods arent held to a higher standard in regards to following the rules that they are suppose to enforce?

Notice the ?? And its serious ?, not a cheap shot

Cheap shot. Having what to do with the op's topic? Yes, let's drop this.

And I dont demand ANYTHING notice the parts above where I stated not really that big a deal. But we can still talk/type, right? Talking is good
And you make a valid point about the mods not being able to infract one another, I did not know that. Look, Im not making a stink, just posting my observations, if thats unreasonable Ill gladly shut the yap off, just try and not be rude or dismissive, cuz that wont shut me up

 

[uyotg]

That's true. The Knifemakers Market is more like a dealership than an individual sale forum. The comments often generate future sales.

That's what I got from your first posts in this thread, but then you said:

... When you break in on a sale thread with an endorsement for the seller, you hint to a newbie that if it's OK to endorse, so it must be OK to criicize, and he goes and slams another seller in his sale thread, following what he saw as your example.

Although people here are more amicable and proud of the custom makers among us, doesn't this also hold true?

 

[Esav Benyamin]

Not really. Think of it this way. Bladeforums is a large and complex collection of specialized forums. Imagine if everything went in one "Exchange Forum". We would have a hard time finding anything and everyone would be held to a least common denominator for rules. We separate Dealers from Knifemakers from Individuals for sales purposes because each comes to the actual Exchange with different needs, and the rules try to reflect and protect these needs.

Similarly, the discussion forums also differ if they are general discussions about knives or if they are manufacturer or Knifemaker forums -- or if they are more like fun forums, community affairs, some of them deliberately more raucous than others. Every difference generates nuances that the mods have to keep in mind -- and each mod may make up his mind slightly differently.

Also thinking about the original post, conversation in sales threads. If someone interrupts and the seller is happy to answer, that's one thing. Suppose the interruption is a put-down of the seller or item. Suppose a few others chime in. Each situation may be handled differently. I have had a few times when I simply moved the distracting posts out of the thread, and depending on how negative, or how malicious, gave infractions later. But the moderator's real motive here is to get the sale back on track. That's more important than "punishing" the "guilty".

A lot of the time, someone interrupts the sale, someone else interrupts the interruption to tell him to back off, and the seller chimes in to argue with both of them. What does the mod do? The last thing i want to do is give the seller a warning or infraction. It's his sale! But if he is part of the distraction, how do I discipline anyone else?

Mod standards? On a sliding scale, on a changing situation, in forums with variations of the basic sales rules. Even when we do everything "right" it's going to look confusingly different, especially when some of it goes on offline.

 

[Mike G]

What a great thread.
With the sales threads not bumping to the top anymore, I personally see no problem with a post here or there as long as it doesnt draw in negativity. Esp if you are simply trying to help someone with a question, ask how you take payment/has it been resharpened, attempting to correct an inaccurate statement (wrong steel, material)

IMO the mods do not do a very consistent job of enforcing the standards in the exchange. Ive been patted on the back by a mod before for posting facts in someone elses thread, then a few weeks later I got infracted by the same mod for the exact same thing basically. Also, MANY times I see blatant/obvious violations of the rules, I will report the post and NOTHING comes from it. Or depending on who you are, you will get special treatment.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/936451-Spring-has-Sprung-DOTD!!!

Deric, if you'll notice, I posted a warning to everyone in the thread, rather than infracting everyone. That is something that I have done in the past, and will continue to do so. I do NOT play favorites. PERIOD! To imply that I do, is wrong on your part, because you have no solid evidence, and are making assumptions. If you have an issue with a post, thread, or otherwise, then report it and let us get it taken care of. I'm open to constructive criticism at any time, but to imply or say that I play favorites will piss me off in hurry.

 

[dericdesmond]

Deric, if you'll notice, I posted a warning to everyone in the thread, rather than infracting everyone. That is something that I have done in the past, and will continue to do so. I do NOT play favorites. PERIOD! To imply that I do, is wrong on your part, because you have no solid evidence, and are making assumptions. If you have an issue with a post, thread, or otherwise, then report it and let us get it taken care of. I'm open to constructive criticism at any time, but to imply or say that I play favorites will piss me off in hurry.

Mike, I apologize for posting the favorites part. Karda informed me above that mods are not able to infract mods which was my main gripe associated with that link. I will try in the future to just suck up my pride and stfu. Despite that, thanks for not dinging me even though you had a damn good reason to.

And Ed, I apologize for being a pita whiny poo. Sometimes I get butt hurt over the silliest of things. Dont hesitate to remind of that in the future if need be

 

[Leethal Cutlery]

I sell my knives here on the wonderful blade forum and I personally like comments on my knife threads.

 

[Andy the Aussie]

well I just got my first warning ever...on any forum I have ever been a member of for chatting in the thread relating to the knife I just bought..... while I think in this case I think it is manifestly unfair/warrented it is the house rules. I must now remember NOT to be happy for sending 5 bills to another member in response to their for sale thread.

Andy

 

[darkaether]

I think if somebody lists one knife and you buy it, it is your thread. It would be different if they had multiple listings in the same thread(unless you bought all of them)

 

[Esav Benyamin]

well I just got my first warning ever...on any forum I have ever been a member of for chatting in the thread relating to the knife I just bought..... while I think in this case I think it is manifestly unfair/warrented it is the house rules. I must now remember NOT to be happy for sending 5 bills to another member in response to their for sale thread.

Andy

I think if somebody lists one knife and you buy it, it is your thread. It would be different if they had multiple listings in the same thread(unless you bought all of them)

That is what we have the FEEDBACK forum for. Posting a good word in the sale thread itself is mostly consigning it to oblivion. iTrader and FEEDBACK tell the membership at large.

Any unnecessary chatter in a sales thread only encourages others to think the practice is allowed.

 

[Blue Sky]

Personally, if I'm scanning through the Sales area, see something interesting and then notice a high number of posts I figure it's probably gone and move on. That might not be true and we all know about assumptions, but time is sometimes short and that's what I do. Too much chatting in a sales thread might discourage views. My 2 cents.

 

[Andy the Aussie]

Well, I didn't actually post a good word in the thread I basically just acknowledged I bought it...in my own happy way. And I always happily use iTrader/Feedback...

Being short with members needlessly probably does more to discourage their participation than anything else..

 

[Esav Benyamin]

This is a massive website with dozens of forums for open discussion with very little moderation. We have a few specialized forums where we try to maintain a more professional, focused approach. I don't consider that interfering with participation.