FS Posts - are we getting crankier?

[ray_g]

I think the recent climate here on RFF, as discussed in two other threads, is contributing greatly, but have you noticed how, in the last few months, we have been attacking with increasing frequency and nastiness, new members with FS ads as their first few posts? I have the same sentiment about these posts, but I am alarmed at how the situation is becoming similar to that on other forums.

Perhaps it would help to have a sticky with formal guidelines for new members regarding posting FS ads? That way, turning off a new member, who for all we know may potentially be an otherwise great person, may be avoided.

What do you guys think? Joe?

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I agree. I just ignore the 1-post salesmen. I don't like to be rude, but there are times that it just builds up. After all, no feedback at all is also bad. Nettiquette is just a word, I guess.

 

[John Robertson]

I have noticed this as well and have avoided posting in a lot of cases. I think its the time of year, pre-Xmas stress?? Even in shops and in pubs people seem to be particularly cranky just now.!! I think I'll hibernate till spring.

 

[dreilly]

I would advise (and have before) the forum version of nonviolence. Suggesting guidelines is a good idea.

But I wouldn't attack any newcomer, from the most innocent first time FS dude to even the meanest of trolls from the darkest corner of the Pnet leica forum. Two things might happen if we as a group turn the other cheek and vote by not pressing our clicky finger: they are ignored and they go away, or maybe, just maybe, we illustrate the norms we expect, and they decide to abide and become nice members of the community.

A good case in point is the infamous ebay plug on the FS forum. In almost every case, someone welcomes the person to the forum (if they are new), invites them to stay, and informs them of our peculiar more about ebay plugs. It's a great example. Maybe those folks took a look around, decided to keep that "poor man's leica" and became a nice member. At the very least they'll remember not being called a stupid heel-biting moron who was born yesterday (really, taken directly from a posting "over there".)

 

[Scarpia]

I have noticed this as well and have avoided posting in a lot of cases. I think its the time of year, pre-Xmas stress?? Even in shops and in pubs people seem to be particularly cranky just now.!! I think I'll hibernate till spring.

All depends on your point of view. How I wish I was in one of your pubs now John with a steak and kidney pie and Scottish ale in front of me. I would put up with cranky.
Kurt M.

 

[ChrisN]

Guidelines are a good idea, but we'll always have cases where the new member doesn't take the time to read them, or is not aware even of the need to look for them. As well as guidelines we need to be willing to step in with a welcome and with guidance about the accepted conventions here, in a way that doesn't offend. I think we're generally fairly tolerant of newcomers posting "for sale" posts (eg this thread). The test is how they respond. It takes a while for newbies to appreciate just how very different this place is from other forums.

 

[djon]

I do think simple-but-firm rules are a good idea, with a time period between membership being number one. The problem with this is that it calls for a lot of management. The Graflex site is very firm about this, and part of the result is that the site is almost entirely technical, very little chatter.

 

[sockdaddy]

i know that i am someone who has very recently reacted a little harshly towards this type of post (see the Minilux thread). in the case of that thread / issue, the poster has only made 5 posts since early August, and every post has been related to the sale of the same camera.

to me, that is not the type of user that is seeking to contribute anything to the forum - i'm sure i could be wrong, but i've got a gut feeling on this one. it just irks me.

 

[sockdaddy]

honestly, there should probably be some kind of forum "feature" that doesn't allow these types of posts until a certain point, or the admin / moderator staff could be more involved - but that's the pessimistic side of me talking.

 

[back alley]

let me point out there is no moderator staff.
there is me.

rules are fine but they only work for those that follow them.
people interested in just selling could care less about this forum or it's many fine members.
witness the occasional spam we get here.

it's all about common sense as to buying. buying from someone with 1 or 2 posts here is just nuts. but hey, it's free will and all that, you choose!

and for those that feel the need to chastise a newbie about putting up a for sale sign or yell at a troll, well, i don't like it but it sure doesn't seem to stop many members from doing it.

joe

 

[sockdaddy]

give me a whip, Joe, and i'll crack them all into shape!

 

[back alley]

give me a whip, Joe, and i'll crack them all into shape!

no, no whips please.

to chase someone away the fastest route is to ignore them.
joe

 

[schmoozit]

Hows about a catch-all post or guideline to refer such rabble to? It could be quite courteous and help avoid the very tempting desire to schlap the schmuck...

We would all just need to become aware of the location of said guideline or thread and post a link with a smiley, or somethin'. We could come up with a couple of threads to cover different potential problem areas.

 

[RML]

Though I too don't react to 1st time posters with an FS ad, I'm willing to overlook the fact. How often don't we hear of new members who signed up after months and months of lurking? They already feel part of the community, sign up and perhaps have a thing or two for sale, a thing or two they are willing to offer here on RFF instead of elsewhere. Chasing them away doesn't seem like a good idea to me. Setting rules and regulations when someone is allowed to post an FS ad, where will that end? Will there some day be a rule telling that I can't post my first pussycat shot before I hit 1500 posts? I'm not in favour of that. I think Joe has a pretty tight grip on spam and spammers here. I think we should let him do the job that he's been doing so well for the past years.

 

[laptoprob]

Well, in general we Dutch have something with rules...

If a posting or a person is getting annoying, aggressive or whatever it can only be because he/she gets the room, length to do so.

Ignore!

cheers, Rob.


Please ignore me if you want!

 

[Goodyear]

I would certainly find some gentle guidelines helpful - and I don't know if I count as a n00b anymore.

The other week I posted a FS ad without a price (because I honestly didn't know what to ask for the item) - but it was only two days ago following links to threads I hadn't seen that I realised what a faux pas this was!

Also, as has been said, number of posts can be deceptive. I'm not sure what my post count is right now, but I know it's microscopic compared to many on here - but that statistic hides the fact that RFF is the only website I tend to read every single day (let's meditate on the frightfulness of that thought for a moment, what it says of my obsession...).