Hmm. From some of the comments I've received, maybe what I said was confusing. I can not imagine why, but please let me clarify as succinctly as possible: Traut said "Sad - its like trying to go home after it becomes a Burger King." I thought that was a great observation--actually it gave me a sad smile. So, my comment simply agreed with Traut. Whatever the old classifieds were, they've become a Burger King now, and going back to them is not the same.
Was the old that much better? I think so. I think the old classifieds and having them appear on the front page were as much a social event as simply the sale of some cameras & equipment. It reminded me of the pool hall in the little town where I grew up on a Friday or Saturday night in about 1964-65. You knew who would be there. You knew about when they'd show up and who their date would be. There was horseplay, tons of humor, fun, and it was all well-mannered. Everybody was welcome to join in, there was no prejudice of any sort, no drinking was allowed, there were no economic classes in there, men were there and ladies, too. If you didn't understand how to play pool, one of us would take you to one of the back tables and teach you. The owner would let you do that for free if you told him. A good time for all, and the place was always packed. Anybody who overlooked the fact the classifieds were drawing people to this site really missed something, in my opinion. Heck, there was plenty of discussion of this over at photo.net...those folks knew all about it.
The idea that a membership fee is somehow going to keep shysters from coming here to sell cameras is...well, let's look at this through other eyes. Talk to people who have been exposed to or have done fraud and vice work. They should tell you a cheater is most vulnerable when he is naked...when he has nothing to hide behind. Sell him a "membership" or give him "license" and you embolden him. You validate him with instant credibility, and that's the main thing he needs. Folks like that are actually happy to pay. Talk to people who have sat on the boards of country clubs...why do you think they require 3 letters from current members vouching for the character of prospective members? Time has taught them why, and in today's litigious society, they'd better not forget it. Look at people like Tandy Corp's former CEO. He didn't have a college degree, so he bought one. When it became known there was really no such college and he really never went to college at all, he admitted it and was gone instantly. Another cheater who paid for his "membership?" I can't say...don't know the person, but the board of directors at Tandy evidently thought they'd been snookered. Look at the cases of doctors and particularly psychiatrists who have not completed medical training but set up practices anyway. The certifications and diplomas they "buy" give them the membership they need to run their game.
Well, I've talked enough, but hopefully my points will be understood now. I think reverting to the old system would be a good idea, and I don't remember hearing about people getting cheated under it. In fact, the core of folks that were here seemed to have sort of a watchdog mentality...and that reminded me of the old pool hall gang, too.
Jon
