Derailing classifieds

singemonkey

I'm still just wondering why Don and some others seem to take issue with banter (off-topic discussions) in classifieds threads. How is that harmful to the seller? As I mentioned, it keeps the ad on the front page and doesn't disparage the item on sale.

I think we all agree (thankfully, because this isn't the case on some other fora) that disparaging the sale is not ok here. But I don't see how banter can negatively affect the process of the sale.

Tonedef

singemonkey wrote But I don't see how banter can negatively affect the process of the sale.

Exactly. If having to page through one or two pages of discussion, whether it's OT or not, discourages you from buying, then your GAS corpuscle is irreparably broken in the first place. There's always junkmail/gumtree/etc to satisfy your desire for discussion-free shopping.

Squonk

But surely a little friendly constructive banter can he helpful as well?

Tonedef

Squonk wrote But surely a little friendly constructive banter can he helpful as well?

Of course. And instructive. I've learned quite a few things by asking a question in a classifieds thread even though I had no desire/casholas to buy the item on offer.

What's being proposed elsewhere in this thread is an attempt to keep a certain slope nice and glistening....

Who's gonna decide where the fine line lies between on- and off-topic? You can't enforce something like that without the mods having to watch the classifieds like a hawk. Or otherwise lock the thread after it's created, which does nobody any favours. It's a discussion forum. Where people (lawd help uz!) discuss things.

Ray

Donovan Banks wrote There seems to be a trend lately of derailing classified posts.

It's not exactly fair to the seller to keep posting why you won't buy it, therefore giving others reason not to as well.

If it's not helping to sell, rather don't post.

Was the post that started this thread and so I guess he's agreeing. But you do see the likes of what a piece of trash I'd rather buy suchandsuch. For me, it doesnt bother me too much but there are some guys here that virtually every single for sale gets a "I wish I had the bucks" or "I wish I hadnt bought that because then I would have bought this" or 'I hope someone has the bucks to buy this". And I wonder if the seller or anyone really gives a darn if you've got the bucks or not.

Then again, classifieds is a place to bump up your post count on your way to hero.

Bob-Dubery

Tonedef wrote "I'm selling a wotsisname for so-and-so. One lady owner. Never been raced. The wotsisname I mean.

Please don't banter in my thread."

Not rocket science is it? ?

This country is full of signs saying "do not drive faster than X", "No u-turns"... we even have these light things at junctions that tell you when you can and cannot proceed. People don't always pay them attention.

Tonedef

So let's ban people from driving then!

Quod erat demonstrandum. ?

Tonedef

Ray wrote Then again, classifieds is a place to bump up your post count on your way to hero.

<--- Yeah having the black pick really makes one special don't it? C'mawn, don't gooi straw men into the mix.

singemonkey

Ray wrote
Donovan Banks wrote There seems to be a trend lately of derailing classified posts.

It's not exactly fair to the seller to keep posting why you won't buy it, therefore giving others reason not to as well.

If it's not helping to sell, rather don't post.
Was the post that started this thread and so I guess he's agreeing. But you do see the likes of what a piece of trash I'd rather buy suchandsuch. For me, it doesnt bother me too much but there are some guys here that virtually every single for sale gets a "I wish I had the bucks" or "I wish I hadnt bought that because then I would have bought this" or 'I hope someone has the bucks to buy this". And I wonder if the seller or anyone really gives a darn if you've got the bucks or not.

Then again, classifieds is a place to bump up your post count on your way to hero.

Maybe the seller doesn't want that. Maybe they do. Privileging classifieds to say that discussion should avoid criticising the item or the price is one thing. Further going on to say that now the OP should be able to decide everything that happens in the thread is another.

If there's a specific reason, like criticism unfairly prejudicing the sale (such that people would give up using the classifieds) then I can see it. But the thread no more belongs to the OP than any other on this forum, IMO.

It's the item that belongs to them, and they're justified in not seeing public discussions of its flaws or their sale practises. But otherwise, people have a right to post anything within the rules. The OP can ask people not to be dicks or fill their ad thread with lolcats, but they have no right to enforce that as far as I can see.

DonovanB

I'm not proposing a ban on freedom of speech.
Nor am I suggesting that people fall in line and be too rigid about it..

What I am putting forward is to respect another person who is trying to sell an item. Do unto others and all that....

Why must simple manners fall away because there are no rules in place?

What I'm seeing here is resistance in the name of, "You don't own me. Why should I do what you want?"

Resistance for resistance sake is redundant.

Tonedef

Let's see now. Let's take your classified ad as an example. You're selling your guit synth because your GT-8 is packing up.

I asked you what's wrong with it. You ignored the question (probably deliberately, were this thread able to bear witness to that)

Who is demonstrating bad manners?

Manners have got nothing to do with it. Either you're offended by banter in your thread (your prerogative) or you're not (your prerogative). If you don't want people to banter in YOUR thread, then say so in YOUR thread.

singemonkey

Agreed (with Don). But have we established that sellers don't want banter? I certainly didn't mind it on my SG thread (in which I did get discussion over the price etc., although that was before we discussed those issues, so that's reasonable) because it kept that ad alive - although none of you scunners bought it >☹

edit: based on Tonedef's response, I'm seeing where this is coming from. Is there anything so wrong with him asking that question? It's not going to prejudice the item on sale. As he says, it can be interpreted the other way around (I'm not accusing you here, just saying that it's not clear that it's bad manners to ask a question unrelated to the sale item in the thread).

aubs1

Well, on my sale, someone cracked a joke about the guitar, and I could accept it for what it was........purely a joke,.......... however, the joke would make a potential buyer think otherwise! Hopefully you will see where I was coming from ... but I hear what you guys are saying ....

Fortunately I also stated in my original post that I was NOT desperate to sell, since I have a brand new Custom, so ...... no major train smash there ....... ?

raithza

Tonedef wrote Let's see now. Let's take your classified ad as an example. You're selling your guit synth because your GT-8 is packing up.

I asked you what's wrong with it. You ignored the question (probably deliberately, were this thread able to bear witness to that)

Who is demonstrating bad manners?

Manners have got nothing to do with it. Either you're offended by banter in your thread (your prerogative) or you're not (your prerogative). If you don't want people to banter in YOUR thread, then say so in YOUR thread.

I think it may have been my comment (implying that the guitar synth is quite suited for porn soundtracks) that irked him ?

And fair enough, it's rude to talk down someone's item in the ad itself. Opinions such as that should be reserved for other threads. Sorry.

Tonedef

That sort of thing is a different animal altogether, and I reckon we're all in agreement about that.

Ray

Come to think of it, if you have no interest in the item that's up for sale, or you arent the oke's tjommie who is going add to the sales pitch, then what the hell do you want to say anything there for? There are other places to talk kak.

Bob-Dubery

I think Ray's cut right to the heart of the issue. If you are interested and want more information or want to make an offer then post. If you want to tell the world that that's a fabulous bargain than post. Otherwise if you're not adding value then you just clog up the works. Help the oke sell the goods by keeping things clean and uncluttered.

The one exception would be that if you spot a con-job being perpetrated you should raise the red flag, or if you see that a business is abusing the classifieds - which are members only - then dob it in to the moderators. That's adding value too.

Mr-M

Ray wrote For me, it doesnt bother me too much but there are some guys here that virtually every single for sale gets a "I wish I had the bucks" or "I wish I hadnt bought that because then I would have bought this" or 'I hope someone has the bucks to buy this". And I wonder if the seller or anyone really gives a darn if you've got the bucks or not.

Questions about the item I'm selling? No problem. Questions not quite relating to the sale but helping a fellow guitarist learn something new? I really don't mind helping them. Banter? Fine, just don't say anything to discredit the item to potential buyers.

Posting about how you really want <insert product name> and how you just don't have the money? A minor annoyance, but tolerable. Consistently doing this in my threads and that of others' classifieds? If you've made as many sales and posted as many classifieds as I have, extremely annoying.

Picture this: I get an email saying I have a reply to my classifieds thread. Excitedly I open said mail thinking I might have a potential buyer only to be greeted by "If I had the bucks...". Now have a look at the number of sales I've made, only in the last year might I add, then consider that scenario applying to a large chunk of those sales. Extremely annoying. I don't really care if you don't have the bucks except if you want to make an arrangement to buy it later after paying a deposit or something. If not, I don't care and I doubt anyone else does either.

It wouldn't be a problem if it wasn't the same guy doing that all the time (there's a few of them, but one in particular that does it the most). When speaking to a couple of other GFSA members in person late last year, they seemed to also notice the same guy doing that in their classified threads. Not mentioning names yet, but some of you guys might have also noticed this?

[deleted]

If only I had the time to read this thread... ?

singemonkey

Brentcgp wrote If only I had the time to read this thread... ?

Since you're not contributing substantively, GTFO THIS THREAD!!! (in this-is-Sparta-voice)

?

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