Tightening classifieds rules. Opinions?

AlanRatcliffe · 2011-03-22T10:41:32+00:00

I'm thinking of tightening the rules in classifieds considerably. Specifically pertaining to responses, basically only allowing posts directly to do with the sale or the item being sold. This means: - No "wish I could afford it but I can't" posts. - No peripheral discussion on the merits of some feature over another (I figure if you want more info on this kind of thing, start a thread elsewhere on the forum - that's what the rest of the forum is for). - Additional info from third parties will still be allowed as will personal endorsements of the model or specific instrument being sold. Basically I'm trying to cut down on off-topic stuff, while still allowing 3rd party posts that might help the sale. Does that sound reasonable?

NorioDS

Alan Ratcliffe wrote
This forum will turn into a concentration camp will all these rules
That comparison is nothing short of offensive to me, and probably to Norio too. It especially belittles everyone who lived through or died in concentration camps.

I've never said this to anyone before, but if that's the way you feel, then please head on over to Harmony Central with my blessings. Perhaps stop by to try your attitude and outspokenness on FDP on the way to get an idea of what a really strict forum is like first.

Tonedef

FWIW, after the last rigmarole I now ignore everything posted in the classifieds and avoid that forum altogether. This serves three purposes:

* I don't have to worry about who is going to SHIT in their best Sunday safari suit when I post positive comments about the item on offer.
* I don't have to wonder why my positive comments are deleted while others are left intact. Yes, this happens.
* I can now avoid impulse buys, because we all know that the classifieds are only for SERIOUS shoppers, aren't they?
Go ahead. Moderate the crap outta that sucker! Liassez faire is sooo last century anyway.:?

Warren

Tonedef wrote FWIW, after the last rigmarole I now ignore everything posted in the classifieds and avoid that forum altogether. This serves three purposes:

* I don't have to worry about who is going to SHIT in their best Sunday safari suit when I post positive comments about the item on offer.
* I don't have to wonder why my positive comments are deleted while others are left intact. Yes, this happens.
* I can now avoid impulse buys, because we all know that the classifieds are only for SERIOUS shoppers, aren't they?
Go ahead. Moderate the crap outta that sucker! Liassez faire is sooo last century anyway.:?

Especially when you spell Laissez faire wrong. ?

+1 on stricter rules in classifieds, if members are asking for them.

I have bought a number of items from other members there and it hasn't cost me or the seller anything extra. It's a much appreciated service.

Although I understand PeteM's response on buddies giving a +1 on the sale item, I actually quite like that despite the idea that it's open to abuse.

Bob-Dubery

I'm probably as guilty as anybody else, but really when you think about it it's only common courtesy to start discussions about the merits of the item or similar items in a separate thread in a different forum.

If I were selling something in the classifieds I'd be quite miffed if the advert ran into multiple pages of blather (it might be witty blather, or even provocative blather, but it would be blather). If I were a potential buyer I might just give up.

Tonedef

Warren- Whatever, mate. At least I didnt have to google what it means. Can I nominate you for resident classifieds mod and grammar nazi? :?

Storm in a teacup is what this whole issue is.

Squonk

Alan Ratcliffe wrote
This forum will turn into a concentration camp will all these rules
That comparison is nothing short of offensive to me, and probably to Norio too. It especially belittles everyone who lived through or died in concentration camps.

I've never said this to anyone before, but if that's the way you feel, then please head on over to Harmony Central with my blessings. Perhaps stop by to try your attitude and outspokenness on FDP on the way to get an idea of what a really strict forum is like first.

Alan and Norio, I think this is a bit Harsh, especially if you take time to understand his sense of humour and where he is coming from.

I still like to know why you want to moderate the Classifieds as this kind of thing happens on all the threads.

I will start a thread on Acoustic Guitar in a Live setting, and within at least 5 posts the subject has changed and people are bantering about Television Sets in Albania, Do I mind? No because this is the culture on this Forum!

Bob-Dubery

guitarboy2828 wrote I think this really depends on what you what this site to be/become.

Right now it's a bunch of guys who know each other, for the most part (via the forum) and who joke and talk on every thread. To tighten up the classifieds seems a little odd as it happens everywhere? Why would you change it in the classifieds?

I was at a music store in Johannesburg on Saturday. Some guy walks in with a cort electric and a loop station and an itch to buy a Tokai. The staff in the shop told him that if he wants to get best value for the kit he wants to trade in then sell it privately and bring the cash to the shop. And they told him the best place to sell it is GFSA.

I've seen some new names pop up on the forum and quickly post an advert.

There are people coming here just to sell - which is not wrong or bad - and the forum is not the stomping ground of this bunch of guys who know each other. Come to think of it, that bunch of guys has changed quite a lot in the last 18 months. We didn't have Tonedef for example, and several guys who were respected, frequent and well known posters THEN are hardly seen NOW.

The rules shouldn't be framed just to suit the current minority of noisy regulars who may not stay active for very long.

Warren

Tonedef wrote Whatever, mate. At least I didnt have to google what it means. Can I nominate you for resident classifieds mod and grammar nazi? :?

Storm in a teacup is what this whole issue is.

I studied comms as part of my BA so I know exactly what it means, thanks. You can take your attitude somewhere else.

[deleted]

Warren

Squonk wrote
Alan and Norio, I think this is a bit Harsh, especially if you take time to understand his sense of humour and where he is coming from.

I still like to know why you want to moderate the Classifieds as this kind of thing happens on all the threads.

I will start a thread on Acoustic Guitar in a Live setting, and within at least 5 posts the subject has changed and people are bantering about Television Sets in Albania, Do I mind? No because this is the culture on this Forum!

I disagree Squonks...why should mods have to account for every little facet of a poster's "personality"? Rules is rules, after all.

I think Alan has been quite clear on the issue being around money changing hands in the classifieds section, which makes things more serious than simple discussions which happen elsewhere on the forum.

Bob-Dubery

Tonedef wrote Warren- Whatever, mate. At least I didnt have to google what it means. Can I nominate you for resident classifieds mod and grammar nazi? :?

Storm in a teacup is what this whole issue is.

I think this is proving the point. There are some folks on GFSA (me for example, but I'm trying to change folks, I'm really trying to change, but it's hard I tell ya) who just have to have their say on every little thing wether it's helpful or not and who seem to want to have the last word too.

Which is fine in many instances, but not in the classifieds.

I think it's also one of those things where we all think it's fine and not an issue and the moderators are nazis blah blah until we're trying to sell something and the ad morphs into a discussion of world cup cricket, crumbling mores or just about any damn thing except the item up for sale.

Tonedef

Warren wrote
Tonedef wrote Whatever, mate. At least I didnt have to google what it means. Can I nominate you for resident classifieds mod and grammar nazi? :?

Storm in a teacup is what this whole issue is.
I studied comms as part of my BA so I know exactly what it means, thanks. You can take your attitude somewhere else.

Yet you felt compelled to point out a spelling error as if it somehow makes your point more valid? Grow up.

guitarboy2828

X-rated Bob wrote
guitarboy2828 wrote I think this really depends on what you what this site to be/become.

Right now it's a bunch of guys who know each other, for the most part (via the forum) and who joke and talk on every thread. To tighten up the classifieds seems a little odd as it happens everywhere? Why would you change it in the classifieds?
I was at a music store in Johannesburg on Saturday. Some guy walks in with a cort electric and a loop station and an itch to buy a Tokai. The staff in the shop told him that if he wants to get best value for the kit he wants to trade in then sell it privately and bring the cash to the shop. And they told him the best place to sell it is GFSA.

I've seen some new names pop up on the forum and quickly post an advert.

There are people coming here just to sell - which is not wrong or bad - and the forum is not the stomping ground of this bunch of guys who know each other. Come to think of it, that bunch of guys has changed quite a lot in the last 18 months. We didn't have Tonedef for example, and several guys who were respected, frequent and well known posters THEN are hardly seen NOW.

The rules shouldn't be framed just to suit the current minority of noisy regulars who may not stay active for very long.

Bob, I completely agree with this sentiment, however, I was more saying what was quoted because I was leading to the fact that I think it needs to either become like gumtree where you can only post an add and then PM the seller or it should be allowed to have free reign. Otherwise, as someone above mentioned, classifieds become this huge sticking point and no one wants to look at them or post anything because they're not sure if they're allowed too.

Hey, either way, I love GFSA and ain't going anywhere! ?

Tonedef

Bob, do you have a problem with my posting style or my membership of this forum? Speak up, boitjie!

You see, the irony of it is that not everybody has to conform to YOUR expectations.

DonovanB

Disrespect is common behaviour on forums. Hence why we need rules.

This is why I have a problem with nicknames online. Would you really talk to someone or interrupt their sale if you could be held accountable for it?

MIKA-the-better-one

Tonedef wrote
Warren wrote
Tonedef wrote Whatever, mate. At least I didnt have to google what it means. Can I nominate you for resident classifieds mod and grammar nazi? :?

Storm in a teacup is what this whole issue is.
I studied comms as part of my BA so I know exactly what it means, thanks. You can take your attitude somewhere else.

Yet you felt compelled to point out a spelling error as if it somehow makes your point more valid? Grow up.

It happens alot on this forum, they think it adds to their argument.......

@ Alan and Norio, you know I do not think we should have a forum with no rules, but when you start introducing little rules to backup other rules its a bit silly....
Its a simple concept, if the seller is upset he talks to you.... I see it being no more work than any other suggestion..... And I hate to say it, you run a forum, there is a workload related either way..... As I am sure you know.... and it simplifies the situation instead of making it more complex...
And on the whole concentration camp thing, dont be stupid, and turn it unto a ethical thing whereby you try make me seem liek a Nazi for making a relevant comparison... you have bettter arguments up your sleeve....

NorioDS

Tonedef wrote Bob, do you have a problem with my posting style or my membership of this forum? Speak up, boitjie!

*Speaking up*

Dude, tone it down, please. I find many of your posts fun, interesting, entertaining but also, some, very rude.

#1 Rule of this forum is "Be nice!". Calling members "boytjie" and being condescending to other members (Warren) is NOT being nice. This forum is what it is because we enforce this rule. Please tone it down.

(I could have PMd this but opted to post this on-forum for the sake of others who might think that this sort of attitude is now accepted on GFSA. It is not.)

Warren

Norio wrote

*Speaking up*

Dude, tone it down, please. I find many of your posts fun, interesting, entertaining but also, some, very rude.

#1 Rule of this forum is "Be nice!". Calling members "boytjie" and being condescending to other members (Warren) is NOT being nice. This forum is what it is because we enforce this rule. Please tone it down.

(I could have PMd this but opted to post this on-forum for the sake of others who might think that this sort of attitude is now accepted on GFSA. It is not.)

+1;

chris77

Man, I haven't seen this much online aggro since the Great Hannah Montana vs Justine Bieber Debate on the disneyponiesareus forum....

FruitarGeek

Wow. This is becoming heated.

Although I am somewhat indifferent to the whole rambling off on the Classified section, Ive done it many a time, I dont have a problem with it, it makes for unique reading, but I understand where Alan and Norio are coming from. We need to have some type of regularity on the classified section.

I also think everyone is looking for a fight, guys, we all friends in one way or another here, so lets not be cyber-thugs. The comment that mika said may be taken out of proportion, I dont think he meant to insult anyone in the slightest. So if you disagree, your free to post up your thoughts, but lets not become aggressive about it now, its not worth it.

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