Lloyd Heilbrunn said:
1.The BOI has a "full name" rule which gets threads locked or deleted.
2.The BOI has a "you must name the adverse party" rule which gets threads locked or deleted.
3. Why should the BOI not have a "transaction required" rule which can get threads locked or deleted?
And,Yes, I'm familiar with the CDA and related issues,but there seems no fear of that in 1 & 2 above....
That is because there is a significant difference between numbers 1&2 and that number 3. One and two are PROVEABLE infractions (well pretty much so, anyway - there is really NO proof that someone's "real name" is REALLY their "real" name) as to being violations of the rules here. If someone does not use ANY real name or does not provide a personal or business name in the topic line, those infractions are pretty much black and white as being rule infractions.
And there actually is a difference between "locking and deleting" a thread compared to "editing" a thread. This is an important distinction, at least in my opinion. And in any case, it is rather rare for threads to get locked, much less deleted here.
As for transactions, how many of those actually take place without any real proof? At every show I have attended, I have seen that providing receipts was more the exception rather than the rule. And there are most certainly cases of a non-transactional incident of import to someone being clearly of an informational nature that certainly should be included as evidence, even when of an anecdotal nature. Those should be excluded because of rule #3? What happens when a supposed bad guy simply states that the transaction never actually happened and the proof if bogus? Who (and how) is going to verify it?
Now #3 has been suggested more times than I can remember. And the reply has pretty much stayed the same each time I have replied. This is a
Board Of Inquiry, composed of everyone willing to participate to give their OPINIONS on such matters or to offer any facts they feel might be relevant. The non participating members are here (viewing said information) because THEY are likely interested in making decisions based on those "facts" and details presented, with a likely consequence of choosing whether or not to do business with someone in question. As such, they are most certainly within the design limits of the BOI to ask any questions they feel pertinent, and to make any comments (within limits of the decorum here) they feel may be relevant to the issues at hand.
Truth is not something that is the white glaring beacon we wish it were. "Facts" are not always facts. "Truth" can be relative. The GOAL of the BOI is not so much to necessarily resolve any issue absolutely, so much as it is to provide the opportunity for people here to make decisions based on what they see presented. Yes, some will find lies believable, and others will disbelieve the truth. That is their decision to make. There is no "judge" here, other than each and every person here "judging" the validity within every post made. There are no final binding "decisions" other than those decisions people will make based on their "judging" what they read. If any arbitration takes place, it is between the two parties involved, and not through any specific efforts of the staff on this site. The closest we will get here to any ABSOLUTE TRUTH is a BULK of evidence (which may not even be factual) or a weight of opinion (which could be completely wrong), which ANY viewer has the opportunity to use however they feel is best for their OWN personal or professional decisions. But that, of course, is THEIR decision to make.