• Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

  • IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!! About the Google Adsense ads being displayed

    =====================
    Posted 08/15/2025
    =====================


    Yeah, I know. They are a pain in the butt. But they pay the bills to keep my server running. Just a fact of life, I am afraid.

    Want to get rid of them? Simple. Just become a Contributor level member or above and they will be gone. -> Please click HERE."

    Is that too much for me to ask of you to keep this site running? Well, sorry about that. I too wish I could get everything for free. But alas.....

    =====================
    Addendum: 01/10/2026
    =====================


    Google Adsense ad revenue for December, 2025 was just $30 over the cost of the lease for the server running this site. So, in effect, the money providing the incentive for me to continue running this site is coming SOLELY from the paid memberships and sponsorships here. Which honestly ain't much....

Required profile fields.

deborahbroadus said:
We do what we can to protect ourselves.....
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Why make people put themselves at risk in the first place so that they HAVE to do what they can to then protect themselves afterwards?

That's like closing the gate to keep the cow in the pasture after the cow has already bolted for the hills.
 
WebSlave said:
The point of this is to give prospective buyers and sellers a reference point to go by in their dealings. If someone lists a bogus location (or full name) HERE, that doesn't correspond to the place and/or person they are asked to send funds or merchandise to, THAT should raise a red flag. But without that reference, then they have absolutely nothing to go on to help save them from a potential scam.
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If someone was conducting business with a person on the classifieds then it would be perfectly reasonable for both parties to exchange personal information amongst each other in order to bring that business transaction to a close. Why should anyone be forced to provide every single person on this site with any kind of personal information they don't feel comfortable handing out willy nilly just to be able to have the pleasure of idle chit chat or discussion with someone else? The classified forums is obviously where business is conducted. The discussion forums is where the idle chit-chat occurs - not business. If business is not being conducted (buying/selling/trading/bartering/etc.) then there is no valid reason to make people provide any kind of personal information as a "reference point to go by in their dealings".
 
Wraith said:
Why make people put themselves at risk in the first place so that they HAVE to do what they can to then protect themselves afterwards?

That's like closing the gate to keep the cow in the pasture after the cow has already bolted for the hills.
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Like I have said in the past... I take my privacy very seriously... especially with where I work. Well that almost got put to the test tonight as I almost shot a guy for snooping around behind my house. The ONLY thing that saved him was a very valid excuse. He wasnt after the cow that had left... but his jacka$$.... and low and behold... there it stood in my side yard. He had chased it around behind my house (where I saw him) and into my side yard. Apparently he had been hearding it back down the gravel road when it took a detour behind my house. That little move almost cost him.

Once we got the "oh :censored:" out of the way.... I helped him heard the jacka$$ back onto the gravel road where he proceeded to heard him back home in his truck.

This is why I dont want my city listed. I dont need someone poking around my house... it could be very bad for their health.
 
Wraith said:
So.. if we want to keep using this site in any shape/form then those of us being forced to provide personal information under duress (outside of business transactions in the classifieds) is Rich going to promise that we are NOT being put at risk? I think for legal reasons he's not going to make such a promise.
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Yes, you are absolutely right about that. I'm not promising such a thing at all.

Be that as it may, the policy being discussed is now in force here, and you can choose to comply or not.

I now require those fields to be filled out during new registrations and have rejected a fair number of them. And you know what? Most sign back up the following day and provide the information requested. I am STILL processing 50 or so new registrations each night, so overall, I think this site will be gaining ground in membership and participation for the foreseeable future, regardless.

With that being said, I doubt the moderators are going to audit the location field for anyone who posts solely in the general discussion forums, so if you choose to limit your discussions there, then you will quite likely never be questioned about your compliance with this rule. But I certainly am not going to promise that neither, as this IS a sitewide policy now. But as always, I allow the moderators the flexibility to enforce the rules in the manner they deem most appropriate and reasonable, while not contradicting the intent of such rules. Unfortunately there is no way to determine the reasons for new people registering here, so I do not make any such distincion when approving or disapproving those new registrations. Compliance is mandatory at that time or the registration is simply rejected. I'm sure some people have breathed a sigh of relief that I am trying to make this a safer haven for them to transact business, and surely as the sun rose this morning, others were certain to complain about it. I really thought new registrations would taper off when I got stricter at the gate, but surprisingly enough, they are actually INCREASING in numbers. Imagine that......

:shrug01: So hey guys, THAT is the policy here. I seriously doubt you are going to come up with anything I haven't thought of before when considering this, and trust me, your repetition of the same old arguments, even if posted in different languages, is not going to make a difference. This was NOT a request for input and/or advice prior to deciding on a policy. It is a notice of implementation. If it is not compatible with a small subset of people here, I am truly sorry about that, but ALL things considered, I believe this is best for those people engaging in BUSINESS on this site. And THAT, my friends, is really my goal.
 
WebSlave said:
With that being said, I doubt the moderators are going to audit the location field for anyone who posts solely in the general discussion forums, so if you choose to limit your discussions there, then you will quite likely never be questioned about your compliance with this rule.
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Speaking for myself, I am setting aside periods of time to focus on this. During those periods, I am not considering anything other than whether people are in compliance. I have composed a brief message that I am PMing to members who are not - it includes a link to the first post of this thread & a request that they amend their profile. I can then go into my sent folder a day or so later & easily check to see who has done so. Since this is a newly revised policy, I am not issuing infractions, but I have issued a warning or two to the few people that have chosen not to make the changes.
 
Wraith said:
This site started with the BOI and is/was about people providing a public service to one another in regards to outing scammers/bad guys.. it was not about the classifieds....the discussion forms, classifieds and money solicitations was a secondary development that came later..people wanted an alternative to KS and their so-called nazi-mods/censorship. If anything in some respects over the years this site has become just as censored as KS has (and people fall over themselves to thank Rich for the privilege of being censored more and more each year but cursed the hell out of jeff when he told his mods to enforce his rules). But at least jeff doesn't force people to give up their personal information unless they purchase an account service and then that information is between him and the person who purchased whatever service from him....it is not announced to the world at large UNLESS the account owner chooses to provide their personal information in their ads/posts.
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Oh really? Please show me show me where and how people are "being censored more and more each year" here. :rolleyes: Actually, since I am requiring people to provide MORE information, it seems that you are arguing against the exact opposite situation.

As for a comparison with another site, well, I guess people need to consider the tradeoff for the FREE classifieds they are allowed here. THEY have the freedom to choose whichever site they prefer based on costs and perceived liabilities.
 
I have decided that I really do not want to have everyone in the tri-state area know exactly in which small town my family and collection are located. Not sure how I'm going to handle this right now.

In other news....check out the goings on just a couple hours away! http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/277825#ixzz0x0Rp473b

Just in case anyone wondered why someone who is doing nothing wrong would object to posting his/her exact location for thousands to see.
 
RidgeTop Reptiles said:
That is one of the points I tried to make Mike..... Good luck
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Thanks, Kevin. Now I just need need to weigh the cost/benefit of posting here. Rich has chosen to put himself out there, which has earned him some negative attention and threats as he mentioned. I have yet to decide if I want to make the same choice while making it easier for folks to find my exact location.

Don't get me wrong...I'm not saying I have the most extensive and valuable collection out there, but it's the best I've ever had. I've got plenty of guns and ammo, but I'm not home 24/7. My neighbors and I do our best to keep an eye on things, but I don't think I'd want to make my information that accessible without a good home security system.
 
I really think you guys are getting your panties in a twist over nothing. All of this information is public domain anyway and can be found rather easily. :shrug01: Despite your desire to be anonymous, once you enter something online anywhere you can be found.
 
TripleMoonsExotic said:
I really think you guys are getting your panties in a twist over nothing. All of this information is public domain anyway and can be found rather easily. :shrug01: Despite your desire to be anonymous, once you enter something online anywhere you can be found.
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Where are the Wises? Where is Chris Johnson? Where is Luis Torres?
 
I don't wear panties.

There is also a difference between leaving one's car unattended, and doing so with the doors open and the keys in it.

Again, I'm not complaining as much as I am trying to decide whether it's worth it for me or not. Just the way it is.
 
lucille said:
Where are the Wises? Where is Chris Johnson?
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I haven't personally looked for them, so obviously I can't answer that. :rolleyes: Anyone can be found if they're entering data online. What does them having dropped from the online scene have anything to do with anything being discussed here? Obviously if they are using false names or staying "off the grid" they won't be found. Think about it.

MikeCurtin said:
I don't wear panties.
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Ooooo, Mike! ;)
 
TripleMoonsExotic said:
Anyone can be found if they're entering data online. What does them having dropped from the online scene have anything to do with anything being discussed here?
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The Wises had not dropped from the scene when everyone was looking for them, yet still no one could find them. This whole conversation is about finding people, difficult, easy, etc. What you claim is simply not true.
 
As I have said before, I have no goal to try to please everyone. My goal is only to run this site the best way I can. And quite frankly, I believe that buyers and sellers having the knowledge of WHO they are considering dealing with and WHERE they say they are located will go a long way to helping to flush out the scammers trying to hide under the rocks.

Sorry, but if you want to advertise your animals here in the classifieds section, you simply have to comply with the rules. Certainly there are some people who find this objectionably, but in those cases, I'm afraid that you have to find somewhere else to advertise so you can remain hidden from public view.

I am sorry that this site will not longer meet the needs of some of you, but I'm sure that will be counterbalanced by other people who feel more at ease having the info I require from members using the classifieds being provided for them.
 
lucille said:
The Wises had not dropped from the scene when everyone was looking for them, yet still no one could find them. This whole conversation is about finding people, difficult, easy, etc. What you claim is simply not true.
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So, I'm not sure what the whole point of mentioning them was about. Are you saying that posting the town in which we live is pointless?:shrug01: By your reasoning, it seems as though scammers should have no problem posting that info, as they really have nothing to lose(either they don't have the animals anyway, or they have no problem picking up and moving). For those with extensive collections kept in their homes, it's a risk.

WebSlave said:
As I have said before, I have no goal to try to please everyone. My goal is only to run this site the best way I can. And quite frankly, I believe that buyers and sellers having the knowledge of WHO they are considering dealing with and WHERE they say they are located will go a long way to helping to flush out the scammers trying to hide under the rocks.

Sorry, but if you want to advertise your animals here in the classifieds section, you simply have to comply with the rules. Certainly there are some people who find this objectionably, but in those cases, I'm afraid that you have to find somewhere else to advertise so you can remain hidden from public view.

I am sorry that this site will not longer meet the needs of some of you, but I'm sure that will be counterbalanced by other people who feel more at ease having the info I require from members using the classifieds being provided for them.
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Rich, I may have missed it, and will go back and re-read the thread, but am I correct in understanding that the location requirement is only for the use of the classifieds section?
 
MikeCurtin said:
Rich, I may have missed it, and will go back and re-read the thread, but am I correct in understanding that the location requirement is only for the use of the classifieds section?
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That is the place it will be enforced, because that is the place that info is relevant. It's not really relevant elsewhere, although I suppose an argument could be made that it may be somewhat relevant for identification purposes within the BOI as well. But I'm not pushing that issue. Matter of fact, I believe the infraction specifically states that it is relevant to the classifieds.

And as I have noted, when I process all new registrations, the location field (CITY, STATE, COUNTRY) is being enforced during that process. So for new registrations, regardless of where they intend to spend their time here, they must provide that info in order to have their registration accepted.
 
There's a new bill that apparently is now in the House Representative known as the Cyber Privacy Act (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.5108). If approved , individuals will have the right to ask from websites to take down their personal information. Apparently this is going to be regulated and enforced by the Federal Trade Commission. One concern is that if approved websites might be faced with the task of removing overnight the information of scores of individuals in order to comply with their requests and avoid penalties. Granted, no one knows at this point if it will pass or not, but if the new registrations in Fauna are around 50+ a day, wouldn't it be prudent to put this idea on hold until the outcome of this bill is known? If registrations continue at the present rate, in three months time there will probably be around 5,000 new members with their private information registered, in addition to those that are already here and opted for the change. Right now they can be entered as time permits, but what would happen if all of a sudden 1,000 individuals requested their information be deleted?
 
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