Bad Guy Jim Flaherty of the Chameleon Company

[Herpguy11]

First of all, I have been responding to this thread from the beginning. Second of all, the excuse that you are in Central Florida is very lame. Even though you may be in a "colder" region of Florida, you are still in one of the mildest climates in the United States. The point is, you should never ASSUME anything in the first place. It is still completely ignorant and wrong for somebody to allow there to be an opportunity for escape in ANY climate. The point is that you clearly do not know what these animals are capable of, which is completely evident in what you have experienced.

It also shows that you know very little about ecology when you say people harvesting nonnatives in Florida are "poachers". These animals do not belong there and are not protected by any laws besides animal cruelty laws. I can walk outside, smash a whole nest of English Sparrows, and not have broken any laws.

It is obvious that you are the kind of person who will not admit fault in your actions, or that you at least unknowingly set up conditions that allowed a nonnative species to live in the wild and very well breed. If you admitted you did something wrong in the beginning and that you will make sure it never happens again, that would be a different story. Instead, you call everybody who is calling you out "miscreants" among other things and acting like they have no reason to criticize you. You are then using the fact that a FWS official inspected your enclosures AFTER escapes happened and after you presumably fixed issues as proof that you never did anything bad in the first place.

If you truly think you did nothing wrong here, I have a challenge for you. Go to an Ecology conference and present all the information here to ecologists there. Then record their responses. I guarantee they will immediately tell you how completely wrong this whole situation is, and that you allowing this to happen is completely horrible for biodiversity and the environment. Heck, contact a local Professor of Ecology and then document his or her response.

I am not going to continue to argue with you, since it is pointless to do such things to people who are so stubborn.

 

[Chameleon Company]

First of all, I have been responding to this thread from the beginning. Second of all, the excuse that you are in Central Florida is very lame. Even though you may be in a "colder" region of Florida, you are still in one of the mildest climates in the United States. The point is, you should never ASSUME anything in the first place. It is still completely ignorant and wrong for somebody to allow there to be an opportunity for escape in ANY climate. The point is that you clearly do not know what these animals are capable of, which is completely evident in what you have experienced.

It also shows that you know very little about ecology when you say people harvesting nonnatives in Florida are "poachers". These animals do not belong there and are not protected by any laws besides animal cruelty laws. I can walk outside, smash a whole nest of English Sparrows, and not have broken any laws.

It is obvious that you are the kind of person who will not admit fault in your actions, or that you at least unknowingly set up conditions that allowed a nonnative species to live in the wild and very well breed. If you admitted you did something wrong in the beginning and that you will make sure it never happens again, that would be a different story. Instead, you call everybody who is calling you out "miscreants" among other things and acting like they have no reason to criticize you. You are then using the fact that a FWS official inspected your enclosures AFTER escapes happened and after you presumably fixed issues as proof that you never did anything bad in the first place.

If you truly think you did nothing wrong here, I have a challenge for you. Go to an Ecology conference and present all the information here to ecologists there. Then record their responses. I guarantee they will immediately tell you how completely wrong this whole situation is, and that you allowing this to happen is completely horrible for biodiversity and the environment. Heck, contact a local Professor of Ecology and then document his or her response.

I am not going to continue to argue with you, since it is pointless to do such things to people who are so stubborn.

Well, you are uninformed. No one in their right mind would "allow the escape" of valuable assets. A word you used twice. Climate most certainly matters in all animal management, not just from the view of the business person, but also of the controlling government authority. It is a fundamental consideration in all things for both parties. You could learn a lot by reading the FWC website about "Invasive" and "Conditional" species, as a place to start. What the definitions are. why some species are, and others not. And then how the statutes differ for those vs. other species. There are an abundance of folks that know much more than you on this topic. They do not share your conclusions.

"Poaching" is to trespass on another's property and take flora and fauna. That includes public land for which you do not have the proper permit. Whether it was originally native is not in the equation. Try it sometime if you doubt me.

Lastly, the FWC are the ones trained exactly to regulate such as me. That they found as they did causes you issues.

You are simply uninformed, as in "ignorant of the relevant facts". FWC is not. Nor are many posters here who pointed out the fallacies of this thread.

 

[AbsoluteApril]

Lastly, the FWC are the ones trained exactly to regulate such as me. That they found as they did causes you issues.

So what did they find? I assume the species is non-native to your area. What did they say, that the species that had escaped are not classified as injurious or invasive? Just trying to understand this because any escape of a non-native species seems like it would be a mistake.

 

[Chameleon Company]

So what did they find? I assume the species is non-native to your area. What did they say, that the species that had escaped are not classified as injurious or invasive? Just trying to understand this because any escape of a non-native species seems like it would be a mistake.

April. No one ever said it was "not a mistake". We admitted it was a mistake from the beginning. It is more than admitted. We self-admitted. We went public. If we say nothing, then no one knows but us. We explained how it happened. What we learned. we were advertising nothing. Selling nothing.

FWC does not consider them invasive, nor are they listed as "conditional". You will have to look those things up on their site. However, that does not make it OK to "release" anything. To intentionally release a non-native species (these are from Madagascar) is a violation of Florida statute. Typically, if FWC felt a business was substandard in any way, they could issue a fine, or a warning, based of FL statutes. Improvements needed would be listed. With a "do by" date. None of that happened here.

The flash-mob of a half-dozen or so, mostly CGW folks, all as described, to include Robert Nichols, turned it into something it was not. Posting serious know-nothing vindictive posts about how we would be fined. Put out of business. That My Mom was a "hoe". They solicited in their forum for folks to join in with contacting FWC. based solely on what they showed them of my self-admission. Hiding facts. Fabricating new ones. OBTW, Rich is working with me so that you will be able to hear, in his own voice, Robert Nichols himself calling me on this exact topic the weekend that this thread began. RN, the part-time Moderator of that pathetic forum, CGW, was part of the lynch mob of *********. That proof has already been posted. As noted, FWC said that it would require "sworn affidavits" next time any of these people wanted to make a complaint. And likely anytime anyone wants to make any complaint against us for anything. FWC understood all. FWC felt that we had reacted responsibly. My license was renewed not only into 2016, but into 2017 as well.

Bottom line, we got an "all clear". Everything said above is in this thread already. What else is there to say ?

 

[WebSlave]

OBTW, we will be having full discussions on this in FB venues in the coming weeks. Without the riff-raff. Folks will be able to draw whatever conclusions they want. I do not care, as we are not providing what we know to gain or lose customers, but rather to inform those who enjoy the hobby, and these magnificent chameleons. The information will be put out there for folks to learn from, and there is much to learn from.

Ahem.... You DO realize that there is a chameleon discussion forum here on this site, don't you?

->-> http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=91 <-<-

 

[Dennis Hultman]

Jim, I have question about the complaints Rob and others have stated from that group. Like I stated earlier in this thread, I have never seen written or heard anyone taking issue with your business before this thread. Any disputes were usually over opinions and forum banter on topics. Nothing about business ethics.

After I posted that, I did find and read a thread Rob started on this site back in 2012. It wasn't on the BOI but he did name you in the thread. Here's the thread.
http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=304511

It appears that Rob's motivation (which he brought up in the thread you started on him) is he believed you misrepresented a animal you sold him.
What was/is your position on the animal you sold Rob?

That also seems to be a reasoning given by some posters from that group. That local specific animals being sold aren't accurate.

I would believe this would be better discussed here then on his thread. It also seems to be interwoven into the complaints already here.

As someone who doesn't keep chameleons I can only compare the general gist of the complaints to that of snakes and other reptiles I work with. I have no knowledge of characteristics that make up a local with the species you work with or if the standard is widely accepted.

Considering the accusations made on both the threads, to me that would be the most damning of accusations but I can only compare it to being accused of such selling other animals.

This has probably been discussed at length elsewhere but that doesn't help the readers here. Have you addressed those accusations already? Specifically Rob's accusation of what he purchased?
_____________

Rob, It also doesn't help for someone to come on here and state someone sells "mutts" = bad person. I for one would like to understand the accusations more. Particularly since most of the reptile industry has damned local specific animals for color and pattern morphs. I do understand a general complaint though comparing it to buying a local specific snake and expecting such. As long as people are honest about what they are selling, I don't think most have a problem.

"Crosses" in other reptiles seem to me to mean something greater in other species than my limited understanding of the color variations in just Panther's that in some cases are only a few miles a part from where they were collected.

I would like to know if the complaint is more of a general complaint about selling "mutts" as defined in the community or misrepresentation of what's being sold.

It would be a nice change of pace if their could be a dialogue and evidence provided instead of what has happened so far.

 

[Chameleon Company]

Ahem.... You DO realize that there is a chameleon discussion forum here on this site, don't you?

->-> http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=91 <-<-

Hey. At least I'm a sponsor here !

But will keep it in mind.

 

[Dennis Hultman]

Jim, I have question about the complaints Rob and others have stated from that group. Like I stated earlier in this thread, I have never seen written or heard anyone taking issue with your business before this thread. Any disputes were usually over opinions and forum banter on topics. Nothing about business ethics.

After I posted that, I did find and read a thread Rob started on this site back in 2012. It wasn't on the BOI but he did name you in the thread. Here's the thread.
http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=304511

It appears that Rob's motivation (which he brought up in the thread you started on him) is he believed you misrepresented a animal you sold him.
What was/is your position on the animal you sold Rob?

That also seems to be a reasoning given by some posters from that group. That local specific animals being sold aren't accurate.

I would believe this would be better discussed here then on his thread. It also seems to be interwoven into the complaints already here.

As someone who doesn't keep chameleons I can only compare the general gist of the complaints to that of snakes and other reptiles I work with. I have no knowledge of characteristics that make up a local with the species you work with or if the standard is widely accepted.

Considering the accusations made on both the threads, to me that would be the most damning of accusations but I can only compare it to being accused of such selling other animals.

This has probably been discussed at length elsewhere but that doesn't help the readers here. Have you addressed those accusations already? Specifically Rob's accusation of what he purchased?
_____________

Rob, It also doesn't help for someone to come on here and state someone sells "mutts" = bad person. I for one would like to understand the accusations more. Particularly since most of the reptile industry has damned local specific animals for color and pattern morphs. I do understand a general complaint though comparing it to buying a local specific snake and expecting such. As long as people are honest about what they are selling, I don't think most have a problem.

"Crosses" in other reptiles seem to me to mean something greater in other species than my limited understanding of the color variations in just Panther's that in some cases are only a few miles a part from where they were collected.

I would like to know if the complaint is more of a general complaint about selling "mutts" as defined in the community or misrepresentation of what's being sold.

It would be a nice change of pace if their could be a dialogue and evidence provided instead of what has happened so far.

I'm also having hard time wrapping my head around the term "mutt" for a color variation in adult males within the same species within a small geographical location but that might be for more of a general discussion topic.

 

[robmd1]

What Jim is doing is to be compared to a puppy mill but with Chameleons. when I first got into chams jim had some nice chams, I don't know what happened to him along the way but from where I stand it looks like pure greed. this man puts 6-10 wc femals with one male , the male maybe pure locale but his females he NEVER proves out and hes had ALOT of mixed up females. As far as me I wanted a male from jim's Hannibal male anbanja/ankfi I also bought a female nosy be at the time to pair with my pedigree male. I bought the two chams they were sent no problems. I raise them up and low an behold the thing so many had told me they had a prob with was happing to me. I raised that Hannibal boy iop over 8 months feeding it taking care of it looks like a nosy faly or faly- banja not a Hannibal Ambanja male I had bought.
I contacted Jim and he looked at the pics and told me was nice that he would breed it as a nosy Faly and if he had sisters hed breed them as Nosy Falys. you can kinda see back then how Jims stuff was goin and that's down hill !! when he told me to breed it as a nosy fay I lost any respect I had for him now just see him as a incontinent old man ruining our hobbie trying pass off crosses"mutts" off as pure locale. there is evidence to this in the changes in looks of known locales all having one thing in common and this jim's lines.. to hear him tell it his crosses are pure which they wont ever be, anyone who says diff he attacks an says in lier when it is only him that has that prob telling the truth.

Re: hannibal male

Saturday, August 13, 2011 6:36 PM

Mark as Unread


From: "The Chameleon Company" <[email protected]>To: "robmd1 @ Chameleon Forums" <[email protected]>
Full Headers Printable View



Rob,
Well, he looks fantastic ! He also looks like one of the Faly
variations. He could be 100% Faly. Faly-banjas look more Ambanja than
does he. Whether we mislabeled a cage, or pulled him from a different
cage by mistake, I can't possibly know. We had a couple of mis-labeled
clutches last year, but if my memory serves me correctly, they were
animals that were supposed to be Nosy Be, but were Ambanja. I have none
of his sibling brothers here, whatever the clutch, but wish that I
did. Or all of his sisters to use as breeders. I would consider him
a Faly, and breed him as such, and sell his offspring as such. That is
the color-group he demonstrates.

Jim

On 8/13/2011 8:50 PM, robmd1 @ Chameleon Forums wrote:
> This is a message from robmd1 at Chameleon Forums ( http://www.chameleonforums.com/forum.php ). The Chameleon Forums owners cannot accept any responsibility for the contents of the email.
>
> To email robmd1, you can use this online form:
> http://www.chameleonforums.com/sendmessage.php?do=mailmember&u=7272
>
> OR, by email:
> mailto:[email protected]
>
> This is the message:
>
> hiya jim
> my name is rob and i bought hanibal male 907-3, doh 6-16-2010 an i been watchin how hes turnin out compared to someone else that has a hannibal male from supposedly same clutch an i think theres a mix up somewhere cause my male looks nothing like hannibal but looks more faly then most falys forsale rite now. id like to get this figured out as i wanted a hannibal male not a faly banja here is the thread of what he looks like, can you tell me what you think?
> http://www.chameleonforums.com/what-kinda-panther-am-i-62040/
> maybe a falybanja got loose an put in the hannibal cage?
>
>


--
Jim Flaherty
The Chameleon Company

http://s604.photobucket.com/user/robbiemd1/media/6-25042.jpg.html

 

[robmd1]

I forgot to mention after our conversation where he says he may have had a mixed up nosy be clutch and I had just bought a female nosy be? I had to Sell her at a loss like I had to sell jims faly banja I bought as a pedigree ambanja/ ankfi. even back then it was coulda been a mistake no way to know as in passing on any blame im sorta surprised he's resorted to attacking anyone makes a claim against him now a day's its everyone else but him at fault?

 

[Chameleon Company]

Jim, I have question about the complaints Rob and others have stated from that group. Like I stated earlier in this thread, I have never seen written or heard anyone taking issue with your business before this thread. Any disputes were usually over opinions and forum banter on topics. Nothing about business ethics.

After I posted that, I did find and read a thread Rob started on this site back in 2012. It wasn't on the BOI but he did name you in the thread. Here's the thread.
http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=304511

It appears that Rob's motivation (which he brought up in the thread you started on him) is he believed you misrepresented a animal you sold him.
What was/is your position on the animal you sold Rob?

That also seems to be a reasoning given by some posters from that group. That local specific animals being sold aren't accurate.

I would believe this would be better discussed here then on his thread. It also seems to be interwoven into the complaints already here.

As someone who doesn't keep chameleons I can only compare the general gist of the complaints to that of snakes and other reptiles I work with. I have no knowledge of characteristics that make up a local with the species you work with or if the standard is widely accepted.

Considering the accusations made on both the threads, to me that would be the most damning of accusations but I can only compare it to being accused of such selling other animals.

This has probably been discussed at length elsewhere but that doesn't help the readers here. Have you addressed those accusations already? Specifically Rob's accusation of what he purchased?
_____________

Rob, It also doesn't help for someone to come on here and state someone sells "mutts" = bad person. I for one would like to understand the accusations more. Particularly since most of the reptile industry has damned local specific animals for color and pattern morphs. I do understand a general complaint though comparing it to buying a local specific snake and expecting such. As long as people are honest about what they are selling, I don't think most have a problem.

"Crosses" in other reptiles seem to me to mean something greater in other species than my limited understanding of the color variations in just Panther's that in some cases are only a few miles a part from where they were collected.

I would like to know if the complaint is more of a general complaint about selling "mutts" as defined in the community or misrepresentation of what's being sold.

It would be a nice change of pace if their could be a dialogue and evidence provided instead of what has happened so far.

Dennis. I see where Robert Nichols has finally posted. His purchase was in 2010. He approached me about concerns that he got a Nosy Faly instead of an Ambana in August 2011. He did not seek replacement, etc. In the opinion of many, what he got was worth more than what he paid for. Regardless, he went with it. In October of 2011, 2 months later, he was in full crazy mode bashing others in a different forum, where the thread was deleted, and he temporarily banned. Then in 2012, the thread that you linked. Nothing has changed since about Robert Nichols. You and others can educate yourselves in the thread with his name on it. You are aware of what is there.

I read the first 60 posts in that link. I do not think I ever saw the thread, but what we do here at The Chameleon Company is respond to our customers. We make few mistakes, but when we do, we fix them. 10K chameleons sold, and where's the beef, as in complaint, in the BOI ? All that I saw in that thread after Rob, if anyone had anything negative to say about me, was minimal at best and from non-customers. But I am not going to read a 3 year old bash thread to its end either.

Dennis. Show me the valid complaint from a customer, presented to me, where we did not fix it. or at least make a most fair effort. You have 10K transactions to look for !

Ready .... GO !!

 

[Chameleon Company]

I'm also having hard time wrapping my head around the term "mutt" for a color variation in adult males within the same species within a small geographical location but that might be for more of a general discussion topic.

Harald. You have asked Mr Nichols some vary valid and direct questions in the thread that bears his name. I believe that you have as well Dennis. No answers were forthcoming.

Both of you have counseled that issues not relevant to the topic of the thread be taken elsewhere. Dennis, your post is not relevant to this thread. I answered because I respect you much, and recognize the efforts you have made here for a decade. But nothing about your post goes to the issue of escaped chameleons on my property, how it was misrepresented to the FWC, and how it was resolved properly by the FWC.

 

[Dennis Hultman]

Dennis, your post is not relevant to this thread. I answered because I respect you much, and recognize the efforts you have made here for a decade. But nothing about your post goes to the issue of escaped chameleons on my property, how it was misrepresented to the FWC, and how it was resolved properly by the FWC.

Because threads here are about the individual or the business not topic specific about one circumstance. Rob and others brought it up the topic in the thread started by you about him. Another moderator stated that it would be best served on the thread about you.

It has always been the policy of this site to use existing threads about a business rather than start a new thread on each issue. that's the preferred choice. Many don't follow the policy because multiple threads about everyone exists. That still doesn't make it off topic.

Here are the rule about that posted 13 years ago and always has been the policy of the site.
http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8880

Please utilize the SEARCH function as much as possible before starting a new thread (topic line). In many instances, it is much better to continue an existing thread rather than starting a new one in order to preserve continuity in the information about a person or business. Most readers are much more inclined to read a single long thread, rather than dozens of smaller ones scattered all over the BOI. So don't let your message get lost in the clutter by ignoring this simple rule.

If three or ten years for now someone decides they want to write something negative or bring forth a complaint about you they would be well within bounds of this site to use the existing "bad guy" thread (this one) instead of making a new one.

Would you rather each person coming on in the last few days to make separate BOI threads about you? I wouldn't. It wouldn't be easy for the reader.

Dennis. Show me the valid complaint from a customer, presented to me, where we did not fix it. or at least make a most fair effort. You have 10K transactions to look for !

I just asked you to address the accusation and also stated I have never heard of anything derogatory about your business before. I didn't accuse you of anything, yet it seems your a little upset I just asked the question.

If someone is accessing you of something I thought a response would be important.

 

[Dennis Hultman]

*accusing

 

[Billy1138]

Jim, when I first read this thread I was astonished at how non chalant you appeared regarding the accusations. Your initial presentation made it seem that you were "seeding" as originally thought. Since then, I have read your replies and changed my opinion, but others have not. You're not going to convince everyone that you're right and everyone else is wrong.

RN has presented himself consistently in a horrible manner with adolescent name calling, attacking others and general undesirable communication ( in the other thread). The more this thread carries on, the more defensive you're coming off, and you're going to start losing any supporters you may still have. Feel free to attack me for my opinion ( which I and everyone else is entitled to have).

 

[Chameleon Company]

Jim, when I first read this thread I was astonished at how non chalant you appeared regarding the accusations. Your initial presentation made it seem that you were "seeding" as originally thought. Since then, I have read your replies and changed my opinion, but others have not. You're not going to convince everyone that you're right and everyone else is wrong.

RN has presented himself consistently in a horrible manner with adolescent name calling, attacking others and general undesirable communication ( in the other thread). The more this thread carries on, the more defensive you're coming off, and you're going to start losing any supporters you may still have. Feel free to attack me for my opinion ( which I and everyone else is entitled to have).

Bill. It seems that you understand now that the accusations lacked merit. They were not about a service or product, which would be covered by TOS, contract law, etc. When we get the Nichols audio up later tonight, I hope, in the other thread, listen to the first one at least. I will try to put it here too. That will further illuminate things.

However, I am still non-chalant about the accusations made. They were made by a bunch of yahoos. Or folks who listened to yahoos. All I did was wait for the folks who are the true keepers of the environment here, and the governing authority, to check me out thoroughly. I am in complete compliance with the governing authority, the FWC. That authority said so.

You got the impression of "seeding" from folks who are liars. Plain and simple. The truth is here now. You saw it, and your opinion changed. If others do not, so be it.

 

[WebSlave]

Both of you have counseled that issues not relevant to the topic of the thread be taken elsewhere. Dennis, your post is not relevant to this thread. I answered because I respect you much, and recognize the efforts you have made here for a decade. But nothing about your post goes to the issue of escaped chameleons on my property, how it was misrepresented to the FWC, and how it was resolved properly by the FWC.

I beg to differ, as the TOPIC line of this thread plainly reads:

Jim Flaherty of the Chameleon Company

You and your company ARE the topic at hand in this thread, Jim, not any particular or limited subset thereof. In my opinion, I would venture that my moderators are VERY well versed in the understanding of what "relevant to the topic of the thread" means here.

 

[Chameleon Company]

Because threads here are about the individual or the business not topic specific about one circumstance. Rob and others brought it up the topic in the thread started by you about him. Another moderator stated that it would be best served on the thread about you.

It has always been the policy of this site to use existing threads about a business rather than start a new thread on each issue. that's the preferred choice. Many don't follow the policy because multiple threads about everyone exists. That still doesn't make it off topic.

Here are the rule about that posted 13 years ago and always has been the policy of the site.
http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8880




If three or ten years for now someone decides they want to write something negative or bring forth a complaint about you they would be well within bounds of this site to use the existing "bad guy" thread (this one) instead of making a new one.

Would you rather each person coming on in the last few days to make separate BOI threads about you? I wouldn't. It wouldn't be easy for the reader.


I just asked you to address the accusation and also stated I have never heard of anything derogatory about your business before. I didn't accuse you of anything, yet it seems your a little upset I just asked the question.

If someone is accessing you of something I thought a response would be important.

The problem with that protocol is several-fold Dennis. You end up with one thread going many directions. Posts 1-100 about an original issue, 100-200 primarily about something else, and 200-300 about a third item. With comingling throughout. It is unwieldy to respond to, as many joining the discussion will not read 300 posts. And such as I am not going to waste time responding to the same question already answered time and time again.

A three year old gripe by Nichols on a 5 year old transaction, which was dealt with then, and never brought here, the BOI, were it a valid issue? Rather this thread you linked was an extension of a thread in another forum where Nichols was banned for how he participated, and the thread deleted ......... noted in what you linked ......... belongs in the toilet, to be frank.

 

[Chameleon Company]

I beg to differ, as the TOPIC line of this thread plainly reads:

Jim Flaherty of the Chameleon Company

You and your company ARE the topic at hand in this thread, Jim, not any particular or limited subset thereof. In my opinion, I would venture that my moderators are VERY well versed in the understanding of what "relevant to the topic of the thread" means here.

Rich. My just prior post addressed that. But Dennis linked to a 3 year old thread back in the Chameleon Forum section. Saying that it should be here ? In this 3 week old thread ? How was Nichols going to do that ? OBTW, Nichols already made a couple posts earlier in the beginning of this thread on that topic. I do not think that you understand how we got to this conversation. Dennis was asking me to respond to a three year old thread, that I had not seen, about an issue hardly mentioned, and not the topic of that thread even, that had happened two years before that.

 

[WebSlave]

The problem with that protocol is several-fold Dennis. You end up with one thread going many directions. Posts 1-100 about an original issue, 100-200 primarily about something else, and 200-300 about a third item. With comingling throughout. It is unwieldy to respond to, as many joining the discussion will not read 300 posts. And such as I am not going to waste time responding to the same question already answered time and time again.

Perhaps, but another way of looking at this is that if YOU were interested in spending your hard earned money with someone, are you or are you NOT going to want to read everything you can about that person in order to come to a conclusion as to whether your plans are ill advised or not? And if presented with a dozen threads, one of which might have 300+ replies to it, which thread do you suppose you might think just might be the most instructive with a larger number of people chiming in with their opinions about such person? "Act in haste, repent in leisure" would likely be a good rule of thumb for people to utilize when searching for information about anyone they are considering doing a transaction with, I would venture.

Honestly had it been technically feasible to do so, I would have designed the Board Of Inquiry such that ONLY a single thread for any one person and/or business would have been possible for anyone to create. But the technical challenges were such that I had to allow it to be in such a state as we now see it, warts and all.

And BTW, when a thread is opened about someone, any and all "directions" concerning that person and/or business are fair game. My belief is that it is prudent for people to get as broad a scope as possible concerning the people they are considering doing business with. And most certainly such a range of the scope will NOT be under the control of the person a thread is about.