Sometimes I just cannot keep quiet (seems like all the time - LOL).
So far, I haven't heard of the classifieds section being a source of problems, so I don't see any reason to try to fix something that is not broken.
Nope they are not a problem but will soon likely become one, just like the BOI, if the llowed feedback in the advertisement threads continues. All the good intentions in the world will not keep the troublemakers away. In fact, allowing such is an invitation for an unscrupulous business competitor to come to your site and post bad posts. The BOI offers the same opportunity. Remember the conspiracy theory against faunaclassified users that the owner of another site onece had; this could work both ways.
As for paying for the classifieds, I think that people were trying to offer a suggestion that would help you out of your financial burdens, which you express quite often. No one was trying to upset you to the point of…whatever it was. People were trying to help you out. You suggested posting a poll; I will post a poll on this as you suggested, if no one else has already. I am guessing that faunaclassifieds feedback section would be the one to use as I would be seeking feedback. I am quite curious to see if more than 10 people would vote in favor of such, I think so. I think more than a few have already sought of voted in favor of it in this forum as misplaced as you think that idea may have been. While the free classifieds may draw people here, paid for classifieds may draw more of them here. That is a funny thing about something you are usually expected to pay for - not paying makes people think it is worth less than if they had paid - like iot is not good enough to be paid for. Therefor people stay away. That as opposed to paying for something that people feel should be free - like the BOI (LOL).
I just reread some of this thread, and found that one person said there was favortism on the BOI by the webslave to others. I had pointed this out before too, and you replied pretty much the same as in this thread:
No, there is no favoritism here. Certainly none that is intentional or recognized as such by what I see.
The thing is that others do see it. Maybe your viewpoint is not as objective as it could be when it comes to this, and that would be expected of anyone except maybe Mother Theresa. You have allowed moderators, in the past, at least, to repeatedly troll and flame along with the best trollers and flamers. I do mean repeatedly and often too. You also allow moderators to keep a thing going long before it would have been stopped for other fauna users. Now it has not happened that much lately because the current moderators do not ferret things out as much as the Ferret himself did. Yet, it is really something that makes the BOI look like a joke when the accuser can do, in even small part. exactly that which he accuses someone else of doing, and then get away with it. It is, I know, well intentioned and entertaining as all heck, but it sure makes the BOI look lamentable when it happens. The moderators, of all people, should look extremely professional when using their moderator sign ins. When posting as a moderator they should get double the points for any violations, as there should be no violations from the hired help (yes I know they do it for free but in effect that is what they are). They should also try to look respectable when using a personal sign in, but if they are not they should get points like everyone else for any violations. Don't get me wrong, for the most part they look very professional, but a few times it did seem as if you let them get away with things for which others would have received warning points. That looks bad when it happens and reflects on the BOI the same way but is multipled by a factor of X because moderators do it - so even a little bit looks horrendous. I cannot say I have seen it lately, but it is a thing to watch for.
Another thing that may help the BOI is to require evidence of any claim, good or bad. No evidence in the form of emails, bills, receipts, pictures, then no post. Could you imagine that. Think this would cut back on BS posts in the BOI, I do!
I think it would be extremely egotistical of me to just assume that those few people saying that the BOI is a joke should be just ignored without at least giving their words some serious consideration.
You gave it serious consideration. To give it too much consideration however, might also be egotistical or just plain old worrisome. You are not going to please everyone, never will be able to that - not in a million years, even if you think you can or you should. You don't have a million years, so why worry about making everyone happy. Make yourself happy. While doing that don't worry overly much that a handful have said the BOI stinks, it doesn't. There is a small part of it that stinks, and rooting that part out would be the best way to go. That part are certain posters. Maybe now that Hell has been implemented, they will stay therein. Heck all they wanted was a playground to bash one another, now you gave it to them. As for new BOI threads that get out of hand, they should be dealt with swiftly and removed to Hell. If the offenders keep coming back to the BOI to create more of the same type of trouble, ban them. Sure they can come back under another email account from hotmail or AOL; but I bet if I wanted to I could get an email account under a false name pretty easily with any ISP. If you do choose to ban users of hotmail, AOL and other providers who allow anonymous registration for email, well you will probably be losing a lot of decent, well intentioned users/customers. The same thing will likely happen if you charge for the BOI, you will lose users/customers. Even if you do those things, the BOI is likely to remain a hotbed of accusations and flames. Others, especially competitors and dealers who cannot stand the heat, will likely keep calling it a joke regardless. It will never be perfect for everyone - especially for those for which it with whom it holds the potential of negative feedback regarding their business dealings.
It is a conundrum of exqusite complexity and sheer simpleness. If you decide to keep the BOI and attempt to increase its integrity - you have a most baffling problem on your hands. If on the other side you decide to toss the BOI (which I realize is not really a consideration) then the problem is a simple one. It would be the easy way out, the easy way to rid any problems caused by the BOI. Yet it would be one, I hope, as unacceptable as charging a fee for BOI use or restricting which ISP a person can choose to access the BOI. Hoepfully something else will come to mind that will work well and not be too difficult to implement at the expense of others who think it is ok as it is.
For a guy who was not going to add any more to this debate, I sre can go on and on........Sorry.
Best regards,
Glenn B
