WARNING!!!

[Satyrday Reptiles]

Multiple topics on the same person... point understood, but just to add another 2 cents; I believe in some leeway. Especially considering the nature of this board, and the time available to dedicate to it - while it has 'issues' so to speak, in my opinion it's doing the job.
Tweeking the poll feature is a great idea, but I don't think it would be feasable.
Another idea to toss in the hat, perhaps opening up a secondary board, similar to the BOI, but specifically for disputes related to certain transactions. That way, (ideally) people inquiring about someone could get a general idea of who they're working with, and if need be, they could search further for..."details" <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>
Just an idea - probably more trouble than it's worth, but who knows...
Thanks,
Liz
(Elizabeth Craig)

 

[Rob Hill/Geckos Anonymous]

Neil,

if it makes you feel better, I totally got what you were talking about...I know, I'm scared too. lol

But I think what Neil is driving at sounds like a good way to possibly curb many of the repeat postings.  
I think a scenario like this would explain it well...

Let's say I want to post a bad guy thread on let's say, Jimmy John-John.  There is already a post concerning Mr. John-John's business ethics.  So after typing in the subject name "Jimmy John-John, bad guy," a little pop-up warning appears stating something like, "A thread concerning this is appearing in our system, please direct all further comments or postings to http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/BOI/Jimmy's.John-John.  Although you may post a new thread regarding this issue, be forewarned that FaunaClassifieds reserves the right to delete ANY &/or ALL multiple threads without review(or something along those lines)."  
If I decide to post about Jimmy anyway, disregarding the warning, then when you catch it, you delete it, no harm no foul.  I was warned but chose to break the rules anyway, so no excuse.  But if I choose to post it in the already existing thread, then it goes in the right place, and evil is punished

Of course I don't know how feasible or workable that would be in the case of the BOI as it is now or will be in the future, though.
Good idea Neil!

 

[WebSlave]

What you guys are describing is something that I would like to implement, but it would take a lot of coding to accomplish.  This message board is based on a mySQL database, but it is not structured as a database system.   There is no key index on the topic field that can be used to compare a new entry with previous entries.  Even if there was, it would be useless in this application, as is.

I have written stuff like this before in FoxPro for the PC, and it's really not hard.  But it is tedious.  Someone wanting to create a new topic would be presented with a drop down list of previously existing entries to choose from.  A button would be available to add a new one if what they are looking for is not there.  So the user can either select from the dropdown list, or enter a new name.  Duplicates would not be allowed.

This actually works better, from a user standpoint, then just allowing someone to enter in some text and then do a search on that text.  Such an algorithm nearly guarantees that 99 percent of the searches would fail anyway.  A manual search, althought slower, is much more effective for accuracy.

The biggest problem would be laziness.  How many people would want to take the time to search for the person or business they are looking for?  Then how many times would the name just be spelled incorrectly?  Maybe REAL incorrectly??  You have no idea how many ways I have seen my name spelled over the years.

Unfortunately, I am trying to use a generic message board system for the BOI when it really needs a custom application.  Unfortunately, I doubt I would ever have the time to write something like that, and certainly would cost more to have someone else do it than I would be willing to spend for this free service.  Just look at this message board system and envision the effort it would take to program it myself.  And you aren't even seeing most of it, as the neatest features are behind the scenes for my use only.

My proposal to do it manually by screening the new threads myself would be a pain, but it is an option I am toying with.

 

[sschind]

I may be wrong here but doesn't it already say in the rules to make all posts about one person in existing threads.  there is no need to go through all the trouble to make a warning pop up.  The warning is already there.  if i start a new thread about Jimmy-john john I know it might get deleted because I know the rules.  If I don't know the rules it is still just as likely to get deleted.  If people followed the rules, we wouldn't have this problem, at least not to this degree.  If the Webslave were a little more ruthless people would get the hint.  Persoanlly I think he is too nice of a guy.

to the webslave. my suggestion.  Take the time to make a post of all the rules of the BOI (and whatever forums you choose) this shouldn't be to difficult and for the most part are already in place.  this post should remain at the top of every forum at all times.  Additionally, whenever someone registers, they are sent a listing of all the rules with a place to agree or disagree.  if they disagree they are not allowed to register.  Periodically (every 3 months or so)  email everyone who is registered a copy of the rules.  This should be able to be set up automatically so minimal time would be involved.  Then, be ruthless in the enforcement of the rules.  You shouldn't have to preapprove every thread, and those who have their threads deleted should already know why.


Now a question for the webslave.  Is there a period of time that you would deem appropriate to have passed before a new post would be allowed.  for example,  I do a search on Billyjohnjohn (Jimmy's Brother)  I turn up a thread with say 10 posts, most positive but a few negative but all are over 6 months old.  Since nothing could be concluded from the existing posts (some positive some negative) would it be appropriate to make a new inquiry.  I know that by make a post to the existing thread it will cause it to jump to the top and thus people will be reminded, but what I am wondering is if anyone has any new dealings with him, and I am afraid that some people will not read the new post on a very old thread.

Steve Schindler

 

[sschind]

I just though of another idea.

Why not add another page between the main forum menu and the actual BOI forum.  When you click on the BOI in the main menu, the next page gives you three options

1  do you wish to make an inquiry about a person or business.  if so enter that person or business here.  then automatically link to the search.

2  do you wish to start a thread regarding a transaction between yourself and another person or business.  if so enter that person or business here.  then automatically link to the search.

3.  do you wish to access the BOI.  if so click here.  then allow access.

It seems to me that the search thing just doesn't occur to people all the time.  by making it more obvious maybe more people would use it.  some people may still choose to start a new thread but at least they would have been warned that their thread may be deleted.

Steve Schindler

 

[t. larson]

I agree that threads on topics are best kept together UNLESS a thread is sooo much newer etc. as has been addressed earlier.
  Otherwise, I see this boi as a good thing. Sure there is a lot of BS but hey it sure is entertaining (although I must admit to being disappointed after reading ALL 1079 or so posts on the snake pits problems, I must be nuts &#33<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> If someone really wants to find info. they will find it and research what they are looking into before hand. After spending a little time reading it's pretty easy to tell who not to deal with and who the good guys are. I'm personally glad to have found this source of info. Keep up the good work Rich.

Thanes Place

 

[Seamus Haley]

I've just got a bit of a question on this issue, despite the fact that it had seemed pretty clear cut.

Where is the line drawn exactly about how frequent or how new a thread is justifiable?

I only ask because, opening the BOI this evening to poke around and see how a few of my comments had been responded to (if they had) or if there was anything of interest to me...

Every single thread containing new posts was either titled after, or had altered to a discussion about, the same person.

A person who had seemingly overcome this type of behavior but apparantly has regressed and decided that he's simply going to spam the hell out of the board as some sort of primitive and juvenile retribution.

Just wondering where lines are drawn  and what the potential consequenses might be.  Admittedly this individual is doing it to himself, but the last time someone was unable to curb their desire to post about  a specific person on every thread, they dissapeared for a while.

I fully acknowledge that this IS WebSlave's board. The ultimate descisions about matters of this nature lie with him alone and it can be difficult to decide just where you remove an individual's right to speak for themselves. Of course there is no legal obligation to allow anyone to post here at all but I have always (well, since I figured out this existed, drawn in by a thread about  Henry Lizardlover of all people) respected that form of equal treatment... Sort of a give someone enough rope and they'll either climb or hang themselves  mentality and an understanding that most bad guys will do more damage to themselves than anyone else could ever hope to...

But I do wonder what point simply becomes "Too Much"

Not an easy descision to make. Not one I envy WebSlave the power to make in the least. But one which I might ask be considered even if the conclusion to that consideration is not identical to my personal feelings on the issue.

I hate to complete the situation by turning this thread into yet ANOTHER thread about that same person... But this did seem to be the appropriate place to bring it up and I figured it was better here than creating another new thread about the individual.

 

[Adam Block]

Good point!  I forgot this post was about me as well.  And to think, I don't bring me up in the posts.  It's the fans that keep track of me that bring up the point around me.  It's out of control isn't it?  I only hope the webslave can do something to control his loyal fans.  In all posts that turn into ones about me, Chad, Derek, Rodentpro and so on I make a comment and the users can't help themselfs but to bring up my dealings from other posts.

It's a shame,
Adam Block

 

[Seamus Haley]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">And to think, I don't bring me up in the posts.  It's the fans that keep track of me that bring up the point around </td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I make a comment and the users can't help themselfs but to bring up my dealings from other posts</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

You deliberately bait them to respond.

There is a current thread about your crappy shipping practices and another were you said the board was useless. You then go and blast someone elses shipping methods despite theirs being better than yours... And you go and make comments about how you don't dislike the board.

You have two choices here Adam...

Either you deliberately made a hypocrite of yourself in order to goad a response out of people, thus making it very much so an intentiaonal action on your part to bring yourself around  as the topic...

Or you're simply so damn stupid that you legitimately forgot what you had said and had no idea you were  contradicting yourself.

I personally will give you the benifit of the doubt, I was convinced you were merely acting like a child, throwing temper tantrums and using a playground mentality to meet your own juvenile goals. It's a contemptuous action, but at least you know you're making it...

Maybe you really are an idiot though. You had no idea that your comments would prompt those responses, you're entirely innocent because it takes an understanding of your actions in order to be culpable. This is why mentaly retarded people can't get the death penalty.

So which is it Adam?

Are you a loathesome, immature human being who knew what he was doing and continued anyway, like a child, ignoring the potential consequences and behaving like an immature but aware individual?

Or are you just so stupid that you had no idea what you had said and didn't ever contemplate that someone would take objection to your hypocritical (Although accidental, you're just too much of an idiot to keep track of your own thoughts) and it wasn't your fault?

You have no other options on this matter. Either you intentiallay instigated others to respond or your an imbecile.

Guilt or Stupidity, tough choice.

I'm willing to bet that you'll avoid it entirely. Out loud anyway. I still think you're just being juvenile rather than posessing some inate stupidity however, so I also think that you'll see the truth of my words even if you don't publicly accept them.

And Adam... That ability to avoid questions while giving the general impression they were answered... That ability to force actions in other people, pushing buttons to gain a response... I'll let you in on something that isn't much of a secret...  I can do it too. And better than you can with far more control and subtlety- If I went about with these juvenile goals, nobody would catch me, nobody would  force me to either admit my actions or call myself stupid. But Adam, as much as you may refuse to admit you're wrong, as much as I know you will never privately admit that you've been caught or that there may be someone better than you at this nonsense, smarter at reading people and understanding  behaviors, reasons and triggers...

I've been there, I've done that. I grew up and started acting like a human. Will you?

 

[Adam Block]

Seamus, I honestly can't tell you how much respect I have for you!  I'm going to add most of your mssg here to respond to it.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">You deliberately bait them to respond.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

Why yes I do, and it's worked fairly well hasn't it?

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">There is a current thread about your crappy shipping practices and another were you said the board was useless. You then go and blast someone elses shipping methods despite theirs being better than yours... And you go and make comments about how you don't dislike the board.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

I don't ship frozen products UPS ground so your point is what?  It wasn't my method of shipping that was questioned it was the time it took to use that method.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">So which is it Adam?

Are you a loathesome, immature human being who knew what he was doing and continued anyway, like a child, ignoring the potential consequences and behaving like an immature but aware individual?</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

Um, yeah, I'm quilty, that would be me  Sorry..

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I'm willing to bet that you'll avoid it entirely. Out loud anyway. I still think you're just being juvenile rather than posessing some inate stupidity however, so I also think that you'll see the truth of my words even if you don't publicly accept them.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

And to your surprise I admit them publicly.

I said from the start the way this board works is a joke.  Now look, every post that's come up I can bend and fashon anyway I want.  When does this get mentioned?  When I tell you I'm doing it.  Just think, with all the things I've been called, young, stupid, half brain and so on.  What if Seamus were to do the same thing?  He would do it without you even knowing it was done and that's what goes on here every day.  The board is bent to be what you want and not about the topics at hind being fairly handled.

Everybody loves to see a car crash but hates to be in them.

You know how much business I'll miss over this. How many people will dislike me or talk badly about me cause of this?  Who cares, I produce high quality animals or products you can't get anyplace else so I'll still sell everything I have.  If people would have read my fine print from the start we wouldn't be talking.

However, the people who remember me on this board will be talking about this for awhile to come.  And remember, I wasn't even trying to play with any of you and I'm not as good as a guy like Seamus.  At least we got one guy on here wise enough to call me for what I am.

Good job Seamus,
Adam Block

So now we have:
Seamus
Kim
Neal

 

[Slither]

My FIRST suggestion would be to get the damn search to work with less than 4 characters and more than one word. You cannot do a search for say R&R Reptiles. R&R is too short to search and Reptiles brings up every damn post on the board. You can't even do a search on someone's first name if it has less than 4 characters (example: Dan). Fix the search and chances are you will fix a lot of the repeat posts. Just my opinion.

 

[Darin Chappell]

Bill,

I don't think that is what the WebSlave meant about multiple posts. He was talking about multiple posts concerning one person/business when they were obviously separated only by a few threads. There was a time when person "A" might have three or four threads about him (good, bad, or both) all on the first page of the BOI. That was just ridiculous, and I was a one time perpetuator of that type of silliness. It was because of one of MY earlier posts abour Derek Roberts that this thread was initiated by the WebSlave.

It had nothing at all to do with an ineffectiveness of the search capacities of this site. Although you raise a valid point, I would suggest that it is not one of great concern or need for addressing. As proof, I offer the fact that this very thread had laid dormant for more than five months before you brough it to the top.

I wonder if you did a search to find this topic being discussed? Or did you wade through all of those pages to find what you were looking for? Bummer, if it was the last one!

 

[WebSlave]

Bill -

Thanks for the suggestions.

First off, the choice of the minimum length of a search criteria word is necessarily a tradeoff. An understanding of how search engines work would probably make you a little less confrontational about it if you knew the reasons for it. Each and every message posted on this site is automatically indexed when you press the SUBMIT button. This index will take every 4 letter or greater word within the message and add them to the search index. The size of this index file is DIRECTLY proportional to the length of the index key. Four characters was determined to be a reasonable compromise between 1 and infinity. Read any message and take a look at how many three letter words are really superfluous as far as a search index is concerned.

Choosing a three character limit would have made the index file MUCH larger (and correspondingly slower) than the index created with a four character limit. And in many instances include many words that would never likely be used in a search criteria anyway. So for the tradeoff of you being able to search on 'Dan', it would have spawned dozens of other complaints that the search was too slow.

Yes, this is my choice to make, and I have made it. As always, I knew it wouldn't please everyone.

Secondly, as for your complaint about not being able to search on more than one word, perhaps you should read the directions that are provided right within the search box:

Advanced query: Join words with AND, OR and NOT to control your search in more detail.
Add asterisks (*) to use wild cards in your search (*bullet* matches vBulletin etc.)

I'll leave it to your own experimentation to figure out what that means.

 

[John Albrecht]

Kind of like it the way it is.

I think Rich is "just about right" regarding his policing of this board. I'm glad he's real successful at snakes otherwise he might have more time to come and police it even more! This board turned into more than just a resource for vendor information, it has grown into a community. A community I might add that is somewhat self-policing. I have been totally amazed at how there will be an inquiry on someone and as the conversation moves along members of the community will yank stuff from a year ago where they made a mental connection and be able to tie threads together. Some are better at it than others. The result of that is that once someone enters this community it doesn't take long for them to figure out that they might want to ask additional questions regarding Adams shipping methods/policy. It doesn't take long to figure out that Jesse is someone to avoid altogether. History is kept alive by the community aspect. The "fat" gives this place "flavor".

 

[E2MacPets]

Rich, is there any way to selectively index 3 character phrases? Perhaps "dan" wouldn't be indexed but "k&n" or "r&r" or "d&t" could be?