New Members: 20 Posts in the Open Forums are Required Before Selling here.

[Tom71]

Look at his latest activity. He came in here trying to sell something, had the ad removed and was told he needed twenty posts. He did them all in 15 minutes. Stuff like, someone wanted a pair of Vibergs, so he said "I don't have any." Straight down classifieds like that.

I didn’t realise this.

I am all for keeping this place an open and friendly island in the vast sea of social media madness.
I thought (and still want to think): the less rules the better, and the community will sort itself out by its culture.

I do note that the culture is changing, and that many longstanding members (much, much more so than myself) are turning away or are posting in huge intervals only.

Ridiculing the little rules we have in the mentioned format is not cleverness or cheekyness. It’s just bad form.

 

[jatiphoto]

A visitor can still come on here, go to the classifieds, and learn something. People are posting all kinds of jackets etc for sale, that aren't necessarily being discussed at length in other areas of the site. If I want to see what a Highwayman looks like on a real person, in various colors/leathers/configurations, one doesn't have to solely search for a thread, somewhere down in the classifieds is also going to have what you're looking for.

 

[Harris HTM]

A visitor can still come on here, go to the classifieds, and learn something

And noone prohibits him to do so. The issue is, and since you follow the forum long probably you've realized it as well, that the nature of the forum has changed: from a discussion forum to a market place. And this because the past 2 or so years there is a significant increase in members who join only to sell without cobtributing anything; let alone the rude ones who deliberately make a mockery of the forum rules and they are proud to do so.

 

[Peacoat]

There has been at least one other member with less than 20 posts doing something similar recently i.e. making short, pointless comments which add nothing to the thread.
I guess it would put even more work onto the mods but in an ideal world such posts would be deleted to keep reducing the members post count or the members account could just be deleted/suspended.

If I see them in one of my sections, or if they are reported to me, I delete the comments and let the poster know the reason–such as, "Your post adds nothing to the discussion." I don't go looking for them, but if I see them, I delete them.

 

[RDS]

Thanks. The member was reported and 3 of their very short pointless posts were subsequently deleted. This reduced their post count down to 6, although 4 other equally short and pointless messages still remain.

 

[Harris HTM]

Thanks. The member was reported and 3 of their very short pointless posts were subsequently deleted. This reduced their post count down to 6, although 4 other equally short and pointless messages still remain.

Well there is a member here with at least 300 posts of 'b.'

 

[RDS]

Well there is a member here with at least 300 posts of 'b.'

If that’s the case then report some of this members offending posts. I’m sure the mods will have a look and then take any appropriate action.

 

[Harris HTM]

If that’s the case then report some of this members offending posts. I’m sure the mods will have a look and then take any appropriate action.

I don't find these posts 'offending' and there is no written rule here about bumping (although when another member informed him about the unwritten rule of bumping once per week he had a really disrespectful reaction for the forum).
However it is because of behaviours like his that the forum changed to the worse.

 

[RDS]

I don't find these posts 'offending' and there is no written rule here about bumping (although when another member informed him about the unwritten rule of bumping once per week he had a really disrespectful reaction for the forum).
However it is because of behaviours like his that the forum changed to the worse.

In which case it might be worth bringing this particular member to the attention of the mods (assuming that hasn’t already been done)
Although they do a great, often unsung job, the mods can’t be expected to be across all that goes on in the FL and to an extent it’s up to the members to assist them.

 

[Harris HTM]

Although they do a great, often unsung job, the mods can’t be expected to be across all that goes on in the FL and to an extent it’s up to the members to assist them.

Oh absolutely, the moderators do an amazing job here. I think this specific member has been already reported by another fellow here.

 

[lindsay robinson]

Another two places that I joined some two years ago, Discord channels, have a mandatory fit pic & short introduction requirement that the moderators then verify.

This doesn't, of course, need to be a proper WAYWT photo & people often upload silly things like their baby photos or photos of pets or stuff like that because the whole point is only so that the moderators can see that they're real people.

Until they have provided this, new members are given a limited access to the forum that still allows them to use all the less sensitive sub-forums & interact with others, which basically acts as a (number) post count verification and can eventually grant them full access.

Another way to prove their legitimacy is to contact the mods with references, such as their eBay or Grailed accounts or their IG that is often a very good character reference in itself.

For example, this forum and the insane post count that I have here had often served me as a major reference source, when I'd sell something elsewhere.

****mers are mostly always extremely dense and clueless about what they're selling and are absolutely not capable of passing the vibe check.

I like what you're saying here-there are many ways to validate someone is human. Otherwise people are blah blahing on posts and taking up space. I've been using this site on/off for years but in general don't post on many site that I use. Rather than try to use a site like etsy/ebay to sell real hatters equipment to someone who will use it I thought coming here would make sense. I stand by that decision but now I have to make a bunch of random comments that nobody wants to listen to. There are other great ways to vet people. But also agree there are so many insane ****s out there-saw an ad for a free airstream today. ha. But anyway...

 

[RDS]

Rather than try to use a site like etsy/ebay to sell real hatters equipment to someone who will use it I thought coming here would make sense. I stand by that decision but now I have to make a bunch of random comments that nobody wants to listen to.

If that’s the case why not save both yourself and all the others on here the trouble and just sell your items on Etsy and eBay ?

 

[Archilon]

With an uptick in new members who are here either to just sell things or to relieve other members of their cash without supplying the goods, we will remove any classified post by anyone who hasn't taken the time to get to know the forum and all it offers. You'll need 20 posts at a minimum to participate in the classified forum as a seller from here on out.

Good idea ^^

 

[Peacoat]

I don't find these posts 'offending' and there is no written rule here about bumping (although when another member informed him about the unwritten rule of bumping once per week he had a really disrespectful reaction for the forum).
However it is because of behaviours like his that the forum changed to the worse.

There is a rule about bumping. See Rule 7 below. This was posted by Nathan in the FAQ Section section back in 2015..

1. Definitely no inappropriate topics, especially "Adult"or innuendo.
2. No Flaming (verbally attacking people or groups of people - e.g. a profession, an organization, a company.)
3. No Trolling (posting to provoke others, luring them to flame or rant). Trolling is sometimes done involuntarily, so please be considerate when posting. NOTE: Do not reply to or quote people who troll or flame.
4. No Teasing, mocking, ridiculing, or otherwise making fun at other member's expense.
5. No Fighting or excessive arguing. Taking a personal conflict to the forum is unacceptable. "I'm right, you're wrong".
6. Do not advertise your products or services outside of the appropriate Buy Sell Trade (BST) areas of the forum.
7. No Bumping or Cross-posting topics. Bumping is posting to move a thread up on the forum list, and cross-posting is posting the same thread in several forums.
8. Do not post overly personal information like your phone number, address, age, or any other overly personal info.
9. Do not promote other websites that are "similar" to our site, especially similar forums. Sometimes it may be appropriate to link to another site that has specific information relative to a question, but moderators have to right to remove links and posts at their discretion.
10. Do not solicit donations or charitable requests for yourself or other people or organizations.
11. We strongly discourage religious, political, and other strongly divisive topics, and reserve the right to delete them at our discretion.

 

[Harris HTM]

There is a rule about bumping. See Rule 7 below. This was posted by Nathan in the FAQ Section section back in 2015..

1. Definitely no inappropriate topics, especially "Adult"or innuendo.
2. No Flaming (verbally attacking people or groups of people - e.g. a profession, an organization, a company.)
3. No Trolling (posting to provoke others, luring them to flame or rant). Trolling is sometimes done involuntarily, so please be considerate when posting. NOTE: Do not reply to or quote people who troll or flame.
4. No Teasing, mocking, ridiculing, or otherwise making fun at other member's expense.
5. No Fighting or excessive arguing. Taking a personal conflict to the forum is unacceptable. "I'm right, you're wrong".
6. Do not advertise your products or services outside of the appropriate Buy Sell Trade (BST) areas of the forum.
7. No Bumping or Cross-posting topics. Bumping is posting to move a thread up on the forum list, and cross-posting is posting the same thread in several forums.
8. Do not post overly personal information like your phone number, address, age, or any other overly personal info.
9. Do not promote other websites that are "similar" to our site, especially similar forums. Sometimes it may be appropriate to link to another site that has specific information relative to a question, but moderators have to right to remove links and posts at their discretion.
10. Do not solicit donations or charitable requests for yourself or other people or organizations.
11. We strongly discourage religious, political, and other strongly divisive topics, and reserve the right to delete them at our discretion.

Wow, I honestly didn't know that bumping is not allowed. I guess that means that almost every single classified here must be deleted?

 

[Joseph Hill]

I like what you're saying here-there are many ways to validate someone is human. Otherwise people are blah blahing on posts and taking up space. I've been using this site on/off for years but in general don't post on many site that I use. Rather than try to use a site like etsy/ebay to sell real hatters equipment to someone who will use it I thought coming here would make sense. I stand by that decision but now I have to make a bunch of random comments that nobody wants to listen to. There are other great ways to vet people. But also agree there are so many insane ****s out there-saw an ad for a free airstream today. ha. But anyway...

Or instead of random comments, start threads about hatting and hatting equipment. Many years ago I worked for a jeweler. We were not salesmen (ie where selling is the primary component, with the merchandise being interchangeable/irrelevant). we loved gems and jewelry and just liked to talk about it. The goods then pretty much sold themselves.

 

[RDS]

As well as the ‘20 posts in open forums’ rule should there also be a limit as to how many sale listings can be made in any one period, say a day or week ?

Nothing against the member in question however today someone has just made 13 or so separate ‘For Sale’ posts in the ‘Classifieds’ within the space of just a few minutes. This is something they’ve also done previously.

To me this seems to be not only really bad form and inconsiderate but also pretty unfair on anyone else trying to either buy or sell as these mass listings just push all other posts off the first, second and even third pages.

 

[saber_dii]

My apologies, I just saw this message. I will get posting!

 

[RDS]

Yet again in the space of just a few minutes this same member has bumped all the 13 items they have unsuccessfully been trying to sell.

A limit on how many items a member can sell at any one time really ought to be introduced because such mass listings or bumpings just push everyone else’s posts, whether in the Classifeds or any other forum, down the pages. Even a post made just a minute or so before this members rather selfish actions might find itself unnoticed on page 2 or 3.

 

[Zoro]

Yet again in the space of just a few minutes this same member has bumped all the 13 items they have unsuccessfully been trying to sell.

A limit on how many items a member can sell at any one time really ought to be introduced because such mass listings or bumpings just push everyone else’s posts, whether in the Classifeds or any other forum, down the pages. Even a post made just a minute or so before this members rather selfish actions might find itself unnoticed on page 2 or 3.

Or just sell a hundred items using the same thread.

On a similar topic, someone also just made a bunch of posts adding absolutely nothing to several threads just to bump up their messages count in order to sell in the Classifieds.