Cleaning Up The Trading Forum

[Venuila]

If bumping is one of the big issues then what about creating 4 seperate sub-forums?
One for Tradelists, one for Wishlists, one for Bundle/Other Offers and one for Auctions (or 3: one TL/WL, one Bundle/Other, one Auctions).
Each user would be allowed one thread per forum. That should eliminate people getting bumped to the second page because it would all be in different sections.
Depending on the day, sometimes I look at what people are looking for instead of what they're trading. Some days I look at mostly bundle offers. So I wouldn't mind looking at each category individually. And it would definately help with the congestion I think.

I'm just brain storming, lol.

[FallenPixels]

As I said in the first post, Boo does not want to add additional forums

[Venuila]

My bad.

[FallenPixels]

No problem
Hopefully Forum Expert tells me my idea is possible

[Silk]

<snip>

I think people should also know about the "Thread Starter" button. I'll admit until a few months ago, I had never noticed it. Now it's super handy!!! I usually limit my trade threads to 2, but I'm sure I've forgotten about old ones and they were pushed way back. Now I can easily use "Thread Starter" to see all my threads.

I do not know about this, although I see now that Title/ Thread Starter etc. headings are clickable. Is this what you're talking about? But I don't understand what purpose it serves to click them... Can someone enlighten me svp?

And... I like the idea of auctions being in one place.

Thanks,
Silk

[Darth Penguin]

How is 1 day defined?? Is it a calander day or is it 24 hours??

ie If I started a thread at 11-30 pm, can I bump it at 11.30 am the next day or do I have to wait until 11.31 pm??

[FallenPixels]

I do not know about this, although I see now that Title/ Thread Starter etc. headings are clickable. Is this what you're talking about? But I don't understand what purpose it serves to click them... Can someone enlighten me svp?

And... I like the idea of auctions being in one place.

Thanks,
Silk

You click on any of these headings and it sorts the forum by them. So clicking on thread starter means all of your posts appear together so you can easily see if you have too many

[FallenPixels]

How is 1 day defined?? Is it a calander day or is it 24 hours??

ie If I started a thread at 11-30 pm, can I bump it at 11.30 am the next day or do I have to wait until 11.31 pm??

I have been doing it per calendar day (give or take a few hours because I am too lazy to check their time zones), some of the repeat offenders bump multiple times a day. Even when PMed they claim they should be allowed to as theirs was on the second page so not seen - but if everyone bumps from the second page, we would all be bumping all day

[SassyAshley]

OK maybe I am being mean, but if people are given a warning or sent a PM and still fight back maybe the only option is a small ban whether it be a day or a week. Just my opinion but I think it is extremely rude if a mod is to PM you and remind you of a rule that is posted on the forum and you fight back. If that is the case they seem well aware they are breaking the rules.

I have been doing it per calendar day (give or take a few hours because I am too lazy to check their time zones), some of the repeat offenders bump multiple times a day. Even when PMed they claim they should be allowed to as theirs was on the second page so not seen - but if everyone bumps from the second page, we would all be bumping all day

[FallenPixels]

Then when they don't follow through on trades because they are annoyed about their ban?

[Silk]

You click on any of these headings and it sorts the forum by them. So clicking on thread starter means all of your posts appear together so you can easily see if you have too many

Thanks, FP. But are we talking about too many posts or too many threads? I'm confused how this helps...

Silk

[Darth Penguin]

Then when they don't follow through on trades because they are annoyed about their ban?

Catch 22 and a shed load of Brainhurtee..

It really gets to be a no win situation at times.

[Insane]

I haven't traded lately. I found it too frustrating, too confusing and honestly I was fed up with rude people who wanted the moon for a few coupons. But I'll give you my 2 cents (can I even say that now since we don't have the penny?)

Option 1) I kinda like to be honest. I think it would be made better though if Boo sucked it up and made an auction thread. Auctions are different than trades and trains. I think it's not unreasonable to have it divided by 3 subforums...trades, trains and auctions. I think you'd have many unhappy members with a 1 thread rule, but you aren't going to please everyone. I think this would be less work for mods and definately make things clearer.

2) Dislike greatly. Starting to ban people for having too many threads is excessive and not very inviting to new traders.

3) Kinda like I was saying in #1 but without a new subforum. The problem is the rule breakers, will still break this too.

4) This is probably the best middle ground between what people want and what there is now. Same problem as #3.

[Giving-Small]

What is the simplest way to stop more than 3 threads and multiple bumps?

If the software can't do "automagically", then we have a few options - some better, some worse.

It's critical to pick something that takes almost no work once in place to maintain.
And it must MOTIVATE people (including more senior SCers) who seem to disregard the rules and create a "follow" the leader effect.

So what are some options?

1. Peer / community pressure
- ideas suggested to up the pressure by havng a wiki post to identify and name rule breakers (problem is people will argue)

2. Mods do it
Too much work to PM, clean up, and keep track of who's done what, when. They already have too much work.

3. Random forum checks like road side checks on drivers

- Mods could do this randomly -- and ban people for a period of time. It need NOT be publicized who is "banned". But this would maybe make it sink home to people bumping frequently or creating a gazillion threads.

4. Neutral Trade Rating - only to be given by MODS

One thing that we all prize a great deal and work very hard on is keeping a high trade rating. So this would have a VERY STRONG MOTIVATION to follow the rules. The comment can indicate "too many threads" or "too many bumps".

You get 2 strikes and you're out - ie. 2 Neutrals - then a ban from posting for x days.

--------------------

What I'd Pick:

I think #4 will work and work quickly. It soon will be less work for mods. Why?
- No list to keep track of - just leave a Neutral.

- Mods will have less people to PM about multiple threads and less complaints within a week tops - no one wants a Neutral.

- Two neutrals and you're banned for x days (and possibly a negative trade rating)?

[RandiL]

i would like to propose an idea.
in total, we will need 2 more permanent threads (like "what trades should be worth" and "blacklist", and all those other ones).

i like the idea of having a seperate thread for auctions, like we have for trains and trades. they are a completely different method of exchanging coupons and deserve their own thing. i dont really do coupon auctions myself (neither bid nor "sell") so i would appreciate not having them in the regular trade forum (no offense coupon autioneers!).

secondly, i dislike the idea of banning users for creating too many threads. by giving them a time out penalty, you're slowing down trades, trains, and other couponing opportunities. especially if you dont publicize who's on temporary ban.
and when you give people time to leave the forum, they find other forums, and then you've just possibly lost one smartcanucks member; which is not only bad for the trading community, but also bad for the smartcanucks website's bottom line (seriously, not meant to sound like a promo, but i know how marketing works).

here's my proposed solution:
create a new permanent thread called "fallen pixel's warning list". after messaging people about their excessive thread creation, post their names on the warning list. usually a public warning is enough embarassment for anyone to stop doing anything. also by doing this, you're letting the general community know that someone is kind of being a dick, which too, is usually enough embarassment to get anyone to stop doing anything from doing anything.
but -do- create a thread, just a temporary one maybe, or maybe a community wide pm telling people how to check their started threads by going to their profile page (blah blah, etc) and telling them that self regulation is the key to maintaining a clean trading forum. or... as a wise man once said "chiggity check yourself before you wreck yourself".
but -dont- start putting people on the warning list, with out putting up a heads up message.