Attention All Members - Everyone Read! [Archive]

M1 Tanker

06-23-2007, 07:38 PM

Since Cetmerifles was hacked and Perro gave up on the whole forum thing, I took it over and had to start anew. I had always enjoyed Cetmerifles and didn't want to lose my "home" in the gun world and the friendships I have acquired along the way. So came militaryfirearm.com....a simple continuation of Cetmerifles, but to include more areas since we were moving that way anyway.

To run an INTERNET forum is a major pain in the ass. I now understand why Perro used to call and tell me he was shutting down the forum. Then I would spend an hour calming him down and getting the mess sorted out. Its a lot of work reading every single post, approving accounts, banning spam accounts, helping people with forum problems and answering questions. Generally I don't complain about it though, because of the benefits and wealth of knowledge we all find here.

Well, today I feel like flipping the switch and deleting the whole damn thing. You cannot make everyone happy all the time in life, but even less so on the internet. As owner, I made a few short and simple rules that govern the forum, but a small percentage of people continue to bitch about the rules. Specifically about the For Sale forum rules, which don't allow discussion.

So, I come to you, the members of Militaryfirearm.com for guidance.

There are 2 choices:

1. Leave the rules in place in the For Sale Forum.
2. Remove the rules in the For Sale Forum.

The vote is yours, because I'm tired of fricking having the same discussion about it over and over and over again. I'm not voting.

Planning

06-23-2007, 07:54 PM

I guess i don't know why anyone is having a hard time with the rules. if you have a discussion in the thread it usually gets off in another direction away from the item for sale. if you want to discuss the topic then just start another thread in the correct place. :nonono:

keeping up with the items that are for sale is a pain when someone starts talking crap and the thread gets long... :icon_confused:

yep! :icon_biggrin: there are a small few that talk crap ( it seams to be the same few all the time & you know who you are). :airtight:

Milsurp

06-23-2007, 08:13 PM

+1 to what Ron said.

JayGeeWentWorth

06-23-2007, 08:25 PM

To me the rules seem quite reasonable. If someone is selling something that is way overpriced, there is a natural tendency to call them out on it, but perhaps the best way to do this is simply to ignore the offer and not start a flaming thread.

Rampager

06-23-2007, 08:38 PM

I like the current way it's being run. I understand how comments on for sale items lead to more comments and even when positive they sometimes lead to discussions and the next thing you know there is 2 or 3 pages on a totally different subject and the original for sale post is all but forgotten.

I think you hit it on the head M1 Tanker when you said "You cannot make everyone happy all the time in life, but even less so on the internet."

I vote to leave it as is. Da rules is da rules and I'd leave it at that...my 2 cents.

ocharry

06-23-2007, 08:53 PM

leave the rules!! i don't see the problem,,,, this is not an auction sight,,,jay gee has it right,, if you don't like the price keep out of it ,, if you want to haggle do it in a PM .... come on Tanker,,,, hang in there bud... i haven't been here that long but there is alot of great guys
and good reading here,,i
would hate to loose out on all that
dang i didn't know administrators read every post,,, how in the heck do you get anything else done?

come on guys read the rules

ocharry:thumbup:

DAA1

06-23-2007, 08:53 PM

Sir,
It's your show, and how you run things is up to you. Part of whats wrong in America today is too much whining and complaining... This board is not a democracy, it is a private board owned and ran by you. That you spend the time, effort, and energy to allow us a place to visit is pretty darn generous.

You have a lot more patience than I would. Some boards have NONE, they will delete the whole post without warning for rules violations. Rules give us structure.

So far so good.

Seattlefungus

06-23-2007, 09:07 PM

Tanker, I think the rules are valid and in keeping with every other forum I've been a member of.. Some even warn that repeat violations are grounds for loss of forum membership. As a member looking at items being offered, I'm more for just sending a PM to a seller if I think the price is out of line... I fully support the forum leadership in the deletion of posts in violation of posting rules. I think it would be sad to lose the WTS & WTT. Some folks need to stop, read the rules, and think twice before responding to a post that is outside of the rules. I greatly appreciate the time and effort involved in the work you all do daily to keep the site up. I did it myself for a year and found I did not have your skill and patience. Just a vote of +111 for your work!!

IMBLITZVT

06-23-2007, 09:09 PM

Mikes problem is that he cared to much. Who is doing the complaining and what are they complaining about? Weight that...

If I am bitching... well then its surely should be changed :)

Someone new that wants to talk crap about other people's price.... 'F'em

It would help if you said what the complaint was... but I can not really see that much of a problem with those rules... Now if you had something really gay like the MG42.us has and made it so you can not use the forum unless you have 5 posts... Now that is something that should be changed.

You just need to get a general message telling them to bad and if they do not like it suggest ar15.com :)

pigpen

06-23-2007, 09:25 PM

The rules are fine. If anyone bitches introduce them to the pimpstick!!

walt-oxie1

06-23-2007, 09:30 PM

The rules you set in place are more than reasonable(not just the market place). If someone has a problem following them they should be punished just like on all the other forums. On the first offence warn them, the second suspend them, three strikes and you are out of here for good. I do agree though. The market place is not a discussion forum. It is for business. If you don't like somebody's price don't buy it or PM them an offer. If the item doesn't sell they will figure it out and adjust the price until it does. You don't have to chime in on someones product to promote it either. That is why there is feedback in place. Even some new members like myself have feedback on other forums. I use the same screen name on all the ones I am a member as well as egay auction arms and gunbroker (I am proud to say it is 100%). We are all adults here. Act like it.

nightprowler311

06-23-2007, 09:52 PM

I think the rules are more than fair and i appreciate having a place to come and be educated and make new friends. And i thank you tanker, this place is where i come every evening to clear my mind from the day i have had, usually a bad one,. So again thank you tanker.

AK AJ

06-23-2007, 09:57 PM

oilhead

06-23-2007, 10:18 PM

This is kinda like having a Driver's license - You play by the rules or you won't have it very long. I rarely buy or sell anything, at least here, but I support M1Tanker's decisions because it belongs to him. Whiners bedamned.

westcoast

06-23-2007, 11:23 PM

simple and staight forward my vote is don't fix what isn't broke!leave'em as they are should be good to go!!!!!and thanks for the site:thumbup:

mofocus

06-23-2007, 11:30 PM

if it was me there would probably be more rules heh, ive been a senior mod (able to unleash ban hamster and edit and move everything) for several years on a MUCH larger forum , and we more or less started out w/ a few owner instated rules and built from there as needed, we dont even allow ebay linking anymore and we had to get rid of the img host in the for sale threads, as well as eventually put a post minimum on fs thread posting, too many shady ppl w/ one post posting....the list goes on, i guess i could see how a convo could get started, but after you tell them to move along w/ it how can they bitch?

wandering_ronin

06-23-2007, 11:57 PM

I vote to keep the rules.

bullseye

06-24-2007, 12:09 AM

Looks like the general consensus is to leave it like it is. Sounds good to me. Thanks Tanker for what you do, and all the mods. This place is home. :thumbup:

Alaskagrown

06-24-2007, 12:24 AM

i never read them before having just read them hey make sense to me. keep them as is

pfdr22

06-24-2007, 05:33 AM

To paraphase my old platoon sargeant when I worked at the Airborne Department used to say, It's your bat, ball, and sand lot. Play ball or get the bat broke off in you a**." Nuff said.

tomoshenko

06-24-2007, 06:02 AM

The rules are fine as is. If someone wants to haggle over for sale items they are interested in let them contact the seller directly via PM.
M1, Thanks for all the work you do keeping this forum alive.

Norton

06-24-2007, 07:26 AM

The WTT and WTS section is fine by me, I am not sure what problem came up. But I like this board a great deal and support you 100%.

Blaster

06-24-2007, 07:47 AM

The current rules are fine. Let's "not rock the boat".:America:

jmikey

06-24-2007, 07:52 AM

I vote to keep the current rules. They work!

Schultz

06-24-2007, 08:27 AM

I vote leave the Rules in place!

NavajoNPaleFace

06-24-2007, 09:05 AM

I say keep the rules the way they are.

M1 Tanker

06-24-2007, 09:38 AM

Les48

06-24-2007, 09:54 AM

Tanker it's your forum. Tell them if they don't want rules try another forum.

turbothis

06-24-2007, 10:31 AM

greatest place ever!:2pistol:

Reloader_26D

06-24-2007, 10:34 AM

M1_Tanker, Sir!
It is YOUR way, or the highway. I signed on with the rules in place. If I didn't like'em, I wouldn't have become a member. To those whom wish to forgoe the rules, for their own benefit; BAN THEM. PERIOD
But, up until the point where YOU would like to change the rules; Keep'em. They're there for a reason. :thumbup:

P.S. Thanks for all you do! WE never thank you, enough.

Darkwatch

06-24-2007, 11:02 AM

First, Thanks tons Tanker(and all the mods)! I am here sometimes 5-6 times a day! This is a second home for me. The knowledge and info here would be truly sad to lose.
Second, Who ever bitched about being censored can go start the anarchist firearm forum because YOU own this one not us. Again thanks!!
Last, leave the rules as they are. They are simlpe and easy to follow. If someone gets out of line smack em...if they persist ban them!

Kudos to M1Tanker and the Mods!!:cheers:

okie shooter

06-24-2007, 11:09 AM

Chis, this is your place, we all are here, by your leasure, thus your place, your rules, and I for one will live by them. Happily I will add.

GreenWolf

06-24-2007, 11:27 AM

I haven't used the for sale forum, but I trust M1Tankers judgement and insight in this matter. My vote goes for running a tight ship. Keep the rules. This isn't a commercially-sponsored board, and militaryfirearm.com is certainly not in the business of providing a place to sell stuff on the internet. People who do not like it the way it is can take a hike. There are alternatives, such as the private messages, email, or even GunBroker.

IMHO, excessive whining to the point of making someone have a bad day is excuse enough to start locking accounts.

Anthropy

06-24-2007, 11:35 AM

Tanker Sir, you do an excellent job here.

As an admin on another server/forums I sympathize with you, And we have 10+ guys monitoring the server / forums so it really helps out a lot. Our feeling over at MikesMarauders is: If you don't like the rules leave.

This is your server to run as you see fit, if others do not like it then there are plenty of other places for them to visit.

:America:

The Great 308

06-24-2007, 02:05 PM

M1 Tanker I would like to thank you and all of the administrators for everything that you do. I also feel that this is your board and therefore those of us that wish to be here need to play by the rules. I think that the WTT WTS rules along with all of the other rules here are completely fair and I agree that price negotiation should take place in private messages.

Again thank you for everything. I come to this site multiple times a day. This is the best gun board on the net and I love it here.

drine

06-24-2007, 02:20 PM

Leave it be. Thank's for this place that we can come to find out pretty much anything from guns to AC!! I would be remiss if I didn't say that some of the info shared here has probably saved a life or a limb. That makes it a little more worth while now doesn't it?
Let's not punish all for the infractions of a few. You'll have to get the pimpstick out as one of the other fellas said.
Thanks again Tanker.

snapshot762

06-24-2007, 05:17 PM

I think that the rules are fine the way they are.

jfowl31

06-24-2007, 06:28 PM

I think they are fine the way they are... sort of... wait wait wait, dont smack me, put the pimp stick away.

I know Ive been guilty of discssing stuff in a FS ad. Some times its just shooting the shit, sometimes I spout off.

1 time in particular is kinda what Im making my point about. I felt like the seller was ripping people off on a certain item and made a smart post about how the buyers could go to a different website and buy the same product at a fraction of the cost it was being sold for. I did it for a few reasons... 1, the seller had his first post selling stuff (and for the record has not ever contributed anything else to this forum except his 1 FS thread)... 2, I was worried that new guys were gonna get ripped off unknowingly.

Now what I should have done is posted a different WTS ad showing the better deal on another website in the non-forum deals so that everyone has a chance to see that product.

I know a lot of times some of the guys are just trying to look out for eachother and keep eachother from getting ripped off, and maybe in those cases, you should leave their response, but punish them accordingly rather than deleting posts. It may be worth it to someone to take a week suspension in order to save his fellow board member from getting ripped off.

JMO... Im voting to keep the rules, but sometimes, I like to see those posts about someone saying its a high-ball price if it happens to be something Ive never researched rather than just seeing "post deleted"... but then again, leaving it as "post deleted" is probably a better idea because if Im interested in that product, I can pm the deleted poster and ask him what he knows.

I dunno, Im kinda torn because I like us looking out for eachother, but HATE flame wars, and trolling.... I think the best way is probably to keep it as is to avoid this site turning into some childish place to come and take out aggression on the net.

M1 Tanker

06-24-2007, 08:08 PM

JFowl, I appreciate your comments, especially in the case where a first time poster has made a For Sale thread. If you feel a crook is posting to take advantage of the poster, please post a comment on the thread! But, don't stop there. If you are going to stand up and look out for others, your next step is to REPORT the thread and follow up with a PM to me. That way I can be made aware of the situation immediately and take care of it.

Also, no one is going to get banned for doing something like that...but you have to REPORT the post so we mods get email on it instantly!

MicroPilot

06-24-2007, 09:30 PM

Thanks for the support fellas.

We have 800+ members of our forum, so I'm going to let this poll run a few more days. After all, it was suggested I was censoring everyone's First Amendment Rights on a Private Internet Forum.

Hmmm...You aint the government so 1st amendment doesn't apply. It's your board and you can delete as you see fit.

BTW..I voted to keep the rules. At this posting it 62 to keep, 0 to remove.

grifter95

06-24-2007, 10:08 PM

I like the current rules. However, I am to stupid to click the correct button. Sorry for scewing up the poll percentage!:wallbash::1087:

rep30cal

06-24-2007, 10:25 PM

I agree with Tanker and the rules, they should be left alone and if
someone don't like it, they can find another forum. The rules here
are not unreasonable and if someone don't like what is posted for
sale then move on to the next item, if you have a serious question
or comment then send it to the poster.

M1 Tanker

06-25-2007, 08:42 AM

I like the current rules. However, I am to stupid to click the correct button. Sorry for scewing up the poll percentage!:wallbash::1087:

Grifter, thanks for letting me know :) I fixed your vote for you.

avord70

06-25-2007, 10:39 AM

I 've read the rules and I think they are quite fair. I say leave them be!:thumbup:

iocane

06-25-2007, 10:41 AM

The rules look fine to me.

tump

06-25-2007, 11:19 AM

good rules, keep them structure is good.:icon_biggrin:

M1 Tanker

06-25-2007, 12:30 PM

So far, its 75 to 0. It seems the opposition has decided to be quiet....which is fine with me.

Rules stand fast fellas, complaints will result in floggings :)

Edited to add:

Several people have mentioned this is "my" forum. I don't see it that way. This is OUR forum, the Cetmerifles guys, the new guys, everyone. Thats why I do put stuff to a vote and ask opinions guys.

rustypirate

06-25-2007, 01:19 PM

Tanker,

The rules are fair, and there to keep the peace, and removing them would just create more headaches.

If they don't like our rules, then they can sell their stuff on another site.

Keep the rules and keep up the good work man!

Geilt

06-26-2007, 04:05 PM

I've run a number of forums over the years and I know exactly how you feel and understand just how much work goes on behind the scenes. People are always more apt to bitch and complain than they are to just offer a simple thank you. I bet you've seen how people are fine with the guidelines and rules you put in place... until they run afowl of one and are called on it. Then come the excuses and relentlessly trying to shift blame.

Ultimately this is YOUR little corner of the Internet and you have every right to set the rules you want to have in place. If people can't understand or follow them, then this is clearly not the place they need to be.

and by the way

thank you

Geilt

06-26-2007, 04:07 PM

MicroPilot

06-26-2007, 05:22 PM

I kind of look at it like this is your house, and I've been invited over to socialize with the other folks. Being it is your house, it's your rules.

Thanks for letting me drop by.

97th Signalman

06-26-2007, 05:44 PM

bullseye

06-26-2007, 08:06 PM

Coming here to visit is like going to someone's house to visit. There are rules to follow and if you can't abide by them, you are as free to leave as you were to enter. This is tanker's "house" and he made the rules, and they are necessary to and fair. That is about the best anyone can do.

Thanks Tanker. :thumbup:

RandyCOG3

06-26-2007, 09:13 PM

A messageboard with a Sale Forum with Rules is far better than a messageboard w/o a Sale Forum, and waaaaay better than no messageboard.

Thank You for all your efforts.

RandyCOG3

M1 Tanker

07-02-2007, 06:30 PM

Thank you for the feedback guys. We are leaving the rules as is.

jfowl31

07-02-2007, 08:09 PM

so... since it was a public survey, not anonymous... who are the 2 who voted to change the rules?

Shovelheadfxwg

07-02-2007, 08:57 PM

I too like the rules the way they are.
Also would like to say thanks to Tanker, and everyone else that helps to keep this forum up and running.
I hope you guys know how much the majority of us appreciate you.

Please don't pull the plug on the forum, I would surely miss it and everyone here.

:thanks::thanks::thanks::thanks::thanks::thanks:

Cavalryman

07-02-2007, 11:12 PM

I think the rules are reasonable. If someone doesn't like the rules, screw 'em.

Longhorn789

07-04-2007, 09:04 AM

If somebody doesn't like the rules, then they can hit the bricks...

tanstaafl4y

07-05-2007, 12:05 PM

After all, it was suggested I was censoring everyone's First Amendment Rights on a Private Internet Forum.

[QUOTE=MicroPilot;23869]You aint the government so 1st amendment doesn't apply. QUOTE]

Dang, Micropilot beat me too it.

I missed the poll but I say if you come to visit me at my home dont $h!+ in the pool, or I'll make you leave after issuing an @$$whoopin'

/and after reading page 2 my parable was already used....I suck at the intarwebs.