When did they add the feedback thread in the TP? - Page 2

[Clarity]

or we could just talk about it some more and you're that much closer.

I do agree. I think the posting requirement is too high. I think length of membership is more important, I was pleased to see that made longer. We have lots of quiet members. I myself lurked here and for over a year had less than 40 posts. (before the Big Crash). Look at me now! LOL!

[Kermit]

It states

" Please take the time to become an active posting member of the boards before taking advantage of this forum.

and then defines being an active member:

To be considered an active member you should introduce yourself to the community on the Pleased To Meet You board or the Finding Your Tribe board, should have a minimum of 50 posts to your name, and should be registered for at least 2 months. Please respect this and our desire that only sincere, established, and active community members be permitted to use this board.

Personally, I don't find the phrase "taking advantage of this forum" to be too vague to understand, unless one just hasn't read it carefully. To "take advantage" means to use the service available in this particular context. Both sellers and buyers are taking advantage of the service the forum offers if they are reading or posting or buying as a result of reading the messages posted there, are they not? How else would one be able to interpret "taking advantage of this forum"? What advantage IS there in a trading forum if there is not someone participating by reading the posts and contacting the person?

[lunabellamama]

I have to chime and agree that 50 posts is a lot to insist upon in order to be an eligible member of the mothering community! I love to check the boards as much as I can, but usually I am nursing or reading my three-year-old a book at the same time and so often can't manage to write much! My trouble is that I like to have a well-thought response and my brain is just not as swift as it once was! I've got a long way to go to reach the 50, but I am working at it!

[lifetapestry]

Originally posted by Kermit
It states

quote:
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" Please take the time to become an active posting member of the boards before taking advantage of this forum.
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and then defines being an active member:

quote:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"To be considered an active member . . .

It doesn't have anything to do with reading carefully. There are two things that make this vague. One is "active posting member" and then a definition of "active member". You assume they are the same thing. Are they? Who knows-- that's why it's vague. Clear communication requires using the same language when talking about the same thing, not tossing in extra words. Also, the use of the word "posting" in this sentence implies that the requirement is about posting somehow (as distinguished from reading on the forum).

The second thing that makes this sentence vague and unclear is the use of "taking advantage of this forum." The definition of "take advantage" is not only to "use" as you suggest, but has at least one other regular meaning in our culture, which is "to profit" or "to exploit" [quote from Websters New University], which suggests that sellers, not buyers, are the subject of this requirement.

A third aspect of this vagueness is context-- in buying and selling on the boards, buyers are more vulnerable to being ripped off than sellers are. Sellers can define the payments they will accept to prevent being ripped off (e.g. money orders and paypal), and don't need to fulfill their end of the bargain until the buyer has paid. Buyers, on the other hand, have to trust that the person they paid will actually send them the item(s) they paid for. Thus, it would make intuitive sense to require more of sellers on a board than it does of buyers. This fact also plays a role in interpreting the language of the requirements (above). If MDC wants to impose requirements on buyers, that should be explicitly stated.

I'd fix this vagueness problem with one sentence:

Existing, vague sentence:

" Please take the time to become an active posting member of the boards before taking advantage of this forum."

New sentence:

"Please take the time to become an active member of the boards before buying, selling, or trading on this forum."

Perhaps you (and other people) find the existing language perfectly adequate, and can construct a post-hoc rationale for why it's clear. But to suggest that anyone who doesn't agree with you can't "read carefully" is insulting.

Karla

[HeatherSanders]

Stepping in to say that the OP (original post) on this thread was an expression of gratitude that MDC is not offering a feedback thread for the Trading Post.

It does not seem to be written with the intent of arguing the rules and guidelines set out for the forum or its subforums.

As Cynthia has said "We have no clear restriction against selling to non-criteria meeting members who contact you by PM. It is the member's decision to sell to whomever they choose, even if that person is a brand new member of MDC."

Obviously we cannot 'man' PMs (nor do we want to ). If a member eligible for trading sells to someone who does not meet the requirements set forth (50 posts and 60 days), then the elgible member is taking a risk outside of the recommendation of MDC.

Though it is vague regarding who can 'buy' - it is not at all vague regarding who can sell.

We specify who can post to The Trading Post. We specify who can post feedback.

If it is brought to our attention that a seller is purposely seeking out 'newbies' to sell to - handling it in a negative fashion - because they are aware that the newbie cannot leave feedback YET . . . that member will be banned from The Trading Post.

And if a newbie decides to buy at the Trading Post and disregards the guidelines - then, they are trading at the risk of not being able to leave feedback until they meet the criteria.

Please remember that at MDC the boards are manned by volunteers. We come from all walks of life and are not trained in verbage or the like, but run the boards to the best of our ability and with direction from our board administrator.

We always take all suggestions seriously and want to thank all the mommas on the board for their input.

Now, let's get back to the OP and please PM me or Cynthia Mosher with any questions or comments about the wording of the Trading Post/Feedback guidelines.

[Cynthia Mosher]

I'm sorry to see this is becoming such a discussion of uncomfortable disagreement for some of our members. I will reword the TP posting guidelines to make it more straightforward and less confusing. But please understand that for some it will be crystal clear yet for others it will still be something that can be disputed and disagreed with. Any concerns or questions can be brought to me personally and I will do my best to explain our intent.

This thread is being moved to Questions and Suggestions where it is more fitting for the topic.

[Kermit]

My apologies. I should know not to argue with a lawyer. Not without equal training at least! lol I shouldn't argue at all, actually. Definitely a weakness of mine.

I don't always read these things carefully, so there was no implication intended that anyone "can't" read carefully. I'm sorry it was taken that way.

The rules are vague and can be better worded, but I still think the intended interpretation should be obvious.

I also want to apologize, lifetapestry, for being too forward with my thoughts in PM. I was out of line. Please forgive me.

[lifetapestry]

Originally posted by Kermit
I also want to apologize, lifetapestry, for being too forward with my thoughts in PM. I was out of line. Please forgive me.

I appreciate the apology; thank you. No grudges or other hard feelings retained.

I know that I state my positions *strongly* and that it can come off as hostile or off-putting for those who aren't as comfortable with disagreement or confrontation. I'm sorry if my posts were upsetting to you.

But I think you need to understand that reasonable people can differ in their interpretations or their perceptions. I don't think that anyone has the ultimate truth key in their pocket.

Karla

[Kermit]

Thanks for accepting my apology, Karla.