Bartertown.com

The idea of a Bartertown Watch usergroup came up in a different thread. Someone (Lin, I think) asked what would be involved.
For those who didn't see the thread... and because I LOVE the idea... I thought I'd start this thread.

This is an idea thread.
Please don't bash other people's ideas. If you don't like someone's idea, then post a message improving on their ideas. Don't just say, "No, I don't like that idea."
So, here goes... My ideas...

1) Whomever is involved has access to a special BTown message board, kinda like the Adult Swim section. Admission would be based on invitation, NOT request. Here, they could plot their world domination in secret!

2)Minimum feedback & minimum membership term. Say, for example, a member needs to have a minimum of 50 ref's and have been on BTown 18 months or more (these are just random numbers. Nothing specific at this point... feel free to post ideas about this). Also, certain minimums could be waived/reduced under special circumstances?

3) Standards of behavior. A member's trading habits should be what would be considered above reproach. No accusations of scamming... genuine accusations, that is... Etc.

4) Helpfulness. Each should have a recommended post minimum (recommended, NOT militantly enforced) on the boards. Note that this does NOT include posting or answering trade ads. Rather, it is in the "conversational" message boards; Messages & Misc., Bad Trader, Suggestions & Tech Support (discussion),WH40K world (discussion), WH World (discussion),etc. The grease in the gears of Bartertown.

I feel strongest about invitation over request, minimum membership term, and the private forum.
I am also fond of #4, helpfulness.

Oh... and the members should get special titles "Bartertown Watchman" or something. LOL... and the exclusive use of a special picture as an icon or in their sig line, if they choose (like Alsiaie's cool one, for example).


Anyone else have thoughts?

Eric

(a pic like the one below)

nice idea

I brought the idea to the table jokingly to lin a very long time ago. I never really thought he would take it seriously. IMO this shouldn't be a really huge ordeal. It's just that the mods need help moderating the forums. BT really doesn't need more mods so to speak but more like informal users. As adam and lin have already seen, I'm willing to help with this project. This includes artwork. I am pretty skilled in adobe photoshop and even drawing vectored line art in adobe illustrator.

I think that insidius should be a powerful member of this usergroup. He knows a lot about mail fraud. Not to mention all of his dealings with jason ticknor and other serious bad traders.

I like the idea even tho I wouldn't be able to join accrding to your rules

Yes, caleb... you are far too new.
Nothing personal, but what I am thinking about is a group of people who have proven themselves.
Two months, 33 posts (current count) and one good trade is a far shot from that. Nothing personal, of course.
this group wouldn't be EXclusive, rather it would be INclusive (focusing not on who ISN'T let in, but who IS).

...And, yes, Alsiaie... Sid is a man I would not want to cross, when we talk about chasing you down. He is methodical in his pursuit.


Sid... How many boards have you chased scammers like Jason off of? Or, tried, anyway? I know some idiots were less receptive (and paid the price).

Eric

I think one thing here needs to be cleared up. We are not here to watch your every move or to be mean people. I think the main use of this user group is identifying inappropriate and multiple postings. Most of the multiple issues that I inform lin about are new users. Even though the rules are perfectly clear, some people are just too lazy to read them. It is easier for an actual mod to inform or remind a user of the posting guidelines, but we can be there to point these occurrences out to the appropiate moderator.

I would be very interested in this idea happening.

I know that I send at least 1 or 2 PM's a week to people that make multiple posts, put eBay ads in the trade section, etc. I try to be totally professional (since I am one in the real world) and have gotten nothing but kind e-mails back so far.

My first approach was to post a reply to their ads, but I found it got me no where to call people out in public and it even got me into a little trouble with Lin. He didn't suspend or ban me, just a little warning to take those types of things to PM. He was right, it really made a difference. I should have known that professional would work better, but I thought netique would allow for a little more aggressive approach without looking like a flame. Guess that wasn't the case.

While I would like an invitation and "official" involvment, I will still continue to check for multiple posts, reposting inside the 7 day limit and eBay ads in the wrong place whether I am asked to be involved or not. I think the message would come across as even more powerful if there was a signature or icon involved. It helps that I check the board about 10 times a day!!! LOL

Great idea - let's make it happen!!!

Ekister

I must move around a half a dozen multiple threads a day, but I know there are some I miss; it's just not possible to see them all.

Something like this would be appreciated, but my concern is my inbox. What happens when 4 or 5 different watch members all warn me about the same post? What happens when they warn me about a few different posts each?

You see where I'm going with this.

Something'll have to be done to ensure the admin and mods aren't completely spammed every day

I didn't realize there was enough of a problem to warrant the "deputizing" of bartertown members. For the most part, it looks like the current mods and admins have things pretty well under control. The problems I've noticed have typically been corrected within a reasonable amount of time.


I think this could be a case of "too many cooks......" and would probably just add another level of complexity to something that is working fine as it is.

start a bartertown-watch section available only to the bartertown watch people..

and they make threads/posts with linked urls of offending posts..

this way the admins arent spammed with PM's.. and bartertown watchers know if other fellow watchers already saw a post here or there.

and all admins have to do is check in on the bartertown watch section

cheers
roger

I like RadStar's idea, of course i'm not the one who would have to deal with everything that would get posted in the forum. ;)

Is there any reason why that forum couldn't be open to everyone? More sets of eyes and all that... Plus knowing that there is such a forum might be a deterent to rulebreaking.
I'm not really familar with the board software, but is it possible to have a forum where anyone can post a message, but the name of the poster is not visible to the public? That way you're not creating bad blood between offenders and reporters.

My thoughts on the "Watch" were to warn mods, etc. about "fishy" things we see... possible fraud, etc.

I like the idea of helping in other areas, too, though.

As far as making the "Watch" thread available to everyone... IMO, it's better to have it limited. If the watch has an area where, for example, we could post a thread with the title, "Does this user seem suspicious to you?" and it wouldn't get out to the general public. It would be limited to those few "helpers."

JAV... I wouldn't call it being a deputy, per se... How about "Mini-mod?" LOL

would probably just add another level of complexity to something that is working fine as it is.

Nothing personal, but it is easy for you to say this. You are not a Mod. Thre are times where I am sure they are ready to curl up in a fetal position in a corner someplace and stick their thumbs in their mouth, wishing for Mommy to come help them!
Okay... I'm exaggerating... Except, maybe, for Wishie-Pants! LOL

RadStar's idea is exactly the kind of thing I had in mind. for the private board.
As far as your inbox goes, Sid... It wouldn't be necessary. Just check the "BTown WAtch" section of the message board. I feel like I spend a lot of time on here (typically 7 - 12 hours a week), and I KNOW that pales in comparison to some others. Between us, we should be able to post everything there. You wouldn't have to search for it or anything.

So...

BTown Watch would:
Have its' own section
Be limited to invitation
Post rules violations
Brainstorm on possible scam artists
NOT PM everything to Sid.
Help send friendly reminders to minor offenders.

What are everyone's thoughts?

The private board does sound like the best option. As already stated, that would reduce double messaging stuff to Sid or the others.

I don't have a problem with the idea as long as it doesn't turn into a witch hunt.

I don't suppose i would qualify for the position as i don't spend any time in the non trading forums.

MagickalMemories wrote: As far as making the "Watch" thread available to everyone... IMO, it's better to have it limited. If the watch has an area where, for example, we could post a thread with the title, "Does this user seem suspicious to you?" and it wouldn't get out to the general public.

I was thinking in term of a public board for simple rules violations (multiple posts in a row, misplaced ebay ads, thread hijacking, ...). But a private forum for things like suspicious users is a great idea. In the last year or so, I know i've come across a handful of users that made me nervous. Most of them are now in the bad trader forum.

As a practical question though, what would be done about someone who simply seems suspicious? Unless it turns out to be an alias for a known scammer or someone shilling with multiple accounts (i have no idea how often either of these happens), would anything be done? i guess this is realy more a question to the mods/admins.