TPF is a strange forum...

[photostein]

This is one of the strangest forum's I have ever seen.

This area states that you can talk about everything, except religion and politics. So be it.

What I don't understand is that when you are asking about whether there are any people interested in various other hobbies because you may have somethings to sell and want to get their opinion on where to sell it, your post is removed.

This might be understandable, but then I see people post completely useless fluff about Wal-Mart, and it is lauded and completely understood.

Perhaps I am a bit too undereducated to understand all this. Can someone help me figure it out?

I guess if you wanted to have an open talk section restricted to various topics (such as superfluous comedic banter), perhaps it better to state what can be discussed vs. what cannot.

[Wes]

Can you give an example of the post that was removed? Just curious.

I agree that TPF is a strange place, but it's only because Captain Tom hangs out here.

[mdparthum]

Birds of a feather!

[HeatherLou]

The reason that the buy/sell forum was limited to photography type items was because at one point, it was turning into the TPF garage sale. Everyone was posting about furniture, cars and such. It got overwhelming.

Since we are not allowed to post items for sale outside the buy/sell forum, and that forum is limited to photography stuff, I'm not surprised any post outside of that got deleted, as have many of our open talk subjects.

I personally love the goofiness of this place!

[a2rob]

Perhaps the administrator felt that the post was misleading in an attempt to advertise or promote a product. This is the most domesticated forum that I have subcribed to. If you hang around, long enough you will become one of US!!

[12stones]

Originally Posted by a2rob

Perhaps the administrator felt that the post was misleading in an attempt to advertise or promote a product. This is the most domesticated forum that I have subcribed to. If you hang around, long enough you will become one of US!!

That was my first thought. Rule #10 states no commercial advertising, so it's clear, and basically, if the post says, "Hey, I'm thinking of selling this, where do you think you'd like to buy it?" that's pretty much some roundabout advertising.

[KeithnFW]

I agree that TPF is a strange place, but it's only because Captain Tom hangs out here.

[Abel]

Originally Posted by photostein

This is one of the strangest forum's I have ever seen.

Excuse me.... "Strangest forums"?

I certainly take offense to that. This forum is the product of many countless hours of hard work, dedication and sacrifice not only on my part as the owner/admin but for all of our moderator staff and our registered member base.

I have been a forum junkie since way back in the day of dial up BBS's and I have seen a lot of good ones and a lot of bad ones. My experience with those numerous other forums is what helped me mold TPF into what it is today. I took what I had learned from the years I spent being a member on various other forums and applied what "I liked" and what I thought "should be" here on TPF. And trust me, over the past 4 years as an admin I have came across many other situations and flare-ups that I did not foresee but yet I have implemented rules and procedures if those were to ever come up again. Hence the Politics/Religion Rule discussed below...

Originally Posted by photostein

This area states that you can talk about everything, except religion and politics. So be it.

Obviously you have never seen what can come of a political and/or religious discussion. The rule that states that those are NOT allowed here on TPF is not Rule No. 1 on our Rules Page by accident. It is there for a reason. Those are the two topics that invoke the most extreme difference in opinion as those topics tend to be the ones that people hold dearest. No matter how much "debating" (aka arguing) over either subject, neither side will relinquish their view or their argument. What happens in a situation like that is that these arguments, hard feelings, judgments on other members then begins to spill out of the Open Talk section and into various threads throughout the forum and even group get togethers creating more havoc and drama that is not needed.

If anyone wants to discuss politics and/or religion... TPF is NOT the place for it. I suggest you find another avenue better suited for your topics of interest. Trust me, there are plenty out there.

Originally Posted by photostein

What I don't understand is that when you are asking about whether there are any people interested in various other hobbies because you may have somethings to sell and want to get their opinion on where to sell it, your post is removed.

First off, I had no idea what thread you were in reference to. A little more info on your complaint would have helped...

After digging around I found the thread to which you were referencing. Here is the exact post:

Originally Posted by photostein

I have a high-end Rotel receiver and Axiom speakers that I need to sell.

I am not sure who or where to start to hit the niche market that may be interested. I know that some of those on this forum are real techies in some areas and this equipment is in excellent working condition.

Anyway, I would like to move these soon to fund some school expenses.

Thought and comments welcome. Naturally, these will be locally sold in Houston/Cypress area, so any takers please keep that in mind.

PM or email if interested.

Well, your post just stated that you did not know "who or where to start to hit the niche market that may be interested" but then the post proceeded to be a Buy/Sell Listing aimed at our members since like you said you "know that some of those on this forum are real techies in some areas" and then you concluded your post with "PM or email if interested."

So you see Dan, our moderator staff and myself did not see your thread as one that was simply asking advice on where you should look to list your audio equipment for sale. It seems to us that it in itself was in fact an ACTUAL listing looking to sell your equipment and hence it was removed per the rules below.

Our Buy/Sell Section/ Rules (which can be found HERE.) clearly state that only Photography related items can be listed here on TPF:

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Updated 6-30-08
The only items allowed to be listed in the B/S Section are those related to Photography. Computer hardware etc is also allowed since it still has to do with photography in a sense since it can help post processing etc.

We are just trying not to let the B/S Section become garage sale in the sense that anything and everything is listed here from kitchen sinks to carburetors. Please keep it to photography/computer related items only...
-----------------------

In fact, this can not be news to you because if I recall correctly you received a PM from the moderator that deleted your thread explaining the reasoning it was deleted. That it was a Buy/Sell Listing of non photo equipment....

One of the Moderator Rules I have in place states that a mod needs two other mods to agree with them prior to deleting a thread. This is our own form of checks and balances so that every thread that is removed is justified in doing so. So your initial thread was not just removed because of one mods' itchy trigger finger, it was discussed in our private moderator section and 2 other moderators were in agreement that it needed to be removed. So the thread was removed and you were sent a PM notifying you as such.

Originally Posted by photostein

This might be understandable, but then I see people post completely useless fluff about Wal-Mart, and it is lauded and completely understood.

Perhaps I am a bit too undereducated to understand all this. Can someone help me figure it out?

It is the Open Talk section so anything within reason and within our rules is welcomed even the "completely useless fluff about Wal-Mart" you mentioned. That section is the correct place for it.

With that being said I should also make you aware that I myself and our moderators do reserve the right to remove anything that is a rule violation and/or can be deemed as detrimental to our community member base. Plain and simple.

Originally Posted by photostein

I guess if you wanted to have an open talk section restricted to various topics (such as superfluous comedic banter), perhaps it better to state what can be discussed vs. what cannot.

Now you know there is no way we can list what can be discussed and what can not be discussed. There are simply too many topics and subjects for use to even begin to create a listing like that. Our members are intelligent enough to determine what is ok to be posted and what is not based on our rules that we have in place. If they feel a item is ok to discuss and our staff sees that it is not, then we will remove it and notify the member as to why it was removed.

Also, in closing, if I may... I'd like to inform you of another rule we have here on the forum. It has to do with Thread Deletion Challenges.

Our Forum Rules Located HERE.

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17. Thread closing challenge
Any member who has a problem with why a particular thread has been locked and/or deleted must contact the ADMIN and/or the moderator who locked the thread privately through a PM. Creating new threads to vent your frustrations with the closing of a thread will only result in that thread's deletion as well.
-----------------------

I would have appreciated that you first contact me privately and give me a fair opportunity to further explain the reasoning behind your thread's removal prior to airing out your frustrations publicly and insulting me in regards to TPF being the "strangest forums you have ever seen" simply because we removed one of your threads that our moderating staff deemed as a Buy/Sell Rule violation.


Thanks.

[chano]

Ive been a member here for quite some time. i have never once thought this place was strange, to me its been more like the only place online that actually is peaceful and full of great information. Everytime i have had a question or issue there is always someone who answers me respectfully. This place is a step above many on the internet today. Enjoy it, dont thrash it.

kudos to Abel.

Your hard work is appreciated. Keep it up!

[SevenAndMe]

Thanks for creating and administering this site, Abel.
It's great.

[photonewb]

Abel this forum is STRANGE!!!

Have you seen some of the things that happen at get togethers? Christmas parties? Just randomly hanging out with someone like Angel!!!!

C'mon dude, you can't take offense to that ;)

[Kym Kilcrease]

Well, Just my opinion, but it sounds to me like..... PORTION REMOVED BY ABEL

"I UNDERSTAND THE POINT OF THE SELLING OF ONLY PHOTOGRAPHY ITEMS."

I am sure glad that you can't talk about Religion on here. It is better to discuss the Partying, Almost Nude photos, and other crazy things. I do understand that the difference in the "Base" would be a problem. However, there are several Christian people that might get offended on here by reading, and viewing Postings, but they do not complain! Just a place to learn and you weed out the things you don't want to read or see!

[Night Owl]

I've seen stranger forums than this. "Strange" is not really an adjective I'd choose for TPF. "Helpful", "resourceful", "educational."

Anyhoo...

[toverman]

Good forums have good rules, and this is definitely a good one.

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by chano

Ive been a member here for quite some time. i have never once thought this place was strange, to me its been more like the only place online that actually is peaceful and full of great information. Everytime i have had a question or issue there is always someone who answers me respectfully. This place is a step above many on the internet today. Enjoy it, dont thrash it.

kudos to Abel.

Your hard work is appreciated. Keep it up!

I agree 100%! I too am a forum junkie. In my past experiences most of the other forums I visit on a daily basis are ran by the "inmates" and power hungry admins/mods. Ask a simple straight forward question and you would get childish, sarcastic comments in return. THAT **** GET'S OLD FAST!

Almost four years ago I joined TPF. I was a total newbie to photography. The atmosphere was refreshing! 99.9% of the members were amazing. They all were so helpful. I owe everything to this forum and it's members that helped me become a better photographer.