Forum Etiquette

Catbert

I realize that the thread I'm creating may not solicit agreement, but I'd like to respectfully ask members to contribute their thoughts in order to create the best user experience here. I know that some may not care about this topic and would prefer the wild west where anything goes - that isn't what this thread is trying to accomplish. It is my belief that adhering to some standards (and not rules) demonstrates a courtesy to others and makes the board more readable and enjoyable.

To that end, here are my thoughts:

1) When resurrecting an old thread, there should be something the new poster should add to the thread topic to make it meaningful. Further, that the poster should post an alert that it is an old thread so that the new readers realize its age. Depending upon what the poster wishes to convey, a new thread creation may be more appropriate.

2) When creating a thread, it is a courtesy to others to put in the headline what the thread is about. For example, describe the coin or the issue one is trying to discuss. This allows the reader to decide whether they wish to read the thread or make a contribution.

3) Do not hijack a thread with a post withing a topic that is unrelated to what the thread creator intends. Create your own thread.

4) Do not grind on your point. Posting repeatedly the same point over an over in a thread doesn't persuade. I realize showing such restraint will be impossible for some members to do.

5) Do not create multiple threads either on the same topic or on a number of topics so that the first page of the forum is dominated by your content. By doing so, you deemphasize other member topics that move down off the front page given the number of posts made by the same member. Spread out your topics over time.

I'll stop here and ask if others have some contributions to make in the spirit of making the board more enjoyable to read.

RiveraFamilyCollect

I for one welcome the standards set forth by our furry overlord Catbert.
Sadly I doubt people will be able to self-regulate. If they could self-regulate we wouldn't need moderators, police or courts.

NewEnglandRarities

I have very little to add, and agree 100% that this should be pinned to the top of the page. As a comment, many forums online are not nearly the same as here (meaning similar to a text message exchange as opposed to a forum setting).

But I’ll add one thing, details of what a person is discussing can be put into the original post. Many here truly enjoy helping and teaching, but having to work to get details and understanding of what the OP is asking for, should not be so difficult. Explain exactly what you (the poster) sees, and give all pertinent information. Often times, with no context threads go completely off the rails.

ChrisH821

6) One to four clear, cropped, images is adequate. No need for 50+MB worth of pictures just to try to show a simple coin or make a point.

RYK

My favorite threads are titled "Never Mind".

Eldorado9

I agree with Catbert on all points.

johnny9434

@Eldorado9 said:
I agree with Catbert on all points.

+1

Aotearoa

@johnny9434 said:

@Eldorado9 said:
I agree with Catbert on all points.

+1

+2

Floridafacelifter

Me too!
+1

MFeld

I think it would be great if more of us started practicing (or practiced more often) etiquette of the types suggested by @Catbert. Regardless of what becomes of this thread, thank you for your thoughtful post. It’s for a very good cause.

Martin

I agree this is a board to share information and there is outstanding info here and I like that. The forum was more active and fun with a little
Wild West

Martin

coinkat

Can we just put an end to the dog piling on threads with either obvious answers or those that are obvious in that they simply are not worthy of answering?

The Forum should create an environment that encourages participation as well as share information and discovery coins. To be blunt- there is much work to be done to make this place what it was intended to be.

coinkat

@RYK

I have fond memories of a very funny woman on SNL -Gilda Radner- in which "Never Mind" at the end of her rant was just iconic. In fact she was iconic.

lermish

Edit: Further suggestion - unless asked specifically for feedback on a coin, unsolicited negative comments about another poster's coin is best kept to one's self.

FlyingAl

I'd like to add:

7) Do not post a topic asking for opinions on a coin, just to disagree and argue with those opinions.

streeter

New (30 days) posters,
One thread per day max. One bump per day max.

Everyone,
One thread max on first page of BST. eBay in title.

Mizzou

Sounds quite civilized actually, until a new member tries to post something and everyone piles on telling him what an idiot he is.

2windy2fish

100% agree!
However, i believe the folks that need to read this will likely not…
Love the idea, perhaps @PCGS_Moderator would consider parking this thread at the top

mark_dak

Nice thought out post. Thanks, agree on every point.

I nominate Catbert to the forum's founding new Member/Moderator role.

Mark

OAKSTAR

8) Don't post pictures of coins WITH Crumbs, Lint, Dirty Fingers in the Background, Pubic Hair, Cat Hair or Coffee Stains!

ctf_error_coins

9) insightful humor or a relevant funny image can lighten up a thread.

Sarcasm can be extremely funny but not all will get and think your are serious

Namvet69

Thanks for laying out an admirable group of standards here. If we aspire to practice these principles, the putzarellis will stick out like a sore thumb. Peace Roy

BucketHead

@OAKSTAR said:
8) Don't post pictures of coins WITH Crumbs, Lint, Dirty Fingers in the Background, Pubic Hair, Cat Hair or Coffee Stains!

Great. So I guess I can’t post anymore coin pics.
Sigh.

Edit: I’ll take responsibility for most of the above but the lint comes directly from the US Lint and the cat is just going to do it’s thing.

SanctionII

Think two or three times about what you want to type before you actually type what you want to say. While doing so keep in mind:

1. What do you want to say;

2. Why do you want to say it;

3. What will be the likely response(s) to what you say; and

4. The old saying "if you do not have anything positive to say, do not say anything".

OAKSTAR

@ctf_error_coins said:
9) insightful humor or a relevant funny image can lighten up a thread.

Sarcasm can be extremely funny but not all will get and think your are serious

MFeld

@SanctionII said:
Think two or three times about what you want to type before you actually type what you want to say. While doing so keep in mind:

1. What do you want to say;

2. Why do you want to say it;

3. What will be the likely response(s) to what you say; and

4. The old saying "if you do not have anything positive to say, do not say anything".

5. Keep in mind that only you know what’s inside your head.

1630Boston

I agree with @Catbert
Very good things to live by
boston

ironmanl63

@coinkat said:
@RYK

I have fond memories of a very funny woman on SNL -Gilda Radner- in which "Never Mind" at the end of her rant was just iconic. In fact she was iconic.

Roseannadanna!

Walkerlover

@FlyingAl said:
I'd like to add:

7) Do not post a topic asking for opinions on a coin, just to disagree and argue with those opinions.

I don’t fully agree with your statement. I think it’s appropriate for the OP to comment and interject on opinions in an appropriate manner without being overly argumentative. This makes for more interesting discussion. No reason for the OP to stay like a mute and not respond at times to forum feedback

pursuitofliberty

@Catbert We should all aspire to these guidelines, and keeping this place the best hobby forum on the 'net.

I try. Although occasionally I go off the rails with some sarcastic humor (at least in my head!) when I respond to threads that may not meet these guidelines, or are over the top in a kind of "unhappy" way.

See ........

bsshog40

All great suggestions but, we will always have to deal with that 10%. Lol

TomB

I love the attempt, @Catbert, but I believe we all realize that the folks who need/should follow these cues the most are the ones who willfully ignore them.

jmlanzaf

I think we all know that everyone breaks some or all of these "rules" but only care when someone else does it.

Clickbait titles, for example, are so common as to be the rule rather then the exception.

winesteven

@Aotearoa said:

@johnny9434 said:

@Eldorado9 said:
I agree with Catbert on all points.

+1

+2

+3

Steve

dollarfan

Or perhaps don't ask for opinions then get butt hurt

Some_of_it

I appreciate photos with a brief description. I cannot read everything but can search for anything.

jacrispies

@TomB said:
I love the attempt, @Catbert, but I believe we all realize that the folks who need/should follow these cues the most are the ones who willfully ignore them.

That is not the perspective we need to have for improvement. Everyone can work to better themselves in one way or another. Some more than others, but pointing fingers is slow to solve issues. 🙂

messydesk

@RYK said:
My favorite threads are titled "Never Mind".

I like the ones titled ".", myself.

TomB

@jacrispies said:

@TomB said:
I love the attempt, @Catbert, but I believe we all realize that the folks who need/should follow these cues the most are the ones who willfully ignore them.

That is not the perspective we need to have for improvement. Everyone can work to better themselves in one way or another. Some more than others, but pointing fingers is slow to solve issues. 🙂

The folks I am writing about aren't attempting to solve issues and will not be affected by what I wrote in that post. Truth.

jmlanzaf

@messydesk said:

@RYK said:
My favorite threads are titled "Never Mind".

I like the ones titled ".", myself.

Or "delete "

TwoSides2aCoin

I can't speak for another, so I agree, like or laugh out loud (really).
If I disagree, don't like, or frown..... I try to move on, or get in the thick of it. I enjoy a good "rumble".

Maywood

Sadly, many of the most senior members here understand their rank and will use that to bully new members or those with lower standing. It is the way of the Internet. There is a respondent to this thread, @RYK, who coined a term many years ago: the CircleOfTrust. His wisdom in identifying it still holds true after all these years.

WQuarterFreddie

@Catbert said:
I realize that the thread I'm creating may not solicit agreement, but I'd like to respectfully ask members to contribute their thoughts in order to create the best user experience here. I know that some may not care about this topic and would prefer the wild west where anything goes - that isn't what this thread is trying to accomplish. It is my belief that adhering to some standards (and not rules) demonstrates a courtesy to others and makes the board more readable and enjoyable.

To that end, here are my thoughts:

1) When resurrecting an old thread, there should be something the new poster should add to the thread topic to make it meaningful. Further, that the poster should post an alert that it is an old thread so that the new readers realize its age. Depending upon what the poster wishes to convey, a new thread creation may be more appropriate.

2) When creating a thread, it is a courtesy to others to put in the headline what the thread is about. For example, describe the coin or the issue one is trying to discuss. This allows the reader to decide whether they wish to read the thread or make a contribution.

3) Do not hijack a thread with a post withing a topic that is unrelated to what the thread creator intends. Create your own thread.

4) Do not grind on your point. Posting repeatedly the same point over an over in a thread doesn't persuade. I realize showing such restraint will be impossible for some members to do.

5) Do not create multiple threads either on the same topic or on a number of topics so that the first page of the forum is dominated by your content. By doing so, you deemphasize other member topics that move down off the front page given the number of posts made by the same member. Spread out your topics over time.

I'll stop here and ask if others have some contributions to make in the spirit of making the board more enjoyable to read.

Of course your suggestions are correct but they seem to be directed at the minority of our members. I believe the majority of our members already follow these guidelines.😎

Unfortunately, those who do not will not change their behavior just because you ask nicely. I cite my VaultBox threads as evidence to this fact.😂🤣

RYK

@Maywood said:
Sadly, many of the most senior members here understand their rank and will use that to bully new members or those with lower standing. It is the way of the Internet. There is a respondent to this thread, @RYK, who coined a term many years ago: the CircleOfTrust. His wisdom in identifying it still holds true after all these years.

This was not the context of the Circle of Trust (that is, bullying new members, etc.), but the opposite. Much of life is about relationships. They can be built online, in places like this forum. These relationships can lead to friendship and trust, such that coins can be bought and sold and traded with little concern for being scammed. If I recall, in that legendary thread , I even said that if FatMan wanted to just look at a Dahlonega coin that I owned, I would not hesitate to send it to him.

That said, that level of trust is earned. It is a privilege. It is not an entitlement. You do not simply get admittance to the Circle for signing up for the forum. This applies to various Circles in real life. I would give FatMan admittance to my Colorado townhouse if he wanted to go hiking or skiing, but I do not know you and would not do the same for you, nor would I send you a Dahlonega half eagle just because you asked to look at it. That is not bullying or a reflection of some "lower standing". Unless I know you under a different name, I do not believe that you are in my Circle (yet perhaps you will be some day).

david3142

@Maywood said:
Sadly, many of the most senior members here understand their rank and will use that to bully new members or those with lower standing. It is the way of the Internet. There is a respondent to this thread, @RYK, who coined a term many years ago: the CircleOfTrust. His wisdom in identifying it still holds true after all these years.

There is no ranking or seniority of members here. There are members with lots of knowledge/experience and those with little, those who have been around a long time and those who are new. There are members with lots of posts and those with few. There is some overlap between each of these groups. Members have earned the respect of others through their contributions here and/or from their collections/
research/knowledge.

Anyone using their position in the first couple of categories to bully someone with less would likely lose their presumed advantage in the last.

divecchia

@Catbert I agree with ALL that you posted and I try to conduct myself the best that I can, but sometimes things happen. I have been guilty of attacking new posters with their junk parking lot finds. Now I stay away from these threads unless they really have something or are actually trying to learn. Then I try to responding with encouragement.

@Maywood Part of the problem of being in a "CircleOfTrust" on the internet is that people use aliases for names or they let their avatars represent them and no real names are used. When you do that and no one knows you by name, so it's easy to be controversial and be as argumentative as possible because your hiding behind a keyboard under some alias. What keeps me in line is not the fear of getting kicked of by a moderator, but my real name that sits at the bottom of every post and my last name that sits next to my avatar. I know people are afraid of identity theft and worried about the wrong people know who they are or what they have, but if more people posted with their real names then I believe it would be easier to trust people and be in the so called "CircleOfTrust".

Edited: changed "below my avatar" to "next to my avatar"

Donato

jmlanzaf

@messydesk said:

@RYK said:
My favorite threads are titled "Never Mind".

I like the ones titled ".", myself.

Or "delete "

Maywood

I understand fully what the COT is and how it functions. My reference to it was intended to highlight how the forum functions and how deference is given to certain members who might act poorly here.

Nic

+4

PerryHall

+5

telephoto1

How about a slightly more blunt supplemental list:

a) If you don't like the thread title, subject, or the person who created it... don't click on the thread.

b) Just because someone created a thread or posted to one doesn't mean you have to respond.

c) If you do respond, you don't need to throw out 10-20-50+ posts picking nits with everyone else who responded just to try to convince others you think you're the smartest kid in the room.

d) Creating a thread doesn't make you the owner/lord high master of said thread and doesn't make you the arbiter of what people can/can't comment about on said thread. That power only resides with our hosts and the mods here. See also H.

e) Creating a thread doesn't mean everyone else is obligated to agree with your opinions or conclusions- so don't get all wounded when that doesn't happen. If you are just looking for others to agree with your views all the time, you're likely to be very disappointed here.

f) If you have some sort of beef or drama with someone else on a given thread, we don't need to hear about it on every other thread you post to. Work it out via PM or better yet, click ignore on that person. See also G.

g) If you create a thread that gets shut down, it's not a good idea to follow it up by creating more thinly disguised follow up threads about the exact same thing. Otherwise, your tenure here will likely be short once the mods have had their fill.

h) Don't play forum cop by continually stooging others out to the mods. Offending posts/threads inevitably get removed at some point if warranted.

i) This forum is supposed to be enjoyable, informative, fraternal and fun. Try to remember that before hitting send.

Peace