CU: Before You Decide To Shut Down The Message Boards...
wondercoin
Posts: 16,986 ✭✭✭✭✭
I believe there has been serious consideration at CU this month to officially shutting down the message boards (i.e. leaving open access to the Registry, Price Guide, Buy,Sell, Board, etc., but not the Message Boards).
I do not believe the CU Message Boards should be shut down due to the activities of a small minority of posters, who, in many cases set out to achieve that very intent. Instead, I have the following suggestions:
1. Make it real difficult to get a "handle" and sign up for these boards. Require credit card information, etc. for anyone who signs up for these boards without a reference from someone in good standing which CU knows.
2. For those with a reference, also require those posters to reveal in the profile information section their true names. No more hiding behind alias "log in" names.
If someone opposes these rules, they can always "lurk" around and read the posts anyway. I think you will also be surprised how many people will decide to reveal their true name and want to post. And, watch the "troll" count diminish greatly I suspect.
Just my 2 cents on a possible compromise solution to shutting down the message boards. Perhaps the great members of this forum can also come up with additional compromise measures to ensure the peace around here.
Wondercoin
I do not believe the CU Message Boards should be shut down due to the activities of a small minority of posters, who, in many cases set out to achieve that very intent. Instead, I have the following suggestions:
1. Make it real difficult to get a "handle" and sign up for these boards. Require credit card information, etc. for anyone who signs up for these boards without a reference from someone in good standing which CU knows.
2. For those with a reference, also require those posters to reveal in the profile information section their true names. No more hiding behind alias "log in" names.
If someone opposes these rules, they can always "lurk" around and read the posts anyway. I think you will also be surprised how many people will decide to reveal their true name and want to post. And, watch the "troll" count diminish greatly I suspect.
Just my 2 cents on a possible compromise solution to shutting down the message boards. Perhaps the great members of this forum can also come up with additional compromise measures to ensure the peace around here.
Wondercoin
Please visit my website at www.wondercoins.com and my ebay auctions under my user name www.wondercoin.com.
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Comments
I would not like,seeing this board shut down.
some good reasons that folks like this place
I have gotten a lot of valuable advice and met people at the ANA that I never would have without
these boards.
(And obviously I won't object to ensuring that people can't hide behind an alias log in!
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things sensible most of the time but occasionally there will be a thread that's like
a six car accident and people tend to look. There's an additional problem with a
tendency to pile on when someone or something is down. It seems very difficult
for some of these things to self correct once they start going south.
While for the main part things have improved greatly, recent events certainly show
that there has been little or no progress in some regards.
forums. There is a wealth of information to be gathered here. The contacts I've made, and the knowledge I've accumulated in the less than 2 years I have
been coming here is priceless to me. And I think overall the boards are good for PCGS. If my vote means anything, I vote to keep the boards open. Thanks, mdwoods
We'll use our hands and hearts and if we must we'll use our heads.
PCGS needs to start banning members that cause trouble or tell lies about PCGS. There are a few dozen members that need to be shown the door right now.
They need to remove the open forum as it is nothing but a cesspool of garbage, sexist comments, and hate. Only forums that promote PCGS and their wonderful products need to be here.
There are many reasons a person doesn't want to reveal their name. While I don't feel the same they might have legitimate reasons for this.
Let's get back to talking about PCGS coins!
Require credit card information What about minors who don't have a CC? Who will have access to my CC info? Why should anyone provide a CC if they are not making a purchase? If you want to make these "pay" boards that's another story.
equire those posters to reveal in the profile information section their true names Great, more spam. I had my real info up for about a week and that was enough to get on 8 coin related mailing lists. Providing such information could even make you a target for thieves. It's bad enough CU uses tracking cookies.
If someone opposes these rules, they can always "lurk" around and read the posts anyway. Less people contributing means fewer posts, fewer information, fewer readers over time and finally a trickle of meaningful posts.
Things should be left just the way they are. We don't need gestapo like enforcement. We have moderators and that's enough.
I look at these boards as a small town or company. You have your regulars, your fly by nights, your cranks, your experts, your clowns, etc. This is what makes the forum interesting. If everyone was agreeing on everything it would be boring beyond words.
This period too shall pass.
Edited to add: It appears I am agreeing with FanOfModerns! I am very concerned!
Info@PFgold.com
FanOfModerns, you've been standing too close to the fumes for an extended period of time. Step back and get a couple of breaths of fresh air!
ohbaby, I've been here since January and have not had a single inquiry from any coin related service due to the information listed in my profile.
PCGS, don't shut this down. Do make the changes reccomended by Wondercoin.....Ken
<< <i>They need to remove the open forum as it is nothing but a cesspool of garbage, sexist comments, and hate. >>
No it isn't! Granted, there are those elements, as you might expect from an open forum, but we talk about pizza and rubber chickens and doughnuts and kudzu and movies and favorite songs and embarrassing moments and home improvement and religion and sports and neighbors and family and legal matters and personal matters and so on...
HartlandMan does his great RV travelogues with all the funny pictures, TwoDogs posts beautiful landscapes and wildlife shots in desert scenery, TJ posts pictures of the fence in his yard and to ask what kind of fruit is growing on his tree, and his metal detector finds (neglecting the Detector forum which was made for that purpose), and we all cut up and have fun. It does get out of hand at times, but it's not as bad a cesspool as you might think.
Believe me, the Open Forum is a safety valve. Without it, there would be a lot more wackiness and OT stuff on the "serious" forums. I like to do my clowning around there, and then I come here to be serious.
Or, well... semi-serious, anyway.
Or, well...
OK, OK! So I clown around here sometimes, too! Geez!
But I try to keep it a little more topical and save my true madness for the Open Forum.
The boards are not going to be shut down. Look, 99.9% of the posts are educational, informative, or just plain fun. I think that the mods can handle the 0.01% and keep this a civil place for all to participate in.
Forum AdministratorPSA & PSA/DNA ForumModerator@collectors.com | p 800.325.1121 | PSAcard.com
K S
<< <i>I would agree with wondercoin's suggestions. >>
Methinks mitch has ulterior motives.
1. No one representing CU has hinted at closing the boards.
2. Wondercoin has long sought the names of board members.
3. He's a coin dealer!
4. This is his not too subtle attempt to put a bug into CU's ear to collect that info he seeks and to make it public - to him.
Fan - how does the Kool-aid taste?!?!?
Get a life, stooge. Is everything a conspiracy to you?!?!?!
To the topic at hand, it would be a mistake to close the boards because that would drive traffic across the street which is something that PCGS really does not need to do.
Total Copper Nutcase - African, British Ships, Channel Islands!!!
'Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup'
Lowes. Thats the hardware store with all the banned HomeDepot customers huh.
Could be wrong though.
Got quoins?
"The more I know, the less I understand"
***********************************
For the record my Name is John A. Guisinger III and I wouldn't write anything on here that I wouldn't say to any of your faces.
And I am also a "paying" customer.
Look folks. We're for the most part adults - we can handle spirited discussions on just about anything that's put on these boards. We need to exercise the same kind of restraint that we exercise in everyday life and RESPECT both fellow board members and our hosts. Criticism of either of the above entities is acceptable and healthy. However, when it turns to hatred, then you need to look in the mirror and see where that's coming from because, from what I see, some people - just like in real life - can't handle being themselves.
The boards are a neighborhood - we either let it live and police ourselves by the laws of nature that guide us in our everyday lives, or it dies a natural death of our own doing - you need to decide.
If you don't like it here, there are plenty of other places where you can post your hate and discontent. If you like it here, work to make it a better place to be in and let's move on.
Frank
But it would create a wave of bad publicity among the very people who support PCGS.
I've found this board to be about as civil as a board could be; there are always a few trolls in the mix,
usually they just slink back under their rocks.
If mgmt has decided to shut down the forum, they will look for any "reason", justified or not, to shut it down.
Steve
<< <i>Relax folks.
The boards are not going to be shut down. Look, 99.9% of the posts are educational, informative, or just plain fun. I think that the mods can handle the 0.01% and keep this a civil place for all to participate in. >>
Posted by a moderator. I think he'd probably be far more likely to have the straight skinny than any of us.
Russ, NCNE
Glad to hear it. And, I would still suggest considering stricter screening of new members.
Wondercoin
Thanks for the info, Russ....
Steve Gosselin
Maybe some ideas can be borrowed from here: link
I think all these rules that they make as they go and banning people is stupid. if they are going to be childish and close down one of the best marketing tools they had well I say do it and get rid of the registry with out the board who will care about that.
I hate it when you see my post before I can edit the spelling.
Always looking for nice type coins
my local dealer
only real person that makes this Board nice is Carol.
Go BIG or GO HOME. ©Bill
<< <i>Two nasty comments -
Fan - how does the Kool-aid taste?!?!?
Get a life, stooge. Is everything a conspiracy to you?!?!?!
To the topic at hand, it would be a mistake to close the boards because that would drive traffic across the street which is something that PCGS really does not need to do. >>
"FAN", I haven't heard anything from you except radicalism!
I agree with "Ken" and "Cecil", you need to back off a bit before you have a nervous breakdown!!!
Ed "Wheat's Walkers"
Geez, I'd call that bluff..........
The guy who said this place was advertisement for PCGS was right.
<< <i>"Relax folks. The boards are not going to be shut down."
Glad to hear it. And, I would still suggest considering stricter screening of new members.
Wondercoin >>
Wondercoin--Why just new members? Are all of us current crazies going to be grandfathered?
And for FanOfModerns--your posts are still a source of delight and wonderment!
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There is obviously a problem with problem children coming back under new names for the purpose of
mischief. I think the Forum members are astute enough to pick them out, and the Moderators seem
to be very good at recognizing such juvenile delinquents. These Forums are not only a great deal of fun
and information, they are a great source of quality advertising about a quality company.
THUS SPAKE THE BEAR, CAUSING THE EARTH TO SHUDDER AND THE VERY HEAVENS TO ROIL.
Camelot
<< <i>Posted by a moderator. I think he'd probably be far more likely to have the straight skinny than any of us. >>
Unless he sits on the board of CU, I think he know just what he is told.
Mitch,
I think you have made some good points:
<< <i>If someone opposes these rules, they can always "lurk" around and read the posts anyway. I think you will also be surprised how many people will decide to reveal their true name and want to post. And, watch the "troll" count diminish greatly I suspect. >>
I think most of the suggestions that:
<< <i>many of us would find or even create new places to hang our hats... >>
Does not bother CU, because I'm sure they know some of the trolls that frequent these boards, frequent other message boards as well already
I say dump the open forum, leave the rest with some kind of better checks and balances. I am a paying member and enjoy posting here. JMO
Also read C.U. Privacy Statement Don't miss this part:
<< <i>If you choose to post messages in our message boards, chat rooms or other message areas or leave feedback for other users, we will collect such information about you as you choose to disclose. >>
and
<< <i>If you send us personal correspondence, such as emails or letters, or if other users or third parties send us correspondence about your activities or postings on the site, we may collect such information into a file specific to you. >>
C.U. is a business and while building a customer base it needs to protect its own personal interests, which include law suits against them(which may include some of the very people that have been booted off of here).
Ken
My Washington Type B/C Set
The Open Forum is great art at times.
There's nuggets in them thar hills!
"Senorita HepKitty"
"I want a real cool Kitty from Hepcat City, to stay in step with me" - Bill Carter
<< <i>exclaiming that Hillary Clinton is going to run for President when she adimately says no each time she's asked that question >>
CP,
I think you could have picked a better example. Based on that one's demonstrated lack of veracity, the media may be right.
<< <i>Russ,
<< Posted by a moderator. I think he'd probably be far more likely to have the straight skinny than any of us. >>
Unless he sits on the board of CU, I think he know just what he is told. >>
Cointime,
Do you really think the board of directors concerns themselves with something as trivial as a BBS? If they do, than they need to take a serious look at the staff they have in place.
Russ, NCNE
If nothing else I have learned one thing about public companies, they are unpredictable but you can bet they always try to go where the buck is. I never bought the argument that any significant number of dealers complained about these forums. If they did they missed the point of them. The only flaw I see in them is the lack of participation by PCGS employees. From my perspective the interaction with employees at NGC seems to keep the noise down. I know that approach would work here, but maybe there aren't resources available to do that at them moment. It would be nice to see a give and take, a comraderie if you will, develope here betweent the company and the collectors who frequent the forum.
Whatever happens, it still remains just a forum.