Community Stories

Could the WTB Restrictions Be Lifted?

FREDMAYCOIN
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I think we should keep the 200 post rule, not only does it give individuals the opportunity to stick around and learn, but it also gives us the opportunity to acquire nice pieces before they get listed to the general public.
 
ZIELSZIEK
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Aquariusmatic Aquariusmatic
empty content threads.
I cannot provide any feedback on the main issue. That is for the senior members and mods to decide, IMHO.
What I can say though is that I enjoy learning about watches as much as I enjoy getting to know the people who wear them and those threads that you've called empty content are the type of interactions that are unique to this forum.
From racing chronos to the moonwatch, timepieces sometimes have stories behind them and so do the people who wear them and I love hearing both.
P.s I loved that pizza thread that was started a while back, it made me make one for myself and it turned out delicious.
 
Archer
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DaveK DaveK
But if the forum became known as a place to drop in and buy a part and never come back, that mucks with the community that is built here. There was a thread a short while ago about how folks enjoyed selling and buying within the OF community (vs selling to flippers), and I think that ethic keeps this place a special haven on the web. Member ship isn’t exclusive, but it is earned.

Looking at the history of the poster in the thread that was linked to in the opening post, she (?) has made 11 posts, and 10 are about sourcing parts. I understand the point being made here by the OP, but I see it the way you do for the most part - this is about community and the give and take that goes along with being in one. I can't tell you how many unsolicited PM's I get from people asking me for parts, and removing the WTB restrictions would likely reduce those a lot, but I would rather not open it up. Note that many of the people who are asking me for stuff are people with zero posts, and I have a personal policy of not responding to those at all - if you are only joining to make a hit and run for parts, valuation, or other information, then you aren't really wanting to be a part of this community.

JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
I think the self-policing can be a bit unevenly weighted at times, as any community monitoring can be. We had a newcomer asking where to source hands last week and he was immediately told that we are not here to do his homework or sell him parts. Well, actually this is the first step in doing homework and many members here do sell parts. It’s logical to come first to the place where people know these watches.

Indeed it is uneven. In this case everyone was pleasant even when pointing out the rules. Gender plays a part in this I think - I recall several years ago some guy coming on and asking questions about a watch he wanted to sell, and he was rebuffed for asking for a "free valuation" as sometimes happens here. He came back a couple of months later posing as a female, and was treated well with all his questions answered. Once he had the answers he let everyone know who he was and that he had fooled everyone...once he posted that the thread was quickly removed of course...😀
 
Rman
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@ConElPueblo is right there could be more enforcement, but Omegaforums has a reputation for toughness and minimum post count that keeps a lot of the riffraff out and still allows members some discernment in how to respond to a stranger in town.

Most of the time with a genuine and polite post a visitor is treated fairly and welcomed and assisted. It’s the ones who are entitled and lack manners that are usually met with a stiff arm (also an OF tradition) it’s these type of posts that should get removed but I don’t see a problem with the former.
Do we want to become Chronotrader?
 
DaveK
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Archer Archer
Gender plays a part in this I think -
I suspected this as well. And, it would be great to see more diversity in gender (or non-gender etc), as well as different coloured wrists in the WRUW thread. But I don’t think that we can solve that issue by eliminating the post count rule.
 
Aquariusmatic
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DaveK DaveK
I suspected this as well. And, it would be great to see more diversity in gender (or non-gender etc), as well as different coloured wrists in the WRUW thread. But I don’t think that we can solve that issue by eliminating the post count rule.

If the forums had a DW or Michael Kors subforum, judging by my girlfriend and her friends we'd be full of female posters 🤨
 
DaveK
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Aquariusmatic Aquariusmatic
If the forums had a DW or Michael Kors subforum, judging by my girlfriend and her friends we'd be full of female posters 🤨
LOL, there you go, problem solved 👍
 
Archer
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DaveK DaveK
I suspected this as well. And, it would be great to see more diversity in gender (or non-gender etc), as well as different coloured wrists in the WRUW thread. But I don’t think that we can solve that issue by eliminating the post count rule.

Note that I was only commenting that females tend to be treated more...gently...then men when they make these requests as low post count members.

I was not suggesting that this is related at all to the 200 post count requirement, or would be "solved" by eliminating or reducing that requirement.
 
pdxleaf
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Interesting mix of responders, both new like myself and long-term. Also interesting that newer members seem to advocate keeping the rule, particularly as it seems to force self-education, although I wouldn't assume that a new member is also new to watch collecting.

I appreciate the intent of the question this thread asked, as well as the thoughtful responses. Initially I was in favor of lifting the requirements for WTB for the reasons cited. After reading through the thread, the desire for a sense of community comes through strongly. It does seem that if the rule is lifted then it does seem to lead to an increase in commercialization. But if that is limited to a WTB thread then that will keep it from muddling up the forum. Personally, I can see either way.

Two last things. The sense of community is strong here, as you note. When noting the thousands of posts from some members, I respect that it was hard-fought for to develop this camaraderie. You can't know it, but reading through the forum has got my mind off some difficult times during this covid crisis, for which I am grateful. So kudos for what you built.

Second, maybe the 200 post limit could be a time limit in addition to a number of posts, such as for example 2 years (just randomly chosen.) It would dissuade post pumpers and also perhaps relax the guard of older posters concerned about the intentions of newer members.

But this is getting the thread into a different discussion so feel free to ignore.
 
JwRosenthal
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DaveK DaveK
I suspected this as well. And, it would be great to see more diversity in gender (or non-gender etc), as well as different coloured wrists in the WRUW thread. But I don’t think that we can solve that issue by eliminating the post count rule.
It’s a big sausage-fest here- no doubt. We have a handful of female members and when new female members join, some of the lechery comes out (I have cringed at some of the posts I have read...pick your damn tongue up off the floor and go take care of yourself).
But I have to side wirh those that enjoy the 200 post rule. I get CEP’s thoughts on calling a spade and spade and unveiling the backdoor WTB, but I think as we see them now, they are not snowing anyone. The 200 rule offers an opportunity for the invested new collector to learn something about the marketplace before just being handed the fish (to speak to CEP’s legendary thread) and they will get PM’s if anyone has what they want and is comfortable selling to them. I don’t see the system as broken as it is.
 
gatorcpa
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I just killed both threads. We don't think there should be exceptions to the 200 post rule based on politeness, gender or popularity. The only reason that the first thread lasted a day is because all of the moderators here are volunteers and we don't catch everything inappropriate in the first few minutes after posting.

Below are some of the threads that should be read upon joining the forum:

https://omegaforums.net/threads/forum-q-a-rules.54/

https://omegaforums.net/threads/please-read-new-security-measures-for-the-sales-sections.16993/

https://omegaforums.net/threads/announcement-end-of-200-post-exception.81895/

Bottom line is once we start making exceptions, it becomes a slippery slope.
gatorcpa
 
efauser
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gatorcpa gatorcpa
I just killed both threads. We don't think there should be exceptions to the 200 post rule based on politeness, gender or popularity. The only reason that the first thread lasted a day is because all of the moderators here are volunteers and we don't catch everything inappropriate in the first few minutes after posting.

Below are some of the threads that should be read upon joining the forum:

https://omegaforums.net/threads/forum-q-a-rules.54/

https://omegaforums.net/threads/please-read-new-security-measures-for-the-sales-sections.16993/

https://omegaforums.net/threads/announcement-end-of-200-post-exception.81895/

Bottom line is once we start making exceptions, it becomes a slippery slope.
gatorcpa
Here's another one for you https://omegaforums.net/threads/wtb-seamaster-600-no-date.115180/#post-1527434
 
mayankyadav
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I have seen some clever new joiners who quickly went beyond 200 posts while not exactly falling under post farmer category and then started posts for sale.

That could be a way to overcome the rule, but I think just coz one can post a FS or WTB post doesn't mean he will actually be successful in selling and buying coz other members won't simply trade with him for lack of confidence.

Amd that confidence comes by being honest here on the forum.
 
JwRosenthal
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mayankyadav mayankyadav
I have seen some clever new joiners who quickly went beyond 200 posts while not exactly falling under post farmer category and then started posts for sale.

That could be a way to overcome the rule, but I think just coz one can post a FS or WTB post doesn't mean he will actually be successful in selling and buying coz other members won't simply trade with him for lack of confidence.

Amd that confidence comes by being honest here on the forum.
I think anyone who has spent some time here has picked up on the signs, knows how to research someone’s post history (thank you mods and developers who designed this feature to be so easy), and can smell an opportunist. There are several FS posts that have languished for months- not just because the prices are on the high side- but because the seller just doesn’t participate and thus doesn’t have the community’s trust.
 
mcemeren
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Wanna buy a decent cat from a respected member. Just waiting for my time to come
 
dsio
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mcemeren mcemeren
Wanna buy a decent cat from a respected member. Just waiting for my time to come
Mate coming to a watch forum to buy a used cat isn’t the best approach.
 
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