"I think you need to add"

It's annoying that people who aren't interested in trading with you still want to be in on the conversation.

"I don't mean to threadshit or anything.
Let me explain the trade value of the beers involved since I'm an expert.
I just don't see this getting done."

Maybe it's time to turn off replies on ISO:FT posts.

 

Where to draw the line is the issue. Trade requests that are egregiously unbalanced might not be obvious to people outside the distribution area or new to trading. Fair trades should make both parties happy not just immediately, but also a week or a month later.

BA is a community. When someone posts an ISO:FT thread it's not just about that person & his/her ability to complete the trade. It's also about potential trade partners & their informed satisfaction with the trade.

Several times I've made trades despite comments that the person posting the thread should be offering more. In one I rec'd a DBH for BA Abraxas. A recent trade had closed for DBH + another very nice bottle for BAA. I wasn't convinced that was typical. I was happy with DBH for BAA & wasn't willing to push for more just because I might get it. I've never regretted the trade.

More recently I traded for two ba Clown Shoes stouts with a more limited distribution (MA only perhaps) for a.Chocolate Rain. Was it enough? It was enough for me. I happened to be interested in the CS bottles & had three bottles of CR with fairly easy access to more if/when I want it. I could be wrong, but in both cases I thought the comments were threadshitting. I chose to ignore them & proceed with the trades. No regrets.

Beer has value or it wouldn't even trade. However much we hate or embrace the concept, the value varies widely. Some beers are much more sought after than others. Trade values frequently go up then down then up again. None of this is unfair, though it can get damned silly (beer of the moment mega values, imo).

Discussions that enlighten or inform should be encouraged. Unfortunately, too few people seem capable of rational discussions of beer 'value' minus acrimony & accusations. Perhaps snark should be moderated, but (imo) useful info & opinions should stand.

 

@JavaNoire I definitely agree with your insight, but lately (IMO) there seems to be more *snark* than helpfulness and that seems like a trend upwards.

 

@dmbforever you're right. Some comments seems to serve no purpose other than acting petty. Other times there appear to be concerted efforts to boost values on beers the poster has available or can easily get. Either way, bleh.

Almost as bad -imo- as comments intended to undermine trades are those that boost mediocre or sub par offers. Remarks that it's an incredibly generous offer or should get done easily when it's -at best- an adequate offer. Comments are often made where it's obviously true & are appropriate. Other remarks are transparent hucksterism. Inexperienced &/or especially trusting people are most vulnerable to these sleazy tactics.

 

That is the solution

 

How about limiting comments in ISO/FT to traders w/ more than 10 completed trades. This would help a little.

 

Well, so I feel what you're saying, that comment is just as easy to do so via BM, but where I do disagree is that I think it ruins a lot less trades than you think. If someone thinks an OP needs to add and comments accordingly, chances are a third party that wants to trade doesn't give a shit what one random commenter/TSer/poster has to say.

and not to say I was snooping, but out of curiosity I went and looked at some of your most recent comments on the trading forums:
1) you or someone deleted your ISO: DQ post (either an obvious troll post on your end or someone was right to tell you that you needed to add)
2) a post about el Cid in which you, unsolicited it seems, detail the awesomeness of that beer (I don't have a clue what it is as one of the 194 in existence hasn't made it to my world)- couldn't that have just been bm'ed?
3) and one in which you clarify to the OP what his post should look like (essentially telling "someone to add") for a KBBS - couldn't that have been bm'ed?

It's not a perfect world, this beer trading thing. But one observation holds true for me: if you think an offer is fair likely someone will also. If you don't, but you still post, well yo shit ain't getting done no way

 

Just to play devil's advocate--lets say I make a habit of posting trades that are unfair/trying to clearly win (yes I know, I know, I know it's up to debate what is and isn't fair to begin with) and no one calls me out on it, or elects to do so via BM. A new/unsuspecting trader does not know its unfair, nor do they know this trader is notorious for low-ball offers because the community neglected to call out the shady trader, or was of course unaware because they can't read the private BMs sent from the community to the shady trader informing him that this trade was off...you get where I'm going? I'm not a big commenter when I have no intention to trade but I also can see why some people feel the need to put in there .02...there's no solution to this problem unfortunately.

 

Yeah, turning off comments makes a lot of sense, I think it just erks some to see the above happen.

There are very knowledgeable beer traders that constantly throw out "low ball" offers in what appears to reel in a sucker here and there.

 

Turning off comments solves one problem but creates another. Informative comments help both the OP & viewers make wiser trade decisions & offers.

There are negative dickheads & positive dickheads. It seems that only the negative dicks generate any heat. Positive shilling of friends' mediocre trade offers are equally bad but somehow don't garner outrage or requests that they be disallowed.

 

Yeah, tough situation. If there were a "want feedback?" button that opened comments for your post, then that might help, but not sure how easy that would be to implement, and people would probably still be dicks.

Overall, I don't think devaluing your offer should be a true concern. Most traders recognize a fair offer and will take you up on it if it is for beer they want, regardless of what the peanut gallery thinks.