Replying is now a privilege

This is a great change/compromise IMO. Though I've been allowed to post replies I'd feel the same if I hadn't been allowed to. I rarely post replies but the amount of threadshitting, hyping, trying to de-hype, BM sent, BM me, etc had gotten out of control.

I applaud this change.

Edit: before anyone says I'm a BA apologist I've been vocal against things I dislike as well.

 

So why not explain the criteria? Keeping it a secret makes it seem like you're arbitrarily creating insider and outsider groups, without members knowing why.

I'm sure you have reasons, but personally I'm wondering why I'm on the outside when I have a proven trading track record, try to always provide useful commentary, etc etc. I'm sure others are wondering the same thing.

 

I remember when I first joined the site last year, I had to wait until I could respond to anything. That has changed. I would also like to know the rules on commenting and such when you are ready to disclose.

 

I'm hoping that once everything is figured out and tested a little bit that criteria will be posted. I currently don't have privileges, though I think I know why. Despite this, I agree with @PA-Michigander (and I also am no apologist) that this is a good compromise, with the caveat that as long as admission into, or denial of access from, the 'in club' is transparent and fair. I was of the opinion that a greater degree of moderation was favorable to shutting off comments altogether, however I understand that there is only so much a small staff (with no easy way of growing) can do. This should help clear a lot of that up.



If I may propose a way of keeping it from being too much of an "in club", make the requirement to entry very easy (it is my impression that is not currently the case) and treat replies the same way posting is done in the first place, governed by warning points, with the ability for the privilege to be suspended and removed for infractions.

Initially it might create some extra moderation, but over time those who would warrant the privilege on paper but really shouldn't have it will lose it, and if the requirement requires some sort of tenure (ie number of completed trades, for example) that will keep new people from clogging the system in perpetuity.

The benefit is this adds a great degree of transparency with specific cause for removal of privilege rather than something more arbitrary, and also would be based on behavior only from the start of the new system (wherein the privilege of posting must be taken seriously, whereas in the past it obviously was not).

 

Not explaining our criteria is fine, we aren't done figuring out if it works, or needs to be changed. It's a fluid situation, and when it's assumed to be ideal, I'm sure @Todd will explain it.

Don't be upset- you can still BM someone if you feel their offer is so far off that you could help.

 

I'm not upset - just asking for more information. Todd has already clarified that he will eventually reveal the criteria, and thats fine. The initial information didn't say that, or that this was sort of a test run, so that's why I asked for clarification.

I look forward to learning more about this experiment.

 

You answered your own question.. By creating extra moderation- it's the opposite of what is proposed here.

Those given the ability to post have shown based on set points that they know whats going on. By limiting who can post, you shrink the ability of having to moderate. Less moderation is always welcome by everyone, no?

There is no "in club". There doesn't need to be tranparency for those to get "in", IMO. It's not a hand selected format.

Most people didn't threadshit and destroy peoples ISO/FT posts, so most people shouldnt be upset by the lack of posting, because they didn't post to begin with.

 

It's pretty new, I think we will all see more information as it happens. Hopefully this makes things more pleasant here, and keeps people out of trouble, and promotes a more fair and kinder ISO/FT.

 

I should have been more clear in my point; easy to meet, but also easy to be taken away. I meant it that it would only be initially that moderation might be increased, if set up for it to be that way. The point was so that anyone who has lost the privilege has no way of complaining that "it's just an 'in club'" and anyone who never had it, there was a very clear and obvious reason for it (too few trades, negative feedback). Nevertheless, if you're not looking for input, fine.

 

Good move. Last time the replies were pulled I was not a big fan of the move, but that was a while ago and the climate of the BA ISO:FT forum has changed dramatically. As others have said above, the threadshitting/hyping/ulterior motives have gotten out of hand. I like the idea of not completing closing it but having it as a privilege. Well done.

 

I'm not sure what qualified as thread shitting in the past and lead to a warning, was it because it was reported? I would say remove them all together or list the criteria, or perhaps start from scratch again with qualifications (join date, # of trades, karma, etc...). It seems to me views of whether a post is thread shitting is subjective and many people simply expressed similar views but were not reported by other members and now have the ability to respond and others don't.

If those who don't have reply access find an ISO they are interested in and the OP has a full inbox and limits profile views I can't think of a way to get in contact other than creating a different thread to tag him.

 

If someone doesn't have the ability to comment now, presumably for a history of threadshitting or something, is this something that they can eventually earn back? If so, how? How does one prove they can be constructive with their comments if they never have the ability to do so?

 

How long do warnings last? I made a silly post in a Beer Talk thread about whether $4$ was necessary (it wasn't a trade post or anything--I posted a picture with a goofy quote from a movie) and received a troll warning. Just wondering as I've never received a warning before and would like the ability to comment at some point.