So now that Beer Trading threadshitting is back in full-effect ...

I would love to see more threads locked by the OP. Perhaps an option for OP in the forum with something like:
-Trade complete X for Y
-Trade complete, do not wish to disclose terms
-Trade not complete
Even better would be an automatic reminder after the thread is posted, say a day or two or a week after originally posted. This would help with the constant complaint that nobody knows what individual beers actually trade for, too.

And the biggest thing I would like to see is the trader feedback system that's supposedly coming...eventually.

 

Couple thoughts here--

• my idea that probably won't happen because it requires too much coding: what if the mods option was to "remove" a post, but it simply made it disappear until one of the bros made the ultimate decision. The mods would reply to the flag by either clicking "do nothing" or "remove.". This takes any strain away from the bros as the only posts that they'll see are the ones their mods removed.
  
• the realistic answer: Any mods will still be overseen by the bros. I'm sure that the bros will be able to glance at the mods' activity and be able to determine if that person is acting entirely unfair/biased. Therefore it doesn't matter if the mod is an active trader. As soon as a mod crosses the line and abuses their power, they will lose their moderating privileges.
  
• I think there should be at least 10 mods and I nominate masterski, Shogokawada, kzoobrew, thorpe429, levitation, Abecall98, Aasher, and Weatherdog.

 

This is at least the 3rd time I've heard/seen you use the phrase "wretched hive of sum and villainy."
I don't think you really beleive that list is bad, I think you just like using that phrase...

 

though i think non-trader mod is a good idea, it bears noting how many of the really heavily active trader/posters really are unbiased and reasonable, both in their posting and trading behaviors. it may not always look "unbiased," but i'd say the community (at least the majority of the vocal elements) is pretty good.

still, i think what todd is thinking--and i agree with--is that the ideal way is:

1) clear rules,

2) fair, diligent mod(s) that implements said rules.

there should be some leeway/wiggle room, whatever, but not too much. with larger projects, it's very difficult to outline clear, rigid rules that yield great returns. for a trading forum format...? i think it will work out.

edit: @alewatcher, star wars.

 

I've been extremely active on here for a couple years but I have no idea who I would even nominate. We've all gotten into arguments about certain beers, trading, events, etc.

 

huh?

 

wretched hive of scum and villainy.

 

I think your thoughts of defining "threadshitting" is spot on, though not so much defining it since that's gonna be hard as hell but providing a loose benchmark/general guidelines with and IMO this is key, clear examples of what would be considered thread shitting and what some might consider thread shitting but its actually not. You guys would have to save some of the threadshitting and not so much threadhsitting content and its context to do this successfully though. These in a sticky in the trading forum would be very useful.

I agree with Alewatcher's nominations except levitation since he tends to get hung up on some things and not let go, otherwise he'd be a perfect candidate. I'd also like to add nanobrew to the nominations.

More important than nominations though, is choosing the kind of person that would make a good mod. IMO these are the people who have shown to be very objective/pragmatic and don't let their emotions get in the way of rationale. We don't need a mod that got burned by someone and even though they made it up, held the grudge and deletes everything he can of that person's posts. It also needs to be someone that has shown that when they get in an argument or w/e after its done, its water under the bridge and doesn't keep bringing it back up and holding it against them. That's my 2 cents anyways.

I guess this clears up the warning I got the other day. I didn't know it was still thread shitting to have fun on a thread when the thread has become practically useless. I figured what's the harm if the OP has to create a new thread anyways because no one will want to deal with the guy that posted the offer he did. I offered actual facts 1st to help him and then once the thread took a tumble I joined in on the fun.

Yea, I agree...I was probably active on the forums for a good 6 months before I actually traded my 1st time. I think most traders forget that there's still a ton of people that like to be active but aren't interested in trading, yet.

 

Oh. You mean that line is a Star Wars quote?!
Hmmmm...
It's totally used by Obi-Wan about Mos Eisley, right?! Holy shit. Good call!

 

I assume you are talking about this:

http://xenforo.com/community/resources/user-essentials.408/

Because that would be awesome. I think every feature listed except the name changing one (that's just dangerous lol) would be an awesome addition.

Also, slightly off topic, I was poking around and I saw these also:

http://xenforo.com/community/resources/xencentral-trading-system.448/
http://xenforo.com/community/resources/xentrader.245/

Any chance we could get something like that added to the Forums? Because I think such a feature would be great.

 

I think that a mod is a great idea (its getting back to the same old nonsense) but don’t think that it needs to be someone who doesn’t trade. You want someone who knows what trading is about as well as what the general ‘value’ of beers are - that’s the main root of the threadshitting - someone griping about: over or under-value of beers.

I’d say kzoobrew would be a good mod - generally seems to offer good advice and keeps it unbiased. could also give an honorary nod to goliath (not sure if he's even on BA anymore) - his webpage on trading outlined the process to a whole generation of traders.

also like the idea of limiting trading to members who have either been online for a period of time or with a minimum of posts. but would that criteria be based on the ‘new’ site or ‘new + old’. A lot of people (myself included) lost a lot of conversation history with the switch to the new format.

 

NERDS!!!!!!!!!!!



<3

 

I vote AleWatcher (because then he could sticky his blog post or write something similar just for the trade forums) and Urbancaver as mods

 

it's also only used on messageboards as a term of endearment.

 

I appreciate it, but no thank you.
Cheers

 

as a helpful comment, i think trying to define threadshitting (not in a philosophical way--whatever that means, but in a "what would you write into a rules page?" way) is the best way to contribute to this thread.

figuring out how to find mods won't be hard, and like i said above, i suspect the bros are leaning toward a good definition that sort of takes care of itself. if the definitions and rules are clear enough, the mod-finding burden (and mod's job to begin with) is much easier.

i'd offer a 'threadshit' definition, but i think a more experienced trader + person who's spent more time looking at the ISO:FT forum would be more qualified. while i admit my love of long posts about semantics, i take the good old "i know it when i see it!" stance for threadshitting, which is not adequate for rules.

edit: here is my one suggestion for threadshitting rule-writing. advise readers to LURK MORE. the number 1 helpful rule for navigating the internet--especially forums with specific purposes--is "if you don't know if what you're writing is appropriate, DON'T POST IT, rather, just keep reading for awhile, get a feel for the forum, try again later."

i'm willing to bet that more than a few threadshit warnings and bans have come from people who thought they were Getting In On The Fun but in fact just needed to lurk way the fuck more. hell, i bet that accounts for 80% of my own actual posts on the FT:ISO board (at least the last version of it).

-----------------------

tl;dr: everyone, i suggest you outline rules-page-ready 'threadshitting' definitions instead of mod suggestions.

 

I think that, in general, vague definitions are somewhat better for these things. My favorite behavior rule is "Don't be a dick." Everyone knows what that means, and while the what exactly fits the definition is going to vary from person to person, the vast majority of dickish behavior is completely obvious.

So, I would propose something like "Threadshitting is any post that isn't intended to be helpful to either the OP, potential traders, or the community at large." I think that covers pretty much everything, and it gives you a very simple guidelines "Is this helpful to someone?"

You could then list examples of things that are/aren't threadshitting, to make it a bit more concrete.

 

if the rule is that vague (which definitely could work), you'd have to really instruct the mod about a line between, "i'm helping the community," and "i'm sticking my nose into stuff that's none of my business."

e.g. trying to trade a recalled, 100% infected batch, vs trying to make something seem more limited than it is by ISO really high. (and does everyone even agree that the former is alright to post about?)

 

ISO: recalled, 100% infected batch

 

(user banned for offering sour matilda)