Mars Bod?

[Justin74]

Any ideas on how to stop the onslought of selling posts by people unaffiliated with us, from selling there stuff?

Im all for helping a MEMBER if I can use some equpment,livestock that they need to get rid of and I or another MEMBER could potentially use. But catering to the rest of the greater Sacramento area and adjacent counties as a place to dump your aquatic stuff regardless of who you are IS getting overwhelming.

Maybe a sticky on etiquette before you post? Or, FS posts read here first.. ? Something.

It seems to me this has just created alot of resentment from alot of our members, and to other members and some passerby's simply just a joke :/

IMO, this doesnt have to be like this. This is still the MARS forum, and our good friend Craig doesnt own rights to it yet!

At the same time it's not polite and a good representative of myself and the club that Im in to bark at these people, although I did just get finished politely doing so. I think a sticky could help prevent this and educate people, some may do it anyway and dont like to read, but there are those that do, and arent out to offend anyone nor clutter there boards up.

Who knows, may work, may not. You old dogs may come back and frequent our conversations again once the clutter is gone;then again, you may not.

If your a member I welcome your thoughts and comments on this. Especially if your in the BOD, hopefully it can be passed around the idea table back and forth for a bit. Thanks-

-Justin

 

[Nu2SW]

As a member,I think atleast a Sticky would be a good thing. I dont know if we can stop people from posting for sale ad's or if they will even read it. I did just read your response of the thread your speaking of and I agree, They should atleast make an attempt to introduce themselves and speak on what they want to sell before using us as a flea market.

 

[MandM]

Good idea. I think Rich can request a sticky, not sure what the rules are with RC. Let's discuss at the next meeting. We could have a session for trades at meetings, or announce who is looking to frag or upgrade and sell off stuff. If we stick to trades/sales between members and arrange it at the meetings, it may help cut down on the flea market posts. You can tell that some of the stuff is old stock from a store (never used, slight scratch, 10% off retail) If we stop responding to them they will likely stop trying.

 

[rafael13]

My name is Lance and I live in Lincoln and have a reef tank and two fowlr tanks. I am a major supporter of my LFS (aqua life and Your Reef). It was at Your Reef when I was told about this site for locals and was even told that I should put up my extra tank for sale. I do plan on joing MARS at the next meeting in August. So about listing a tank for sale, I think it is a great way to meet some other local reefers. If an established person buys it, then maybe I might be given some slack for being a newbie and you might take me seriously for being here. Anyway, hope I'm still welcome.-Lance

 

[rafael13]

I dont mean to start another debate but, I think most people join in this way

 

[rockwyld]

Looking at some peoples join in date, I'm seeing people who have been regerested for about a year or a year and ahalf. That shows you are realitive newcomers to this board. Everybody has to join sometime. How would this hobby survive if there were no new people.

 

[Nu2SW]

Lance, Anyone is welcome to the board and club. Its just as of lately, if you ran a search on the MARS forum, you would see countless for sale threads. It seams there more FS threads the Help threads.

One thing that I think justing is asking for is for people to come here and talk with us, post in subjects that people are asking for help and then , if you have something to sell list it after you know some people and the group.

And

 

[Nu2SW]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7926362#post7926362 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rockwyld
Looking at some peoples join in date, I'm seeing people who have been regerested for about a year or a year and ahalf. That shows you are realitive newcomers to this board. Everybody has to join sometime. How would this hobby survive if there were no new people.

I think you may be missing the point behind this.

Your for example are new here, you have 4 posts and just registered and you posted a FS thread w/o saying HI,hello or anything. That is what we are trying to avoid.

People are going to post FS threads, yes. Could we ask a mod everytime to take it down, yes. That is going a little overboard.

As this being the M.A.R.S board, we have the right to post stickies and rules up for people that post here. So if they do want to sell something, they would know the correct and proper way to do it. Not just come here and say HEY, I WANT YOUR MONEY BUY MY STUFF...

Does that help? If not please let us know and maybe someone else can put it in another way or example.


and as with tradition...

 

[UCDgogie]

when i first posted here it was a FS thread. But i only posted here cause i had a post on nano-reef and one of the members from here told me to post it on the MARS forums cause i would get more responses. so because i was told by a member to do it...i assumed that it would be alright and that i didnt have to be a MARS member to post.

 

[Nu2SW]

NO you don't have to be a member to post.

 

[Justin74]

UCDgogie- You had good reason to NOT know any different, I dont fault you or the people before and after you. But I do hope you appreciate how this can get out of hand.

All these FS threads from people we as a club have never known,met, or heard of ultimately takes away from the comradery of the club, ultimately not making it a club forum anymore.

And for those thinking this is the "sacramento hangout" read the top of the board! If you go to the sellers forum, you'll see it's designed to reach your particular locality anyway. Hence the reason they make you post your location in the title of your thread.

The reason for this thread is the club mostly. I have seen alot of sideline sarcasm,hints and insinuations but no one will come right out and say it!Nor will many address it openly in a thread soley designed to do so.

So let me be your confrontaionalist!If there needs to be a bad guy, let it be me then!But WE ALL need to talk about this, and maybe only IMO, but I think a proactive stance is warrented, rather than merely making fun of it and forget about it, or get your jabs in and leave. For alot of you brand new people, your completely oblivious to this, but this place has become a ghost town. And it sux! I considered myself having lots of friends in this club, and rightly so. Theres alot of cool people to meet,shoot the breeze,talk shop, whatever. Those people dont come around much anymore,if at all. And you know who you are, and yes I notice. And Im also sure others do as well.

Im, gonna pause for a bit out of frustration, not with anyone in particular but with this whole ordeal. Hopefully more MEMBERS/BOD will speak up as well.

-Justin

 

[rockwyld]

Thats kinda what I'm saying. John at Your Reef told me about this site and said I should list the tank for sale. I do believe that John is pretty high up in MARS. So I took him up on his advice and listed the tank. I can see where you don't want alot of FS listings. Maybe I didnt list in the wright catagory, Maybe under the MARS Forum, there should be an area for local FS or WLTB or trading. But in my defense, if I was going to sell a Porshe, I would first go to the local Porshe club to try to sell. I have SEVERAL extra tanks and thought a LOCAL could use them. I will abide by your rules from now on and I wont list anything else for sale here. thanks-Lance

 

[Justin74]

Lance, I responded to your thread, that may shed a lil more light as to where Im coming from.

These are not my rules.Please dont mistake that, nor are there any that Im aware of other than the ones under RC's policy and common coutesy as humans towards each other basically.Other than that I guess its fair game?

These are my opinions, and pieces of what I expressed are shared by others, maybe some all agree maybe some didnt even care and am wondering why Im goin off about this Dont know untill someone says something or does something. Im not making any plays with admins behind the scenes, just my upfront honest opinion for all to see, and to give those that Iv'e addressed the opportunity to respond to.

-Justin

 

[dots]

I think a selling sticky for hardware and goods is the best thing to do, I agree this is getting terrible. I had thought of posting some pics yesterday just to break the FS stuff up.

Personally, even though I was on RC a full year before I joined MARS, I did NOT post a single comment on the forum until after I was a member of MARS. However, that was my own personal thought, and would not dare to hold someone to that. I simply wanted to put in my time and earn my keep, learn enough so I could add something contributive to the Club/Forum rather than take....take...take....I found it very hard to join just for the discounts and the frags swaps, but glad I have since then because of the relationships between fellow reefers I am begining to foster. Which I believe is the true meaning of the Club/Forum I completly understand where Justin is comming from and why, if this keeps up this forum will be nothing than a specialized craigslist full of For Sales and rants.

I myself have gotten in to trouble lately trying to be a little tongue in cheek and nudge people in the ribs a little trying to break up the serious tone, but typed words I find can be misinterperted, and I can see how people can be offended.---but thats another discussion topic......

Personally I think we really need to find a solution to this and get back to helping each other create the best reef tanks around rather than debate the best store around or FS ads. However, I do know that I am quilty of the above and want to help us all subside it.

I think the livestock FS/ST should remain as is, because of the nature of those chains with people wanting in on them.

The drygoods and equipment seem to be just ads and look to be solved by a sticky. I did wander over to the BAR site and notice they don't seem to have a many as we do, possibly more traffic in general, but it could be just the season or a phase, you know a lot of tanks crashed lately and people may have been upgrading....

 

[duec22]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7926550#post7926550 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Justin74
For alot of you brand new people, your completely oblivious to this, but this place has become a ghost town. And it sux! I considered myself having lots of friends in this club, and rightly so. Theres alot of cool people to meet,shoot the breeze,talk shop, whatever. Those people dont come around much anymore,if at all. And you know who you are, and yes I notice. And Im also sure others do as well.

-Justin

I've got to totaly agree with you on this point...It does seem that a lot of members who use to be here have left. I don't know if all the FS threads are the reason, or if there are other reasons (like the forum being on RC). Maybe would could have a forum on the MARS site that you have to be a member of MARS inorder gain a user ID and password. ( I know the webmaster loves that suggestion :rollface: )

 

[Justin74]

That's a great idea! It might be a headache for some, but if there's a will there's a way.Just depends on who's will I guess

I know out of my own experience I would've joined that before this sight, as it was MARS innitially that made this my browsing spot. Especially at the time I was done with national/international boards and wanted some local experience and opportunity to be more active in furthering my experience and become more personally envolved.

-Justin

 

[Nu2SW]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7926854#post7926854 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by duec22
I've got to totaly agree with you on this point...It does seem that a lot of members who use to be here have left. I don't know if all the FS threads are the reason, or if there are other reasons (like the forum being on RC). Maybe would could have a forum on the MARS site that you have to be a member of MARS inorder gain a user ID and password. ( I know the webmaster loves that suggestion :rollface: )

That is a awesome Idea, I dont think it would be too hard. If we get one of the forum boards out there, you can restrict access to the membership so it has to be approved to join. Where that way you check the person's name versus the club roster and if they are a member they get access.

 

[jlfnjlf]

Hello folks,

I am totally new to this form, but I have to say it is truly frustrating trying to find informative threads in a mired mess of CraigsList like posts. Now I am also guilty of responding to a few of those same posts that frustrate me. However an introduction paragraph would be a kind gesture, so we can get to know each other as well. I am here to meet people and learn about reef keeping. My hope is to avoid some of the painful mistakes you seasoned veterans have made and learned from.

Just some random ramblings from a madman (newbe)

John

 

[JahReefster]

I agree this has turned into Craig's List Sacramento, and I miss hearing from Rich, Pam, Shawn, and others, about matters of which I am only a newbie. Justin, I feel your frustration. On the other hand, I'd hate to not know when tfp has some frags he might be willing to part with, etc. Perhaps a board on the MARS sight might be the answer but the risk is in becoming a closed society that doesn't welcome (whether perceived rightly or wrongly) new members... that's the way to a slow death, from my experience in other organizations. Maybe the stickie explaining that this isn't for sales of reef related cast offs from those in the general Sacramento area might be the answer, but I think we as members need to make more of an effort to keep posting threads of interest to us if we don't like the ones we're getting now. There have been some great ones lately... how's that new 30 gallon cube doing, anyway?

 

[Nu2SW]

Well I think the Idea behind the Mars website forum would be for members only. I dont see anything wrong with a members only section of the webpage, But then again that will make the webmaster (I think Minh) grit his teeth because of the work. :=)

WE could still have the RC forum for people wanting to join and other posts and FS threads.