TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,062
Posts: 21,062
Posted:
All,
I wanted to share the letter I recently sent to the moderators concerning the influx of others using this site for their own pecuniary gain. This way others who support or oppose my viewpoint may use this thread, send their own letter or do both to express their viewpoint and perspective on the issue.
Obviously, the final decision would be the moderators.
Here is the letter:
I do understand that HOATalk is a free service. The forum is fantastic and is very much appreciated.
Discussions on the site cover many many topics. In the past it seemed that the topics covered architectural issues and records access. Lately, perhaps because of news coverage, the discussion has centered around assessments.
There have been great discussions on all the topics. It didn't matter if one agreed or disagreed with those others. The merits of the viewpoint and opinions offered were what was discussed.
For the most part the members of this forum are able to self moderate. This self moderation has usually been fairly successful when it deals with issues of respecting other posters perspective and keeping the language of the posts civil. However, self moderation has it's limits and cannot affect those members who joined the forum for purposes of pecuniary gain.
Unfortunately, it appears that the forum has started to have an influx of individuals who joined only for pecuniary gain and use the forum as a sales pitch for their product or service. As stated earlier, self moderation has little if any affect on dealing with this issue.
Even if the number of individuals appear low, it doesn't take many to ruin a forums reputation with it's members. Loss of reputation typically results in the loss of active members. Overtime, this simply kills the forum.
I understand that moderating this forum is likely a collateral duty for those working at Community 123. Unfortunately, only a moderator can resolve this issue.
It appears some old posts that were used for pecuniary gain in the past are being reactivated. Combine this with the newer posts and threads that are being used for pecuniary gain and it appears to be a site for sales pitches or beta testing a companies service rather than a place for community association leaders and volunteers, to discuss issues, share ideas and learn.
Yes, it could be argued that a sales pitch is a form of sharing ideas and learning, once that sales pitch identifies the company and blatantly violates the posting rules it becomes just that, a sales pitch.
Please have a moderator take some time and look at the posts previously reported and take appropriate action on those individuals/members and/or posts/thread. Please take the time to respond to those members who took the time to report so they know that some action was taken or, at the very least, that the member who reported the action can learn that they were mistaken.
Again this forum is a great service provided by Community123 and one that is badly needed.
I wanted to share the letter I recently sent to the moderators concerning the influx of others using this site for their own pecuniary gain. This way others who support or oppose my viewpoint may use this thread, send their own letter or do both to express their viewpoint and perspective on the issue.
Obviously, the final decision would be the moderators.
Here is the letter:
I do understand that HOATalk is a free service. The forum is fantastic and is very much appreciated.
Discussions on the site cover many many topics. In the past it seemed that the topics covered architectural issues and records access. Lately, perhaps because of news coverage, the discussion has centered around assessments.
There have been great discussions on all the topics. It didn't matter if one agreed or disagreed with those others. The merits of the viewpoint and opinions offered were what was discussed.
For the most part the members of this forum are able to self moderate. This self moderation has usually been fairly successful when it deals with issues of respecting other posters perspective and keeping the language of the posts civil. However, self moderation has it's limits and cannot affect those members who joined the forum for purposes of pecuniary gain.
Unfortunately, it appears that the forum has started to have an influx of individuals who joined only for pecuniary gain and use the forum as a sales pitch for their product or service. As stated earlier, self moderation has little if any affect on dealing with this issue.
Even if the number of individuals appear low, it doesn't take many to ruin a forums reputation with it's members. Loss of reputation typically results in the loss of active members. Overtime, this simply kills the forum.
I understand that moderating this forum is likely a collateral duty for those working at Community 123. Unfortunately, only a moderator can resolve this issue.
It appears some old posts that were used for pecuniary gain in the past are being reactivated. Combine this with the newer posts and threads that are being used for pecuniary gain and it appears to be a site for sales pitches or beta testing a companies service rather than a place for community association leaders and volunteers, to discuss issues, share ideas and learn.
Yes, it could be argued that a sales pitch is a form of sharing ideas and learning, once that sales pitch identifies the company and blatantly violates the posting rules it becomes just that, a sales pitch.
Please have a moderator take some time and look at the posts previously reported and take appropriate action on those individuals/members and/or posts/thread. Please take the time to respond to those members who took the time to report so they know that some action was taken or, at the very least, that the member who reported the action can learn that they were mistaken.
Again this forum is a great service provided by Community123 and one that is badly needed.
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