Posters gone MIA

MichaelT21 (Arkansas)
Posts: 501

Posted:

Feels like we are missing a good portion of the gang.

I don't remember who all we are missing, but SteveH35 of Washington appears to be MIA. Also AugustinD of somewhere. AdamL of Idaho is also gone. MaxB doesn't post as much anymore, mainly snark to me these days. I think maybe 3 other posters or so that used to be a backbone of our little group and community.

Hope some new people come join soon. We could use a few more voices.

MaxB4
Posts: 3,513

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MichaelT21 on 07/12/2022 11:44 AM
MaxB doesn't post as much anymore, mainly snark to me these days.

I can be more snarky if you wish.

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

I'm not sure, but I think Augustin objected to Steve and maybe left because of him. I don't know if Steve got kicked off, or realized he wasn't going to get any customers here. Adam never wasn't a very regular poster.

When Max actually replies to a poster's questions or concerns, he's pretty good.

DouglasK1 (Florida)
Posts: 2,046

Posted:

If you look at older posts you'll see that the board has always had a fair bit of turnover and there are relatively few posters who have been here regularly for years. The ones I recall that were here and posting regularly when I joined (roughly 7 years ago) are Tim (the first to hit 10k posts as far as I know but not as active as he used to be), Kerry, Melissa, John or maybe two Johns from SC, Sheila, NpS although I'm not sure if they have posted recently or not.

Escaped former treasurer and director of a self managed association.

ND (PA)
Posts: 792

Posted:

Henry used to post A LOT. Where'd he go?!?
;)

MichaelT21 (Arkansas)
Posts: 501

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By ND on 07/12/2022 1:42 PM
Henry used to post A LOT. Where'd he go?!?
;)

I miss him. He and I shared the same thought patterns about HOAs.

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

Good one, MichaelT, AKA Henry, AZ. Max formerly was Mark (FL?), and Richard(CA?). Yes, there were 2 Johns from SC, JohnB & JohnC--I, at first, thought were were the same person. JohnC morphed into various versions of PITA. I kinda miss him still.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

Over the years posters have come and go. Some for the better and some not. It is always refreshing when we get some posters with good expierience and knowledge. They usually stay the course. Some posters have been known to change names and come back. Sometimes you need a break from it.

I know some people don't really like me. That is okay. I don't have to like them either. What I do like is having a forum available to Board members or potential board members to be able to discuss the various facets of being one. You don't really even have to be or desire to be a board member either. Just learn there are two sides of a fence. It's an eye opener when you get involved with an HOA. You need a resource geared to the education of HOA membership rather than a "b!tching box" to squawk from.

Former HOA President

MichaelT21 (Arkansas)
Posts: 501

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By JonJ2 on 07/12/2022 4:13 PM
Perhaps the people who contribute the most get burnt out when the same questions and head-banging arguments come up over and over. Who really wants to explain or debate the same thing in a different thread?

I'm not sure, AugustinD. Some people seem to enjoy that though?

LoriM15 (Florida)
Posts: 1,009

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By KerryL1 on 07/12/2022 3:13 PM
Good one, MichaelT, AKA Henry, AZ. Max formerly was Mark (FL?), and Richard(CA?). Yes, there were 2 Johns from SC, JohnB & JohnC--I, at first, thought were were the same person. JohnC morphed into various versions of PITA. I kinda miss him still.

I believe Thad and one of the Johns are the same person. And people like these who have nothing constructive to add to any discussion are what is driving people who were knowledgable and had constructive things to say away.

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

My error, JohnC, SC, is still very much with us, it's JohnB, SC, aka, PITA, etc. who left. There is another man from SC who seems to reply like Thad. And they both spell losers "loosers."

KellyM3 (North Carolina)
Posts: 2,239

Posted:

I've always found it interesting that long-time participants change their names on here as a way to refresh yet writing styles are difficult to change.

Recently, it seems people have posted inquiries on here that are more complaints or requests to help "beat the HOA." This forum works best, in my opinion, when it's helping HOA volunteers be more effective with policy decisions and handling delicate intra-neighborhood situations.

CathyA3 (Ohio)
Posts: 6,299

Posted:

Unfortunately, internet sites that allow users to post tend to go one of two ways. Either they employ active moderators who have the authority to remove problematic posts and to kick out offenders permanently if the offenders won't mend their ways *and* the mods do their jobs diligently. Or they take a hands off approach, and over time the fools and the pot-stirrers and the mean boys and girls drive away the people who want to have civil discussions (basically Lord of the Flies but less educated).

For a free site, this one actually doesn't do too badly, even though the moderation could be more effective.

What does help here, I think, is that a lot of the regulars are experienced board members or community managers who have had plenty of practice in dealing with, and tuning out, those whose communication skills are lacking. People who come here looking for a fight probably won't get one - this tends to discourage trolls.

But I sure wish we had an Ignore button (and a preview/edit function for posts). I really miss some of our MIA regulars who always had useful and interesting things to contribute.

BillD16 (Texas)
Posts: 971

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By ThadC2 on 07/12/2022 2:35 PM
well with all the unwriteen rules and the admins childish behavior of deleting posts they simple dont' like is it any wonder people leave this BS? Steve was a great poster shame on who ever drove him off.

*sigh* you really need to give it a rest. You were posting a bunch of annoying text and animated GIF images, and the admins stepped in.

BillD

HOA Board ex-President
Austin, Texas USA

“You can’t put too much water in a nuclear reactor”

BillD16 (Texas)
Posts: 971

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By CathyA3 on 07/13/2022 5:20 AM

But I sure wish we had an Ignore button (and a preview/edit function for posts). I really miss some of our MIA regulars who always had useful and interesting things to contribute.

Me too. “preview/edit” and the MIAs. I miss AugustinD a lot - he could be a bit “crusty” at times but he wrote well and was a good contributor. He definitely gave this forum a lot of ‘character’.

BillD

HOA Board ex-President
Austin, Texas USA

“You can’t put too much water in a nuclear reactor”

BancsS
Posts: 269

Posted:

JonD1 and GenoS also come to mind. I do wonder where they went. JonD1 was from New York and was pretty cranky at times. But he had some interesting posts. He kept me interested in the forum for a while. I am puzzled as to why AugustinD no longer posts. He or she (not sure because once referred to himself as a Gringa from the southwest.) Not that it makes any difference. He/she was full of knowledge and eager to do research and share information.

Come back please. We miss you.

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By BillD16 on 07/13/2022 10:49 AM

Posted By ThadC2 on 07/12/2022 2:35 PM
well with all the unwriteen rules and the admins childish behavior of deleting posts they simple dont' like is it any wonder people leave this BS? Steve was a great poster shame on who ever drove him off.

*sigh* you really need to give it a rest. You were posting a bunch of annoying text and animated GIF images, and the admins stepped in.

BillD

Well said.

BancsS
Posts: 269

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MaxB4 on 07/12/2022 11:45 AM

Posted By MichaelT21 on 07/12/2022 11:44 AM
MaxB doesn't post as much anymore, mainly snark to me these days.

I can be more snarky if you wish.

Keep them comin Max.

MarkR21 (North Carolina)
Posts: 710

Posted:

Got an email from Steve that he might get kicked out cia exchange forum. If this whole industry kicks out people like Steve no wonder

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

I just must ask: What value, Banc, do Max's stupid one-liners provide to those who actually seek advice, or support for their roles in their HOAs?

MaxB4
Posts: 3,513

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By KerryL1 on 07/13/2022 7:12 PM
I just must ask: What value,

WHY????

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

I missed the Augustine "drama" that made him quit. It just seemed to come out of the blue. Believe they got in a fight with another poster but never saw anything up to the level of quitting. We had our moments but I still respected what had to say. My stance is still it's "free advice" and you have the free will to take it as needed or wanted. Also I do not quote laws on purpose. I am not a lawyer or licensed to interpt laws. That is why I pay a professional for.

I hope some of the older posters do return. They did have a lot to offer.

Former HOA President

BancsS
Posts: 269

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By KerryL1 on 07/13/2022 7:12 PM
I just must ask: What value, Banc, do Max's stupid one-liners provide to those who actually seek advice, or support for their roles in their HOAs?

I don't know. I would need to get in some couch time to get an answer to that question. Human nature? Why does anyone come here and post snarky things from time to time? Why do people respond to it? Why do you respond to it?

I think it's a phenomenon of belonging to an anonymous on-line forum. I think people write things on-line that they would never say to a person or group face to face. There is some boldness when there is a computer screen between the poster and the participants. It's the world we live in these days.

Max offers some comedic value to his more often informative and experienced posts. Others may not see it that way and are turned off by it. Max stuck up for me a few years back when you made a post that personally attacked me. So here you have it. You pissed me off and Max came to my defense.

BancsS
Posts: 269

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By BancsS on 07/14/2022 4:48 AM

Posted By KerryL1 on 07/13/2022 7:12 PM
I just must ask: What value, Banc, do Max's stupid one-liners provide to those who actually seek advice, or support for their roles in their HOAs?

I don't know. I would need to get in some couch time to get an answer to that question. Human nature? Why does anyone come here and post snarky things from time to time? Why do people respond to it? Why do you respond to it?

I think it's a phenomenon of belonging to an anonymous on-line forum. I think people write things on-line that they would never say to a person or group face to face. There is some boldness when there is a computer screen between the poster and the participants. It's the world we live in these days.

Max offers some comedic value to his more often informative and experienced posts. Others may not see it that way and are turned off by it. Max stuck up for me a few years back when you made a post that personally attacked me. So here you have it. You pissed me off and Max came to my defense.

On second thought, Kerry, it wasn't a personal attack. You questioned the accuracy of a post that I had proof was valid. It had to do with an Iowa law allowing an HOA to disconnect a sewer line to an HOA member not paying sewer fees for several years.

Anyway, this forum brings in a lot of different personalities and experiences. Some of it is valuable information and some of it is just banter that shouldn't be taken so seriously.

CathyA3 (Ohio)
Posts: 6,299

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MarkR21 on 07/13/2022 6:47 PM
Got an email from Steve that he might get kicked out cia exchange forum. If this whole industry kicks out people like Steve no wonder

Here's a brief Websites 101 summary:

* Websites that allow users to post must have a Terms of Service agreement to protect the site owners from liability arising from users' posts.

* These Terms of Service agreements must be enforced to preserve the liability protections.

* Removing problematic posts and banning posters who repeatedly violate the Terms are essential parts of enforcement.

* Despite loud howls from certain quarters, this isn't a First Amendment issue. Websites are not the government, they don't owe anyone a platform, their site their rules.

There are many thoughtful, well-informed posters on this site who have no problems complying with the Terms of Service. It ain't hard, unless you're here for reasons that conflict with the purpose of this site.

Anyone who believes they have something to say that the world needs to hear has plenty of options for holding forth on the web. Recommendation: if you want users to post on your site, you should consult with a lawyer who will draft a Terms of Service agreement for you - alternatively, make sure you're insured out the wazoo. It will be an eye-opening experience.

BancsS
Posts: 269

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By CathyA3 on 07/14/2022 6:29 AM

Posted By MarkR21 on 07/13/2022 6:47 PM
Got an email from Steve that he might get kicked out cia exchange forum. If this whole industry kicks out people like Steve no wonder

Here's a brief Websites 101 summary:

* Websites that allow users to post must have a Terms of Service agreement to protect the site owners from liability arising from users' posts.

* These Terms of Service agreements must be enforced to preserve the liability protections.

* Removing problematic posts and banning posters who repeatedly violate the Terms are essential parts of enforcement.

* Despite loud howls from certain quarters, this isn't a First Amendment issue. Websites are not the government, they don't owe anyone a platform, their site their rules.

There are many thoughtful, well-informed posters on this site who have no problems complying with the Terms of Service. It ain't hard, unless you're here for reasons that conflict with the purpose of this site.

Anyone who believes they have something to say that the world needs to hear has plenty of options for holding forth on the web. Recommendation: if you want users to post on your site, you should consult with a lawyer who will draft a Terms of Service agreement for you - alternatively, make sure you're insured out the wazoo. It will be an eye-opening experience.

Thank you for sharing that.

To add: The written word has its limitations in these types of forums. You don't hear one's voice or see the expression on one's face. Even with the invention of emojis, words can be misinterpreted and the whole meaning the poster was trying to convey gets lost in the shuffle. Also, (I am guilty of this) a post can bring up something else that pops into your brain that takes the topic in a different direction.