Request to HOATalk Administrators

Thanks Dwight,

Michelle and I have been discussing this also. I would enable the original posts to stay better on track. Again,
Thanks

I support the proposed feature and have so suggested previously to HOA Talk.

Spinning your wheels is probably the case. As far as the "3 posters" you are referring to, if they have the urge to opine about everything under the skies, then they can create their own website. Or, better yet, they can create an LLC and go around the country offering low cost seminars or, have their own radio talk show.

I think at minimum enabling the PM feature would be great.

Off-topic threads would be nice, too.

Since the "sniping" between certain posters is getting out of hand in various regular posts, this might be a very bad idea. Who would regulate it? It's hard enough sometimes to stay civil and not call people out now. Having an anything goes section might be too much, because some people just know which buttons to push and while it might be the adult thing to ignore some of it; it is only human nature to defend ones self when attacked, whether the attack is real or perceived.

I can assure you all I am not interested in any type of off-topic forum, instant messaging, or none of those things. I am a member of a tax forum and they don't have any of those features. I exchange personal emails with friends not with strangers.

Very good discussion. We very much appreciate the regulars here that have helped thousands of communities across the country, so we are quite interested in what you all want here.

So we have a few topics:

(1) Off-topic conversations
(2) Direct contact between members
(3) Member's sniping each other or any general unfriendliness.

I'll try to address each below:

(1) Off-topic conversations:
Well a little personal note or chit-chat between members mixed among the info is OK, as long as it doesn't consume a topic. We feel that a little friendly personal interaction is just fine and makes the forum more welcoming (as long it stays friendly and doesn't take over a topic). We walk a fine line here and welcome you to point out posts that you feel have gone too far astray.

Now some have asked for general chit-chat topics among the regulars. We don't really want to open the general forum to this because we fear it would invite too many new members to do the same and fill the site with off-topic items. I will post a solution in another post to ensure you all see it.

(2) Direct contact between members
Well we used to have this years ago and removed it. Why? It allowed anyone to email anyone else from the site and we would get support requests from angry members asking how xyz member got their email address. Of course xyz member never got their email address since the message was sent from the site, but the receiving member assumed otherwise. Also, members could be spammed with this feature. In addition, if conversations go offline no one else benefits.

Now I totally understand the desire to sometimes take a discussion private and we can re-consider removing this feature. However, please consider all aspects we must deal with when adding a feature like that.

(3) Member's sniping each other or any general unfriendliness.
Of course we'd prefer to never see this on HOATalk since our site was created after seeing so many negative websites on HOAs and condos. Please report this to us via the form under Help and please include a link to the bad post. We will address it.

Again we thank you all for your participation and appreciate all feedback on this site.

Would that eliminate the ability of those of us with a low number of posts to see posts that might be pertinent and very helpful to us. If so, I for one am not very keen on the idea. I find the site very educational. It sounds like the best part of the site might no longer be available to me; if so, I may loose interest and stop visiting.

Replying to hoatalk's first post here:

1) Off-topic conversations:
I agree that a little personal chit-chat shouldn't cause too much heart-burn, and as mentioned it can help to make the forum a friendly place. Unfortunately sometimes it can get carried away. We can (and have) suggest that the conversation is going too far astray, but (fine line) we then run the risk of being labelled a 'Net Nanny'. Having the ability to suggest that the conversation be taken to PM can at least provide an alternative to the long irrelevant conversations.

2) Direct contact (and spam / unwanted contact)
Again, its been a couple of years since I last worked with DNN, but I'm pretty sure that if PM in general is enabled, it can be set up so that individuals can choose for themselves if they want to receive those messages. If they have chosen to not receive any messages, then their profiles will not be visible to others, and nobody besides administrators will be able to send them any messages. You should be able to set it up so that by default the PM feature is disabled, and people can turn it on if/when they want it (and turn it off again later).

3) Sniping -
It's going to happen. I've been in Internet discussion groups for a long (long) time, and even with the best of self-controlled members, sometimes personalities will clash. Just part of human nature. When things do start to spiral out of control, having the PM feature available will at least give the other members the ability to suggest that it be taken to PM. Of course, then there will be those who will abuse it by suggesting that anything even slightly off topic be taken to PM. Can't please everyone.

In all of the discussion groups that I have been a part of, this is the only one that has not had the PM feature. In all of those groups, the problems of unwanted messages has been minimal (and usually easily handled), and the PMs have actually helped to make the group more friendly. As to relevant discussions taking place outside of the group, it may happen, but usually when it does one of the participants will bring it back to the group.

I really feel that the PM feature would be more of a benefit to the group than a distraction. And I must really feel strongly about it since this is probably the longest self-typed post that I have ever made to this forum.

DwightT: I spent a couple hours researching the PM option and with the software we have, unfortunately it's not as simple as you describe. We can't just turn on an option to have it appear. To make it work well will require us to buy more software and integrate it with HOATalk.com. The software is not too expensive but the integration and support time is. I'll keep looking and see if I find any alternatives.

I, too, agree with Dwight's observations. One other note, unwanted messages can very easily be blocked from a particular sender and/or domain.

A thread-related suggestion:

It may help significantly to stay on topic were responses not addressed to individual posters. Perhaps it would be best if we followed the U. S. House of Representatives protocol to address all comments from the floor to the Speaker, rather than responding to a particular member. Maybe, each post should begin,

"Mr. Moderator: I rise to object to the posting of my esteemed colleague and poster . . . "

Sometimes in the give and take of some threads here, I feel as if I am an elevator passenger being forced to listen to a private conversation I would rather not hear.

In a number of bulletin boards, there are ongoing threads entitled, "Rants and Raves" and "The Lounge" where off topic conversations are welcomed, and anyone who so chooses may join in.

And sometimes, just saying less by holding back a comment or denying one's self the satisfaction of having the last word says far more.

>>>So here's an idea we'd like feedback on:

To meet some of the needs posted here and emailed to us: We have considered having another forum where only members with more than X posts could enter and participate. This would be the "Regular's Lounge". Would that be of interest?<<<

If it's not too much trouble, I'd run this one up the old MB flag pole and see who salutes it.

Donna,

Let's examine that parenthetical.

(Yeah, like that can happen smiley face).

Some of our correspondents might consider that off-topic, snippy and rude.

As a matter of fact, I could, too, as you will never find a single thread in which I have ever presented anything without the upmost gravity and sincerity and truthfulness and justice for all.

Oooops. I told a fib. Make that a whopper!

Some of us like to joke and smoke once in awhile, some don't. Some of us do not fall into a slough of despond at the hint of somebody sharing something that might be of interest, or just fun with those we've (sort of) come to know here. Some do.

For the nay-sayers, if HOATalk pops for a test Regulars' Thread, they won't have to participate. Fine with me.

. . . don't we have a "don't ask; don't tell" rule here?

Now you two quit picking on me or I'll report you!

But getting serious, is "joke and smoke" one of my regional (Chicago) colloquilisms? It means having a fun exchange.

And remaining serious, I agree the Snipe Faction is very limited. I click on the Ignore Channel (F12) when the Pettiness Level hits around 6 (on a scale of 10).

End of the day, this is an Internet MB. An excellent one, in my limited experience. And typically a helpful one, as our Sponsor has noted. And the vast majority of the Regulars are peachy (not preachy), if you ask me. Peachy meaning excellent or wonderful. As is our Sponsor. In spades. Spades being the highest valued suit in some card games, such as bridge.

And that ends my brownnosing for right now. Brownnosing meaning unnaturally subservient or obseqious to somebody in authority.

>>>Once in a while, we get one who just lives on stirring up the pot and they usually find other places to go after they don't get enough satisfaction/reaction from the others. So we can make a rule that unless you can post with a smiley face,you should just not post.<<<

I'll second that emoticon (though I don't use them). It could, nay, WOULD work.

One of my favorite obs about sour pusses (I don't recall who said it) opined:

"He's the type who wakes up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, worried that somebody, somewhere in the world, is having a good time."

I think I'll change my vote; the lounge idea has merit if only to de-clutter some of the posts. Nor do I claim to be immune from it try as I might, there are times I'm just as guilty as anyone else. From a recent post on newsletters:

What assumption, what vicious attacks, who was I critical of?

I don't think I used vicious at all did I.

I'm afraid that you did

I did indeed use the word vicious, but I didn't call anyone vicious.

Fascinating though the conversation was it had absolutely nothing to do with the OP's question.

Donna, you told me to think twice before pressing the submit button. You cannot have "selective enforcement" or HOATalk may appear to be discriminating. We ALL have to abide by the rules and decorum whether you have 5,000 or 25 posts. I focus on FL posts because that's what I know best, and your claim is unfair. Furthermore, I'll soon be a licensed FL CAM (community assoc. manager.)

Clue time:

People don't have to be CAMs to post here.

They don't have to be HOA "professionals" or "experts" of any kind and I think it's abundantly clear when people sign up and enter the forum that this is a peer-driven site. The HOATALK sponsors or various experts (legal and otherwise) chime in from time to time, but this is a peer-group community.

There are no "rules" to posting and responding to other posters, other than those of most adult conversation, try to be respectful.

No you don't have to be from a poster's state in order to reply or join the conversation or thread or contribute some meaningful perspective or opinion or "best practice," regardless of the thread's topic.

Hello.....

"Welcome to HOATalk.com! 'A positive place for community association leaders to share ideas and learn.'"

Not ". . .for community leaders to call other posters liars or challenge their "expertise" or chastise them for wandering off topic or make personal attacks in lieu of constructive disagreement . . . "

Disagreements will occur, because everyone comes from a different place. That's the nature of the beast. But the bottom line is, on the whole we do a pretty good job of self-regulating.

I wholeheartedly support the opportunity to be able to PM posters within the realm of the board.

I certainly hope it can be accomplished.

I also support a "backside" area where long-time posters can go to flesh our more group conversations that don't fit into the HOA/COA topic of sharing ideas.

But, obviously, I will continue to come here and post, and agree with some people, disagree with some people, make throw-away off-topic sidetracks in some posts from time to time, and even crack a joke or two, regardless of what the HOATalk admin decides to do.

Sorry guys about my last post -- I was on page 1 and you guys are on page 2!!!

I too would welcome the opportunity to privately contact members of this forum and also like the lounge idea. This is by far the best MG I've ever been a part of and I would like to continue the "friendships" here. I always try to use emoticons or acronyms so you all know when I'm joking. :-)