50 posts to view classifieds?

[j.schroeder]

So, I have been a member since '07 and have been out of the hobby for a few years. I have been looking to set up a new tank and noticed that I can't view the classifieds since I don't have enough posts. I guess I will just have to go to a bunch of open threads and post random things to up my count....lol.

But seriously, I'm not really sure how this is a useful feature. This forum was very helpful to me when I was starting out and I was able to get a lot of my livestock and equipment through other members. Can someone explain the idea behind this to me, I shouldn't be punished for not posting a lot. I spent a lot of time on here learning from different threads and because things were well written and informative, I never really felt the need to ask a bunch of questions that I could just look up on my own. It seems to me that would be preferred to people having to answer the same questions over and over from people because they didn't bother to navigate the forum and see if there was already a thread that answered it.

Am I missing something?

 

[spieszak]

http://www.reeffrontiers.com/faq.php?faq=vb_faq#faq_user_agreement

the reasoning is noted in the user agreement, but basically boils down to this being an 'online community' and you are encouraged to participtae... discussions have been had, and people have been upset, but it seems from what i've read of it, general concensus supports rules. as noted many times, there's already a criaglist.
not my opinion, but i don't necessarily disagree either...just sharing what i1ve read, or my understanding thereof

 

[BEAU_RN]

Can be frustrating at first indeed, but it does initiate forum involvement essentially building a closer online community... Cheers :target:

 

[mfinn]

, I shouldn't be punished for not posting

you are not being punished.

 

[Brady]

I have to say I do feel the same way.... I don't have that many posts nor really involved in many discussions because I don't have enough experiences to discuss or get into that many topics.... I did spent a lot of time reading and following to many threads. I got to say the site was really interesting back then. I've spent hours going through all threads like Rothany nano tank and how he ended up leaving the hobby after an ugly break up with his girlfriend. Also, who wouldn't admired how Rachel in Federal Way was into this hobby when she upgraded to a 90 gal wave tank and endended up leaving the hobby for a period of time. I've spent so much time reading and learning so much back then. I've stopped log-in nor really visiting the site after an incident when I posted an advertise on the site and my ad got deleted manually by one of the mods. All I've received was an email saying I don't have enough posts. I tried to "reply" asking why others are able to post and the reason my ad got deleted was one of the mods was interested in my items and deleted my post, but I realized you can't response to the email. Oh well, I stopped log-in and only stop by the site once in a while. I have to say not many people have the time to stop by the lfs often and hoping to find the livestock through the site but I guess it will not help the new ones since they don't have enough posts, and sadly, they're the ones that needs the classifed section.

 

[NC2WA]

J. schroeder,

first, welcome to RF.

second, some background....several years ago the sales forum was out of control and most of the members used it to sell commercially and had no interest in posting or participating in the community/forum.

first and foremost this is a community forum NOT a sales forum, if you only want to sell/buy, then go to craigslist.

We put rules in place to promote users to be active on the forum and post, the posting gets you involved, helps others and may even help you. I know people don't like to post in fear of saying of doing something that others may make you feel bad or stupid etc but this is not what this forum is about, we care and try to help people, it is vital to the reefing community.

Just make some post comments ask questions and in no time your issues with trying to sale will be met.

BTW, most community forums have similiar min. requirements to sell/buy. So we are no different, and not trying to punish anyone.

 

[spieszak]

50 newbie posts in 10 minutes

1 does anyone have a good 'getting started right up?
2 tank recoomendations, cube, retangle. breeder?
3 live sand or dry?
4 is it really neceesary to cure live rock, even when it comes from the LFS?
5 what really is the differnce beteen overflow styles?
6 wow, drilled tanks are expensive. can i drill my own?
7 anyone need a reptile tank?
8 i've put together my equipment list. can someone look it over?
9 since that skimmer won't work, does anyone suggestions?
10 why do i need baffles in my sump?
11 acrylic baffles in a glass sump?
12 bulb recommendation for my new light fixture?
13 cycling now but i'm not seeing any ammonia?
14 added a dead shrimp, seeing lots of ammonia. water change?
15 can't get my skimmer dialed in, help?
16 what is the brown gunk all over my sand?
17 is this hair algea?
18 red slimy stuff all over my rocks?
19 is this aiptasia?
20 id please (thats a pineapple sponge)
21 bugs! they are every where crawling all over my rocks
22 thinking about adding a fish, whats a good one to start with?
23 my new fish isn't eating
24 why didn't someone tell me to QT?
25 new fish in QT, does this look like ich?
26 new fish out of QT, should i drain it before adding another?
27 looking to get fish x, will it get along with fisg y already in my tank?
28 whats a good starter coral?
29 is this bubble algea?
30 my new leather coral is all shrivled up
31 what are good test kits for alk and calcium?
32 my params are X do you think i'm ready for some lps?
33 why can't i have an anemone yet?
34 are mandarins really that hard to keep?
35 my calcium won't rise, what wrong?
36 tank pics
37 finally picked up an anemone. what should i feed it?
38 my anemone is all shrivled up
39 why won't my clowns host?
40 is dwarf angel X really reef safe?
41 is this a flatwom?
42 time to up my CUC, any suggestions?
43 how much pickling lime do i use for kalswasser?
44 how do i frag this leather?
45 mushrooms everywhere!
46 id this zoa?
47 how to kill majano anemones?
48 top off container suggestions?
49 will this light work for my fuge?
50 if i post this i get to see the classifieds

 

[NC2WA]

spiezak,

is this your account of your posts?

 

[spieszak]

nah, i just thought back to day one and wrote out the things i would have (in some cases should have) asked. 50 posts seems dauting until you see them on a page. at least thats how it feels to me.. so it was a means of illustrating that...

 

[NC2WA]

it doesnt take long to get to 50 posts IF you participate in the forum, but doing that in 10 minutes, would set off a flag ot the staff

 

[spieszak]

it doesnt take long to get to 50 posts IF you participate in the forum, but doing that in 10 minutes, would set off a flag ot the staff

And you'd still have 90 days to wait anyway. I wasn't suggesting it, I was just thinking back, and those are things I felt like I could have asked in my first 90 days. Things that would have easily made it such that I was at 50 posts by the time my time had passed. With any of those, I would have expected to reply or follow up on them, meaning you'd be WELL past 50. I just think people see 90 days/50 posts and think they won't ever get there.. or feel like its really a burden to get there. I was just attempting to illustrate how "easily" someone choosing to participate in the forum can get past the required time/posts.
For those who have moved past those initial hobby questions, answering those questions will get you there quickly also. Share the knowledge...encourage the newbies to post, and don't hit them with 'do your research' answers.. guide their research.
Regardless, all I'm really saying is that it is just not as daunting as people seem to make it out to be.

 

[NC2WA]

Stacey,

I was suggesting that you were (and knew that you wouldn't).

I agree with what you are saying. It is NOT that hard to get to 50 posts if you are engaged in the forum/hobby.

 

[j.schroeder]

Thanks for the replies, I guess I understand that some people would only want to use the forums for commercial use and I get why that would be discouraged. I know that you can't make everyone happy. I totally understand the "community" aspect of the forums and I have met many great people on this forum, people that I am friends with outside of the forums still to this day. I am not new, just have not been around since I have been out of the hobby because it wasn't by choice that I left and was pretty painful to make that decision (I'm sure some people can relate). I really wanted to avoid just making meaningless posts, and I'm by now means an expert, so there are subjects that I could join in discussions about. I'm just as busy as everyone else and I can't see posting more then a handful of times a month.

I guess everyone's different, and people will use the forums in different ways. I have always felt that the best information that I have received from here was from the times that I went to someone's place to pick up a new frag of piece of equipment and could talk to them face to face about their set ups and how they maintain them.

I'm finally wanting to get back in the hobby now and I guess this just took the wind out of my sails a bit, since it took such a long time for me to be ready again.


Maybe I can just keep this thread going long enough till I hit my post limit.

 

[mfinn]

Maybe I can just keep this thread going long enough till I hit my post limit.

A better idea would be to start another thread.
Do one that details you what you want in your new tank?
size, equipment, critters are all stuff that we all could talk about.

 

[user 26995]

A better idea would be to start another thread.
Do one that details you what you want in your new tank?
size, equipment, critters are all stuff that we all could talk about.

+1 on that
we would love to hear more about your system. currently and future plans

 

[mfinn]

I have always felt that the best information that I have received from here was from the times that I went to someone's place to pick up a new frag of piece of equipment and could talk to them face to face about their set ups and how they maintain them.
)

Puget Sound Aquarium Society and North Sound Reefers meetings are 2 excellent ways to get that info, and you can get pro's and cons of ideas at the same time.

 

[user 26995]

I have always felt that the best information that I have received from here was from the times that I went to someone's place to pick up a new frag of piece of equipment and could talk to them face to face about their set ups and how they maintain them.

I agree with mfinn.
also there are many people here that would be happy to have you stop by to check out and talk about their tank. You dont need to be buying anything. get into the forums and check out other peoples tanks in the members showcase forum. post on the thread that you would like to talk to them or come by and see them. I know most of them would welcome you.

 

[j.schroeder]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

I guess I'm just being to 'merican and looking for instant gratification. :usa2:

 

[Maxx]

J.schroeder,

I understand your frustration with this rule. However, when you see it from the other side of the coin, it may make more sense.
As Kirk already stated, this is first and foremost, a discussion forum. Craigslist, Ebay, and many other websites exist which are designed to be selling forums.

One of the main reasons this rule was put into place, is financial.
This site either breaks even (cost wise) or operates at a loss to the owner.
Running this site cost money every month.
The site is free to join for anyone.
For those wishing to advertise their businesses, they must pay to become a sponsor.
Sponsor fees cover the cost of running the website.

If anyone can join and sell things without spending money to become a sponsor, where is the incentive for a business to sponsor RF?
If businesses do not sponsor RF, RF cannot afford to continue.
There were numerous individuals who were registered members here who's only posts on the forum were items for sale. Strangely enough, these users had an AWFUL LOT of stuff to sell, every month.
This was noticed by the sponsors, and action was taken.

This was determined to be the least intrusive and most effective (Free) way to solve the issue.

I hope that makes sense and explains things in a little more detail. It also explains why there is a post reset on people who spam the forum with 50 posts in a very short period of time.

FWIW, this hobby is cyclical in terms of things for sale. What is being sold right now, will be sold again by someone else later...probably for less money.

 

[NC2WA]

Maxx,

Good explanation from the business side.