DavecUK
I’ve had several interactions with one of their moderators, on “cross posting” and also on FS item price reductions (3 reductions is apparently too many). He has even been messaging me to correct my spelling. I am reminded of the “Soup Nazi” episode on Sinefeld.
The following is my perspective, conveyed to the moderator. Suffice to say he was not very receptive.
With regards to “cross posts” I can (to a degree) understand the rationale on so called cross posted discussions. Some Forum members have the perspective that they are members of several sites and do not wish to read or respond to things twice. My perspective is that the more discussion on multiple sites the merrier, so folks should just put up with the so called inconvenience. Furthermore, it seems that different sites have different personalities and views. And not everyone is on HB. Does this cross posting rule mean that I cannot have discussions on the same topic on other sites? There is a much wider world beyond HB (and its USA base) and many differing points of view. For example, I also haunt CoffeeTime, a UK based forum and sometimes post on the same topic both on HB and there, to hear their differing points of view. The CoffeeTime folks never complain, particularly as they have taken a much less regulated (many say friendlier) approach to life.
With regards to the posting of items for sale, posting on just HB would result in a very narrow pool of potential buyers. And for items that have lower demand, approaching a wider pool of buyers is essential. I fail to understand why seeing a posting of an item for sale in more than one place would inconvenience anyone. Moreover, if HB insists on this policy, it will frankly drive HBers to just not post items for sale on HB at all. That would not be to the benefit of HBers.*
The same can be said for your rule of limited the number of price adjustments. Price reductions are good for HBers and it is sometimes challenging to get pricing right. One needs to be able to react to the market.
*Additionally, I respectfully suggest that HB revisit its many rules and/or work towards greater flexibility. If there are too many rules, it creates a less friendly atmosphere. For example, I have received well intended HB forum monitor messages correcting my spelling of an item (1Zpresso from IZpresso). Does this mean I need to run spell check on every post on HB? Does it really matter whether I spelled this within a 1 or an I?
I guess I come from a different world (commercial real estate) where entrepreneurialism and freedom is encouraged. I thought that this is what the USA is all about. Yes, some (very few) rules are needed, for example to ensure that people deal with each other in a respectful way. But the fewer, the better. I think that most organizations would do well to have a VP - Anti-bureaucracy, whose role would be to seek out and kill bureaucracy where ever they find it.*
