[maxfossil]

Frank Menser, on 08 February 2010 - 07:28 PM, said:

well spoken...

Many thanks Frank!

[bubonius]

ok i missed too!!!!!

[Auspex]

Requiring that one be a well established member to gain access to the Sales/Trades forum is intended to reduce the number of commercial dealers who come here just for customers, and with no interest in contributing to the body of knowledge. It has been quite effective in reducing the volume of "spam" everyone has to wade through, with the further benefit that buyers know a little more about who they're dealing with. If there is a better way to accomplish this end, we're all ears.

[Frank Menser]

Auspex, on 19 February 2010 - 06:31 PM, said:

Requiring that one be a well established member to gain access to the Sales/Trades forum is intended to reduce the number of commercial dealers who come here just for customers, and with no interest in contributing to the body of knowledge. It has been quite effective in reducing the volume of "spam" everyone has to wade through, with the further benefit that buyers know a little more about who they're dealing with. If there is a better way to accomplish this end, we're all ears.

Or in your case...pin feathers!

[baybay]

I have to agree, I like the fact that there is a buy/sell section to this forum but I don't think that it is even remotely close to the main purpose here. Keeping a forum spam free is great although it can encourage spamming when all someone tries to do is get 50 posts as fast as they can. And as others have said theres plenty of interesting threads to reply to that 50 posts should be easy given a few days.

[JohnJ]

Auspex, on 19 February 2010 - 05:31 PM, said:

Requiring that one be a well established member to gain access to the Sales/Trades forum is intended to reduce the number of commercial dealers who come here just for customers, and with no interest in contributing to the body of knowledge. It has been quite effective in reducing the volume of "spam" everyone has to wade through, with the further benefit that buyers know a little more about who they're dealing with. If there is a better way to accomplish this end, we're all ears.

In addition to the comments by Auspex, it should be repeated that uninterested and unthoughtful 'spam' posts which are made to meet a 'post quota' are not respectful to fellow members. These efforts will not gain anyone access to the Sales/Trade forum or make the Fossil Forum a more interesting place. Thanks for doing what you can to make the Forum better.

[Carlos]

Still I haven`t those 50 posts but anyway I must say that it is a good idea make it in this way, of corse is better for the forum that people contribute and not just visit that section.

[Wakaritai]

I like the limit, though the optimal number is debatable. Fifty seems like it does the job well.

It is just one section of the forum, though. I don't see it as being a problem not going there right off the bat.

Personally, I like having reasonable limits like that before things like that open up. I'll try to refrain from reposting many of the great points made here, but one thing overlooked is stability. Money is important. If people are forced to bond before involving money, things will surely go much smoother, even beyond the basic "impatient people (or those who, for whatever reason, don't mix well) will be weeded out" point. It will also should lead to a better general atmosphere in trading, and I believe those positive qualities that that should also spill over into other parts of the forum.

I didn't even know there was a trading section to the forum until I saw this thread, and I'm already almost at 50, so woot

[therieldeal]

halfway there, still working on making it to 50 lol

IMO the limit is a little high, but it is what it is!

[Frank Menser]

Ah...but we get such charming exposure to your conversation!

[Oddball]

The limit isn't so bad. I was able to reach it in a day just by posting a few of my specimens.

[micropterus101]

I just would like to chime in here and say I see no problem at all with the limit. It doesnt take that long to post 50 times and if there is a problem with that your not here for the same reasons we are. I like the trades and sales page for deals from dealers and good trades with members. Maybe there should be a trade only forum and a sales forum that is free to view but subscription to post in then we could do away with the post limit. Dealers would get three strikes your out for posting sales in the trades forum.











.

[MarcoSr]

Oddball, on 07 May 2010 - 12:08 PM, said:

The limit isn't so bad. I was able to reach it in a day just by posting a few of my specimens.

Oddball

The limit gives you a little more incentive to post your specimens. However, I just never seem to have the time to do so.

Marco Sr.

[bmorefossil]

It would be hard to take in all you have to show! Yet we would all love to see what you do find.

[bear-dog]

I have 50 post now,how do I get in .I tried the members map section but it didnt work. Am I not worthy?Or is it located somewhere else?Help!

[Auspex]

bear-dog, on 02 June 2010 - 04:15 AM, said:

I have 50 post now,how do I get in .I tried the members map section but it didnt work. Am I not worthy?Or is it located somewhere else?Help!

You will now be able to see the Member Trades & Sales forum in the main directory. Click on the Forums tab and scroll down.

[bear-dog]

Thank you sir!

[fossil fury]

Bear, on 22 December 2009 - 07:23 AM, said:

As a champion of moderation (philosophic), the 50 post rule seems very reasonable. As a capitalist entrepreneur, I have no problem with professionals selling their wares. As a mathematician I must say that "exponential" is a tad optimistic.

We are here for a variety of reasons, but camaraderie (ongoing social contact with other adults who share your interests) is at the top of that list. I have observed a tenancy towards excessive protectionism and must point out that such will dampen creativity and ardor to the detriment of membership participation.

The number of adults that are interested in fossils is very small in respect to the general population, the number of children interested in fossils is much smaller than that. If you wish to draw more adult members, you need more interesting and intriguing site content. That content must be generated by the current members. While some of that content will be science, much will be social, because that is a major reason that many persons are here. They will add that content if they are secure, involved and planning to stick around. To get them to that point, you merely have to treat them very well, with respect, compassion and civility. This means all members, including the newbies, the uneducated, the eccentric and the handicapped.

If you want more children to become members here, you need to put a note on the front page that says something like "You must be 18 years of age to enter this site due to adult content. By clicking here you state that you are at least 18 years of age." You then let members talk freely as adults on whatever topics they want to. That will get more children to join up. It will also get more undercover LEO.

Otherwise, this is not really a topic that most kids (like most adults) are interested in. My son says that coming to this site is sorta like going to school and hanging out with the teachers...after you have already left that behind for the day. It ain't gonna happen.

Maybe you guys should put together some kind of manifesto or statement of purpose if you have philosophic goals that you are striving to accomplish with this site. Make it real clear to all concerned why you have put it up and what you wish to accomplish with it. While statements like "we are here for the promotion of science" and "we need to keep this a G - rated site so that the children are not exposed to bad stuff" sound real noble, they don't really mean anything and come off as an excuse/rationalization to do what you want to do for arbitrary personal reasons. Doing good science promotes good science and there are few to no children to be concerned about. (see above)

Bear in mind that more rules and restrictions you put up and the harsher the methods that you employ to enforce those, the fewer and more select the growth in membership.

Just my thoughts, I will be glad to discuss these issues further as needed.

...


I think that many kids like fossil hunting, at least my friends do. I'm not one of those people who do it for advertising, and I was going to make that my #51 post till this came along.

This post has been edited by fossil fury: 11 June 2010 - 07:48 PM

[Frank Menser]

Hey...I worked hard to make sure my posts outnumbered my age...

[earthfans]

50
That is too much to finish it.