Question About Naming Shops.

[Yanks15]

I'd like to see MBOU or another Mod responding to these points, please, given that it affects what is deemed acceptable and unacceptable to post on this forum.

+1


Thanks,
Steve

 

[ColR1948]

I understand what you are saying, I was just giving an example about washing machines, but the same goes for the aqua products, I first asked in the opening post if we slate a shop it might be a legal issue, but if we slate a product it isn't and I asked why.

In my mind if I was the shop owner and someone slated me then I have a case or so I'm led to understand.
If I own the product business and someone slated the product then that is OK, this is what I was asking, so we can slate a product as much as want and there is no comeback.

It can also work the other way too. If I ask about a certain piece of equipment and I get good reports and only a couple of bad ones I would be influenced to possibly buy one, bad report I steer clear.

 

[Yanks15]

I believe the difference has been made already by MBOU. Products are one thing, people are another. If a negative opinion is warranted for a product/business, it's the persons responsibility while posting it to be sure not to go too far. The Mods will surely let you know if you have crossed the line!


Thanks,
Steve

 

[star4]

The trouble with naming and shaming a shop is someone is going on their experience in that shop on that particular day. I went to out little local pet shop that stocks fish last year, I was so horrified at the state of the tanks and the amount of dead fish I reported the shop to the council. It turned out that the manager of the shop was not well and had not been to the premisis in a couple of months, leaving it in the care of his staff, which there was also a flu bug that went around leaving the shop short staffed. Now when he returned and sorted out the staffing problems and the tank problems, he was stocked with healthy fish again. If I had gone onto forums stating "dont by fish at XYZ shop" because of my experience at that time, it would not have been honest and fair to the shop owner, plus he wouldnt have known if the nice man from the council hadnt spoken to him.

If you do go to a shop that has lots of dead fish and it looks awful, do something useful, report it to the council (they have to check up on it as they issue the licence) rather than just moan about it on a forum where nothing can be done.

The same would apply to equipment, if you bought a filter that leaked, report it to the manufacture so they can sort it out, its much more productive than winging about it on a forum

 

[the_lock_man]

The Mods will surely let you know if you have crossed the line!

The problem is that what one Mod deems acceptable at one time, may not be deemed acceptable by a different Mod at that same time, or the same Mod at a different time. There needs to be a clear policy of what is acceptable and what is not acceptable, and that policy must be adhered to by all Mods at all times.

Slightly different scenario, I appreciate, but let me give you an example. I entered a fish in the FOTM comp much earlier in the year. There is a rule for the competitions which states that entrants must not canvas for votes. Fine. I wrote in my post the words "VOTE CHILLI!" (it was a chilli rasbora that I had entered). The Moderator concerned had a go at me for attempting to canvas votes. Now, I took this rule to mean that I should not post messages to individual members (either publicly or by PM) asking for them to vote for my fish.

I pointed out to the Moderator (by PM, so as not to embarass him) that he had allowed at least 4 previous examples of similar comments by other members. The Moderator completely ignored me. I have to say I felt rather insulted by this.

I cite this as an example of inconsistent application of their own rules by the Moderators.

I would rather know for sure what I can and can't say, rather than have someone tell me I'm in the wrong after the event.

 

[Yanks15]

Star4- couldn't agree more

Lock- also agree and sometimes it is up to the members to "police" the site too. If you see things that you feel are out of order, I think you have the right to PM a Mod. If you don't receive a response than try another Mod. Clearly you have been a member here for a while and I would assume that your concerns would be appreciated. I personally have had interactions with a few Mods and they have been very helpful with my concerns when they can. A Mod baseline of conduct would be a great idea and I'm sure they discuss certain guidelines as to how the forum should be run. As for the OP's issue, there is no doubt that all of the Mods are concerned with keeping this forum up and running smoothly.


Thanks,
Steve

 

[Flute]

I appreciate the points that you have made Lock, but you also have to remember that this is a big site, with many new topics every day. We mod the site for free, there is only so many of us and unfortunately, occasionally a few things might get missed because of the amount of posts we have to go through. We do have guidelines that we follow, but at the end of the day we are only human and really appreciate other members helping out as Yanks said. If at any time you don't get a reply please don't be offended, just send another of us a message and we'll see what we can do for you.

At the end of the day, it comes down to whether a thread can stay civil - we usually have to close Pets at Home threads down (for example) because of how quickly they become a slagging match. There's a huge difference between reviewing a company in a mature and sensible way, and simply just slating it and ripping it apart.

 

[Man of fish]

At the end of the day, it comes down to whether a thread can stay civil - we usually have to close Pets at Home threads down (for example) because of how quickly they become a slagging match. There's a huge difference between reviewing a company in a mature and sensible way, and simply just slating it and ripping it apart.

Makes sense to me!

 

[DrRob]

As said, it does come down a lot to what is said. If you're passing on personal experience, in a balanced way, then we'll generally leave it alone (occasionally depending on the context of the post). If you make generalised statements without backing it up, it'll have to come down.

Say, I was in x shop and found them unhelpful when I asked about abc, and you're fine.
Say, x shop are always unhelpful, and you're not.

As for members policing, there is a button on every post and every profile marked "report", if you push that then you get the whole mod team and admin. That way you won't pick someone who may be asleep, busy or offline. We all have time away for various reasons once in a while (I even sleep occasionally), so use that one.

 

[Chad]

We're actually working on a review system that will allow members to review shops, products, and livestock types and which will keep everything within the acceptable legal realm through moderation. We all know there is a need for reviews from people who actually use the products and shop at the shops so we are working on providing a way to do this. It's a secret so keep it under your hat.

 

[Yanks15]

We're actually working on a review system that will allow members to review shops, products, and livestock types and which will keep everything within the acceptable legal realm through moderation. We all know there is a need for reviews from people who actually use the products and shop at the shops so we are working on providing a way to do this. It's a secret so keep it under your hat.

+1


Thanks,
Steve

 

[the_lock_man]

We're actually working on a review system that will allow members to review shops, products, and livestock types and which will keep everything within the acceptable legal realm through moderation. We all know there is a need for reviews from people who actually use the products and shop at the shops so we are working on providing a way to do this. It's a secret so keep it under your hat.

Good job you don't work for the CIA then......

Thanks to the various Mods who have now given their POVs - I do appreciate the human element of it all, but that is a double-edged sword. Look forward to the review system too - so long as members keep to it a bit better than they do in the classifieds. ;-)

 

[Chad]

Good job you don't work for the CIA then......

 

[DrRob]

It's an amazing disguise.

 

[Chad]

We are testing the review section now and it should be ready for members to use soon!