posted on September 29, 2000 02:39:49 PM new
I don't see why the main search can't pick up the adult auctions while just showing them as "Private" to non-verified users--like they show on an individual's auctions listings. That way, the people surfing with their children would not be offended and the people who wish to view adult items could then verify their ages and look.
I don't personally want to look at adult items in with the regular listings, but if these people have paid for the privilege of listing, then they should be able to be searched like everyone else.
posted on September 29, 2000 04:24:02 PM new
For those of you who don't understand the Moderator's decision, please understand that it was done because this person keeps repeatedly opening bogus accounts to try and disrupt things. This particular thread may not seem disruptive, but the person who started the thread disrupted this board many times in the past few days. He just won't go away. And now he'll get really ticked off, come back with another name, and start calling me names, so everyone DUCK!
posted on September 29, 2000 04:34:47 PM new
Muriel,
I guess you have some inside connection with a hacker since you know for a fact that this is the same poster under a different name. You should get a job at AW with all this info so you can help with the draconian moderation.
posted on September 29, 2000 05:48:05 PM new
I am new here. I just registered minutes ago. By the way things seem to operate here, I guess that means I am not welcome.
I have been reading Autionwatch message boards for some time now and I was finally spurred to register simply to voice my outrage at what I've been observing.
There are evidently a few users here who really have the ear of the moderators, who, unfortunately are very quick on the trigger finger when incited by these few "chicken littles".
From what I can tell, there have been a couple of people who are just pushing the buttons of a couple of old hens who play into the "trolls" hands each and every time.
The moderators make it worse by overreacting to appease the posse.
Everybody, including the moderators really need to relax and chill out. I visit many message boards and most don't have these problems. This is likely because they don't try so hard to please a few witch hunters.
posted on September 29, 2000 06:25:30 PM new
Oh well, this is AW's playground and they can make and enforce any rules they deem fit.
Anyone who wants to disrupt a board is welcome to set up their own chat site and talk to all their alter egos as long as they like. The threads were closed yesterday only after they became insulting and abusive and several X-rated links were posted.
And for the record, I think there should be an Adult Search Feature. Although if eBay does not wish to provide one and you feel you are not being treated fairly, do feel free to open up your own auction site as well. I bet an All Porn Auction Site would be quite successful.
********************
That\'s Flunky Gerbiltush to you!
posted on September 29, 2000 07:25:34 PM new
njrazd,
I am not sure about the all porn auction site. There was one listed in one of the other best auction threads. Went and took a look. Front page:497 listed current, 9699 listed total, 488 bids total. Not what I would call a huge success.
posted on September 29, 2000 09:41:23 PM new
I had to reply. I have a very big problem with the way the adult section is handled. The playboys are a great example. So ....playboys published after 1979 are porn and those before are not? Can someone explain that? Also, coupled with the fact that if you don't know where to find these and do a search on 'playboy', all you get is the pre-1980 issues. Which leads people to believe that there are no listings for the later ones.
BTW...not everything in the adult section is 'porn', and it kind of irks me to see it presented here that way.
posted on September 30, 2000 08:03:47 AM new
I would like to know if any of you know if there is a reason why adult auctions cannot be searched in the main search and just show up as "Private" just like in an individual's listings.
I do not sell or buy adult items, but it would seem that if people selling adult items are paying, they should be able to be searched.
However, to keep people who are searching with their children or who would be offended by this type of material, if it came up as "Private" in red like it does in individual's listings, then you could verify your age, etc. and go look if you so choose. Those who do not want to see adult listings would not then have to see the listings if they didn't verify and thereby not be annoyed or upset by having to search through the adult listings in order to get to the non-adult listings that they are looking for.
Additionally, if you wished to search as an adult when the kids are not around, get two buying names--one for adult verified and one not verified.
It would seem to me that this would be an easy item for their programmers (easier than sending out those ridiculous "watch" notices that they are sucking resources to do) and I believe that if Ebay would do something like this, it would encourage people with adult material to keep that material in the adult section so that people who do not wish to view those items can search and not be "bothered" by those items.
Yet, the adult sellers would not be "second-class" citizens whose items are stuffed deep in the Ebay closet and who keep trying to "slip" them into the regular listings where they are inappropriate and Ebay either moves them or cancels them at the last minute.
posted on September 30, 2000 08:31:28 AM new
london4 Porn is in they eyes of the beholder. Go to one of the S & M sites and you will see images of folks bound to wood poles with spikes in thier hands and feet, yet this same image is found in churchs around the world. One mans porn, is anothers
sacred image. Thats why its protected by Free speach. ED
edhdsn
posted on September 30, 2000 08:53:41 AM new
I asked for a definition of porn because Jane said not everything in the adult section is porn. So if the criteria is that adult items that are not porn can be listed in the open section and porn items are listed only in the adult section, a definition is needed.
labbie1 I think that there should be a search engine for the adult section AFTER a bidder logs into the adult section. I wouldn't like my children to come across "Debbie Does Dallas XXX" while looking for Dallas Cowboy memorabilia.
posted on September 30, 2000 09:03:42 AM new
london4
You cannot define porn. It comes to a matter of taste. For example there is a mansion in Beverly Hills. For 20 years it had nude statues in the front yard. Reproductions of well known works of art. No one cared, then an oil shiek purchased the house, and painted all the private parts with dayglow paint. Wow what an uproar! Ed
edhdsn
posted on September 30, 2000 09:48:56 AM new london4 Exactly my point! If the adult items were allowed in the general search but looked the same as they do on an individual's listings when you click "view seller's other auctions"...you see the item number, the "start" and "end" times, "price" and in the Title area, you see "Hidden - Requires Adult Verification".
If you would like an example of what this looks like, use the ID of an earlier poster here--I have Kerrydaway's permission to say this--go to Ebay and check the kerrydaway closed auctions. On page 3 is an adult auction (acutally it was for a mild 1981 Playboy with a John Lennon interview--which was what was being sold)--when you look at that list.
Does that seem offensive to you if your children saw that? Because right now, they can see that by clicking on view seller's other auctions from viewing KIDS books.
posted on September 30, 2000 09:53:41 AM new
I believe this would also give incentive for adult sellers to put their items in the adult categories and not the general listings--what do you think adult sellers?
For many examples of adult items in the general listings--have a look at the Jewelry...
posted on September 30, 2000 10:25:20 AM new
I am dismayed at the amount of vitriol adult sellers must endure here and elsewhere. There are significant problems for adult buyers and sellers and it should be open to discussion since a fresh viewpoint might emerge to clear the air.
As to a definition of "porn", it is in itself "adult" and if I posted it I would certainly be suspended. (I have posted here for many months, by the way.)
You have read that most Playboy magazines are relegated to the adult section. But so are mermaids that are not covered on top, pictures of guys holding hands (this is porno?) and even images of Rennaisance sculptures by lesser known artists.
Did you know that even Auctionwatch's bulk listing program won't allow postings into adult? That Billpoint is unusable in adult?
And of course, despite the misleading presence of a search function on eBay's adult pages there has never been a search capabilitity. There's also a time limit to the cookie eBay gives you once signed in, so you have to coninually re-sign in. It is all designed to discourage success in adult trading.
Sadly, these dis-functions are exactly what causes some sellers to post inappropriate auctions in the general section. You can't be unfair to adult sellers without expecting some of them to try to find ways around the roadblocks.
Ebay's arbitrary adult rules end up hurting Ebay instead of helping.
Recently, there has been a rumor that Ebay will eliminate adult and institute a "mature" section instead, with no hardcore items allowed.
If that happens, an adult auction site may emerge to take over the market. At the moment the few small sites that exist simply have not reached the critical mass of sellers or buyers to make it work. Yahoo could benefit, but they also lack a search capability. Is this is not a conspiracy, it will do until a real one comes along!
If Ebay eliminates adult, there is no predicting the fallout. The news media which thrives on controversy and scandal will have a field day with Ebay. The financial analyists and stockholders, who only care about the bottom line will question losing revenue potential; and many buyers and sellers, many of whom buy and sell in both general and adult categories, will be up in arms.
All Ebay needs to do is to make its adult section function effectively for its buyers and sellers, and leave the general listings safe for families. It is so simple. Yet they don't seem to get it.
That's why threads on this subject are important. So you know, and they know, where the problem really lies.
posted on September 30, 2000 10:45:38 AM newlitlux makes an excellent point. Once you are logged in to the adult section, there should be a search engine for adult items. labbie1, you're completely right. If I'm searching through magazines and see "Hidden, Requires Adult Verification" I wouldn't mind, why would anyone? What I would object to would be a description, which sometimes, when describing adult items can be lurid. However, if someone wants to look for a magazine article on a particular topic in the adult section there should definitely be an adult search engine where the word "toy" for example, could be plugged in and the appropriate listings would appear.
I was about to post that this thread has no relevant meaning for AW, but to just be annoying. However, the objection to the username Satan2000 is mere religious bigorty and I am surprized that AW succumbs to it. Changing the username from Satan2000 to jesus2000 and then discusssing sex is just too much!
Sorry, but I believe God has a sense of humor; why can't everyone else?
posted on September 30, 2000 10:16:48 PM new
Ok...I'm answering a question before I read the rest of the posts, so I may be answering incorrectly.
I have absolutely no objection to ebay having an adult section. I have 4 children ranging in age from 3 years to 21 years. I do not object to ebay setting a limit on what can be viewed without adult verification (although I do believe that it is their policy to not have users under the age of 18 bidding anyway - and at least in my state, anyone under the age of 18 usually cannot legally enter a binding contract and a bid on ebay is considered a binding contract). I do have an objection to certain items being considered 'collectable' vs 'adult' by a difference of 1 month of age.
To me, seeing the word 'playboy' on the screen and a brief description of the contents would not be 'porn'. If the descriptions were vulgar or provocative, that would be something entirely different. My personal opinion should be that a search should encompass the adult section with the result showing the auction # and a blurb saying 'Hidden - requires adult verification'. I also believe that the standards should be applied across the board, whether or not ebay considers the item 'collectible' - there are people that have collections of hard-core porn, so does that make those items have a 'collectible' value and should not be in the adult section?
I guess I don't really object to the word 'porn', I object to the inference that anyone that lists or views items in the adult section perverted. Maybe it was just the way I read the posts.
I have many more objections to some other items that I have seen listed on ebay that just really bother my moral standards, but I choose not to bid on those items and those that do - I guess that they have to deal with it. (for example - there was a home movie listed of a serial killer from France that depicted some very *questionable* behavior according to the description.
whew...that said...I'm going to go back and read the rest of the posts.....I probably said something I shouldn't have in light of them.....
posted on October 1, 2000 12:03:36 AM new
As with all of these there will be two downfalls to the adult search feature on eBay.
One, and it's the obvious, eBay won't invest the time, money or resources into a search feature for the adult section.
Like they even invest time, money or effort into their system in general anyways...remeber all the times they crashed and weren't online?
Also, eBay is going into some major partnerships with Disney and other "family-oriented" comapnies. Millions may be lost when the CEO of Disney has his child run into a S&M video. And god knows what hapens next.
The second will always be the vocal minority, morality people, and SIG's; those folks who believe that their views should be forced onto you regardless what you think (and these are the same folks who run goverment today BTW).
They will run a fuss when one of their kids "inexplictablly" (more like intentionally) runs into an auction for Playboy or some other smut. And 9 times out of 10, they'll get their way, while the rest of us suffer.
The only way eBay is gonna fess up to the search consists of two...no, THREE things:
1.) The Adult industry raises a fuss about eBay's tactics, especially heavyweights like Hugh Hefiner and Larry Flint (okay, just Hugh...).
2.) WE, the user's of eBay rasies a fuss about eBay's tactics.
3.) Ya know, many Art Masterpieces do go into eBay's adult section, including religious icons...wonder if those morality folks know about this?
:\\\"Crystalline Sliver cannot be the target of spells or abilities.
