I've been emailing AW and watching all of the issues that go by on AW including our Co-op.
Most of the traffic on AW goes through THE EBAY OUTLOOK and quite a lot of it isn't about Ebay.
At least not directly.
Perhaps AW should reconsider the titles of its forums or how it decides on content??
The fact is Ebay is by far the largest Auction house on the net and most issues are related to Ebay in some form.
If AW wants to be a better Message board perhaps they should consider screening out some of more troublesome or mannerless posters rather than stifling some very relative and important issues.
This shuttling off subjects to the boonies or limiting discussion to one thread is really pointless. Locking threads is also non-productive and just makes AW look like a bunch of cyber-thugs.
Freedom of expression is a responsibility and a benefit to all. Anyone that wants to share on these boards should be able to speak. Maybe AW should lead the way and turn it into a true message or discussion board instead of a place to flame each other like children??
Actually the only point I can see is that AW doesn't want some issues discussed as the One thread practice buries relative information??
Something to think about?
Also, if AW is going to change from Auction Watch to Auction Do then it certainly can't host a message board like this impartially.
A message board has to be impartial and a moderator should be there to moderate, not to propagandize or cull opposing thoughts.
posted on March 2, 2001 06:40:21 AM
Jamie: I completely agree!
I have not ventured into the SINGLE long thread on AWs plans to charge fees for services that I have never used... but, I've NOTICED the LOCKED THREADS and have entered every single one of them to find out WHY they were locked.
In many cases, the questions were left UNanswered by an AW rep. had responded only that they were locking the thread and where the originator of the post should take the topci... either to some burried forum or the LOOoooooong thread that nobody wants to wade through!
After a while, it DOES look as though the folks at AW just don't want a bunch of negative press via NEW THREADS filled with Auction Watch Users COMPLAINTS regarding the proposed new fee schedule... or an organized plan for some mass exodus. *sigh*
When Auction Watch fist started, it was a place to come discuss ALL aspects of On Line auctions WITHOUT censorship of eBay. SOoooo folks go to AW to talk about eBay where eBay can't remove their posts or suspend the user... perhaps AW users should take their dissatisfaction of Auction Watch to the eBay boards now, where AW reps can't STIFLE them! Honestly, we're all experiencing TOO MUCH "BIG BROTHER" lately.
It's not just about AW's new fees. It's the principal of free expression and discussion.
Right now on AW you either get rampaged by the psycho squad or if you have a serious issue to discuss get shuffled off to the forums where nobody looks.
If most of the traffic goes to the Ebay Outlook it has to be considered why?
Maybe if they didn't post the amount of threads there would be less traffic there??
If AW truly is concerend about subject gluts then they can simply fix this. If it's just another reason to CENSOR subjects then that sucks.
I think we may need to find a new message board if AW doesn't clarify this situation.
posted on March 2, 2001 07:45:01 AM
reddeer: duh! I just stated that I don't use any of AWs auction assistant services.
I come here to find out what's going on in the auction community... to stay abreast of the latest happenings. But if they continue to LOCK threads on "certain topics"... it becomes less useful as an informative tool.
Locked Threads and Trolls... how useful it THAT? *sigh*
Folks ARE discussing this on eBays DNF board. (which is good for eBay, since it helps to take the focus OFF of the recent eBay eMail forwarding "tool".
I don't intent to "DO" anything about it... just merely stated my opinion regarding the way AW is handling this particular situation.
posted on March 2, 2001 07:46:32 AM
Geeze louise, guys-
...if you have a serious issue to discuss get shuffled off to the forums where nobody looks.
There seems to be quite a number of threads regarding AW charges in the Auction Manager and Auction Manager Pro forums. Both have posts made within the last few minutes. Apparently, somebody is looking there. Whether or not you're getting the answers you are looking for is another question altogether.
Locked threads look horrible!
The solution is easy- if you want to start new threads about Auction Manager topics, post them in the Auction Manager forum. If you want to post in the eBay forum, use the thread that has been provided. Voila! No more locked threads! AW has only asked people to do this about 500 times.
Is this the way to run a message board? I don't know, but it's not my board, it's AW's, and they are free to run it as they think best. Nobody is holding a gun to anybody's head and forcing them to be here if they don't like it.
posted on March 2, 2001 09:23:54 AM
As originator of some of the locked threads, I have to agree with canvid13.
It stinks to have the announcement made in Ebay Outlook, and then have to be shunted off to another place to await further information. The time they have spent locking down threads could be much more productively been used to ANSWER QUESTIONS.
And even if you DO go to the "appropriate forum", do they answer? Nope... Nearly 3 hours later, and still no official reply.
The thread on EO has grown so huge because EO is THE place people come to discuss things like this. The issue of fees and how people feel about them is multi-faceted, and deserves exploration of each of the responses and questions it has raised.
I think posters have been stuck into one thread so that nobody can be bothered to wade through the 400+ posts, that it can be seen as a sump of anger and outrage, and will be receiving no response from AW because it isn't in the right forum for such discussion.
posted on March 2, 2001 10:48:26 AMIf AW wants to be a better Message board perhaps they should consider screening out some of more troublesome or mannerless posters rather than stifling some very relative and important issues.
.