What Do You Think

[leon]

Hi All

Just having a scout around the for sale section, and going back over past posts, and threads by some members, and it seems fairly obvious that some are just registering as members to sell stuff and then disappear for ever.

How do others feel about that.

Leon :thumbsup:

[ballaratdragons]

Sucks! But that's just my opinion.

[matt]

Hmmm.

I s'pose that's why the old rules existed...to prevent this 'smash and grab' style of membership.

I'm not fussed too much. I suppose it would be 'nice' if they stuck around to make a contribution, but what the hey. It's their loss.

[h0ughy]

I agree and I think that the 5 post rule should apply and no time limit, just get the 5 posts and your ok to sell.

BTW whats 492 matt????

[casstony]

So long as they sell goods that are accurately represented I can't think of a reason to stop such people. I just wish they'd offer me a XW30mm at half price :)

[ballaratdragons]

It does also give a false sense of membership numbers.

Good for us if we can get a deal, but minimum 5 posts would be polite. But hey, it's not my website, I don't make the rules.

[matt]

The number of brain cells I wish I had, h0ughy:lol::lol:

Fortunately, I don't use all the ones I have!

Tiz my IIS member #, matey:)

[ballaratdragons]

Houghy, your membership number is 221 :thumbsup:

[casstony]

It really doesn't bother me either way, but in support of the lurkers not everyone is comfortable posting on a forum. There are always more guests online than members - I guess the lurkers like to keep up with things but may not feel they have anything to add or are simply a little timid?

[h0ughy]

thanks guys, ahh to be 21 again.......:lol:

[h0ughy]

you know If I didn't know any better i would say you made sense:whistle: :scared:

[spearo]

Tricky one this. One of the things I so enjoy about IIS is the overall support and positiveness that permeates this group.

It would seem wrong to discriminate against someone who joins and immediately sells gear. it may well be that this person has become inspired to upgrade their gear having lurked and looked at the great fun other members are having.

I don't know that there is a rampant problem of people flogging misrepresented stuff so I'm in favor of supporting all new members and hopefully some of them will become regular contributors.

frank

[matt]

Fair enough, Frank:)

[spearo]

Say Matt...
What's MY IIS number?
frank

[matt]

791;)

[wavelandscott]

As long as we are not seeing "rip off artists" trying to sell stuff I don't mind that people can join and sell stuff...

By the way, how can you find out your number?

[leon]

Mines 911, hows scary is that.

Leon

[spearo]

Cool, Thanks
My other thought on the topic is whether or not the people who want to join only to sell would prefer a different kind of membership, a sort of brief, time-limited membership. We could ask them up front in a sense, "If all you wish to do is sell some equipement you're no longer interested in but have no intention in actively participating in the group then would you like a short term membership which lasts until you've sold the gear or X amount of time so as to not affect the number of genuine membership"
or something to that effect.

I doubt it's really necessary as the type of statistic that can be generated from a website's usage can discriminate against this sort of stuff anyway i think but i suppose we could ask up front?

From a self-serving perspective though, I must admit, I'm quite happy with the notion that people would want to advertise second hand equipment here as opposed to anywhere else. More gear for the rest of us to consider purchasing, less surfing around required.
frank;)

[matt]

Click on your member name and then hover your pointer over the various options.

The last number that shows in the character string which shows up at the bottom of the page is your member number:)

There are other ways to do it, but that's one of 'em

[oggie doggie]

I think you are on the money Casstony. I've been "Lurking" for sometime now and have found ISS a great way to gather an enormous amount of info about my new hobbie.
I'm off to the Beginers board to "Lurk" somemore.:lol:

[matt]

:welcome:oggie doggie

[leon]

Welcome aboard Oggie Doggie, :thumbsup: hope your stay is a long and interesting. ;)

Cheers Leon :thumbsup:

[wavelandscott]

Groovy...looks like I am number 50!

[casstony]

As one ex-lurker to another, welcome to IIS oggie doggie.

[ballaratdragons]

The easiest way is just place your curser over your Avatar.
Scott, you are number 50 :thumbsup:

See pic:

[erick]

I have to agree with this. I now have a nice beginners setup, virtually all bought through IIS, most of it "as new" and at a substantial discount off the retail price! I'm happy!

[ving]

it worries me not. as long as no scammer come here i am happy enough... makes the forsale healthier too :)

[ving]

member #51 :D

[Mick]

As long as the items and people are Ridgy-didge it can't hurt. Just because people don't post or don't post regularly doesn't mean they shouldn't be members IMHO.

[Terry B]

I don't know if this is true. I think a lot of the "lurkers" are just webbots and not people sitting infront of screens. I use another forum (in woodwork not astronomy);) and it has the same problem. Even in the middle of the night there will be hundreds of "lurkers" but are they real?