All On The Same Page.
I had a conversation with Joel last night about should a poster be allowed to say pm me, we did not discuss the email me however.
It seems it is fairly prevalent that we see more and more of this pm me, so there is a fine line whether it is hustling or just someone trying to help someone.
The guideline as I understand it is how it is used in the context of the post. Since as part of a subscription to become a member of TCI you can have access to Private Messaging and post a url to your web site.
I think it is difficult to determine whether it is advertising or wanting to help someone, from a standpoint of does this help the site by promoting the benefits of being a member, how on one hand do you offer private messaging and on the other say you can't say pm me?
After talking with Joel, I believe I understand it as pm me will be allowed withing reason, meaning no blatant advertising or hustling when a poster does this.
In other words "I will mentor you PM me" would be wrong, on the other hand common sense should make the decision on what the poster is saying when they say pm me.
Anyone who cares to comment please do.
$Cash$[ Edited by JohnLocke on Date 06/18/2004 ]
Here is an example of just one post I have seen concerning pm me.
What is the call on these pm me posts?
http://www.thecreativeinvestor.com/modules.php?mop=modload&name=Forum&file=viewtopic&topic=29363&forum=33
It is happening fairly consistently, so what's the call and when to make the call.
$Cash$
The post by jgasdaglis seems to fall under advertising ("Find a deal and send me a private message. I will consider it."
.
would seem to be advertising, at least insofar as the reference to assigning.
One part of dealfinder's post falls under being helpful ("PM me and I'll be glad to give you the info and the website [of the local REI Association]". However, the other part ("I...would be glad to look at any deal you need help on or want to assign"
I read a little of the post, not enough to remember actual posters.
I see advertising and hustling in the works. My opinion is if you have anything of value to add to the board, post it.
If someone wants to know of the local rei club in Orlando, why should i post "pm Me". What is so secretive about this information? Nothing. I should just post the website and go from there. Someone else may want to know in the future. But if I know you are new and looking for the local rei club, and there are links to those clubs on this site, PM me is the perfect time for me to hustle you....because i know you want to learn the latest and greatest thing.
The other pm me post are ads. The seller poster saying i have a deal who wants it is just as guilty as the buyer saying pm me and i'll take a look.
$Cash$, you get tons of PM's on the regular, and never once did you have to use the words pm me. People email me and pm me all the time about deals, ideas, partnering, and a bunch of other crap and I've never used the words PM me. I'm pretty sure Roger gets PM's about stuff too, and I have not seen him use the infamous 'PM Me".
In my book, PM Me will always = ad.
Those words simply mean, I am here, I am available, if you need me, PM Me and we can talk about whatever it is you want to talk about........but it might cost you.
John, PM Me is you want to talk about this further.
[ Edited by nebulousd on Date 06/21/2004 ]
I agree with neb on this one. I've yet to see a "pm me" that I didn't think was some sort of solicitation. For that matter, why do they have to "pm me." I mean, we've all got that ability, so if you want to talk to someone in a pm, simply pm them yourself. You don't need to advertise it to everyone else that you want someone to contact you.
Roger
I usually just say "send me a digital picture" I suppose they do it through the e-mail listed for me.
It seems that for some the temptation to board hussle is just too great to resist almost from the very beginning.
In an effort the keep the TCI boards clean and educational, below is the message we received from a new member:
"The-Investor
Why is it that millionaireinthemaking isn't considered Spam when it looks like Spam me by sending me a ad for his website in a private message?
Email me if you have an answer, **Please See My Profile**
On 2004-06-22 11:11, classimg wrote:
We are TCI board post watching and we have been following your recent posts.
We are concerned that you are board hustling and in violation of the terms of posting for this board. Please cease your method of posting. If you have information. You must share this information to all with your post.
Future posts will be deleted!"
In our opinion, we agree the the use of PM in a posting is HUSTLING and must cease. Tell the world what is in your head so that everyone can learn. Moderators must be on the same page with this issue. Maybe the PM feature should be reserved for veteran members (Those over 6 months with TCI and over 500 posts?) Just an idea.
Eric & Rosa
[addsig]
I agree with nebulous, as far as pm me equalling an ad. I have been guily of doing it in the past, but usually to make sure they didnt post too much info about there deal, or so that I wouldnt talk bad about a particular lender or mortgage broker. But 99.9% of the time it is a way to ffrum up business.
Unfortunately though its one of those things that are going to keep popping up. There really is no feasable way to stop them, and if they dont advertise on the open board then they are following the rules. So there really is no offense.
Lets face it they are a creative bunch that do work arounds all day long in there business ventures. They are going to keep trying to stay one step ahead of us. If we stick to our original rules, and just make sure they dont hustle by posting PM me in there last 10 messages. Then we are doing our job, and they can and will get away with it every once in a while. If they are hustling the boards by just posting a general statement and PM me, then we can slam them. But until then, its going to happen.
The forums are a soapbox to get answers to your problems. But every so often you get to do business with them. If we hinder there ways to make monies by being too stringent, they will go somewhere else. As long as they play the game by our rules, then in my opinion we should give them some leaveway. The only way to keep a business related board making profits is to make or save its users monies. If we start nit picking too much our reputations (which are already considered hard nosed) will become deragatory, and we will lose business.
Just a thought,
Kyle
So then is this post by monkfish hustling?
"gleonard22, you came to the right place.
Drop me a line privately if you are serious about pursuing condo conversions.
I'll give you some insight and hook you up with professionals (architects, surveyors, RE attorneys, etc.) who specialize in this particular REI arena from the metro Boston area.
Take care. "
http://www.thecreativeinvestor.com/ViewTopic29586-20-14.html
Nancy,
The above post is board hustling in our opinion.
Eric & Rosa
Nancy,
I personally would let it slide as he is offering other peoples services and not trying to make a buck personally. He is clearly trying to help out. I would also though tell him to share the knowledge with everyone so that the whole forum could learn from it. But alternatively keep the contact info off of the forums as that would be against the rules.
Kyle