What is the purpose of private messages if the board is trying to policy them?
Taken from a different angle are you saying that people who do not live close to each other can not network at this site? If they can, then I would expect they need to exchange details.
I am really confused by all the rules restricting communication. It goes beyond what is needed to prevent spam. Is there some other agenda such as trying to stimulate membership in local groups or something else? Really, I am confused and have used discussion groups for over 20 years.
John
Quote:
On 2004-03-20 08:23, joel wrote:
No, you can also give out your email address and phone number through Private Messages asking for people to give you deals.
If people need deals, they need to ask people locally, and through their local club.
What is you meet someone local through this board, are you allowed to use the private messages then? Why can't you make deals with people who aren't local if it is in the private messages? I am also very confused.
Several of your post have said PM me and we all know that you are looking for members to join your web site this is why you wound up in the TCI Jail.
If you are posting to help then you will get people to PM you with out having to ask. When you ask you are board hustling.
I receive about 200-300 private messages every month, you have not ever seen me say PM or email me. The posters that PM me are asking questions that I gladly answer.
You are trying to skip the knowledge part on your part and looking for the shortcut it is self evident, so I am a pretty smart fella and know when someone is helping and when someone is board hustling.
John-
Glad to meet you, loved you REI Bird dog e book. I have never been on a board like this before and just find the rules a little confusing. Is someone allowed to contact me without me soliciting them such as for finding deals for them, i.e. bird dog services?
Lorraine
The response clarified one item. I have removed the URL as you indicate that the URL is a problem. I am not sure you have actually followed the link far enough to know what is at the other end but it does not matter to me. I have removed it.
As to my questions, you actually did not answer the questions. You did answer waht you might have thought I was asking.
Let me try to rephrase as I might not have been clear.
1. Joel indicated that posting a phone number or an email address in a PM was a violation.
You said that you get 200+ messages. I am guessing that one or more has contact info (phone or email) if the PM's are anything like what I receive. Hence I would expect Joel to think each of these PM's are a violation.
I think you are indicating that is is really a judgement call. As a member and not one of the gods I am just trying to understand how the moderators think given that the rules are not clear in some reguards.
2. I was asking what the underlying principle is that causes the rules to exist. There is a comment about SPAM. Setting rules for what is in a PM seems a bit extreme when trying to prevent SPAM. Hence my post about what is the real purpose. There are much better SPAM tools than rules concerning the content of private messages.
3. Joel implies that if you want to find a deal you need to contact people through local groups. This can work for property but sort of works less well for the buying and selling of private notes (geography is less of a issue). If I was to take Joel's position there seems to be an agenda to promote local investor meetings rather than just focus on communication. That is fine. I did not expect that was the purpose of TCI. Hence more confusion on my part based on what I was reading. Does TCI really think geography matters enough to block non-local searches for deals?
Jail or no jail, what I am trying to understand is how judgement is being applied and what the underlying purpose is. As I have nothing to sell (books or tapes) I have nothing to advertise. I do have deals that I will partner on (ones I find or ones someone else finds when they need cash and are the one who found the deal). Based on the multiple similar topics in the forums this seems to be within the guidelines. I am not a guru trying to sell expertise. I have never accepted money from soneone who wanted advice. Maybe others take money for advice but that has not been my focus in 21 years.
I have trimed my signature, changed the URL (deleted the reference) and otherwise tried to fit the published rules. From what you and Joel write there seems to be some other indicators of bad behavior so I am trying to understand.
BTW - When someone is put in jail it is not always clear what the offence was. You get a message about the rule broken but as this thread indicates, the finer details are not consistent enough to be obvious to the newer members.
IMHO - The lack of clarity might be the take away point from this thread.
Board Hustling is taking advantage of newbies. We want to facilitate networking with other investors, but when people just start posting PM me or email me, it sounds like they have something up their sleaves, so to speak.
This is a grey area in Private Messaging, but not on the forum boards. Hope this clears some things up.
By reading above I have learned a few things that I did not know before. Often in a PM I will tell someone to email me directly - so I can respond to their questions quicker ( I on on line all day with my email) I find it cumbersome to deal within the PM mode. I was not aware that this was not premitted.
John called me on my first post with "PM me if you want more info" I mistakenly thought this was better than giving them a link to the answers on my site ( I don't sell tips and I never have sold a condo to someone that asks questions about investing)
I do get direct emails ( not PM's) every few days aksing for advice on one thing or another - now I am not sure how they got my email.
By the way, I have been getting solicitations via PM that I thought were illegal.
If you receive a solicitation via Private Message or by e-mail that is related to this site, please let a Moderator know about it.
I figure the more expierenced investor knows the difference, but some of the new folks on TCI need guidance without getting their heads ripped off by some ding dong wannabe.
I know this is a serious and much needed thread so please forgive me but........
To quote Gregg "By the way, I have been getting solicitations via PM that I thought were illegal."
Must be that sexy avatar ya got there, big boy !!
I'm biting my tongue to not come back with a more cheeky reply
Asking you out for a drink would be a violation unless someone really means it.
There is a fine line as long as there are private messages, I think it is a judgement call by a Moderator on what he or she feels is appropriate or inappropriate within the confines of the policies of this board.
If a poster feels that a PM was sent to them which contains, board hustling, advertising or offensive material then by all means notify a Moderator of the proposed offense.
I may run for office if I keep giving answers like this one.
On avatars, I know of a site where you upload a picture - of yourself or anything else you choose to represent yourself. They are a little bigger than the ones here. I'm sure it would be more work for Joel, but it is kind-of nice to put a real face with a poster. More personal and I think creates a trend toward more respect. However, I did not ever get around to taking a picture I liked of myself to upload . If I did more people would not always make the mistake of assuming I'm a male and be so surprised when they talk to me .
No, you can also give out your email address and phone number through Private Messages asking for people to give you deals.
If people need deals, they need to ask people locally, and through their local club.
Thank you for that clarification
Joel,
What is the purpose of private messages if the board is trying to policy them?
Taken from a different angle are you saying that people who do not live close to each other can not network at this site? If they can, then I would expect they need to exchange details.
I am really confused by all the rules restricting communication. It goes beyond what is needed to prevent spam. Is there some other agenda such as trying to stimulate membership in local groups or something else? Really, I am confused and have used discussion groups for over 20 years.
John
Quote:
On 2004-03-20 08:23, joel wrote:
No, you can also give out your email address and phone number through Private Messages asking for people to give you deals.
If people need deals, they need to ask people locally, and through their local club.
What is you meet someone local through this board, are you allowed to use the private messages then? Why can't you make deals with people who aren't local if it is in the private messages? I am also very confused.
Lorraine :-o
active_re_investor,
I can probably answer you question.
Several of your post have said PM me and we all know that you are looking for members to join your web site this is why you wound up in the TCI Jail.
If you are posting to help then you will get people to PM you with out having to ask. When you ask you are board hustling.
I receive about 200-300 private messages every month, you have not ever seen me say PM or email me. The posters that PM me are asking questions that I gladly answer.
You are trying to skip the knowledge part on your part and looking for the shortcut it is self evident, so I am a pretty smart fella and know when someone is helping and when someone is board hustling.
This answers your question.
John $Cash$ Locke
lpoitras,
Glad to meet you.
You can use the private messages to contact people on the board this is not the problem.
However, those that spam posters or offer their services, etc. in private messages are violating the rules at TCI.
So the private message part of this board in great, just beware that it is not abused.
John $Cash$ Locke
John-
Glad to meet you, loved you REI Bird dog e book. I have never been on a board like this before and just find the rules a little confusing. Is someone allowed to contact me without me soliciting them such as for finding deals for them, i.e. bird dog services?
Lorraine
John,
Thanks for the reply. Really.
The response clarified one item. I have removed the URL as you indicate that the URL is a problem. I am not sure you have actually followed the link far enough to know what is at the other end but it does not matter to me. I have removed it.
As to my questions, you actually did not answer the questions. You did answer waht you might have thought I was asking.
Let me try to rephrase as I might not have been clear.
1. Joel indicated that posting a phone number or an email address in a PM was a violation.
You said that you get 200+ messages. I am guessing that one or more has contact info (phone or email) if the PM's are anything like what I receive. Hence I would expect Joel to think each of these PM's are a violation.
I think you are indicating that is is really a judgement call. As a member and not one of the gods I am just trying to understand how the moderators think given that the rules are not clear in some reguards.
2. I was asking what the underlying principle is that causes the rules to exist. There is a comment about SPAM. Setting rules for what is in a PM seems a bit extreme when trying to prevent SPAM. Hence my post about what is the real purpose. There are much better SPAM tools than rules concerning the content of private messages.
3. Joel implies that if you want to find a deal you need to contact people through local groups. This can work for property but sort of works less well for the buying and selling of private notes (geography is less of a issue). If I was to take Joel's position there seems to be an agenda to promote local investor meetings rather than just focus on communication. That is fine. I did not expect that was the purpose of TCI. Hence more confusion on my part based on what I was reading. Does TCI really think geography matters enough to block non-local searches for deals?
Jail or no jail, what I am trying to understand is how judgement is being applied and what the underlying purpose is. As I have nothing to sell (books or tapes) I have nothing to advertise. I do have deals that I will partner on (ones I find or ones someone else finds when they need cash and are the one who found the deal). Based on the multiple similar topics in the forums this seems to be within the guidelines. I am not a guru trying to sell expertise. I have never accepted money from soneone who wanted advice. Maybe others take money for advice but that has not been my focus in 21 years.
I have trimed my signature, changed the URL (deleted the reference) and otherwise tried to fit the published rules. From what you and Joel write there seems to be some other indicators of bad behavior so I am trying to understand.
BTW - When someone is put in jail it is not always clear what the offence was. You get a message about the rule broken but as this thread indicates, the finer details are not consistent enough to be obvious to the newer members.
IMHO - The lack of clarity might be the take away point from this thread.
John :-o
Basically,
Board Hustling is taking advantage of newbies. We want to facilitate networking with other investors, but when people just start posting PM me or email me, it sounds like they have something up their sleaves, so to speak.
This is a grey area in Private Messaging, but not on the forum boards. Hope this clears some things up.
Joel (and John) -
By reading above I have learned a few things that I did not know before. Often in a PM I will tell someone to email me directly - so I can respond to their questions quicker ( I on on line all day with my email) I find it cumbersome to deal within the PM mode. I was not aware that this was not premitted.
John called me on my first post with "PM me if you want more info" I mistakenly thought this was better than giving them a link to the answers on my site ( I don't sell tips and I never have sold a condo to someone that asks questions about investing)
I do get direct emails ( not PM's) every few days aksing for advice on one thing or another - now I am not sure how they got my email.
By the way, I have been getting solicitations via PM that I thought were illegal.
Keep up the good work
Gregg
[addsig]
Gregg,
If you receive a solicitation via Private Message or by e-mail that is related to this site, please let a Moderator know about it.
I figure the more expierenced investor knows the difference, but some of the new folks on TCI need guidance without getting their heads ripped off by some ding dong wannabe.
John $Cash$ Locke
JohnLocke,
In addition to solicitations, could you please explain what other types of PM's violate TCI rules?
I know this is a serious and much needed thread so please forgive me but........
To quote Gregg "By the way, I have been getting solicitations via PM that I thought were illegal."
Must be that sexy avatar ya got there, big boy !!
I'm biting my tongue to not come back with a more cheeky reply
becki
NancyChadwick,
Asking you out for a drink would be a violation unless someone really means it.
There is a fine line as long as there are private messages, I think it is a judgement call by a Moderator on what he or she feels is appropriate or inappropriate within the confines of the policies of this board.
If a poster feels that a PM was sent to them which contains, board hustling, advertising or offensive material then by all means notify a Moderator of the proposed offense.
I may run for office if I keep giving answers like this one.
John $Cash$ Locke
JohnLocke,
Interesting distinction on the drink thing. Maybe I should first require some showing of good faith. Oh, THAT'S what I've been doing wrong!
About running for office, I wouldn't worry. Your platform might be less important than your avatar.
Nancy Chadwick,
I have been asking for a better selection of avatar's for two years, alas to no avail.
John $Cash$ Locke
[addsig]
JohnLocke,
Perhaps you ought to direct your requests to Brahma or Vishnu. If that doesn't work, there's always Siva.
Joel-
To be very clear...is it a violation of policy to ask, in a response to a PM, that the correspondant phone or send to your direct email?
Gregg
[addsig]
Thanks to all.
I should have read this thread before I started posting. Please accept my humble apologies for writting like a board hustler.
c.
On avatars, I know of a site where you upload a picture - of yourself or anything else you choose to represent yourself. They are a little bigger than the ones here. I'm sure it would be more work for Joel, but it is kind-of nice to put a real face with a poster. More personal and I think creates a trend toward more respect. However, I did not ever get around to taking a picture I liked of myself to upload
. If I did more people would not always make the mistake of assuming I'm a male and be so surprised when they talk to me 
.
Terry