My opinion is that the threads in that forum should not appear on the front page (home page).
They are updated basically CONSTANTLY and are ALWAYS taking up space on the front page.
I don’t necessarily have a problem with those threads existing, I just don’t like that they are always at the top.
Remove the “commercial sellers” and “BLF user negotiated deals” from being displayed on the home page and I think that would be great. The threads can still be updated and available, but users just need to go to the forum to see them.
I predominately use this site from the home page. I never really browse the subforums to see what is actively happening. Some forums do not move, some do. The fron page it the best way I have to get a thorough oversight of what is happening here.
Just my opinion here…
My experience on other forums was that the “Seller” was not allowed to “bump” his own thread more than once in 24 hours. Actively answering direct questions was OK but meaningless posts to a thread to get it back on top of the front page were not allowed.
Commercial Sellers were (and should be) required to pay a monthly Fee to benefit the site. Private sales are free, but limited.
This Affiliate Link profiting is a side-line Commercial seller scenario and these users should be forum sponsors in some way. Even a monthly $25 flashlight GAW if not giving to the site directly. Set a $20 FINE for violations. If the Admin needs to take time to monitor certain people he should get something for the time and hassle. I bet the rules get straight pretty quick or the offender’s disappear.
What stops the thread getting bumped fifty times by others?
Edit. When I say bumped I mean a member saying thanks or whatever bumps the sales thread back to the top.
I think The Miller made a good about the difference between an affiliate linker bumping his own thread with new deals in new posts vs. “organic” bumps by BLFers that are asking questions or whatever.
True.
But if people are genuinely using his links its deserved. Posting your welcome to each on the hour, not so much.
Tough call all around. Not easy to Moderate.
I wish I could simply apply an Ignore check mark to some threads. Or only see them on the front page if I have Subscribed to those specific threads in the Commercial spot.
I like the deals. Why don’t we make a sub forum for deals. Possibly even make sub categories for batteries, flashlights etc… it would make life a lot easier when looking for something specific than having to ask for deals on threads or searching the entire forum.
Is there a way to make a thread accessible to only the op with one or two updates per day? Doesn’t need to be hardwared but if exceeded subject to :rage: of DM. Basically the same rules governing polite behavior all of us are supposed to follow. Questions can still be answered via pm so that those don’t bump the threads.
The cutthroat competitiveness is definitely noticeable.
the had his exclusive BLF 348 groupbuys for years and recently I noticed that while “the’s” groupbuy is still going on, there are others using boiler room tactics and undercutting his price.
I think a little Ethics 101 wouldn’t hurt.
Healthy competition is great but you don’t have to become the next Ricky Roma from Glengarry glen ross to be successful.
when i first got here and started posting as a newb?
we had a “affiliate link” flame war going on… i got here late on it, and when i unknowingly resurrected a flame-war thread that was mercifully dying down? it “ignited” people on BOTH sides to ask me what i thought… heck… i try to be “principled’, and so i replied after asking what an aff link WAS?
was told, and i said :well then, i guess i dont like the idea of someone posting “deals” only to be making commission…
then everyone went ape$h!t… the word “shill” was thrown around a lot…LOL
old lumens PMed me and cussed me out, and told me “i wouldnt last long here!” of all things…
the whole “shill thing” slowly died away… NOW we have ‘this’ controversy going on, rules are being made, admin will see if it works…
geez, its ALWAYS some periodic controversy… and its ALWAYS centered around “commercialism”…
a year or 18 months from now? it will be “this” again, or? “something new”… but it wont be that new, it will be SOMETHING surrounding something commercial…
its a little like “election season craziness” on my site i run… except its not electionism, its somethign else here… same thing in the end, though… just another headache for the guy in charge is all…
Ugghhh, indeed they are annoying. They don’t seem to be bots, at least not to complete the registration steps, because my CAPTCHA is too zany for a bot to figure out.
Enjoy.
this is Very COOL!!! 
