What defines an "Active Member"?

[mrjinglesusa]

Active members should know who the inactive members are.

If you have to ask if someone is an active member, they probably aren't....

...or you aren't.

 

[AVB]

Just go read the guys posts. If he contributes something a few times month then he's active. If he says "Welcome to CP" more then anything else then he needs more scrutiny.

 

[bigwhiteash]

It's no secret that the majority of my posts are in the form of "PM Sent", or located in the "Song Title Word thread". So I really don't consider myself an actively contributing member. I happen to work all day near a computer, so I am in here nearly every day, ready to pounce on those "first PM gets them" sales. Hey, I like to buy cigars, but rarely have the funds to purchase full boxes of premium/super premiums. I also notice that a lot of sales are geared towards "freeing up a little money for ***", very few of them are at or above MSRP, and those that are are usually still a significant bargain. Granted, I'm not going to send out 300.00 to someone who has only 50 posts in 4 years, but sending 60 bucks out to someone who has been a member that long, (which tells me that person is at least somewhat passionate about cigars), is not an issue for me. Posting 10 times a year, surely isn't considered active, by any means, but I myself have made dozens of purchases from some very well respected members, most of them before my 3 month "probation" period. I've also received several PM's from concerned members that are just looking out for the good of the board, these are MUCH appreciated. Because of the system in place here, I have felt VERY safe with all of my transactions so far. I realize that any rules put forth are geared towards that end, keeping CP a safe place to trade cigars. And I thank you all for this!

 

[grateful1]

This will get a member active:

 

[lurch]

I think you're missing the point behind all of this. This community is not here simply for someone to come every once and a while to unload HTF sticks. It is here for the good of our BOTLs that are learning this fine hobby. This is not a place for profiteering of any sort, and that is exactly what is happening when someone comes out of the woodwork just to sell off some cigars. If you want some "no strings attached" sales then go over to CF or Club Stogie where they don't look out for each other. I didn't invent this problem, it's been here a while. I think I'm just the first person to bring it up.

I just don't like the idea of people opening an account here and using it for the sole purpose of selling cigars. I don't think that is very 'active' at all. I think that falls along the lines of profiteering. I know that post count mean nothing but it does say a lot about our participation in this community. Post count doesn't make you a FOG but it does show how much you participate. If someone has been a member here for over 2 yrs. and only has 40 post I'd venture to say that is an Inactive member.......

I'd like to know why this was brought up to begin with? As long as the person puts up his cigars at a good price and is willing to send first, what the hell is the problem? I can think of a few joined in 01/02 members who may have posted alot when they joined but who now only stop in once in a while to sell HTF cigars at good prices... and you don't see anyone giving them a load of crap about it.

I'm starting to think we are starting to invent problems where there are none, and its a trend that has me worried.

*edit* to fix a grammar mistake.

 

[grateful1]

I think you're missing the point behind all of this. This community is not here simply for someone to come every once and a while to unload HTF sticks. It is here for the good of our BOTLs that are learning this fine hobby. This is not a place for profiteering of any sort, and that is exactly what is happening when someone comes out of the woodwork just to sell off some cigars. If you want some "no strings attached" sales then go over to CF or Club Stogie where they don't look out for each other. I didn't invent this problem, it's been here a while. I think I'm just the first person to bring it up.

Why is this a problem?

If you are referencing 'profiteering' in particular - there are those who keep an eye out for those types of dealings.


Oh yea - linky.

 

[boonedoggle]

ah, I go through spurts.

 

[Dave]

I understand the points of the previous posts, however there are some out there who don't post very often, but they do attend herfs and have face to face contact with many people all around the world. I feel that we shouldn't categorize those who have more face to face contacts but fewer posts as inactive members.

On the other side, a member can contribute a lot of posts, not necessarily meaningful, in all or most of them, but should they be counted as active members, or at least active members we can trust to transact with? Tenure and number of posts on CP should not be the sole requirement in determining contribution towards the community. Both are important, but I always feel that participating in face to face situations such as herfs will always bear more meaning than typing some words and posting them, imo.

 

[StinkiMonki]

I think you're missing the point behind all of this. This community is not here simply for someone to come every once and a while to unload HTF sticks. It is here for the good of our BOTLs that are learning this fine hobby. This is not a place for profiteering of any sort, and that is exactly what is happening when someone comes out of the woodwork just to sell off some cigars. If you want some "no strings attached" sales then go over to CF or Club Stogie where they don't look out for each other. I didn't invent this problem, it's been here a while. I think I'm just the first person to bring it up.

Why is this a problem?

If you are referencing 'profiteering' in particular - there are those who keep an eye out for those types of dealings.


Oh yea - linky.

I'm calling BS on Grateful1 on this post. He linked the same lady in two different threads in one day. I was very dissapointed.

Geoff

 

[Rod]

At least he didn't post another...gay...picture....not that there's anything wrong with that...

 

[grateful1]

I think you're missing the point behind all of this. This community is not here simply for someone to come every once and a while to unload HTF sticks. It is here for the good of our BOTLs that are learning this fine hobby. This is not a place for profiteering of any sort, and that is exactly what is happening when someone comes out of the woodwork just to sell off some cigars. If you want some "no strings attached" sales then go over to CF or Club Stogie where they don't look out for each other. I didn't invent this problem, it's been here a while. I think I'm just the first person to bring it up.

Why is this a problem?

If you are referencing 'profiteering' in particular - there are those who keep an eye out for those types of dealings.


Oh yea - linky.

I'm calling BS on Grateful1 on this post. He linked the same lady in two different threads in one day. I was very dissapointed.

Geoff

whoops - this should be different!

 

[Dave]

I think you're missing the point behind all of this. This community is not here simply for someone to come every once and a while to unload HTF sticks. It is here for the good of our BOTLs that are learning this fine hobby. This is not a place for profiteering of any sort, and that is exactly what is happening when someone comes out of the woodwork just to sell off some cigars. If you want some "no strings attached" sales then go over to CF or Club Stogie where they don't look out for each other. I didn't invent this problem, it's been here a while. I think I'm just the first person to bring it up.

Why is this a problem?

If you are referencing 'profiteering' in particular - there are those who keep an eye out for those types of dealings.


Oh yea - linky.

I'm calling BS on Grateful1 on this post. He linked the same lady in two different threads in one day. I was very dissapointed.

Geoff

whoops - this should be different!

?? Ok, two things

1)Is that a guy or a girl?
2)no thong?

 

[Jonesy]

I understand the points of the previous posts, however there are some out there who don't post very often, but they do attend herfs and have face to face contact with many people all around the world. I feel that we shouldn't categorize those who have more face to face contacts but fewer posts as inactive members.

This is true, but if we don't have any interaction with these people, how do we know we can trust them? If they are "herfing buddies" so to speak, then why can't they also be contributing members to the board? For those of us that haven't herfed with these people, we don't know them from Jack regardless of how long they've been a member or how many herfs they've attended.

On the other side, a member can contribute a lot of posts, not necessarily meaningful, in all or most of them, but should they be counted as active members, or at least active members we can trust to transact with? Tenure and number of posts on CP should not be the sole requirement in determining contribution towards the community. Both are important, but I always feel that participating in face to face situations such as herfs will always bear more meaning than typing some words and posting them, imo.

At least with a certain number of posts regardless of meaningfullness, you know that the person is at least trying to be an active part of the community and should realize what it takes to gain the confidence of the members here.

 

[Dave]

I understand the points of the previous posts, however there are some out there who don't post very often, but they do attend herfs and have face to face contact with many people all around the world. I feel that we shouldn't categorize those who have more face to face contacts but fewer posts as inactive members.

This is true, but if we don't have any interaction with these people, how do we know we can trust them? If they are "herfing buddies" so to speak, then why can't they also be contributing members to the board? For those of us that haven't herfed with these people, we don't know them from Jack regardless of how long they've been a member or how many herfs they've attended.

On the other side, a member can contribute a lot of posts, not necessarily meaningful, in all or most of them, but should they be counted as active members, or at least active members we can trust to transact with? Tenure and number of posts on CP should not be the sole requirement in determining contribution towards the community. Both are important, but I always feel that participating in face to face situations such as herfs will always bear more meaning than typing some words and posting them, imo.

At least with a certain number of posts regardless of meaningfullness, you know that the person is at least trying to be an active part of the community and should realize what it takes to gain the confidence of the members here.

Not everyone has the resources to post often, such as access to a computer and time outside of work. People strapped for time especially might be more inclined to spend time at a herf rather than sitting in front of a computer.

 

[mmburtch]

I understand the points of the previous posts, however there are some out there who don't post very often, but they do attend herfs and have face to face contact with many people all around the world. I feel that we shouldn't categorize those who have more face to face contacts but fewer posts as inactive members.

This is true, but if we don't have any interaction with these people, how do we know we can trust them? If they are "herfing buddies" so to speak, then why can't they also be contributing members to the board? For those of us that haven't herfed with these people, we don't know them from Jack regardless of how long they've been a member or how many herfs they've attended.

On the other side, a member can contribute a lot of posts, not necessarily meaningful, in all or most of them, but should they be counted as active members, or at least active members we can trust to transact with? Tenure and number of posts on CP should not be the sole requirement in determining contribution towards the community. Both are important, but I always feel that participating in face to face situations such as herfs will always bear more meaning than typing some words and posting them, imo.

At least with a certain number of posts regardless of meaningfullness, you know that the person is at least trying to be an active part of the community and should realize what it takes to gain the confidence of the members here.

Not everyone has the resources to post often, such as access to a computer and time outside of work. People strapped for time especially might be more inclined to spend time at a herf rather than sitting in front of a computer.

I have no problem with the "light" posting members. However, if they are posting a sale, they should at the very least have a reason like "I don't have much to say but I read daily" or, I only have access to CP when the IT guy is on vacation and I can hack through the filters", Or as Dave states, "I don't spend a lot of time online, but I get together with so and so and company for weekly poker games.

In many cases I get the feeling that they are not very active here because they are spending most of their time on a different board and only return here occasionally to sell things or buy things for that matter.

Finally, Mr. Jingles summed it up pretty clear, "If you're active, you'll know whether or not they are"

 

[Jonesy]

Not everyone has the resources to post often, such as access to a computer and time outside of work. People strapped for time especially might be more inclined to spend time at a herf rather than sitting in front of a computer.

This is fine, but you're straying from the point at hand here....people with tenure but few posts wanting to sell cigars. I'm not talking about individuals that don't have time or resources to post here. If they'd rather herf than spend time in front of a computer, more power to them but they won't get any respect from me just because they're a long time member,seldom poster, and avid herfer.

 

[Smokin'Sims]

I think you're missing the point behind all of this. This community is not here simply for someone to come every once and a while to unload HTF sticks. It is here for the good of our BOTLs that are learning this fine hobby. This is not a place for profiteering of any sort, and that is exactly what is happening when someone comes out of the woodwork just to sell off some cigars. If you want some "no strings attached" sales then go over to CF or Club Stogie where they don't look out for each other. I didn't invent this problem, it's been here a while. I think I'm just the first person to bring it up.

Why is this a problem?

If you are referencing 'profiteering' in particular - there are those who keep an eye out for those types of dealings.


Oh yea - linky.

I'm calling BS on Grateful1 on this post. He linked the same lady in two different threads in one day. I was very dissapointed.

Geoff

whoops - this should be different!

I disagree I would rather see the other one twice.

From my newb perspective:
This discussion has me contemplating how my situation would work out. I don't post anything particularly contributing. Mostly the "good job/congrats" type of thing. I do this somewhat based on the "read more/post less"dogma, but also because I don't know much of anything about cigars. I'm reading around more often than my boss would like to know about trying to learn as much as I can, which I suppose is what a new guy should do. I personally tend to go with my gut feelings on this, as to if I consider them active or not, and even for people like me MrJimgles method works out well. On a side note I searched through every member whose handle started with A, K or H last night (Jonesy contest) and <10 is the most common post number.

editted for some commas

 

[Jonesy]

But...you're an active member. You've participated in a pass, had transactions of some level with other members, and have communicated with others. What's being discussed are guys that have been a member for a few years, have fewer posts than you, don't interact regularly, and are wanting to sell something. You don't fall into this catagory.

 

[chainer]

I know my voice doesn't count for much here, but I've seen a whole lot of these posts recently, and they really don't seem very inviting... But on topic, I think you know a contributing and active member when you see one...

Beyond that, I feel it really comes down to how hard you want to police each thread... How specific are you looking to make the criteria to sell/trade? I think something to think about, though, is that the harder and more specific you come down on people, the less desirable it is to stick around, and the volume of trades/sales would drop pretty sharply... As it is now, I believe CP's formula is working just fine... Why mess with it any further? Not that anyone past 4 months cares, but I was kinda sad to see I've got to wait an extra month now before I can start hosting GBs and making trades (I don't care much for the selling part).

When someone makes a BS post in the sale forum, it usually gets handled pretty well.... I don't see much scamming going on here.

In my very humble newbie opinion, drama and cigars tend to leave a poor taste in my mouth ;( Just my two cents...

edit: clarity

 

[Wurm]

I think you're missing the point behind all of this. This community is not here simply for someone to come every once and a while to unload HTF sticks. It is here for the good of our BOTLs that are learning this fine hobby. This is not a place for profiteering of any sort, and that is exactly what is happening when someone comes out of the woodwork just to sell off some cigars. If you want some "no strings attached" sales then go over to CF or Club Stogie where they don't look out for each other. I didn't invent this problem, it's been here a while. I think I'm just the first person to bring it up.

I'm not missing the point on anything... I want to know WHY ITS A PROBLEM? Did someone get ripped off?

I suggest you start yelling and pointing fingers when Devin Cole or JOE.M. stop by to make a sale, and see what happens...

They are two BOTL that don't post very often (anymore) but still stop by every once in a while and make great deals on OMGWTF hard to find sticks.

Like I said in my last post, as long as the price is good and the person ships first it is not profiteering. Now some 4 month wonder or a long membership/low post counter who is trying to drop some cigars at 3 x MSRP we need to (and do) jump all over.

Have you ever thought that maybe the people with the long memberships/low post counts might just have taken "read more post less" to heart?

I am just not seeing this as a problem that needs to be addressed by some type of rule change (shades of the patriot act) it is something that can be handled on a case to case basis. CP has a pretty damn good track record on taking care of bad sellers.