...and I, of course, meant handlebar "bag", not "bad" (kinda Freudian, yes?)
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: David Faller 
  To: rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com 
  Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 9:17 PM
  Subject: [RBW] Re: Requests and Thoughts on "FS" postings


  I, for one, appreciate your diligence on the matter of relevance.  Although I 
mostly lurk here, I am occasionally miffed by seeing references to things that 
are so very thinly "Rivendell" that they are abusing the definition.  
Submitting photos or narrative about a bike that has a Brooks saddle, but in no 
other way has anything to do with Rivendell, is pretty obviously just taking 
advantage of the group's good nature.  Such "related" photos should be posted 
and linked to Retrogrouch on Flickr, but not on the RBW sites.  I think many, 
if not most, of us check those other sites and should keep the RBW group 
focused on its original mission.  I really don't want to start seeing links to 
photos of an old Sears Free Spirit with a tweed handlebar bad considered as 
appropriate for the group...

  My Two Cents, and welcome to them -

  (Redding) Dave
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: CycloFiend 
    To: rbw group 
    Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 9:05 AM
    Subject: [RBW] Requests and Thoughts on "FS" postings



    Hey all - 

    Just as a reminder on FS listings -

    - Please indicate whether or not a listing is yours.  (I realize it's a
    given if you are specifically listing items -- I'm referring to links to
    auctions and CL postings).

    - If the listing is not yours, let us know if you just came across it or if
    you have relation to or knowledge of the seller.

    - Use one of the url shortening widget-sites (tinyurl.com, bit.ly, etc.) to
    create a short, non-breaking link in your post. These are bone-simple, free
    online resources and makes it much easier for others to follow the link you
    have shared. 

    - Please do not attach images to your email.  Post them online at one of the
    photo sharing sites provide a link (yep, a "short" link if applicable) to
    the image.  Note also that some of the online sharing sites specifically
    prohibit "for sale" listings.

    - If you are interested in buying the item, please respond directly to the
    seller - not to the list.  Note that the default "Reply" is to the general
    list, so you will need to change that before you email/reply.

    A couple other thoughts:

    Our list has grown to over 1,100 members in this year.  That means that we
    have become a "targetable demographic" - i.e. a nice chunk of folks
    interested in quality bicycles and related gear.   It seems that there have
    been more "general" items listed for sale here of late - stuff that isn't
    particularly Rivendellesque.

    A couple of times in the past weeks, when these have come from new,
    moderated members, I've requested that they be more Riv-specific in their
    offerings.  Neither of those people either relisted their items or responded
    to my direct email.

    That's neither good nor bad in my book, but it does suggest that some people
    see us as a another bike-related list to sell stuff to. Again, I don't think
    it a big problem, but it has made me think a little about the group and it's
    place in the scheme of things.

    I'll be honest, I'm pretty protective about our group.  It's grown to a
    decent size and yet has managed to retain a respectful and personal tone.
    Thanks to everyone for that.

    One general idea I've decided to formalize is this -
    FS or Auction listings don't count in terms of making one "non-moderated".
    In the past, I've passed new members through with a single posting - as long
    as they demonstrated that they aren't the autobot spammers that hang out in
    the alleyways of the internet.  But, now, if an individual's first post(s)
    are "For Sale" items, they'll remain moderated until they start sharing in
    the general conversation.

    This will remain largely invisible to the group at large, of course.  But, I
    think it will prevent me from having to chase folks down, tug at their
    sleeve and say, "dude, all you're doing is listing stuff for sale..."

    Thanks to everyone for their contributions,

    - Jim / List Admin

    -- 
    Jim Edgar
    cyclofi...@earthlink.net

    

--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW 
Owners Bunch" group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

Reply via email to