posted on December 28, 2000 07:40:03 PM new
Sheesh, I went lurking for some info on HTML on the chat group and then some specific category topics. What I found was mainly people talking (about nothing/non related topics) and little useful information. Anyone have any business related assistance on those groups? What a pure waste of time... YUCK!
posted on December 28, 2000 07:43:21 PM new
Which "chat" group were you checking in on? I've never had a reason to visit the HTML board, but the other Help & Discussion boards are very topical and provide users with a lot of good information. I do know that some of the Category specific boards are pretty much just social type interaction. Please don't generalize that view to ALL Ebay boards, though. You're doing the folks on the Help & Discussion boards a great disservice.
posted on December 29, 2000 12:21:10 AM new
Empires: I've found that you just have to jump in and ask your question. I think what happens is that after you've been on the boards for awhile the questions tend to repeat themselves.....so, folks who vist the boards often chat while waiting for a question.
On the other hand, some of the people who post on the boards think they own the board they are posting on and, quite frankly, aren't very good hosts.
Personally, I'd rather post a question here because I am sure I'd get an answer AND that answer won't scroll off.
posted on December 29, 2000 12:49:10 AM new
I don't go to any of them any more so can't really complain but when I went to category specific I never got an answer or worse yet, it had scrolled off. DNF became a bore.
When I want some serious input this is the board to go to and your problem will probably be discussed somewhere recently or in the not too distant past.
Now if I wanted to hear about your recent vacation, pet, kid, recipes, or family problems I would probably check the ebay boards. As it is, I check Auction Watch daily.
posted on December 29, 2000 02:42:43 AM new
The ebay book group seems to have a lot of good stuff, but the format is no good for me. I just can't follow a discussion with the newest posts at the top. Also, it is full of off-topic chatter. A threaded-topic newsgroup format like this would be so awesome, but guess it's not to be.
posted on December 29, 2000 09:04:28 AM new
The inane and juvenile chatter on the Ebay boards convinced me they should be renamed Aunt Ethel's Gossip and Whining Corner. Most of the "regulars" have all the characteristics of high school bullies. No disagreement allowed! Bleeech. I have asked simple questions in the DNF only to find that they ruffled the prevailing "clique"'s feathers. Big, big hostility and defensiveness. LOTS of sick puppies using those boards to prop up their self esteem. Ask here---it's saner.
It is like any other established board. There are regulars, old timers, trolls and newcomers galore. In between questions and answers most folk while away the time with chit chat.
posted on December 29, 2000 09:16:36 AM new
Same here. On the few occasions I've asked a question there I was lucky to get one answer or opinion and basically felt like I was intruding and interupting their social chit-chat about recipes, kids, illnesses, relatives, and anything else except eBay.
posted on December 29, 2000 09:54:39 AM new
I visited the DNF and Q&A boards each day and used the topic/category specific boards on an as needed bases for over a year.
I stopped using them, except for rare occasional visits, due to a combination of reasons.
My composition/typing skills are slow, at best, and I was often about five minutes behind on the topic curve. The pace here at AW and at OTWA better suit my capacities.
Although I know of only one specific time, the infamous Dolphin/Tuna incident, when eBay suspended users for speaking out against corporate policies, the oversight by pinkliners left me very uncomfortable.
While I fully realize the need for a moderator and the value of a company spokesperson as a channel of two way communications, I believe pinkliners were used and/or acted in an intentional manner to lie about facts and manipulate discussions on behalf of eBay interests.
The eBay sponsored use of alias and multiple identities by employees, favoritism shown cheerleaders and the above mention disinformation left me very unconfortable.
On the other hand I still know of no better source for immediate, helpful and experienced support than the Q&A board. It's AW on fast forward with the added value of some users having direct and immediate private/personal access to members of eBays management. Buster and others are an eBay Community Treasure. The "bad boys"(boys used in a non gender specific way) of the DNF board, banned to their own corner of the playground with restrictive rules written for their board only, were always an delight.
Book, Camera, Computer, Image, Music and HTML are only a few of the Boards that come to mind that where always helpful. The tutorials that users developed and made freely available are classics of concise and useful information. I often found that including my email address in requests for help was responded to when no one was immediatly available with answers for my questions.
I believe the Boards facilitated the eBay Community when it was at it's best. Remnants remain and flurish, as here at AW, but the onsite community has been dispersed and discouraged.
I have no proof that eBay was intentionally instrumental in fracturing the onsite community. I do believe they are pleased with that outcome as it prevents broad based communication among users and particularly sellers. The absence of organized resistance to unproductive changes benefits their ability to control communications and thus preceived acceptance of changes.
As in "Our most recent survey of Users shows overwhelming support for our recently introduced feature of (please insert your favorite "screw the seller option at this point) or "We have recently reduced the Billpoint fee structure. If you noticed we added a transfer fee that results in the costs remaining the same, please keep your mouth shut as this is our Kingdom to run any way the Queen wants."
Lots of great people still out there and we are fortunate that many have found AW. Others have become discouraged and drifted away as a result of eBays constant barrage of "for your own good enhancements".
