Announcements
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posted on October 25, 2001 03:32:12 PM new
To Our Community:
To allow our users greater freedom in posting messages and interacting with others in the AuctionWatch message center, we have decided to transition to an unmoderated format effective November 1. In order to allow our users to maintain anonymity when posting, but prevent abuse of the message center, we will require that all users who wish to post within the message center provide a credit card for positive identification to our customer service representatives.
Although the forums will not be actively moderated, we reserve the right to delete messages that violate our Terms of Use. Customer Service will still monitor and respond to customer service related questions in the AuctionWatch Services Forum.
Message center posting will continue to be free - credit cards will not be charged for message center use and all data will remain private. We will continue to allow users to read the message center without any registration requirements. Please visit our privacy policy if you have any questions about the use and protection data.
We would also like to thank our wonderful Moderator staff, Pat, Joice, Michelle, Marty, Sara, and Smitty, for their assistance in building and maintaining our Community over the past few years. We couldn’t have asked for a better moderator team!
Regards,
The AuctionWatch Staff
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Meya
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posted on October 25, 2001 03:34:17 PM new
You can't see me, but I'm saluting you.
Edited to add, this is not a happy salute. Just in case anyone missed my sarcasm.
[ edited by Meya on Oct 25, 2001 03:38 PM ]
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Fez
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posted on October 25, 2001 03:35:16 PM new
Then we can stay??
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RainyBear
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posted on October 25, 2001 03:36:08 PM new
I'll second that "thank you" to the moderator staff... you guys have been great!
I'm glad to hear that the forums are being changed and not removed. This is an excellent place to talk and to exchange information. I'll put my CC# on file.
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julesy
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posted on October 25, 2001 03:36:44 PM new
And having a credit card on file will prevent abuse because?
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rawbunzel
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posted on October 25, 2001 03:37:31 PM new
So this is the big news??
Is the RT staying open? All the forums?
An unmoderated board. Hmmmm.
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RainyBear
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posted on October 25, 2001 03:37:49 PM new
Because if you only have four credit cards you can only have four AW ID's? 
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kraftdinner
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posted on October 25, 2001 03:39:06 PM new
That's it?
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krs
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posted on October 25, 2001 03:39:11 PM new
No, one card-several IDs--one posts.
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RainyBear
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posted on October 25, 2001 03:40:10 PM new
That really does make sense... it doesn't cost much for AW to host chat forums, but it does cost a lot to pay people to moderate us.
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hepburn
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posted on October 25, 2001 03:40:47 PM new
Unmoderated and generated canned suspensions? I dunno. I dont think I will like it that way. Ive been to unmoderated boards. They never made it.
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julesy
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posted on October 25, 2001 03:41:25 PM new
Ah...I was thinking of a different kind of abuse.
Do you take amex? 
now where'd that come from?
[ edited by julesy on Oct 25, 2001 03:43 PM ]
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barrybarris
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posted on October 25, 2001 03:41:49 PM new
Moderator staff, Pat, Joice, Michelle, Marty, Sara, and Smitty
I want to thank all of you too. You guys were more than moderators, you guys were like buddies (that should say are buddies),
Barry (the internet is a big place, please try and keep in touch) Barris
[email protected]
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krs
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posted on October 25, 2001 03:42:23 PM new
Exactly. The moderators got six figures, trips to the company vacation site in Bermuda, profit sharing, and a host of benefits in a package worth apporx. $500K each, depending on seniority.
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hepburn
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posted on October 25, 2001 03:42:55 PM new
I dont get how having a credit card will stop abuse. What are they going to do, fee us for insults given?
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Meya
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posted on October 25, 2001 03:43:14 PM new
With the ability to change the rules at the whim of the wind, why would anyone want to register a CC for use of a message board that is to remain free? What would prevent AW from deciding to charge per post, or per month? Since the boards are to be unmoderated, would they charge those who use bad words? What about bad grammar?
I'm sorry, but I don't see how a CC is going to prevent anything. It is obvious that AW is hurting for money. And they want my CC number? But aren't going to charge me?
Anyone want to buy a bridge?
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tiggressoflove
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posted on October 25, 2001 03:45:14 PM new
turning e-mail on
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Meya
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posted on October 25, 2001 03:45:42 PM new
Yep...email on.
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krs
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posted on October 25, 2001 03:47:28 PM new
They're ONLY going to charge per post going back six months...Thank God!
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toke
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posted on October 25, 2001 03:47:43 PM new
I've grown to like the moderators...and I used to b!tch about moderation continually, as some of you may recall. Heck, I liked Joice way back before she was a moderator...
I'm sorry they're out of a job. 
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mybiddness
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posted on October 25, 2001 03:48:10 PM new
Meya - LOL! Good point!
Not paranoid anywhere else but here!
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spazmodeus
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posted on October 25, 2001 03:49:00 PM new
My guess is, they want to sell our credit card information.
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spazmodeus
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posted on October 25, 2001 03:50:42 PM new
We would also like to thank our wonderful Moderator staff
Some thanks.
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Meya
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posted on October 25, 2001 03:50:54 PM new
Yep, what Spaz said.
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RainyBear
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posted on October 25, 2001 03:51:27 PM new
I figure the CC thing is so AW knows who we are, but anonymity is maintained on the boards because other posters don't know who we are (unless we want them to). Lots of people on the EO have said they'd like to see eBay require CC verification of buyers, and I think this is similar. If you're willing to give your CC#, it's kind of like saying, "Hey, I'm serious, not here to screw around!"
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DianaAW
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posted on October 25, 2001 03:52:25 PM new
Hi Meya -- please note that entering a credit card is for the purpose of ID verification. We have no plans to charge for use of the message center, and even if we did decide to go that route, we would provide our users with plenty of notice beforehand. I want to reiterate, however, that there are no plans to charge for message center usage.
Diana
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hepburn
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posted on October 25, 2001 03:52:46 PM new
I am gonna struggle with this part, so bear with me. If AW is hurting for money, why couldnt they just ask if people are willing to contribute? Say, 1 dollar per month, for a year. That would be 12 dollars per poster for a year. With all the posters in RT and EO and the rest of the forums, that would bringin a big chunk. Would I have donated 12 bucks? Yes. I would have donated upwards of 30 for 6 months, just like I do for ezboard. But only if asked and given the option. The doing it automatically without even bothering to ask is what bugs me.
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krs
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posted on October 25, 2001 03:53:23 PM new
I wouldn't go quite that far, Rainybear.
They're cutting the cost of moderation, that's all.
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toke
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posted on October 25, 2001 03:54:28 PM new
Instead of a credit card, why not a voided blank check, like the OAUA used?
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joycel
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posted on October 25, 2001 03:55:40 PM new
Don't like it--I remember the time some guy started writing messages about the wonderous glories of eating poop--thankfully he was deleted very quickly by the moderators. So--now Mr. Poop can return for unlimited posting as long as he has a credit card? Doesn't make sense.
I, for one, quickly back out of chat areas in which the posters are just yelling back and forth at each other. At least the moderators kept that from happening here too often. What now?
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