[Absence]

Greetings!

My current understanding of these rules:

13. No advertising or posting of Discord channels unless you are in Vendor group.
16. Off-Site Communication contact methods not allowed to be posted by non-upgraded members. This includes the posting of your email, Discord, or Telegram account names.


is that non-vendors can advertise telegrams, as long as they aren't registered users. So L33T, UB3R? And any other platform besides discord?

I feel that the rules would be best modified to that: Non-vendors can not advertise off-site communication methods on any sales threads.

I believe that the issues with Discord is that others were being impersonated, but I also believe that the issue is not solely with Discord. It would encourage onsite communication, and hopefully, usage of a middleman to prevent abuses.

What do you guys think? Maybe the rules already kind of are that way. Or maybe 13 could be modified to "of Discord, Telegram, or any other channels of off-site communication." I don't know, just thinking out loud at this point.

I also realize that scammers are going to scam. This isn't going to stop or prevent them. As other methods of communication get popular, too, this may work in HF's favor.

Thanks!

[Omniscient]

Generally speaking I think most members want to use off-site communication. Fighting that is very hard, I know because we tried it. Also did stuff like requiring Contracts. Mainly just end up pushing people away from HF as we warn/ban them.

Discord the main focus of the current bans because it mimics what the forum does in some ways. Telegram really doesn't far as I can tell. There was too much advertising of competing Discord channels.

I'm not against adjusting the policies to reflect current needs but unsure if this is good timing.

[Absence]

Generally speaking I think most members want to use off-site communication. Fighting that is very hard, I know because we tried it. Also did stuff like requiring Contracts. Mainly just end up pushing people away from HF as we warn/ban them.

Discord the main focus of the current bans because it mimics what the forum does in some ways. Telegram really doesn't far as I can tell. There was too much advertising of competing Discord channels.

I'm not against adjusting the policies to reflect current needs but unsure if this is good timing.

That adds some context for sure. I do not disagree with the fact that there is no point in fighting off-site communication.

The suggestion adds specifically the sales thread language, and if you want the luxury of adding your discord, telegram, or whatever platforms show up in the future to your sales post, be approved, pay the fee, and you have skin in the game now.

I do not really use discord, though, so I don't share a view that could emulate a forum/compete, although that makes sense considering some of the channels I have seen in my brief past usage. Thank you for the insight.

Ultimately, none of this will prevent everyone from being scammed, I think it is just about improving methodology. I would say a good chunk of users who are scammed are way beyond being resolved in deal disputes, as they either made a lot of mistakes already, or the scammer does not care about being closed.

[Omniscient]

I actually think my latest change to stop scamming which was to prevent PMs between 2 non-upgraded members, has helped a LOT. So far it appears that there is a reduction in complaints to me. Normally I get a few per week about someone being scammed off-site by a non-upgraded member and I have to point out to them they are required to use a Contract to Dispute. They get rather upset and say things like "why won't you close the scammer" or "so you allow scammers on your site". That kind of bullshit pisses me off. With the PM restriction I haven't seen that at all.

So if your suggestion was an attempt to reduce scamming, I don't think it's on-point to really do that. You always have to weigh against stopping scammers with also inhibiting legit commerce. I want the Marketplace to flourish for everyone EXCEPT the scammers. Not so easy really.

[Jamika]

Greetings!

My current understanding of these rules:

13. No advertising or posting of Discord channels unless you are in Vendor group.
16. Off-Site Communication contact methods not allowed to be posted by non-upgraded members. This includes the posting of your email, Discord, or Telegram account names.


is that non-vendors can advertise telegrams, as long as they aren't registered users. So L33T, UB3R? And any other platform besides discord?

I feel that the rules would be best modified to that: Non-vendors can not advertise off-site communication methods on any sales threads.

I believe that the issues with Discord is that others were being impersonated, but I also believe that the issue is not solely with Discord. It would encourage onsite communication, and hopefully, usage of a middleman to prevent abuses.

What do you guys think? Maybe the rules already kind of are that way. Or maybe 13 could be modified to "of Discord, Telegram, or any other channels of off-site communication." I don't know, just thinking out loud at this point.

I also realize that scammers are going to scam. This isn't going to stop or prevent them. As other methods of communication get popular, too, this may work in HF's favor.

Thanks!

Agree, and hope u get sticked to contracts and insite related deals