Updated Community Guidelines

[sheila@ebay]

Hello Community,

We want to make the Community a safe and enjoyable place for all to come participate and learn from one another. The Community team has recently updated the Community Guidelines. You can find them here.

I'll keep this post up for until the end of day on July 6th for feedback on the Guidelines.

Thank you for participating in Community!

[nobody*s_perfect]

When eBay was switching over to Lithium (AKA Khoros) in 2013, they hosted a focus group of active board members to discuss the various available features and formats.  The notion of these nicknames was unanimously scorned.  But apparently Jeff Terrell forgot to leave behind his notes about the meeting, because a subsequent Community director decided it would be "fun" to implement them.  

[evry1nositswindy]

I liked when I was called a Guide because that was what I did.  Then I moved up to rockstar.  Come up with a better system of notating which posters are consistently helping and have actual knowledge and experience.

[stainlessenginecovers]

@evry1nositswindy "The labels are goofy...rock star doesn't exactly scream " knowledgeable and experienced seller here, listen to me".

I couldn't agree more.

I used to be a 'Guide' and people saluted me.

Now I'm a Rockstar; so I dusted off the Axe and started growing my hair out. 

[readabouthorses]

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@evry1nositswindy wrote:

I liked when I was called a Guide because that was what I did.  Then I moved up to rockstar.  Come up with a better system of notating which posters are consistently helping and have actual knowledge and experience.

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I didn't like being a Guide. I got a few nasty private messages from users who thought because I was a Guide that I worked for eBay and could solve all of their problems. I was glad when I got moved up to Rockstar. If we could choose our own labels I'd like to be Horse Whisperer.

[sheila@ebay]

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@pburn wrote:

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@silverstatetreasureboxes wrote:

I was addressing Sheila, she was open for suggestions. 

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Sorry--I was under the impression it was an open discussion. Another member replied to your post in Message #17 and received a response from you in your Message #24. I thought since it was okay for that member to reply to you, it would be okay for me to reply to you, too.

sheila@ebay 

Is this thread intended to be an open, back-and-forth, give-and-take sharing of ideas on some of the changes to the Community rules? Or should posts be directed only to you?

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I welcome suggestions and will consider adding them to the rules at a later time. Everyone is also welcome to share ideas and talk about if the rules work or not.

[sheila@ebay]

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@buyselljack2016 wrote:

death pile (stuff you want to sell) sure isn't what comes up with a google search

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 A few months ago, the eBay for Business team posted a post asking everyone to share pictures of their 'death pile' and it was fun way for everyone to share what they want to sell but haven't had a chance to list yet. I guess this is more of an eBay term and has made it to Google yet.

[sheila@ebay]

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@a_c_green wrote:

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sheila@ebay wrote:

I'll keep this post up for until the end of day on July 6th for feedback on the Guidelines.

"Report inappropriate behavior by clicking the “arrow dropdown” in the top right-hand corner of any post or private message, then selecting “Report Inappropriate Conduct.”"

sheila@ebay: Minor correction to the Guidelines wording: the link to moderators in the upper right pulldown menu of each posting reads "Report Inappropriate Content," not "Report Inappropriate Conduct."

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Good catch! I'll change it.

[katzrul15]

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@readabouthorses wrote:

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@evry1nositswindy wrote:

I liked when I was called a Guide because that was what I did.  Then I moved up to rockstar.  Come up with a better system of notating which posters are consistently helping and have actual knowledge and experience.

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I didn't like being a Guide. I got a few nasty private messages from users who thought because I was a Guide that I worked for eBay and could solve all of their problems. I was glad when I got moved up to Rockstar. If we could choose our own labels I'd like to be Horse Whisperer.

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I want to be Princess Kat Warrior, if we get to choose.

Maybe we could have friendly names/titles....

[partfinds]

@wrong66

”That has nothing to do with the Community boards.”

it does this link is inserted in the community policy— see screenshot on where the link is.  I also would like to hear answers from sheila@ebay to clarify all that so there is no accusations of conspiracy theories (especially actions taken on selling account when action is taken on community). But all questions should be answered but I guess Ebay doesn;t want to be transparent .

[gracieallen01]

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@wrong66 wrote:

They should do away with those labels altogether. "Thrill-Seeker" or "Superstar" doesn't inspire confidence either. 

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Oh, I don't know.  Just add 'Hey, bud, hold my beer', and then "Thrill-Seeker" or "Superstar" seems appropriate and warning enough.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@evry1nositswindy wrote:

I liked when I was called a Guide because that was what I did.  Then I moved up to rockstar.  Come up with a better system of notating which posters are consistently helping and have actual knowledge and experience.

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The most baffling one, IMHO, is the choice of "Enthusiast" for newcomers, who haven't yet demonstrated any enthusiasm for the boards at all.

[maxine*j]

sheila@ebay

Since there seems to be a fair amount of ageement about the concern I expressed in Msg. 14, I'm wondering what your take on it is? 

Thanks.

[a_c_green]

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@nobody*s_perfect wrote:

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@evry1nositswindy wrote:

I liked when I was called a Guide because that was what I did.  Then I moved up to rockstar.  Come up with a better system of notating which posters are consistently helping and have actual knowledge and experience.

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The most baffling one, IMHO, is the choice of "Enthusiast" for newcomers, who haven't yet demonstrated any enthusiasm for the boards at all.

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Khoros moderators are welcome to correct me on this, but my understanding is that those named categories (i.e. labeling of posters by frequency, not the actual names for each group) are a standard feature of the Community software offered by Khoros as part of their package. The customers (i.e. eBay in this case) have the option of whether to use poster nametags, and what those names will be. So Khoros supplies the mechanism; eBay decides on the titles to be, um, awarded.

This is not unique to Khoros. I am a moderator on another popular site which uses community software from another company, and we have names for each level of posting frequency as well. In our case, we chose some humorous titles (relating to the site topic) for posting newbies, progressing to more serious ones for those with long posting histories whose expertise was recognized. 

(I don't mean to be speaking for Khoros here, and I am not connected to them, but for whatever reason, it does not appear that the moderators themselves are allowed to participate in eBay discussions, so unless or until that happens, I guess you're stuck with me. 😉)

[sheila@ebay]

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@evry1nositswindy wrote:

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@ckimodog wrote:

@valueaddedresource 

People will receive better CS on these boards than the CS that ebay provides.  Just my opinion. 

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True story but many posters don't believe or heed the advice they are given.  The labels are goofy...rock star doesn't exactly scream " knowledgeable and experienced seller here, listen to me".  sheila@ebay 

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Agreed. The ranks were implemented long before I came onboard. It's on my list for next year to figure out better names or maybe remove them all together but still have a way to acknowledge our top posters.

[sheila@ebay]

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@maxine*j wrote:

From tne new guidelines:

"Get the help you need.

"Please ask for recommendations for tools to help run your business, to find items to purchase, or to share your items or listings to get feedback or provide examples to other users. It’s appropriate for users to also respond to these types of questions with listings, products, or services."

Frankly, this concerns me.  It has always been the policy that the boards are not for buying and selling.  Despite that, people constantly try to do so.  

Now it seems eBay is inviting such activity.  If the forums become the place for "Want to Buy" and "Wish to Sell," such activity will overwhelm every other type of inquiry or discussion. and render the boards pretty useless. 

Or at least that is my opinion.

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@maxine*j if you see a post that you think is violating the guidelines please report it and the Moderators will take a look.