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!

[sheila@ebay]

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@a_c_green wrote:

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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. 😉)

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You're right! I don't love the ranks that were implemented before I joined and neither does my leadership. I'm hoping to change or remove them sometime next year. Though I do still plan on recognizing the top ranked posters somehow.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@a_c_green wrote:

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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....

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"Enthusiast" as a title for newbies especially makes no sense, regardless of who set it up. The focus group participants recommended that eBay should NOT use that particular optional "feature" and it wasn't used initially.  

Yes, each client sets up their own list of titles. At the time of the transition, Lithium supported the discussion boards for Sephora, which used titles including Newbie, Beauty Maven, Beauty Pro, Beauty Guru, Beauty Whiz, Beauty Advisor, Scene Queen, and Hall of Famer.  At least that first one, Newbie, makes sense.  Focus group participants, seeing Jeff's enthusiasm for them, asked that if eBay decided to use this option, then the titles should at least make some logical sense. 

Jeff respected the group's wishes, but a later leader decided that they would be fun.  

[maxine*j]

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sheila@ebay wrote:

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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. 

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sheila@ebay 

I don't understand the new guidelines, though.  ARE overt buying and selling activities now allowed on the forums, in a major change to previous rules, or not?   I'm not going to play policewoman, in any event.  I was, and remain, just concerned about the fate of the boards if they're going to devolve into a swap meet.

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[evry1nositswindy]

I have been on the community late at night and there have been posts with nasty subjects and graphic sexual photographs.  Since no one is on duty, the poster can upload 10+ of these posts without being noticed.  This is not a one time thing.  There are some images that I can't unsee!

They get many views and some responses before being removed.  What can be done about that?  How can they keep posting?   sheila@ebay 

[dhbookds]

Agree with axing the names/titles

What do people think about Kudos?  

[ckimodog]

@evry1nositswindy 

I agree.  And it's always the same gross pictures from a poster who was removed, only to create another ID and post the same thing.  Unacceptable. 

[sheila@ebay]

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@maxine*j wrote:

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sheila@ebay wrote:

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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. 

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sheila@ebay 

I don't understand the new guidelines, though.  ARE overt buying and selling activities now allowed on the forums, in a major change to previous rules, or not?   I'm not going to play policewoman, in any event.  I was, and remain, just concerned about the fate of the boards if they're going to devolve into a swap meet.

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@maxine*j 

I can see how this one can be a little tricky and I had to consult with someone on my team about this so I can provide a good example.

In a nutshell, users can't promote off of eBay. Say you found great packing tape on Amazon, you won't be able to post the link to the tape on eBay.

On the other hand, responding to a genuine question with a response off of eBay would be allowed. The Community team rarely believes there's only one source or solution. Always promoting a single option may get a Community member  into trouble, but genuinely answering with multiple options, letting the seller decide. The difference is helping vs promoting.

[sheila@ebay]

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@evry1nositswindy wrote:

I have been on the community late at night and there have been posts with nasty subjects and graphic sexual photographs.  Since no one is on duty, the poster can upload 10+ of these posts without being noticed.  This is not a one time thing.  There are some images that I can't unsee!

They get many views and some responses before being removed.  What can be done about that?  How can they keep posting?   sheila@ebay 

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I'm not happy with this. I'm currently looking into a more permanent solution for these posts during off hours. 

[katzrul15]

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@dhbookds wrote:

Agree with axing the names/titles

What do people think about Kudos?  

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sheila@ebay 

Wish they would make the whole business go away.  Helpfuls are subjective and often have zero corollary to the subject matter at hand.  I may "like" a post as it is helpful to me, but not to the OP's question, post, rant, diatribe, etc.

Have never understood the whole "Rockstar" thing - it gives off the wrong vibe anyway.  

The "leader board" needs to just go away - it means nothing anyway.  No reason to keep track of "helpfuls" or whatever in the first place. 

And the boards need to limit the number of IDs folks post with.  We have people constantly creating new IDs to be just be disruptive to the boards overall.  Who needs 10+ IDs to post and create under-current??

If you are truly here to post, share, learn and help others, why do you need multiple posting IDs?  You don't.

[partfinds]

sheila@ebay 

i asked couple questions yesterday about rules of engagement but they got unanswered and not they buried in the messages about ranks etc. so I am asking again

I still don’t know how am I being safe from false reports (or exeggerations in them) and attacks when complaining.
Who decides  what is „dishonest, unsubstantiated, or designed to mislead” and how is it decided? Do you have a cheat sheet? Can you make cheat sheet?

Are false reporters getting consequences for making false or exeggerted reports ?
Are there any rules to suspensions ? Can you make them if not?

Can I place complaint of false report and unfair suspension?

who are „honorable contributors”? Do you have a list or a definition?

When my message is moderated or community account suspended, are my sales affected/is my selling account affected? 

i read rules of engagemnet and there is link that gets you to here https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/member-behaviour-policies/profanity-policy?id=4258 . It says that listings maybe demoted, hidden etc if the policy is violated. So if someone reports me for saying „knock it off”or „get life „ then my account maybe suspended and my listings demoted, hidden etc, right?

so in other words it is better not to participate because you may end up being reported (maybe unfairly) and loose sales.

it will help members to stay away from violating policies and to understand more if you answer me.

[brian_burke@ebay]

@partfinds and others - we use existing policies as reference and to reduce duplication of content. The previous policy also linked to pages like the one you reference and those policy pages also contain the same language about search and account restriction. 

To be clear: Posting in the Community will have no impact on Search visibility for your items - even if you violate a Community policy.

If a user violates the Community Guidelines so often, or so egregiously (e.g. threatening bodily harm), their account may be suspended. But that occurs very rarely with legitimate buyer and seller accounts.

If we are unable to coach a user to stop violating the guidelines we restrict them from further use of the Community rather than restrict their account from buying and selling activity. 

I hope this clarifies our approach and assures you that you do not need to worry about your listing visibility or account status when posting to the Community. One of the goals of the Community is to provide a place for sellers and buyers to help each other succeed, reducing visibility or restricting accounts would go agains that goal. 

Thank you for selling on eBay.

Brian

[allthingssurplus]

Looks like eBay has decided to not want to hear what is wrong with the platform or what costs Sellers money any longer.  In the eBay world free speech is not legal or wanted.  Looks like only eBay facts are real and those of long term sellers with ligit complaints will no longer have a voice.  When you only want to hear praise, you will never get corrective change.  This is along the same lines as if your tell a lie long enough and hard enough it begins to be the truth.  So no matter how damaging new programs, like listing tool, come along we will be told how great it is for the Seller and Buyer experience.  This is how countries fall and this is how eBay will Fail.  SAD

[transamcc]

It will require diligence to keep it from becoming just another social network platform like twitter or facebook!  Too much of that already in place here. That and the OP bashing by frequent posters.

[evry1nositswindy]

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
Community Manager

^^^

Define "Top Posters".  Many post here and have lots of thumbs up, but they are for the social posts.  Nothing wrong with those, as I post in one, but it is not exactly the same as having thumbs up for actual helpful suggestions or quoting the regulations and policy.

[evry1nositswindy]

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@katzrul15 wrote:

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@dhbookds wrote:

Agree with axing the names/titles

What do people think about Kudos?  

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sheila@ebay 

Wish they would make the whole business go away.  Helpfuls are subjective and often have zero corollary to the subject matter at hand.  I may "like" a post as it is helpful to me, but not to the OP's question, post, rant, diatribe, etc.

Have never understood the whole "Rockstar" thing - it gives off the wrong vibe anyway.  

The "leader board" needs to just go away - it means nothing anyway.  No reason to keep track of "helpfuls" or whatever in the first place. 

And the boards need to limit the number of IDs folks post with.  We have people constantly creating new IDs to be just be disruptive to the boards overall.  Who needs 10+ IDs to post and create under-current??

If you are truly here to post, share, learn and help others, why do you need multiple posting IDs?  You don't.

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Exactly.  I read one post where the OP answered with one of their other IDs and was making themselves seem like they were in the right.  They got busted for it too by one of our astute 'rockstars'.