The Poll, Vote for change by force

[chessspy]

It is in my opinion of great import to this group to vote in the online poll. In order to get the kind of group you, the ones who actually use it should vote now! At present only 4 dealers/dealer-collectors have voted to change things by force, this is clearly not enough. Unless you want the chess dealers who never use this site ,to loose their grip on the pure collectors who do, then you will use your vote to change things back to how they were before the internet brought this darned freedom and democracy. We dealers cannot start a new group of our own as we cannot exist without the collectors,so our only recourse is to pretend we are a silent majority and force change through. Do not let it appear we are only a gang of four,(and bear in mind before you get your friends to join and vote ,that the moderators aren't stupid and votes for change from people who rarely if ever go on to this site will not carry much weight. If we must resort to such tactics the rather say you never went on because there were too many people enjoying themselves. Always remember we want it to be like in the old days of the CCI, weekends away in exotic locations with hotels at £3,000 for 4 nights ,and if the poor collectors couldn't afford that then we let them come and listen to our pearls of wisdom for a mere entry fee of £600. VOTE NOW

[dancing_with_volves]

There is one more issue. EBay has promised to install new discussion group module for some time. I would urge any member who thinks about resignment because of off-topic overload to wait until the new software is present. It might give us the possibility to create separate sub-forums for informative and informal threads. In my opinion, that would pretty much solve the problem. Right now all threads are mixed which is very confusing.

[dancing_with_volves]

Robert, do you know anything about possible deadlines of the new module?

[chesspurr]

there were 22 lookers on the 22/5 2007 in our group. there were 8 contributors to the threads ,and of these one was a new member ,and another was luke honey of bloomsbury auctions . why oh why .... do the many moan and do nothing ? i have always believed that if one wants things to happen ,one has to participate ....

[dancing_with_volves]

Unfortunately eBay software does not offer the possibility to view the number of postings of individual members. The number of participating members must be greater than 8 but of course it is less than 82 (the number of Poll respondents).

[knight_knight_zzz]

Kristjansander... well, I am going against a tentative self-made promise to myself a little while ago. I am posting a really brief message to you. It is exceedingly interesting that you seem to be concerned about the potential "resignment" of members who think apparently feel there is there is too much "off-topic overload". Yet, you make no mention of potential resignment of people who may well object to the manner in which you biasly formed the poll questions... but even moreso, interpreted (along with Robert) the results! You and Robert created massive "spin" that would make even Bush's spinners blush! I agree, overall, with Chesspurr's, Chessspy's, Gevork6, godopendedherwomb, and even cpe1991 contentions. They and I often disagree about things. But I suspect that there MAY be a serious question as to how you formed the situation and questions to begin with, as well as interpreted the results. While I cannot speak FOR them individually or even as a group... but that is my sense. In the words of Chesspurr, "there were 8 contributors to the threads ,and of these one was a new member ,and another was luke honey of bloomsbury auctions. why oh why .... do the many moan and do nothing ? i have always believed that if one wants things to happen ,one has to participate ...." And by the way, if I am correctly understanding the last issue or question posed directly above, there IS a way to see how many overall postings there has been by individual contributors to the chess threads. But I do not believe that you have - as of yet - answered my question as to whether it is possible - if a person has more than one ebay name, could they have, in essence, - voted more than once? John, Vermont.

[chesspurr]

kristjansander hi kristjan the way i managed to come up with my figure was to .... 1. look at all treads used on the 22/5/2007... 2. then memorise the same regular contributors who posted a comment .... that was rather easy . 3 then glance at the lookers on the 22/5/2007. this process took about 10 minuites . note this ... one member who seems to have issues with me , was a looker and said nothing ... as usual ... well i have an issue with him .... offer something ....create your own thread please , and mabye you might get some enjoyment ... if others appreciate your efforts .

[chesspurr]

to all perhaps once again we need to look at reasons for non contributory members moaning . i sure dont accept the rubbish about the woffle being the primary reason at all. my take is far more basic .... certain members want information for their benefit which in understandable , and are mighty frustrated when its not forthcoming from the regulars . so they moan about the content ,yet ignore the friendship building that is going on . they suspect that these members are all helping each other and dont like it . guess what they are correct .... and will continue to be frozen out until they accept this group is not a free data base .... it simply cannot ever be as we are competing for e bay sets ,and on occasion some pretty rare ones too. what these threads can do is offer a safer path in e bay buying ,and help collectors to know each other better. polls ,votes , may seem great ideas , but the way our group is shaping up ,suggests to me that , we simply have to be most careful as to how we proceed in the internet world of chess collecting , and unless the silent majorority join in ,they cannot possibly hope to get the best possible results from our group. i am almost thinking that our few regular contributors should set up their own group , and leave this one . i sincerly do not think this is what i want to happen ,but if the continued grief being expressed to us few active members, continues..... then its a distinct possibility . the idea of being judged by a silent watching zorro who offers nothing is highly offensive to me ,and possibly others too, as at least we are trying pretty hard to make this idea work. i am also thinking that many members just enjoy our group for what it is ,and will accept it in any format as its a pleasant way of passing a few minuites on occasion ,and they are not of concern to me at all, as i doubt they even voted in our poll for change .

[chessspy]

Hi, all, I agree with Kriku, we should wait until the new software is installed. If there are options to be taken or not on the search side of this new thing then I for one would want to take advantage of any and all search options. This will frighten the silent ones! Alan D.

[r.van.der.veur]

According to Meave (the nice lady from eBay) the upgrade of the groups will take place next month. First it will deployed in preselected groups and if that is successful in all groups. Robert

[acf1515]

Hi All, You can make statistics say whatever you want them to say. The poll was an interesting excerise and we can now all understand other peoples views and maybe take them into account on all sides. Again people will have different views on the questions, this is natural. (Just look at the differing opinions in the Religious thread) I certainly don't think anyone should resign over this poll, and I think that splintering the group will only be detrimental to everyone. With a little give and take and understanding this group can go on growing and be a major influence on eBay and in the chess collecting world Jim

[disphania]

Chesspurr, #51 of 55. I wonder about the way visitation and participation records are kept. If I understand it correctly you can scroll down until you find your name and it will tell you when your last visit was. It shows I last visited this site on March 7. Chesspurr, I have not missed a single day of visiting this site. It is an important part of my day. While my contributions have been minor they are made and several of them since the March 7 date. It makes it hard to judge the level of interest of individuals when you are dealing with faulty information.

[disphania]

Sorry, I forgot to sign my missive. Charles Perkins

[gevork6]

........all this reminds me of a famous quote by Sir Winston Churchill.........: "Democracy is the worst form of government except for all the other kinds...".....LOL I really am shocked that so much has been made over a trifle.....chess collecting is a hobby, a diversion for most people.....I come to this web site for some FUN...like I would go to the gym or I would go to play tennis........I think the matter has gotten TOO SERIOUS...... I don't see a big deal with off topic discussions. I think we should just let this be a free lighthearted forum.....otherwise its like the old song: THE THRILL IS GONE......... Art

[chessspy]

Hi, Charles, I have been told that the "visit" data is faulty on a number of occasions, it's good to have that confirmed. I tend to agree with Alan (F) that a little understanding is all that is required to help this forum continue to be what it already is, a good , free place for chess collectors to meet and exchange information about their research, knowledge and collecting experiences. We have had a group for some years which made an attempt on this (CCI) however it was, and still is hampered by the fact that a number of members are dealers who do not see it as in their interests for information on the costs and availability of sets to be freely published. And in that they are quite right, that those CCI members who sell modern sets over the internet will, as their sources are discovered, not sell as many sets(I do not have a very high opinion of either the sets or those that hawk them over cyberspace) Also amongst those who suffer will be the antique chess set dealers, who will find that collectors will be much more "savy" as to price and rarity than had previously been the case. The online collectors, for their part will have to find a way of controlling the sometimes rather raucous postings of some of the more extrovert members of the group. None of these ,fairly minor problems, need cause us any great difficulty as we have a sterling group on monitors who can curb some of the more extreme excesses. Regards Alan D.

[r.van.der.veur]

I also agree with Alan (F) and (D) that a little understanding is all that is required. Anyone how want to add to this discussion has until this Saturday. Then I will lock this thread and hopefully this issue. Regards, Robert