1. ET is the only forum that doesn't number individual posts (for easy reference). Why? 2. The Ignored people's posts still show up when quoted, and that still creates annoyance and bad behavior. As long as I don't see Surf's or others' idiocy, I don't care what they say... And about 11% of it was made by Big Mike himself. I am not kidding, he makes ~570 posts per month.... That tells a lot about the vendor, not the website. If they can't or not willing to defend their product (without the siteowner's protection), what does that tell you? The thread created visibility and PR for them without being a sponsors anymore, and they decided that they want it to be shut down....
EricP summed it up on Page One. Do you want mass quantity of posts? Or trading-specific and constructive posts predominantly? There is a difference. BMT has a lot more trader - trading dialog threads than ET at this time, and has been for awhile. If you back out all the non-trading threads and the negative-trading posts (TA don't work, all traders lose, all vendors are crooks, you have no hope to succeed so quit now but I still haunt this site as a failed trader anyways) along with politics, religion and soft porn in here for 2013 alone, what constructive content is left? How many of the daily posts are trading specific versus have nothing at all to do with trading? That's the real question you need to ask yourself. Once upon a time this started out as a board for traders to exchange positive, constructive information. Where is it now?
A constructive suggestion -- offer a <i>lite</i> sponsorship so the impecunious stealth vendors can come out of the closet -- maybe ½ or ¼ the price top-tier vendors such as Covel and Bone pay, but with fewer privileges. Would get rid of the seamy, sordid behaviors on the site -- wink-wink-nudge-nudge vending, 'never had a losing trade' claims, PMing the noobs, etc.
The ACD thread is one of the best civil threads here at ET. Oddly, it contains lots of price action discussions, charts, fundamentals, economics and many other talks. I'm curious why marketsurfer doesn't cause problems in that thread considering you said "we all know why". Why...is it being self-moderated without our knowledge Does it have something to do with Maverick74 and didn't he use to be a moderator here at ET awhile back ? I see them as sponsors elsewhere and engaging forums members of those locations. What does that say about ET website. I'm a member of several of these forums. My opinion (a guess) is that ET has more trader topic threads but most of them quickly traversed into a psssing contest by the usual folks being allowed to derail threads. In contrast, BMT seems to have less trader topic threads with LESS psssing contest and some say that's do to less tolerance over there for the crap. ET use to BAN folks for the same behavior that BMT currently BANs folks for such. Now, there's this environment here of tolerance just as long as they don't post links to their own resources. Its not just BMT, I see the same similarities with more moderation at other forums in comparison to Elitetrader.com There was a time here at ET that folks complained about the heavy moderation at other forums. Ironically, I've seen several of those same folks here at ET posting LESS here and posting more over there concerning trader topics. Sponsors aren't stupid especially with what's going on via social media. Something else, many of ET's problem posters are active on social media outside of ET. Yet, their civil and don't post the same crap. That in itself says a lot about ET and how those same folks have been viewing ET for the past few years. That's why I laugh when I here some of them say they are here to save the newbie when they are documented elsewhere of doing just the opposite. Sponsors want traders...not entertainers. In my opinion, Baron can easily attract more sponsors (more dollars in his pocket) if he got rid of a few trouble makers that puts a lot of value on their user names as he has promised to do in the past via direct public messages to a few of the troublemakers that if they continue with the crap...he'll get rid of them.
While some of what WRB states makes sense, he is very wrong on a number of counts. Regarding the ACD thread-- perhaps the folks he has issues with don't question or post challenges there is because it mostly makes logical sense and guru types are not claiming to "stare at charts for 18 hours per day" and in 5 years you will finally "get it". and other such nonsense or preaching rarely a losing day nonsense. The illogical garbage claims are met with questions the posters can't answer so they go ballistic. ACD is self moderated! LMFAO!!! Maverick and I are personal friends off of elite trader. How dare you suggest I am somehow banned from that thread via self moderation. You have quite the imagination. Remember, tthis is not real life, THIS IS THE INTERNET. WRB also makes a grave error regarding sponsors. Sponsors don't want sophisticated traders-- real established traders don't buy their stuff for the most part. Sponsors want wannabes and noobs who are trying out new things in the market. In other words, page views are what makes the internet work. there is no question about it. WRB seems dead set on self moderation and banning the marketsurfer alias since "friends" of his can't take the heat. Well, take a look at the page views where the marketsurfer alias posts-- they are dramatically higher than average. So take your campaign someplace else. surf
Rod, that's an excellent idea. the vendor/sponsor lite program would allow posting of links within constructive posts or maybe as a signature line. But would not provide banner ads or other graphics on the site. The problem I see occuring is that the established top tier vendors may drop that sponsorship and become a "lite" vendor to save money but still have a pressence on the site. It's clearly those with agenda's that want the self moderation. Just look at the names. surf
You do NOT always act in a civil manner. Just recently you went around calling people assclowns and spineless junior cops. Your memory is extremely selective.
I believe that was in direct response to personal attacks, marketsurfer banning campaigns, those who want to destroy the site by "self moderation" and other such unsavory behavior. It was not unprovoked. surf PS-- what do you think about Rod's idea for the sponsor lite program? That way folks like WRB who sell educational courses and stuff could do so legitimately?
That's one of his classic misinformation he posts here at ET. In other threads he's name calling, personal attacking and then he'll defend himself as being civil in a different thread like this thread under the facade that Baron only see's this thread and not his other message posts. In addition, he has poor English comprehension skills. You can say the sky is blue and he'll reply and say as if its a fact that you said the sky was red. That's one of my biggest pet peeve about anyone. Someone that consistently does such is not accidental...its intentional for the purpose of starting an argument or baiting for an argument. Those types of ET members are on my ignore list (never to be removed) because I know they will LIE to themselves and pretend you said something else. Just in case most folks are misinformed about this particular fact... Baron himself, Joe himself, Magna himself can NOT see every message posts here at ET. That's why its absolutely critical that when you and others see surf or anyone else making such comments in the trading related threads (not the PR and chit chat threads)...see them trolling with the same old bickering and thread hijacking message posts... 1) Use the complaint button 2) Follow-up with a direct email or private message to ET management 3) Keep doing it....don't stop. 4) Notify them immediately of any stealth vendor breaking the rules and request them to be banned especially the hypocrites that complain about stealth vendors while being one themselves (end of story). Reminder, very important fact, the self-moderation discussion is not about stealth vendors. Its about trolls, folks breaking Elitetrader.com Terms Of Use rules, constant hijacking of threads that Baron, Joe, Magna or any other of the other 9 moderators don't know about... That's the purpose of self-moderation...to help ET management have extra eyes about the crap occurring here at ET that's driving away qualify members...pushing them to other forums. That's why I say to Baron...test the self-moderation in ONE thread only. If it goes well, add another thread. Those threads irresponsible or abusing the privilege of being self-moderated by the OP, remove the self-moderation and don't allow the OP to self-moderate another thread.
No, it is not self-moderated, just a lot of self-discipline there. Pretty much like options threads. And yes Mav has a lot to do with it, not because he used to be a mod (I didn't even know that) but because he has added a huge amount of value there and we just appreciate it. Even if you have no interest in ACD, the first 500 pages or so are a great read.