I went to delete my account and look what I found! The PSU Rules of Conduct!!! I am going to quote the first line here, just so there is no misunderstanding that what I am doing is my right to do here per the rules PSU has set down.

Quote: › Thank you for your interest in the PowerSellersUnite Discussion Forums. This is an unbiased forum, which believes in freedom of speech.

The entire Rules of Conduct follows this post.

I would like to exercise my Freedom of Speech...

When I came here to PSU in Feb 08, it was a pretty nice place to get and give information. I learned a lot from a lot of members. There were some negative members, but overall, it was what one would describe as an 'unbiased forum'.

I found a home for my wares at OLA (www.onlineauction.com) and took some time off of these forums to build my store and my business. When I returned several weeks ago, I found that the OLA forums had become a place of hate and spite. With all the hateful threads found in the OLA Discussion forum of this site, I emailed the Powers That Be and complained. Bitterly. The administration assured me that they would work to clean it up. They did not as is evident by what remains here from the past and what is being continually posted by a handful of negative members now.

I have argued with these people, pleaded with these people, and even begged these people to stop the constant harrassment that OLA members get when visiting these boards... to state their displeasure with OLA and move on.

I have apologized for arguing, for offending, for even 'being'... to no avail. I was told today, in two different OLA threads on this site, to stick my apologies up my ... I have been called a hooker and worse. My fellow OLA members have been called names and worse has been implied about their character and mine. These people have gone to OLA chat boards to start fights when they could not get enough satisfaction and cause enough chaos here in these, the OLA forums. Check out OLA Chat topic "Well Well Well"...

I quote directly from the Rules of Conduct again:

Quote: › Posts should be made to the most relevant forum for the topic. The moderators may move posts at any time if there is a forum better suited for the topic in discussion.

AND

Quote: › Use existing threads on your topic to continue a discussion rather than starting a new one.

I ask where the moderators were when thread after thread was started about the same thing... a handful of members who were left unsatisfied with their efforts at OLA? I ask where the moderators were when this handful of disgruntled sellers went into peaceful, happy, positive posts to voice their displeasure and spew their negative venom? According to the rules PSU laid down, all those threads and posts should've been in one thread... They didn't seem to have a problem moving OLA members' posts around... why did they not move the negative ones to one thread? Why were these people not given warnings and suspended as were many OLA members?

Quote: › Be considerate. No flaming of other members to incite or perpetuate an argument. Personal attacks or name-calling is not permitted. Any member who is intentionally unpleasant or disruptive may be banned without warning

I was personally called a hooker and worse. The handful of malcontents kept the 'recent topics' full at times of nothing more than name calling and filthy inuendos. They took great joy in baiting OLA members, going to the OLA Chat (on OLA itself) to keep pulling us back to defend ourselves and our site. Were any of them warned or suspended? All I can say is if they were, they disregarded the warnings, came back with mulitple ID's to keep posting, or waited out any suspensions and started right back in. I was so offended at being called a hooker that I personally reported it and yet the member continued to post daily, and the offensive post remained... still remains unless the poster edited it. I ask again Where were the moderators? Sure, posts were removed, but not the ones from anyone other than OLA members... at least that is the way it looked, looks, and has been pointed out by the hate-mongers themselves.

PSU states, in it's Rules of Conduct, that this is a Discussion Forum. That it is an unbiased forum. That all members are asked to follow certain rules to ensure a respectful forum community. And yet today a member of the administration, on another thread in the OLA Discussion Forum, made a statement about OLA members coming here to start trouble.

In the spirit of free speech and an unbiased administration, I challenge that post. OLA members come here to defend themselves and the OLA site. They should be coming here to discuss and promote their site, but that isn't possible because anyone who says something positive about OLA is immediately attacked by a handful of malcontents who are above the rules. And today, an adminstrator of this site agreed with them and made it okay for them to continue.

I am aware that the responses to this post are going to be ugly. They have been for months. PSU may even remove it, but I don't see how they can as I have followed the Rules of Conduct and am exercising my right to free speech, not just given by this site, but by the US Constitution.

Thank You PSU!!! You've done a great job!!! Not a fair or unbiased job though, as is evident by the post made by PSUnite today on the other thread. Don't worry, I'll not be posting again on this site. I will, however, drop in periodically just to see if this post is still here. I doubt that it will be as it doesn't present PSU in a very becoming light... sort of like the light OLA has been allowed to be presented in by some hateful people.



If you are looking for a new place to list, don't let others decide what is right for your business. Visit OLA and see what they have to offer you. Visit all the alternative sites and see what they have to offer you. Do not take the word of the negative-not-selling-anywhere malcontents you find trashing this, or any other discussion forum. Decide for yourself. OLA may not be right for you, but it might just be exactly what you're looking for. It was for me.




Thank you for your interest in the PowerSellersUnite Discussion Forums. This is an unbiased forum, which believes in freedom of speech. To ensure a respectful forum community, we ask members to follow certain rules. Participation Indicates Agreement With These Rules Of Conduct In using the PS Boards. You also agree that the information you provide when you registered is accurate.

While the administrators and moderators of the forum will attempt to remove or edit any generally objectionable material as quickly as possible, it is impossible to review every message. Therefore you acknowledge that all posts made to these forums express the views and opinions of the author and not the administrators, moderators or webmaster (except for posts by these people) and hence will not be held liable.


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Metzy - I am not going to get in a debate with you on postings. However, I have asked you several times about the report that OLA views have doubled.

Instead of answering my questions, you have become very sarcastic and arrogant telling me that I have read the OLA post so I know. I said that yes I read the post but asked where did the poster obtain the information so it could be confirmed. I even gave the information I obtained that was totally different from the posters but once again I am being ignored. I also asked about the completion dates for the upgrades since they were originally promised for May.

You have called me a troll, a harasser and troublemaker. I will admit I started a topic "Calling the Kettle Black" here at PSU because you and others called me a troll and criticize anyone who complains about OLA. It's ironic that OLA members have the audacity to award a Pink Badge to OLA members who spam ebay and get suspended. In fact for the past few days, the board at OLA is full of little tricks you are pulling on ebay. To me that is totally unethical just like the video you thought was funny.

I have voiced my displeasure with OLA here but I would never even consider going to the OLA boards and telling members to leave or come to another site. I became a member because of the posts on ebay and as I have said many many times, I recommend that if people want to join do so as a monthly member instead of paying $196 upfront that is not refundable.

This forum sat silent for about a week until your "bud" Buyer111us came over here with his little video, and you came flying in on your broom seconds behind him. Buyer111us started the thread you point to above, the same thread in which he announced the offending video. He states, and I quote:

Well, I took down the link since its not there anymore. But any who, check out my post on OLA traffic, we made a huge dent yesterday!!

The video was made to create chaos and traffic for OLA. I guess you got some traffic you didn't depend on, but you should know I won't be threatened by some low-brow, gutless asshole and remain quiet about it. Oh, don't get me wrong... Buyer tried to remain anonymous, but apparently he didn't know that eCrater makes available the email address of the member who asks a Seller a question through their system. When I went to my YouTube page there were two messages waiting for me that alluded to the question asked via eCrater and then threatened to make a video about me and my excessive Priority shipping rates of $5.00.

I had no idea that Buyer was so inept. And, I've got some news for you, chicky.. Buyer111us is more than likely the owner of OLA. So, you're either being duped, or you know it as fact yourself. Which is it?

It cracked me up to hear his sob story (leaving the board because he was in shock at being accused of such things). Tell old menacedennis that rocketmail can be traced, and has been. Additionally three IDs from this forum were found to belong to the exact same email address. Buyer111us is one of them, and he's the other two, as well.

This forum is a courtesy to OLA. There are no laws which state it must be included. This site and its management were defamed in that youtube video, and yet you feel you have a right to make demands here? You make me laugh!

How many times are you going to promise your "buds" never to return here? When OLA traffic falls off, here you are again. Life is a two way street and I have a feeling you might be headed for a roadblock, dear. You're really lucky that PSU is owned by someone with incredible patience. Anyone else might have shut this forum down long ago. In my mind this forum exists more for OLA victims than it does for OLA cheerleaders seeking referral fee's.

OLA members (cheerleaders) aren't the only users that might think PSU is less than "unbiased". Wagglepop and Ewaey cheerleaders have also taken and given more than their share of abuse here. So don't think you are all alone.

Personally I try to stay out of the raucus threads, especially if I have no experience at the site. I've never used OLA at all. The problem is that there are many (past) members of all 3 of these sites that have had less than even OK experiences and when they report them are often ridiculed by members that ARE (or think they are) doing fine on the site.

I don't know what the answer to these problems are other than for both sides to try to "hold their tongue". Count to 10 before you make or answer a post you don't like.

Yes there will be differing opinions of all the sites talked about here. We all sell different things and have different expectations of alt sites. Some of us do better on a certain site than on another that someone else does great on.

As long as the site is functioning as promised, there is no reason for flaming. Only when a site continually fails to deliver on promised upgrades or fixes is flaming possibly justified. Many of us have experience with the site BidChaser. After about 18 months of constantly promising fixes that never "stuck" and lots of other things, we all gave up on that site and told everyone to bail as fast as you could. Absolutely no one stuck up for that site. Well justified trashing.

Since for some OLA is still working OK, I suggest those that don't like the site simply post why and then try to leave it alone. I personally know that can be hard to do. But it will make for calmer threads in the long run. And will halp your own "blood presure" too.

Carol

I don't know what the answer to these problems are other than for both sides to try to "hold their tongue". Count to 10 before you make or answer a post you don't like.

Holding my tongue when I'm being harassed across multiple sites isn't possible. People need to know what they're getting into, and I'm not even talking about OLA's site issues. I don't know anyone in their right mind who would knowingly associate themselves with a site that condones and rewards the violation of another boards rules. Again, we are talking multiple instances across multiple sites.

People who have to resort to tampering with your business in order to gain leverage in an argument have already lost the discussion.

I've seen children better behaved.

Perhaps it is time for you all to grow up.

As long as the site is functioning as promised, there is no reason for flaming. Only when a site continually fails to deliver on promised upgrades or fixes is flaming possibly justified.

Exactly, and OLA HAS NOT FUNCTIONED AS PROMISED. OLA does CONTINUOUSLY FAIL to produce as demonstrated with the fact that upgrades promised nearly 4 years ago are still "in the works".

What the OLA cheerleaders do is come here and state how wonderful the site is and then when someone who has used the services tells the TRUTH, the harpies fly in and disembowel the teller of truth.

This negative pattern has endured for the past 3-4 years as evidenced by researching past PSU threads. Nothing, absolutely nothing changes except for the fact that the brutal behavior of the OLA harpies inflicted on hapless sellers has become even more disgusting over time.

I have to say simply - Life isn't fair. So what?

The biggest issue at PSU has been and always remains the personalization of posts, and the responding to those. Yes - there is from time to time name-calling and personal attacks, but if you looked at what came before each and every one, it is a member who who will not (or can not) accept another person's opposing opinion about a SITE!!!

Carol's right - it's not just ONA, eWAEY, WagglePop either. Many a sites have been criticized and many a thread went 'south'. Each and every time - it was due to those who are so passionate about a specific site - they disregarded another member's experience - and became defensive.

Human Nature - pushing buttons is fun, for many - a great pleasure.

Life Lesson - don't allow your buttons to be pushed.

I have no issue with any of the posters. I also (like Carol) prefer to avoid the personalization of posts and the attack of posters. BUT, I do want/need/desire to hear about the good, the bad and the ugly. Not about members, but about inanimate objects - web sites!!!

MetzyMom - I understand your frustration, but also believe that you're not very thick-skinned. I've been called out and called many names here. I own the choice of staying, going, participating, not. Nobody can make you or I a victim - we are all volunteers.

The title will most likely 'push' this thread south also. If you really have a complaint about members, posts, threads, etc. why not take it to PM with a moderator or PSUAdmin? Seems much less 'dramatic' - but just MO.

CuFF, innerpuppie, confused:

I agree with what you are saying, and pretty much everything you have been saying for awhile now.

CuFF--Saw you on the boards...please let me correct one small statement you have made:

"Wouldn't it be nice if the loudest OLA Sellers were nice, ethical people?"

I am considered a "loud seller", and I'm nice and ethical. I was "loud" because I was supporting the latest campaign that OLA needs some serious, immediate advertising. Perhaps you were referring to a few hardcore sellers that are very resistant to change?

Please do not generalize that OLA'ers are not normal. Some, like myself, were at first gung-ho, then realized they were misled, and now are completely disillusioned. (perhaps I misread your comment?)

Also, please take to heart the "taking meds" phrase--looks like some OLA'ers take offense to it. (Directed to everyone who uses it, not just you--most of us are also guilty)

All in all, I agree with you.

Just my .02.

Point taken It wasn't my intention to generalize that OLA sellers are not normal, but rather those few (who also happen to be the loudest) are not normal, or ethical. If you prefer I could use the word average as opposed to normal? An average person would lift a brow at the antics of Buyer111us. Going out of your way to make videos meant to stir things up, followed by stalking and threatening someone because they didn't find it funny is not normal or average.

I perfectly understand that people have been misled. That's exactly what all of this is about. If I stepped on your toes or the toes of any other innocent party, I apologize.

Eh--no harm, no fowl.

Keep up the good work.

Likewise... Metzy just PM'd me a thank you. Do you think she considers herself an innocent party?

Just a personal observation from an outside observer (we no longer sell on the internet, and I'm rethinking my position of sticking around PSU based on built up relationships).

I think it's truly sad when grown adults resort to, or respond to, ad hominen attacks and even economic attacks against the businesses - the livelihoods -- of people they perceive as "the enemy."

Using an example of such childish behavior which doesn't include any participants in this childish pi$$ing match to avoid inference of taking sides, look at what has recently transpired to drive a valuable contributor to PSU away (hopefully, only temporarily); David of cohibastore.

People took exception to his defending the use of eBay by simply explaining that despite all of their (eBay's) newly grown warts it was still the best performing site for third party sellers. He offered both criticism of new policies and how to best work with them if a seller wanted to stay on the platform. He also offered much valuable information pertaining to running a successful business, regardless of platform, to new and established eCommerce participants (and hopefuls).

Yet some immature coward/s decided to "teach him a lesson" and played games with his business. Any person who would participate in, or find satisfaction through, such endeavors is in need of either growing up or psychiatric help -- or both. For in their present state they are self defined losers who will always blame someone else for the never becoming truly successful.

Like 2 Boys posited above, people need to hear the good, bad and ugly -- what is working or not working based on verifiable facts of performance and unemotional relating of experiences -- for any and all sites. Ideally, discussion of such factors should be done as unemotional presentation of experience and fact -- not emotional rants laced with accusations and ad hominen attacks.

Just as the infamous "Pink Badges" offered at OLA show the immaturity of those participating, the constant ad hominem attacks on the OLA members who come here to either cheer lead or just report reflect the immaturity of the anti OLA crowd. It's quite obvious both sides are "fighting to win" for their own respective "righteous" crusade or agenda; and just as obvious that nothing either claims should be considered as resembling the reality of the situation.

New and old sellers alike would be better served with a mature discussion of the pros and cons or any venue. New people, as well as experienced sellers looking for additional venues are interested in establish fact and rational, well articulated opinions based on experience, not emotional ranting and raving. The childish social activities presented in many discussions are, in two words, childishly ridiculous.

Perhaps both the socially and business immature, along with the general membership of PSU, would be better served if the individuals who find their self esteem in trashing others by starting a forum of their own off PSU -- perhaps calling it "Playground Antics R Us"...

mongoose wrote (View Post): › Using an example of such childish behavior which doesn't include any participants in this childish pi$$ing match to avoid inference of taking sides, look at what has recently transpired to drive a valuable contributor to PSU away (hopefully, only temporarily); David of cohibastore.

I missed this.....and it does sadden me that anyone would be driven away for expressing their experience and their business plans. I hope David comes back - I agree that he's a very valuable contributor at PSU!!!