👉 VOTE Yes or No: Bitcointalks Official Rules Be Updated, or The Wild West 🤠

[howardsentell]

[POLL] VOTE Yes or No: Must Bitcointalk's Official Rules Be Updated, or Embrace The Wild West!?


Subject: New perspective on the "Wild West" – thoughts on Rules 2, 3, 7, and 8 BTC.

I realize I’m posting this with a "New Full Member" tag under my name. In the hierarchy of Bitcointalk, that usually means I should sit down, be quiet, and "pay my dues" before offering an opinion. I get that. I respect the history here. While I may be new to this forum, I’m not new to how communities work, and I’m not new to the school of hard knocks. I’ve been around the block enough times to know that sometimes, a fresh set of eyes can spot cracks in the foundation the old guard has learned to step over. I’m becoming a full member, and I’d like to share my thoughts on the rules, especially the difference between what’s written and what really happens.

1. The "Selectively Enforced" Rules (2, 3, and 8 BTC. We have clear guidelines. Rule 2 says "no off-topic posts," Rule 3 forbids trolling, and Rule 8 draws a hard line at threats. Yet, in my short time here, I’ve seen threads derail into absolute chaos where all three are broken repeatedly with zero consequence. It sends a confusing message to new members: Are these rules, or are they just suggestions? If we want high-quality discussion, we can't enforce these rules only when it’s convenient or when a user is disliked. Consistency is the backbone of any respectable platform. If we have Rule 8, a death threat should mean a ban. Not a debate.

2. The "Begging" Paradox (Rule 7 and Trust) I think we have a blind spot here. Rule 7 is clear: "No begging." I agree; nobody wants the forum clogged with handouts. However, a gray area in the Trust system, especially in the Collectibles and Marketplace sections, creates a contradiction. I have seen legitimate buyers, including myself, purchase items, pay promptly, and then receive no Trust feedback from the seller. When a buyer fulfills their obligation, positive Trust should not be a favor the seller grants; it is simply a record of a successful transaction. Yet, without a rule mandating reciprocity, a buyer often has to chase the seller for feedback. We end up having to beg for the reputation we rightfully earned. It feels contradictory to ban begging (Rule 7) yet keep a marketplace culture where honest members plead for recognition.

The "Wild West" vs. Standards. I know some of you prefer the "Wild West" approach: unregulated, raw, and chaotic. But there is a difference between freedom of speech and a lack of professional standards. If we want this forum to remain the premier destination for Bitcoin discussion and commerce, we need to decide if the rules on the sidebar are laws or just decorations. I’m not here to start a revolution, just to offer a perspective from someone who values order and fairness.

What’s the members’ consensus? Is the lack of enforcement a feature or a bug?

My two sats. Thank You

[yahoo62278]

As a new full member, this is only an opinion: should the forum rules be regularly updated and consistently enforced? I have observed several instances in which members violate these rules without facing any consequences. Some long-standing members may argue that if I disagree with the rules, I should either establish my own forum or wait until I have accrued more experience before offering suggestions. However, I maintain that new members can contribute valuable perspectives that may be overlooked by those more familiar with the forum. While some may assert that I have not 'paid my dues,' I consider myself an older, experienced individual who has lived life in the school of hard knocks. I have repeatedly witnessed violations of Rules 2 (no off-topic posts), 3 (no trolling), and 8 (no threats of bodily harm or death). Furthermore, Rule 7 (no begging) lacks clarity, particularly regarding the expectation of receiving positive trust, for example, when you purchase $1000 in collectibles, and the seller does not reciprocate. Although I recognize that participation in the forum is voluntary. I welcome recommendations on any rules that are not currently enforced, that should be revised, or like the wild west.

If you see someone violating rule 2 report the post and give the reason why you reported it in the description. If the mods agree, they will delete the post in most cases. Witnessing it and doing nothing about it makes you just as guilty. Rule 3 I have never really seen enforced as it seems like the trolls run rampant at times and we just ignore them. With rule 8 report it if you see it and it is usually handled but don't be petty and take shit out of context if someone is just fucking around.

Your positive trust deal is easy to answer. Nowhere on this forum does it say that i you engage in a deal for $1 or $1000 that someone must leave you a positive trust. Guaranteeing you get a positive point only helps potential scammers figure out how to farm trust. If users want to give you positive trust that's their choice, but never expect it or ask someone to give it to you.

Should some rules be updated, yea probably.

[Kazkaz27]

As a new full member, this is only an opinion: should the forum rules be regularly updated and consistently enforced? I have observed several instances in which members violate these rules without facing any consequences. Some long-standing members may argue that if I disagree with the rules, I should either establish my own forum or wait until I have accrued more experience before offering suggestions. However, I maintain that new members can contribute valuable perspectives that may be overlooked by those more familiar with the forum. While some may assert that I have not 'paid my dues,' I consider myself an older, experienced individual who has lived life in the school of hard knocks. I have repeatedly witnessed violations of Rules 2 (no off-topic posts), 3 (no trolling), and 8 (no threats of bodily harm or death). Furthermore, Rule 7 (no begging) lacks clarity, particularly regarding the expectation of receiving positive trust, for example, when you purchase $1000 in collectibles, and the seller does not reciprocate. Although I recognize that participation in the forum is voluntary. I welcome recommendations on any rules that are not currently enforced, that should be revised, or like the wild west.

If you see someone violating rule 2 report the post and give the reason why you reported it in the description. If the mods agree, they will delete the post in most cases. Witnessing it and doing nothing about it makes you just as guilty. Rule 3 I have never really seen enforced as it seems like the trolls run rampant at times and we just ignore them. With rule 8 report it if you see it and it is usually handled but don't be petty and take shit out of context if someone is just fucking around.

Your positive trust deal is easy to answer. Nowhere on this forum does it say that i you engage in a deal for $1 or $1000 that someone must leave you a positive trust. Guaranteeing you get a positive point only helps potential scammers figure out how to farm trust. If users want to give you positive trust that's their choice, but never expect it or ask someone to give it to you.

Should some rules be updated, yea probably.

Now, this statement—“Should some rules be updated? Yeah, probably.”—is very important.

I’d like to hear from you, yahoo62278: What are your suggestions for updates?

[_act_]

I have repeatedly witnessed and reported violations of Rules 2 (no off-topic posts), 3 (no trolling), and 8 (no threats of bodily harm or death). Additionally, I find that Rule 7 (no begging) lacks clarity, particularly regarding the expectation of receiving positive trust when purchasing collectibles and the seller's failure to reciprocate that trust. Although I recognize that participation in the forum is voluntary, I welcome recommendations on any rules that are not currently enforced, should be revised, or should be like the wild west.

So you expect people not to violate the rules? Just like the off topic, did you report it and it was not deleted if it is a post, or moved to the right board or deletd if it is a topic?

Trolling is not what can be easily handled because of the freedom of speech that this forum allows.

No threat of bodily harm: If you see such post, just report it and it will be deleted. But just that what is an insult is not considered a threat. Some people consider it as threat but which is different.

Rule 7 has clarity, if you make a post about request for donation, the post will be deleted. Only people that are established might be pardoned because of the contributions they have made on this forum. The rule might not be for people that have contributed to this forum.

[SquirrelJulietGarden]

VOTE Yes or No: Should the forum's official rules be updated, or The Wild West⁉️

If you see any rule needs to be changed, you can ask for change but need to listen to community opinion - including moderators - on it like most of them support the proposed change or against it, eventually you will need to get approval from forum admins.
If you are in a forum a long time enough, you would know that the forum rules have been updated many times so community voice has contributions for such updates.

By the way, let's see the following topic title is like Unofficial of official ...
Unofficial list of (official) Bitcointalk.org rules, guidelines, FAQ

Rule 7 has clarity, if you make a post about request for donation, the post will be deleted. Only people that are established might be pardoned because of the contributions they have made on this forum. The rule might not be for people that have contributed to this forum.

Since some dramas from donations, charity hosted by community, the forum no longer allow any user to post any topic with that purpose of asking of community charity or donation to any person for individual need.

[_act_]

Since some dramas from donations, charity hosted by community, the forum no longer allow any user to post any topic with that purpose of asking of community charity or donation to any person for individual need.

Where did you get this information from? It is not true. The forum will leave the donation alone if the person that created the thread is an established member. Only when it is deleted is if a newbie is asking for donation.

But you can make yourself clearer if you post the link but I know what I am saying and I still saw on one the reputation board last year in October or November created by a hero on anlegendary member.