A discussion forum with very little discussion...

[scottmccloud]

When I first joined Acorn Domains it was a lively community, but as it stands, it is just becoming a collection of for sales threads selling largely worthless domains. Don't get me wrong, there are some great domains for sale at good prices, but by and large it's become a place for people trying to dump their rubbish.

Although I understand the point of not allowing comments in sales threads, it stifles discussion and when you come to check the new posts every day, you’re confronted with a list of threads selling domains that if we’re honest about a lot of them, nobody is going to buy.

The point that it is unfair on the seller to comment on a sales thread is only valid up to a point. What if the seller is asking for a completely over-the-top price? What if you suspect that they don’t actually own the domain? What if you've got something positive to say that could actually make the domain more attractive? The rights of an individual seller seem to be taking precedence over the good of the community overall.

We’re all big boys and girls so if you’re selling something and can’t take some people voicing their opinion on it, should you really be in business? How do you get through life being so sensitive?

So if we're not allowed to comment on sales threads, should we have a part of the forum where we can discuss them? At least it might encourage some actual participation in the forum rather than the inane listing of crap that we're getting at the moment.

Or if not that, what other ideas are there out there?

I hope this isn't seen as an attack on Alan because it most certainly isn't. In fact, it's because I like the forum he built so much that I don't want to see it consumed by endless listings of rubbish.

 

[ian]

I'm confused as to whether this thread is regarding the lack of overall business discussion on Acorn, or the inability to comment on sales threads? From what you've said, the later, but I believe the forum has lost its edge in terms of general bouncing ideas around too; a stark contrast from what it use to be like.

Would largely agree about the quality of domains promoted on here, I'm as much a culprit as others, but fast realising that apart from advertising a domain being sold via domainlore, there is little trade going on as a direct result of posting on here, which is a shame. Maybe there are less end-users visiting the forum, or just that domainers are much more picky about what they want these days.

I don't however agree that critiquing on a for sale thread should be possible. The discussion should take place in a separate thread.

 

[UncleBob]

Up front, this forum has been amazing to me, coming into this industry recently and being of an age where this fancy new technology stuff leaves me baffled.

I get what you are saying above - to me it sometimes feels intimidating to comment or post in any thread - you get too scared to ask a question for being shot down, often you click on an interesting looking thread and see that the comments have all been replaced with something like "---- all done here".

In regards of the latter, sure there's valid reasons for that, but it does make one feel like an outsider and not welcome, like secret conversations only happen. Why not just delete the thread?

I can, however, only imagine it's a nightmare managing a forum - every forum everywhere in the world attracts people who believe they can just write whatever they want, no matter how abusive and offensive it is, or what dodgy legal ground it is on.

still, I pop along during the day when I can.

 

[websaway]

When I first joined Acorn Domains it was a lively community, but as it stands, it is just becoming a collection of for sales threads selling largely worthless domains. Don't get me wrong, there are some great domains for sale at good prices, but by and large it's become a place for people trying to dump their rubbish.

Although I understand the point of not allowing comments in sales threads, it stifles discussion and when you come to check the new posts every day, you’re confronted with a list of threads selling domains that if we’re honest about a lot of them, nobody is going to buy.

The point that it is unfair on the seller to comment on a sales thread is only valid up to a point. What if the seller is asking for a completely over-the-top price? What if you suspect that they don’t actually own the domain? What if you've got something positive to say that could actually make the domain more attractive? The rights of an individual seller seem to be taking precedence over the good of the community overall.

We’re all big boys and girls so if you’re selling something and can’t take some people voicing their opinion on it, should you really be in business? How do you get through life being so sensitive?

So if we're not allowed to comment on sales threads, should we have a part of the forum where we can discuss them? At least it might encourage some actual participation in the forum rather than the inane listing of crap that we're getting at the moment.

Or if not that, what other ideas are there out there?

I hope this isn't seen as an attack on Alan because it most certainly isn't. In fact, it's because I like the forum he built so much that I don't want to see it consumed by endless listings of rubbish.

The very fact that you describe other investors domains as rubbish is the reason you are not allowed to give opinions on domain sale threads.
If someone wants an opinion on a domain they post it in the appraisals section.

I appreciate your concern regarding the lack of interesting activity on the forum but that is not a way to solve it.

I think the forum took a dive after the meetings in London commenced, that may or may not be a coincidence.
We have also lost some controversial members who used to keep the forum lively.
Some members, Edwin for one, stopped posting when he realised that when he did post he was often the subject of abuse.

 

[scottmccloud]

The very fact that you describe other investors domains as rubbish is the reason you are not allowed to give opinions on domain sale threads.
If someone wants an opinion on a domain they post it in the appraisals section.

Someone was trying to sell shopoping.com the other day. If that's not rubbish then I don't know what is?

Why can't someone post an opinion about a domain name even if the seller hasn't asked for an appraisal?

 

[websaway]

Someone was trying to sell shopoping.com the other day. If that's not rubbish then I don't know what is?

Why can't someone post an opinion about a domain name even if the seller hasn't asked for an appraisal?

If someone posted the domain you refer to, why would you want to give it the time of day ? Just move on.

 

[Adam H]

Someone was trying to sell shopoping.com the other day. If that's not rubbish then I don't know what is?

Why can't someone post an opinion about a domain name even if the seller hasn't asked for an appraisal?

I agree and disagree do a certain degree but with the sales threads i understand people not wanting confrontation or discussion.

Ive seen in many cases that people here put no value in something and then you see it selling elsewhere for reasonable price, pricing and niche domains in my opinion are very here nor there, something one person considers worthless the next person knows they could sell it and considers it gold.

The only domains which everyone is on the same rough levels are the real premiums, everything else is all subjective as to whether that person can sell it for what they want for it, or can hold it until someone does come along.

I agree though, shopoping was a different level of crap

 

[martin-s]

Just occasionally, this forum is capable of a solid gold discussion.

But comments on sales threads are a complete no-no:

* If it's a crap domain, ignore it
* If it's a domain you're not interested in, ignore it
* If it's a domain you might be interested in, but the price is wrong, negotiate on it
* If it's a domain you like and the price is right, buy it

Nobody made any of us the world's policeman

 

[spiderspider]

Why can't someone post an opinion about a domain name even if the seller hasn't asked for an appraisal?

If comments in sales threads were allowed, and a below the mark domain was posted, I can think of members who would be straight in there saying how rubbish it is, and basically repeating what each other says. One post saying its rubbish is enough, but forums are breading grounds for group mentality, and its never long before you have a few more joining in, and you end up with 20 pages , 1 post selling a domain, 3 saying its rubbish, topic taken off subject and ends up being about elephants landing on Mars (OK, maybe not that extreme, but we all know it happens).

Flip it the other way, and a great domain is posted, you end with 20 posts of 'Wow, great name, good luck selling it'. It just gets boring to read through.

Not so long ago, comments were made about the quality of 'premium domains' that were being posted. There were then changes made, and less crap gets in the premium folder. I don't think you can do the same with normal sales threads, as everyone owns a bit of crap, and wants to get rid of it. I'm not sure what the solution is, or if one is needed.

 

[anthony]

When I first joined Acorn Domains it was a lively community...

In 'the good old days' there were far more matters to discuss, but as time has moved on, those matters have been and gone. In no particular order, these have included whether domains were property, domain squatting, typos, abusive use of the Nominet whois database, the various legal challenges, firing/leaving of key staff, anti-Cowley discussions, loss of open access their digital assets, Nominet bonus, PreNom clean-up, the release of LL, the release of .uk, setting up of the charity, DRS's, and loads more i can't recall now. With a lot of these matters put to bed now, it's no wonder conversation is down to a trickle. Shame really!