Looking for Clarification on Forum Rules

[jordan85]

I'll try to make this brief. I found starting vaping a couple weeks ago. Convinced this is a miracle product. Now am interested in starting a local store, possibly online after that, and am interested in learning about the industry, etc.

Tried submitting a post on the Veteran's section that never got posted. Tried reaching out to a couple of members via private message.

Entered Live Chat, and asked something along the lines of: "Hey, I was wondering who in the vaping community I could reach out to for some unbiased info on the industry," and was immediately met with "we don't discuss that here," was referred to the forum rules.

After reviewing the forum rules and not seeing anything objectionable, I was told to check supplier rules; I tried explaining that I have only been vaping 2 weeks, and I had some broad questions on the industry landscape, and was confused as to how I could be considered a supplier when I have no business license, no product, no site, no employees - no business, to which I was told since I was considering a business and trying to learn more about the industry, I "may as well be a supplier," and that it was a "slippery slope," ....because clearly me asking who I can reach out to for a private discussion on the industry is a slippery slope towards self-promotion and schilling

I am a little frustrated right now, because I'm really confused on what rules I am violating. I have read the rules, and I don't see any that I am breaking. ECF is an independent site (as far as I know, disregarding advertising revenue), so frankly I don't see any reason why discussing the industry would be an issue. I understand the need to keep schills, vendor self promotion, etc in check, but I don't see how any of my actions could be objectionable thus far.

I likened it in my chat to a forum for McDonalds where you could discuss the food all day, but if you mentioned the franchise, or wondered how the food made it to your tray it was immediately taboo.

So can somebody please explain to me what I am doing wrong, and why the subject is so taboo that I can't even raise the question "I was wondering if you knew any members of the vaping community I could reach out to for an unbiased opinion on the industry"?

-Jordan

 

[oldsoldier]

Trolling and arguing with a operator over rules...
I explained to you the rule for ECF live chat and yet you felt compelled to "change my mind". Live chat is an end user venue, not a one stop vendor information shop.

If you had simply stopped it would have ended differently. I will not engage you further in this thread as I'm sure an admin will respond to you shortly.

 

[jordan85]

this post isn't asking why I got kicked from chat. I know why I got kicked from chat: because people were telling me not to do something, and referencing rules that I still haven't seen (and btw nobody could point to), and my choices were to either just "accept it" and shut my mouth, or argue my point and be labeled "a troll."

Are you an admin? Does anyone have access to chat scripts? I would love to post the chat scripts and have an audience decide if I was trolling or not.

I never tried to turn chat into a "one stop vendor information shop." I asked one question: "who can I talk to?" I didn't try to have a discussion in the chat, I asked that, and was abruptly met with the good ol' boys crooning "you can't do that, it's in the rules." I don't handle stupid. But this isn't a case of a stupid rule. This is a case of a group of people telling me there is a set of rules I was violating, but not being able to reference them. If somebody will show me the damn rule this conversation would have ended in chat

 

[Lightgeoduck]

I understand your frustration, but it is always best to discuss your issues with staff actions via PM and not in the open forum.. which is an ECF rule. you may PM one of the Admins your question and concerns and they will respond once it is possible. You can see a list of moderators at the bottom of each sub forum.. The one's in red are the Admins you would like to address your questions to..

I am going to close this thread and also put it up for review.

Thank you for understanding

LGD

 

[rolygate]

Jordan, this subject isn't a problem at all, it's just that any site like this gets spammed hard so everyone is very wary of unregistered vendors.

As LGD says, it's maybe something best discussed by PM or by emailing one of the site contacts - see our Contacts page, linked at the top and bottom of every page. I'd be happy to answer any questions on this (admin@ecf), it's just a normal commercial enquiry and nothing to get excited about. You just need to be sensitive to the fact that people are tired of the spam and have a knee-jerk reaction to anything related.

There is no rule about discussing this subject, as you found. However the IRC Mods are a bit more sensitive than the site Mods because they get more, harder to deal with, issues in chat.