READ THIS FIRST - Rules for using the trading forum!

[marrowick]

Originally Posted by Porkins

As one who was heavily involved in trading, I'm not thrilled about the changes here and haven't participated in any trades since the change. I don't agree that this makes trading easier. I do agree that it makes tracking tradeworthiness easier (although I'm not sure how it will prevent longstanding members with large +rep from causing...anomalies, as we have seen happen lately.)

The thing I liked about the old thread was that I could subscribe to one thread and be notified immediately when somebody made an update or offered new items or wanted new items. The new system requires me to sort through numerous threads or subscribe to every thread in the subforum to watch for changes. Additionally, I'm not really notified if a new thread is created, unless I subscribe to the daily digest message.

So here is my suggestion: how about adding a "Trade Announcement" thread. As is current practice, each person creates and maintains their own individual trade thread. When User X creates his/her trade thread or updates his/her Haves or Wants in User X's own thread, User X is also permitted to post in the Announcment Thread. This post will consist of nothing more than "Created/Updated my list" and a link to their individual thread. Create some rules around how frequently User X is permitted to post in the Announcement Thread and away we go. Now I can subscribe to one thread and be notified whenever anybody changes their Haves/Wants.

Awesome idea Porkins. Makes perfect sense to do that.

[IAmBatman]

Makes sense to me. This is Xorlof's baby, though, so he should probably weigh in.

[Jim]

Stupid Porkins, not liking our system and trying to come up with something on his own <grumble grumble> Huh? This thing is on?
Oh, er, well, great idea Porkins! I like it !

[Xorlof]

Originally Posted by Porkins

As one who was heavily involved in trading, I'm not thrilled about the changes here and haven't participated in any trades since the change. I don't agree that this makes trading easier. I do agree that it makes tracking tradeworthiness easier (although I'm not sure how it will prevent longstanding members with large +rep from causing...anomalies, as we have seen happen lately.)

Nothing we can do will prevent it. The "no asking for gifting" rule that rolled out as part of this larger trading revamp should help out with seller-side anomalies. It moves people to a place where it becomes more straightforward to go through a PayPal mediated resolution, greatly reducing risk, and ensuring a certain level of seller performance.

Originally Posted by Porkins

So here is my suggestion: how about adding a "Trade Announcement" thread. As is current practice, each person creates and maintains their own individual trade thread. When User X creates his/her trade thread or updates his/her Haves or Wants in User X's own thread, User X is also permitted to post in the Announcment Thread. This post will consist of nothing more than "Created/Updated my list" and a link to their individual thread. Create some rules around how frequently User X is permitted to post in the Announcement Thread and away we go. Now I can subscribe to one thread and be notified whenever anybody changes their Haves/Wants.

What is this strange "subscription" thing your refer to? (I don't use subscriptions much, browsing instead using the "today's posts" link, so I suppose that's why this sort of idea wouldn't have occurred to me.)

On to your proposal--sure, as long as such a thread is only used for announcements that occur after the trade threads are still created and updated, I can't see any downside to allowing it. I'll amend the rules and create the thread. I'm at another busy time, so even though it is a relatively straightforward operation, give me a few days to make this happen. (That will also give other admins time to weigh in in our private forum if they have any concerns that didn't spring to mind for me).

[Dad_Scaper]

I don't see a problem with it, fwiw.

[IAmBatman]

You don't use subscriptions, Xorlof? I'm probably subscribed to over 1,000 threads given all of the C3G ones I'm subscribed to! The User CP is the active poster's best friend!

[ZBeeblebrox]

I subscribe to every thread in the C3V/SoV forum, so i can keep track of everything

[IAmBatman]

I know, right? It'd be utter chaos otherwise! So much to do, so much to do!

[greygnarl]

I don't subscribe to any threads either. Like Xorlof I use Today's Posts to keep track of everything. Maybe one day I'll convert, but I like to read (and all too often post) in just about every thread on the site.

[Jim]

Originally Posted by greygnarl

I don't subscribe to any threads at all. Like Xorlof I use Today's Posts to keep track of everything.

What if you miss a day?

[caps]

Originally Posted by Jim

What if you miss a day?

I'm currently subscribed to about 1,260 threads. I would guess that 1/5 - 1/3 of them are old "dead" threads, but many of them have had posts in the last 6 months.

When I'm busy, I just skip over the ones that aren't important to me or were not interesting to me the last time I checked in.

[MegaSilver]

Originally Posted by Jim

What if you miss a day?

That's why I subscribe, and also check Today's Posts.

But I'm on here multiple times a day so it may be redundant.