This looks very good. I had not heard of it so thanks for bringing it to our attention.
I've looked at the PhilatelicForum. It is one of those websites where it appears that you have to have made 25 valid posts to their forum in order to buy, sell or participate in auctions. I've seen other forums that require as many as 50 posts. I don't have enough meaningful things to say in ten years so I guess I'll not be able to participate. I could post 25 messages saying "Hello!" but I don't think that would count.
I agree with Paul in regards to that site.
I dont want to feel as if Im being forced to post if I have nothing to say/contribute constantly.
I have found much better sites.
All I can say is if one doesn't have enough to say on a Forum, then don't join one.
A forum is for discussion and learning. Why else would one join ?
The website in question is a forum where you can buy and sell. No more.
There are very good reasons a site requires that folks have XX amounts of posts before allowing them to do transactions. Safety. It allows folks to get to know each other before transactions begin. It stops ‘fly-by’ scams. It stops spamming.
Sites cannot easily vet new people, they mostly rely upon an email address. Scammers seek out sites and forums which do not have these kinds of limitations and will target them over and over by using gmail or other free email address hosts (some setup hundreds of email addresses). Scammers want to join sites where it is quick and easy to take advantage of others. It is unlikely that scammers will take the time to join and make posts; it is too much effort knowing that they typically can only run the scam/spam a few times before being discovered.
So requiring XX amount of posts before allowing access to features like buy/sell or using the forum messaging system (or other members email addresses) is a very good way to protect the existing membership from scams, spam, and other malicious behavior.
Reaching XX posts can be done by posting images of your latest new stamps or posting questions about something that you do not know. On most forums, the Mods can manipulate the post count of members so they can help legitimate members if they they have belonged for a while and have not reached the XX post count.
Don
Looks like they are off to a good start, and the setup and rules seem pretty straightforward. Time will tell whether they can attract some additional experienced contributors. I might even give it a try.
If you just want to read, there is no need to join most any forum as you can read most sections without signing in.
I have watched the visitor count on SOR (visit often as a moderator) and most either not signed in or bots.
The 25 post count is a reasonable screening method for buy, sell, trade, or contact other members. Except on SOR where there is a dedicated an approval/auction, most other forums do not have a lot of buy/sell post activity. You just want to prevent the one post wonders.
I am curious why they started the forum. Did they start due to a bad experience at another forum (not the first time?
I believe that it is good to encourage any growth in the philatelic world including giving nascent forums a chance. So let's wish them success.
As to why this forum was created, I found this explanation in the introduction to be quite reasonable:
"The most obvious question -- why?
Though there are several good forums out there for discussing stamp collecting, I was frustrated by a few common issues:
An unfriendly/unhelpful atmosphere -- stamp collectors can be a prickly bunch, and some forums tend to be very unforgiving of new collectors, those whose English skills or computer skills aren't great, or those with different opinions.
Limited features due to the forum software -- this is especially common with forums running older software or free software. The limitations of the old tech or the "free" tech inevitably limit how useful the forum can be for its users.
So, I finally decided to setup my own forum. I'm committed to offering a family-friendly place to discuss stamp collecting. It's my intent to keep the moderation at the minimum necessary to keep things civil and free of spam. You'll also not see any ads in this space."
I've been a member of The Philatelic Forum for nigh on a year now. Not a lot of posters or much comment on postings, but I attribute that to low membership. I have not seen any hostile posts or any controversial topics.
It is as good as the other forums I belong to, but then I have no interest in buying or selling.
FF
I visited this forum last year and encountered a very hostile moderator. I had answered a question from another collector who was asking for help on stamp dimensions for album page design. I posted a link to World Stamp Collector software, a non-commercial site offering a free world wide database. My post was deleted and I was accused of posting a link to another website.
"I visited this forum last year"
"Just for clarity: "this forum" meaning the Philatelic Forum? Or do you mean the forum we are on now, StampoRama?"
For the sake of fairness, I inquired about the rules for links on the other forum and the admin stated that only spam links or excessively commercial posts were not allowed. This may be a misunderstanding.
I feel that all stamp collectors benefit from anything that grows the hobby. If a new collector searches for forums and finds many choices, that is encouraging. It says the hobby is alive and buzzing.
"admin stated that only spam links or excessively commercial posts were not allowed. "
Has any one heard of The Philatelic Forum and if so, what is your opinion? Their address is:
https://www.thephilatelicforum.com/
re: The Philatelic Forum
This looks very good. I had not heard of it so thanks for bringing it to our attention.
re: The Philatelic Forum
I've looked at the PhilatelicForum. It is one of those websites where it appears that you have to have made 25 valid posts to their forum in order to buy, sell or participate in auctions. I've seen other forums that require as many as 50 posts. I don't have enough meaningful things to say in ten years so I guess I'll not be able to participate. I could post 25 messages saying "Hello!" but I don't think that would count.
re: The Philatelic Forum
I agree with Paul in regards to that site.
I dont want to feel as if Im being forced to post if I have nothing to say/contribute constantly.
I have found much better sites.
re: The Philatelic Forum
All I can say is if one doesn't have enough to say on a Forum, then don't join one.
A forum is for discussion and learning. Why else would one join ?
The website in question is a forum where you can buy and sell. No more.
re: The Philatelic Forum
There are very good reasons a site requires that folks have XX amounts of posts before allowing them to do transactions. Safety. It allows folks to get to know each other before transactions begin. It stops ‘fly-by’ scams. It stops spamming.
Sites cannot easily vet new people, they mostly rely upon an email address. Scammers seek out sites and forums which do not have these kinds of limitations and will target them over and over by using gmail or other free email address hosts (some setup hundreds of email addresses). Scammers want to join sites where it is quick and easy to take advantage of others. It is unlikely that scammers will take the time to join and make posts; it is too much effort knowing that they typically can only run the scam/spam a few times before being discovered.
So requiring XX amount of posts before allowing access to features like buy/sell or using the forum messaging system (or other members email addresses) is a very good way to protect the existing membership from scams, spam, and other malicious behavior.
Reaching XX posts can be done by posting images of your latest new stamps or posting questions about something that you do not know. On most forums, the Mods can manipulate the post count of members so they can help legitimate members if they they have belonged for a while and have not reached the XX post count.
Don
re: The Philatelic Forum
Looks like they are off to a good start, and the setup and rules seem pretty straightforward. Time will tell whether they can attract some additional experienced contributors. I might even give it a try.
re: The Philatelic Forum
If you just want to read, there is no need to join most any forum as you can read most sections without signing in.
I have watched the visitor count on SOR (visit often as a moderator) and most either not signed in or bots.
The 25 post count is a reasonable screening method for buy, sell, trade, or contact other members. Except on SOR where there is a dedicated an approval/auction, most other forums do not have a lot of buy/sell post activity. You just want to prevent the one post wonders.
I am curious why they started the forum. Did they start due to a bad experience at another forum (not the first time?
re: The Philatelic Forum
I believe that it is good to encourage any growth in the philatelic world including giving nascent forums a chance. So let's wish them success.
As to why this forum was created, I found this explanation in the introduction to be quite reasonable:
"The most obvious question -- why?
Though there are several good forums out there for discussing stamp collecting, I was frustrated by a few common issues:
An unfriendly/unhelpful atmosphere -- stamp collectors can be a prickly bunch, and some forums tend to be very unforgiving of new collectors, those whose English skills or computer skills aren't great, or those with different opinions.
Limited features due to the forum software -- this is especially common with forums running older software or free software. The limitations of the old tech or the "free" tech inevitably limit how useful the forum can be for its users.
So, I finally decided to setup my own forum. I'm committed to offering a family-friendly place to discuss stamp collecting. It's my intent to keep the moderation at the minimum necessary to keep things civil and free of spam. You'll also not see any ads in this space."
re: The Philatelic Forum
I've been a member of The Philatelic Forum for nigh on a year now. Not a lot of posters or much comment on postings, but I attribute that to low membership. I have not seen any hostile posts or any controversial topics.
It is as good as the other forums I belong to, but then I have no interest in buying or selling.
FF
re: The Philatelic Forum
I visited this forum last year and encountered a very hostile moderator. I had answered a question from another collector who was asking for help on stamp dimensions for album page design. I posted a link to World Stamp Collector software, a non-commercial site offering a free world wide database. My post was deleted and I was accused of posting a link to another website.
re: The Philatelic Forum
"I visited this forum last year"
re: The Philatelic Forum
"Just for clarity: "this forum" meaning the Philatelic Forum? Or do you mean the forum we are on now, StampoRama?"
re: The Philatelic Forum
For the sake of fairness, I inquired about the rules for links on the other forum and the admin stated that only spam links or excessively commercial posts were not allowed. This may be a misunderstanding.
I feel that all stamp collectors benefit from anything that grows the hobby. If a new collector searches for forums and finds many choices, that is encouraging. It says the hobby is alive and buzzing.
re: The Philatelic Forum
"admin stated that only spam links or excessively commercial posts were not allowed. "