andrewb
Well-known member
In my observation, this ban appears to be more emotionally driven than rationally driven.
Let's ask some questions: (And please try to address these rationally, not emotionally).
As I've mentioned in earlier comments, what is the goal here? It is important to be clear on what you're trying to achieve through this ban.
If you're trying to hurt RAM/Dave/etc, I'm not sure how this will do anything to accomplish that, as if he is selling parts, he will just do that elsewhere. If anything, you're making it *easier* for him (and more dangerous for any newcomers) by forcing him to do it outside of a community, which can educate and warn people about this situation.
Think about that for a minute. This ban actually puts people at greater risk.
In addition, I have not heard, read, or seen any evidence of anyone actually being scammed by RAM in a long time. Is there any evidence of this? Please provide it, if so, and educate me.
But if not, as visionik says, we can't continue to see RAM down every dark hallway.
While many people know there are what appear to be RAM-looking parts making their way into the community, many/most appear to be legitimately purchased by legitimate members here.
Restricting perfectly legitimate and well-known members from buying and selling parts, which they legitimately bought with legitimate money, does not do this community any good. It actually hurts the community, as it gives people yet another reason to go elsewhere.
If we want this community to be strong, resilient, and continue to exist, we need to give people MORE reasons to stay here, and fewer reasons to leave. And personally I don't believe that is happening. (And if anything, it has been the opposite.)
If you want to ban the guy, ban the guy. I'm fully with you on that. There are perfectly legitimate reasons to not allow a scam artist to be part of this community. And mods have done a good job at doing this in the past.
But hurting legitimate members, who legitimately want to sell parts they purchased legitimately, is throwing the baby out with the bathwater, and cuts way too far in the other direction. Painfully so.
The solution is to educate people, raise awareness as much as possible and deal with the real issue (i.e., if an individual is actively here trying to scam others). But cutting off both legs because there 'might' be cancer in them is too extreme, and will ultimately kill the patient.
Don't kill the patient.
Let's ask some questions: (And please try to address these rationally, not emotionally).
As I've mentioned in earlier comments, what is the goal here? It is important to be clear on what you're trying to achieve through this ban.
If you're trying to hurt RAM/Dave/etc, I'm not sure how this will do anything to accomplish that, as if he is selling parts, he will just do that elsewhere. If anything, you're making it *easier* for him (and more dangerous for any newcomers) by forcing him to do it outside of a community, which can educate and warn people about this situation.
Think about that for a minute. This ban actually puts people at greater risk.
In addition, I have not heard, read, or seen any evidence of anyone actually being scammed by RAM in a long time. Is there any evidence of this? Please provide it, if so, and educate me.
But if not, as visionik says, we can't continue to see RAM down every dark hallway.
While many people know there are what appear to be RAM-looking parts making their way into the community, many/most appear to be legitimately purchased by legitimate members here.
Restricting perfectly legitimate and well-known members from buying and selling parts, which they legitimately bought with legitimate money, does not do this community any good. It actually hurts the community, as it gives people yet another reason to go elsewhere.
If we want this community to be strong, resilient, and continue to exist, we need to give people MORE reasons to stay here, and fewer reasons to leave. And personally I don't believe that is happening. (And if anything, it has been the opposite.)
If you want to ban the guy, ban the guy. I'm fully with you on that. There are perfectly legitimate reasons to not allow a scam artist to be part of this community. And mods have done a good job at doing this in the past.
But hurting legitimate members, who legitimately want to sell parts they purchased legitimately, is throwing the baby out with the bathwater, and cuts way too far in the other direction. Painfully so.
The solution is to educate people, raise awareness as much as possible and deal with the real issue (i.e., if an individual is actively here trying to scam others). But cutting off both legs because there 'might' be cancer in them is too extreme, and will ultimately kill the patient.
Don't kill the patient.



