If I may.
Citing a few examples of where you think a few things got through does not a double standard make.
Anybody watching this site over the past few years knows how much activity the moderators have been engaged with in trying to calm down threads, moving them to appropriate forums, such as the Consumer Watch or the mfg's own forum if it has one, and closing numerous threads when disputes get out of hand. I have to wonder when someone says they believe such actions have not been taken.
With regard to folks promoting themselves within forums, you will obviously never be aware of what goes on behind the scenes. When we do attempt to reign in such over-exuberance, we end up getting flak from those who think the mfg or builder ought to be able to promote themselves.
It is indeed a fine line. We prefer never to intervene whenever possible. We prefer calm winds and clear nights so that we can enjoy this place as much as anyone instead of watching what a particular poster bent on testing our wills intends next.
Because of the size of this place, in many instances we can only react to reported posts. My intervention in this instance was in response to a couple of PMs of folks who were concerned about your Club's forum turning into a battleground. And, in answer to your next question, the PMs were from folks not aligned with either side to the dispute. I do not recall any Reported Posts about the person promoting himself here...did you send one? I've checked my log and see none.
In this instance, the poster in question was warned three times in this forum over the course of a single day, not to mention the exchange taking place with private messages. He was provided with a link to the Consumer Watch area, and a specific link to its guidelines. This was not a case where the person was prevented from making other folks aware of a problem (from his perception)...it was a matter of that person simply ignoring the advice given to him about how to go about it. This advice was given to him despite his remarks here and in private. When he finally did post in Consumer Watch, he flat ignored the guidelines and did so in an unreasonable manner. Before I edited it...the remarks were basically to the effect of calling the other person a name and warning him to "watch out" without giving any details as to the dispute. Much the same occurred in the three threads he started here. Have you read the guidelines in Consumer Watch? If so, what, pray tell, do you find wrong in what they ask folks to do?
It is rather easy to critcize the moderators, especially since you see little of what we do. That's fine...we've never asked for any thanks, and we don't now. But we do ask folks to be considerate of one another.
I suspended the person for a limited period of time to allow him to think it over a bit. I've asked another of your group to discuss the situation with him in an effort to see if the suspension might be lifted early. As a new member, the poster might well have heeded the advice and read the guidelines posted in numerous locations around this site...they were put there by the administration for a reason...rather than telling us how he thinks the site ought to be run and shooting the messenger.
Funny thing...I've received PMs asking why I didn't ban the person outright and sooner, and PMs asking why I took any action. Neither Ron nor I can recall a specific instance where any act of moderation we engaged in was met with everyone in agreement. Nor do we expect that to ever occur.
Now, to the point. The thread(s) were not pulled because the poster named the mfg in question. In fact, we ask that they be identified and contact information be provided so that folks who are interested can ask them for their side of the story...again, read the guidelines in Consumer Watch. Naming someone does not mean a name of your own choosing, such as starting off by calling the person a "shark." Explaining what the dispute is about does not mean simply saying the "shark" owes you money and nothing more. We don't mind a bit of argument, but for crying out loud...tell us what the he!! you're pissed off about.
We have been threatened with legal action from time to time, and the state of the law is such that we do have to be mindful of everyone's position and ability to state their side of the story. That's why we have Consumer Watch.
Sorry to interrupt what is normally a very quiet and fun place at this site. Simply trying to keep it that way. You asked a valid question, and I do hope this provided you with an answer.
