I haven't been here long, nor do I have the history in this game to really make many blanket statements. I'll share my observations and you can take them for what it's worth:
I think you guys, well some of you at least, are sort of missing some of the bigger issues that are the cause of a lot of the problems here. For some reason there is this idea that sources should have the same feelings and the same goals as we, the consumers, have. This is just not the case, and really never will be. A source is in business to make money, as much as of it as they can, and more times than not as quickly as they can. Period. If you have any thoughts of anything to the contrary you need to do some real thinking on the topic. If people are buying my product, why the fuck would I change what I'm doing to pander to a couple of disgruntled forum members? That makes 0 fucking sense. Would it be nice if a source would do the right thing by us, the consumers, every step of the way? Obviously. Is that ever going to happen? No, obviously not. We need to get out of the mindset of the source owing us something. They don't. They're in business to sell drugs, just like any other drug dealer. Simple supply and demand. They set the market, and operate how they want, and really don't owe us shit. it's our job as the consumer to do our research, do our testing, and try to find the best source we can. It's impossible to keep a source accountable. If they don't want to do the right thing, do you really think flaming them on a forum is going to change that?
As long as this forum is not moderated (which is the biggest reason I ever joined here and started to participate) there will always be sources, we all agree on that right? The issue is, the sources that come here are generally just nickel dick home brewers, who just started brewing and have barely run 2 cycles in their entire lives. They have no background in drug dealing, business, or steroids. They come here, because it is unmoderated, there is a huge customer base of rabid steroid users, and it's easy to make money for them. They have no history, and there will always be people stupid enough to "give the new guy a chance". I have been guilty of this myself in the past, so I know.
SCOC or not, this will continue to happen, over and over and over again.
Meso isn't the only show in town, never has been, never will be. It's the most honest place to speak about steroids, that is for sure, and that's what makes it different from the sponsored boards. If you don't want sources here, I'm sorry to tell you, without moderation that will never happen. And quite frankly, it shouldn't. If people want to peddle their garbage here, how can you stop them? Post over and over again how they're shitty and selling garbage because they didn't follow a code of conduct? That seems slightly counter productive. If you have any honest conversations with any sources from other boards the same thing comes up every time I've every brought up Meso. And I'm referring to good sources, who've been around, who have testing and history to prove they are good sources (whatever a good source is these days at least): They all say, why deal with the hassle? There are so many other sites with comparable traffic or more traffic than Meso, and no headache from people getting up in arms and trying to ruin my business before having the whole truth. They want me to jump through hoops to sell them illegal substances, why the fuck would I do that?
Honestly, they're right. If I'm a source who is in good standing, has good product, and has a strong customer base, why sell on Meso? What is my upside? If I make a single mistake, I'll be raked over the coals for weeks and weeks, and poof, my business is gone. To me that is the bigger issue. Instead of making it harder for people to source here, which they are clearly going to do regardless, why not try to develop relationships with the reputable sources and give the members here who spend their hard earned money and time in this community a better opportunity at running a good cycle, not getting scammed by some idiot who cooks in his kitchen, and a better understanding of how this game is played?
I've been here 2 months as an active member and probably 5 or 6 months lurking. In that time I couldn't even begin to name the amount of bullshit, no name, first home brew, sources who have come and gone. I'm sure you guys see it too, as it's mentioned quite frequently. Wouldn't it just be better for everyone here to figure out a way to get decent sources here, stop fucking around with the startup's who inevitably crack under the pressure, and create a space where we are all more comfortable and way less combative in every single thread?
It's a source board, just like pretty much every AAS related board is. That weird ideal some of you guys are clinging onto is really not based in any sort of reality. If you want an unsourced board, than you need moderators banging away at source posts. There is no other way. Short of that, this is and will continue to be a source board. So if that's the case, why not make it the best possible source forum? Why not only have the best of the best here? Why scare away some of the great sources/resellers out there who actually have decent product?
IDK, just my thoughts. Hope I didn't offend anybody, that wasn't my intent.