Why I don't care if you get scammed

[greyowl]

I can't help but notice that a number of threads are popping up with lots of advice about how mods can intervene to protect people from getting ripped off by scammers on this board. Some of these ideas are very ingenious. But there's one problem.

You see, as a mod, I don't care if you get scammed by someone else on this board.

That sounds harsh, so let me explain.

The role of mods does not involve acting as a police force to protect buyers of illegal drugs. Nor are we here to act as a Interstate Commerce Commission for the regulation of the trafficking of controlled substances. And we are most especially not a organization of mentors and Big Brothers for juice junkies.

We are only here as surrogates for the owner of the board, and our only function is to patrol the threads in order to ensure that posts comply with the owners' rules.

There is one exception to the rule. We wll not patrol the Classifieds. In fact, most mods don't even visit the Classifieds. We don't know what goes on there, and we're not interested in finding out.

Why? Well, for one reason, if we become involved in managing the Classifieds section, for example by searching out the IPs of scammers, we become legally liable for the trafficking of controlled substances (assuming it still goes on there).

Why would I risk that to protect you? Who are you? What have you ever done for me? Is protecting you from scammers worth losing my spotless legal record, my credit rating, my career?

A final point (and speaking only for myself, not the other mods) -- in my experience, more than 90% of the people who get scammed deserve it. They should have known better, but insteas they acted recklessly because they got greedy or impatient.

As for the other 10% -- people who got scammed through no fault of their own ... I don't have a lot of sympathy for them either. No one forces you to send your hard-earned money to a total stranger who happens to be a career criminal. Hey folks, it's not like we're talking about buying Cabbage Patch Dolls on E-bay.

What does that mean? It means that when you go into the Classfieds, you're on your own. There are no laws, and no one to enforce them. And as a result, the place is crawling with criminals -- as well as people who are more honest than 99% of the rest of the human race.

It's your job to tell one from the other. Don't ask the mods to do this work for your.

So, let's say you have a GREAT idea for how the mods could ride herd on scammers or clean up the Classifieds section. GOOD FOR YOU! Tell your family. Tell your friends. Tell the DEA for all we care. But don't bother to tell the mods, because we won't do anything about it.

 

[Southernjuice]

Nice thread...I agree totally. If you do your homework you ought to be fine and it's not the mods job to make the world a better place for your sniveling , whining little asses!

 

[krom]

"it's not like we're talking about buying Cabbage Patch Dolls on E-bay."

We're not? Well I wish the fuck someone would have told me sooner. It's no fucking wonder I keep getting outbid. This must be one of them damn beanie baby websites.

 

[greyowl]

"it's not like we're talking about buying Cabbage Patch Dolls on E-bay."

We're not? Well I wish the fuck someone would have told me sooner. It's no fucking wonder I keep getting outbid. This must be one of them damn beanie baby websites.

LAO!

 

[garyzilla]

I understand this post. But it seems to me that if something where to ever happen to where someone was taken to court, the owner of the website might me help accountable. The courts are going to careless. The only thing they are going to ask is who is the owner, and they should have know what was going on at ther site. It seems to me that maybe the safest way to protect both those who post, and the owner and mods is to do away with the classified all together. Maybe the mods should police it and care, to protect the owner, and others.

 

[crunch76]

i dont think that creating an "atmosophere" that is a little more helpful for us who use the classfieds will harm any mods. there must be ways to improve the way we police oursleves over there, and it can have benfits, as people would see this as a better site and you get more people coming here and more advertising money. other boards have implemented some things, i will say i like this board the best becuase of the pitt bulls among us who watch out for each other, without any need for mods, but with some of the ip suggestions , there is prolly a way to come to some middle ground with out adding any liabilty, it will only make the board stronger for the owners, im not even sayin anything new is needed, but when mods do give a fuck and check ips for us, it really helps out, in the past couple weeks it has helped a ton

 

[dolfe1]

I don't spend any time in the classifieds nor do I care what goes on in there but if what you say is true greyowl what is the point of logging ip addresses?

 

[Desibaba]

I always say dont order more than you can afford to lose.Think about it.A source is a polite term for the word drug dealer.Of course you run the risk of getting scammed.But the risk is still much less than buying from some dude in the gym only to find out he is an undercover cop.

 

[Hogg]

Logging IPs helps us to find jackasses whom we have banned who later masquerade under other identities.

 

[Hogg]

Greyowl, great post. Honestly, I could not agree more. The classifieds are drama and while some of you want to speculate on the legal ramifications of not patrolling the classifieds forum and what liability it poses for the owner, my suggestion is, until you have a written memorandum from a prosecuting attorney on how such cases are treated, kindly save us from hearing your opinion. Honestly, we could "but for" and squint our eyes while imagining scenarios until the cows come home. If you do not speak from a position of authority on the subject, then kindly share it somewhere else. I hate to be a prick but there has been soo much monday morning legal assistance on this board over the years by people who knew not what they were talking about, it has done nothing but created a bunch of fictional threads that were less than of reading value.

Why are the mods here? As greyowl said, to keep the jackasses from violating the owner's rules. Quite frankly, if and when I want to contribute something of value, you will find it in the training section....and over the years, I have gone out of my way to help a number of people gratis. Nobody pays me to be here and I contribute to the level that I see fit. It is not my job to get in the middle of drug deals (if in fact that is what happens in the classifieds) nor is it my job to get in the middle of the he said/she said bullshit that goes on between some people on this board, and it is certainly not my job to check IPs and act like anybody's private detective so kindly....... dont ask.

All the drama that has occurred over the years on this board has been a result of the classifieds. We are not involved, if you choose to participate selling widgets and buying pokemon cards or whatever goes on in there, that is your business, do so at your own risk.

 

[Desibaba]

Oh and by the way i hope this doesnt make you guys uncomfortable but i was going through an old issue of playboy the other day.It had an article on a certain board which let users discuss how to get escorts and prostitutes n stuff.It basically allowed any person to post whatever they wanted.They charged the owner with soliciting prostition.Whats the guarantee that the same might not happen at one of these bodybuilding boards?

 

[VDC]

I remember when there were no mods nor Classifieds,,,Just 3 sections to post in and every man for himself,,,Of course some of us took time to learn who was who and what was what,,,I for one freely shared all that I knew and put myself on the line a few times(Remember Roid Doc,,,Ha there was a criminal),,,I always told the Owner(His name shall be hidden to protect the innocent)to leave things as they are,,,If any real disruptive person was trying to ruin it for evryone we would just email the Owner,,,and He would take care of it as best he could,,,But we were on our own,,,Some complained and wanted more done to protect them,,,Hmmm all you need to protect yourself is knowledge,,,If you don't know something(whether it be about a source or a cycle or whatever) ASK someone who does,,,Its not hard,,,VDC

 

[crunch76]

Greyowl, great post. Honestly, I could not agree more. The classifieds are drama and while some of you want to speculate on the legal ramifications of not patrolling the classifieds forum and what liability it poses for the owner, my suggestion is, until you have a written memorandum from a prosecuting attorney on how such cases are treated, kindly save us from hearing your opinion. Honestly, we could "but for" and squint our eyes while imagining scenarios until the cows come home. If you do not speak from a position of authority on the subject, then kindly share it somewhere else. I hate to be a prick but there has been soo much monday morning legal assistance on this board over the years by people who knew not what they were talking about, it has done nothing but created a bunch of fictional threads that were less than of reading value.

Why are the mods here? As greyowl said, to keep the jackasses from violating the owner's rules. Quite frankly, if and when I want to contribute something of value, you will find it in the training section....and over the years, I have gone out of my way to help a number of people gratis. Nobody pays me to be here and I contribute to the level that I see fit. It is not my job to get in the middle of drug deals (if in fact that is what happens in the classifieds) nor is it my job to get in the middle of the he said/she said bullshit that goes on between some people on this board, and it is certainly not my job to check IPs and act like anybody's private detective so kindly....... dont ask.

All the drama that has occurred over the years on this board has been a result of the classifieds. We are not involved, if you choose to participate selling widgets and buying pokemon cards or whatever goes on in there, that is your business, do so at your own risk.

well.... point taking hogg, cant say much else, see what your sayin, no i dont know the ramifications and certainly dont wana see anyone at this board go down for anything, i will now keep my opinion on this to myslef, will gladly be a pain in the ass in other areas, anyway see where you guys are comin from, and understand that i dont really know whats up, love the board

 

[Desibaba]

at the same time you always run the risk of losing money even if ur source isnt a scammer.What if he dies? Goes to jail? Gets sick or gets involved in an auto accident? There are risks to this game you play.If you order from good well known sources think of it like getting a 90 percent chance of getting ur order.

 

[Hogg]

Its a no offense thing crunch. Seriously, all of the drama on this board is related to the classifieds and when you get busted with steroids and no prescription, you typically get a FELONY. People can talk all the shit they want about "Oh, call Rick Collins" .."Oh, buy Rick Collins' book" but strangely enough, I know of 4 people right now that made that call and ended up with a FELONY on their record. The game is dangerous.....too dangerous......and many of the moderators want nothing to do with it in any way shape or form because there is absolutely too much at stake. A guy who is 20 years old and in college may not have the same perspective as a guy in his 30's or 40's who likes to lift weights, go home to his family every night, and enjoy the salary that he pulls from a tenured job.....which is why some of us will remain odd man out with prejudice toward the classifieds.

Mind you, I'm not talking about big steroid dealers in those 4 cases, one guy got tagged for 50 vials of sustanon and a tub of pink thais. Thats not a lot of gear, and he is now a convicted FELON.

Its just not worth the risk man, and if there are people on this board who buy and sell that sort of stuff on the classifieds, hey, more power to 'em but when you mess with the bull, you sometimes get the horns. They need to be prepared to face the consequences of their actions and they should not get pissed at us if we choose to leave the classifieds unmoderated.

I'd like to think Meso is much more than that one simple forum. If it is not, I dont know why I have spent soo much of my time contributing over the years.

 

[Desibaba]

Its a no offense thing crunch. Seriously, all of the drama on this board is related to the classifieds and when you get busted with steroids and no prescription, you typically get a FELONY. People can talk all the shit they want about "Oh, call Rick Collins" .."Oh, buy Rick Collins' book" but strangely enough, I know of 4 people right now that made that call and ended up with a FELONY on their record. The game is dangerous.....too dangerous......and many of the moderators want nothing to do with it in any way shape or form because there is absolutely too much at stake. A guy who is 20 years old and in college may not have the same perspective as a guy in his 30's or 40's who likes to lift weights, go home to his family every night, and enjoy the salary that he pulls from a tenured job.....which is why some of us will remain odd man out with prejudice toward the classifieds.

Mind you, I'm not talking about big steroid dealers in those 4 cases, one guy got tagged for 50 vials of sustanon and a tub of pink thais. Thats not a lot of gear, and he is now a convicted FELON.

Its just not worth the risk man, and if there are people on this board who buy and sell that sort of stuff on the classifieds, hey, more power to 'em but when you mess with the bull, you sometimes get the horns. They need to be prepared to face the consequences of their actions and they should not get pissed at us if we choose to leave the classifieds unmoderated.

I'd like to think Meso is much more than that one simple forum. If it is not, I dont know why I have spent soo much of my time contributing over the years.

Even you would be surprised if you find out about the sheer volume of people to go to that part of the forum only to buy products n then sell them off to others (face to face)at about 4 times the price it cost them.

 

[dolfe1]

Logging IPs helps us to find jackasses whom we have banned who later masquerade under other identities.

So the logged IP's are available to the members??? Humor me here, I know shit about computers, you saw how much trouble I had with winzip.

 

[garyzilla]

Hogg and to the rest of the mods. You have to moderate the classifieds. I personally spend no time there, but I do know that if you do not moderate them it will come back to bite the owner, and maybe some of the mods, in ass if you do not. I would hate to see the mods and the owner get in trouble over the classifieds. Why not just get rid of the classifies?

-Pastor

 

[Slick Arrado]

Why not just get rid of the classifies? -Pastor

NO!!!!!! I mean, keep them for OTHER members. I'm not talking about me.

 

[pincrusher]

in my opinion if you dont want to moderate the classifieds(which i dont blame you) then the best solution is to get rid of them. the classifieds is what kept me from joining for quite awhile cause it gives this board a very bad rap on other sites. everybody on other boards talks about how bad the classifieds are here and they say dont bother going to meso. i really dont think there is any place for a forum where people are allowed to openly call each other scammers without proof and to have multiply screen names so they can bump themselves to be able to scam people. just my .02 worth.