Taking back the forum

[Chip]

Ah, the great generosity of returning the chat, I remember those Halcyon days.
The days when I couldn't have someone (responsible for having chat disabled in the first place) banned after weeks of infractions. It is a good thing now that we have some guts, we will ban Brent immediately for a single infraction.

Giant Meat Swords.

Due to circumstances beyond my control at the time, my hands were tied. I did attempt on more than one occcasion to correct the problem once I was even aware of it. However there will never be unanamous approval or agreement on what is too little and what is too much in response to such occurrences.

Still, my point is, why the need for such locker room jocularity now on IM when I see the incredible wit of participants without it.

[Sydney]

Still, my point is, why the need for such locker room jocularity now on IM when I see the incredible wit of participants without it.

Because we're regular guys.

[Space Samurai]

I have not received any complaints nor have I registered any with any involved parties as of late regarding the IM.

In that case, I clearly missunderstood what was going on about the beer talk, and I am sorry that I spoke before I knew what was going on.

[scruffmcgruff]

The meatsword stuff is really just a running joke between Ed and me and a way to make fun of how I got banned. Honestly I don't see how it's much worse than saying "that sucks/blows." Hell, we allow "fuka" to be used as a replacement for *freak*-- like that's really fooling anyone.

[TIM]

http://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?p=89031#89031

What the crap, and you call yourself Chinese oolong tea!!

[Chip]

The topic has already been deleted, but Golden Tea House has suddenly decided to spam the forum. 2 spams in 2 days, no mas.

By all means, whenever you see spam or suspect it, please PM me a topic link. I try to get to take a look at every post, but if alerted, I can act much faster.

Thanks.

[Wesli]

It'd be cool to have a list of which tea shops have resorted to spamming.

[Salsero]

I would be surprised if it is actually Golden Tea House that is the source of the spam. While I have never ordered from them, they seem to be a low-key, quality operation.

IIRC, there was a Fujian tea farmer ("Oolong Tea" was his name?) who hung out in the IM late at night a year or so ago who said that he was arranging with Golden Tea House to start selling them some Tie Guan Yin. It was his grand entree into the US tea market. I wonder if that same character may be the instigator of this attack?

I wouldn't hesitate to contact Golden Tea House about it, Chip. I have a feeling they would be horrified.

[Chip]

Well, I do have the IP, could track it and see where it turns up. When they had a little IM box like Adagio's site to talk to Xine, I actually did talk to a person in China, he was either from USA or Canada, nice guy.

The posts are signed "Chris" which does not mean anything, but anyone know a Chris from there?

If I feel a little curious later, I might track it.

[hop_goblin]

speaking of Spam, is it just me or is netsurfr getting a little too friendly with his advertisments of pu.

[Salsero]

speaking of Spam, is it just me or is netsurfr getting a little too friendly with his advertisments of pu.

I have been wondering the same thing. He runs this "group buy" thing over at B&B. I was worried that he was going to be stuck with a lot of expensive pu so I tried to be neighborly by purchasing a Lao Ban Zhang & Man'E cake from him rather than going direct to Scott, but his repeated mention of the service makes me wonder if he is somehow motivated by something other than community spirit.

Originally he seemed to be buying cakes and breaking them up into samples -- or at least that is my understanding. That's a real service that allows people to try a lot of cakes without having to buy all of them. It's my impression that this "group buy" thing is normal practice on the B&B forum for shaving stuff and other things, but it seems out of place here.

I believe he states that he does this strictly at cost, but his repeated mention of it makes me wonder what's up. On the B&B forum he has links to his inventory in his signature line ... of course here he has no signature line, so maybe that's why he reminds us that he has tea available. It seems most likely that he is motivated by devotion to the commonweal, and his prices are not out of line and the transaction I had with him was clean and without problem. It was the most carefully packed pu cake I have ever received! I don't see how he is making money, so I suppose he is not. He seems actually to be taking a big risk of getting stuck with a bunch of tea no one wants.

However...
...just as you say, Hop, he is "getting a little too friendly" at least for my Midwestern tastes. If nothing else, it seems these activities belong more properly in the TeaSwap Forum.

[Chip]

Sounds like teaguy and his wanting to just help total strangers. He will not be continuing that practice.

Please forward links of any questionable posts by netsufr (or anyone). It is important that we operate fairly for everyone. If we make exceptions for one, it is hard to not extend it to others, since the precedent was made.

If it is more of a TeaSwap thing, I can direct him there. TBH, it is hard sometimes for me to discern what is going on in the pu-erh forum, a little help, please.

[chamekke]

It seems most likely that he is motivated by devotion to the commonweal

You have a very kind heart, Sal. That was nicely said

[Proinsias]

His offers are even getting a little tiring over on B&B. It's not quite enough for him to have a massive sig with all his offers he feels the need to constantly post 'check out my sig offers!!!'

Even if he's not making much, or any cash, it is beginning to make my eyes bleed .

[Wesli]

Contacting a spamming company never gets you anywehere, they just deny it. If the spam keeps coming then perhaps it will get them to stop, assuming the mail gets to the right person.

And, actually, that netsurfr guy is pulling a profit. His profit is about $7 per bing of 8582. Minus another couple dollars for shipping, and his net profit is $5/bing. That's way more than needed for inventory expansion, so he is here trying to make money off people. Because this exchange is commercial, I think that it should not be allowed on TeaChat. There are plenty of merchants that make this kind of profit, and they wouldn't be allowed to advertise here either. I think the best plan is to delete commercialized posts, let him know that TeaChat doesn't allow commercial advertisements, but you can also tell him that if he has sold to a TeaChatter before, he can ask for a favor of them making a post about their dealings with him.