Wednesday TeaDay 1/20/10 TeaMerchandiser???

[Chip]

Good teaday to all! Please stop in and share what is in your cup throughout the day.

Yesterday we discussed new tea vendor advice, how we obtained it. You can still vote and discuss yesterday's topic.

Today's TeaPoll and dicssion topic. The forum moderator went nutz yesterday. http://www.teachat.com/viewforum.php?f=61 Although there is a poll in that forum/topic, I wanted to get a larger point of view and more exposure.

TeaMerchandiser. In the past this concept was virtually impossible to consider since spam was a much bigger issue. We seem to have a handle on the spam today (though it is an onging battle), so perhaps now is a good time to consider this as an option for the forum.

I tend to think that due to the past history, we have been living in a bit of a Forum dome, keeping the outside out and the inside in at the expense of not being exposed at times to the innovation that may be out there ... trying to get in at times.

So what say you TeaChatters, has the time come to consider this rather radical departure of past policy (hmm, come to think of it, we have been doing much of this lately, TeawareArtisans, the new TeaVendor)??? Please share your thoughts, keeping in mind that if such a forum was created within TeaChat, it would come with strict guidelines and confinement restricting the participants to TeaMerchandiser along with swiftly enforced penalties.

I am looking forward to sharing this TeaDay with everyone. Bottoms up.

[Chip]

... speaking of TeaVendor Guide, All but Oolong is now virtually complete. http://www.teachat.com/viewforum.php?f=60

The stickied topics will serve as an index or table of contents for the different types of teas. If you are interested in Black tea vendors, click on the stickied topic for blacks and you will find easy access to all black tea vendor topics nominated by members.

This is still in its infancy, but I think it has a lot of potential if members participate in a manner they are comfortable. Please check it out, thanks!

[Trey Winston]

I say yes. The more information available on TeaChat the better.

Having some lovely SN right now. Brewed it close to perfection for a change.

[Jasmin]

Good Morning
I'm not exactly sure what this is So I'm not voting. If I figure out over the course of the day what we're talking about I'll give my ¢2

For now I'm on my way to the kitchen to make my daily pregnancy tea.
Oh, and btw this is cinni. I had my name changed
to my real name. Thanks Chip

[bsteele]

I was going to vote maybe... but I know you got the brainzz and wit about you to make it pretty functional, Chip. Plus you got dem mad spaminator skillz. So Yes!

I think there is great potential with this idea.

[LauraW]

I haven't been here long, but...

I say yes. The more information available on TeaChat the better.

+1

Dwindling supply of Lady Grey again this morning - it's almost gone! Preemptively saying Lady Grey for this afternoon as well, but I might end up switching to Mango Green.

[Jasmin]

Ok. I figured it out. I think.
It sounds like a good idea. Since it will be limited to a specific area anyone who doesn't like it can stay away. I vote 'Yes'.
Jasmin (cinni)

[TubbyCow]

Yes, sure, why not. Sounds like tons-o-funso.

Jasmine green to start my day.

[Chip]

Good Morning
I'm not exactly sure what this is So I'm not voting. If I figure out over the course of the day what we're talking about I'll give my ¢2

For now I'm on my way to the kitchen to make my daily pregnancy tea.
Oh, and btw this is cinni. I had my name changed
to my real name. Thanks Chip

You are welcome, cinni ... er Jasmin!

I know this is a radical departure from past forum policies, and might be a bit of a big pill to swallow. Just keep in mind, it is a concept only at this moment.

If you have any questions, fire away! If you have any positive or negative comments, please fire away. It's all good. I am asking for member involvement in this process.

TBH, I am not 100% certain what would be permitted and what would not. And if a member is in TeawareArtisans, they could not also post topics in TeaMerchandiser, and vice versa, it is one or the other ... not both.

It is important to remember that this is a tea forum and not a store front, but members I believe also want resources relevent to tea available to them? Or am I the only one?

Began the TD with a tasting of Zencha Fuji SP, a great start.

[gingkoseto]

I don't know. There seems to be conflict of interests, at least to certain degree.

But my general thought about merchandiser/promotion section of any tea forum (or other kinds of forums) is, what's in it for tea drinkers/users? Information from any seller may not be the most important, especially at this internet age. I personally like free stuff and hope a forum can be where tea drinkers milk free samples from sellers.

[geeber1]

I voted no because it seems insulting to Adagio, our host. They may allow it just to stay "hands-off" the forum, but why should we encourage direct competition on a site that they sponsor? I think the TeaVendor guides are sufficient.

Keemun #1 Panda in my cup this morning.

[artmom]

For once, I have no opinion!!! My family would not believe it.

Mariage Freres Marco Polo this a.m. I brewed it perfectly for once; lovely aroma of flowers and fruit, smooth finish. Yum.

Lab work today; see doc on Monday to make sure pneumonia gone.

[LauraW]

Lab work today; see doc on Monday to make sure pneumonia gone.

Best of luck! Keeping my fingers crossed for you; pneumonia is no fun. At least you have tea to keep spirits up?

[olivierco]

I don't have any specific opinion right now: I don't think I will have some interest in a teamerchandiser topic anyway.

Kaboku sencha this afternoon.

[Chip]

I voted no because it seems insulting to Adagio, our host. They may allow it just to stay "hands-off" the forum, but why should we encourage direct competition on a site that they sponsor? I think the TeaVendor guides are sufficient.

Thank you Geeber for your concern and comments!!! I can assure you that I have the utmost respect for Adagio and its employees. The last thing I would want to do is insult them in any way. But part of the reason they asked the members to nominate and elect moderators is because they wanted the forum to be driven by the discussion about all things tea, not by Adagio.

Trust me, I would be discussing this fully with Adagio prior to such a departure from past policies. I don't believe I am thinking so much about the direct competition, but more on the unusual and new products that come along though no doubt there would be competing posts, but there is already ... it has just always been allowed from a member, not the vendor. I believe Adagio would view this with interest as well and would consider this an opp to stay sharp.

The policy of Adagio is openess and rather complete transparency. There are examples of this all over the forum. Even the TeaRetailer is an example of this. What other TeaCompany would openly discuss on a forum seemingly classified information before even opening the doors.

Also, I have been pulling back on the reigns of the forum for so long due to numerous periods of intense spamvasion, that this seems to have become the norm. I personally would like to ease up on the reigns a little in a controlled manner.

And interestingly, TC was actually much more lax when I joined 4ish years ago, but it was about that time that the forum became a bigger target as the forum caught on in popularity. Part of the rise in popularity was due to its open policies on posting, a double edged sword ... absolutely. Heh, back then, no mods, no rules ...

And lastly, if you do not sign on and view TC, there are tea google ads after every X number of posts.