Mono

[boggybop]

Evening all,

Admittedly I am a forum tart, and mince around the other golf forums. To my complete horror it would appear that Mono217 has joined the TG forum, and is trying to sell his latest offerings. However he has PM'd me and has asked, and I quote:

"You are also a member of GM forum could you ask why i have been banned or whatever please"

I would be more than happy to pass on any 'kind' words you have for him....

Does this mean that the inevitable has happened and he has been banned?

 

[Macster]

I found the forum has improved markedly since I introduced him to my 'ignore this user' button.

 

[brendy]

Tell him if the penny hasnt dropped by now it never will. He was warned and then informed why he was banned. God help TG.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'm not a moderator so can't answer that directly. I find him irritating in as much as he never adds any depth to a forum and only posts agreeing with a previous poster. He never quantifies why he agrees or takes a thread on in a different direction. I would forgive him any problems with his English if he had something to say.

I have to say there is also something very dodgy about the amount of gear he has to sell all the time and the amount of money he seems to be making. I have had a number of PM conversations with a number of long standing forum members who all feel the same.

Before anyone accuses me of having a dig, being unfair or sneaky talking off forum about Mono let me point out that I have also raised these same issues numerous times. I actually spent a great deal of time and effort in his early days trying to put him right on forum etiquette, curb his buying nd selling and to have the courage to actually have an opinion that lasted more than one sentence. I was talking to him via PM and really trying to get him to stick around after he got a rough ride early on.

I know several others did much the same but as things haven't progressed I've grown tired of trying. I presume if he has been banned then one of more of the mods would have had the decency to PM first and try to explain why his behaviour was unacceptable.

 

[brendy]

We did Homer, he was given plenty of chances both in public and private. I guess the youthful cavalier attitude has its drawbacks sometimes.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I thought that the mods would be fair and give him a warning and explanation about his behaviour first. Have to say good work guys. I hope if he comes back he learns from this but I think he and TG are a match made in heaven and he is unlikely to return.

 

[USER1999]

I am not a frequent visitor to the dark side, but boggybop, you were a member on the TG website before joining here?

I admit I frequent the sandtrap (forum rubbish, blogs very good) and golfwrx, a bit anal on the techy side, some useful info, but TG is the pits.

 

[USER1999]

I am a bit interested on this though. What did he do wrong sufficiently to get excluded? I have not read many posts that were offensive, just a bit dumb and 'me too'. Ok, loads to sell, but when was that a crime? No great intellect on show, but that applies to many of us. Not sure where it went so wrong? Answers?

Ps: Glad I am not a moderator. Really don't want to be in a position where you have to make this sort of decision. Fair play to those who volunteered.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I've seen boggypop is still active on TG. Nothing wrong in that. It would be interesting if the mods could provide some sort of explanation. I agree that his buy/sell side looked dodgy but saw nothing offensive in the posts.

 

[nicksampo]

Damn... I'm just in the final processes of buying something off him, not payment sent yet. Has anyone dealt with him in this respect? and do you think I should pull out even if its a good price?

Sorry to hijack the thread! Gtg boss is coming back!

 

[boggybop]

Yeah a few years back I joined the dark side on the TG forum. To be honest it can be a cold, bleak place - sometimes it can be weeks before new posts are made, and the banter can be non-existent. However on the flipside, TG does offer a comprehensive fantasy golf, and the instruction section can be useful.

I've fluttered on the GolfMagic site as well, but usually the posts which start in a good tone turn into full blown arguments which is fun for no-one.

 

[madandra]

mono has been given 100 lines for not adhearing to advice and rules and will be back in in a week. This action was taken by Mike after consulting some Mods and numerous warnings. There are concerns the kid is trying to turn over a lot of golfing equipment and I am sure there are age restrictions on selling stuff on here. I agree the wee man has not offended anyone and his posts have been interesting but he wouldn't take advice from the GM staff and ease off the selling.

 

[brendy]

I am a bit interested on this though. What did he do wrong sufficiently to get excluded? I have not read many posts that were offensive, just a bit dumb and 'me too'. Ok, loads to sell, but when was that a crime? No great intellect on show, but that applies to many of us. Not sure where it went so wrong? Answers?

Ps: Glad I am not a moderator. Really don't want to be in a position where you have to make this sort of decision. Fair play to those who volunteered.

He offered nothing of any value as a member with shallow, insincere or increasingly far fetched posts and to me, the dubious sales were the final straw.
With regards to the classifieds, the internet is a slow moving process for selling kit and to an extent, anonymous. Things can be posted and sold with money changing hands before the goods can even be inspected or verified. We (mods) decided enough was enough, the forum was becoming strewn with throwaway posts and this is effectively a little housekeeping, he isnt permanently banned...yet, but has got himself a week+ to wise up before he can sign on again.
If anyone has an argument to back the kid up then pm away, the decision was taken as a group of mods and backed by staff.

 

[haplesshacker]

I think if the mods combined with GM saw fit to exclude Mono, they had their reasons.

We need to remember that this forum is provided by GM which in turn is provided by IPC (if I have it correctly). If there is any doubt about the source of gear being sold, and questions regarding that gear aren't answered to their satisfaction, then IPC / GM have every right to exclude someone from their forum. They have to look after their own reputation after all.

Yes Mono was 'different' but I doubt if it was that, that caused his ultimate expulsion. I'm sure that I'm not the only one that had suspicsions regarding the gear that was being sold. I can't prove anything, but that's why we have mods, and the support of GM.

 

[birdieman]

Re: Mono *DELETED*

Post deleted by birdieman

 

[USER1999]

Although I am on here as much as most, I will defer to the mods on this. I haven't noticed his dealings as out of the ordinary, just somewhat dumb 'me toos', although he does seem to sell more than most, and his budget for hols is substantial, with no income, and his knowledege of where to go is suspect too.

Odd?

Repeat, I am glad I am not a mod. Difficult to decide this stuff. Respect those who volunteer.

 

[medwayjon]

Exactly as Brendy says it was a decision made by the mods and GM staff. It wasnt taken lightly and was carefully considered.

Remember the amount of gear he was trying to sell was huge and would in any private ads publication, in such volume, be seen to be that of a trade-seller or perhaps from dubious sources (not suggesting that) so action did have to be taken as his FS/Wanted posts were deemed to be not within the spirit of the rules imposed.

Remember yes, this is an open, public forum but it is also provided by a media company who do have to think of the larger picture when it comes to things like this.

If anyone has any serious issue with the very short-term and politely administered ban, feel free to PM.

 

[haplesshacker]

It's an open internet forum, not a members only golf club,.........

Slippery slope this.

Yes it is an open forum, but it is provided by GM / IPC. This is not an independent forum, and as such has to be monitored in some way.

I for one would not like my clubs to 'disappear' and have to track them down across the internet to find the scrote that nicked them. (I'm not suggesting that this was the case here.) But if the gear was hot, removing yet another 'shop front' for them reduces the profiterbility of their actions.

From what I can make out, no allegations have been made, and he has been advised to curb his dealings, and he has only been suspended for a week.

I was one of the few who did pm him in his early days, and indeed he did ask for advice, though it is evident that this advice didn't stick. Not surprising really. What 15 year old takes advice easily!

 

[GB72]

Having been involved in the decision to some extent I can only say that I was becoming concerned with the selling aspect, especially the constantly changing stories about the source of the gear (one minute it was his, the next it belonged to a mate). The posts were an irritant but not offensive I agree. Advice and warnings were given but ignored so this point was reached.

I do not expect everyone to agree with this point of view but I am more than willing to explain the rationale behind my thinking and to answer any questions if people want to PM me.

 

[Canfordhacker]

If you stick Mono217 into Google you will swiftly find a list of his hobbies.

Hobbies: fishing football hunting fires, bombs and fighting and woodwork and guns

That's fine, but it just proves Mono is a sham. He doesn't list golf in there.