SalesPractice Community: What's the Best Way to Handle Problems?

I really enjoy being part of the SalesPractice Community. In just over three years, Jeff Blackwell has assembled a forum that is truly dedicated to sharing ideas, helping new salespeople, and developing social relationships among salespeople.

SalesPractice is very democratic. Everyone can join and post. Ideas, comments, questions, and even debate is welcome. It's a great thing, in my opinion.

I've had disagreements with members of Salespractice in the past. I stand up for what I believe in, and when you combine strong personalities and a democratic forum, things can get a bit heated. I'm sure some SP members have disliked my posts from time to time, but usually those things get worked out and everybody goes on their merry way. I know others have enjoyed my participation. And I'm not the only one that has had conflicts with others in the community!

But sometimes in a community like this, there are those who would take advantage of the democratic nature of the forum for their own advantage. Rather than sharing sound ideas or having healthy debates or truly wanting to help others, an individual's posts can cross a line of reasonableness.

For instance, they may post the same theory over and over again, sometimes dozens or hundreds of times, and insert that same theory into many unrelated threads. Some may begin to shamelessly self-promote their philosophy, or their product, or their book, or company. Some may position themselves as an expert without the credentials to back it up, and in the process, provides misleading or downright incorrect information in the forum.

So, my question is:

How should the salespractice community handle such individuals?

It's a challenging question. I don't have an answer. But here are some questions that I hope will get a discussion started:

- Who desides who has "crossed the line?"

- What constitutes "crossing the line?"

- Should the forum moderator make a judgment on who is no longer adding value to the forum, and ban them? (some members have been banned in the past for bad behavior)

- Should SP members speak up more verbally when someone tries to dominate the forum, or is simply full of it?

- Should SP members use the "reputation" button on each post more often than they do now to give positive reputation to posts they like and negative reputation to posts they don't?

- Should any action be taken, or should all members be allowed to post whatever they want?

- If posters are allowed to post whatever they want, is there a danger of losing valuable experienced salespeople or experts from the community? Will quality be affected?

- Are participants more interested in learning and sharing, or in self-promoting and getting attention? Should the forum encourage one over the other? If so, how should the moderator go about it? How should members go about it?

- What should the community do if someone submits post that are just plain unintelligible and don't make sense? What if it happens repeatedly?

- I post a lot on this forum. Sometimes I worry that I post too often, because I don't want to dominate it. Is there such a thing as someone who posts too often, or too much? If so, what is "too much"?

- Is SP more of a social outlet than a learning/sharing/professional development outlet? Which should it be?

I could go on and on with questions like these, but I'd encourage veteran SalesPractice members, and new members alike, to post your ideas, thoughts, or questions. Let's generate some discussion. As SP grows, some of these issues may have increased importance in the future.

Or, you may want to tell me that I'm overreacting and there's really no problem. Whatever you have to say, please share it. But let's hear from lots of people, okay? Please post!

These are great questions Skip that as a community we should give thought to. I'll throw out a few responses and see what others think.

Originally Posted by Skip Anderson Should the forum moderator make a judgment on who is no longer adding value to the forum, and ban them? (some members have been banned in the past for bad behavior)

A forum moderator should be allowed to make that kind of judgment call in my opinion.

Originally Posted by Skip Anderson Should SP members speak up more verbally when someone tries to dominate the forum, or is simply full of it?

I prefer to avoid reading or participating in confrontational threads.

Originally Posted by Skip Anderson Should SP members use the "reputation" button on each post more often than they do now to give positive reputation to posts they like and negative reputation to posts they don't?

Absolutely!

Originally Posted by Skip Anderson Should any action be taken, or should all members be allowed to post whatever they want? - If posters are allowed to post whatever they want, is there a danger of losing valuable experienced salespeople or experts from the community? Will quality be affected?

As long as posts comply with the site rules they should be allowed. Poor posts won't attract or keep quality members though.

Originally Posted by Skip Anderson Are participants more interested in learning and sharing, or in self-promoting and getting attention? Should the forum encourage one over the other? If so, how should the moderator go about it? How should members go about it?

I feel the community is about learning and sharing not self-promoting and attention.

Originally Posted by Skip Anderson What should the community do if someone submits post that are just plain unintelligible and don't make sense? What if it happens repeatedly?

Those should probably be reported to a moderator. Repeat offenders should probably be warned or something.

Originally Posted by Skip Anderson I post a lot on this forum. Sometimes I worry that I post too often, because I don't want to dominate it. Is there such a thing as someone who posts too often, or too much? If so, what is "too much"?

You're an anchor here and you have put up so many helpful answers. I don't think you post too much.

Originally Posted by Skip Anderson Is SP more of a social outlet than a learning/sharing/professional development outlet? Which should it be?

There is a social element here but learning and sharing seems to be the core and I think it should stay that way.

This is a community and like any good community there are rules, policies and just good social standards that should be enforced.

No one wants to live in real life or in the virtual world in a community where they don't feel safe. They also want neighbors who practice good social standards.

So... if the rules are broken or community members are just overstepping the bounds - the moderators should take action - thru warnings and eventually banning people who just won't comply.

I know I am new here but I see a great community and I participate in a lot of other online communities. The ones that work enforce strong standards.

Originally Posted by waynelong This is a community and like any good community there are rules, policies and just good social standards that should be enforced. No one wants to live in real life or in the virtual world in a community where they don't feel safe. They also want neighbors who practice good social standards. So... if the rules are broken or community members are just overstepping the bounds - the moderators should take action - thru warnings and eventually banning people who just won't comply. I know I am new here but I see a great community and I participate in a lot of other online communities. The ones that work enforce strong standards.

I agree with all of this.

It's a non issue - Jeff will take care of it.

Most who post here over time have a constant theme - Skip has a constant and reoccuring theme I read in most of his posts. So do I. So does AZBROKER. So does Joe - most here do. Why one would make that an issue I don't know. Most successful people end up with a fairly closed sustem BUT remain open to ideas.

When people don't want to try and understand other points-of-view they may want them deleted or not allowed. Because you don't share my ideas and frequently attack them, Skip - not discuss or debate them but attack them - is no cause for me wanting someone to stop you from posting. Likewise, when you post your reoccuring theme(s) they give us all a perspective to consider.

The same goes for my posts, everyone's posts. I realize some may want their ideas to rule and find others a distraction from their ambition - I don't feel that way or see it. Take that fuzzy term "expert" out of the conversation and replace it with "sales experience" and read everything with an open mind and desire to understand.

That's what I do and recommend.

MitchM

What makes this forum a great place is some of the diversity that we have here, I do however see some repetiveness, and alot of self promoting, and I sugest self promoters be forced to become a paying sponsor.

I would prefer to see more input/advice from the moderator/administer from time to time as well, but that's just me.

Also to answer one of your questions Skip, I don't feel you nor anyone else for that matter post too much, nor do I think there is such a thing, we are here to pick each others brain, and absorb as much as we can.

Jeff has compiled a valuable reasource for us all to benefit from, and together we can and should be able to overcome anything that we might run across in the field, and that's what this is all about.

I haven't been here long enough to really contribute but in time that will change, I have noticed we are slowly getting bigger as a whole, and it is imperative that we make the new guys/gals feel at home, or they just wont post again, and we need input from everyone, there are alot of thread lurkers as seen from the views, but not much interaction.

Folks we are profesional sales people we all can talk/interact and should do more of it, this place is what WE make it, so lets make it great Wouldn't you agree that would be the best outcome?

~James

Thanks for your input Mikey, Wayne, Jolly and Mr. C.

Does anybody else want to weigh in on the topic?