Date:         Fri, 27 Feb 2009 09:04:11 -0500
Reply-To:     The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Subject:      Re: Ripoff artists named (TheSamba)
In-Reply-To:  <F9F879B44AE74D30AE784291ADB8A547@Johns>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

According to the list charter:

> Occasionally, a list member will have a problem
> with the performance of a vendor or with a private
> transaction gone bad. If you are having trouble with
> a vendor, do everything you reasonably can to resolve
> it WITH THE VENDOR before you bring it to the list.
> Do not ambush people. If you can't resolve it yourself,
> it is a valid topic for discussion on the list, but
> please stick to The facts of the vendor's product or
> performance. Flames are not appropriate EVEN IF you
> can prove you've been shafted.



As the first vendor on the Vanagon list (I started the Bus Depot on-list,
with the support/encouragement of list members, over a decade ago), I can
say that with rare exceptions list members have always been great about
following this ediquette. Not just with me (being human, I'll admit to
screwing up an order or two in my time), but also with the many other
private and commercial vendors that have come and gone over the years. In
fact, in rare cases where a (typically new) list member went straight to the
list, either another member or the moderator gently advised them to try to
resolve it directly first and then get back to the list if necessary. 99
percent of the time it wasn't necessary; the issue turned out to be a
misunderstanding or honest mistake that was easily resolved off-list.

The internet is a powerful thing. It can be a tool or a weapon, depending on
how responsibly it is wielded. Your words are broadcast to millions of
people, and stay there forever via Google and other search engines, so
choose them carefully. Retracting the comments doesn't make them go away.
Responding to the comments (even if the response is perfectly valid) does
not undo the harm done by the original post.  As they say, when a person
slings mud some of it temds to stick, whether or not it is deserved. A good
rule of thumb is, do not treat others any less fairly than you yourself
would want to be treated. How would you personally feel if someone had a
minor gripe with you, and broadcast it to the internet instead of trying to
resolve it directly with you? Or if someone labeled you a "ripoff artist"
due to what turned out to be a miscommunication, resulting in that
description forever being attached to YOUR good name whenever anyone googled
you?

My $0.02.

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  www.busdepot.com